Two days had passed since that heartfelt night and for ReZhui, things have changed ever since. Normally, his master would still be at the slums for another several days to wrap up inspections and record keeping, but for today and the day before, he continued to remain at the Xu residence, doing business as usual. He prioritized that the caretaking of his step sister was to be overseen by him at all times and had already sent letters to delegate his duties to the other doctors at the scene. For a man of his position, everyone over there could only hope for the best and follow his orders.
With such news spreading all over the neighborhood, they were ecstatic. If the main physician was absent from his very office, the Xu Pharmacy was certainly going to be close for that week, and for the past five days of inactivity, the number of unattended patients would accumulate all over the districts. Thus, from yesterday’s service until today, ReZhui was pushed to the very bone. Masses of people would flock in to get his master’s examinations. Overall, it was a hectic period for all of them, especially that boy.
“Boy! Gather five liang from cupboard 10 and check on the boil of pot 3. Remove any foam that gathers on the surface! Be careful!”
“Yes, Mr Xu!”
In battered breath, ReZhui placed down his ninth bucket of sterile water from the well nearby. Wiping his sweat with a sleeve, the boy ran towards the back of the counter and into the steaming kitchen.
Tending to the fires with a stick, he proceeded with his instructions before fanning away the excess bitter smoke and closed the lid shut.
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“I’m back, Master.”
In his wooden tray, cracked stems of approximate mass scanned past YaoMing’s concentrated eyes.
“Proper work. Place it on the table.” He then demanded.
“Alright.”
Afterwards, ReZhui tried to walk away for a rest, a first that he had this morning.
“ReZhui!”
“Yes, Mr Xu?!”
Unfortunately, his master had other plans for him.
“Like yesterday, help out at the front with the bills and the inventory stock. I see that they need more manpower.”
“Yes, Mr Xu!”
Yet, ReZhui could never refuse, because if he does, that meant he was not up to the challenge. Passing lines of people, he stepped over the platform, onto the medicinal counter. Account books, diagrams, knives and scales line the polished wooden deck and at the very end, close to the entrance, ShiYan was there counting coins and professionally playing with the abacus. She looked shining with her white working robes and her black silky hair tied into a ponytail.
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“...”
ReZhui, swarmed with a newfound determination, shrugged off his exhaustion and approached his friend.
“ShiYan?!”
“..........Oh, ReZhui…Hold…”
She flicked the beads in rapid succession and wrote down the prices before returning change to the current customer.
“Yes, ReZhui! Did Father send you here again?” She turned an eye to him.
“I’m here to assist so…like before?”
Instantly, ShiYan slides him a random abacus upon a booklet. With this sign, ReZhui knew what her answer was.
“I will take one half of your line. May the people at the back come to the front!” ReZhui gestured his hand to the patients.
“Hehe…” ShiYan smirked. “Don’t worry, ReZhui, I will finish my part before you will.”
“...? We shall see. Your pace has slowed from an hour ago.”
“Says you brute, my father’s errand boy. I dare consider otherwise.”
‘...They are father and daughter, alright..’
ReZhui signed.
“What? I know you thought of something.”
“N-nothing, ShiYan. Let our competition begin!”
Both their spirits were full of vigor.
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Evening soon fell over the Xu household, and the setting sun casted long, dark shadows into the depths of the main pharmacy building. The last of their customers had already left with satisfied smiles and the frontal double doors were closed for the day, marking the end of service. Sat upon either of the wooden chairs, the duo laid lethargically. On the table next to them, there were used warm towels and an account booklet.
“Three hundred and forty six.” ReZhui boldly declared. “What about you, ShiYan?”
“...Ha…I estimate, five hundred and ninety.” She grinned.
“Not fair, ShiYan. That’s your overall total.”
“It still counts.” She teased.
“Alright then, I see to it that we are tied.”
“...”
“What?”
“Fair enough…” ShiYan whined as she tucked away.
“...”
“Now, now, as long as the patients had no complaints about the two of you, I, as a master and father, am proud of your performances.”
“...!”
“...!”
In unison, ShiYan and ReZhui got up to see YaoMing holding a tray of a teapot and a bowl of sandy medicine.
“Father!”
“Mr Xu, what are you doing here?”
Giving the duo a lax expression, YaoMing placed the tray on the table and prepared them a cup each.
“ShiYan, afterwards, could you accompany your father to his study? He has quite the workload to complete.” YaoMing inquired.
“Sure thing, Father!” Her youthful eyes sparkled like diamonds.
Affirming her response, he then turned to ReZhui and handed him the tray with only the medicinal soup.
“What do you need, Mr Xu?”
“ReZhui, I trust you would send this to Xiao Tian. Eddisson is also there to help you out.”
“Understood.”
“I’m glad.” YaoMing then got up, leaving the unfinished teapot. “Let’s go, ShiYan.”
With that, they went their separate ways.
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