Chapter 33: Apprenticeship 2.0

By the time Jishitang opened its doors, the regular patients were slightly surprised to see Zhang Ping'an, who was buried in copying books.

"Lao Wang, who is that?" the old neighbor Lin asked.

"A classmate of my granddaughter's, here to help out." Since he hadn't taken him as an apprentice yet, Lao Wang naturally wouldn't say that to outsiders.

"Oh? Xiao Ling'er's classmate?"

"Yes, alright, alright, hurry up with the next one, don't waste time," Lao Wang said, cutting him off for fear he would keep asking questions.

Zhang Ping'an barely looked up all morning, only stopping his pen when the wall clock struck twelve with a "ding-dong." Looking up, he saw that only the junior fellow apprentice who had been filling prescriptions yesterday remained in the Pharmacy.

Seeing Wang Xiaoling, Zhang Ping'an's eyes lit up slightly. As it happened, Wang Xiaoling also looked toward him, and Zhang Ping'an smiled and nodded.

"Zhang Ping'an, I know you," the young girl's crisp voice rang out.

"Oh? I know you too; we met yesterday."

"No, I mean I've seen you before, at school..." It was only after Wang Xiaoling explained that he understood.

"I knew it, if I had seen such a pretty girl, how could I not have an impression? Looks like I'll have to go to school more often," Zhang Ping'an thought to himself.

"Oh, I see, I still don't know your name?"

"My name is Wang Xiaoling."

"That's a lovely name, is it the 'ling' from poria cocos?"

"How did you know?" Wang Xiaoling looked at him in surprise; a normal person wouldn't guess that character.

"Because your grandfather is a Divine Doctor."

"You're really smart, no wonder you can rank first in the whole school even without attending class."

"Hehe, I'm self-taught."

"Then can I ask you if I don't understand something in the future?"

"Sure, I live not far from here at the Jiushiwu Hao Siheyuan."

"Okay, I've remembered it."

"Ahem, Xiao Ling, why are you here again?" Lao Wang pulled Wang Xiaoling behind him as if guarding against a Wolf, leaving Zhang Ping'an speechless.

"I was just thinking about it, I haven't even taken action yet, is there a need to guard against me like this?" Zhang Ping'an thought to himself.

"Wang Lao."

"Grandpa, I'm just bored at home, besides, I can help you fill prescriptions when I'm here."

The Divine Doctor Wang also possessed considerable assets; although he had bought the entire Front Courtyard of the Eighty-Eighth Courtyard, more than half was used for the medical clinic. His two sons did not live with him, but rather in the Front Courtyard of the Eighty-Fifth Courtyard.

"You, suit yourself, but don't disturb Ping'an while he's copying books."

"Oh, okay."

"Ping'an, have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet, I was just about to."

Zhang Ping'an lifted the extra-large lunch box in his hand, and upon opening it, chunks of beef and four large steamed buns were revealed.

"You kid are really extravagant, what kind of family can afford for you to spend like that?"

"Wang Lao, I'm a Worker, I work at the Rolling Mill; I earn my own money to support myself."

"You? I haven't seen you go to work, and your age..."

"I'm sixteen this year."

"Ah, yes, yes, yes, you can only fool the laymen."

"Hehe, I'm registered as sixteen, as long as you know, Wang Lao."

"Alright, go eat first."

"Grandpa, his buns are already cold. Come on, Zhang Ping'an, I'll take you to heat up your food." After saying this, she pulled Zhang Ping'an inside, leaving Lao Wang standing there with a face full of black lines, staring blankly.

In the Front Courtyard kitchen (pot room), there was still some congee in the large pot, and Wang Xiaoling picked up the steamer rack and placed it on top.

"Zhang Ping'an, put the buns and beef on top, I'll light the fire for you."

"Okay."

"Ahem, how about I do it?" Zhang Ping'an looked at the stove, which was only emitting black smoke without any sparks, and he was also choked quite badly.

"Fine, you do it." Wang Xiaoling gave up; it always looked so simple when she watched her mother light the fire at home, so why did it only puff black smoke when she did it?

"Hahaha, you should go wash your face," Zhang Ping'an couldn't help but laugh out loud when he saw Wang Xiaoling's soot-covered face.

"Xiao Ling, are you trying to set the kitchen on fire?"

Xiao Ling's grandmother, Wang Lishi, was puzzled to see smoke coming from the kitchen, but upon entering, she discovered it was her own granddaughter and a young man lighting the fire.

"Grandma~"

"You must be Ping'an, I've heard Lao Wang mention you, you're quite a good child."

"Hello, Grandma Wang, I'm Zhang Ping'an. Sorry to disturb you, I'll be done heating it up soon."

"Hehe, it's fine, no rush, go ahead with your work. There's still some congee, you can have it with your buns. Xiao Ling, come with me to wash your face, you've become a little cat."

"Oh, okay."

"Thank you, Grandma Wang."

By the time Wang Xiaoling returned to the kitchen, Zhang Ping'an had already started devouring his meal, and the way he ate in such large mouthfuls made Wang Xiaoling hungry too.

"Gulp." Wang Xiaoling was so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into the ground.

"Does watching me eat give you an appetite? Here, have some of the soy-braised beef I made myself, try it and give me some suggestions," Zhang Ping'an said, breaking the awkwardness.

"Uh, okay."

Wang Xiaoling took the piece of beef and ate it in small bites. There is a saying that beauty is as satisfying as a meal, and it really wasn't just talk; watching Wang Xiaoling, Zhang Ping'an felt seven or eight parts full.

"How does it taste?"

"It's delicious."

Wang Xiaoling was telling the truth; she rarely ate beef at home, though she could eat pork once or twice a week, so beef was still a rarity to her.

"It's really delicious, better than anything I've eaten before."

"It seems I have the potential to become a master chef. I'll bring an extra portion from now on; you can come over at noon and we'll eat together."

"Alright, I won't eat yours for free either. I'll have my grandmother make more porridge and Steamed Buns at noon." Seeing that little haughty look, Zhang Ping'an felt a sense of trance, as if she were a celestial sister who had walked out of gold dust.

"Deal."

Zhang Ping'an withdrew his gaze; his intentions could not be exposed too early, and he still had to proceed slowly. However, that old codger Lao Wang had been guarding against him all along.

After eating, Zhang Ping'an tidied up the pots, bowls, and ladles he had used before continuing to copy books, while Wang Xiaoling went to talk to her grandmother about their future lunches.

Lao Wang glared at Zhang Ping'an when he saw him enter, then continued to see patients. Zhang Ping'an ignored this, sat down, and buried his head in copying books until the light dimmed and he stopped.

"That's enough for today, kid. Come back tomorrow."

"Alright."

Five days flashed by in the blink of an eye. Zhang Ping'an had finished copying two books and memorized their contents. He ate with Wang Xiaoling every noon, and the two quickly became familiar with each other.

Seeing that the kid had such astonishing memory, and having conducted a background check over these days, Divine Doctor Wang felt even more inclined to cherish his talent and no longer interfered with Zhang Ping'an and Wang Xiaoling spending time together.

"Ahem, Ping'an, didn't you say before that you wanted to learn some skills from me? You've passed my test. Go back and discuss the apprenticeship with your family."

"Deal, Wang Lao. My parents are both farmers and don't understand the etiquette of apprenticeship. What do you think we need to prepare?"

"Hmm, let's follow the old traditions. I will invite a few colleagues over to witness it then, right here at my home."

"Very well, Wang Lao."

Zhang Ping'an returned to the Siheyuan without making a scene, greeted Dongxu and the others, then pedaled his tricycle back to his hometown.

"Father, Mother, I have taken a Traditional Chinese Medicine master. Come with me to the city tomorrow. You don't have any work in the fields right now, and it just so happens that San Jie is about to give birth."

"Apprenticeship? Do we need to prepare those gifts?"

"Yes, I have already prepared the Six Rites; you just need to come along."

The Six Rites of tuition are:

Celery (symbolizing diligence and a love for learning, as proficiency comes from diligence).

Lotus Seeds (the heart of the lotus seed is bitter, symbolizing the bitterness of education).

Red Beans (symbolizing good fortune shining brightly).

Red Dates (symbolizing early success in examinations).

Longan (symbolizing a successful completion).

Dried Lean Meat Strips (to express the disciple's sincerity).

"That's fine. By the way, your third uncle's son Erzhuang is getting married at the end of March; you must come back then." The two cousins from his second uncle's family and Dazhuang from his third uncle's family were already married.

"There will be plenty of time."

"Alright then, we'll pack up and set off." There were still his grandparents at home, and they would have no problem feeding the chickens, ducks, and geese.