Chapter 37: Graduating Elementary School

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was June, the height of summer. Zhang Ping'an spent every day in an exceptionally fulfilling way, wandering through the ocean of knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine; he was like a sponge, frantically absorbing knowledge.

Zhang Ping'an also bought many seeds at the Pharmacy, all of which he planted in the Space Herb Garden. He processed and stored them according to their different ages and methods, and also brewed several jars of Medicinal Wine based on ancient prescriptions.

Every noon, Wang Xiaoling would come over, and she would take the opportunity to ask about any problems she didn't understand in class. In every exam, Wang Xiaoling was also among the best in her class, and the relationship between the two of them had taken a step forward.

"Ping'an, why have you lost so much weight? I remember your arms were very sturdy last year; how have they shrunk now?" Lao Jia asked, looking at Zhang Ping'an, who had his arms bare.

"Cough, cough, San Jie Fu, I take a Medicinal Bath every day to strengthen my tendons and bones. I haven't lost weight; I've just become more solid."

"It really is true. Good fellow, your muscles are like iron lumps when you tense them."

"Hehe, once Dongxu finishes practicing all the movements and adds the Medicinal Bath, perhaps he can be like me." Jia Dongxu couldn't even do half the movements now; I'm afraid it will be even harder for him to persist after he gets married.

"Really? Then I must make him persist in exercising every day."

Zhang Ping'an now went to the Rolling Mill twice a week to deliver goods, whether it was wild rabbits, chickens, ducks, fish, or large baskets of eggs.

Following Zhang Ping'an, Jia Dongxu had also become completely familiar with the techniques and processes of hunting. After this year passed, if he could get a gun, he would be able to hunt independently.

Moreover, Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu had officially become engaged and would get married after the Mid-Autumn Festival, so he was now frantically fishing to save money, preparing to tidy up the house a bit before the wedding.

Of the three rooms in the wing, half were allocated to Jia Dongxu. Construction was currently underway; at over thirty square meters, it was just enough to partition off two bedrooms—one large and one small—and a small living room.

Zhang Ping'an had originally wanted San Jie Fu Lao Jia to buy the East Wing Room in the Front Courtyard.

"It's too eye-catching. There are already quite a few people who are jealous that we bought the two Ear Rooms. It's enough to have a house to live in."

Zhang Ping'an thought that made sense. At worst, when the children grew up, they could build a second floor to live in, and wait until the Reform and Opening-up to buy a detached house with a private courtyard, so he didn't try to persuade him further.

As long as it was his day off, Yan Bugui would follow them to go fishing. Having tasted the sweetness of it, he never wanted to come back empty-handed or catch only a few small white minnows again.

"Ping'an, there's only a little over a month until the exam. You must be well-prepared. Also, why have you lost so much weight?"

"No problem, I'll set aside an hour or two every day to review from now on." Zhang Ping'an helplessly explained the reason for his weight loss to Yan Bugui again.

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui nodded, then his mouth twitched. He truly envied this kind of talent; he thought about how his own brain was practically made of mud when he was a child.

This day, Zhang Ping'an was still studying at the Pharmacy. He was already quite proficient at dispensing medicine now.

"Master, where can we find Tiger Bone here?"

"What do you need that thing for?"

"Cough, I found an ancient prescription at the Black Market, but it's missing the main ingredient, Tiger Bone. Drinking it year-round can strengthen the body. Master, please help me vet it."

In fact, this prescription was from the box Zhang Ping'an had dug up in the pond in his yard, along with the Yongle Encyclopedia.

"Oh? Alright, let me take a look."

Originally, the Divine Doctor was also worried that he had been cheated, but this sort of thing was usually treated as a family heirloom, so he hadn't felt comfortable volunteering to look at it. Since Zhang Ping'an offered, he readily agreed.

"Eh? This prescription... it really has some merit." Wang Lao carefully examined the combination of ingredients in his heart again, finding it more and more feasible.

"The medicinal properties of this prescription are mild and suitable for both the old and the young. Ping'an, you must keep it safe; I won't speak of it to anyone else."

"Master, what are you saying? I've already shown it to you, so I trust you. So, Master, about the Tiger Bone?"

"It just so happens I have a hind leg bone here. I'll help you prepare it."

"Great, great, great! Master, I have five jars—fifty jin—of high-proof, ten-year-old aged liquor."

"You brat, find a bigger vat, put the liquor together, and don't waste this piece of hind leg bone."

"Done, no problem."

"Cough, when it's finished soaking, bring it over; I'll help you taste it first. You're still young."

",,,,"

"Fine."

Zhang Ping'an was brewing this liquor mainly for his father and grandfather, and of course, for his two uncles and three brothers-in-law.

Zhang Ping'an could actually drink it himself, but he didn't need to at the moment; it was better to wait until his tendons and bones had grown more.

In the afternoon, Zhang Ping'an went to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to buy a large vat and found a porter to deliver it to the entrance of the Siheyuan.

"Thanks, master."

"You're too kind. Do you need me to give you a hand?"

"No need, it's only two steps away."

"That's fine then."

Afterwards, Zhang Ping'an carried the water vat into the courtyard. This thing wasn't actually heavy—at most fifty or sixty jin—but it lacked a grip, making it hard to hold. Fortunately, Zhang Ping'an's arms were long enough; he tilted his head, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and supported it with one hand in front and one behind.

"Ping'an, you... let me help you hold it."

"No need, Teacher Yan, this thing isn't heavy."

Zhang Ping'an didn't dare let Yan Bugui help; Yan Bugui was thin and small himself, and not even as tall as he was.

"That's fine, take it slow."

"Alright."

The corners of Yan Bugui's eyes twitched; fifty or sixty jin was already not light for a weak scholar like him.

Zhang Ping'an returned to the courtyard, washed the large vat clean, and used high-proof liquor to sterilize and air-dry it before pouring the liquor inside.

"Master, I've come to get the Tiger Bone."

"Here you go, I had it ready for you long ago."

Zhang Ping'an took it and looked; it was a brown bone, the hind leg bone, about the thickness of an adult's arm.

"You must seal it well. Also, don't come over so often these next few days; stay home and study your schoolwork well."

"Mm, alright."

After putting away the Tiger Bone and medicinal herbs, Zhang Ping'an returned home and placed the Tiger Bone into the vat. The medicinal herbs were from his own Space Herb Garden, and their medicinal power was certainly stronger than the wild ones available now.

After sealing the large vat well, Zhang Ping'an put it into his space and waited quietly. Only after finishing all this did he begin his half-hour of daily study.

In mid-July, Zhang Ping'an brought his elementary school career to a perfect close with a perfect score on all his exams. Wang Xiaoling's grades were also among the best in the school, so they would be able to attend the same school for junior high.

Xu Damao's final exam grades were barely passable, and Yan Jiecheng's were average, but Liu Guangqi's grades were quite good, ranking first in the entire class.

"Hehe, not bad, not bad. Ping'an, you must guard against arrogance and rashness. Study hard when you go to middle school. The principal of your middle school is my classmate, surnamed Fu. That guy is not as easy to talk to as I am."

Principal Zheng's meaning was very clear; if Zhang Ping'an wanted to continue skipping classes like he did in elementary school, it would likely be very difficult.

However, Zhang Ping'an was not worried. He had the confidence to win over Principal Fu; at worst, he would just gift him a bottle of Medicinal Wine when the time came, and he believed that at their age, he shouldn't refuse.

Zhang Ping'an went to the Pharmacy again and bought two pieces of Tiger Bone at a high price; they weren't large, only about seven centimeters, but they were enough to soak two jars of wine.

"Zhang Shu, shall we go hunting during the summer vacation? I see you and Brother Dongxu going into the mountains to stock up on goods from time to time."

"....."

"Forget about hunting; your build isn't suitable for it."

"Don't say that. Can't I just be your assistant? Just consider it taking me along for fun; I don't want any money."

Last year's hunting, although carrying the game was a bit tiring, was truly fun, and there was money to be made.

"Alright then."

"....."

"Zhang Shu, we can't do it like this."

"Hahaha, who told you to be so money-grubbing every day? Rest assured, I definitely won't let you go hungry when the time comes. I'll provide you with lunch, with meat. I'll notify you when Dongxu and I head into the mountains."

Having an extra free laborer wasn't bad; at the very least, he could help carry some pheasants or hares.

"Good, good, good." Xu Damao had earned quite a bit of money now, and besides treating himself every day, he had nowhere to spend it; he didn't even know how much money was in his little treasury.