The sky gradually darkened, yet the clamor on West Market Street did not diminish in the slightest. Du Zi'an settled the trifling matters in the shop, emerged from the inner room carrying an oil-paper lantern, and waved to Lu Li, who was hesitating at the door.
"Doctor Lu, stop looking. Although this location is a bit remote, it wins on being quiet. Come in."
Lu Li had intended to find a different inn for the night, but unexpectedly, Du Zi'an was quick with his hands and feet, immediately finding them a place to stay. She looked up at the somewhat mottled plaque above her head; the four characters "Huichun Medical Hall" appeared somewhat dim in the twilight.
Qingluan looked surprised and whispered, "Isn't this a medical hall? We're going to live in a shop?"
"So what if it's a medical hall? A medical hall is still a house." Du Zi'an coughed lightly, took the lead in lifting the curtain to go inside. "Follow me in."
The shop front was narrow, and the interior was dim; it was already evening, so one couldn't see clearly inside. Lu Li and her companion followed Du Zi'an through the dim front hall, and upon entering the back, they couldn't help but be slightly stunned.
Behind the Huichun Medical Hall, there was actually a small courtyard connected to it.
The small courtyard might not have been inhabited for a long time; a thick layer of dust had accumulated on the ground, and some dry firewood was piled in the corner, taking up half the yard.
Qingluan asked suspiciously, "Young Master Du, the place to stay you spoke of wouldn't be here, would it?"
Du Zi'an touched his nose. "When there used to be a resident doctor in the medical hall, that old man lived here."
Seeing Qingluan frown, Du Zi'an hurriedly added, "Don't look at how broken this yard is; once cleaned up, it's quite nice. Doctor Lu," he observed Lu Li's expression, "it's not that I'm unwilling to help, but land in the Imperial Capital is worth its weight in gold. It's truly not easy to find a suitable house at a reasonable price for a while. Moreover, you've seen the state of Huichun Medical Hall; I'm so poor I can barely afford to cook a meal. How about this," he clapped his hands, "once our medicinal drinks sell well, I will personally find a two-courtyard residence for you to live in. How does that sound?"
Lu Li didn't speak. She took the lantern from Du Zi'an's hand and carefully examined the entire courtyard.
This courtyard was connected to the Huichun Medical Hall in front. While the medical hall was narrow, this courtyard was very spacious. One side of the courtyard bordered a high wall, where one could vaguely see the roof tiles of the neighbor's house. The other side connected to a stone corridor; on one side of the stone corridor were three empty rooms lined up together.
Du Zi'an pointed to the three empty rooms. "Doctor Lu, these three rooms are all very spacious. You and Miss Qingluan can choose whichever one you like. Look, there's a back kitchen and a washroom in front..."
Lu Li's heart stirred.
Walking along the stone corridor, there was indeed a kitchen. The back kitchen was very large, with an earthen stove and pots and pans; a handful of withered firewood was stuffed haphazardly underneath. Further inside, it was even darker, being the place for using the toilet and bathing...
Lu Li stared blankly at the courtyard before her.
The layout of this courtyard was strikingly similar to the layout of the Lu family residence in Qinghe County.
Du Zi'an was still persuading earnestly, "Doctor Lu, look at the stone table in the yard; it's perfect for you to pound medicine at night. This plum tree in front of the window will smell so fragrant when it blooms in winter; young ladies all like it..."
"Wait," Qingluan interrupted him. "Didn't Young Master Du say we're staying here temporarily? How did you get to winter already?"
Du Zi'an choked on his words. "I just said it by habit. Doctor Lu, look..."
"Let's take this place." Lu Li turned her head and gave him a faint smile. "Thank you, Young Master Du."
Seemingly not expecting Lu Li to be so easy to talk to, Du Zi'an was stunned for a moment, then, as if afraid Lu Li would go back on her word, he moved their luggage from outside. He smiled enthusiastically, "In that case, Doctor Lu, please settle in here with peace of mind. Stay as long as you like."
He then found two sets of clean bedding from somewhere and handed them to Qingluan, gave some instructions, and then left with peace of mind.
After he left, Qingluan disapproved, "Miss, how can we live in a shop? We should at least find a proper civilian house to stay in."
Lu Li walked into the room closest to the back kitchen, opened the window. Facing the window, the plum tree had not yet bloomed, standing there lonely.
She gazed at the plum tree and said, "Huichun Medical Hall is located on West Market Street. Further ahead is a restaurant. The Imperial Capital has no curfew, and the West Market has patrols from the Patrol Battalion every night. We can't afford to hire guards. Living here is safer than living elsewhere."
"Besides, this place is closest to the Shen family."
Qingluan thought for a moment, still feeling somewhat indignant. "Anyway, that Du fellow took advantage of us. We live in the shop, and he saves the money he would have helped us advance for rent. Isn't he afraid we'll make off with his medicinal ingredients and run?"
Lu Li couldn't help but laugh.
Du Zi'an only left the key to the courtyard, but he didn't give her the key to the medicine cabinet. Unless she chopped up the medicine cabinets one by one, or found a strongman to carry them away. However, there are patrolling soldiers on West Market at all times, and all around are Du Zi'an's acquaintances. I'm afraid before even walking out of this street, she would be twisted and sent to the yamen.
That Young Master Du, looking like he had no proper form, was actually a shrewd man.
She walked outside, picked up the bamboo broom placed in the courtyard. "Let's clean this place up first."
Qingluan rolled up her sleeves and nodded in agreement.
The small courtyard was spacious, so sweeping and cleaning took extra effort. Also, because it hadn't been inhabited for a long time, even a simple tidying up kept them busy for a long while.
By the time the last bundle of dry firewood in the yard was moved to the back kitchen, the night was already very deep.
Qingluan looked at the courtyard, which now looked brand new, and her spirits lifted. "Miss, this courtyard is really beautiful!"
Lu Li was also somewhat entranced.
The bluestone in the courtyard was swept free of dust and sprinkled with water, appearing clean and fresh. The bowls and pots on the earthen stove in the back kitchen were sorted and piled up, and bundles of firewood were stacked neatly in the corner.
All three rooms were cleaned up. Since no one lived there, the things inside were very simple. In the room Lu Li stayed in, lifting the mottled bamboo curtain, there was an old painted screen, blocking the round table and wardrobe in the outer room. Walking around the screen, there was a yellow wooden bed with an autumn-gold mattress spread on it. In front of the window was a writing desk, reflecting the plum tree outside; it was elegant and simple, very beautiful.
Qingluan said happily, "Tomorrow I'll write a scroll to hang on the wall to cover that old mark. And when the weather gets warmer, we'll