maidservant

Afu quickly poured tea for the scholar and asked, "I haven't asked your name before, but now that we've gotten to know each other, I'm Afu. May I ask your name?"

The scholar took the teacup, took a small sip, and looked up with a gentle smile.

“Brother Afu, my name is Su Yu. To be honest, my family is poor. My mother worked day and night embroidering to save money to support my studies. Her hands are covered in calluses, all for my sake.”

Afu sighed, "Young Master Su, you and your mother have had it so tough. Fortunately, you are ambitious and have achieved academic success."

Su Yu nodded slightly, but his expression darkened. "These years have been tough, but I'm content that I've learned to read and write. I passed the provincial and county examinations smoothly, passing each level. I was hoping to pass the imperial examination this spring so that my mother could have a better life, but..."

Su Yu looked bitter. “Before the imperial examination, I contracted a terrible disease called syphilis. At first, I had a high fever that wouldn’t go down and I was bedridden. Two days later, the fever subsided a bit, but my health didn’t improve day by day. The imperial examination was already over. I let my mother down and all my hopes were dashed.”

Just as Afu was about to offer some comfort, he saw Su Yu hesitate, looking conflicted.

After hesitating for a moment, Su Yu whispered that he had contracted syphilis, his voice filled with shame and despair.

"I thought my life was ruined. Not only was there no hope for the imperial examinations, but I might also implicate my mother..."

"Fortunately, I met Manager Song and Brother Afu, who treated me without accepting money or showing any disdain."

Noticing Yun Shan's gaze, Su Yu stood up and said respectfully, "Miss Yun, thanks to you and Afu, I have been given a chance to start over. I will never forget your great kindness."

After saying this, he stood up and bowed deeply to the two of them: "I've adjusted myself quite well these past few days, and I plan to pick up the classics again to prepare for the next imperial examination."

As Yun Shan listened, she felt a warm current flow through her heart. Situ Zhen had once told her that saving patients was not only about curing their physical ailments, but also about saving their positive attitude towards life, and she had done just that.

Yun Shan waved her hand and said gently, "Young Master Su, prepare well for the imperial examination. There are many days ahead, and you will surely realize your ambitions."

Afu also came over and said with a smile, "Young Master Su, you'll definitely pass the imperial examination next spring!"

At this time, no one could have imagined that Su Yu, the scholar tormented by illness and hardship, would become a prime minister thirty years later and a crucial benefactor in Yun Shan's life. This friendship that transcends time has become a popular story among the people.

After Young Master Su left, Yun Shan looked at the shop's account book, her red pen flying across the page. After a short while, she shook her head and closed the book.

Doctor Feng came over and said to her, "The money from selling plague-avoiding pills a few days ago has probably all been spent on the dilapidated temple!"

Yun Shan nodded. "The expenses for today's lecture have already covered the earnings of us doctors. In the end, we didn't make a profit."

Doctor Feng stroked his beard and said to Yun Shan, "It's not good for this debt to fall on your shoulders alone. The head manager doesn't need to share the profits with me for the next few months. I'll share these losses with you."

Seeing that Doctor Feng looked serious and didn't seem to be in any difficulty, Yun Shan smiled and agreed.

As another two weeks passed, Yunshan's persistence and efforts gradually paid off. Many people began to abandon their prejudices, and their views on venereal diseases quietly changed.

They no longer fear the disease, but instead approach it with a rational and objective attitude, and some even bring patients they know to Yunshan's clinic for treatment.

One day, there was a gentle knock on the door of the clinic. Yun Shan looked up and saw it was Su Niangzi's mother. She walked in slowly, and before Yun Shan could get up to greet her, the old woman hurried forward, her eyes filled with tears, her body slightly bent.

Seeing this, Yunshan hurriedly reached out to help, but the old woman held her hand tightly.

The old woman said in a trembling voice, "Manager Song, you are a great benefactor to our family! I am Su Niangzi's mother. If it weren't for you clearing my daughter's name in front of everyone and protecting her reputation, how could our family have survived!"

Yunshan quickly said, "Grandma, please get up. Madam Su is innocent. I was just telling the truth." After Yunshan's repeated persuasion, the old woman slowly got up, held Yunshan's hand, said many words of gratitude, and left with profuse thanks.

Watching the old woman's departing figure, Yun Shan was filled with emotion. She knew that her efforts these past few days had not been in vain. "Manager, what's this?" Cui'er noticed a packet of silver left behind by Su's mother when she came to tidy up the tea set.

“This must have been left by Grandma Su,” Yunshan said, wanting Afu to pick up the bag and catch up with Grandma Su. Afu had just picked it up when he noticed a sealing tag at the bottom of the bag:
"Manager Song is kind and righteous. My daughter appeared to me in a dream and asked me to express her gratitude on her behalf. There is no need to ask for the money back."

Yun Shan hurried out the door, but there was no sign of the Su family's carriage on the street.

Ah Fu weighed the bag of silver. "Shopkeeper, there's a full one hundred taels of silver!"

Everyone was overjoyed and gathered around to see the gleaming silver.

Knowing that everyone had worked hard today, and seeing the unexpected windfall, Yunshan took six taels and distributed them to the workers.

"This! One tael! This is more than our monthly salary!" Cui'er and the others happily accepted it, their flattery growing louder and louder.

Now, the correct understanding of venereal diseases has gradually taken root in the hearts of the people, and her goal has been achieved. So, Yunshan, Afu, and the others worked together to carefully dismantle the platform that had borne so many hopes and sweat.

Inside the clinic, Yunshan finished her busy day, saw off the last patient, and then closed the door, looking slightly tired.

A light drizzle sprinkled over every corner of the town. After entering a meditative state, all was quiet except for the occasional bark of a dog, which added a touch of life to the tranquil night.

She's staying at the clinic again tonight.

After that, Yunshan resumed her daily routine of seeing patients and making house calls. Every day at the crack of dawn, she would open the doors of her clinic to welcome those who came with illness and hope; as dusk fell, she would organize the day's medical records under the dim light.

The busy days allowed her to temporarily numb herself and forget many things, but whenever the night was quiet, that deep-seated longing would surge like a tide.

On this day, under the full moon, Yunshan and Xiaoyue returned to the side courtyard after having dinner.

The night was deep, and the moonlight, like water, filtered through the dappled shadows of the trees, illuminating every inch of the courtyard.

Yun Shan tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. She got up, dressed in thin clothes and barefoot, and gently pushed open the door, walking to the stone bench in the courtyard to sit down.

She gazed quietly at the bright moon hanging high in the sky, her thoughts drifting back to that unforgettable day.

At that moment, by the pool, a gentle breeze caressed her hair. The intoxication and the pool water blurred her senses. Just as she was soaking in the pool, a lithe figure, like a beam of light, leaped into the water, his strong arms tightly embracing her and pulling her out of the water.

It was Lin Xiao. His face was wet with worry and concern as he held her tightly in his arms. At that moment, time seemed to stand still.

It was in this courtyard filled with the fragrance of flowers that Lin Xiao took her hand and solemnly promised to spend his life with her. His eyes were firm and ardent; at that moment, the whole world seemed to consist only of the two of them.

"When will you come back?" Yun Shan murmured to herself, her voice so soft that it seemed to be carried away by the gentle night breeze.

Her eyes glistened with tears, shining like the brightest stars in the night sky under the moonlight.

"They say we can share the same moon even when we're thousands of miles apart, but longing is such a torment." She tilted her head back slightly, letting her tears slide down her cheeks and drip onto the cold stone bench.

A night breeze blew by, carrying a slight chill, gently ruffling her hair, as if silently comforting this woman tormented by longing.

Yun Shan hugged her arms tightly, gazing into the distance, silently hoping that the person she longed for would return soon. (End of Chapter)