Chapter 1422: Chapter 1400: Grandmaster (November Monthly Ticket Bonus 7)
Shao also offered comfort on the side, saying: "Master, generally, recognizing herbs takes at least three years before starting to remember the effects."
This is shortened only because Zhou Liru is both Zhou Man’s disciple and niece. Under normal circumstances, an apprentice must work in the pharmacy for two years before officially starting to learn about herbs.
It’s the same even if they are from the Zheng Family.
Manbao looked regretful, while Zhou Liru breathed a sigh of relief. Earlier, her aunt had really scared her because, after babbling for a long time, she could only remember that the herb was called Astragalus and couldn’t recall anything about deficiency or sweat.
Turns out she wasn’t too stupid; her aunt was just too smart.
It turns out she’s perfectly normal.
Shopkeeper Zheng was now vaguely worried; can Zhou Man really teach Zheng Gu well?
He sighed and waved to Manbao, saying: "Forget it, I’ll teach her about recognizing herbs myself."
The Zheng Family has been in medicine for generations and has its own methods of instructing disciples, much stronger than Manbao, a naive childlike teacher.
Those like Zheng Shao, coming through the side branches, indeed need to start as apprentices in the pharmacy, but someone like Zheng Gu doesn’t.
He received famous teachers’ education from a young age.
Shopkeeper Zheng is far better at teaching children than Manbao.
Doctor Gu watched from the side, thought for a moment, and said, "Isn’t this just swapping one child for another?"
He turned to Manbao and said, "You’ve benefited; you’ve handed over a disciple who knows nothing to the shopkeeper, not only did you acquire a disciple who can basically run the clinic, but you also received three apprenticeship gifts as well."
Manbao thought about it and indeed that was the case, so she looked at Shopkeeper Zheng.
Doctor Gu couldn’t help but laugh, "Shopkeeper, you’re clever all your life, but isn’t this a loss for you? Hahaha—"
Shopkeeper Zheng: ...
He puffed up his whiskers and said: "This is a win-win, what loss, do you even understand what win-win means? Doctor Zhou Junior, don’t you agree?"
Manbao nodded, indicating that she would definitely guide Zheng Gu well.
She then hesitated a bit and said: "Then I’ll leave Liru with you, can she follow you daily to learn about recognizing herbs?"
Shopkeeper Zheng: "... Sure, sure."
Manbao simply left Zhou Liru there, then asked Ms.Doctor Liu to copy medical books, checked Shao’s notes for the period, gave him some guidance, and then squatted at the door with the two to wait for patients.
If there are suitable patients for Shao, she’d let him take the pulse and try prescribing, occasionally Ms.Doctor Liu would also be interested and want to feel the pulse. Manbao would ultimately take the pulse and prescribe, as she usually chatted more with people after a long while, giving more advice, so the patient wouldn’t feel resentful.
This was taught to her by Doctor Ji.
He once said patients never begrudge a doctor for being too brief, only those waiting behind would grumble about the delay.
But there aren’t many patients now, so there’s no need to worry about that.
With the two new disciples taking all the patients at the pharmacy, Doctor Gu was happy to relax, leisurely sitting back waiting for the midday meal.
After lunch, Manbao assigned new homework to Shao, asked Ms.Doctor Liu to copy medical books, then raised her head to see Zheng Gu staring at her. Manbao hesitated and said: "I plan to take my nephews to enroll at the academy this afternoon, do you want to join?"
Zheng Gu: ...
He thought for a moment and agreed.
After all, his dad already handed over the medicine cabinet to others, so taking a stroll outside would be nice. Besides, staying in the pharmacy all day is quite monotonous.
Thus, Zheng Gu left with Manbao.
Manbao took Zheng Gu back to Changqing Alley, formally introducing him to Mr. Zhuang: "Sir, this is my first disciple, Zheng Gu, call him Grandmaster."
Mr. Zhuang: ...
Without any psychological burden, Zheng Gu cupped his hands and respectfully called: "Granddisciple greets Grandmaster."
Mr. Zhuang’s heart trembled slightly. He looked at Manbao, then at Zheng Gu, but maintained control over his expression. He fumbled around himself, couldn’t find any gifts, then said to the equally wide-eyed third student: "Lixue, go to my room and fetch a set of Four Treasures of the Study."
Mr. Zhuang liked to give away Four Treasures of the Study most because people also liked to gift him these items. He had plenty in his room.
After helping Zhou Lixue find a good academy yesterday, he gave each of them a set; he knows where they’re kept.
Zhou Lixue turned around and ran outside, fetched a set of Four Treasures of the Study for Zheng Gu, and then stood beside his aunt watching him, couldn’t help asking, "So, Auntie, what should we call him?"
Manbao said, "Call him Brother Zheng, right?"
"We also call Mr. Zhuang ’Sir,’" Zhou Lixue said: "Shouldn’t we follow this and call him a generation higher?"
He was itching to have people call him Uncle Master or something.
Manbao said, "Liru also became my apprentice, and he’s of the same generation as Liru."
Zhou Lixue argued, "What applies to her may not apply to us, we determine according to the teacher, so let’s base it on him."
Holding the Four Treasures of the Study, Zheng Gu couldn’t help but say, "Even in terms of the teacher, we’re of the same generation, aren’t you the teacher’s nephews?"
Zhou Lixue insisted, "I’m talking in reference to Mr. Zhuang."
Zheng Gu, finding it difficult to explain, said, "Even when it comes to Grandmaster, we start from the teacher."
Manbao was also quite bemused, poking his head and saying: "If you’re so capable, go and accept disciples yourself; try reading more, got it?"
Mr. Zhuang gave a slight cough.
Manbao immediately withdrew her hand, obediently standing aside.
Mr. Zhuang still hadn’t recovered from his surprise; Manbao was still so young, yet she had already taken on apprentices?
Though aware that she was teaching medical skills to others outside, still... it’s different from accepting disciples.
Mr. Zhuang massaged his forehead and said: "Alright, weren’t you going to see Wulang and visit the academy? Why don’t you go and talk about it after you return from the academy?"
He needed to ask Manbao how she generally taught, simply teaching medical skills is different from accepting disciples.
The former can be similar to exchanging medical skills with her normally, just discussing techniques; but the latter...
Mr. Zhuang hadn’t anticipated he’d not only worry about disciples but now even about grand-disciples.
Manbao and the others bid farewell and went to the restaurant to find Zhou Wulang to enroll at Songhe Academy.
The busiest time at the restaurant had already passed; most patrons had finished eating and departed.
Zhou Wulang was free and leaning against the counter talking to Manbao, "Did you decide on Songhe Academy? I saw other schools also look good and don’t cost as much."
Manbao said: "This was chosen by both the teacher and Bai Shan, don’t you trust their judgment?"
"It’s just a little bit more, and our family can afford it," Manbao said, "Good teacher, good classmates, and they’ll excel more in the future, earning even more money."
Zhou Wulang then took the account book from Zhou Lijun and stuffed it into Manbao’s hands, sighing, "Last night I had Lijun calculate it, going to Songhe Academy, half of the restaurant’s earnings need to be dedicated to supporting their schooling."
Zhou Lixue immediately said from the side, "Don’t worry, Fifth Uncle, in the future, we’ll undertake jobs like copying books from the bookstore to earn some extra change."
Zhou Wulang thought for a while and nodded, "Alright, it’s best if you earn more, if you can make enough for your pen and ink expenses, Fifth Uncle will treat you to meat."
Reading, although expenses for tuition aren’t the largest, books, ink, paper, and inkstones need to be supplied continuously.
That doesn’t even count their food and clothing.
Zhou Wulang patted his chest, thinking that in a few years, Lixue would be grown up and could start earning money, which cheered him up a bit.