This trip home, Jiang Zichun had gifted him two medical books from his own collection. Bai Lan spent the morning after returning from Ning Muyan’s study poring over them. He didn’t even nap at midday. He read and reread, copied complicated prescriptions, and even personally made the medicines—there was no idleness at all.
When his next day off came, he slept until the late morning. He sprang up, startled. “Ah, it’s so late! San Ling, why didn’t you wake me?”
San Ling entered the room. “The Young Master said that you’ve been busy serving in the study recently. On your day off, you should sleep longer.”
Bai Lan muttered under his breath, cursing Ning Muyan for both wanting to spend his money and delaying him from earning extra.
“Never mind, never mind. Let’s get ready and go out.”
“Will you be setting up your stall today as well?”
“Of course.”
San Ling warned, “But the sun is already high.”
“No matter. Last trip back from the village I brought a large umbrella for shade. Besides, autumn is approaching; it won’t be so hot soon.”
The two packed their things and headed out. By the time they reached the south gate temple, it was already midday, and the area was crowded.
Bai Lan worried that his usual spot might be taken, when suddenly someone called out, “Little Doctor Jiang!”
“Doctor, you’ve finally come!”
He thought he had misheard; no one here should recognize him. Yet three women surrounded him. One taller woman grabbed his wrist. “We’ve all been waiting for you for hours, Little Doctor Jiang! We thought you weren’t coming today.”
“Huh?” Bai Lan looked at her, confused. “Lady, may I ask your surname?”
“I’m Zhang.”
“No, I mean… we don’t know each other.”
The woman pulled him toward the stall. “Of course we know you! I want to buy some of your little pills.”
“What pills?”
Leaning close, she whispered, “Those pain-relief Xuan… something pills you sold last time.”
Bai Lan immediately understood and felt apologetic. “I’m a bit late today, and I still have to find my stall. You may have to wait a little longer.”
“No problem.” She pointed ahead. “Look, your spot has been saved for you!”
Bai Lan noticed that several people were waiting at the space where he had set up before, forming a small cluster. They all smiled when they saw him, greeting him warmly.
It seemed they were familiar with him, though he didn’t know any of them. He laughed dryly. “Did everyone save this space for me?”
“No, not exactly. Earlier, Miss Liu Yue said your stall was here. So we came early. Others asked, and they waited with us. This corner is less busy, so no one else set up here. Since we’re here, no one else does either.”
Bai Lan smiled. “Well, thank you all then.”
San Ling was also surprised. Normally he would attract customers, but today they had come to him. Truly, good work speaks for itself.
Seeing Bai Lan speak with everyone, San Ling took his medicine chest and began setting up the stall.
“Does Little Doctor Jiang only come here on the fifteenth of each month?”
“Yes, yes! We came a few times before and didn’t see you. Then Miss Liu Yue remembered you come on the fifteenth. We figured you only come that day.”
Bai Lan hadn’t expected that just selling medicine once would have spread his reputation. He said, “Exactly, I come on the fifteenth each month.”
“Only one day a month?”
“Yes, but seeing so many people seeking treatment, I will come again on the thirty-first.”
“That’s better than only once a month!”
“Everyone, line up properly. It’s getting late; otherwise, some may not get seen,” Bai Lan instructed.
Hearing this, everyone quickly formed a queue.
Bai Lan carefully took pulses, asked about symptoms, and treated each patient. By noon, there were still more than a dozen people waiting, and passersby joined the queue after inquiring.
The little girl who had been too shy to approach last time gained courage from the crowd.
“Where does the young master feel unwell?”
Bai Lan had just treated four or five women, most came for the Xuanling pain-relief pills. When he saw a young boy waiting, he didn’t even need to ask—he clearly didn’t require the same medicine.
The boy looked around, hesitant. Bai Lan asked the people behind him to step back a few feet to give him space. The boy looked at Bai Lan gratefully and said:
“I’ve been married for two years but haven’t had a child. Neighbors gossip about it, saying the hen doesn’t lay eggs. My family is anxious, but we’re embarrassed to have a doctor examine me, fearing it will confirm the gossip. I heard there’s a young doctor at the South Gate Temple, so I came specially to consult you.”
Bai Lan listened to the man’s pulse, his brow slightly furrowing. “From the pulse, it seems there’s nothing seriously wrong. But a pulse alone can’t fully reveal one’s condition. If you want to check fertility, a more detailed examination is necessary.”
“Could the doctor come to our home then?”
Bai Lan shook his head. “My time for house calls is limited. I’ll have to wait until I’ve seen the people here first and have some free time.”
The young man quickly replied, “I can wait.”
“That’s fine. I see there are still quite a few people here. If your home isn’t far, you could go back for lunch and come again afterward. No need to wait here the whole time.”
“Alright, alright! Thank you, Little Doctor Jiang.”
In the afternoon, Bai Lan’s stall continued to see a steady stream of patients, but he eventually asked the crowd to disperse. It wasn’t pride—it was simply that more people came than he expected, and he had prepared too little medicine. Even if he diagnosed someone, they couldn’t get the medicine.
He offered prescriptions for those willing to go to a pharmacy to obtain the medicine; the rest he asked to return at the end of the month.
After tidying up, Bai Lan followed San Ling to the young man’s home for a house call. The boy lived in a small alley, practically spanning from the north to south of the city relative to Li Hua Yuan. Entering the residence, Bai Lan found no men inside; he was led straight to the inner room.
He checked the pulse again and conducted a detailed examination.
Ordinarily, women might go to a clinic for simple remedies. But when it comes to private matters, it’s a matter of discretion; a female patient wouldn’t summon a male doctor for intimate issues.
“Little Doctor Jiang, my body…”
The young man was embarrassed but anxious about his condition. He hurriedly tied his waistband and asked Bai Lan.
“Are you eager to have children?”
The boy nodded. “My spouse and I have been married for two years without children. My family urges us, and as common folk without extra money to raise a child, we worry. Could it be affecting us?”
Bai Lan said, “You married young and are eager for children, so there’s likely been frequent intercourse. But being too anxious can be counterproductive.”
The young man blushed at being so accurately described.
“So… what should I do?”
“I’ll prescribe medicine to support conception and strengthen the body. Follow the prescription at the pharmacy, and moderate your intercourse.”
“I’ll follow your advice, Little Doctor Jiang.”
Bai Lan dictated the prescription to San Ling and gave a few additional instructions.
The young man, unable to read, carefully kept the prescription, asking nervously: “Little Doctor Jiang, will this really work? Can I have children?”
“Given your current condition, it may be difficult. But once both of you are healthy, there should be no problem. Take the medicine as prescribed, and I’ll return for a follow-up later.”
The young man felt much reassured. “Thank you, Little Doctor Jiang.”
“You’re welcome.”
When Bai Lan entered, only the young man was present. By the time he finished, three more people had arrived: the young man’s spouse and his parents. They asked with concern about his condition. After calming them and politely refusing their invitation for dinner, Bai Lan stepped out to find lanterns already lit in the alley—the evening had come.
San Ling carried Bai Lan’s medicine chest like a little shadow, impressed by Bai Lan’s skill.
“You’re only a few years older than me, yet you understand so much medical theory. Some of the medicines you prescribed, I’ve never even heard of. And the Xuanling pain-relief pills are excellent.”
Bai Lan shook his head with a smile. These formulas were upgrades of old prescriptions he had studied before. They had proven effective with the maids in the manor. If not for some resources he had on hand, he feared the maids would have overwhelmed him.
“San Ling, you’ve worked hard following me today, and it’s already so late. You haven’t even had lunch. Shall we go get some supper?”
San Ling clapped happily. “Yes!”
Just then, a carriage stopped by the roadside. A cold, composed voice called from the curtain: “Jiang Bai Lan.”
Bai Lan looked up to see a familiar, youthful face. “Second Young Master?”
Ning Zhengyu asked, “What are you doing here?”
“Little Doctor Jiang is on his day off, seeing patients,” Bai Lan replied.
Ning Zhengyu snorted lightly. “You’re industrious, doing two jobs at once.”
“And why are you here, Second Young Master?”
“I had a literary gathering, just ended, and was returning to the manor.”
Bai Lan’s heart leapt—an unexpected free ride home! But he remembered he had promised San Ling a late meal. It was already past the usual dinner hour, and Ning Zhengyu wasn’t as lenient as Ning Muyan.
“I’ll see you off, Second Young Master.”
Ning Zhengyu didn’t seem to intend to leave. “What are your plans? It’s late. There’s no curfew in the city, but the manor has rules.”
“I’ll take San Ling out for a late meal, then return. Won’t be long.”
Ning Zhengyu paused. “Fine. There’s a small eatery up ahead; we can go together.”
Bai Lan blinked.
“You helped me last time; I thought I’d return the favor with a meal. Are you getting on?” Ning Zhengyu, though stiff, seemed slightly awkward.
“Well, of course!”
This was an opportunity Bai Lan couldn’t miss.
“Eldest Young Master.”
Qing Mo called out, standing outside the Hellebore gate, looking toward Ning Muyan.
The Hellebore gate was closed, no lights were lit inside the house, and the courtyard lamps cast glow in the garden but couldn’t brighten the inner yard where the master was absent.
“Have the master and his attendant not returned, or are they already asleep?”
Qing Mo scratched his head. “The servants said Little Doctor Jiang went out with San Ling this morning and hasn’t returned since.”
Ning Muyan frowned, unease creeping in. Normally, the afternoon heat would have ended his work early; why hadn’t he returned yet? Perhaps he went out for leisure?
He mulled over the possibilities and left the evening garden, following the corridor toward the exit.
Meanwhile, Bai Lan and Ning Zhengyu were finishing their meal and bickering in the carriage on their way back.
The food at the little eatery had been good, and Bai Lan had ordered a lot. Midway through, Ning Zhengyu urged him to return to the manor.
Bai Lan, seeing so much food left, felt a pang of pity. “If we’re in such a hurry to go back, surely packing the leftovers will take a bit of time?”
“I’m not lacking money, and packing leftovers would be embarrassing,” Ning Zhengyu replied.
“But didn’t Master say one should value every needle and thread?” Bai Lan teased. “In the past, when your family was down, anyone would have been starving, gnawing on hard bread.”
Ning Zhengyu bristled. “You want to take leftovers back? And for my elder brother?”
“I just thought it was delicious and wanted to share it with Eldest Young Master. How’s that wrong?”
“Eldest Young Master wouldn’t eat such coarse fare!”
“Zi Fei, how would you know what brings him joy? He even eats street skewers; surely he wouldn’t refuse a late-night meal at a proper eatery.”
Ning Zhengyu was shocked. He couldn’t imagine the dignified Eldest Young Master chewing street skewers like a commoner. “Nonsense!” he exclaimed.
Bai Lan waved him off. Enough, no use arguing with a fool.
The carriage was quiet for a moment. San Ling and Qing Chu Chang outside breathed easier. Ning Zhengyu noticed Bai Lan’s silence and felt uneasy. He cast a disdainful glance. “I didn’t expect someone so small to eat so much.”
Bai Lan rolled his eyes. “Nor did I expect the Second Young Master to feed someone and still leave them hungry.”
“Look at the time. A doctor in the household can go about as he pleases. But if I come home late, Mother will scold me.”
“Alright, alright. A small doctor is like a field cabbage—nobody cares. The Second Young Master is a prized delicacy, chased by everyone. That settle it?”
Ning Zhengyu fumed. “You dare talk back to me, a mere doctor? Don’t think that because you’re from the Eldest Young Master’s garden I can’t control you.”
“Then do as you will, Second Young Master.”
“You’re too bold. Believe it or not, I’ll have someone tear—”
Their bickering continued, unaware they had reached the Ning residence.
Before Ning Zhengyu could finish, he caught sight of someone standing at the gate, hands behind his back, face cold. He stammered, “E-Eldest Brother.”
Bai Lan, leaning on the carriage, saw Ning Muyan standing there.
“You said you’d have someone torn?” Ning Muyan’s sharp gaze made Ning Zhengyu’s heart skip. He regretted arguing with Bai Lan and felt he’d wasted a chance to impress his brother. Head down, he muttered, “I—I just…”
Bai Lan, seeing this, jumped down from the carriage to smooth things over. “Eldest Young Master, what are you doing here?”
“And you even know to return?”
“I was delayed seeing patients. Second Young Master invited me to eat and brought me back.”
Ning Muyan glanced at the somewhat shrinking Ning Zhengyu beside him. “You went out?”
“In response to you, Eldest Brother—there was a literary gathering today.”
Ning Muyan said, “Return earlier next time. Mother will worry. Besides…” He looked at Bai Lan. “Little Doctor Jiang is a doctor. You must show respect.”
“…Yes, Eldest Brother,” Ning Zhengyu carefully lifted his gaze to Bai Lan. Bai Lan signaled him to say he would go sit at the evening garden, but in the end Ning Zhengyu still muttered, “Then I’ll return to the garden first.”
“Go ahead.”
Watching Ning Zhengyu slowly enter the manor, Bai Lan shook his head. “Eldest Young Master is too stern, scared the Second Young Master half to death.”
Ning Muyan frowned. “When was I stern?”
“The Eldest Young Master rarely sees the Second Young Master, so shouldn’t he speak a bit? The exams are approaching; shouldn’t he care about his studies?”
Ning Muyan lowered his gaze. “You’re concerned about others at this hour?”
Bai Lan pressed his lips together.
“He rarely comes to the evening garden to pay respects. Normally, he treats me like a cat and a mouse. How could I care for his studies?”
Bai Lan sighed. Ning Zhengyu, smooth with him, stuttered with Ning Muyan. If only he put his energy into speaking to Ning Muyan, perhaps there would be no distance between the brothers.
“And how did you end up with him in the carriage? Did he trouble you?”
Ning Muyan thought: his younger brother usually looked down on others. How could he willingly share a carriage—and a meal—with a household physician?
“No, you’ve treated me to a meal already. How could I be troubled?”
With that, Bai Lan stepped ahead. “A long day—time to rest.”
Ning Muyan’s brow twitched, as if he had more to say, yet he didn’t press further.