Chapter 718: Chapter 242 Return to Beijing
After the New Year’s Eve, on the seventh day, the medical officers from Pingzhou arrived in Su Nan.
The handover of the epidemic control tasks in Su Nan had been completed; it was time for the medical officers to return to Shengjing.
At the city gate, carriages and horses converged, Cai Fang and Li Wenhu came to see them off at the city gate; spontaneously, the common people emerged from the city behind them, with the former patients of the Plague Hospital at the very front, bowing deeply in thanks to the medical officers.
After switching to new treatments, the epidemic victims, save for a few with extremely severe conditions, gradually began to improve.
During their months in Su Nan, the medical officers from Shengjing shuttled daily between the plague hospitals, weary from their toils. Shengjing and Su Nan had different climates, and the older medical officers often complained about the bone-chilling dampness of Su Nan’s winter days, clamoring to hurry back to Shengjing. Yet, after sharing weal and woe for a time, they felt a certain reluctance to leave.
Cuicui approached Lu Tong.
"Thank you, Doctor Lu."
The young girl kept her head down, ashamed to look into Lu Tong’s eyes: "...I’m sorry."
"It doesn’t matter." Lu Tong patted her head.
Cuicui’s parents were no longer alive, and Red Matchmaker, who mediated marriages in the plague hospital, took pity on her being alone without support. Having no children of her own, she adopted Cuicui.
After the great epidemic, there were many who lost their families in Su Nan, leaving Cai Fang and Li Wenhu with much to tend to. Such is life, full of hardships, but one must always move forward.
"Doctor Lu, I also want to study medicine in the future." Cuicui mustered the courage to speak, "I want to save more people like you."
She had stayed in the plague hospital for a long time and had personally experienced the despair of illness. The medical officers had brought vitality back into that dead end of a place.
With the gods of no help, she wanted to be the one to save others, to offer hope to others.
"That’s good," Lu Tong said with a smile, "In Shengjing, there is the Imperial Medical Bureau. If you ever have a chance to come to Shengjing in the future, you can come and find me at the West Street Benevolent Heart Medical Hall."
Ji Xun was slightly stunned.
But she remained completely unaware.
Cai Fang gave a deep bow to everyone.
"You all traveled thousands of miles to Su Nan, and for the past few months, you have shared the same boat with Su Nan. This kindness, the people of Su Nan dare not forget."
"Yet gatherings and partings are always in haste, and there must eventually be a farewell. When the medical officers return to Shengjing, if there is a chance to visit Su Nan again in the future, Cai will make sure to extend his utmost hospitality."
"Take care."
Gatherings and partings are always in haste, and there must eventually be a farewell...
Lu Tong looked back.
Spring was already upon them, and Su Nan had not seen snow for a long time. The morning sunlight spread through the mountains in a rosy glow.
It seemed as if she could see on Luomei Peak, a little girl with a bamboo basket walking along the mountain paths.
She walked slowly, step by step, not yet completely shedding her childlike innocence, occasionally breaking into brief moments of laughter, walking toward her from among the sunlight filtered through the morning mist, and passing by her side.
Lu Tong gazed at her absently.
"Doctor Lu."
A voice came from behind her, and she turned around to see Pei Yunmeng walking toward her from in front of the carriage, smiling.
The sunlight fell upon him, bright and warm; he took Lu Tong’s hand, "Let’s go."
She was momentarily startled, then smiled.
"Alright."
He led Lu Tong onto the carriage, then mounted his horse to ride alongside the procession. The journey began, and Li Wenhu’s voice came from behind, "Have a safe trip, everyone!"
...
Time passed quickly.
Shortly after the New Year, as the warmth returns and the earth revives, all things herald the coming of spring.
The day before the beginning of spring is known as "heralding spring." Boys in green clothes and hats would go door to door delivering Spring Ox Pictures.
The Benevolent Heart Medical Hall received a Spring Ox Picture as well, which was affixed to the main gate of the hall. Ah Cheng went to Official Lane to buy spring pancakes and sesame candies and put them on a plate to offer to every patient who came for medicine.
As soon as spring arrived, Du Changqing felt sleepy, propping his head up and dozing off in the shop, when Yin Zheng passed by him and said, "Boss, shouldn’t we go to Official Lane to buy some things?"
Du Changqing barely opened his eyelids, "Buy what?"
"The lady will soon return to Shengjing, we should prepare some things in advance, don’t you think?"
Not long after the New Year, Miao Liangfang inquired through old contacts at the Hanlin Medical Institute and learned that Su Nan had sent word that the epidemic control was proceeding very smoothly. The Emperor had ordered the closest Pingzhou Medical Practice to send medical officers to take over, and the group of medical officers who had gone to Su Nan from the Medical Officer Institute would soon begin their journey back to the Imperial City.
Du Changqing counted on his fingers for her: "They said ten days until their arrival last month, seven days ago they said it was in another seven days, five days ago they said it was in another five days, yet they still haven’t arrived! This date changes more than your complexion; anyone who believes it is a fool. I don’t believe it; you can go if you want to."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ah Cheng ran in from outside, gasping for breath, and announced loudly, "They’re here! They’re here!"
Du Changqing jumped up in alarm, "Who’s here?"
"Doctor Lu!" the young man said, "Doctor Lu has arrived in the Imperial City!"
Lu Tong had returned.
On a clear spring morning, the medical officers who had gone to Su Nan to fight the epidemic returned to Shengjing, stirring excitement in the Imperial City. The medical officers from the Hanlin Medical Institute crowded out to welcome them, packing the entrance of the Medical Officer Institute to overflowing.