Chapter 35: The Full Moon Wine

The few of them chatted and laughed as they arrived at the school, queued up to pay the tuition fees, and Zhang Ping'an went to the principal's office to deliver two packs of cigarettes, exchanged a few words, and then ran off.

"This kid..."

As soon as Zhang Ping'an stepped out, he saw Wang Xiaoling chatting and laughing with a tomboy who had a bob haircut.

"Zhang Ping'an."

"Xiao Ling, is this your classmate?"

"She's your classmate, forgot? I told you about her before."

"Oh, oh, Mu Yingnan? My apologies."

Upon hearing the name Mu Yingnan, Zhang Ping'an could already roughly guess that either her family hoped she would be as strong as a man, or the girl herself had a masculine personality.

Seeing her today, it was indeed so; with her sharp facial features and short hair, no one would know she was a girl if she didn't speak.

"It's fine, you're not in the class, so it's normal that you don't recognize me. But when did you and Xiao Ling get so close?"

"Oh, I worked at Xiao Ling's grandfather's pharmacy during the winter break, and we got close after a few visits."

"Is that so?" Mu Yingnan expressed doubt.

"Alright, alright, Yingnan, let's go back, they're about to distribute the books. If you have any questions, you can ask me later." Wang Xiaoling felt a headache looking at her best friend's habit of getting to the bottom of everything.

Zhang Ping'an also found it interesting; how did these two people with completely opposite personalities become best friends?

Returning to Xingyi Jishitang, Zhang Ping'an resumed his usual studies. He had already finished reading two Traditional Chinese Medicine classics annotated by Lao Wang; he would note down anything he didn't understand and ask Lao Wang about it at night.

With his understanding from his past and present lives, his current monstrous memory, and Lao Wang's one-on-one guidance, it really had to be said—it really had to be said—that it made Lao Wang once think he was born for Traditional Chinese Medicine, and he became increasingly strict with Zhang Ping'an.

Zhang Ping'an would go to the Rolling Mill every few days to deliver wild rabbits, and occasionally a Wild Boar. Jia Dongxu now spent his days ice fishing, delivering fish, and going to Qin Family Village to see his wife, or otherwise looking after his younger siblings, which was quite relaxed and free.

"Zhang Ping'an, why did you say this morning that you were working at my grandfather's place? You made me have to cover for you."

"I haven't officially become his apprentice yet, besides, you know I'm a low-key person."

"Pfft~"

"Those who know me best are Xiao Ling. To show my gratitude, hmm~" Looking at Wang Xiaoling's sparkling little eyes, clearly expecting something delicious, Zhang Ping'an paused on purpose to tease her.

"Tell me quickly." Seeing Zhang Ping'an teasing her on purpose, her expression immediately turned fierce, but in Zhang Ping'an's eyes, it was incredibly cute.

"Alright, alright, here you go." Zhang Ping'an pretended to rummage through his backpack and took out an orange, an apple, and a handful of longans.

"Are these longans?"

"Yes, they have a different flavor compared to dried longans, try them."

Zhang Ping'an was not surprised that Wang Xiaoling recognized the longans; after all, she had been influenced by a Traditional Chinese Medicine family since she was a child.

"Delicious, but why are these longans so big?"

"I accidentally discovered them in the wild. You're the first one to taste them, is that sincere enough?"

Zhang Ping'an's words made Wang Xiaoling's face flush slightly, and she silently hugged the apple and started gnawing on it.

"Well, you keep eating, I'm going to read." Zhang Ping'an didn't think much of it; he hadn't expected that young girls in this era would also love to let their imaginations run wild.

Time flew to the day of the apprenticeship ceremony, and Zhang Ping'an's family of three went to Lao Wang's house early with the Six Rites.

Xingyi Jishitang was not open today, and Zhang Ping'an discovered He Daqing was there when he entered.

"Ping'an, is it you becoming an apprentice?" He Daqing was startled, then immediately realized.

"It is, Brother He."

"Uncle, Aunt, your Ping'an is truly lucky. Wang Lao has a scholarly heritage; his ancestors were once Imperial Physicians in the palace."

"Hahaha, who's to say otherwise? That Ping'an can catch the eye of Brother Wang is truly a sign of good fortune from our Zhang family ancestors."

In Zhang Laohan's eyes, if it were in the past, the Divine Doctor Wang was an Imperial Physician, and he was just a commoner, so it would indeed be climbing the social ladder.

"..." Zhang Ping'an was speechless; he hadn't expected this Lao Wang to have such a prominent background.

"Brother He, people in the courtyard don't know I'm becoming an apprentice, and I don't want to embarrass Wang Lao before I've learned anything, so..."

"I understand, I understand. Don't worry, I won't say anything. Alright, you go in, I have to get back to work."

"Okay."

By noon, Zhang Ping'an respectfully kowtowed and served tea to Wang Lao, and under Wang Lao's introduction, he met many fellow disciples and seniors in the field.

The apprenticeship banquet ended after lunch, and Zhang Laohan prepared to return to his hometown; he had been out for over a week and was missing home.

"Dad, let me ride my bike to take you back."

"No need, I can just hitch a ride on a donkey cart going the same way at the city gate."

"Then is there anything else missing at Third Uncle's house?"

"Hmm~ bring some loose liquor, Lao San probably doesn't have much at home."

"Alright, it just so happens I have plenty of loose liquor in my basement, all bought previously."

There were currently only five jars of liquor in Zhang Ping'an's basement, all three-year-aged ones from his space, ten-jin containers, but the alcohol content was not low.

"Alright, then take twenty jin later."

People in this era generally drank a jin at a time, and there was rarely fake liquor; it was all pure Grain Liquor, so even if they drank too much, they wouldn't have a headache the next day.

"Then I'll take you back, and I'll buy two more packs of cigarettes to bring along."

"Fine, just buy the regular ones." Zhang Laohan felt a bit of a pinch; the filter cigarettes in the city weren't cheap.

In the end, the cart was scattered with a small load, mainly because the liquor took up space; two packs of pipe tobacco, and Zhang Ping'an also bought some hard candies, two jin of brown sugar, and finally some fabric.

"Let's go, Dad."

"Let's go, let's go, it's getting late."

After taking his father home, Zhang Ping'an greeted his grandparents and didn't stay long, hurrying back to Sijiucheng before dark.

"Eldest, did Ping'an buy all these?"

"Yes, Mom, I told Ping'an to just buy some loose liquor, but he insisted on buying cigarettes and candy, as well as fabric to make new clothes for Erzhuang."

"My grandson is sensible, and now he has the ability, knowing how to repay his family."

"Indeed, it feels like Ping'an has become much more sensible after a trip to the city; in the blink of an eye, he's almost at the age to take a wife."

"Dad, Ping'an is only fourteen; he still has five or six years to go."

"What five or six years? Didn't you change his age? In another two years, it'll be about time; your mother and I had you when we were fifteen or sixteen."

"..."

Zhang Laohan felt weary; it wasn't the previous dynasty anymore. Forget it, he wouldn't argue; if he argued until the old man got worked up, he might end up with another round of 'loving education,' and he would be the one to suffer.

"Dad, you're right. I'll take these things to Lao Er's place first; there's still time for Erzhuang to make a jacket."

Zhang Laohan simply stopped refuting and changed the subject, pushing his cart away; he would let Ping'an worry about this himself in the future.

"Fine, go ahead." Seeing his son stop contradicting him, the old man nodded in satisfaction.

"Lao Er, this fabric is just right for making a jacket for Erzhuang. Also, Ping'an had me bring some loose liquor from Sijiucheng; move it all down."

"Big Brother, this..."

"That's enough, hurry up and move it; this is just a small token of affection from Ping'an as his nephew."

"Alright then, I'll accept it."

Over these years, Daniu, Erniu, Dazhuang, and Erzhuang had taken the blame for Zhang Ping'an many times; let this be his compensation.

Time flew by to the twenty-eighth, and early in the morning, Zhang Ping'an took his mother, Si Jie, and Lao Jia back to their hometown; San Jie, Zhang Xiaohua, had not yet finished her postpartum confinement.

Weddings in this era were lively; the whole village was filled with joy, and uncles, aunts, and all the extended relatives came to help.

Zhang Ping'an and his group first returned home before tying a large red flower to the cart and sending it to his third uncle's house.