Chen Lan was preoccupied with her thoughts, her steps quickening. In no time, she arrived at Doctor Guo’s clinic. The moment she stepped into the courtyard, she saw the father and daughter drying medicinal herbs.
“Doctor Guo, Sister Guo Rou!” Chen Lan called out as she entered the yard. Doctor Guo and his daughter turned, recognized Chen Lan, and quickly put down their herbs to greet her.
Doctor Guo ushered Chen Lan into the living room and invited her to sit. Guo Rou poured a cup of linden flower tea for Chen Lan and Doctor Guo, exchanged pleasantries with Chen Lan, and then went back to her work.
Doctor Guo casually picked up a pulse pillow and extended his hand, ready to take Chen Lan’s pulse. Chen Lan paused for a moment, then offered her hand.
After carefully examining her pulse for a while, Doctor Guo stroked his goatee and pondered. Then he asked, “Xiao Lan, did you get caught in the rain not long after giving birth? You have a significant amount of coldness in your body. It must have been in the winter.”
Chen Lan thought back. She had transmigrated after the original host got a high fever from being rained on! She nodded and replied, “Yes, not long after the baby’s full moon, I was caught in the rain in the middle of winter and developed a high fever.”
Doctor Guo nodded. “That makes sense. Xiao Lan, after that rainy day, some coldness accumulated in your body, leading to some cold palace condition. I’ll prescribe a few herbal remedies for you to take for a period, and you’ll be fine.”
Doctor Guo began to write the prescription. Before he finished, Guo Rou entered. When Doctor Guo finished and the ink was dry, he handed the prescription to Guo Rou. “Rou’er, grind ten doses of these herbs according to the prescription. Let’s see how they work after you drink them.”
Guo Rou sighed “Ai!” and took the prescription, heading to the pharmacy.
Chen Lan cleared her throat. “Thank you, Doctor Guo. I came today because I have something I wanted to ask you?”
Doctor Guo hummed in acknowledgment, his curiosity piqued. “Xiao Lan, what is it? Feel free to ask.”
Chen Lan then said, “Doctor Guo, please don’t be offended! I’ll be direct. The reason I came today is to ask if you would be willing to take a few young apprentices in the valley and pass on your excellent skills, even help them flourish? Of course, all the customary rituals for apprenticeship will be observed.”
Doctor Guo chuckled, stroking his goatee. “There’s no need for the usual rituals. I’ve considered this before, but studying medicine is difficult! I’m afraid the children’s parents might not agree. You know, our Fu’er doesn’t want to learn. She finds medical studies boring, tedious, and difficult to grasp.”
Hearing Doctor Guo’s willingness to take apprentices, Chen Lan immediately brightened. “Doctor Guo, you can rest assured! With your exceptional medical skills, if you simply announce it, I guarantee many people in the valley will send their children to learn from you. However, it might get a bit chaotic. I think it would be better if you take some time to personally select them from the neighboring school.”
Doctor Guo continued to chuckle. “Xiao Lan, that’s not necessary. I’ve been observing for a while and have already identified a few promising candidates. I’m just unsure if their parents would agree.” Su Dan Novel Network
Chen Lan’s interest was immediately piqued. “Doctor Guo, which children have you set your sights on? Tell me, and I’ll go talk to their parents for you.”
Doctor Guo stroked his goatee again. “Xiao Lan, it’s your eldest son, Jia Yao, Chun Cao’s eldest son, Xiao Dou Zi Qi Yu Jie, and your younger brother, Wen Kai.”
Chen Lan exclaimed happily, “Really? Doctor Guo, you’ve taken an interest in my Jia Yao and my brother Wen Kai, that’s wonderful! I agree wholeheartedly, with both hands raised, for my brother and Jia Yao to learn medicine from you. Doctor Guo, Xiao Shi Tou’s matter is on me. I’ll go ask Sister Chun Cao about it right away.”
With that, she stood up immediately, ready to take her leave. Doctor Guo smiled. “Xiao Lan, don’t be in such a hurry! It’s not too late to take your medicine before you go.”
After receiving ten doses of medicine, Chen Lan bid farewell to Doctor Guo and his daughter. As she was leaving, Doctor Guo instructed, “Xiao Lan, each dose of medicine should be brewed with cold water. Bring it to a boil over high heat, then switch to low heat. Reduce three bowls of water to one bowl. Drink it while it’s hot.”
Chen Lan nodded quickly. “Alright! Doctor Guo, I’ve remembered. Thank you, and thank you, Sister Guo Rou.”
With that, she turned and left, quickly following the paved cement road in the valley towards Chun Cao’s home.
The outcome was as expected. Chun Cao readily agreed and even excitedly discussed the apprenticeship with Chen Lan. Chen Lan said generously, “Sister Chun Cao, just focus on resting during your confinement. Don’t worry about anything else. Leave the apprenticeship to me.”
Leaving Chun Cao’s home, Chen Lan didn’t go directly home but detoured to the kindergarten. There, she found her mother, who was personally guiding a new apprentice.
Chen Lan directly told her mother about Doctor Guo’s wish to take her brother Wen Kai and Jia Yao as apprentices.
Her mother pondered for a moment and then asked, “Lan’er, have you thought this through carefully?”
Chen Lan nodded. “Mother, I’ve thought it through. I believe learning medicine is an excellent skill to have for self-preservation. Think about it, who who eats grains can guarantee they won’t get sick?”
Her mother looked at Chen Lan earnestly. “Lan’er, what you say is true. However, do you know that learning medicine relies on talent and comprehension? More importantly, the person must genuinely like it, because studying medicine requires continuous learning throughout one’s life, and it is a very tedious and uninteresting pursuit!”
She continued to persuade, “Lan’er, do you know the effort required to become a qualified doctor is something ordinary people cannot bear! Of course, I admit Doctor Guo is a good teacher, and a strict master can produce a worthy disciple! However, as the saying goes, the master leads the way, but cultivation depends on oneself. Lan’er, we don’t know if Wen Kai and Jia Yao will be able to persist in their studies in the future. I think you should talk to Jia Yao about this first, and I will talk to Wen Kai about it. After all, this is a matter for their entire lives, and it cannot be taken lightly. You should also listen carefully to Jia Yao’s thoughts. For such an important matter, you shouldn’t make the decision by yourself.”
After discussing the matter with her mother, Chen Lan took her leave. As she walked away from the kindergarten, Chen Lan pondered. Her mother was right. Even Doctor Guo said that studying medicine was very tedious and boring. Just because she liked it didn’t mean Jia Yao would. She couldn’t make the decision for Jia Yao, as it was a matter of his entire life, and she should have a serious talk with Jia Yao about it, respecting his choice.
After all, one can only do a job well if they love it.