NOVEL NEXT Chapter 243: Elder Zhong's Discretion
Zhong Ling spoke without any reservations.
Wang Ye felt somewhat embarrassed upon hearing Zhong Ling's words.
Although, in Wang Ye's view, what Zhong Ling had said was also true.
But the crux of the matter was.
With so many elders from the Traditional Chinese Medicine community around, Zhong Ling simply said it outright.
Wasn't that somewhat disrespectful to the elders present?
Wang Ye humbly responded with a smile, "The esteemed elders present are all superior to me. I just happened to understand these three conditions last night."
The other Traditional Chinese Medicine elders present nodded their heads in satisfaction upon hearing Wang Ye's words.
They thought that Wang Ye was very sensible, making them feel honored.
"Let's not speak of formalities now. Do you want to take me as your apprentice or not?"
Zhong Ling's charming eyes stared at Wang Ye, waiting for him to agree to her request.
She completely failed to notice the forced smiles on the faces of the other Traditional Chinese Medicine elders present after hearing her words.
The term "formalities" from Zhong Ling directly shattered the humility that Wang Ye had just expressed.
Wang Ye looked in the direction where Elder Zhong was.
Deciding whether to accept Zhong Ling as an apprentice, aside from his own opinion, he needed to see what attitude Elder Zhong had.
Zhong Ling, seeing Wang Ye look towards Elder Zhong, spoke somewhat displeased:
"Why are you looking at my grandfather? Whether or not you take me as your apprentice is a matter between the two of us. If you want to take me as your apprentice, just agree directly. There's no need to look at my grandfather."
Wang Ye smiled upon hearing Zhong Ling's words.
It had to be said.
Wang Ye quite liked Zhong Ling's personality.
But, with her grandfather right here, it was still necessary to seek Elder Zhong's consent.
Elder Zhong saw Wang Ye's gaze fall on him and smiled as he spoke, "Wang Ye, what Zhong Ling says is also true. Your level in Traditional Chinese Medicine is already better than many of those present."
Elder Zhong was very direct in saying this.
If Wang Ye's medical skills were stronger than many of those present, then they were stronger.
In this respect, Zhong Ling was very much like Elder Zhong.
"I can see that she truly wishes to become your disciple."
"My granddaughter, though she may seem a bit unruly, has a passion for Traditional Chinese Medicine that is second to none."
"She was only not very attentive to last night's Traditional Chinese Medicine banquet because these past few days, she was completely absorbed in researching new projects for Traditional Chinese Medicine formulations."
"Otherwise, had she known it was you, she would definitely have not said anything."
As Elder Zhong spoke on behalf of Zhong Ling, she stood by, her seductive eyes constantly sizing up Wang Ye.
The more she looked, the more appealing Wang Ye became to her, and her desire for Wang Ye to agree to take her as his apprentice grew stronger.
This was something Elder Zhong did not know, and did not see.
If Elder Zhong had seen it, then no matter what, he would not have continued to speak on behalf of Zhong Ling, urging Wang Ye to take her as his apprentice.
Upon hearing Elder Zhong's words, Wang Ye replied with a smile, "In that case, I will take Miss Zhong as my apprentice."
"Okay."
Elder Zhong smiled, looked towards Zhong Ling, and said to her, "Aren't you going to call him master now?"
Zhong Ling had been waiting for Wang Ye's agreement, and naturally, she was very happy when Wang Ye consented.
Therefore.
After Elder Zhong finished his sentence, Zhong Ling immediately spoke to Wang Ye: "Master, Little Wang, please guide me well in the future."
"Definitely."
Wang Ye responded, and Zhong Ling sat down with a giggly smile.
Zhong Feng kept a stern face while looking at the smiley-faced Zhong Ling, and scolded aloud, "Just calling me Master is enough, what's with those extra four words?"
Zhong Ling stuck out her tongue at Zhong Feng playfully, "Master Wang didn't mind, so why do you?"
"I don't mind actually."
Wang Ye smiled, "It's just that, the 'Master' refers to me, the one teaching you Traditional Chinese Medicine. Master Wang makes it sound like I'm your driver, here to chauffeur you."
"If you call me Master Wang, I'll only be here for you and the Traditional Chinese Medicine doesn't fall within my responsibilities."
Zhong Ling panicked upon hearing Wang Ye's words.
It had not been easy for her to make Wang Ye her master.
If he ended up not teaching her the medical techniques of Traditional Chinese Medicine, that wouldn't do at all.
In haste, she spoke to Wang Ye, "Master, master, I was just kidding with you. You are indeed the master who teaches me the medical skills of Traditional Chinese Medicine."
Wang Ye's tactful words made Zhong Feng smile satisfiedly.
He raised his wine glass which itself was a medicinal wine brewed by them.
Zhong Feng spoke, "Come, let's toast to Wang Ye becoming my granddaughter's master. Everyone, cheers."
"Cheers!"
Glasses clinked together and all faces present showed happy smiles.
...
The next morning.
Capital City, airport.
Wang Ye and Zhong Ling stood together, with Zhong Feng in front of them.
Elder Jiang, along with other elders from the feast of Traditional Chinese Medicine, all had their own projects to research.
Thus, after last night's gathering ended, they each went their separate ways.
If it weren't because Zhong Feng was seeing Wang Ye and Zhong Ling off today, Elder Zhong would already be in his laboratory.
"Kyoto Airport, it was just here where you saved an elderly person and triggered a wave of interest in TCM online, and even took in a few foreign apprentices," looking through the tempered glass toward the interior of Kyoto Airport, Zhong Feng said to Wang Ye.
"Right."
Wang Ye nodded.
Then, Wang Ye asked, "Elder Zhong, what do you think about me taking in four foreigners as apprentices?"
"What else can I think?"
Elder Zhong sized up Wang Ye, seeming to understand what was on Wang Ye's mind, "Do you feel that I would mind these things?"
"But you are overthinking this aspect," he continued.
"In some respects, though I may seem old-fashioned, I do have discernment and understanding regarding certain matters."
"I only dislike those who, despite lacking abilities, waste resources just because they have good parents."
"Just like Zhong Ling, if she lacked the ambition in learning Traditional Chinese Medicine and did not strive, then no matter what, I would not have taken her to last night's gathering."
"You took those four foreigners as apprentices because you want to expand our Dragon Country's Traditional Chinese Medicine abroad, and I am fully aware of your methods which are reasonable, nothing excessive."
"That's a good performance; naturally, I have no reason to be upset."
Afterward.
Zhong Feng spoke a few more words to Wang Ye and Zhong Ling, then he left directly.
Wang Ye watched Zhong Feng's departing figure, recalling the information he knew about Zhong Feng.
He had stepped forward to develop a cure during a nationwide epidemic...