Writing a Book: Bian Clan Bonesetting

With Bian Mei Bian Mei his arm and looking at him with teary eyes, Su Ziyang was at a loss for what to do.

If Lao Pang was just trying to fob them off, that would be one thing, but the problem is that he really has the secret recipe in his hands. This means he's essentially throwing the question of whether or not to hand it over onto Su Ziyang.

But with just that one sentence, the relationship of this secret recipe has completely changed.

Because whether or not the secret formula is handed over, it no longer involves any financial gain.

The secret recipe has changed hands, and even if it is now given to Beichen and his wife, Su Ziyang will not receive a single penny. Therefore, it does not involve Su Ziyang using the secret recipe for profit.

"What are you standing there for! Hurry up and take it out, or I'll beat you up!" Beichen shoved Su Ziyang again.

Su Ziyang was jolted awake by the push, but remained silent. Instead, he respectfully bowed to the slumped Lao Pang in his chair and asked, "Master, should we hand over the secret recipe or not?"

"You decide for yourself!" the Lao Pang said weakly.

"Alright! Master, then I'll give the secret recipe to Brother Beichen! Sister-in-law, please wait a moment, I'll go inside to get the recipe for you and then give it to you."

After saying that, Su Ziyang walked into the courtyard.

"You!!!" The Lao Pang man, who was already sitting motionless in the chair, jumped up again after Su Ziyang said that.

How could you hand it over! What did I tell you?

"Master, you said you would pass on the formula to me so I wouldn't profit from it. I didn't profit from it! I just passed the formula on to others, and whether they heeded this advice or not is none of our business! Oh! Right, it's none of your business either!"

After saying that, Su Ziyang strode into the courtyard, leaving Lao Pang, Beichen, and Bian Mei standing there dumbfounded.

Su Ziyang returned quickly, holding an A4 sheet of paper. He then handed the paper to Beichen.

Beichen glanced at the prescription, which was almost identical to what he had overheard. A smile immediately spread across his face, "You're smart, kid!"

"I can't believe I didn't realize you were such a scoundrel! I gave you the secret recipe so you could take it and never come back! You... you actually handed it over!"

The Lao Pang, who was already furious, was trembling all over after Su Ziyang's actions.

"Master, when you told me the secret recipe, did you say that it couldn't be passed on to anyone else?"

Su Ziyang stood respectfully and politely behind the Lao Pang and asked.

"No!" Lao Pang's emotions shifted somewhat after Su Ziyang's question, and his trembling subsided.

"Then who I send it to is my own choice!" Su Ziyang quickly added.

"Yes!" The Lao Pang nodded after a moment of silence.

"So you said I can't profit from the formula, then did I profit by passing the formula on to Beichen? No, I didn't!"

The Lao Pang's face was gloomy as he stared at Su Ziyang without saying a word.

"Alright, if you don't say anything, that means you agree. Whether you admit it or not, it's the same—I really didn't use this to profit. So you're essentially my successor from the previous generation, and if they get the money, it has nothing to do with you, right? Since that's the case, no rules have been broken, and no family harmony has been disrupted, isn't this a win-win situation, killing two birds with one stone?!"

"..." The Lao Pang took a deep breath, said nothing, and shakily went back into the house.

"Senior Sister Bian Mei, I'll address you as such from the perspective of a master's disciple. I've given you the prescription; I have no other requests. I just hope that after you've made some money, you'll treat the old man well. He's had a hard life! I'm leaving tomorrow; I hope your family will live a good life!"

Su Ziyang bowed to Bian Mei, then went back to his room, packed his clothes, and took out a bound book that he had prepared for many days from his suitcase.

The blue cover bears four large characters written in clerical script.

"Bian Clan Bonesetting"

This was an idea that Su Ziyang had ever had since the day Lao Pang passed on the entire system to him—to write a book for Lao Pang.

This book will not be published; it will only circulate internally. It can be considered an explanation for Lao Pang's adherence to the ancient medical principles for so many years.

The book was titled "Bian Clan Bonesetting," and on the second page were written five characters: "Written by Bian Juncheng."

It not only contains the various techniques and precautions taught by the Lao Pang, but also includes a secret recipe, although it does not include usage and dosage.

"Master!" Su Ziyang knocked on Lao Pang's door, but Lao Pang didn't answer from inside. Su Ziyang pushed the door open and went into the room himself.

The Lao Pang man was lying on the bed with his shoes still on, eyes closed and motionless.

"Master!"

Su Ziyang approached the bedside and called out softly.

The Lao Pang didn't even lift his eyelids; all that could be heard was his heavy breathing coming from his nostrils.

"Master, please don't be angry with me anymore!"

Su Ziyang knelt directly at the head of the Lao Pang's bed, his knees hitting the floor tiles with a crisp cracking sound.

As soon as Su Ziyang knelt down, the Lao Pang opened his eyes instantly and sat up sideways.

"Little Ziyang! What are you kneeling for?!"

"Master, since you have imparted your teachings to me, I should bow to you. This is also to apologize. I know you mean for me to take the secret formula and leave quickly, and that you'll just refuse to budge. But you're so old; if Beichen and the others really don't care about you, how will you live? This is your family matter, but since I've entered your tutelage, I'm considered part of your family. So I've decided to give them the formula on your behalf! There are many secret formulas in the world, but Master, I have something for you to see!"

After saying that, Su Ziyang placed the "Bian Clan Bonesetting Setting Manual" that he had secretly bound into Lao Pang's hands.

Lao Pang picked up the book and flipped through the pages of the thin, A4-sized, perfect-bound booklet. As he turned the pages, tears streamed down Lao Pang face.

"Child, it was selfish of me, I'm so sorry to have troubled you! You really put your heart into it! I'll keep this book, and in the future... in the future, it will be buried with me along with my tools!"

Su Ziyang felt extremely sad as he watched the Lao Pang man shed tears.

Perhaps modern people, especially young people, will never understand why Lao Pang is crying. But what happened to Lao Pang's family is actually happening in many places and to many people.

On this sincere land, there are many problems caused by family secret recipes, but without exception, the elders who inherit them silently adhere to the rules left by their ancestors and do not sell their family secret recipes for profit. This is not called hoarding one's own secrets, but called the Great Physician's Sincerity.

Lao Pang stroked the cheaply bound book with his aged, cracked hands, then patted Su Ziyang's head. "Young man, get up. Get up! It's truly my Lao Pang fortune that we two have met. In this society, to find a young man like you... I wish you success in your medical practice!"

Su Ziyang respectfully kowtowed three times before slowly getting up.

"Master, I'm going back tomorrow. Thank you for teaching me so much. I'll make you some stir-fried noodles later!"

"Good, good, good!" Lao Pang finally beamed with joy!

Su Ziyang then went straight into the kitchen, lit a large pot, and earnestly made a stir-fried noodle dish with cabbage and pork.

As usual, Lao Pang ate four or five bowls of rice, then went back to his room and went to sleep, clutching the book and clothes Su Ziyang had given him.