Ink Burns

Chapter 97 Sweet Persimmon

One must strike while the iron is hot. While Liu Huan's promise still counts and his mood is still good, Shan Yue hurriedly set off to return to Cheng's house before the New Year.

The Cheng and Liu families were not far from each other, and the chief steward Liu did not think highly of Shan Yue to the extent of sending a carriage to follow him, and he was even more unwilling to waste time following him himself, but he was afraid of making mistakes and causing trouble due to dereliction of duty.
While hesitating between sending a maid to monitor or leaving it alone, the chief steward Liu caught a glimpse of the unfamiliar Qiu Tao behind Shan Yue and asked with a smile, "Is this girl the maid given by the Xue family?"

Shan Yue smiled and nodded: "Qiu Tao. Madam Zhu from the Xue Mansion specially gave her to me. She is a capable girl."

Manager Liu said with a smile, "Madam Zhu really loves you - if you have time, please let me have a look at this girl's indenture, and I will include it in your dowry list."

Shan Yue hesitated and shook his head: "Mrs. Zhu did not give me Qiu Tao's indenture."

Manager Liu narrowed his eyes and smiled: That's good now, he doesn't have to send anyone to monitor - doesn't the Xue family have the Blood Dropper with them?
Manager Liu bowed, made way aside, and asked Shanyue to go first: "Then I wish you and Miss Qiutao a smooth day--"

It means you're welcome to go.

Qiutou's name changed from "that girl" to "Miss Qiutou".

Shan Yue glanced sideways in return, took two steps forward, and lowered his voice: "Do you want Manager Liu to be as obedient as a dog in front of you?"

Qiu Tao was stunned: What? What? What? Obedient? Dog? Her? Or the slick-looking steward?

Shan Yue raised the corners of his lips slightly, with a mocking sneer on his face: "Work hard and learn Mandarin well, and it would be best if you can add some Beijing accent. If you act arrogantly, he will listen to you."

The Liu family thought Qiu Tao was the Xue family's confidant.

This misunderstanding is good and can continue.

Qiu Tao obviously didn't understand what Shan Yue meant, but she still held her furry head high and resolutely expressed her loyalty: "Okay!"

There seemed to be an invisible fluffy tail swinging wildly behind him.

Shanyue and Qiutou walked all the way to Cheng's house.

The Cheng family's backyard is now run by Cheng Xingyu's biological mother Aunt Pang. Aunt Pang has been waiting for Shanyue at the door for a long time. Her face is full of rosy glow, and she is no longer timid when she lived under Duan. When she saw Shanyue, she greeted her with a smile on her face: "The East Garden has been cleaned up early in the morning. Brother Yu said that you came to clean up today. Second Miss, Huang Zhi, and Miss Zhou have been waiting for you early in the morning."

I don’t know if it’s an illusion of Shan Yue or if the world has really changed.

The Cheng family now feels as if a veil has been unveiled, as if the gray veil covering the courtyard has been lifted, revealing the blue sky and white clouds.

Originally, the two girls Qiaozhi and Xiaozhi were sent back to their hometown by Cheng Xingyu. Each of them was given thirty taels of silver. Cheng Qiaozhi cried and looked for a place to hang herself. Cheng Xiaozhi silently carried his sister down from the beam. No one knew what they said, and the two went back in shame.

The second master Cheng did not dare to argue anymore - Cheng Xingyu became famous in one battle, and people in the city called him Dr. Cheng. The people in the streets and alleys looked up to him and respected him. In addition, with the support of the new prefect Boyus, the Cheng family was very peaceful.

Externally, thanks to Shan Yue, after the death of Old Master Liu, Liu Huan was in mourning and was also worried about the matter of the "Qingfeng" crimson letter of the Xue family. Not to mention other prefectures in the officialdom of Jiangnan, Songjiang Prefecture was taken advantage of by Bai Yusi and was controlled in his hands. The situation was stable with changes, which was also a good thing for Cheng Xingyu.

Lin Yueyue's pregnancy was also born silently, and Cheng Xingyu kept her in the Cheng family, but not in the back house, but in the Huimin Pharmacy in the suburbs to help.

Aunt Pang accompanied Shanyue into the corridor and told him all the above things: "Everyone is fine, except that Brother Yu has become thinner and thinner. I am worried when I see him, but I dare not persuade him."

Although he said this, there was no sign of genuine anxiety on his face.

Perhaps he knew that Cheng Xingyu had always been in poor health, so expressing his "worry" was just a formality.

Shanyue lowered her eyes and turned into the East Garden. Three women, old and young, were waiting at the door. It had only been more than half a month, but it felt like a long time. Even though Wang Erniang had killed many people, her eyes turned red. She pinched Shanyue fiercely: "Does it hurt?"

Shanyue:?
Although I was puzzled, I answered honestly, "It hurts. I might be bruised tomorrow."

Miss Wang Er put her arms around Shan Yue and said, "It's okay if it hurts, it's okay if it hurts. The pain proves that you are still alive!"

Shan Yue: If you just want to prove her life or death, you can try a less harmful method.
Miss Wang Er was still trying to hold back her tears with red eyes, but Zhou Liniang was already crying her heart out.

Huang Zhi greeted Shan Yue with a playful smile, then pointed at Zhou Liniang and said, "I can prove that Mamaoer really cares about you and has no time to covet Erlangjun's beauty." "I, I, I'm not coveting, I just admire."

Zhou Liniang cried even harder: "Also, I am not. I am not, I am not Mamaoer"

The mountain moon is silent.

That's good. She is very busy and everyone else is busy too.

After entering the inner room, Shanyue saw several boxes and cages placed in the main wing of the East Garden, which were all the packed luggage of everyone.

Shan Yue said he was not in a hurry: "As long as the Xue family does not make a decision, this matter will be full of variables. The Cheng family has changed for the better and is a safe and blessed place. You can stay here or spread out. The second lady can go back to 'Guoqiaogu', Li Niang can follow the second lady, and Huang Zhi can stay in the Cheng family. The backyard is always short of manpower."

As soon as Shan Yue said this, he was immediately met with three pairs of critical gazes.

"You won't take us to Beijing?!"

"I don't want to follow Second Miss! She says I'm a lecherous cat every day!"

"The Cheng family's monthly allowance is so low!"

The three of them said in unison.

Aunt Pang scratched her head: The other two people didn't feel anything, but Huang Zhi
Aunt Pang was indignant: Huang Zhi's monthly allowance is higher than hers! What else do you want?
Shan Yue was silent again, and a cold sweat suddenly broke out on her back, thinking, "She is a heartless man who has betrayed many people." What should she do? Should she take them all with her? The capital is definitely not a blessed place. The words "sudden death" on the post are still in front of her. She doesn't want to take anyone she cares about with her, even Qiu Tao. There is really no way, because the contract of sale is still in the Xue family, so she has to go with her.

"Let's discuss it later." Shan Yue said in a deep voice.

When I turned my head, I saw a thin man in a white linen robe with long and wide sleeves walking towards me quickly, bringing with him the faint scent of medicine and wood chips.

There were too many girls in the East Garden. Cheng Xingyu stood beside them, bowed slightly, and stopped moving forward. He just raised his voice slightly: "The donkey cart is ready. Miss Shanyue can change her clothes and follow us."

Originally, the Cheng family had a horse-drawn carriage, which was not in compliance with regulations. After Cheng Xingyu took over, the carriage was replaced with a donkey cart. The carriage was no longer so pompous, but the cost was much lower.

Shanyue changed into Zhou Liniang's clothes, went out from the side door, got on the donkey cart and drove towards the east of the city.

Cheng Xingyu took out a bright red persimmon from his sleeve pocket.

The persimmon was soft and sweet. Cheng Xingyu effortlessly split it in half and handed it to Shanyue: "You only have one day, and time is tight, so I didn't prepare any food. Take this to fill your stomach."

After saying that, he covered his chest with one hand, his face flushed red.

"If you want to cough, just cough. The more you hold it in, the more uncomfortable you will feel."

Shanyue took the persimmon, and the flesh melted in his mouth instantly. He wiped his hands casually, and patted Cheng Xingyu's back with one hand to help him breathe. His eyes were calm but gentle: "Don't stay at the pharmacy and have no medicine to take. You should rest when you need to. You are a doctor, and you know the harm of forcing yourself to endure."

Cheng Xingyu turned his head and coughed a few times, but he managed to hold it back. He waved his hands, his sleeves brushing across his knees: "Can you take a break?"

Shan Yue Bu Yan: At all times, her string is always taut.

Cheng Xingyu laughed: "Then you should understand that I can't rest either."

He died at the age of 20. How many years did he have left to save people?
They have different goals, but they share the same determination to move toward their goals.

　Belated New Year's greetings!!!

　　The first day of 2025 finally passed after a series of blunders including a flat tire, a tire not tightened properly, teammates feeding the wrong medicine to a human cub and sending him to the hospital.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)