"Mr. Kup? What a rare visitor. I feel like it's been ages since I last saw you."
The monk sorting the medicine cabinet paused his work, sat down by the table, and poured a cup of hot tea for his visitor, who was rubbing his hands together to warm them.
"Is something the matter? Or has the director finally found some free time and decided to hold consultations at the clinic?"
"No, I'm afraid that won't happen anytime soon."
Kup pulled his robe tighter around himself and eagerly took a sip of the hot tea. The fragrant, herbal steam slid down his throat and spread through his body, easing the chill a little.
The cold autumn wind was no joke, especially when you had to ride a horse down the Mountain Path early in the morning. Making it to the clinic was downright inhumane.
But he had no choice. After checking on things here, he still had to get back before noon, combine the clinic's and the Monastery's medical supply usage figures, and give them to Raymond so he could work out the purchasing budget.
The Messenger had to send out the orders by the end of the month, so the suppliers in far-off Dunling and Westminster would have time to prepare and deliver the goods before winter arrived. Otherwise, rain and snow would make transportation far more difficult and expensive.
As for the afternoon, he had a mountain of lessons waiting for him, including writing conventions and basic arithmetic. Usually, Raymond taught him for half the time and he studied on his own for the other half. Occasionally, Kraft gave him medical skills training, and that would go on until dinner.
After dinner, he'd read a few more pages of introductory Anatomy, choosing something with plenty of pictures to