Chapter 46: Questions and Answers (Please add to your library and follow!)

Zhangfu.

Yaolu, the residence of Zhang Youchu's grandfather, Zhang Yunze.

Here, there is not only a pharmacy with a complete range of medicinal herbs, but also a study that houses hundreds of medical books.

Zhang Yunze has white hair and a white beard, but his complexion is ruddy and his eyes are bright; it is evident that he takes good care of himself in his daily life and is in very robust health.

He looks helplessly at his most beloved granddaughter, shakes his head, and says, "Chuchu, let's agree on this first: it is fine for me to teach him Medicine, but he must pass my assessment. If he fails the assessment, it will be useless even if you plead for him. Otherwise, if word of this gets out, there is no telling how many people will laugh at me."

Who in the city does not know of Yin Qi's reputation?

Some time ago, the Yin Family even let word out that they wanted to arrange a marriage for Yin Qi, and as a result, there is no telling how many people secretly mocked him.

Although he never pays attention to such matters, he also does not want to teach Medicine to a playboy.

Not to mention that he is now advanced in age and does not want to worry about such things anymore, even if he were to take on an apprentice, he does not know how many famous doctors would come to apprentice under him if he just let word out.

If it were not for the fact that he truly could not withstand Zhang Youchu's pestering, he would not even give this opportunity.

Zhang Youchu nods and says, "No problem, but Grandfather, Second Young Master Yin has only read some medical books and likely only understands the theory; you cannot ask about anything too profound, otherwise that would be cheating."

Zhang Yunze says helplessly, "Rest assured, for your sake, as long as he is not completely ignorant and incompetent, I will reluctantly teach him."

At this moment, an old steward walks over: "Master, the Second Young Master of the Yin Family has arrived; he is just outside the courtyard."

Zhang Youchu immediately perks up, her gaze glancing toward the doorway from time to time.

Zhang Yunze frowns secretly; last night, he already sensed that Zhang Youchu had an unusual affection for Yin Qi, otherwise she would not have pestered him so relentlessly to teach Yin Qi Medicine.

Now it seems this is entirely the appearance of a young girl in the throes of first love.

He snorts coldly in his heart, wondering what kind of tricks this Yin Family boy used to actually deceive his granddaughter with sweet talk.

He is determined to expose the other party's true colors and will absolutely not let Zhang Youchu sink too deep.

"Hmm, let him in!"

"Yes, Master."

The old steward turns and retreats, and before long, he brings two people in.

The leader has a tall and straight figure, is masculine and handsome, and has a piercing, spirited gaze; there is a sense of composure and ease in his gentle smile, much like some of the big figures in Beijing, which is very infectious.

"This is Yin Qi?"

Zhang Yunze mutters to himself.

How could someone with such an outstanding appearance be linked to a playboy?

Or perhaps, this is just a silver-spear wax-tip.

Gilded on the outside, but rotten on the inside?

"Second Young Master Yin, you've come; this is my grandfather! Grandfather, he is Yin Qi!"

Zhang Youchu's voice is light and cheerful as she introduces the two.

Yin Qi walks forward, bows, and says, "Junior Yin Qi, greetings to Elder Zhang. This is our first meeting; please accept these small gifts as a token of my respect."

As he speaks, he turns his head to signal to Yin Hai.

Yin Hai is carrying quite a few gifts in his hands; just as he is about to step forward, Zhang Yunze waves his hand and says, "Wait."

Yin Qi looks at Zhang Yunze in confusion.

Zhang Yunze says sternly, "Yin Qi, is it? Although I agreed to Chuchu, I only agreed to give you one chance. Only if you can pass my assessment will I teach you Medicine. If not, you can only go back the way you came."

Yin Qi smiles happily and says, "Of course, please set the questions, Elder Zhang."

Zhang Yunze says, "It seems you are quite confident. According to Chuchu, you have also read quite a few medical books; which ones have you read?"

Yin Qi replies, "The *Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon*, the *Shennong Herbal Classic*, the *Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases*, the *Thousand Golden Prescriptions*, the *Bian Que Heart Book*, the *A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion*, the *Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach*, and the *Master Who Embraces Simplicity*. I have finished reading all of these, and I have read half of the *Compendium of Materia Medica*."

Zhang Yunze just nods faintly and says, "To study Medicine, one must first memorize books. If you cannot even memorize medical books, there is no point in talking about healing the sick and saving lives. Like this, recite the 'Theory of Yin-Yang Separation and Union' from the *Suwen* of the *Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon*."

"Grandfather!"

Zhang Youchu is anxious; this is a high-difficulty task right from the start.

Although Yin Qi is talented, he has only been reading medical books for a short time; how could he possibly memorize that?

Yin Qi, however, smiles slightly and begins to recite directly: "The Yellow Emperor asked: I have heard that Heaven is Yang and Earth is Yin, the sun is Yang and the moon is Yin. Three hundred and sixty days of large and small months make a year..."

He recites the original text of over five hundred characters fluently, right off the bat.

Zhang Youchu is pleasantly surprised, her beautiful eyes sparkling with brilliance.

Second Young Master Yin is too amazing!

Zhang Yunze is also astonished; he did not expect this Yin Qi to actually have some substance.

In reality, even many doctors might not be able to memorize it, and he did not expect Yin Qi to be able to.

After Yin Qi finishes reciting, he says again, "The *Shennong Herbal Classic*, Superior Grade, Insect and Fish Section, Carp Gallbladder Chapter."

Yin Qi does not even think and says, "Bitter and cold in flavor, it treats red and painful eyes and blurred vision, and clears the eyes. Long-term use strengthens the will and Qi. It lives in ponds and marshes. The *Famous Doctors* says: It lives in the Nine Rivers, and there is no set time for harvesting..."

"The 'Method of Distinguishing Pulses' from the *Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases*!"

Zhang Yunze uses a big move, because this section has nearly three thousand characters, and even he cannot memorize it.

Yin Qi wears a humble and gentle smile and similarly recites it right off the bat: "The question asks: Pulses have Yin and Yang; what does this mean? The Master says: All pulses that are large, floating, rapid, moving, and slippery are called Yang; all pulses that are deep, rough, slow, string-like, and faint are called Yin. If a Yin disease presents with a Yang pulse, the patient will live; if a Yang disease presents with a Yin pulse, the patient will die..."

When the final sentence, "The question asks: When a person is terrified, what is their pulse like? The Master says: The pulse shape is like tracing a thread, one after another, and their face loses its color," falls, Zhang Yunze is completely stunned, his heart shocked.

He cannot help but ask, "Tell me, how did you memorize this?"

Although he only had Yin Qi recite three passages, from the current situation, it can be inferred that the other party very likely memorized all the medical books he has read, which is somewhat terrifying.

To tell the truth, apart from prescriptions, very few doctors go to memorize those medical theories.

Understanding and memorizing are two completely different things.

Yin Qi smiles slightly and says, "Elder Zhang, I have the ability of photographic memory; I can remember it after reading it once."

"Photographic memory!"

Zhang Yunze is shocked, then suddenly realizes and says, "No wonder, no wonder."

He looked at Yin Qi again, his gaze completely different.

So handsome and dashing, with an extraordinary bearing, possessing the ability of photographic memory, and speaking so politely—how could he be a playboy? Could it be that someone was maliciously slandering him?

Thinking of this, he felt secretly excited in his heart.

With the ability of photographic memory, as long as he was not stupid, this Yin Qi would surely achieve something in the future by learning medicine from him, and he suddenly felt the urge to be a mentor.

However, taking him as a disciple would not do.

Thinking of this, he turned his head slightly to look at his granddaughter.

If he took Yin Qi as a disciple, he would be a generation higher than Zhang Youchu, which would cut off their future.

Zhang Youchu was full of admiration, her eyes shining with brilliance.

No wonder Second Brother Yin was so talented; it turned out he possessed photographic memory.

The old steward and Yin Hai on the side were equally shocked.

Photographic memory is often the standard feature of a prodigy or a literary master; otherwise, how could one stand out from countless competitors?

"Ahem!"

Zhang Yunze coughed lightly a few times and said, "Since my Chuchu has pleaded for you, you shall learn medicine from this old man from now on. But it is limited to learning medicine; this old man will not take you as a disciple."

Yin Qi was overjoyed, bowed, and said, "Many thanks, old gentleman."

(End of this chapter)