Chapter 94: Colleagues Going Home Together on the Way Back From Work
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Liu Shimei shook her head. “I’m just an apprentice under Doctor Du Gong. I haven’t taken him as my Master yet. I learned everything myself.”
“How long have you been in the Zheng Medical Hall?” asked the old man.
“Only recently.” Liu Shimei looked at him and smiled. “You’re not from the registry department, are you?”
The old man did not insist on asking any more questions. He took out a silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on the table. “With your medical skills, this doctor from the Zheng Medical Hall is not worthy of being your Master. It’s better not to acknowledge him as your Master, lest you ruin your future! You have a good heart. You don’t have to look for the rest. This old man will come to you tomorrow to get the medicine!”
With that, he turned around and left.
Xu Xian was surprised to see him walk out of the door. He turned to Liu Shimei and asked, “Miss Zhi Liu, what does that old man mean?”
“It means that he will come to us tomorrow to take the medicine.” Liu Shimei was not surprised that this old man could take out silver. Instead, he became interested in his words.
How could a patient who was seeking treatment say something like ‘a doctor from the Zheng Medical Hall is not worthy of being your Master’?
Could it be that he had a powerful background?
Anyway, he would come again tomorrow.
Liu Shimei did not take it to heart. As for the silver ingot, she handed it to Xu Xian and said, “When this old man’s sore is cured, calculate how much silver it will cost and I’ll give you the rest.”
“What? Why don’t you want it?” Xu Xian asked in surprise.
Liu Shimei glanced at him and said, “It’s not that I don’t want the silver, but I heard that you still have a few younger brothers and sisters to support at home. Your father is sick, and you’re the only one earning money to support the family. This bit of silver is just icing on the cake for me, but it’s a timely gift for you. So, don’t argue with me. I’m too lazy to compete with others.”
Xu Xian was speechless.
He wanted to ask: How did you know about my family’s situation?
However, on second thought, Liu Shimei usually ran errands in the Zheng Medical Hall. Although she was an apprentice, she was like a handyman like him. Naturally, she could obtain more information.
She did not like to gossip, but that did not mean she could not hear others gossiping!
Liu Shimei was already busy with other matters.
However, as long as he could help Liu Shimei, Xu Xian would do it.
Liu Shimei smiled faintly and thought, ‘I didn’t misjudge him. He knows how to be grateful.’
However, she did not say much.
When it was time to get off work, Liu Shimei walked out of the Zheng Medical Hall and headed towards the Liang Residence. Xu Xian followed her out. “Miss Zhi Liu, please wait!”
“What’s the matter?” She stopped in her tracks and looked at him.
Xu Xian was about the same age as Liang Yi, but he was nowhere near Liang Yi’s youthful and high-spirited appearance.
He was a handsome young man, but he was too shy and unconfident, robbing him of his youth’s brilliance. The heavy family’s finances had bent his back.
Fortunately, after today’s interaction, it could be seen that his waist had not bent!
Xu Xian was a little embarrassed and said, “Its nothing. I just know that you live in Willow Alley. My house is in Yanghua Alley, near Willow Alley. It’s on the way to your house.”
Liu Shimei pursed her lips and did not say anything, thinking to herself, ‘I probably won’t be staying in Willow Alley much longer.’
Willow Alley was the back alley of the Liang Residence. She used the back door every day, which was why it gave people the feeling that she lived in a commoner’s district behind it.
Xu Xian felt even more embarrassed when she did not say anything. He said, “I see that you’re a young lady. You always come and go alone every day. It’s quite a distance from the medicine hall. Why don’t I send you back?”
Afraid that she would misunderstand his intentions, he added, “I don’t have any other intentions. Firstly, it’s on the way. Secondly, I just feel that it’s not safe for a lady like you to be outside.”
“Alright, let’s go then.” Liu Shimei did not have much of an opinion.
To her, it was normal for her colleagues to go home together after work. It was normal for them to go to a gathering, let alone just walk together.
It was just that the times did not allow a man and a woman to be alone. Women had to think about their own reputations.
However, she did not expect that her young puppy would see her walking back with Xu Xian!