Drunk Bamboo

"You rarely have a day off, but you have to accompany me to study at Renjitang. Thank you for your help."

Xie Yuzhu and Qi Zhen were walking together in the alley.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of Niuma Lane. As the lane was narrow, it was inconvenient for the carriage to pass through, so they got off the carriage and walked forward.

Qi Zhen led the way, turned slightly, and said to Xie Yuzhu with a smile: "Master Zhao of Renji Hall is a good friend of my grandfather. He is an excellent doctor and has devoted his life to studying medicine, but he does not seek fame or wealth, and only treats the people. The princess said that I accompanied her, but it is better to say that I asked the princess to come and study together."

Qi Zhen was on duty in the palace and had only four or five days of rest each month. Since Xie Yuzhu wanted to learn medicine, she had to find a proper master for her.

The first person who came to my mind was Hall Master Zhao.

but……

After a pause, he reminded Xie Yuzhu first: "However, Grandpa Zhao doesn't like royal nobles, he only treats common people, and his temper is a bit strange, Princess, please forgive me when the time comes."

Xie Yuzhu smiled and said, "People with abilities always have tempers. I understand."

No matter how prosperous a city is, there is always a group of people living at the bottom. Beneath the bustling city is the hustle and bustle of life.

Niuma Lane is the place that most resembles the living conditions of ordinary people that Xie Yuzhu has seen since he came to Zhongdu.

The alley is winding, and the short houses on both sides are old and dilapidated. Some people are washing clothes, some are hanging clothes, some are cooking, some are setting up stalls, and some are rushing around, moving things...

There are babies crying, children laughing, couples arguing, and peddlers shouting...

It is both chaotic and orderly.

Yunling carefully protected Xie Yuzhu, and from time to time reminded her of the puddles or rotten melon peels and vegetable leaves that suddenly appeared under her feet.

"Give it! Give it!"

All I heard was a loud male voice, and he ran past with a bamboo basket that was taller than his forehead. The basket swayed left and right, and the vegetables in it bounced a few times, but not even a leaf fell out of the basket.

Yun Ling pulled her to the side and said, "Princess, be careful."

Xie Yuzhu smiled and said, "It's okay. I didn't expect there is such a down-to-earth place in Zhongdu."

Qi Zhen said embarrassedly: "The people living in Niuma Lane are ordinary people. They have not received much education and have no rules. Princess, please don't be offended."

Xie Yuzhu shook his head, without a trace of disgust on his face.

"This is what most ordinary people live like every day, working hard for a living. If it weren't for them working at the grassroots level, how would we get enough food to eat and clothes to wear?"

Qi Zhen was relieved: "What the princess said is true. Listening to the princess' tone, I can empathize with her. It seems like she has experienced the same life before?"

Xie Yuzhu smiled faintly: "Except for Your Majesty, who else is not an ordinary person?"

In modern times, she had seen places poorer than this.

In Rao Country, it’s not that there aren’t any, but it’s because she has been to too few places.

Qi Zhen stopped at a shabby place where even the wooden door was a little crooked. The first two characters on the plaque were already blurred, and only the last character "堂" was still somewhat recognizable.

There was a row of people standing outside the door, all of them looked sick. They had arrived at Renjitang.

"Get out! Get out! Can't you see I have a bunch of patients waiting for me here? I don't have time to see any patients!"

The two men were chased out by a white-haired old man.

One of the middle-aged men flattered him, "Master Zhao, my husband only trusts your medical skills. He is so sick that he can't get out of bed. We are paying a large sum of money, and we only hope that you can come and treat my husband!"

In a moment, Hall Master Zhao's hair turned white, his eyes were bright, his back was straight, and he was full of energy: "Your Li's illness is not only treatable by me. You can find any doctor in the city for a large sum of money! Don't bother me anymore!"

The tall man who was bringing someone to see the doctor shouted, "Why don't you leave!"

Another young man led the middle-aged man and stumbled in fear: “Go, go.”

Qi Zhen bowed and said, "Grandpa Zhao, I haven't seen you for a long time. Are you feeling well?"

Hall Master Zhao looked at him with a gleam in his eyes, and asked in surprise, "Little grandson of the Qi family? Why are you here?"

Qi Zhen introduced Xie Yuzhu: "I brought a friend here. She is determined to study medicine and wants to learn from Grandpa Zhao."

Xie Yuzhu stepped forward, smiled gently, and was about to say hello.

Hall Master Zhao said with a look of disdain, "A delicate little girl studying medicine? Don't waste my time. I don't have time."

She was neither annoyed nor afraid, and smiled as she said, "Master Zhao, I heard that you have superb medical skills and a noble character. I have admired you for a long time, and I would be content if I could just follow you and help you."

Seeing that she was calm and composed, not afraid or retreating, Master Zhao actually underestimated her.

He called Qi Zhen: "Qi boy, since you are here, please come and diagnose the patient."

"Yes."

Without even looking at Xie Yuzhu, he just said, "Look if you want to, don't get in my way, just find a place to stay!"

Xie Yuzhu replied kindly: "Okay."

Hall Master Zhao thought to himself: He has no temper at all, is he stupid?

After Hall Master Zhao entered the room, Yun Ling asked in a low voice, "Princess, Hall Master Zhao has a weird temper. The people here don't look easy to mess with. How about I ask Uncle Lao Liu to send some secret guards to protect you?"

"We are all common people, how could we have bad intentions? Those who look fierce on the surface are not necessarily bad people. Besides, Qi Zhen is here, nothing will happen." Xie Yuzhu reminded, "Remember, don't call me princess."

"Okay, miss."

"Go outside and see if anyone waiting in line to see the doctor needs help."

"Yes." Yun Ling did as she was told.

Hua Qinfeng took Chaoyang to wander around the city, but they didn't go to the west of the city.

It was finally noon when I finally walked into Anhe Restaurant.

Chaoyang stared at the table full of dishes: "Prince, there are only two of us eating. How can we finish such a large table of dishes?"

Hua Qinfeng looked out the window and said listlessly, "If you can't finish it, pack it up and take it back."

Chaoyang sighed slightly: "My Lord, these dishes seem to be the princess' favorites?"

His eyes trembled: "Eating can't stop your mouth!"

There was a table full of delicious food, but I could only face Hua Qinfeng's sour face and had no appetite at all.

Chaoyang sighed and said to himself, "I wonder if Yunling and the princess have eaten yet? What did they eat? There are mostly small vendors in Niuma Lane in the west of the city, and there are no decent restaurants. I wonder if the princess can get used to the food?"

He raised his eyebrows and retracted his lazy gaze: "Renjitang is in Niuma Lane?"

"Yes, Renjitang is quite famous in China. It specializes in treating the poor people and charges the lowest consultation fee in the city. I heard that if the patient has no money, the owner of the hall will not even charge the consultation fee. Therefore, Renjitang can only be opened in Niuma Lane, where the rent is the cheapest."

Hua Qinfeng asked, "Did Yunling bring a lunch box when he went out?"

Chaoyang looked puzzled: "She went to study with the princess, why would she bring a lunch box so early in the morning?"

The next second, Hua Qinfeng shouted from somewhere: "Chang'an!"

After a while, Chang An really appeared.

"What are your orders, son?"

"Restock the pickled fish and crab paste tofu soup, and add four or five hot dishes. Send them to Renjitang in the west of the city when they are ready."

"Yes."

Chaoyang was stunned: "My Lord, your mind changes so quickly."