By the time Bai Lan and Ning Muyan returned from the Shi residence, it was already afternoon.
At the Ning residence, Bai Lan had kept up appearances, but once in the carriage, he let his head droop, sighing repeatedly.
“Rash… truly rash,” Bai Lan muttered to himself.
Ning Muyan had heard the story of Bai Lan meeting his teacher earlier and found his demeanor amusing: “The teacher won’t take it to heart. You needn’t worry. If he were angry, he wouldn’t have had you stay for tea.”
“Perhaps, but I didn’t leave a good impression on the elders. It still feels like a regret,” Bai Lan replied.
Ning Muyan ruffled his hair: “From what I saw, the teacher and Madam really like you.”
“Stop teasing me,” Bai Lan said, pouting.
A few more words, and the carriage reached the clinic. Bai Lan sighed again.
He raised an eyebrow at Ning Muyan: “Shall we go inside for a bit?”
Ning Muyan shook his head: “No. I’ve been staying at the academy lately. These days I’ll be at the residence.”
Bai Lan pouted: “Very well. I’ll go back first then.”
As he rose to leave, Ning Muyan suddenly reached out, pulling him close and holding him for a moment. He wanted to say something to ease Bai Lan’s mind but, seeing matters were not yet settled, swallowed his words.
Bai Lan lightly patted Ning Muyan’s back: “It’s fine. In a couple of days, the students will be entering the academy. Director Ning will be coming daily, so there’s no need to rush.”
Ning Muyan looked up: “Alright.”
Bai Lan stepped down from the carriage, waved to him, and then returned to the clinic.
Doctor Jiang had already gone out for visits, and inside the clinic only an apprentice was busy running about. Bai Lan said to him: “Once the renovations are finished, we’ll hire another apprentice to help you out.”
“Thank you, Little Doctor Jiang,” the apprentice replied quickly.
Bai Lan chuckled: “Later, if my father comes back and asks you when I returned, just say it was shortly before he left.”
The apprentice nodded obediently: “Got it.”
Bai Lan then slipped into the backyard. In the past few days, Ning Muyan had sent workers over to help renovate the academy, and in just a few days they had mostly finished the main repairs—only the roof tiles remained.
They had also set up a separate kitchen and a bedroom, while the two small rooms that had been used previously were combined into one larger room. Once completed, it would be quite spacious.
That evening, Bai Lan finished preparing dinner just as Jiang Zichun returned on schedule.
Father and son ate together in the backyard when a shout rang out from the clinic in the front yard: “Is anyone here?”
Bai Lan went out and saw a man in the attire of a servant handing him an invitation: “For Doctor Jiang Zichun.”
“Thank you.”
Bai Lan took the invitation inside: “Father, it’s for you.”
Jiang Zichun quickly took it, noticing the bright red paper and formal design; even the cover looked like it came from a prominent family.
Bai Lan spooned some food into his bowl: “Which household is inviting you? Is it a thank-you banquet from a recovered patient?”
Jiang Zichun opened the invitation, his brow furrowing slightly: “The Shi residence sent it.”
“Master Shi is truly considerate. I thought his polite words that day were casual, yet they actually sent an invitation for a proper visit,” Bai Lan said, frowning.
“Father, you mean the invitation came from the elder of that day, Grand Tutor Shi?”
Jiang Zichun looked surprised: “How do you know he’s the Grand Tutor? Back when he was in the prefectural city, he was only a magistrate. I only knew later he was transferred to the capital, but didn’t know his current rank.”
He laid the invitation on the table for Bai Lan to see: “See, Master Shi even asked me to bring you along to the gathering.”
Bai Lan buried his face in his hands on the table: “I just came back from the Shi residence today… Master Shi is actually young Master Ning’s teacher.”
“Ah?” Jiang Zichun couldn’t help a sharp exclamation, but thinking it over, it wasn’t too surprising. The Ning family had been a prominent household in the city; when young Master Ning’s father was alive, he held office there, and it made sense for the Shi family, as magistrates, to know them. It was just unexpected that it happened to coincide so neatly.
Bai Lan lifted his head: “Can I not go tomorrow? I already embarrassed myself today.”
Jiang Zichun chuckled: “It would be rude not to go. Don’t worry, Master Shi isn’t the type to hold a grudge against a child.”
Whether or not they held a grudge was another matter—he was just embarrassed.
“By the way, Father, how did you come to know Master Shi?”
“Many years ago, when you were only two or three. That year, Master Shi left the capital, transferred from the Hanlin Academy to a local post in our Yongchang Prefecture. His fortune was not yet established, and only a few months into his term, an epidemic broke out in the villages outside the city.”
Jiang Zichun explained: “Back then, Master Shi was just a young scholar newly entering officialdom. Many things were chaotic for him, and there was little he could do about the epidemic. Seeing the villages suffer, he disregarded his own safety and went into the afflicted villages, distributing medicine and supplies to the people.”
At that time, Jiang Zichun had to care for young Bai Lan. Seeing the epidemic worsening and eventually threatening Lukou Village, he could not remain uninvolved. He worked day and night preparing medicines, eventually perfecting a formula. Together with Master Shi, he guided officials in making large batches of medicine, distributing them to both the sick and healthy as prevention.
Jiang Zichun followed Master Shi from village to village for months.
“Master Shi is an exemplary official,” Jiang Zichun said. “He was very grateful and even offered to recommend me to the Imperial Medical Academy, but I declined.”
Bai Lan hadn’t known of this story, though he had heard bits as a child. People would mention his father’s skill in curing epidemics, recalling that his mother had passed, and he had been left in the care of acquaintances while his father was constantly out attending to patients. When he overheard gossip, his father would intervene, and eventually the story faded from memory.
Still, his father had taught him the epidemic treatment formula, which likely saved them when they were later exiled to Lingnan—otherwise, they might not have survived the journey.
Bai Lan propped his chin on his hand, chewing thoughtfully: “Father, why did you refuse Master Shi’s recommendation?”
Jiang Zichun said: “Our family had once been imperial physicians, even leading the Imperial Medical Academy at its height. But physicians were not court officials and primarily served in the inner palace. My ancestors avoided palace intrigue, which ultimately led to the family’s decline.
“When your grandfather was alive, he told me that preserving our family’s medical lineage was already a great fortune; wealth and status are fleeting illusions.”
Bai Lan felt a pang of admiration. Indeed, those closest to power were often the most vulnerable. Generations of blood and tears had proven it.
The next day, Bai Lan and Jiang Zichun returned to the Shi residence once more.
The previous evening, Bai Lan had been instructed to assist Madam Shi with her health, and Jiang Zichun personally prepared medicine for him to bring along.
The old friendship between the two families was genuine; Shi Zizhan and Jiang Zichun enjoyed a long, heartfelt conversation. Bai Lan, too, benefited from his father’s reputation and received several praises.
“Back then, if it weren’t for your little Bai Lan helping me manage the epidemic, I really wouldn’t have known how much suffering the people of Yongchang Prefecture would endure. I also wouldn’t have known how to handle the countless affairs in the city, let alone suppress the epidemic and earn commendations from the court.”
Shi Zizhan spoke sincerely in thanks to Jiang Zichun. Having just entered officialdom, one was usually surrounded by sycophants; even those who offered help often sought some form of return. People like Jiang Zichun were exceedingly rare.
When young, he had not yet mastered the ways of official service—he had been fortunate to meet such genuine assistance.
“Master, there’s no need to dwell on past matters. I merely did what little I could.”
The two shared some light wine, smiling and chatting, while Bai Lan sat quietly at the table, also smiling.
“Doctor Jiang, there is a matter I hope you will agree to,” Shi Zizhan said.
“Please, Master Shi, speak freely.”
“I and my wife have been married many years without children. In my youth, I was busy with official duties, wholeheartedly serving the court. Now that I am older and can live more peacefully, I greatly admire families surrounded by children and grandchildren. My clan has long wished to adopt a child, but arrangements were never made. Upon seeing Bai Lan this visit, my wife and I were most pleased. We hope to take him as our godson.”
Not only was Jiang Zichun surprised, but Bai Lan almost dropped the food he was holding. He forced himself to remain composed and returned the vegetables to his bowl.
The Shi family—such a prominent household—wanted to adopt him as their godson?!
Bai Lan’s mind swirled in disbelief.
Shi Zizhan continued: “My wife’s health is poor. I had intended to petition the emperor to retire and return home to care for her, but His Majesty did not permit it and wished me to serve another two years. With the emperor’s earnestness, I was compelled to comply. Thus, my wife will spend the winter in the city before we return to the capital. But with her alone, it would be lonely. Bai Lan is skilled in medicine; we hope he might occasionally keep her company.”
Jiang Zichun remained silent for a moment. The two elders exchanged glances; some matters were unspoken, but Jiang Zichun had already guessed the meaning.
After a long pause, he reached over and took Bai Lan’s hand: “Child, life has been hard for you. Your mother died in childbirth, and I’ve raised you myself. In these years of busy practice, I’ve neglected you at times. I cannot ask for much more—only that you have a good future. Now that there’s someone to care for you, that is a blessing.”
Shi Zizhan knew of Jiang Zichun’s care for Bai Lan. Though he himself had never been a father, he understood the bond between father and son: “Not only for my only student but also for the old friendship between me and Doctor Jiang. This is truly a win-win situation. When he proposed it, I readily agreed.”
Bai Lan was a little dazed but seemed to understand.
“Bai Lan, call them,” Jiang Zichun prompted.
Hearing his father’s words, Bai Lan hurriedly complied: “Godfather!”
Turning, he bowed to Madam Shi: “Godmother.”
Smiles appeared on everyone’s faces.