Chapter 1066: Chapter 1045: The Little Divine Doctor Has Arrived
Though she wanted to stay outside, by noon, she still had to go ho for lunch. Most importantly, Old Madam Liu had just arrived, and the first al had to be shared together.
The three of them reluctantly headed ho.
However, Old Madam Liu did not reprimand them, but with a faint smile, asked them to sit down and eat.
After they finished eating, she took Manbao’s hand and told them, “The new house the family bought is not far from Changqing Alley, just around two alleys away. Knowing you’re used to living here, there’s no need to move. Just co and visit every now and then.”
The three of them nodded vigorously.
Old Madam Liu said, “I have brought quite a few things for you, Manbao. Your family entrusted to bring you so food, clothes, and other necessities. I’ll leave Nanny Liu to help you sort them out.”
Manbao gratefully thanked her.
Old Madam Liu smiled and said, “You need to learn dical skills and study, so your ti is even tighter than theirs. Leave these mundane matters to the servants.”
After discussing these matters, she brought up the recent event of reputation enhancent. She sighed and said, “You all were too hasty. This capital has nothing else in abundance but people. With many people cos complex power dynamics, and now it’s unclear who is behind the scenes involved in this matter.”
“Regardless of who it is, once people start investigating this matter, they will inevitably trace it back to you,” said Old Madam Liu. “Hiring soone to enhance your reputation is not a very secretive affair—it will be easily discovered.”
Manbao responded, “Let them investigate. After all, there are many who used this thod for gaining reputation, and we haven’t broken any laws.”
“It’s not about breaking the law, but so might feel you’re gaining undeserved fa.”
Bai Shan said, “But those scholars also spend money to gain reputation, and I did as well. Why isn’t Grandmother worried that my reputation is undeserved?”
“It’s different for poetry and dical practice. Whether poetry is good or not, everyone can sense it to so degree when they hear it, but the quality of dical skills is not sothing a layperson can discern,” Old Madam Liu explained carefully. “Therefore, only scholars tend to engage in buying reputation, which is generally not frowned upon. But for a doctor to do the sa, if they uncover it, they might suspect more and feel that your reputation is ill-gotten.”
Manbao thought it over and, feeling particularly optimistic, said, “It’s okay. The young master’s case wasn’t fabricated, and there will always be people who believe in , as long as there are patients seeking my service.”
She continued, “The reason we thought of enhancing our reputation was to gain more opportunities to et the Emperor, wasn’t it? As long as the reputation builds up, what others temporarily think of it doesn’t really matter.”
Old Madam Liu tapped her forehead and said, “This concerns your reputation, and you seem to be taking it lightly.”
“As for remote areas, we can’t control that, but among the nobility and elite families in the capital, one needs only to inquire at State Duke Pi’s residence to confirm the truth. And commoners are the quickest to follow lead; I’m also practicing in Jishi Hall, where my good reputation is established. My reputation won’t be easily tarnished, and distant places we’ll just ignore for now. We’ll address future issues later.”
If they couldn’t survive the test of adversity, no near or far would matter.
Seeing how swiftly and thoroughly she had considered matters, even including those he hadn’t anticipated, Old Madam Liu sighed and patted her hand, saying, “In the blink of an eye, you’ve all grown up.”
Embarrassed, Manbao smiled.
“Since you understand in your hearts, you make your decisions. If you’re unsure about anything later, co and ask us.”
The three of them agreed and together escorted Old Madam Liu back to Daliu Alley. There, a branch of the city’s protective river flowed by, and the Bai Family’s newly purchased house had a side gate facing this water. The alley was nad for the rows of willow trees that drooped into the water.
This house was slightly smaller than the one they were renting, but it had two sections, which was more than enough for Old Madam Liu and Ms.Zheng.
She also left rooms for the three children, inviting them to co and stay whenever they were free.
Old Madam Liu led them to the main hall in the backyard, where the servants had moved in the luggage but hadn’t unpacked it yet. As soon as she returned, they brought hot water for washing and served hot tea.
Old Madam Liu waved her hand to dismiss the servants, “This house’s position isn’t as good as the rented one, and the natural light is inferior as well. It’s a pity that our family’s other courtyard is rented out, and it wouldn’t be right to evict the tenant. We’ll have to wait until next year to reclaim the house.”
She continued, “That house is even better, with a small third section, and when we reclaim it, you should move there. It’ll be more convenient for your studies.”
Bai Shan, who hadn’t seen their family’s other courtyard yet, curiously asked, “Isn’t it said to be a two-section house?”
“It’s larger than a two-section. Back in the day, your father had a sense of elegance, so he split off a part of the back to make a small garden, turning it into three sections. He and his classmates as well as colleagues loved holding literary and poetry gatherings at ho.”
Bai Shan nodded.
Old Madam Liu shared so stories about Bai Qi’s days in the capital, then said, “Although our days in the capital were short back then, we made so friends, and we’ve kept in touch over the years. Your mother and I will start making social calls in the next few days, which will keep us from having ti for you.”
She said, “I won’t hold today’s actions against you, but you must go to school tomorrow, understood?”
Bai Shan and Bai Erlang, feeling a weight lifted from their chests, nodded repeatedly, assuring her that even if it rained knives from the sky, they would certainly attend school tomorrow.”
It was impossible for knives to rain down; they simply changed the order of their travel. Manbao and Daji first dropped them off at the Imperial Academy, ensuring they entered before driving to Jishi Hall.
From afar, before reaching the gates of Jishi Hall, Manbao peeked out quietly and saw that many people were still gathered. She whispered to Daji, “Let’s go to Baohuo dical Clinic and climb over from there to Jishi Hall.”
Daji, “… Miss Man, no matter which way you enter, don’t you ultimately have to open the door and run the clinic? It will still be blocked in the end.”
Realizing he was right, Manbao saw no need to sneak over from another pharmacy stealthily.
Daji suggested, “Why don’t we just take a break today instead of working? Rest for a couple more days?”
“No, instead of wasting ti like that, I might as well go see Su Jian at State Duke Pi’s residence.” Manbao was naturally not one to give up easily; the more she couldn’t go to the pharmacy, the more she wanted to.
She glanced at the people gathered in front and decisively pulled down the curtain, saying, “Let’s go, we’re going to work.”
Hesitating montarily, Daji spurred the horses forward. Those lingering around the entrance of Jishi Hall saw this sowhat familiar carriage stop in front, and their eyes lit up, “The Little Divine Doctor has co, the Little Divine Doctor is here!”
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