Chapter 29: Chapter 26: Test, Delighted (Looking for followers on Tuesday)
"What?"
Lu Qing looked at the elder doctor in surprise, somewhat doubting if he had misheard just now.
"Grandpa Chen, did you just say that you want me to study medicine with you?"
"How so, are you not willing?" the elder doctor asked.
"No, it's just that you said before you only wanted me to follow you and learn some herbal knowledge, didn't you?"
"I've changed my mind. Mr. Wang's words earlier reminded me that the village will indeed need a doctor in the future."
"Since you're the only person in the village who can read, perhaps I should give you this opportunity."
Mr. Wang was the elder who had earlier patted Lu Qing on the shoulder, urging him to follow Old Doctor Chen and study medicine diligently.
Lu Qing was stunned.
He had thought it would be a long time before he'd have the opportunity to study medicine.
Unexpectedly, the situation had changed so quickly.
A look of joy crossed his face, and he was about to give thanks when
Old Doctor Chen continued, "However, don't be too pleased with yourself just yet. The path to learning medicine requires talent. If you don't have the talent, even if I'm willing to teach, you might not be able to learn."
"What counts as having talent?" asked Lu Qing.
"One month," the elder doctor replied. "As long as you can memorize all the names and properties of the herbs recorded in the 'Hundred Herbs Scripture' in your hands within a month, I will formally take you on as an apprentice."
"If you can't do it, then you might as well honestly learn some herbal knowledge and make a living as an herb gatherer."
"Grandpa Chen, I will definitely try hard to memorize the entire 'Hundred Herbs Scripture'!"
Lu Qing said excitedly.
It was just memorizing the 'Hundred Herbs Scripture,' something he could do right now.
However, Lu Qing knew that if he really recited the entire 'Hundred Herbs Scripture' in front of the elder doctor now,
What awaited him might not be the elder doctor's surprise but fear instead.
So he couldn't rush this matter; he needed to give the elder doctor time to accept it.
After all, he had previously told people that he could only recognize some characters, not that he was extensively read.
Following that, Lu Qing took the 'Hundred Herbs Scripture' and started asking Old Doctor Chen about some questions in it.
Mainly about some rare characters and the pronunciation of the names of medicinal materials.
Though Superpower had helped him memorize the entire 'Hundred Herbs Scripture,'
There were some meanings of words that he wanted to understand more deeply.
It was also a good opportunity to confirm whether they were different from his understanding.
To this, the elder doctor naturally had all the answers, explaining in detail to Lu Qing.
And it was during this process of explanation that Old Doctor Chen was amazed to discover Lu Qing's excellent memory.
Many words, after just explaining them once or twice, he could basically remember and didn't require further elaboration.
"Lu Qing, you truly are a very smart child," the elder doctor said with great satisfaction.
Lu Qing's performance greatly exceeded his expectations.
At this rate, perhaps he really could memorize the entire 'Hundred Herbs Scripture' within a month.
"It's because Grandpa Chen teaches so well," Lu Qing said modestly.
At the same time, he also breathed a sigh of relief internally.
This was the first time he felt pretending to be confused could also be tiring.
Even though he already understood many things, he still needed to ask several times and couldn't let the elder doctor notice any loopholes.
It was a great test of his acting skills.
"Alright, let's stop here for today. Learning characters shouldn't be done too much at once; otherwise, it's easy to get them mixed up. Take the 'Hundred Herbs Scripture' back with you, have a good look at it tonight, and come back up tomorrow. I'll test your progress then."
"Grandpa Chen, don't I need to wait until the next acupuncture session to come back?" Lu Qing asked in surprise.
"Now that you're going to study the 'Hundred Herbs Scripture,' why wait so long? If more than three days pass, I'm afraid you'll have forgotten what you learned today!" the elder doctor said with a laugh and a scolding tone.
"Then we'll come back up tomorrow to see you, Elder," Lu Qing said joyfully.
"Grandpa Chen, does that mean Little Yan can still come up to play with you tomorrow?" Little Yan also said happily.
"Of course, I'll make you some new pastries tomorrow for you to try," the elder doctor picked up the little tyke.
Little Yan's eyes lit up, "New pastries? Will they be as delicious as the yam cake?"
"They won't be any worse than the yam cakes."
The little tyke suddenly felt like she was about to drool.
After leaving the Half Mountain Small Courtyard with Little Yan, Lu Qing's heart was still joyous.
His gains for the day were still enormous.
The Red Moon Carp he had intended to give to Elder Doctor Chen turned out to be such a precious Strange Fish.
After Elder Doctor Chen sells the Red Moon Carp, even after deducting the stew medicine fee he owed to the elder doctor, there should still be some Silver Tael left.
It just so happens that he is very poor right now, and with the Silver Tael, many urgent matters can be resolved.
What's more important is that he learned about the Red Moon Carp's habit of enjoying Blood Apricots.
If that river outside the village could yield one Red Moon Carp, there surely must be others.
As long as he is patient, maybe he can catch another.
When that time comes, it will be another fortune.
Besides the Red Moon Carp, the biggest gain was the opportunity bestowed by Old Doctor Chen.
Next, as long as he proceeds step by step, thoroughly studies the Hundred Herbs Scripture, and gains the elder doctor's approval, he will truly obtain the opportunity to learn medical skills.
Lu Qing believes that with his Superpower and diligent study, he will definitely master Medical Skill.
Moreover, the sudden discovery of this function today also made Lu Qing realize.
His Superpower is even more powerful than he imagined, with many more functions still waiting for him to uncover.
With an excited heart, the siblings walked toward their home.
Meanwhile, the events that occurred today at the elder doctor's house had already spread throughout the entire village.
Especially the fact that Lu Qing was learning medical skills from Doctor Chen was drawing the attention of almost all the villagers.
Under the large tree in the center of the village, a group of villagers was discussing.
"Do you guys think Lu Qing is really learning Medical Skill from Old Doctor Chen?" a villager asked in surprise.
"Of course, it's true. Everyone saw it with their own eyes, Lu Qing was reciting from a medical book right there!" another villager responded.
"Yes, and when we asked Lu Qing, the elder doctor didn't deny it, isn't that the truth?" another villager added.
"Does that mean our village will have a doctor of its own in the future?" an old man said excitedly.
"It's too early to say, Lu Qing is just learning from the elder doctor for now, it's hard to say when he will be ready to treat patients."
"No matter what, it's a hope at least. If there's no doctor in the village, we'd have to go back to the way things were before."
Hearing this, the villagers fell silent.
Yes, before the elder doctor arrived, when they had any kind of ailments, they could only endure on their own.
Some minor ailments might get better after enduring.
But the fear was that enduring might lead to bigger problems.
In the past, quite a few people in the village had passed away like this.
After Old Doctor Chen arrived, life became better.
No matter the illness, the elder doctor could treat it in some way, even if he couldn't cure it right away, he could relieve the pain, making it less unbearable for the patient.
What's most crucial is that the elder doctor's fees for treating were not expensive.
Even if someone couldn't pay the fee temporarily, he still helped out and allowed it to be owed.
Where else could you find such a good doctor?
Therefore, everyone truly respected Old Doctor Chen from the bottom of their hearts.
But everyone also knew that the elder doctor was getting on in years.
Hence, sometimes they couldn't help but think, what would they do if one day the elder doctor was no longer there.
No one wanted to return to those days when they were sick but had no doctor to see.
Now, hearing that Lu Qing was studying Medical Skill from the elder doctor, people genuinely felt happy.
Just as everyone was chatting under the tree, suddenly, no one knew who shouted out.
"Lu Qing is back!"