Chapter 7 Contract
Li Ang hurried along, crossing the neighborhood streets. Just as he stepped out of the alley, he saw two middle-aged men standing at the entrance of Security Hall Pharmacy, preparing to knock.
One man had darker skin and a small goatee, holding a paper fan. The other was rather chubby, with a benign and amiable appearance, toying with two walnuts in his left hand and carrying a wooden box tied with a thin rope in his right. They were Yu Miaoshui and Ai Rong, the Chairman of Yizhou City’s Xinglin Society.
Li Ang narrowed his eyes, tucked the "Shangqing Linggan Chapter" under his arm, stepped forward, and greeted them with a cupped-fist salute, "Doctor Yu, Chairman Ai, what brings you two here..."
"Risheng, we were just waiting for you." Ai Rong waved cheerfully, handing over the wooden box. "This is a set of Xuan Brushes and an inkstone I bought in Xuanzhou some time ago. I heard you’re also taking the provincial examination this year. I wish you success."
"Thank you for your kind intentions, Chairman Ai." Li Ang glanced at the wooden box but didn’t take it, speaking coolly, "However, if you two are here for Security Hall today, then there’s no need. Unworthy as I may be, I have no intention of selling the family estate."
"This..." Ai Rong’s brow furrowed. Beside him, Yu Miaoshui tapped his folding fan, rubbed his small goatee, and said lightly, "Whether it’s truly your family property is still debatable. Chairman Ai?"
Ai Rong sighed softly and said to Li Ang, "Risheng, please show us inside first. This matter... it’s rather complicated to explain."
Li Ang glanced at the smug expression on Yu Miaoshui’s dark, thin face, frowned slightly, and led the two towards Security Hall’s back door.
Establishments like Security Hall, with a shop at the front and a courtyard at the back, usually didn’t lock the main entrance from the outside. It was typically secured from within by a bolt or lock. When the front door wasn’t open for business, the family and their guests would use the back entrance.
Li Ang unlocked the back courtyard door and led Ai Rong and Yu Miaoshui into the Security Hall pharmacy.
These two clearly harbored ill intentions, and he was in no mood to ask the maid to boil water. He simply unlatched the front door, allowing sunlight to stream in, then poured some lukewarm water from a kettle boiled that morning. He carelessly tossed in a few tea leaves, deeming it sufficient hospitality.
"HEH." Yu Miaoshui picked up the lukewarm teacup, took a casual sip, and placed it gently on the wooden table. Clearing his throat, he said, "Risheng, your father and I were old acquaintances. For years, he worked diligently, saving lives and healing the injured. He was a model doctor in Yizhou.