Chapter 26

Words : 1445 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

"What?"Lu Qing looked at the old doctor in surprise, doubting if he had heard correctly. "Grandpa Chen, did you just say you want me to study medicine with you?" "Why, are you unwilling?" the old doctor asked. "It's not that, but Grandpa Chen, didn't you say you just wanted me to stay by your side and learn some herbal knowledge?" "I've changed my mind. Old Wang's words reminded me that the village indeed needs a doctor in the future." "You are the only literate person in the village, so perhaps I should give you this opportunity." Old Wang, the elder who had patted Lu Qing on the shoulder earlier, had encouraged him to follow the old doctor and learn medicine. Lu Qing was stunned. He had thought it would be a long time before he could have the chance to learn medicine. Unexpectedly, things had turned around so quickly. His face lit up with joy, and he was about to express his gratitude. The old doctor continued, "But don't get too happy too soon. Learning medicine requires aptitude. If you don't have it, even if I am willing to teach you, you may not be able to learn." "Then what counts as aptitude?" Lu Qing asked. "One month," the old doctor said. "If you can memorize all the herbs and their properties in the 'Compendium of Materia Medica' within a month, I will formally take you as my apprentice." "If you can't, then you should honestly learn some herbal knowledge and become a herbalist to make a living." "Grandpa Chen, I will definitely memorize the 'Compendium of Materia Medica'!" Lu Qing said excitedly. Memorizing the 'Compendium of Materia Medica' was something he could do right now. However, Lu Qing knew that if he recited the entire book in front of the old doctor right now, it might not be surprise but fear that he would receive. So he couldn't rush this. He had to let the old doctor gradually accept it. After all, he had previously told the old doctor that he only knew some words, not that he was well-read. Lu Qing then took the 'Compendium of Materia Medica' and asked the old doctor about some of the questions he had. Mainly about some rare characters and the pronunciation of herbal names. Although his ability had helped him memorize the entire 'Compendium of Materia Medica,' he still wanted to understand the meaning of some characters more deeply. It was also a way to verify if there was any difference from his understanding. The old doctor, of course, explained everything patiently to Lu Qing. In the process of explaining, the old doctor was surprised to find that Lu Qing had an excellent memory. Many characters, after being explained once or twice, he could remember without needing further explanation. "Lu Qing, you are indeed a very smart child," the old doctor said with great satisfaction. Lu Qing's performance greatly exceeded his expectations. At this rate, he might really be able to memorize the 'Compendium of Materia Medica' within a month. "Grandpa Chen, it's all because of your good teaching," Lu Qing said modestly. At the same time, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This was the first time he felt that pretending to be ignorant was also tiring. Even though he already understood many things, he still had to ask several times and not let the old doctor see through him. This was a significant test of his acting skills. "Alright, that's it for today. It's not good to recognize too many characters at once, or you might get them mixed up. Take the 'Compendium of Materia Medica' back, study it well tonight, and come back tomorrow for your exam," the old doctor said. "Grandpa Chen, don't I need to wait until the next acupuncture session to come again?" Lu Qing asked in surprise. "If you are going to study the 'Compendium of Materia Medica,' why wait so long? In three days, you might forget what you learned today!" the old doctor scolded with a smile. "Then we'll come back tomorrow to greet you, Grandpa Chen," Lu Qing said happily. "Grandpa Chen, does that mean Xiao Yan can come to play with you tomorrow?" Xiao Yan asked excitedly. "Of course. Tomorrow, Grandpa will make you some new pastries to try," the old doctor said, picking up the little girl. Xiao Yan's eyes lit up. "New pastries, will they be as delicious as yam cake?" "They won't be worse than yam cake," the old doctor assured. The little girl almost drooled at the thought. After leaving the small courtyard halfway up the mountain with Xiao Yan, Lu Qing's heart was still joyful. Today's harvest was immense. The Red Moon Carp he had originally wanted to give to the old doctor turned out to be such a precious fish. Once the old doctor sold the Red Moon Carp, after deducting the fee for the medicinal soup, there should still be some silver left. Just in time, he was currently very poor, and with the silver, many urgent matters could be resolved. More importantly, he learned that the Red Moon Carp liked to eat Blood Apricots. Since there was one Red Moon Carp in the river outside the village, there must be others. As long as he was patient, he might be able to catch more. At that time, it would be another fortune. Aside from the Red Moon Carp, the greatest gain was the opportunity given by the old doctor. Next, as long as he studied the 'Compendium of Materia Medica' thoroughly and gained the old doctor's approval, he would truly have the opportunity to learn medicine. Lu Qing believed that with his ability, as long as he studied diligently, he would surely master medical skills. Moreover, the function he discovered today also made him realize that his ability was even stronger than he had imagined, with many functions waiting for him to discover. With excitement, the siblings walked home. Meanwhile, news of what had happened at the old doctor's house today was spreading throughout the village. Especially the news that Lu Qing was learning medicine from the old doctor, which attracted almost everyone's attention. Under the big tree in the center of the village, a group of villagers was discussing. "Do you think Lu Qing is really learning medical skills from the old doctor?" a villager asked in surprise. "Of course it's true. Everyone saw it with their own eyes. Lu Qing was holding a medical book and memorizing it there!" a villager replied. "Yes, and when we asked Lu Qing, the old doctor didn't deny it, so it must be true," another villager added. "So, does this mean our village will have a doctor in the future?" an old man asked excitedly. "It's still early. Lu Qing is just learning from the old doctor. Who knows when he will be able to practice medicine," someone said. "Anyway, it's a hope. If there's no doctor in the village, we'll have to go back to the old days," another person said. Hearing this, the villagers fell silent. Indeed, before the old doctor came, they had to endure their illnesses without any help. Some minor ailments might get better with time, but some could develop into serious problems. Many people in the village had died like this. After the old doctor arrived, their lives became much better. No matter what illness they had, the old doctor could treat it. Even if he couldn't cure it immediately, he could alleviate the pain and make the patient more comfortable. The most crucial point was that the old doctor didn't charge much for his services. Even if someone couldn't pay immediately, he would still treat them, allowing them to owe the fee temporarily. Such a good doctor was hard to find. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the ɴøvᴇl_Firᴇ.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, the villagers held deep respect for the old doctor. But they also knew that the old doctor was very old. Sometimes they couldn't help but think about what they would do if the old doctor was no longer there. No one wanted to return to the days when they had no medical help. Now, hearing that Lu Qing was learning medical skills from the old doctor, they were genuinely happy. As the villagers were chatting under the tree, someone suddenly shouted. "Lu Qing is back!"

Chapter 26

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