Chapter 55: Learning Herbs

Chapter 55: Identifying Medicinal Herbs

Once immersed in writing, time passed quickly.

Gu Chaoning wrote with ease, completing the draft of the classical essay in a single sitting. He looked up and realized the sun was directly overhead; it was already noon.

He carefully put away his brush and paper, and only then, with the sudden release of tension, did he realize he was hungry.

For this exam, besides the dry, hard flatbread, he had also brought dried meat strips that had been stewed and sun-dried at home.

He spent another five wen to order a pot of hot water, and this noon meal was passable.

He had gotten up early that day, and after eating, drowsiness set in.

Gu Chaoning first revised his draft of the classical essay, then gave in to the sleepiness, folded his hands on the desk, and slowly drifted off.

He hadn't noticed it while he was awake—it was only when he tried to take his midday rest that he became aware of the various sounds around him.

The scholar to his left had apparently prioritized style over warmth in the morning and lost his warmth; now he was sneezing and sniffling from time to time.

The scholar to his right, on the other hand, was also taking his midday rest like Gu Chaoning, but he had fallen asleep far too quickly and was now snoring nonstop.

Gu Chaoning tossed and turned with his eyes closed, and his mind, which had been hazy, grew increasingly alert.

Gu Chaoning: "..."

In that case, he might as well just finish writing all the exam questions.

He couldn't help but mutter inwardly—if only Yin Hongxue could experience a bit of this suffering too.

"Ah-choo—"

Cen Mengtao tilted her head, and her two pigtails swayed up, down, left, and right with the motion, looking especially adorable.

"Did Brother Xue catch a chill?"

Yin Hongxue wiped the tip of his nose with his handkerchief, a little embarrassed, and felt his clothes with his other hand, puzzled.

It's pretty thick, though.

Seeing Cen Mengtao still staring at him curiously, Yin Hongxue spoke up: "I don't know either. Maybe some fuzz flew by and made me sneeze."

Cen Mengtao knew about fuzz—it tickled when it landed on your face. Remembering that sensation, she tucked her chin in and giggled.

"Fuzz... hee hee hee..."

Yin Hongxue didn't know why she was laughing, but he laughed along with her.

Madam Cen, who was about to go for her midday rest, saw a young man and a young girl giggling foolishly in the courtyard and couldn't help but scold them with a smile: "What time is it now? Go rest! If you're listless later, see if your father and master don't scold you."

As Yin Hongxue's days of studying painting went on, he now ate lunch at the Cen household, rested for half an hour, studied for another half hour, and only then went home.

Even after being scolded by Madam Cen, the two were still grinning.

It wasn't until Madam Cen waved her hand as if to swat at them that the two quickly ran off, saying they were going to rest.

Yin Hongxue's room had originally been a guest room, but as his time at the Cen household grew longer, the room had accumulated many of his belongings, and it was now his alone.

Cen Chuntao originally rested with Madam Cen, but ever since Yin Hongxue arrived, she had been bringing her little pillow to his room every day.

Later, Madam Cen had no choice but to make another pillow for Cen Chuntao and keep it in Yin Hongxue's room, so she wouldn't have to lug it back and forth every day.

Once inside the inner room, Cen Chuntao kicked off her shoes, scrambled up onto the bed in one motion, and pulled out her own blanket and pillow to lie down.

Yin Hongxue lay down but couldn't fall asleep right away.

His thoughts drifted from Gu Chaoning to Gu Muan.

Thinking of Gu Chaoning, he wondered how the exam was going.

Thinking of Gu Muan, he wondered if he had adapted to his first day studying under Ding Dafu at the Huichun Hall clinic.

As he was thinking, drowsiness crept in, and accompanied by Cen Chuntao's even breathing, he slowly fell asleep.

"Haah—"

Gu Muan squatted in the courtyard, the sunlight warm and comfortable on him.

He stared at the herbs before him, yawning repeatedly from drowsiness.

The other three were just as listless, squatting or standing nearby, staring at the herbs.

These were the herbs Ding Dafu had asked them to tell apart, and none of them were allowed to go rest until everyone had identified them all.

Among the four, besides Gu Muan, the other three couldn't tell them all apart.

Gu Muan rested his chin on his knees, feeling as if his eyelids were like the meat jelly his father and grandmother made in winter—about to stick together.

The young girl Zhao Yunxin was a bit embarrassed seeing Gu Muan like this.

She carefully walked over to Gu Muan's side, used her handkerchief to block some of the sun for him, and then spoke: "An-ge, I'm sorry. It's our fault you're stuck here."

Gu Muan was drowsy and confused, but hearing her voice, he forced his eyelids open. Seeing Zhao Yunxin's embarrassed expression, he gave her a smile.

"It's fine, Sister Yunxin."

Wang Chengyin watched the two coldly and sneered.

"How is it us holding you back? If he truly has skill, he could surely convince Ding Dafu into letting him go rest on his own."

"You!"

Zhao Yunxin angrily pointed at Wang Chengyin, but before she could finish her words, Wang Chengyin cut her off.

"You what? Who told you to point at me? A concubine's daughter, truly lacking in manners."

Her status as a concubine's daughter was both Zhao Yunxin's pain and her weakness.

She stared wide-eyed at Wang Chengyin but couldn't think of a retort.

Gu Muan gently tugged at Zhao Yunxin's skirt. "Sister Yunxin, don't be angry. I'll help you tell the herbs apart."

Zheng Chengping, who had been watching coldly from the side, suddenly straightened up from leaning against the pillar and walked to a spot not far from Gu Muan and Zhao Yunxin.

Seeing the two of them gathering around Gu Muan, Wang Chengyin grew even angrier.

He had already been resentful of being sent to study medicine by his family, and failing to identify the herbs was even more infuriating.

Now, with none of the three paying him any attention, his chest heaved, and he looked about to explode.

"Help? What help? Being helped by a mud-footed country bumpkin, aren't you afraid of picking up some country dirt? And this Doctor Ding, really, taking in just anyone."

Gu Mu'an knew the words were aimed at him, but he only half understood what they meant.

"Mud-footed country bumpkin?"

Gu Mu'an looked down at his own legs. But there wasn't any mud on them.

He hurriedly stood up and looked at Zhao Yunxin: "Sister Yunxin, did I accidentally rub mud on the back of my legs?"

Zhao Yunxin had still been a bit angry, but upon hearing Gu Mu'an's words, she couldn't help laughing.

Gu Mu'an was still worried: "Sister Yunxin, why are you laughing? Is the back of me really that dirty?"

Gu Mu'an twisted and turned with some effort; he could actually see part of it, just not all of it.

Seeing this, Wang Chengyin's anger shifted into a bit of smugness.

"A real mud-footed country bumpkin, understanding nothing. I called you a mud-footed country bumpkin not because you have mud on your legs," Wang Chengyin stepped forward, "I mean you're a country hick who scratches a living out of the dirt."

This time, Gu Mu'an understood.

He stepped back, his big eyes locked onto Wang Chengyin.

"You're a bad person! We won't give you any of the grain we grow from now on."

"Hmph."

Wang Chengyin, seeing Gu Mu'an get angry, felt his own temper miraculously calm down.

That'll teach him to play the good guy!

"Who'd eat grain you grow? Our Wang family has our own estates."

At this point, the argument was getting pretty boring. Zheng Chengping, who was getting bored, finally spoke up: "Alright, stop arguing. If Doctor Ding wakes up and sees us fighting, he'll be even more upset."

Wang Chengyin wanted to talk back, but Zheng Chengping didn't give him a chance and went on: "We don't need to worry about Doctor Ding being angry, but if he tattles to our parents, that'd be bad."

Wang Chengyin wilted.

The Wang family had made their fortune in the medicinal herb trade, and all the young family members were expected to know a bit about medicine.

As the youngest legitimate son, Wang Chengyin was not only spoiled but also had great hopes placed on him by the family, which was why he was sent here specifically to study medicine.

So if his family found out he wasn't studying hard, he'd definitely get a scolding.

A flicker of contempt flashed in Zheng Chengping's eyes.

He then looked at Gu Mu'an: "Little An, please help us sort out the herbs. Once we can recognize them, it'll be easier on you too. We don't even dare hope for a nap today, but we hope to make some progress this afternoon and in the next couple days, so we don't drag you down."

Wang Chengyin felt a bit sore at the last remark but didn't say anything more.

Zhao Yunxin also hurriedly said some nice things to Gu Mu'an.

The way they talked was as nice as his brother's way of talking, which made Gu Mu'an a little shy.

He immediately agreed.

"What's so hard about that? I'll help you today, and I'll help you tomorrow too."

He crouched down and picked up the two closest herbs, which looked like dried-up weeds.

"The one on the left is ephedra; it smells a bit like wild pepper. The one on the right is horsetail; it smells like fresh grass."

...

After Doctor Ding woke from his nap, a servant told him everything that had happened with the four kids.

Especially emphasizing how Gu Mu'an had taught them to recognize the herbs.

Doctor Ding nodded without saying anything else. He washed up quickly and then headed to the front yard.

When the four kids saw Doctor Ding come in, they all bowed their heads in greeting.

Doctor Ding acknowledged them with a sound: "In the time of one nap, have you all learned what these herbs are?"

The four children answered in unison, and Doctor Ding then tested them right there.

"What's this? Chengyin, you answer."

"Ephedra."

"And this? Yun'er, you say."

"Master, this is field horsetail."

...

Doctor Ding asked a few more questions before finally cracking a smile, then led the four toward the consultation room in front.

It was still early, and no one had come in yet.

Doctor Ding decided to strike while the iron was hot and teach them something deeper.

"Take a look at this ephedra. The 'Compendium of Materia Medica' says: Ephedra is hollow and straight, with joints as distinct as bones..."

As soon as Doctor Ding began, Wang Chengyin, Zhao Yunxin, and Zheng Chengping quickly crowded around him.

Gu Mu'an lagged a step behind. Being the shortest, he had to stand on his tiptoes, trying to peek through the gap between Wang Chengyin and Zhao Yunxin.

Wang Chengyin noticed out of the corner of his eye and deliberately moved his body.

The gap between him and Zhao Yunxin kept widening and narrowing, making Gu Mu'an move back and forth to keep up.

After a few times, he ran out of energy.

He pouted and looked around, as if searching for something.

But he didn't expect to meet Doctor Ding's eyes directly.

Gu Mu'an froze for a second, then his pout turned into a smile.

Doctor Ding looked away with a blank face: "All four of you listen. When I'm explaining, pay close attention and don't let your eyes wander. Don't think that just because you could tell them apart before, you can slack off now."

Though he said "all four," they all knew in their hearts that Doctor Ding was talking about Gu Mu'an.

No one said anything, but they all nodded in agreement.