Apprenticeship, Hidden Truth

Apprenticeship, Hidden Truth

Lu Qing's Apprentice Ceremony was not complicated.

Old Doctor Chen was not one for pomp and circumstance, so everything was kept simple.

Thus, following the proper procedure and under everyone's witness, Lu Qing paid respects to the founding master, then kowtowed, offered tea, and said, "Master, please have some tea."

Old Doctor Chen accepted the tea while seated, took a sip, and the apprenticeship rite was considered complete.

"All right, get up."

After drinking the tea, Old Doctor Chen said to Lu Qing.

"Yes, Master."

Lu Qing rose and stood to one side with his hands hanging respectfully at his sides.

Old Doctor Chen also stood, bowed to the villagers in the courtyard, and said:

"Thank you, fellow villagers, for coming to witness my acceptance of a disciple. Today, I have gained a beloved disciple, and my joy knows no bounds. This little courtyard has few people and small rooms, so I have no way to prepare food for everyone. I can only offer a few small gifts."

As he spoke, he picked up a tray from the table behind him, upon which lay rows of small cloth pouches.

"These are Medicine Pouches I made in my spare time. They can calm the mind, aid sleep, and ward off mosquitoes and insects."

"If you do not find them beneath your notice, take one or two home and hang them by your beds. They will keep your household free from mosquito and insect harassment for ten to fifteen days."

"They're that effective?!" The villagers looked at the Medicine Pouches in delighted surprise.

This was the season when mosquitoes and insects were at their most troublesome. If these Medicine Pouches truly worked as well as Old Doctor said, they were simply too tempting.

For a moment, the villagers who had intended to be polite found it rather difficult to refuse.

Seeing this, Old Doctor smiled and said to Lu Qing, "A Qing, go hand these Medicine Pouches out to the villagers."

"Yes, Master."

Lu Qing took the tray and walked before the villagers, distributing the Medicine Pouches one by one.

"Grandpa Zhang, here."

The first person Lu Qing gave one to was Grandpa Zhang.

"Good child, from now on, remember to learn your skills well from Old Doctor Chen."

Grandpa Zhang accepted the Medicine Pouch, his face full of gratification.

"I will, Grandpa Zhang." Lu Qing nodded earnestly.

After receiving the Medicine Pouches, the other villagers gave them a sniff. A medicinal fragrance seeped into their hearts and spleens, rich yet not overpowering. Their spirits instantly lifted, and they knew these were truly good things, hurriedly putting the pouches away.

These had been personally blended by Old Doctor. They probably could not be bought anywhere else even if one wanted to, so they had to be kept safe.

"Fellow villagers, once you return home, remember to hang the Medicine Pouches in your rooms. Otherwise, once half a month passes and their scent dissipates, the pouches will be of no use."

Seeing some villagers carefully hide away their Medicine Pouches as though they were precious treasures, Old Doctor Chen could not help reminding them.

Only after hearing Old Doctor say so did some of the villagers abandon the thought of taking the pouches home to stash away.

After witnessing the Apprentice Ceremony, Grandpa Zhang and the others began taking their leave one by one.

Before departing, however, Grandpa Zhang pulled Lu Qing aside and told him that when he had time, he should remember to pay respects to his grandfather and parents, and tell them this good news.

Only after seeing Lu Qing agree earnestly did he descend the mountain in satisfaction.

After all the villagers had left, Lu Qing still stood before the little courtyard, watching their retreating figures head toward the Foot of the Mountain.

"A Qing, your grandfather formed a bond of goodwill back then. That is why you have such a group of good neighbors today."

Old Doctor Chen walked to Lu Qing's side and looked at the crowd at the mountain's foot with admiration.

"Master, I never knew of these things. Grandfather and Father and Mother never mentioned them either," Lu Qing said.

"That only shows that your grandfather was a man of lofty character, who bestowed kindness without seeking repayment. What a pity that I came here too late and had no chance to meet such a scholarly man of true integrity."

Old Doctor Chen spoke with some regret.

He had a feeling that if he had come here earlier, he might well have become kindred spirits with Lu Qing's grandfather.

"Master, do you know how my parents truly died?" Lu Qing suddenly asked.

"Because of what Old Zhang said earlier?"

"Yes. I always thought Father and Mother died in an accident, but from what Grandpa Zhang said earlier, there seems to have been another hidden truth." Lu Qing nodded.

In the original owner's memories, his parents had died in an accident. Now, however, it seemed things were probably not so simple.

Old Doctor Chen fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"I do not know about this either. During the time your parents died, I happened to be in the city treating an honored guest. When I returned, I heard that your parents had unfortunately fallen into the water and died. But I never saw their bodies, so I do not know whether that was truly the case."

"If you wish to know the truth, I fear you must ask Old Zhang and the others."

Lu Qing remained silent.

In truth, the information in the original owner's memories was the same.

His father and mother had supposedly drowned. When their bodies were carried back, they were swollen all over and frightening to behold, directly terrifying the original owner into a daze.

After that, certain events took place while the original owner was muddleheaded and confused.

The family fields were sold, the bodies prepared for burial, mourners received and vigils kept. In the midst of it all, it seemed someone had even come to make trouble.

By the time the original owner came back to his senses, his parents had already been laid to rest.

Thinking back on it now, there were doubts everywhere.

Unfortunately, the original owner had suffered too great a blow during that time. Many of his memories were a tangled mess, leaving Lu Qing unable to sort out many clues.

"However, I would not advise you to ask Old Zhang and the others about the truth just yet."

Seeing Lu Qing's silence, Old Doctor Chen suddenly spoke.

"Why is that, Master?"

"Since Old Zhang and the others hid this matter from you, they must have done so for the sake of you and Xiao Yan. They feared that after learning the truth, you might act rashly in a moment of impulse. Surely you do not think Old Zhang and the others would harm you?"

Lu Qing recalled how the villagers had treated him and Xiao Yan ever since he woke up, and immediately shook his head.

"Grandpa Zhang and the others are certainly not such people."

Most importantly, the information his ability had uncovered had never shown anyone in the village to be so dark-hearted.

"Since that is the case, then you should trust Old Zhang. If they are not telling you the truth now, it is clearly because they believe the time has not yet come."

"Therefore, what you should do now is not pursue the truth, but study diligently. Once you possess sufficient ability, trust that Old Zhang and the others will naturally tell you the truth."

Lu Qing fell silent once more.

In fact, he wanted to know the truth not because he wished to do anything rash.

Although he had inherited the original owner's memories, he held no deep feelings for the "father and mother" he had never met.

What worried him was whether the truth behind the original owner's parents' deaths might bring harm to him and Xiao Yan.

But just as his master had said, he was still far too weak.

Even if he learned the truth, there would be nothing he could do about it.

He might as well settle down and first learn his master's skills.

"I understand, Master."

Having thought this through, Lu Qing spoke.

Seeing that Lu Qing seemed to have figured it out, Old Doctor Chen smiled.

His disciple was quick-witted, and he did not wish for him to become immersed in so-called hatred at such a young age.

That would only twist his mind and nature.

Thus, he rather approved of what Grandpa Zhang and the others had done.

Seeing that Lu Qing's face still seemed somewhat gloomy, Old Doctor decided to shift his attention.

"A Qing, now that you have entered my school, there are some things you should be told."

Lu Qing raised his head.

Seeing that it had indeed worked, Old Doctor smiled.

He continued, "A Qing, do you know what one must possess to become a good Medical Practitioner?"