Compounding Unseen

Dao Liuliu's words were very reasonable.

With Xu Lu's current status, it was indeed difficult to come into contact with Heavenly Officials of too high a grade. He Qing was indeed an extremely suitable candidate. A young man with family background, talent, and a promising future. Once he matured, his calligraphy could completely become a protective talisman for Bao'an Hall. Ordinary people would probably not dare to risk offending a Yellow-clothed Great Heavenly Official to make things difficult for a medicine shop.

"I only fear that He Qing will refuse me."

Xu Lu remained silent for a moment.

A Black-clothed Heavenly Official, if judged by grade, was only Second-grade, which was indeed a bit low. But he had no other choice; obtaining the calligraphy of a Heavenly Official was already not bad. At least with He Qing's calligraphy there, the other Heavenly Officials in Jiangdu City would have to show some respect.

Xu Lu did not expect these words to truly play any major role. After all, if his identity were truly exposed, the first person who would want to capture him would probably be He Qing.

"No matter, leave it to me," Dao Liuliu patted his chest and guaranteed. "He Qing and I have drunk flower wine together several times, and he still owes me money. If I ask him for a piece of calligraphy, would he dare to refuse?"

Xu Lu's mouth fell open. Did He Qing, with that upright and gentlemanly appearance, also go to drink flower wine? It was very difficult for him to imagine what He Qing drinking flower wine would look like...

Curiosity aside, Xu Lu still took out the prepared paper. "Eldest Young Master, this is the couplet I wish to invite the Heavenly Official to write. Regardless of whether it succeeds or not, consider it that I owe you a favor."

"What favor? If you truly feel guilty, write two more poems for me so I can play for free..." Dao Liuliu was not polite at all.

"I will do my best..." Xu Lu's face darkened.

"By the way, when do you plan to open your medicine shop?"

Dao Liuliu casually stuffed the paper into his robes without even looking at it, and asked. "When the time comes, I will have someone make the couplet and bring it to your shop. On the opening day, I will bring a few brothers to support you."

"In three to five days at the earliest, or seven to eight days at the latest. When the time comes, I will send an invitation to the Eldest Young Master," Xu Lu said.

"Alright, then I will go find He Qing. Wait for my good news," Dao Liuliu said, standing up and walking out. With that excited expression, Xu Lu even suspected he was using this as an excuse to escape the Dao Estate!

...

"Bao'an Hall"!

Looking at the three large, vigorously written characters on the signboard, a sense of accomplishment rose in Xu Lu's heart.

Unlike the previous Deyue Tower, this Bao'an Hall was obtained through Xu Lu's own hard work from beginning to end. The layout inside and out was also completed by his own hands. If Deyue Tower was an adopted child, then Bao'an Hall was definitely his biological child.

"To be able to make a living while hiding in the marketplace to cultivate mystic arts, I truly am a genius!" Xu Lu thought happily.

"Extraordinary."

Just as Xu Lu was admiring Bao'an Hall's signboard, a voice suddenly sounded behind him.

Xu Lu turned his head, and his initially happy mood instantly turned somewhat displeased...

"Mr. Chi, why have you come?"

Although he was very unwilling to meet Chi Fangshu, Xu Lu still spoke politely. Everyone knew that those who plotted great affairs were madly persistent, and opposing him would bring no benefit.

"I heard your medicine shop is about to open, so I specially came to congratulate you. What, am I not welcome?" Chi Fangshu laughed heartily, waving his folding fan as he spoke. "In just a few short months, to rebuild your family estate from scratch, you are indeed young and promising." Chi Fangshu was filled with emotion.

"It is merely to make a living," Xu Lu replied indifferently.

Chi Fangshu smiled, making no further comment. "Brother Chen's calligraphy has improved again, truly congratulatory." He looked at the three characters on the Bao'an Hall signboard, praising them.

The Bao'an Hall signboard was indeed specially written by Chen Siming, whom Xu Lu had invited. Chen Siming was his mentor, after all; not inviting him to write the signboard would be somewhat improper.

After looking at the signboard, Chi Fangshu's gaze fell upon the couplet at the door.

"May there be no illness in the world..." Chi Fangshu's movements clearly paused, and he slowly read it aloud. "Why care if the medicine shelves are covered in dust!"

After reading, he fell silent for a moment.

"Truly worthy of being the bright star of the Jiangdu literary world; a couplet written by you is a masterpiece. Once this couplet is out, all the medicine shops in the world will feel ashamed before you."

As for the seal of the Marquis of Bohai beneath the couplet, he acted as if he did not see it. Chi Fangshu also dealt in medicinal materials, so he naturally knew the lethal power of this couplet! With just this couplet, the world would no longer view Xu Lu as a mere merchant. As long as the profession of medicine shops existed in this world, no one would ever forget this couplet.

"The Marquis of Bohai has picked up a massive bargain," Chi Fangshu smiled bitterly. "Xu Lu, oh Xu Lu, why did you not find me to write this couplet? My calligraphy is much better than the Marquis of Bohai's."

For hundreds and thousands of years to come, when people mentioned this couplet, they would also remember the Marquis of Bohai, who first wrote it. And what about him, Chi Fangshu? If his mystic arts could not be cultivated to the realm of longevity, hundreds of years later, he would probably only be a handful of yellow sand.

"Who says whose calligraphy is better than this Marquis's?"

Right at this moment, a cold snort sounded. A middle-aged man in luxurious robes, with drunken eyes, walked over. Who else could it be but the Marquis of Bohai, Xue Daozhi?

Xue Huan followed behind Xue Daozhi, her face filled with helplessness.

"So it is the Marquis. Your Lordship's arrival brings light to this humble place," Chi Fangshu cupped his hands to Xue Daozhi, not feeling embarrassed at all, and laughed. "Is that so? Who said it? The Marquis's calligraphy is like ten thousand clouds drifting in the wind, like a startled dragon stepping on the earth, about to fly. In my entire life, I have never seen a second person who can write such wild and unrestrained calligraphy as the Marquis."

Shameless!

Xu Lu cursed in his heart. This Chi Fangshu's skin was truly thicker than a city wall. To say such words without blushing? The Marquis of Bohai Xue Daozhi's calligraphy could only be said to be decent; how could it be as good as Chi Fangshu boasted?

"Chi Fangshu, you fellow, your character is nothing to write home about, but your eye for appreciation is not bad," the Marquis of Bohai, Xue Daozhi, cast a drunken glance at Chi Fangshu and said.

Xue Huan looked as if she could not bear to watch, her small face flushed red, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into. Did her father truly have no self-awareness?...

"I also rely on these eyes to make a living. If I weren't sharp-eyed, I would probably starve to death," Chi Fangshu's skin was no thinner than Xue Daozhi's.

"Uncle, Cousin Sister! You are all here."

As they spoke, a voice as clear as an oriole sounded. Situ Yanqing aggressively led her people over.

"Brother, fortunately I did not miss your opening. I have had the signboards made for you. Am I loyal enough?" With that, she ordered her people to bring a set of completed couplets to hang inside the shop, on both sides of the medicine cabinet.

Xue Daozhi looked at this exceptionally bold niece, and then at his own gentle daughter, shaking his head and sighing, "Spoiled in raising..."

"Father, what nonsense are you talking about!" Xue Huan's face darkened, somewhat petulant. Even when angry, her voice remained as gentle as water.

Xue Daozhi nodded his head. "Did I say anything? Ah, let's see what girl Qing brought." He stepped over the threshold and entered the medicine shop.

Situ Yanqing had already directed her people to hang the couplet inside.

"Though the preparation is tedious, we dare not cut down on labor; though the ingredients are costly, we dare not skimp on materials."

Chi Fangshu, who entered the door with Xue Daozhi, had already read it aloud.

"A single sentence has spoken the entire heart of a physician. Xu Lu, oh Xu Lu, you truly never cease to bring surprises. I am very curious, what other surprises can this small medicine shop bring us?" Chi Fangshu was filled with emotion.

Xue Huan looked at the couplet, a strange light shining in her beautiful eyes.

"Brother, my father originally intended to come congratulate you, but he suddenly had official duties and could not make it. He told me to tell you, as long as you do exactly as these two sentences say, then if anyone dares to come to Bao'an Hall to cause trouble, you can just go to the City Lord's Manor," Situ Yanqing clapped her hands and said.

"Many thanks to the City Lord," Xu Lu was delighted in his heart, but he still maintained his composure, speaking neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Kid." Xue Daozhi suddenly spoke, a blast of alcohol breath hitting Xu Lu's face.

"Marquis," Xu Lu cupped his hands.

"If you can make another couplet with meaning no less than these two, this Marquis will cover your Bao'an Hall in the future." Xue Daozhi seemed to want to take a sip of wine, raising his hand, but finding no wine flask in his hand, he waved his hand somewhat uncomfortably.

"Uncle, those are your own words!" Before Xu Lu could say anything, Dao Liuliu's voice sounded outside the door. "In the future, you are definitely covering this Bao'an Hall. Bring the things in for me."

Dao Liuliu shouted, ordering people to bring two wooden signboards in.

"There is still more?" Chi Fangshu approached with great interest. With just a glance, he folded his fan, tapped his left palm, and turned to look at Xue Daozhi. "Marquis, the words you just spoke are perhaps too subjective." Chi Fangshu spoke, "This kid Xu Lu, he truly can..."

The Marquis of Bohai, Xue Daozhi, waved his hand. "This Marquis's words are as solid as a nail. The two couplets of mine and Situ have already written out the entire conscience of a physician. I do not believe this kid can write anything more!"

"Uncle, then you are mistaken," Dao Liuliu puffed out his chest and said loudly. "My brother is like this!" He raised his thumb, cleared his throat, and spoke in his characteristic poetic tone.

"Compounding unseen..."