Chapter 46 Accepted

“Oh?” Doctor Jin’s expression shifted, clearly taken aback.

Hong Hai, who had met the siblings before, thought they were good people. Besides, the pastries Wenyao had just brought were truly delicious; even if only for the sake of those pastries, it seemed only right to put in a good word for them.

He could also see that Doctor Jin was interested in Wenjun; otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked so many questions.

“Doctor Jin, why don’t you test him first? Let’s see if he’s up to it before deciding,” Hong Hai suggested.

Doctor Jin paused to consider, then nodded. “Very well, I will give you a test.”

A look of delight crossed Wenjun’s face, and he bowed again.

Since there were no patients at the moment, Doctor Jin led Wenjun over to the medicine cabinet. He randomly pulled out an herb, asking Wenjun to identify it, state its name, uses, growing environment, and even describe basic processing methods.

What surprised Doctor Jin was that Wenjun answered every question with ease.

This was astonishing. To be well-versed in the medicinal properties of herbs was one thing—perhaps he had read books on materia medica. But to know their growing environment, distribution, and even simple methods of preparation? That was far beyond mere superficial knowledge.

After all, countless people spent many years memorizing and internalizing such information.

What Doctor Jin didn’t know was that, after thousands of years of accumulated knowledge, the pharmacopoeias and medical texts of Wenjun’s era—such as the Compendium of Materia Medica—recorded not only the basic effects of herbs, but all these details as well.

By then, medicine was no longer a family secret but a discipline anyone with the will could study.

All of this was the fruit of generations of predecessors’ labor, and Wenjun simply had the luck to be born at the right time—a beneficiary of trees planted by others long ago.

Hong Hai, too, was astonished by Wenjun’s performance. He had worked at Jishi Hall for many, many years, serving as an apprentice responsible for dispensing herbs; even he dared not claim to have memorized all the herbs and their uses. Yet Wenjun had remembered them all, answering every one of Doctor Jin’s questions without a single mistake!

Hong Hai kept praising Wenjun to Wenyao, who smiled with quiet confidence. Of course, failing to memorize such things would mean failing exams, wouldn’t it?

Though her elder brother hadn’t majored in traditional medicine, he had a good friend and roommate who did. Could there be a greater advantage?

Doctor Jin questioned Wenjun for more than half an hour, his mood shifting from hoping to intimidate Wenjun into retreat, to surprise, to admiration, and finally to delight—running the full gamut of emotions.

If, at first, Doctor Jin had only hesitated, now he was filled with eager anticipation.

This young man was far superior to those at home. Perhaps his own skills would finally have an heir.

A hearty laughter rang out. Wenyao and Hong Hai saw Doctor Jin clap Wenjun on the shoulder. “The younger generation will surpass us yet,” he exclaimed.

Standing before the medicine cabinet, Wenjun bowed respectfully. “I am not worthy of even a thousandth of your skill, sir.”

“Up, up, no need for such ceremony,” Doctor Jin said, pulling Wenjun to his feet, his eyes full of appreciation.

They returned to their seats. Doctor Jin sipped the tea that Hong Hai had brought, then asked, “What is your name? How old are you? Where do you live? Does your family know you wish to study medicine?”

The siblings’ faces lit up—they had succeeded.

Wenjun answered promptly, “My name is Wenjun. I am sixteen years old and live in Gutong Village outside the city. My father runs a stall at the docks. I have a younger sister and a younger brother. Practicing medicine is my aspiration, as well as my family’s hope. I ask for your guidance, sir.”

Wenyao chimed in, “That’s right, Doctor Jin. Our whole family supports my brother’s wish to study medicine. Why not give it a try? After all, you’ve already tested him. A student this talented doesn’t come along every day.”

Doctor Jin burst out laughing. “You’re quite the advocate for your brother, aren’t you?”

Just then, the manager of Jishi Hall entered, hearing Doctor Jin’s laughter. Seeing there were no patients, only the siblings who had come to sell herbs earlier, and that Doctor Jin appeared to be in high spirits thanks to them, he asked, “What’s so funny, old Jin? You seem very pleased.”

“Manager,” Hong Hai greeted him quickly.

Wenyao and Wenjun also greeted him politely. After all, since Wenjun would be apprenticed to Doctor Jin, he would be spending most of his time at Jishi Hall, so it was wise to foster good relations.

Doctor Jin waved him over. “You’re just in time for some good news.”

The manager, still puzzled, sat down. Hong Hai immediately fetched the pastries he’d set aside for him and poured him tea.

“Manager, try these—Wenyao brought them,” said Hong Hai.

In just half an hour, Hong Hai and Wenyao had become fast friends; he now treated her like a younger sister and was eager to help them make a good impression.

The manager took a piece, tasted it, and nodded. “Not bad—much better than the pastries from Zhan Diexuan. Where did you buy them? Get some more next time.”

Hong Hai grinned. “Manager, these weren’t bought. Wenyao made them herself.”

“Oh?” The manager looked at Wenyao in surprise. He remembered the siblings—they had come to sell asparagus root. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “So, the little miss makes pastries as well? Planning to sell them here? I’m afraid that’s not possible—this is a pharmacy, not a pastry shop. If you want to sell them, though, I can ask around at some other shops.”

Wenyao quickly waved her hands. “No, manager, these were made specially for you to taste, not to sell. My brother and I are here today to seek a teacher.”

As she spoke, she glanced slyly at Doctor Jin.

Doctor Jin smiled, neither confirming nor denying it.

The manager was even more surprised, turning to Doctor Jin. “You’re taking on an apprentice?”

He had never heard of old Jin accepting a disciple. So many had tried, but all were rejected by this eccentric old man. Now it seemed the sun had risen in the west—he was actually accepting a pupil? Or did these siblings possess some extraordinary talent that moved him?

He looked the siblings over carefully once more.

“It’s not me, it’s my brother,” Wenyao said, pulling Wenjun forward.

Wenjun cupped his fists in greeting.

The manager seemed to recall something and smiled. “Ah, yes—I remember now. You said you’d studied a bit before.” Still, becoming an apprentice was no easy matter.

Before he could voice his thoughts, Doctor Jin announced, “Starting tomorrow, come here. Follow Hong Hai and learn to recognize all the medicinal herbs. Once you’ve mastered that, I’ll teach you the rest.”

Though Wenjun seemed to know and remember everything, Doctor Jin wanted to be certain. What if it was all a coincidence, that he had only asked questions Wenjun happened to know? It was best to proceed step by step, just to be safe.