Chapter 77: The Daily Life of Zhang Ping'an: Translation

Over the next two days, besides performing Acupuncture and brewing medicine for Fang Dahu, Zhang Ping'an took his little friends from his hometown to set traps around the perimeter of the Back Mountain as usual, and he divided the wild rabbits and pheasants they caught among them.

"Brother Fang, this is the last Acupuncture session today. You just need to rest at home for a few more days and you'll be about recovered."

"Good, thank you very much, Ping'an."

"What are you saying, Brother Fang? We will all be one family in the future."

"Hahaha, indeed. I have also been keeping an eye on that child Xiao Ze. Once I am fully recovered, I will start preparing Xiaoyu's dowry. In a few days, have your eldest sister and brother-in-law come over to discuss things, and let's set the marriage date first."

"Done."

When Zhang Ping'an passed by Li Family Village, he told Xiao Ze this good news.

"Really, Uncle?"

"Yes, you and Eldest Sister should go to propose marriage in these two days."

"Done."

Fang Xiaoyu is indeed a good choice for a daughter-in-law, especially now that the matter of the in-laws has been resolved.

On the ninth day of the first lunar month, Zhang Ping'an returned to Sijiucheng with Si Jie and his four nephews.

"Xiaochen, before school starts, you four are to follow Teacher Yan to study."

"Oh, okay." All four of them had bitter expressions.

"Don't look so sour. I spent money on this; if you don't study hard, you'll be letting down the tuition fees I paid. Also, even after Teacher Yan starts teaching when school begins, he will still provide you with tutoring on your days off."

"....."

The four of them thought that if they just endured the studying for a week or so it would be enough, but who would have thought they would have to attend classes every few days from now on? They suddenly felt that life in the city wasn't so sweet anymore; going back to cut pig grass would have been quite nice.

"Si Jie, I'll leave them to you."

"Good, don't worry, they will study hard."

Compared to Zhang Ping'an's strictness, Zhang Lanhua was severe, even harsh; only she knew how hard-won the opportunity to study was.

Having settled everything here, Zhang Ping'an also began his life of learning at the Pharmacy. He handed the Yongle Encyclopedia Yin-Yang Medical Arts Chapter he had copied earliest to Wang Lao.

"Master, this is a classic I dug up. Please take a look and see if it's authentic."

"Done, let me see."

The wine recipe Zhang Ping'an had dug up last time was quite good; I wonder if I'll have such good luck this time, the Divine Doctor Wang thought to himself.

Wang Lao took it and scanned it twice, then immediately sat up straight, his expression gradually becoming solemn.

"Ping'an, is this what you dug up?"

"Yes, there are a few more volumes at home that I didn't bring."

"I'll take a look first; you go back and bring the rest."

"Oh, okay." Seeing his master so engrossed, Zhang Ping'an didn't disturb him and turned to go home to fetch eight more volumes.

"Master, how is it?"

"Hmm? Not bad. I wonder whose work this is; the summaries are very on point. This should be a complete set. How many volumes did you find?"

"Currently there are ten, but that person said there are still quite a few stored at home."

"Hmm, next time you run into them, buy them all. This Traditional Chinese Medicine classic is very important. I feel that the full set should be more complete than what my old man left behind."

"Your feeling is correct," Zhang Ping'an thought to himself.

"Very well, Master."

"I will read these ten volumes first; I will let you see them after I translate them."

"Good."

"Alright, you may go out. Tell Changming and the others that if there are any illnesses they can't resolve, they should come find me."

"Very well, Master."

Zhang Ping'an poured his master a cup of Space Water, closed the door, and went to the front to tell Senior Brother Changming, then sat down nearby to study himself.

In the afternoon, Wang Xiaoling came over, and Zhang Ping'an fed her again. Fortunately, his master had gone into seclusion to translate, otherwise he would have had a dark face again.

"Zhang Ping'an, why didn't I see Grandpa?" Wang Xiaoling finally remembered the main business.

"Master is in his room translating; don't disturb him if there's nothing important," Zhang Ping'an said briefly.

"It's nothing important, just that my brother and sister-in-law are back, and my dad wants Grandpa and Grandma to come over for dinner tonight."

Wang Xiaoling's brother, Wang Jianjun, is twenty-four years old this year and has worked in Baocheng for years; he only got vacation time to return for the New Year this year.

However, Zhang Ping'an had never met him. He heard from Wang Xiaoling that her brother is a great handsome guy, even more handsome than him...

"Wouldn't it be fine if you just told your grandma?"

"That's true."

Time spent with a beauty is always fleeting; even if one does nothing, it feels like time flows like water.

"I'll walk you back."

"Uh, never mind, I'm afraid my brother will beat you up."

"Hahaha, your brother might not necessarily be able to beat me. Let's go." Zhang Ping'an was mainly curious about how handsome her brother could be—could he be more handsome than all the readers here?

It was a two or three-minute walk from the Eighty-Eighth Courtyard to the Eighty-Fifth Courtyard. At the entrance of the Eighty-Fifth Courtyard, Zhang Ping'an saw the back of a tall young man.

"Brother."

"Xiao Ling, who is this?"

As soon as Wang Jianjun turned around, he saw Zhang Ping'an beside his sister and couldn't help but look him over carefully. Zhang Ping'an was also looking him over.

"Brother, he is my classmate, Zhang Ping'an, and also Grandpa's apprentice."

"You are Zhang Ping'an?"

Wang Jianjun was also taken aback. He remembered his grandfather saying he was only thirteen, or fifteen at most in two years, but looking at his build, one would believe he was eighteen or nineteen, though his face was indeed youthful.

"Brother Jianjun, it is me."

"Hahaha, I've long heard of you, long heard of you."

Wang Jianjun had truly long heard of Zhang Ping'an's great name; his grandfather had mentioned it more than once, along with his nagging about him not inheriting Traditional Chinese Medicine, though ever since he took in Zhang Ping'an, his grandfather had indeed rarely nagged.

"You flatter me."

The two men gripped each other's palms slightly, and Zhang Ping'an felt a force coming through, along with those rough calluses that did not look like those of a businessman.

Zhang Ping'an was not afraid either, letting his brother-in-law hold on, while always maintaining a force that was evenly matched.

"Not bad, you are not bad at all." Wang Jianjun also sensed that Zhang Ping'an was not simple; he could not compare in terms of strength, so he let go of his hand.

"Brother Jianjun, you overpraise me."

"What kind of riddle are you two speaking in?" Wang Xiaoling asked in confusion.

"It's nothing, Xiao Ling. Brother Jianjun, then I will head back first."

"Alright, come over to hang out when you have time."

"Okay."

Returning to the Eighty-eight Courtyard, he discovered that his master had also come out of seclusion.

"Have you seen my eldest grandson?" Clearly, Grandma Wang had already spoken to him.

"Mm, I have seen him."

"He didn't hit you?"

"Master, look at what you're saying. We have no grudges or enmity, why would Brother Jianjun hit me? Not only did he not hit me, he even praised me."

"You brat, you're getting cocky. Alright, come to the front more often these two days to help your senior brother; I am striving to translate it within half a month."

With someone of Lao Wang's level, he could likely understand the meaning after reading it once; the main thing was that the writing took time.

"Alrighty."

Zhang Ping'an did not go home, but instead went to the Clothing Shop.

"Uncle."

"Mm, are Xiaomei and the others studying?"

"Yes, Teacher Yan is currently teaching arithmetic."

"Alright, I'll go take a look."

Zhang Ping'an first went to the workshop to take a look; it was already filled with three people: San Jie, Si Jie, and Tan Cuicui. Qin Huairu and Qin Pandi's children were too young and both had to be at home to nurse the children at any time, and it was not convenient to bring the children out in the cold weather, otherwise, this Sewing Machine would really not be enough.

Inside the Ear Room of the wing room, all six children were listening attentively to Yan Bugui's lecture. The four nephews plus the two children from Tan Cuicui's family were there, and Yan Bugui also saw Zhang Ping'an outside the door.

"Alright, today's class ends here. I have set a few simple problems as homework," Yan Bugui said as he handed out four test papers, all of which were simple addition and subtraction.

"Ping'an, why did you come over? Did you come to see if I was slacking off?" Yan Bugui joked.

"Hahaha, Teacher Yan, you really do tell jokes. I just came over to see how Xiaomei and the others are doing with their studies."

"Not bad. Although they don't learn as fast as your Si Jie, they can be considered rare good seedlings. The two children from Lao Yi's family also come over to listen to the lecture when they have time; they are actually quite smart, unlike other four or five-year-olds who only know how to play."