Farmhouse Green Plum

Chapter 408 Meeting

After hearing what she said, the scholar who had asked for the price at first gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, then I'll have another bowl of ginger soup!"

This time, he did not think that one cent per bowl was too expensive and paid it readily. Mainly, there was no price lower than one cent, and he could not ask for two more bowls for one cent. If he drank too much, he would have to go to the toilet more often.

With his lead, the poor scholar who was with Yuan Qing and the others also asked for a bowl, took his money, and ladled the soup over. Song Ying looked at Yuan Qing and Shen Jing and said, "Do you two want any? I won't charge you any money."

Yuan Qing nodded and took the ginger soup from her hand. Shen Jing was extremely resentful, "You only gave me ginger soup, not candy?"

Song Ying was puzzled. "Your family should have prepared ginseng slices for you, right? Why do you need sugar when you have ginseng slices?"

"Who says I can't have sugar if I have ginseng slices? Is it not okay if I like it?" Shen Jing was still resentful.

"Okay, of course, just catch it." Although Song Ying didn't know what he was complaining about, he still handed over the bamboo basket generously.

She and Shen Jing have known each other for many years and can barely be considered friends. As friends, there is nothing wrong with giving him this half basket of candies.

After grabbing such a big handful, Shen Jing was not very happy. Instead, he looked at Yuan Qing. He said, Yuan Qing was so busy every day and did not let his servants help him, but he never lacked candy. It turned out that the candy came from another source.

At this time, a pretty maid squeezed over and handed Shen Jing a hand warmer made of creamy white satin with flowers: "Master! Madam asked you to hold the hand warmer first."

Song Ying knew this maid. She was the head maid serving the prefect's wife, Cui, and her name was Yuhe.

She looked around and soon found several carriages on the street in the distance. From the window of one of the carriages, the prefect's wife was leaning her head out and looking over here, or to be more precise, at Shen Jing.

Song Ying bent his knees slightly towards her as a gesture of greeting.

Qingshui County was not far from Shunqing Prefecture. The prefect's wife often came to Qingshui County to visit Shen Jing and interview the Princess of Shun'an. Song Ying had met her several times.

Next to the Shen family's carriage, Song Ying also recognized the person who stuck his head out of the carriage. It was the daughter of Liu Tongpan who went to the shop to buy soap that day. She looked at this side with shining eyes.

The Liu family has a son who is also in Jiahu Academy. I guess Miss Liu came with her family to see her brother off.

Yu He also recognized Song Ying and said in surprise: "Isn't this Doctor Song? You are here too!"

Song Ying pointed to the medicine box next to him and said, "I've been ordered to come here and wait for the doctor."

This time, the doctors that County Magistrate Chen called in to see patients were not only from Huichuntang, but also from three other hospitals, all located at Longmen, two on each side.

Yuhe looked over and found that the other doctor was normal. There was nothing on the table except the writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone for writing prescriptions, and a needle bag.

On the Huichun Hall side, there was a bamboo basket at the very edge, blocking most of the view, and there were several empty bowls in the middle of the table.

The writing brush, ink, paper, inkstone and acupuncture bag for prescribing medicine were placed at the very edge. Even Doctor Ma, the doctor who was seriously treating patients, sat at the edge of the table.

Looking again, I saw a stove behind their table, and ginger soup was bubbling in the pot on the stove.

While they were talking, someone came up and said, "Give me a bowl of ginger soup."

Then Yuhe saw Song Ying scoop up the bowl neatly, hand it over with a smile, and take one penny.

Yuhe was stunned. Didn’t she come here to wait for the doctor? Why was she selling ginger soup?

Shen Jing held the hand warmer, put his hands in his cloak, and said, "Okay, you can go back quickly and let mother go back to rest. I have the inkstone here."

After the master spoke, Yuhe had to swallow her surprise and confusion and prepared to go back. Unexpectedly, the young lady of Liu Tongpan's family also came over.

"Are you selling ginger soup here?" she asked with a smile.

Song Ying nodded and was about to speak when the poor student who was with Yuan Qing and Shen Jing suddenly answered, "Yes, one cent a bowl. After drinking it, I feel much warmer. Miss Liu, do you want to buy some for your brother?"

Song Ying couldn't help but look at the scholar. He seemed a little too attentive. He had never been so enthusiastic to help previous guests. Could it be that he had taken a fancy to Miss Liu?

Not only her, Yuan Qing and Shen Jing also looked at the scholar in surprise.

Miss Liu didn't feel offended and continued to smile: "Yes, Mrs. Cui and mother knew that we sell ginger soup here, and they praised Dr. Song for being thoughtful. They were so anxious these two days that they forgot to prepare it. So I came to buy a bowl for my brother."

Since people were praising her, Song Ying naturally had to be modest. She smiled modestly and was about to speak, but the scholar spoke nonsense first: "The relationship between you and your brother is very deep."

Song Ying: “…”

"It seems that you are also a candidate here to take the exam. I wonder if you have a bowl of ginger soup to warm yourself up?" Miss Liu said with concern.

Song Ying couldn't help but glance at her, then looked at the scholar. Something was wrong. It seemed that Miss Liu had known the scholar for a long time.

The scholar smiled and nodded: "I just bought a bowl and drank it."

Miss Liu's worry faded a little, and she smiled while holding the hand warmer, "Then I wish you a successful start and a place on the list."

"Thank you for your good wishes, young lady." The scholar also thanked her with a smile. Their eyes met and tears were almost coming out of their eyes.

Song Ying was fascinated by the scholar, but Miss Liu was so shy that her cheeks turned red when she looked at him. She shyly looked away and changed the subject: "Doctor Song, my ginger soup."

"Oh, ginger soup. I'll serve it to you right away!" Song Ying quickly filled a bowl of ginger soup and handed it over, seeming to be reluctant to leave.

Isn’t this the scene described in operas where a young lady and a scholar meet? This is the first time she has seen it in real life.

Miss Liu took the ginger soup and handed it to a maid at the back. She glanced at the scholar shyly before leaving.

It was not until this time that Song Ying noticed that there was a maid from the Liu Mansion. She remembered that there was no maid there when Miss Liu came. She thought that she came too hastily and the crowd was so busy that the maid fell behind.

After Miss Liu left, everyone turned their eyes to the scholar. They were not fools and could see such an obvious thing. Miss Liu said she came to buy ginger soup, but in fact she came to talk to the scholar, or to care about him and wish him well.

Facing everyone's gaze, the scholar acted calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.

This happened in public, and Miss Liu's reputation was involved, so even classmates like Shen Jing and Yuan Qing didn't dare to ask too many questions.

After a moment of silence, Song Ying spoke first, breaking the strange atmosphere.

"If you don't mind, you can stand by our stove. It's warmer here. And you can put your exam baskets under the table."