When spring arrived in Shengjing, the streets gradually filled up with little stalls selling snacks.
People went out to enjoy the greenery and ladies went up the mountains to burn incense. Faced with boredom on their journeys, they inevitably bought snacks like sesame candy and tangerine cakes. Feng Sanpo's flaky cakes sold the best, thin as snowflakes, fragrant and sweet.
Inside Renxin Medical Hall, Du Changqing stood at the long counter with half a piece of flaky cake in his mouth, listlessly staring across the street in a daze.
The Du Family in the prosperous Nanwang Square of Shengjing had originally started out with a pharmacy, which later expanded and became a medical hall. The medical hall's reputation grew day by day, and Old Master Du's residence also grew ever larger.
Old Master Du was busy with establishing and maintaining the family business in his youth, only taking a wife as he approached middle age.
His young wife was in the bloom of her late twenties, beautiful as a flower. A year later, she became pregnant. Having a child later in life delighted Old Master Du immensely. He doted on his wife to the skies.
Unfortunately, Lady Du really did not have much luck; she passed away a year after giving birth to their son. Old Master Du pitied his small son who lost his mother at such a young age. Moreover, the boy was indeed clever and adorable, so he indulged him even more. As a result of this indulgence, he ended up raising a useless man who couldn't lift a hand or shoulder a burden and spent all day listening to music and drinking.
Du Changqing was that useless man.
While Old Master Du was still alive, the family estate was prosperous. After Old Master Du passed away, the Du Family no longer had anyone to rely on.
Having been pampered while growing up, Du Changqing was average in his studies and spent his days frivolously, dealing with horses and dogs, without a serious bone in his body. Furthermore, he was big-hearted and selflessly generous, allowing a bunch of fair-weather friends to take advantage of him. One day Zhang San would borrow three hundred taels for his mother's severe illness, the next day Li Si would need five hundred guan to start a business away from the capital. Little by little, over time, all the properties and shops were squandered until only this dilapidated medical hall on West Street was left.
This small medical hall was the very first one established by Old Master Du. Du Changqing dared not sell it, so he asked the street's calligrapher to write a signboard for it and hung it up, making himself the owner of Renxin Medical Hall.
The previously resident doctor of the medical hall had been poached by Xinglin Hall with a high offer, and a suitable replacement wasn't easy to find, especially since the medical hall was operating at a loss. Often it was just neighbors coming to get some medicine, barely enough to scrape by. It seemed it wouldn't be long before even the medical hall would have to be sold.
A carriage rolled along the street, its wheels stirring up the light, floating willow fluff.
Someone alighted from the carriage.
Du Changqing's eyes lit up. He swallowed the remaining flaky cake in two or three gulps, suddenly shedding his listless demeanor, and hurriedly went up to greet him with a loud and affectionate call, "Uncle!"
The newcomer was a man in his fifties wearing a square cap, clad in a dark scent-colored silk jacket, holding a folding fan in one hand. With a handkerchief held to his nose and mouth, he coughed while walking.
Du Changqing welcomed him into the medical hall, sitting him down inside while rebuking the young servant wiping the tables, "Ah Cheng, didn't you see my uncle has arrived? Go make tea!" And to the person in front of him, he feigned scolding, "You blind rabbit, don't take offense, Uncle!"
Official Hu put down the handkerchief and waved it off, pulling out a prescription from his breast pocket, "Changqing, about this month's medicine..."
"The medicinal ingredients, right?" Du Changqing grabbed the prescription and walked towards the counter, "I will prepare them for you right away, Uncle!"
Ah Cheng placed the prepared tea in front of Official Hu, casting a sympathetic glance at him. The world was not short of easy marks, but Official Hu was the only one he had ever seen who still thought he was getting a good deal.
Official Hu had been a good friend of Old Master Du, both families being of comparable status with the children growing up together. On the surface, they got along like a breeze in springtime, but beneath it, there was always silent competition. They competed over everything from the beauty of their wives to their children's education, from their heights and waist measurements to their clothes and hats, always trying to outdo one another.
After Old Master Du died, Official Hu lost his sparring partner, which left him somewhat bored. So he redirected his attention to Old Master Du's son, Du Changqing. He came to get medicine every other month and, while there, took the opportunity to mentor his junior under the guise of kinship, seeking some comfort for his soul.
Du Changqing would always obediently listen with rapt attention, which greatly pleased Official Hu. Anyway, he had to purchase some nourishing medicine every month. A little silver was nothing for Official Hu, but for the down-and-out Young Master Du, it could help Renxin Medical Hall stay afloat for another month or two.
One could say that after Old Master Du passed away, Official Hu became the breadwinner for Du Changqing.
In treating one's breadwinner, one should always show the utmost humility.
After Du Changqing had prepared the medicine, he resumed his seat beside Official Hu. And sure enough, after sipping his tea for a while, Official Hu began his lecture.
"Changqing, when your father was gravely ill, he entrusted me to take care of you after his passing. Having been friends with your father for so many years, I consider you like a son of my own. Today I'll have a heart-to-heart with you."
"At your age, others have already settled down and started their businesses. When your father was alive, the family had quite a few businesses, and it didn't matter that the income from the medical hall wasn't substantial. But now things are different. You rely on the medical hall for your livelihood, and although it's in a good location, the storefront is too small and there aren't many customers coming in to get medicines. If this goes on, you inevitably won't be able to keep it open. Even if you sell the medical hall and turn it into silver coins, living off your savings isn't a solution."
"You're a smart fellow and have some talent, why not take the imperial exams and seek a governmental position? Look at my two unfilial sons, they don't come close to your intelligence, but we had them study from a young age, and now they have their own small achievements. Do you know, my youngest son just had his salary increased the other day..."
Du Changqing listened politely for a long time, patiently allowing Official Hu to drain half a pot of tea while speaking until he was dry-mouthed. As Official Hu was about to leave, Du Changqing packed up the remaining half-box of opium cakes that were left in the room. He glanced at the leftover packet of medicinal tea on the table—this was a gift from the girl who sold Puhuang Charcoal. Ah Cheng couldn't bear to throw it away, and after drinking it for two days without any issues, he'd kept it.
Du Changqing wrapped the medicinal tea and the leftover opium cakes together in red paper and stuffed them into the hands of Official Hu, who was about to get into his carriage, "Uncle, you're a busy man, and I won't see you off far. Just past spring, I specially prepared these as a spring gift for you. This medicinal tea inside can help relieve nasal congestion. You must take good care of your health."
Official Hu laughed heartily, "Changqing, that's thoughtful of you." He instructed the carriage driver and then left at a brisk pace.
Once the carriage had departed, the smile on Du Changqing's face collapsed, and as he headed back indoors, he complained, "Finally got rid of that pedantic old man."
Ah Cheng said, "Actually, what Official Hu said isn't wrong, Master, you could go take the imperial examinations..."
Du Changqing glared at him, "Easier said than done. Do you think I don't want to take the exams?" He grumbled, "Even my old man never lectured me like this!"
"There's an old saying, even a dog wags its tail at its master. Now, our medical hall income depends on others," Ah Cheng said with a smile, "Master, you should just bear with it a bit more."
Du Changqing aimed a kick at his backside, "Who's the dog? Who did you say is the dog?"
Ah Cheng rubbed his bottom and chuckled, "I am."
...
When Official Hu returned to the Hu Residence, Lady Hu was inside the room looking over the account books brought by the steward.
Seeing the oil-paper package in Official Hu's hand, Lady Hu snorted, "Went to Renxin Medical Hall again?"
"I couldn't very well refuse the dying request of Elder Brother Du, could I?"
Lady Hu managed a strained smile, "You're always eager to hand over silver coins to them, letting them treat you like a fool. He has no ambition himself, why do you bother yourself with such matters?"
"You womenfolk wouldn't understand!" Official Hu waved his hand dismissively, not wishing to argue further, "Besides, they always send a gift of tea, so what fool are you talking about? Such ugly words!"
Lady Hu gave him a sidelong glance, speaking sarcastically, "They're nothing but a few leftover cakes and some tea dregs, what kind of spring gift is that? You're the only one naive enough."
"Can't win an argument with you, I can't be bothered to explain," Official Hu replied, opening the oil-paper package which, as usual, contained some inexpensive snacks, and today was no different.
He took out the opium cakes and his gaze settled on the packet of tea wrapped neatly.
The packet was tied with coarse red thread, and there were some words written on the white oil-paper. His eyesight wasn't great, so he leaned in to see that there were two lines of poetry, "Poplar flowers also mock the shallowness of human affections, intentionally clinging to clothes, striking the face."
The handwriting was that of a woman's delicate script, each stroke graceful and charming.
Official Hu's eyes brightened; he had a fondness for such refined objects. Even if the tea was just remnants, this poetry-inscribed oil-paper wrapper made it seem much more meaningful.
He instructed a servant, "Brew this medicinal tea. I will drink just this for the next couple of days."
Lady Hu glanced at him, puzzled, "Didn't you used to give the tea they sent to the servants? Why have you suddenly decided to drink it yourself today?" She took another look at the tea packet, "With the fine teas we have at home, why insist on drinking this? What's wrong with you."
"Can the subtlety of refinement ever be measured by silver coins?" Official Hu pronounced as he flared his sleeves, ready to retort, but catching the look on his wife's face, he quickly cleared his throat, "Changqing said this tea can help with nasal polyps."
He whispered, "I'll try it for a few days first."