The custom after the first day of the Lunar New Year was to visit relatives and friends.
Li Yue Shu naturally would not go to the Shen family. As for the Li family in her original body's memory, it had not left her with any good impressions, so she would not go to displease herself.
Therefore, Li Yue Shu unexpectedly found herself with free time.
However, she had not expected anyone to come and visit her.
Seeing the county magistrate and his wife in casual attire at the door, Li Yue Shu was surprised, "Your Excellency, why have you come?"
The county magistrate took a pastry box from the two servants following behind him. "Naturally, I've come to offer New Year's greetings. Madam Shen, Happy New Year."
What they brought was not little, but besides pastries, there were also bolts of cloth. They were not valuable items, so Li Yue Shu naturally accepted them.
She quickly invited them in, "I was just about to prepare lunch. You two have come at the perfect time, please come in quickly."
"Then it's truly better to arrive early than late," the county magistrate's wife joked. "I must taste Madam Shen's cooking later."
...
With four more people, Li Yue Shu abandoned her original idea of making home-style dishes.
A lively gathering called for a hot pot. Coincidentally, the magistrate and his wife had never tried it before.
As the spicy aroma wafted out, the magistrate and his wife, who had never smelled such a scent, couldn't help but swallow.
When the bubbling and fragrant Yin-Yang hot pot was brought out, the county magistrate looked astonished. "What is this?"
"This is called hot pot," Shen Zhi Yu answered excitedly. "You can cook many, many delicious things in it, including A Yu's favorite meatballs!"
It was the first time the county magistrate had heard of such a way of eating. He looked at Li Yue Shu with surprise. "Did you come up with this?"
Li Yue Shu: "..."
It was difficult to explain in just a few words.
She smiled, "Please sit down first. There are still a few dishes in the kitchen; I'll bring them out."
When Li Yue Shu emerged from the kitchen with dishes, she saw Shen Wei teaching the county magistrate how to mix seasonings and cook meat.
Looking at the oily dipping bowls before him, the county magistrate felt an indescribable shock.
Even as the head of a county, he would not use so much oil for a single meal. This Madam Shen was truly extravagant!
The county magistrate's wife had also not expected that so much oil would be needed for a condiment. However, since she was a guest, she naturally said nothing.
Instead, watching Shen Wei expertly prepare two bowls of seasoning, the county magistrate's wife looked amazed and generously gave him a thumbs-up. "It smells wonderful! Young Master Shen, you are truly skilled!"
This kind of expression, meant for a child, almost made Shen Wei's silly smile falter.
In the past, Li Yue Shu would praise him the same way she praised A Yu for anything he did. Why did the county magistrate's wife's praise feel so strange?
Li Yue Shu placed the dishes down and beckoned everyone to sit. "Your Excellency, Madam, please taste the flavors! And you two young gentlemen, please join us at the table!"
The two servants who had been standing obediently not far away were suddenly called upon and were momentarily stunned, looking at Li Yue Shu in surprise. "We... we?"
Li Yue Shu nodded. "Yes, there are no such strict rules in my household. Everyone eats at the same table. I've already prepared bowls and chopsticks for you."
There was only one table in the house. She couldn't possibly have them stand by while the others ate, or hide in the kitchen to eat!
The hearts of the two servants were touched, and an indescribable feeling of gratitude surged within them. However, they did not step forward but looked towards the county magistrate.
The county magistrate had some understanding of Li Yue Shu and knew she wasn't joking. He smiled and waved at the two servants. "The guest follows the host's lead. You should listen to Madam Shen."
The two servants hesitated for a moment, then walked over, choosing a spot slightly farther from the county magistrate and his wife.
After all, the concept of master and servant distinction was deeply ingrained in them.
...
Almost no one could resist the charm of hot pot. The spicy and stimulating delicacy even made the county magistrate, who had always been mindful of his public image, exclaim with delight.
As they were nearly finished eating, the county magistrate's wife suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right. We're having a banquet at our home the day after tomorrow. Madam Shen, if you are free, please do come."
Since they had come to visit, Li Yue Shu naturally had no reason to refuse and nodded in agreement.
Then, the county magistrate's wife nudged the person beside her. "Don't just focus on eating. Don't you have something you need to tell Madam Shen?"
The county magistrate then remembered. "Yes, yes, I almost forgot!"
He quickly wiped his mouth and said, "Madam Shen, your exceptional medical skills have already spread widely. Many people have come to Tong Mu County inquiring about you, wanting to meet you, and some are even court officials!"
Li Yue Shu was surprised. "Someone has found Your Excellency?"
Otherwise, he wouldn't have said the last sentence.
The county magistrate nodded and did not hide anything. "Most of them heard of your excellent medical skills and were willing to pay a high price to hire you as their physician. However, I have politely declined for you."
He knew Li Yue Shu was an ambitious person. Otherwise, she wouldn't have opened a pharmacy and a restaurant. Moreover, she had such a large family, so she would naturally be unwilling to leave.
Li Yue Shu indeed could not agree to be a physician for anyone, but she knew the county magistrate wasn't finished speaking, so she didn't interrupt.
As expected, she heard the county magistrate say, "However, one person is here to seek treatment. He is sent by the Lord of Hong Ning City, who wishes to invite you to treat his young master. It's just that the young master is in poor health and cannot travel to Tong Mu County, so they asked me to inquire if you could make a personal trip?"
Hong Ning City?
The name was familiar and should have appeared in the original text.
Li Yue Shu couldn't recall it immediately. She put down her chopsticks and asked, "Does Your Excellency know what the young master's condition is?"
The county magistrate nodded, his expression becoming serious. "Coughing, spitting blood... based on their description, the situation seems to be similar to..."
He paused and subconsciously glanced at Wei Ling, meeting the child's blank, curious gaze.
Seeing this, Shen Yi Min quickly lowered his head. "Ling'er, Yi Min gege wants to eat beef slices. Can you cook one for Yi Min gege?"
Wei Ling's attention was instantly captured, and he immediately nodded with a smile. "Ling'er will help Yi Min gege right away!"
Li Yue Shu breathed a sigh of relief and understood the county magistrate's meaning.
"These symptoms are not necessarily all related to the lungs. I need to examine the patient to know the specific situation," Li Yue Shu said after thinking for a moment. "Is the patient's condition urgent?"
The county magistrate shook his head. "It is said that the young master of the Lord's mansion suffered some injury in his childhood, and he has never fully recovered over the years, with intermittent recurrences."
Li Yue Shu roughly understood the situation. After thinking, she said, "I can agree to make a trip to Hong Ning City, but the Immortal-Seeking Restaurant is set to open on the fifteenth of the first lunar month, and there are still some matters to be resolved at the Heng De Pharmacy. If the Lord of Hong Ning City's mansion is not in a hurry, I can depart next month."
Seeing that she had agreed, the county magistrate breathed a sigh of relief. "Not urgent, not urgent at all. They merely asked me to inquire. As long as you are willing to go, you can set the time."
He was actually afraid Li Yue Shu would refuse.
Her reputation had just begun to grow. If she refused the first patient who sought her help, there would undoubtedly be a lot of gossip.
Furthermore, although the people from the Lord of Hong Ning City's mansion had merely asked him to inquire and had not forced anything, offending Hong Ning City rashly was not a wise move.