Chapter 10, the spring ice and snow begin to melt

As they were speaking, the sky suddenly darkened, and in an instant, a fierce wind arose, with sand and stones flying about. Wu Wang, flustered, hurriedly said, "If you find some free time, please do come by. Chun Jun and Uncle and Aunt are waiting at home. The weather is about to change, so I must take my leave today and will visit again another day." After saying this, she bowed slightly. Pei Zhen was just about to persuade her to stay, but she had already crossed through the flower hall and headed towards the corridor.

Pei Zhenyi raised his head and asked, "Has she arrived?"

Pei Zhen said, "Don't rush, I have called someone to take you back." He shouted, "Zhu Er!" Just as the words left his mouth, large raindrops began to pour down. Zhu Er hurriedly ran over. Pei Zhen looked at the sky and helplessly said to Wu Wang, "You see, as soon as we mentioned it, it started to rain. With such heavy rain, the road might be difficult to navigate. The rain comes quickly and goes quickly. Let's wait until it lightens up a bit before we leave."

Pei Zhen pondered for a moment, then opened the ledger again, the abacus beads clicking rhythmically as he quietly said, "Let her wait a little longer"

Do not be shy to say, "My aunt has some culinary skills, so she opened a pastry shop"

Pei Zhen smiled and said, "You are lost in thought, and you can't hear me calling you. This rain won't stop anytime soon, so have some fruit first. I'll bring you some food later. How early did you have your meal? After a while, you should be feeling hungry."

Do not misunderstand, "I come today with a request for you, young master. My uncle's leg is now able to move, and I implore you to kindly treat my uncle."

"I apologize for the delay; I was momentarily held up by some trivial matters, thank you for your patience, young lady." Pei Zhen bowed in greeting, his face beaming with joy. The silver-colored brocade robe he wore, adorned with a subtle pattern of intertwined auspicious flowers, further accentuated his jade-like, flawless complexion.

The servant received the order and quickly ran off. Pei Zhen clapped his hands and instructed the maid to bring in fruits and tea snacks, then called out for Wu Wang to sit down. However, after calling several times with no response, he had no choice but to raise his voice and shout, "Chun Jun!"

Speaking of this tea... he could not help but raise his eyes to look at her. According to the report from the spies sent by Yu Ziqi, she even intended to go to Duoyi to sell tea leaves. Fortunately, that plan did not come to fruition; otherwise, he would have to prepare how to rescue her from the authorities. On the surface, she appeared to be such a gentle and dignified young lady, yet privately she was so bold. Upon reflection, it was truly pitiable. What kind of well-bred young woman has endured such hardships? Orphaned and having experienced a tumultuous childhood, now encountering him, she was schemed against by him... cough cough, in the future, once she enters his household, he must cherish her a hundredfold, a thousandfold.

Without expecting it, I let out a low cry, hurriedly struggling to get up, standing there, feeling embarrassed and flushed. At this moment, Pei Zhen also felt quite awkward and said in a low voice, "I apologize, I apologize, I hope Miss Wang Chun can forgive me"

Without hope, she shook her head and said, "I just finished eating before coming here, so there is no need for you to fuss, young master." Before Pei Zhen could respond, she turned and stood by the window, gazing outside, her heart anxious and helpless. She could only hope that the rain would stop soon. A young woman visiting a man's home and not returning for most of the day—what would happen if word got out? It would be a wonder if she wasn't ridiculed and scorned.

Pei Zhen sighed, "Indeed, the bond between husband and wife is profound; even in the military, one does not forget to send word of safety"

"What a hot-tempered person!" Pei Zhen thought to herself, hastily chasing after them

It was said that after glancing at the hourglass five or six times during the time it took to brew a cup of tea, he finally waited until a quarter of an hour had passed, hurriedly adjusting his attire before heading to the flower hall

The assistant added water to the inkstone and replied while grinding, "Indeed, they are waiting in the flower hall, requesting to see the master."

Not wanting to express gratitude, feeling quite uncomfortable under his gaze, and with an awkward silence between them, I asked, "Will my uncle be able to get up and walk after the injection on his leg?"

Women in the inner chambers also understand the principle of knowing oneself and knowing the enemy, ensuring that one is never at a disadvantage in a hundred battles. They should not expect to inquire privately about that shop, whose skills are mediocre and variety limited, and certainly cannot compare to the authenticity of their pastries. In the past, the Liu residence was a family of officials, having tasted all sorts of newfangled items. The old matron in the kitchen often added milk and goat's milk to the dough, brushed it with lard, and baked it in a fire tray, flipping it every minute, and after ten flips, brushed it with bean oil, which was quite meticulous. Just this alone would be enough to outshine the pie shop that boasts of its prowess. The northern regions are not like the south; baked pancakes and pot cakes are more common, while delicate and exquisite pastries are only found in the kitchens of the wealthy, rarely seen by the common folk. Delicacies such as fine sand green dumplings, hibiscus cakes, red date and yam cakes, and spring white jade cakes are likely unheard of. If they were all made and displayed, there would be no worry for a livelihood. Today, let us prepare the necessary items. According to the almanac, the sixth day of next month is an auspicious day. On that day, at the hour of the dragon, we will hang the banners and await the profits.

Do not worry, he said with a smile, "Rest assured, nothing will go wrong."

Do not expect someone to be assigned to move the shelves, he grumbled, "Since there are no customers and the door is closed, what are they coming to us for? Our new store has not yet opened, and we do not want to bring bad luck upon ourselves"

Pei Zhen displayed a look of approval on his face; conversing with such a transparent young woman was indeed effortless. This girl appeared youthful yet possessed such insight, which truly made her likable

I cannot help but feel a sense of guilt upon hearing the words of Young Master Pei, who speaks with such certainty. Thus, I can no longer decline. With a slight smile, I said, "Then let us proceed as you suggest."

There, the assistant laughed mischievously, pointed to the sky, and gave a thumbs up. Pei Zhen shot him a glare, signaling him to come out. Once outside the hall, he instructed, "Go and tell her aunt that due to the heavy rain, Miss Chun Jun has been kept here by me. Once the rain stops, I will personally send her back. She need not wait for her; she can go home by herself."

Pei Zhen lightly coughed as he stepped into the flower hall, and without standing up, Fu bowed slightly. He raised his head to look at him, his gaze sparkling, which unexpectedly made Pei Zhen's heart tremble.

Do not expect a calm surface; receiving too many favors can weigh you down like a mountain, making it hard to breathe. Although this is the first order received by the shop, it does not bring her much joy. Therefore, she replied, "We will open on the sixth of next month. If you have time, please come by then. If the pastries are to your liking, we will deliver them to your esteemed establishment every day, and first, we will settle the medicine expenses you covered last time before discussing anything else"

Pei Zhen smiled and said, "When will you open? I have some free time to come and take a look. Coincidentally, I have a restaurant in the southern city, and I am recently looking for a pastry chef. If your shop does well, then you can deliver the pastries and snacks I need every day. What do you think?"

Even that fool Lian Wenzhun knows the importance of self-preservation, and someone as clever as Pei Zhen is even more adept at this principle. Wu Wangdao remarked, "Not serving in the Imperial Medical Institute naturally means one cannot treat the common people; if this were to reach the capital, it would be a death sentence, wouldn't it?"

At present, the only unfortunate matter is Uncle's leg. After taking the medicine, he has gradually regained some sensation. It is quite difficult to invite Pei Zhen to administer acupuncture. Aunt Qi, for some reason, avoids Zhang Shi every time she seeks her out. The other day, a maid was sent to convey the message, clearly stating the address of the Pei residence, asking her to go and invite someone herself, disregarding everything else. The family deliberated for a long time; if Zhang Shi were to go, she would likely be turned away at the Pei residence. What is meant to happen cannot ultimately be avoided. After much consideration, it seems that Young Master Pei does not appear to be a cruel and vicious person, so it would be best to seek his help. It is evident that Uncle is on the verge of being able to walk again; if this step is missed, all previous efforts will be in vain, and further delays cannot be afforded.

My parents have known each other since childhood, and their relationship is very close

Zhang expressed concern, saying, "I hope nothing will go wrong! Please be extremely careful. If you cannot obtain it, then let it be; at worst, we will not seek treatment."

The girl walked forward in the wind, her long hair dancing wildly, and her dress fluttering, accentuating her slender figure, as if she were about to transform into a celestial being. Another gust of wind swept by, and she stumbled, nearly falling. Pei Zhen instinctively reached out to catch her, and she fell entirely into his embrace. At that moment, he was enveloped by a strange fragrance, holding her soft body, his heart nearly leaping out of his throat. Another gust of wind swept by, and she stumbled, nearly falling. Pei Zhen instinctively reached out to catch her, and she fell entirely into his embrace. At that moment, he was enveloped by a strange fragrance, holding her soft body, his heart nearly leaping out of his throat.

Pei Zhen smiled softly, his narrow eyes becoming even more profound, and simply said, "You are unlike others." He then sat down and began to savor the tea delicately, holding the teacup.

Do not expect a red face, timidly saying, "I can only repay the great kindness of the young master to the Chun family with nothing, truly feeling twelve ten-thousandths of shame, and moreover, I have been preparing to start a small business recently, which has delayed this matter for quite a long time."

Pei Zhen then smiled and said, "Do not call me 'Young Master' so formally; just call me Lan Du. Your courtesy name is Chun Jun, so what is the meaning of the two characters 'Wu Wang'?"

Pei Zhen feigned surprise and said, "You have actually started a business? What are you managing?"

Wu Wang then said, "You should not have examined us; if someone reports this, then the Chun family would find it difficult to repay even if they died."

"It is no trouble at all; I will send a servant over to inform them," Pei Zhen said cheerfully, inviting Wu Wang into the house. He then added, "Since it is getting late, why not have a meal here before heading back?"

With a hint of sorrow in her eyes, she slowly said, "When my mother gave birth to me, my father was not by her side; he had gone to another province on official business and was away for three months. During that time, it rained continuously for half a month, making travel impossible and letters could not be exchanged. The only option was to entrust a messenger from the military camp to deliver a message along with the memorial, stating that everything was fine and there was no need to hope. My name was derived from this situation."

Looking through the intricately carved glass screen, the girl sits with her knees together, her body slightly turned. Her posture is graceful and beautiful. With her head lowered, she reveals a neck resembling a tender lotus root and a delicate, translucent jawline, truly captivating and breathtakingly beautiful

Pei Zhen hurriedly closed the ledger, feeling a sense of anxiety within, and asked his son, "Have you been treating them well?"

In the study, Pei Zhen was verifying the transactions from various places over the past month when his son rushed in like a gust of wind, exclaiming, "Uncle, guess who has arrived?"

Zhang reassured, "It's nothing, colleagues are rivals, it's not uncommon to face some criticism, just pretend you didn't hear it."

Startled, Wu Wang turned around to see him standing behind, his face flushing slightly, and asked, "Did you call for me, young master?"

Pei Zhen leisurely remarked, "After receiving acupuncture, you should rest for two days. On the third day, you can start practicing with support. Once your legs adapt, you will gradually be able to move about like an ordinary person. However, running is not advisable, as it is a leg that has been broken, and running may lead to complications."

The shop has been found, located at the southern end of the intersection in the city, opposite a restaurant, with a tofu workshop on the left selling freshly ground soy milk and tofu pudding. The shop on the right, however, is not favorable, as it is a candle shop run by a widow. Fortunately, the rent is cheap, which is better than nothing. There used to be a pastry shop in the city, situated in the north. Upon learning of a competitor, the owner felt uneasy and visited twice in one day, complaining about the difficulty of doing business and the scarcity of customers, expressing a barrage of sour remarks. Seeing that Zhang and Wu were indifferent to his complaints, he left, scratching his nose.

The rain fell as if it would never stop, accompanied by the rumbling of thunder, and the sky had darkened as if it were night. Wu Wang sighed and could only say, "Then I shall trouble you for a little while longer, but my aunt is still at the shop and will surely be worried sick."

Assisting the child, "Having served tea and snacks, is the elder going over now?"

Pei Zhen said while shaking his fan, "My family has been in the medical profession for generations, serving in the Imperial Medical Institute for several lifetimes. It is not easy to treat the royal family and their relatives; even a slight mistake could cost one’s head. I am quite afraid of death, so it is better for me to engage in business and earn some modest income. Please do not mock me for lacking great ambitions."

Pei Zhen raised an eyebrow and said, "I estimate that the medicine has been taken for quite some time, so why has it only come now"

Seeing the myriad expressions on his face, and recalling his earlier remark, "You are unlike others," my heart inevitably began to race intensely

Do not mention it, I have been rude. Thank you very much for your assistance just now, young master.

Without further ado, after washing his hands and face, he said to Zhang, "I will go find Young Master Pei now. Please wait for me; I will be back shortly, and we can return to the village together."

Wu Wang was extremely delighted upon hearing this, thinking to himself that Pei Zhen was indeed a remarkable person! He then said, "Your medical skills are truly admirable; it is a pity that you are not practicing as a doctor."

Pei Zhen settled into his seat and slowly blew on the tea leaves before taking a sip. Wu Wang felt somewhat anxious and glanced at him, only to see him with his head lowered, long eyelashes casting shadows over his eyes, seemingly lost in thought. The two remained in a stalemate for a moment before Pei Zhen spoke, "Calling the young lady to bring some pastries is not meant to collect a debt. After all, the young lady has just opened her new shop, and it is always good to take advantage of a favorable opportunity. Who would have thought you misunderstood? This is Pei Zhen's fault. Do not dwell on that small amount of silver; just focus on doing business freely. Once you have earned enough, it will not be too late to repay."