Having made up her mind, Lin Zhiqing planned to go out to look for a shop the next day.
As she was having breakfast, a cheerful female voice came from the courtyard entrance: "Little Qing'er, you've really become something!"
Lu Nanyue's figure soon appeared before Lin Zhiqing.
She unceremoniously sat down, grabbed a piece of pastry, and slowly began to eat. "Quickly tell me, how did you win first prize?"
Lin Zhiqing signaled Aunt Mu to bring another bowl of porridge, and then simply recounted the events.
After she finished speaking, Lu Nanyue also finished her last mouthful of porridge, then picked up a teacup to gently rinse her mouth before nodding:
"So that's how it is. That Princess Pingning looks gentle, but behind her back, she has so many schemes. Luckily you're sharp, otherwise, that stage would have been hard to get off of."
"But this method of competing by designing ready-made clothes, I've heard of for the first time; it's quite novel."
"Little Huai said that the set of ruqun you designed was quite exquisite. I came here today precisely for that ruqun."
Lu Nanyue carried herself with great elegance in every gesture, but when she spoke, she didn't stop.
It was just a dress; there was nothing that couldn't be seen.
Lin Zhiqing had Aunt Mu bring out the ruqun. Lu Nanyue's eyes lit up, and she caressed it reluctantly for a long time before moving her gaze away.
"The method for making this ruqun isn't difficult. If you like it, I'll find some fabric another day and make another one." Lin Zhiqing shrugged.
"Really?" Lu Nanyue was a little excited and grabbed Lin Zhiqing's wrist. "Little Qing'er, you're too good to me."
Saying this, she rubbed her head against Lin Zhiqing's shoulder.
Lin Zhiqing was unaccustomed to such intimate touches. While subtly withdrawing her hand, she changed the subject:
"Nanyue, there's something I want to tell you."
"Are you talking about reopening a medical clinic?" Lu Nanyue replied while tidying the ruqun.
Lin Zhiqing nodded.
In fact, although she herself clearly knew that what she was opening was not an ordinary medical clinic, to avoid usurping the name of a medical clinic, and since there was a possibility of becoming a competitor, ordinary people would inevitably have some thoughts.
Lu Nanyue quickly folded the ruqun. "You're being too formal by telling me this. The Lin family is a den of dragons and tigers; it's already difficult for you to live there, and even if we opened a clinic together, it couldn't be made public."
"Now that you have the Academician's Estate's official approval, whether you open a medical clinic to solve financial problems or to escape the Lin family's control, you'll always have a share in Lu Family Medical Clinic. I will always support you."
"Besides, didn't you sign a contract with Little Huai? No matter how you go around it, you can't get past the 'Lu' family name!"
She analyzed the matter in a few words. As she spoke, her eyebrows moved, her nostrils flared, and a smile lingered at the corner of her mouth, appearing very sincere.
Lin Zhiqing didn't speak, but a smile also unconsciously appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Have you chosen a shop you like?" Lu Nanyue walked to the window, fiddling with the flowers and plants on the table.
Lin Zhiqing helped Aunt Mu clear the dishes, then began to prepare tea. "Although I paid attention a few days ago, I know very little. Today I plan to go see them in person."
Lu Nanyue trimmed off the withered branches and leaves. "You should indeed see them in person. Just the location and feng shui of a shop have many considerations. You finally have such an opportunity; you must choose a good one."
Lin Zhiqing paused in her action of pouring tea powder. After thinking for a moment, she decided to tell the truth: "Nanyue, I want to open the shop in the West Market."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Nanyue put down her scissors. "The West Market? Are you crazy? That place has everyone from high officials and nobles to beggars and pickpockets. Anything can go wrong if you're not careful. It's truly unsuitable."
Her reaction was within Lin Zhiqing's expectations.
According to what she had seen last time, Shengjing City's markets were divided into East and West.
The East Market was bustling, with good locations, and mostly frequented by high officials and nobles.
Compared to the East Market, the West Market was more dilapidated, with cheaper rents, and mostly where common people did business.
Lin Zhiqing analyzed the situation and thought that opening a medical clinic in the West Market was feasible, but earning money would be slower.
However, her funds were limited, so she could transition in the West Market first, and then go to the East Market when she had more money.
Lu Nanyue naturally understood her thoughts. She hesitated for a moment and then rummaged through the medicine box she carried with her.
A moment later, she handed a pouch to Lin Zhiqing.
The pouch was already somewhat old, and the gold thread embroidered on its flag was severely worn, appearing somewhat faded.
"This is?" Lin Zhiqing didn't understand.
Lu Nanyue sat down again. "Open it and see."
Lin Zhiqing touched the pouch, feeling a hard sensation.
It was silver!
She didn't open the pouch but pushed it back in front of Lu Nanyue:
"Although my funds are limited, they are enough to rent a shop. Your medical clinic has high daily expenses, so please take this silver back."
Lu Nanyue frowned, her cheeks slightly flushed with anger. "Little Qing'er, you're going to infuriate me to death!"
"Although I usually only give you a little bit of silver, privately, I've saved up your share, and even Miss Hua's consultation fee from last time was put in."
"Your family has many people, and those young masters and young ladies are not easy to deal with. If all this money were brought back by you, it would definitely be squandered by those rotten-hearted people."
"The clinic's efficiency hasn't been good these past few years. Excluding the money you and I send to other places monthly, I roughly calculated that there are seventy-eight taels and two qian of silver here..."
"It's a bit little, but it can solve urgent needs."
When Lu Nanyue said this, she pushed the pouch over again.
Lin Zhiqing noticed the "money sent to other places monthly" mentioned in her words, and felt some doubt.
However, this belonged to a secret between the original owner and Lu Nanyue. She couldn't show doubt, questioning, or other similar expressions now, otherwise, it would expose her identity problem.
Realizing that she couldn't act rashly, Lin Zhiqing temporarily pushed this question to the back of her mind.
"Little Qing'er, we shouldn't have to say these things between us, but recently I always feel that you were stimulated by the last incident and are unwilling to tell me when you have difficulties." Lu Nanyue sighed, her expression a little desolate:
"I had originally planned to leave this money by the flowerpot when I left, but after hearing your idea, if I had just left it like that, you probably wouldn't have taken it."
"If we're being serious, this is all your dividend; there's no reason not to accept it?" Saying this, Lu Nanyue picked up the pouch, stuffed it back into Lin Zhiqing's hand, and then quickly got up to take her leave.
She left without looking back, and before leaving, she also instructed that she would go see shops with Lin Zhiqing tomorrow.
This series of actions left Lin Zhiqing no chance to refuse.
Looking at the heavy pouch in her hand, her hand tightened, and in the end, she still let Aunt Mu put the pouch away.
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