Chapter 16: A Master Appears

Chapter 16: A Master Appears

Ye Xiaoxiao tucked away the contact information.

But she definitely had no intention of contacting him.

She was worried that Lu Hanchuan might actually know the original host, and if she slipped up during their interactions, things could go very wrong.

"Xiao Xiao, was that your friend?"

Seeing the two comrades leave, Ye Changyuan and Ye Changsheng came over.

Ye Changyuan looked envious. "This is the first time I’ve seen such a nice car."

Ye Xiaoxiao hadn’t thought much of it at first, but now, looking back, they clearly had a head start.

In the 1980s, people who could drive around were extremely rare.

"They’re not really friends, just former neighbors."

Ye Changyuan imagined neighbors as close as his family and his uncle’s, thinking, ‘Isn’t that what friends are?’

But in reality, the military compound in Beijing covered a very large area, with surrounding schools, hospitals, and various buildings. Different military units had their own areas, and it was rare to run into people outside one’s circle.

Ye Changsheng didn’t ask about their conversation. Instead, he said, "Are we going back to the market?"

"It’s not even noon, and I don’t want to waste any time."

Ye Changsheng: "Then let’s go back to the market and take a look."

The morning’s earnings were good. If it hadn’t been for Zhang Laowu and his gang causing trouble, they might have made over twenty yuan by now.

When Ye Xiaoxiao and the others returned to the market, they were surprised to see many people still waiting for them.

"You’re back! Were those troublemakers arrested?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Don’t worry, everyone. The troublemakers were not only arrested but will also serve jail time."

Hearing this, everyone felt a sense of justice.

Ye Xiaoxiao and her companions set up their tables and chairs again, and people lined up neatly.

Thanks to the earlier conflict, Ye Xiaoxiao’s business became even more popular.

Not far away, someone was watching the stall intently.

By 3:30 PM, the market crowd began to thin out, but seven or eight people were still waiting at Ye Xiaoxiao’s stall.

This was their first time earning money through consultation fees, and the results were surprisingly good.

Many of Ye Xiaoxiao’s clients were women in their thirties and forties, seeking help not just for work-related injuries but also for sensitive gynecological issues.

Whenever Ye Xiaoxiao could identify the problem, she explained it in detail.

For more serious cases, she recommended hospital visits for tests and prescribed fast-acting Western medicine.

Most importantly, Ye Xiaoxiao’s friendly attitude stood out compared to the doctors and nurses at the health center and town hospital, earning her plenty of praise.

After writing the prescription for the last patient, Ye Xiaoxiao could finally rest.

She stood up and stretched her legs, while Ye Changyuan and Ye Changsheng closed up shop, preparing to go home.

"Miss, those people who came to my pharmacy to buy medicine today were all recommended by you, right?"

Suddenly, the old gentleman from the traditional Chinese medicine shop appeared in front of Ye Xiaoxiao.

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded, "There's only one traditional Chinese medicine shop around here, so I recommend everyone who needs a Chinese medicine prescription to buy from you."

Song Guangjing stroked the white beard on his chin and smiled, "I've seen those prescriptions. You have a real talent for medicine. Would you be interested in formally learning traditional Chinese medicine from me?"

Ye Xiaoxiao looked up, "You want me to be your apprentice? I don’t have time for that."

Song Guangjing shook his head, "I want to make you my disciple."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "..."

This man is so old-fashioned, isn’t he?

Seeing her thoughtful expression, Song Guangjing knew his request might have been a bit abrupt.

"You must be strapped for cash right now. If you become my disciple, you just have to follow me and learn some medical theories every day, and I'll pay you monthly. Although you are smart, you still have a long way to go in medical research."

Ye Xiaoxiao still found it strange, "What’s exactly in it for you?"

Song Guangjing: "To be honest, our profession once had different schools, but over time, they declined and fell apart. I had a bet with a few of my fellow disciples to see who has the higher skills, and the winner will inherit the school's plaque.

We competed a few years ago, but neither of us was happy with the outcome, so we made another bet.

We'll see who can train a remarkable disciple, and the school's plaque will belong to that person."

Ye Xiaoxiao understood.

The plaque must be similar to a signboard, probably like "Tongrentang."

That’s actually really important.

No wonder the traditional Chinese medicine hall I visited last time was missing a signboard.

After some consideration, Ye Xiaoxiao said, "If you want to make me your disciple, I’ll have to test your skills too."

Song Guangjing's eyes lit up, "Alright, Miss. It’s a bit late today. Come to the pharmacy tomorrow, and you can test me as you wish."

Ye Xiaoxiao agreed.

She wasn’t just doing it for the money; she was also genuinely interested in traditional Chinese medicine.

In her past life, she chose Western medicine on her parents’ advice. At the time, her grandfather, who loved her dearly, was very disappointed, feeling that his medical skills would have no successor.

But Western medicine was a popular major back then, and for the sake of her future, Ye Xiaoxiao followed her parents' advice.

Now that she has a chance to choose again, Ye Xiaoxiao wants to make amends for her regret.

After making the agreement with Song Guangjing, Ye Xiaoxiao went home with her two brothers.

"Xiao Xiao, you're amazing! You can do anything!"

Ye Changyuan’s look was no longer just envious but filled with admiration.

Ye Xiaoxiao smiled shyly, "A fortune is not as valuable as a skill. This is the only thing I know how to do."

Ye Changyuan gestured exaggeratedly, "Xiao Xiao, you're way too modest. You're good at everything, I think."

Ye Changsheng reminded the gesticulating Ye Changyuan, "Hold the table steady."

The popcorn they had brought out in the morning had already been given away for free, so all they had to do was carry the tables and chairs back home.

Plus, Ye Changsheng had a pocket full of money.

When they got home, Grandpa Miao had already cooked the meal.

Ye Changsheng handed all the money in his pocket to Ye Xiaoxiao, "You earned all this money today, so there's no need to share it with us."

Ye Changyuan agreed too, since he didn't feel like he'd helped much.

That day was just about having fun at the market.

Ye Xiaoxiao took the money, which included a whole bill and some loose change—fifty cents and a few pennies.

It looked like there was about seventy or eighty yuan.

She counted out two ten-yuan bills for her two brothers, "This is what you've earned—hard work pays off."

Ye Changyuan chuckled, "Hehe."

Ye Changsheng didn't argue and pocketed the money.

Over dinner, Ye Changsheng suggested, "There's no market tomorrow, so I want to head home. The cotton and cloth Xiao Xiao bought earlier were sent home, so the clothes should be ready by now. You should bundle up when you're out and about."

Ye Xiaoxiao was still wearing the old cotton-padded jacket Miao Cuifang had given her before she left.

But she was used to it and didn't mind.

But after being away from home for over a month, Ye Changsheng must have been homesick. She said, "Fourth brother, you should go home, take the money back to mom and dad, and see if we need anything else before the New Year so the family can get everything ready.

I'm heading to the herbal medicine shop in town tomorrow, so I won't be going back with you."