Chapter 18 — After the Rain, Nam Son Still Has the Fragrance of Medicine

Mother Co suddenly raised her head.

“Nghien Tri!”

Co Nghien Tri did not look at her.

“If my mother did something wrong, she must take responsibility.”

"Me too."

I looked at him. This time, he no longer said "unintentionally". The trial did not pronounce a verdict on the spot, but the result was clear. After the trial ended, when Tham Nhuoc Lan was being led away, she suddenly pulled away and rushed to kneel in front of me.

“Miss Thanh Thanh, I know it's wrong.”

“Please help me tell the judge, please forgive me.”

“I'm still young, I can't go to jail.”

Duong Tue immediately raised his hand to shield me.

“Thanh Thanh's mother was also young when she gave birth to her.”

“Is that why she deserves to be killed by you?”

Tham Nhuoc Lan cried until she couldn't breathe.

“I just love Co Nghien Tri so much.”

I looked at her.

“Love is not an excuse for you to kill.”

“I don't kill people!”

“But you helped someone else close the emergency door.”

Tham Nhuoc Lan was dragged away, her crying became increasingly distant in the hallway. Co's mother still stood in place. After a long time, she slowly walked in front of me.

“Jian Qing.”

Duong Tue immediately frowned. Co's mother no longer scolded her like before. She put her hands on the wall and slowly knelt down. Co Nghien Tri took a step forward and then stopped. Mother Co knelt down in front of me.

“I'm sorry to your mother.”

Everyone in the hallway looked over. Co's mother cried until she struggled.

"I looked down on your family, afraid that you would implicate Nghien Tri. I bribed Tham Nhuoc Lan to break up the engagement ceremony, I scolded your mother for pretending to be sick. I didn't expect her to die, but she died... I can't take the responsibility away."

I didn't help her up. Co's mother nodded her head.

"I know you won't forgive me. I don't deserve it either. When the verdict is announced, I will accept it."

I looked at her white hair.

“You should have learned these words when my mother was still alive.”

Co's mother collapsed to the ground, unable to raise her head. Co Nghien Tri stood next to him, in his eyes there was only pain that came too late. I walked out of the courthouse. The rain has stopped. Lam Ba Son's car was parked right below the steps. Grandpa sat in the car, the windows rolled down.

“Won?”

“The verdict has not been announced yet.”

Lam Ba Son snorted.

"If you still don't win with such evidence before your eyes, you will smash two stone lions in front of the court gate."

Duong Tue immediately gave a thumbs up.

“Grandpa, you and I are really compatible.”

Lam Ba Son looked at her.

“This girl, go to Nam Son Duong to work as a book manager.”

Duong Tue immediately couldn't laugh.

“I only know how to scold people.”

Lam Ba Son says:

“That's good, instead of Thanh Thanh, scold those debt defaulters.”

I finally burst out laughing. It was a smile that Co Nghien Tri had not seen for a long time. But it's no longer covered in ash. The first month Nam Son Duong reopened, people lining up in front of the door were even more crowded than before. Not to see the Lam family lose face. But come and wait for me to see a doctor. At first, the old doctors still looked arrogant. But after seeing that every day I was the first to arrive, the last to leave, not avoiding difficult cases, and personally signing each reimbursement, they gradually stopped using my age to pressure me. The day the verdict was announced, Nam Son Duong was organizing free medical examinations. Uncle Trieu held the verdict and walked away entered, his voice could not hide his emotions.

"Miss Gian and Chu Hoai Le have been sentenced. Tham Nhuoc Lan has also been sentenced. Ms. Co is an accomplice, and during her suspended sentence, she must publicly apologize and pay compensation. As for Lam Ngoc Mai, she is being tried in another case, the entire matter of selling poor quality drugs has been clearly investigated."

The people lining up in front of the counter all stopped. Duong Tue slammed on the table.

"Very good! Today, Nam Son Duong offers everyone a sedative tea. Everyone who drinks it will have a good night's sleep."

The old physician glared at her.

"Do you still give away medicinal tea?"

Duong Tue immediately changed his words.

“Then please, warm water, warm water, okay?”

The whole yard burst into laughter. I took the verdict and didn't look at it for too long. Closing the stack of papers, I walked into the back hall, stood in front of my mother's tablet, and lit a stick of incense.

“The people who harmed my mother... have all confessed their crimes.”

Incense smoke rose. Outside the window, cinnamon flowers quietly fell down the stone steps. Lam Ba Son stood behind me, leaning on a cane.

“If Thanh Hoa saw you now, she would definitely scold you for becoming thinner.”

“Mom will scold me for not eating breakfast first.”

“So have you eaten yet?”

“There is Duong Tue supervising.”

Duong Tue poked his head in from outside the door.

"Now you are the worst bookkeeper in Nanshan Duong. If anyone dares to let Chancellor Cham starve, I will scold that person's family heirloom abacus to pieces."

Lam Ba Son nodded.

“Hiring a book manager like this is worth the money.”

A few months later, Co Nghien Tri came once. He was much darker, his sleeves had been washed until they were discolored, and in his hand was carrying a box of dried chrysanthemums dried by the elders in the countryside.

“Not precious.”

He said:

“The elders said that Nam Son Duong once saved them, so they asked me to bring them.”

Duong Tue held a book and deliberately stood blocking the door.

"Mr. Co, if you want to give a gift, line up. If you want to renew your old love, turn left."

Co Nghien Tri bowed his head and smiled slightly.

“I didn't come to ask to go back.”

I walked out from behind the medicine cabinet. Co Nghien Tri put down the chrysanthemum box.

“Next month I will go to the Northwest.”

“There is a shortage of doctors and medicine there.”

“I want to stay there for a few more years.”

“Long distance, remember to take care of yourself.”

"Me too."

He looked at me, seemingly having a lot to say. Finally, just say one sentence.

“Jian Qing, sorry.”

I'm no longer sarcastic with him like before. Nor give him any hope.

“I heard it.”

Co Nghien Tri nodded, turned and left. Outside the door, he turned around and looked back once. I bowed my head and prescribed medicine to the patient. Sunlight covers my shoulders. Nam Son Duong's wooden sign is on the back, the old paint has been repainted, those three words are calm and clear. He finally understood. There are people who, once they've missed out, don't need just a word of forgiveness to be able to turn around. At the end of the year, Nam Son Duong reopened the family congress. The managers of branch pharmacies who had previously followed Chu Hoai Le to cause trouble all stood in the yard, bowing their heads and accepting punishment. The person who must compensate will compensate. The person who has to repay will repay. People who have to leave will leave. Those who stayed behind worshiped the medicine counter again from the beginning. The first rules are written on red paper and posted right in front of the big gate. Save people first, then talk about business. Mr. Ha leaned on his cane and insisted on going to the front of the line.

"This good.”

“Whoever dares to tear it, I will beat him with a stick.”

Everyone laughed. Lam Ba Son handed the ebony stick into my hand.

“This thing has been weighing on him for more than half his life.”

“Now leave it to me.”

I don't accept.

“Grandfather.”

“I have a needle.”

I took out a silver needle engraved with the word "Thanh" from my needle bag and placed it on my palm.

“The seal may be lost.”

“The stick will eventually get old.”

“Rules can also be taken advantage of by people.”

"Only the courage in your hands and the limits in your heart... no one can take it away."

Lam Ba Son looked at me for a long time. The corners of his eyes were red, but his mouth still scolded loudly.

“Stubborn just like your mother.”

I smiled. Then turned around and looked at everyone in the yard.