Perfect Match – CH 024

Chapter 24

Physician Fu remained gentle and first asked Deng Ruyun’s name.

Deng Ruyun gave a false name, “Liang Yun.”

The man also gave his name: “My name is Fu Chunbai. Although I’m new to Xi’an Prefecture, I have been practicing medicine for many years. Master Liang’s medicine-making skills are very proficient, but his use of medicine is not very particular.”

This last half-sentence was a subtle dig at Deng Ruyun, implying that there was nothing wrong with her medicine-making practices and urging her to speak frankly.

He was somewhat surprised that she actually wanted him to speak, but without further ado, he picked out a box of Huanglian Qingwei Pills from among the various pills and ointments. ^{see note below}

This medicine was for people with excess heat in their stomach. It mainly used more than ten medicinal herbs, including Coptis chinensis, gypsum, Scrophularia ningpoensis, and Rehmannia glutinosa, and was a very common pill on the market.

Physician Fu explained, “In this prescription, Coptis chinensis, gypsum, and gardenia are all used to clear heat and are the main ingredients. However, these herbs are bitter and cold in nature, so the auxiliary ingredients must include Rehmannia glutinosa, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Scrophularia ningpoensis, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis to clear heat and detoxify, nourish yin and generate fluids, and replenish qi and harmonize the body.”

Deng Ruyun had no objection to his explanation of these principles, but he crushed one of the pills and placed it on the tip of his tongue.

“Master Liang also used these herbs to make this pill, but its bitter and cold taste is much stronger than ordinary Huanglian Qingwei Pills. This indicates that Master Liang’s pill contains excessive amounts of several bitter and cold main herbs, while herbs like Xuan Shen and Zhi Mu are clearly insufficient.”

He continued, “I’ve also heard these past few days that Xuan Shen and Zhi Mu are overpriced in the Xi’an Prefecture’s medicine market. I understand Master Liang’s reluctance to use them, but selling such a pill to patients might be fine for the healthy, but I fear it will severely damage the spleen and stomach of women, children, the elderly, and those with weak spleens. That would not be saving lives; it would be harming them.”

Having said this, he pushed the pill back to Deng Ruyun.

The manager of Cixin Hall, listening nearby, shook his head with obvious disappointment.

Deng Ruyun did not immediately argue, only glancing at this Physician Fu.

“Judging from your accent, physician, you’re from the capital?”

He chuckled lightly. “I’m from Zhili, and I did travel in the capital for a few years. But whether in Zhili or Shaanxi, Master Liang’s pills will not work.”

His smile was gentle and handsome, but his words were anything but.

Deng Ruyun did not deny his words; instead, she nodded.

“Physician Fu looks young, but his medical knowledge is clear, and he’s both kind and skilled. I just wonder if Physician Fu has noticed that among my prepared medicines, there’s a kind of Coptis chinensis stomach-clearing honey pill.”

After she finished speaking, Xiuniang took out the honey pill.

The man smiled. “This honey pill is precisely the kind of medicine I thought could not pass testing.”

He took one, crushed it, placed it on his tongue, tapped it twice, and a smile appeared in his gentle eyes.

“I’ve heard honey is not cheap, Master Liang; you’re certainly generous with the amount of honey in this medicine. But this kind of stomach-clearing pill is inherently a bitter and cold medicine for purging heat; making it into a honey pill will inevitably weaken its stomach-clearing and heat-purging power. With so much honey in this medicine, the effect will be much slower.”

The usual Coptis chinensis stomach-clearing pills were too strong, while these honey pills were too weak; neither was suitable.

The shopkeeper could not help but say.

“Making medicine is no joke. Although you two were brought in by our master, we really dare not use medicine made like this.”

Upon hearing this, Xiuniang became anxious, not wanting any other medicine.

Deng Ruyun, however, raised her hand to signal her not to worry. She took the two medicines and asked the newly arrived Physician Fu.

“Physician Fu, do you think my ordinary stomach-clearing pills would be effective on strong, able-bodied men who do hard labor?”

Physician Fu nodded. “That would be fine. They can withstand your very cold medicine. They might even see results after just one day and be quite satisfied.”

He understood Deng Ruyun’s meaning but smiled and said, “But what if a delicate young girl or a wealthy lady buys them?”

But upon hearing this, Deng Ruyun immediately turned and called the shopkeeper.

“Does your Cixin Hall really have delicate young girls or wealthy ladies buying these Coptis chinensis stomach-clearing pills?”

This question startled Physician Fu.

The shopkeeper also paused. “Cixin Hall is located in a small alley, surrounded by ordinary people who earn a meager living through hard work.”

As he spoke, he seemed to recall something.

“Those here with a burning sensation in their stomachs are mostly either drunk or they work for wealthy families and have indulged in some fatty meat. Those who can drink and eat meat here are mostly strong men or robust women; there are not many delicate young ladies or wives who come here. If they did come, or if they were buying it for their children, they would not buy this bitter medicine; they’d probably prefer the honey pills, which they can take slowly and get better gradually.”

These words came from the shopkeeper himself, and after speaking, he froze.

Fu Chunbai’s gaze shifted from the pills to Deng Ruyun’s face, his eyes now scrutinizing her more closely.

Deng Ruyun remained unhurried, her smile as gentle as his.

“So, Physician Fu, perhaps you’re used to seeing high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital, unaware that we ordinary people use medicine for these few reasons. If Cixin Hall were located on a busy street, I would not dare supply medicine like this.”

The reasons were specific, the prices low; these medicines were not just randomly delivered, they were specially selected for Cixin Hall.

She smiled as gently as he did, but her words were anything but.

Fu Chunbai was momentarily at a loss for words and could not help but glance at her a few more times.

He noticed that this Master Liang was pretty; at first glance, he might have mistaken her for an apprentice, but judging from her speech, she was clearly a seasoned pharmacist, someone who had been making and selling medicine for who knew how long.

She probably used to supply medicine to small pharmacies like this and knew very well who came to seek treatments. Thinking back on the other medicines he had selected that failed the tests, it seemed they all had similar reasons.

However, based solely on verbal arguments, Fu Chunbai did not believe that it was sufficient to conclude that there was nothing wrong with the medicines prepared by this Pharmacist Liang.

After all, making finished medicine was not something that could be done just by saying it was good.

He said, “Cixin Hall does not currently sell medicine like this. Whether Master Liang’s special medicine is effective or not, we will have to wait and see.”

He did agree to keep Deng Ruyun’s medicine for the time being.

But seeing his still somewhat skeptical attitude, Deng Ruyun scoffed.

“If my finished medicine does not sell well, I will not say anything more. But if it does sell well, Physician Fu, you’ve wasted a lot of time for no reason. What do we say then?”

She spoke with confidence, a hint of pride in her eyes.

The man smiled immediately, his gaze falling on her deliberately thickened eyebrows. For a moment, he thought that if this Master Liang were a young woman, she might be quite radiant…

The thought flashed through his mind, and the man politely withdrew his gaze.

He said, “If this truly delays Master Liang’s business, I have nothing of value but a small donkey. Master Liang, please take it.”

Xiuniang glared at him. “What would we do with your donkey?”

Deng Ruyun almost laughed out loud, but not wanting to be discovered as a woman disguised as a man, she simply said,

“I do not want Physician Fu’s donkey, but if my medicine is truly effective, Physician Fu must help me promote it for several months.”

What use was the donkey to her? She wanted him to help her build a reputation in Xi’an!

Upon hearing this, he immediately understood. When he looked at her again, his smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression.

“Alright. It’s a deal, Master Liang.”

… …

On the way back, Xiuniang kept grumbling, “What kind of physician is this, a donkey from Zhili? He jumps to conclusions without even understanding the situation. He will steal his donkey later.”

Deng Ruyun found it amusing.

Putting everything else aside, that man did seem to possess some genuine medical skills. If she could take over his services and make a name for herself in selling her medicines, things would be much easier in Xi’an Prefecture.

The two walked back to their small courtyard in the east of the city, talking as they went.

When they got home, they heard that Teng Yue had already returned. He had searched for her but could not find her, and upon hearing that she had gone to the streets, he was about to go look for her.

Deng Ruyun was secretly startled. She did not want him to know that she was making and selling medicines to support the family.

He only knew that the family was still in the medicinal herb business and that Aunt Juan and the others also made and sold some medicines, just to keep themselves occupied. He did not know that she intended to make a living this way after leaving the Teng family to support the family through this means.

She hurriedly asked, “Where did he go looking for me? How long has he been gone?”

Aunt Juan replied, “I did not tell him where you went. I only said you were just wandering around the streets. He was about to go out, but someone from the Teng family suddenly came, as if they had some urgent business and wanted him to go back.”

Aunt Juan said they were originally going to call her back, too, but it seemed quite urgent. “General Teng went ahead on his own.”

Deng Ruyun did not know what had happened to the Teng family.

However, Teng Yue had been living in the east of the city lately and had indeed been there for quite some time.

This was not good.

*

At the Teng Mansion.

When Teng Yue arrived, the carriage was already prepared.

He was very surprised. “Where did things happen? Why is Mother rushing over?”

He could not help but guess that something had happened to his maternal uncle’s family, but Old Madam Lin said, “Nothing happened anywhere. Mother is going to Wutai Mountain.”

“Mother is going to Wutai Mountain to worship Buddha? There’s no need to be in such a hurry, is there?” Teng Yue really did not understand.

Madam Lin called him to a side hall before speaking to him.

“It is to worship Buddha, but it’s not just about worshipping Buddha.”

She explained that she had just received news that day from the wife of an official in the capital. Several wives of high-ranking officials in the capital had arranged to go to Wutai Mountain to worship Buddha, and because the journey was long, they would be staying for a few days.

Since they were going, other wives of officials would also be accompanying them.

“It’s said to be for worshipping Buddha, but with so many wives of officials gathering, it’s an excellent opportunity to network. We in Xi’an Prefecture already find it difficult to network with these high-ranking families. If I can make connections with them this time, that would be perfect.”

She also knew that Prince Enhua’s Mansion had blocked Teng Yue’s promotion to Guerrilla General; the promotion did not go through, and he was transferred back to Xi’an.

Although Teng Yue did not seem to care at all, Old Madam Lin became anxious, fearing that Prince Enhua’s Mansion would hold a grudge and take further action. If she could cultivate relationships with the prominent families in the capital, she would not be without connections if similar situations arose in the future.

She said the news would arrive in time. “Those ladies have already set off. It’s a long way from Xi’an; a few more days’ delay would make it too late. I will set off today and arrive in seven or eight days.”

Teng Yue was exasperated. He wanted to persuade his mother not to be so anxious; the family’s situation was no longer what it had been during his father’s time, but he could not change her mind.

It was his younger sister, Teng Xiao, who came to see their mother off, who said softly, “Brother, do not try to dissuade Mother. If you do not let her go, she will not be able to sleep at home. It’s better for her to stay at the foot of the Buddha for a while and sleep peacefully.”

As soon as she spoke, Old Madam Lin frowned and glanced at her.

“Even when I’m not here, you must go to the school every day.”

But Teng Xiao did not respond to this.

Seeing this, Old Madam Lin simply called to her daughter, “You are coming with me to Wutai Mountain.”

Teng Xiao snorted and turned to leave, saying, “Mother, go by yourself. I’m going back to sleep.”

Old Madam Lin was furious. Teng Yue, Nanny Wei, and Qingxuan all tried to calm her down.

Fortunately, Old Madam Lin was in a hurry to leave, so she only told Nanny Wei, who was staying at home, “Make sure Xiao Jie’er goes to school every day.”

Nanny Wei did not think she had that ability, but she could only agree for now.

Old Madam Lin also left Qingxuan behind to look after her, refusing to let Teng Yue dissuade her further. She then set off for Wutai Mountain with Ziyuan and a group of guards.

Teng Yue had no choice but to admit that his sister was not wrong. His mother had been anxious about these things for a long time, so it was better to let her go and put her mind at ease.

As soon as Madam Lin left, Teng Xiao returned to Teng Yue’s side.

She was visibly in much better spirits, asking Teng Yue, “Brother, when is sister-in-law coming back? She was injured while out, and I prepared something for her.”

“What is it?” Teng Yue asked.

Teng Xiao would not tell him, “I will tell you when I see sister-in-law.”

Teng Yue had a pretty good idea, but he did not say anything.

Thinking back to when their mother was home, his younger sister was always restless because of her studies, spending most of her time cooped up in the courtyard, with little interaction between them. Now that their mother was not home, his younger sister was willing to spend time with her.

Teng Yue was delighted and generously waived her school fees for the next few days.

“With Mother away, you can relax for a while.”

After he finished speaking, he saw his sister’s little face brighten up.

“I will bring Sister-in-law a few more things later.”

That was exactly what Teng Yue meant, and he nodded with a smile.

He himself was a bit introverted; he wondered if Xiao Jie’er’s temperament would be more compatible with her than his own.

*

Teng Yue returned to the small courtyard in the east of the city and told her about his mother’s departure.

Deng Ruyun was somewhat surprised, but not entirely astonished.

Old Madam Lin had always been extremely attentive to making friends through diplomacy, a practice she had maintained from Jinzhou to Xi’an.

However, Teng Xiao was quite averse to it. Old Madam Lin made her go to other people’s homes every day to study with their daughters, something she loathed most, something she had always disliked since childhood.

Teng Yue was unaware that she knew these things and simply said to her, “Xiao Jie’er asked when you’re going back. I thought if you’re comfortable staying here, and since there’s nothing much going on at home, you could stay a few more days. When you go back, just invite her to have a meal together.”

Deng Ruyun nodded in agreement.

However, what was more important to Teng Yue was that his transfer appointment was coming soon. Before taking up his post in Xi’an, he needed to return to Ningxia to settle some trivial matters. He told her about his impending transfer back to Xi’an Prefecture. She blinked several times, lost in thought, her eyelashes fluttering beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows.

But she did not seem displeased, which relieved Teng Yue.

He was afraid she would not want to see him at all…

Since she was not upset, he simply said he had to return to Ningxia in a couple of days, a trip that would take at least seven or eight days.

She nodded slowly. Teng Yue said, “My mother and I will not be home for a few days. You and my younger sister can look after each other. If anything happens, just go find Congying. I will leave some people for you.”

As he spoke, remembering her past actions, he added, “Do not try to handle everything yourself. Be sure to tell me. Even things back in our hometown of Jinzhou, I can take care of for you.”

She nodded again, but Teng Yue felt her nod was perfunctory and could only go back and instruct Congying himself.

The two stood amidst the forsythia stalks drying in the bright sun. The forsythia fruits, which had been lying lazily on the ground, stirred with a rustling sound as a breeze swept through, but the two standing among them remained motionless.

Aunt Juan passed by the nearby doorway and saw the two talking. Afterward, she saw him bend down and gently pat her sleeve.

“Your back injury has not healed yet; why are you drying the medicine with me? You’ve got your sleeve all covered.”

He gently brushed the dust off the girl’s sleeve and even removed two forsythia fruits that had accidentally stuck to the hem.

Aunt Juan noticed that Yunniang had turned her face away from him, but the man’s gaze lingered on her for a few moments.

Fang Juan seemed thoughtful.

… …

There was still no news from Cixin Hall, but Deng Ruyun had already gathered most of the information on the pharmacies in Xi’an Prefecture.

Xiuniang said, “I think they are not as good at business as we are. No wonder Inspector Sun’s Cixin Hall is not making much money. But even if we wanted to take over a small pharmacy like this, we’d still be seven or eight hundred taels short at most.”

Even if Deng Ruyun offered three sticks of incense to the God of Wealth every day, she could not come up with seven or eight hundred taels in a short time.

However, she had already decided to sell all the unused items in her old home in Jinzhou. Rather than leaving them in the old house, it was safer to have the hundred or eighty taels of silver in hand.

Aunt Juan had already contacted someone to go back to Jinzhou to check on things for them.

But the person returned with news not long after.

The messenger said that something bad had happened. The mute soldier guarding the Deng family’s old house was nowhere to be found, and Deng Ruyun’s uncle, Deng Yaocheng, and aunt, Madam Zheng, had poisoned the dogs in the courtyard.

They had poisoned three old dogs, taken all of Deng Ruyun’s belongings from the old house, and even cut down the old tree in the courtyard.

[Note]: All information related to traditional Chinese medicine and pharmaceuticals in this article was based on materials consulted by the author. However, the author was not a professional and could not verify the information’s authenticity or usability. If you had similar symptoms, please consult a physician. did not use medication lightly based on the descriptions in this book. Please remember this!