Ning Muyan heard Qing Mo’s report. “An old man? Huh, that actually fits in a twisted sort of way.”
“Since the stall’s open, let him be. Let’s return to the mansion.”
Bai Lan didn’t realize the young master had been watching from a distance. He was lost in the joy of making sales. Counting his copper coins, the cost hadn’t even reached a string of coins. Selling at double, he had made a tidy profit.
Three scholars bought the cooling oil; even if no other business came, he had recouped his costs.
Bai Lan happily placed the coins into the medicine box, then noticed a young girl hovering nearby, hesitating to approach.
“Miss, are you thinking of buying something? We have premium cooling oil.”
The girl’s cheeks turned pink as if caught taking something. She shook her head, clutching her basket, ready to leave.
Bai Lan called out, “Come, have a look. You don’t have to buy anything.”
She paused, then hesitantly walked over, voice low. “I’m not here to buy cooling oil.”
Bai Lan noticed her pale face and softened his tone. “If you need anything, you can tell me.”
Seeing the stall was quiet, no one else watching, and that the sign read “Medicine Stall” with a young, handsome boy running it, she glanced again.
“Are you a doctor?” she asked uncertainly.
Bai Lan nodded. “Yes. The ointments and oils are all made by me.”
Hearing this, the girl hesitated, embarrassed. “I’ve had some stomach pain recently. I wanted to buy medicine.”
Seeing her timidness, Bai Lan understood at once. Even though he was a young master, he could treat people, and as a doctor, he immediately asked, “Is it stomach pain or irregular cycles?”
The girl, hearing his question, hesitated further. A young man as a doctor was fine, but in a busy market, a young girl being examined might draw gossip.
She quickly said, “Stomach pain.”
“I’ll feel your pulse and see.”
Hearing this, the girl hesitated again. Young male doctors were generally acceptable, but in a bustling street, being examined could attract attention. Many people were hesitant to seek treatment openly, especially for women. Even common illnesses could become a matter of gossip; some conditions were so personal, they endured in silence rather than risk public scrutiny.
“It’s no trouble. No one knows whether you’re here for a headache or something else, and anyway, who would recognize you?”
Hearing this, the young girl finally rolled up her sleeves, letting Bai Lan feel her pulse.
He then asked a few questions about her symptoms. She nodded repeatedly, and he said, “It’s nothing serious. You’re slightly constitutionally cold. Even in hot weather, don’t overindulge in too many cooling foods, and in winter, soak your feet often.”
After that, Bai Lan retrieved a small vial from the stall and handed it to her. “These are Xuanling Pain-Relief Pills, crafted by myself. Take them three to four times a day with warm water.”
“If you prefer, I can also write you a prescription to take to an apothecary. The effect will be the same, though apothecaries usually dispense decoctions, not pills.” He explained carefully. “These pills are labor-intensive to make, convenient to take and carry, so naturally they’re priced a bit higher than what the apothecary would charge.”
The girl said immediately, “I want the pills made by Young Master Xiao Jiang. A little extra cost doesn’t matter.”
Going to an apothecary often meant having to face a doctor’s temperament; a principled physician was fine, but an unscrupulous one could make the process unpleasant. Pills like these were much easier to use and carry, and didn’t attract attention. She quickly handed over the money.
San Leng, standing nearby, listened to Bai Lan chatter with her for a while. Once the sale was done, he said, “Young master, you really know how to speak. Even internal medicine like these pills managed to sell.”
“How so?” Bai Lan asked.
San Leng replied, “If it were external items like cooling oil, that’s understandable—the effect is visible at once. But pills are ingested. Who would buy them lightly? Aren’t they worried they might be fake?”
Bai Lan smiled. “You’re cautious, which is good. Selling fake medicine that harms people lands one in prison. No ordinary person would dare openly sell such things here. That danger makes starting a stall like mine hard. But over time, people see the quality for themselves. Those satisfied will return.”
“So that young lady earlier was honest, then?”
Bai Lan exhaled lightly. “Partly honest, and partly out of necessity. It’s not easy for a girl to seek treatment discreetly. If she didn’t have to hide her illness, she wouldn’t have bought from my little stall.”
After that, he sold a few more coils of mosquito-repellent incense, but business was slow. Without a shade or umbrella, the sun grew hot as the morning wore on. Seeing San Leng’s face flushed red from the sun, Bai Lan decided it was time to pack up.
Without a free carriage today, Bai Lan carried the fully packed medicine box back through the heat. By the time he reached the mansion gate, his back was nearly soaked with sweat.
Entering through the back gate, he thought about the long walk to the garden and, for the first time, found his large residence inconvenient.
“San Leng, hurry! I want a big glass of winter melon juice when we get back.”
“All right.”
Bai Lan hurried ahead, medicine box in arms. The mansion had many rules; one could not run without cause, or else he’d have to sprint all the way back in one breath.
At the end of the corridor, he spotted a young figure lingering at the garden gate. The figure seemed unfamiliar, roughly the same age as San Leng but taller, dressed in fine clothes unlike a servant.
Bai Lan approached cautiously. The young man occasionally glanced into the garden, seeming eager but hesitant.
“What are you looking at?” Bai Lan asked suddenly.
Startled, the boy nearly stumbled, but seeing only a servant, he steadied himself and adopted a formal tone. “Who are you?”
San Leng, slower behind Bai Lan, caught up and bowed quickly. “Greetings, Second Young Master.”
Bai Lan realized—this was Ning Muyan’s younger brother. No wonder their features resembled each other slightly.
He recalled that the brothers were not on good terms. Years ago, Ning’s first wife had no concubines, but an unscrupulous man had taken advantage of Ning during a drunken moment, resulting in a child, Ning Zhengyu. The concubine passed away shortly after, leaving Zhengyu in the care of the second wife after Ning’s death.
From his previous life, Bai Lan knew the younger brother bore a deep animosity toward Ning Muyan. Even within the same household, they were often openly hostile. Later, even in official duties, Ning Zhengyu often opposed Ning Muyan in court. Such rivalries between legitimate and collateral sons were common in prominent families.
Bai Lan performed a courteous bow.
Ning Zhengyu noticed their flushed foreheads and disheveled hair and adopted a stern expression, though lacking full authority, making it seem more like a show of bravado. “This sloppy, disheveled appearance is unbecoming.”
San Leng quickly explained, “Second Young Master, today is the young master’s day off. He just went out and is returning now.”
“Even on a day off, one must maintain decorum and not disgrace the family.”
“Yes.”
Bai Lan asked, “Second Young Master, are you here to see the eldest brother? Why linger at the gate instead of coming inside?”
Ning Zhengyu panicked. “I… I was just passing by after class. I had no intention of disturbing my brother.”
He hurriedly added, “Please, you go ahead. I’ll leave first.”
Bai Lan thought, What a timid little brat.
Just as he and San Leng were about to enter, a voice called from behind.
“You are the elder brother’s personal physician, correct?”
Bai Lan turned, puzzled. “Yes.”
“Then take good care of my brother’s health. Don’t be negligent.”
Bai Lan gave Ning Zhengyu a long look and said suddenly, “Second Young Master, are you really not going in to greet your elder brother? Today he has no pressing matters. If there’s anything in your studies you don’t understand, you could go ask him.”
Ning Zhengyu froze, looking at Bai Lan with an unnatural expression. All his life, he had been told that his elder brother was busy and shouldn’t be disturbed; that he himself was not talented, having failed the county exams twice, while his brother was a top scholar, and that he should not wander about in front of someone who disliked the foolish. No one had ever told him he could go ask his brother for guidance.
His thoughts flickered like a candle in the wind, unsteady. When he opened his mouth, the words that came out were stiff: “No need. I have no confusion in my studies. Today the tutor even praised my essay as having improved.”
Bai Lan’s brow twitched. Well, it was clear Ning Zhengyu wasn’t speaking from the heart. He had intended to help ease the brothers’ tension—after all, they were family—but seeing this, there was no need to push further.
“Very well, I shall see you off then, Second Young Master.”
Ning Zhengyu felt a pang in his chest. How could this physician be so compliant, not urging him to go? If only he had invited him once more, he would have accepted.
As Bai Lan prepared to leave, Ning Zhengyu hurriedly asked, “Are you really serious?”
Bai Lan stopped, hands on his hips, turning to look at him. This boy is deliberately teasing me.
“It’s true. Believe it if you wish, Second Young Master.”
Ning Zhengyu’s expression flickered; he cleared his throat to hide his emotions. “If you insist… then I shall go in and greet my elder brother.”