Chapter 329: Chapter 307, Apprenticeship_2
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Under the guidance of Daohua, some short-term workers familiar with farming quickly learned how to plant yams.
With them watching over, Daohua’s workload was much lighter and she started to spend more time on the mountain.
One day, Xiaoliu went to the county town to make some purchases and encountered someone selling black-bone chickens. Thinking of Old Lady Yan currently residing on Taohua Mountain, he bought two to show his filial respect.
Daohua’s eyes lit up at the sight of the black-bone chickens and asked Wang Manman to carry the prepared chickens back to Taohua Temple. Seeing her grandmother and Old Lady Gu picking vegetables in the courtyard, she said with a smile, “Grandmother, Old Lady Gu, I will make black-bone chicken soup for you tonight.”
The two elderly ladies looked at each other and smiled, “Then you’d better make it tasty.”
Daohua took the chickens into the kitchen and began busying herself.
Gu Jian stood by silently watching, then as if he had thought of something, he quickly turned and went to his own medicine room. Before long, he came back with some stored angelica and astragalus in his hand, “Add some of this.”
A delighted look appeared on Daohua’s face, “Okay, then I’ll make it into a medicinal meal.”
Some time later, Daohua put the black-bone chicken into the pot and left the kitchen. Seeing only her grandmother and Old Lady Gu in the courtyard, she asked, “Where’s the strange master?”
Old Lady Gu gestured with her chin toward the westernmost room, “He’s in his medicine room.”
At those words, Daohua rolled her eyes and couldn’t help walking toward the medicine room.
Having lived here for so long, she had never been inside the medicine room.
“Wow, you actually have so many herbs here!”
Daohua’s eyes widened at the sight of the medicine cabinets and the aroma of herbs in the room.
Gu Jian glanced at her and saw that she walked straight in. His brow furrowed slightly, and he looked somewhat displeased, but eventually, he said nothing.
After entering the room, Daohua realized that she might have not asked the strange master’s permission and stood there, embarrassed, hesitating whether she should leave and start over again.
“What are you standing there for? Come here, let me test you and see how many herbs you recognize,” he said.
Hearing this, Daohua puffed out her chest with confidence and walked over.
Not to mention what she had learned in her previous life, even in this one, she often read the Medical Book and was familiar with various Chinese medicines. She may not have known them by heart, but she certainly recognized them.
After quizzing Daohua, Gu Jian found that the girl knew quite a bit and was very familiar with the effects of the herbs.
Daohua’s eyes never rested as Gu Jian quizzed her. She noticed the colorful assortment of bottles and jars in the corner of the medicine room, “Strange master, did you make all those medicines?”
Seeing the gleam in Daohua’s eyes, Gu Jian felt somewhat amused. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “Want to learn?”
Daohua quickly nodded, “With your medical skills so advanced, if I can learn even a little, it would benefit me for a lifetime.”
“Medical skills advanced?”
A hint of sarcasm flickered in Gu Jian’s eyes. How could they not be?
Since the age of three, he had been snatched away to become the Medicine Slave of that high and mighty ruler. He had ingested countless medicines in order to survive, and to stay alive, he had no choice but to study medicine desperately.
Sometimes he himself wondered how he had managed to live to the present day; it was truly a miracle.
Seeing him silent, Daohua thought he was unwilling to teach her. Although she felt a bit disappointed, she didn’t mind much as she knew that in this ancient era, everyone held their own knowledge dearly and wouldn’t impart it to anyone outside their family.
“Strange master, then I’ll head out now!”
Just as Daohua was about to reach the doorway, Gu Jian spoke, “If you want to learn, then wait in my medicine room every afternoon.”
At these words, Daohua was first stunned, then overjoyed, “Thank you, Master Gu, I will study hard.”
It didn’t take long for Old Lady Yan and Old Lady Gu to notice this.
“Girl, come here!”
One day, as Daohua was preparing to go to the medicine room, she was stopped by Old Lady Yan just as she walked into the courtyard.
Daohua approached with a smile, “Grandmother, is there something you need?”
Old Lady Yan asked, “Why have you been running to Master Gu’s medicine room these days?”
Daohua replied with a smile, “The strange master is teaching me medicine!”
Old Lady Yan’s expression changed slightly, showing displeasure, “You girl, how can you be so lacking in propriety?”
Master Gu’s medical skills were renowned, known for miles around. Such expertise could be considered a family legacy. The granddaughter rudely seeking to learn such skills was highly improper.
However, Old Lady Gu smiled unconcernedly, “It’s fine, Xiaojian quite likes the girl, and he’s willing to teach her medicine.”
Old Lady Yan still looked somewhat disapproving, but knowing the girl’s interest in learning medicine, she thought for a moment and said, “If you want to learn Master Gu’s skills, you should formally become his disciple first.”
“Ah?!”
Daohua was taken aback.
She had indeed not considered this, but after her grandmother mentioned it, she recalled that in those times, one indeed had to become a disciple to learn another’s skills.
Old Lady Gu’s eyes flickered for a moment, and then her face slowly showed some eagerness.
She knew her own health well. The fact that she had been able to cling to life for so many years was firstly due to Xiaojian’s relentless medication and secondly, there remained a sliver of hope in her heart to see her son once more.
Now, with her age increasing and after the recent bout with nearly drowning, her health was declining day by day. She truly did not know how much longer she could live.
If she died, what would Xiaojian do alone?
Daohua was a kind-hearted girl who knew gratitude and would surely take good care of Xiaojian if he took her as a disciple. Even if she passed away, Xiaojian would have someone to rely on.
With these thoughts, Old Lady Gu’s gaze toward Daohua grew increasingly fervent.
“I… I…”
Hearing the commotion in the courtyard, Gu Jian came out from the medicine room. Seeing Daohua’s hesitant appearance, he immediately frowned, “What, am I not fit to be your master?”
Daohua shook her head repeatedly, “I didn’t mean that, I just feel like you’d be at a disadvantage, considering your age, you should be my great master.”
At her words, all three elders showed faces of speechlessness.