The Lucky Farmgirl

Ms.Feng let out a breath of relief and then looked at Zhou Liru, feeling intrigued. She hadn’t expected the person most fortunate in the marriage arrangement to be the always silent and sensible Liru, rather than the smartest and most capable Lijun. This really exceeded Ms.Feng’s expectations.

As for the Book of Documents family, such a high-ranking official, just hearing about them makes her dizzy.

At this moment, Minister Liu’s wife was also sitting in the carriage, happily sipping her tea. Seeing that Liu Huan hadn’t gotten into the carriage, she couldn’t help but ask, "Where did your young master go again?"

The maid laughed and replied, "Old Madam, the young master is riding a horse, accompanying Lord Bai and the others."

Minister Liu’s wife lifted the curtain and glanced back, seeing him riding alongside Bai Shan and Bai Erlang, faces full of joy. She slightly shook her head and put down the curtain, laughing, "This child never seems to grow up."

The maid laughed, "It’ll be better once he’s married."

Minister Liu’s wife shook her head, "Let’s wait another year. Next year—no, it should be the year after—that’s when we’ll arrange his engagement. Let him mature and be psychologically prepared; then, after about half a year to a year, he can marry."

The maid chuckled, "That’s not long. Just a little over a year, and perhaps in two years, Old Madam might be holding a great-grandson."

Minister Liu’s wife couldn’t help but feel happy, but she said, "We already have great-grandchildren; I don’t have many desires, just hope they all stay safe and sound."

The two families tentatively reached an agreement, and Minister Liu’s wife informed Minister Liu of the good news.

Minister Liu exhaled and said, "That month’s salary wasn’t for nothing."

Almost a year has passed, and finally, there is some progress in the marriage arrangement.

The Zhou Family was also pleased. One of the most pressing marriage cases was resolved, well, not yet finalized, but Liu Huan is familiar with their family, and Manbao serves in the same court as the grandfather of the family. They know each other thoroughly, and now both families have communicated, so it probably won’t be a problem.

Thus, everyone’s eyes fell on Zhou Lixue and Zhou Ligu.

Zhou Lixue and Zhou Ligu felt their scalps tingling. They stood firm, pretending to know nothing, while privately confronting Zhou Liru, "Why did you agree so quickly? Can’t you test him more?"

"Exactly, exactly, girls should be a bit more reserved."

Zhou Liru responded, "Tell that to Grandpa and Grandma. Do I need you to teach me how to handle things?"

Zhou Lixue was shocked and looked at Zhou Liru, "You, you’ve become so assertive now?"

Zhou Liru tossed her head, "Little Aunt said I should be more assertive."

Zhou Lixue and Zhou Ligu dared not provoke her, quickly retreating. They better work hard and strive to take the Ming Classic exam after spring.

The next day, Manbao took the equally resting Zhou Liru to Jishi Hall. As for Liu Sanniang, she had to be on duty at the Imperial Hospital today.

Manbao’s luck wasn’t great this year; she drew the straw for duty on New Year’s Eve, sigh, when the court seals up, other departments all completely seal and rest, but the Imperial Hospital can’t.

Manbao swayed her head as she arrived at Jishi Hall.

Stepping off the stool from the carriage, she looked up to see a carriage parked under the opposite wall, which was unusual, so she took an extra glance.

Just as she was about to turn inside Jishi Hall, someone jumped off from the carriage opposite. The person looked excitedly at Zhou Man, "Imperial Doctor Zhou—"

Manbao exclaimed "Ah," stopping her steps and smiling, "Mr. Mei, you came so early? Come in, please."

If he had come, why wasn’t he waiting inside the medicine shop?

Mr. Mei smiled and turned to help out a person from the carriage. That person was wrapped entirely in a cloak but appeared to have a graceful figure, obviously a beautiful lady, well, though her face wasn’t visible, her figure told Manbao so.

Manbao and Zhou Liru both stopped, curiously waiting to see.

A senior maid also descended from the carriage, nimbly jumped down, and helped the lady from the other side. Together with Mr. Mei, they crossed the street with the lady, and Manbao knew the patient wasn’t Mr. Mei but the lady wrapped from head to toe.

Seeing the lady bundled up warmly, Manbao knew she feared the cold. She followed them and nodded, inviting them inside.

The medicine boy inside Jishi Hall heard the commotion and lifted the heavy curtain, nearly bumping into Mr. Mei. He quickly apologized and, upon seeing Zhou Man beside him, joyfully said, "Doctor Zhou Junior, you’ve come! No, no, hit my mouth, hit my mouth, it should be Imperial Doctor Zhou. Imperial Doctor Zhou, please come in."

The voice was particularly loud, audible across half a street.

Manbao and the boy pulled the heavy curtain aside to allow Mr. Mei and his company to enter first before playfully teasing, "Did you argue with the medicine boys from next door and opposite again?"

Clearly, she came earlier in the month, and every time she came, he would shout like this.

The medicine boy chuckled upon seeing the curtain of Hundred Herbs Hall opposite being lifted, and a head popped out. He proudly lifted his head toward them.

The person opposite shook their head and dropped the curtain with a snap, then turned back and spoke to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, it’s the father and daughter who sought medical help from our medicine shop the other day; they’ve gone to find Imperial Doctor Zhou."

The shopkeeper, initially unconcerned, immediately rose from behind the counter, "Imperial Doctor Zhou has taken the case?"

"Looks like he recognizes them and even opened the curtain for them, so they must have entrusted it to Zhou Residence. Shopkeeper, would you like to go and take a look?"

The shopkeeper pondered for a moment and then said, "Go, bring the batch of medicine I ruined last time, hmm, I will go consult with Shopkeeper Zheng."

After returning to the capital, Manbao would occasionally come to Jishi Hall, partly to visit Doctor Ding and others, and partly to see if there were any challenging ailments.

Seeing her arrival, Doctor Ding and others nodded slightly while they continued seeing patients.

Manbao’s consultation room was currently used by Shopkeeper Zheng, who might not open consultation for patients even once every half month or ten days. The usage wasn’t as frequent as Manbao’s current usage, so the actual users were Liu Sanniang and Zhou Liru.

Whenever they were on break, they would come here to offer free consultations, well, to accumulate experience.

Manbao directly had Mr. Mei lead the person into her consultation room, lowering the curtain. It was a bit cold inside, no, it was very cold.

The smart medicine boy brought them a brazier, glanced at Mr. Mei, clearly recognizing him, and as he left, gently tugged Zhou Liru.

Zhou Liru went out with him.

The medicine boy whispered, "These people were here the other day and before, Doctor Tao and Doctor Ding both consulted for them, but couldn’t prescribe medicine. How did Imperial Doctor Zhou come across them?"

Zhou Liru whispered back, "It’s Little Aunt’s friend’s request. What is the ailment?"

"Don’t know," the medicine boy plainly replied, "Doctor Ding discussed the condition without letting me know."

Inside, the lady took off the hooded cloak and removed the fur collar she’d been wearing, only then lifting her head to look at Zhou Man.

Manbao slightly frowned upon seeing her complexion, her pale face and furrowed brow, seemingly suppressing something.

"You’re in pain?" Manbao examined her from head to toe.

The lady clasped her abdomen and said, "Yes, my stomach hurts."