Chapter 12: New Technique Unlocked

Hua Wuniang was taken away by Mother Zhou, who was by the side of Old Madam Zhou.

Watching the carriage drive away, the Hua family members were all incomparably silent.

Seeing Fourth Aunt Hua standing at the doorway for a long time without coming back to her senses, Hua Changxi couldn't help but step forward again: "Fourth Aunt, since you also don't want Fifth Sister to become a concubine, then hurry and call her back. It's still not too late."

Fourth Aunt Hua's eye sockets turned red and her lips trembled. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing at all.

Old Madam Hua's displeased voice rang out: "Hua Jiuniang, who let you out? Is it your place, a little girl, to interrupt the affairs of adults?"

"Fourth Aunt!"

Hua Changxi called out to Fourth Aunt Hua again, but Fourth Aunt Hua lowered her head and did not respond.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi felt powerless. Seeing that Old Madam Hua's anger was about to become uncontrollable, and not wanting to be locked in the side room again, which would cause complications for the Medical Department apprentice exam four days later, she obediently returned to her room.

Returning to her room, Hua Changxi felt somewhat distracted.

Looking at Hua Wuniang's plight, she couldn't help but think of herself.

Before this, she had been generally satisfied with being born into the Hua family.

Although the elders were somewhat biased toward boys, and although the family's resources were skewed toward the males, the young girls in the family had not suffered any harsh treatment.

But once the matter of Hua Wuniang arose, her perspective changed.

For the sake of the family's males, a young girl could be sacrificed.

Today it was Hua Wuniang; tomorrow it could be her.

Although she had luckily obtained the opportunity to cultivate, she still knew nothing about cultivation matters, and she had no way of knowing what awaited her in the future.

Now, the only thing she could do was to get into the Medical Department and strive to raise the grade of her medical heritage.

In the following days, the Hua family courtyard was somewhat silent, and Hua Changxi also stayed quietly in her room, concentrating on her cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, it was the twentieth of the ninth month. Before dawn, Hua Changxi left the house accompanied by Hua Liulang and headed straight for the Medical Department.

"The Medical Department isn't that easy to get into."

Seeing Lady Yao standing at the door watching the backs of the two children as they went further away, Hua Minghe walked over: "I've inquired about it. There are many people applying to the Medical Department this time; Jiuniang might not necessarily get in."

Lady Yao's face showed disagreement: "Apothecary Xu also recognizes Jiuniang's medical skills."

Hua Minghe sighed: "Working in a government office, having ability is important, but connections are even more important."

Lady Yao frowned: "Would people with connections look down upon the job of a Medical Department apprentice?"

Hua Minghe: "Which family doesn't have a few relatives? The nobles might look down on it, but the relatives of the nobles look up to it."

"Many people are eyeing the Medical Department. When Sanlang was fifteen, I thought about getting him into the Medical Department, but unfortunately, his medical skills weren't refined enough, and he didn't pass. I wanted to pull some strings, but I couldn't make it work."

Lady Yao gave a surprised "Ah": "Why haven't I heard you and Sanlang mention this?"

Hua Minghe: "Why talk about things that didn't succeed? Besides, Sanlang is grown up now, and he has his pride."

Lady Yao frowned: "Is the Medical Department that hard to get into?"

Hua Minghe: "The Medical Department is a government office. Even the least powerful and most desolate government office is something people scramble for, not to mention that the Medical Department isn't desolate at all—that's a place even the Emperor keeps an eye on."

Lady Yao was filled with worry: "Then, according to what you say, Jiuniang is ten-to-one not going to get into the Medical Department?"

Hua Minghe let out a long sigh: "This daughter of ours is high-spirited and proud; deep down, she has a bit of that naivety and stubbornness of not submitting to anyone."

"You letting her go to take the Medical Department exam is right. Let her take a few falls, and she will know how cruel the outside world is."

Just as Lady Yao was about to say something, with a 'splash', a basin of water was thrown from behind, splashing onto the street at the entrance and kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Mother!"

Hua Minghe and Lady Yao turned around and saw Old Madam Hua standing behind them holding a wooden basin.

"You two are becoming more and more capable. You let Jiuniang, a little girl, go to apply for the Medical Department without even telling the family. Do you still have this family in your hearts?"

After speaking, Old Madam Hua took the wooden basin and angrily returned to the courtyard.

Hua Minghe and Lady Yao hurriedly followed.

"Mother, it's not that we didn't tell the family. Jiuniang applying for the Medical Department—actually, we didn't hold much hope either; we just let her go and take the exam for fun."

"We didn't tell the family because we didn't want the family to worry along with us..."

Because of Old Madam Hua's sudden appearance, before Hua Changxi had even entered the exam hall, the entire Hua family knew she had gone to participate in the Medical Department apprentice exam today.

The Medical Department was located in the northeast direction of the capital and occupied a vast area, taking up three whole streets; its area was several times that of an ordinary ward.

When Hua Changxi and Hua Liulang arrived, a large crowd had already gathered at the entrance of the Medical Department.

"So many people!"

Seeing the examinees entering the Medical Department one after another, Hua Liulang was somewhat tongue-tied.

Someone next to them immediately chimed in: "I heard that several thousand people are applying to the Medical Department this time, but the Medical Department is only hiring 200 people."

Hua Liulang swallowed his saliva and looked at Hua Changxi: "Jiuniang, with so many people, can you pass the exam into the Medical Department?"

Hua Changxi looked at the plaque of the Medical Department, her eyes flashing with a look of determination: "I will get in."

Saying this, she took out her admission ticket and went to line up.

The Medical Department was the gathering place for the capital's medical masters of the Great Jin Dynasty. Even to get in as an apprentice, one's medical knowledge had to reach a certain level.

In the past, when recruiting apprentices, only a written test was needed, but this time, a practical session for processing medicinal herbs was added.

Hua Changxi was very confident in herself. If it were the old her, she would have had serious deficiencies regarding martial artist medicinal herbs, but the "Commentary on the Hundred Herbs" had already made up for this point.

As for processing medicinal herbs, that was even less of a problem.

In her past life, from the moment she could walk, she had followed her grandfather to learn how to process traditional Chinese medicine. In this life, she had also helped in the Hua family's pharmacy for several years, and many of the medicinal herbs sold by the Hua family were processed by her.

The written test examined everyone's accumulation of medical knowledge. After browsing through the test questions, Hua Changxi felt confident and began to answer the questions calmly.

Because the competition was too fierce, in order to let the invigilators notice her as a "talent worth cultivating," she even deliberately handed in her answer sheet first.

After the written test was finished, without giving Hua Changxi any time to rest, she was led directly by a medical officer to a plaza.

On the plaza, there were several rows of wooden tables, and on each table were placed several medicinal herbs.

The medical officer led Hua Changxi to a wooden table and beckoned to the people in the room on the west side of the plaza. Before long, a middle-aged medical officer came over with paper and a brush.

"Someone finished the written test so quickly? I heard this written test wasn't simple."

The middle-aged medical officer sized Hua Changxi up a few times and smiled: "Could it be that you came out without answering the questions?"

The leading medical officer cupped his hands in greeting: "Greetings, Medical Officer Sun." Then he said with a smile, "I only handle the leading; I don't know if she answered the questions. I've brought the person here; Medical Officer Sun, you supervise her practical operation."

After the leading medical officer left, Medical Officer Sun cast his gaze toward Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi cupped her hands and bowed, imitating the leading medical officer's greeting: "Little girl Hua Changxi greets Lord Sun."

Seeing her like this, the middle-aged medical officer raised his eyebrows and chuckled. Without saying much to her, he pointed to the medicinal herbs on the table: "Process these five medicinal herbs."

There were five medicinal herbs on the wooden table, three of which were ordinary common herbs, and two were medicinal herbs used by martial artists.

Hua Changxi had processed the ordinary herbs before, but she had not processed the two medicinal herbs used by martial artists before this.

However, the "Commentary on the Hundred Herbs" had detailed explanations of the medicinal properties of the two herbs, so she could process them according to their properties.

Thinking this, Hua Changxi began to act.

The first step in processing medicinal herbs was cleaning, removing the dust and dirt from the herbs.

When Hua Changxi finished cleaning one medicinal herb, a line of text suddenly appeared in her vision.

【Purification Technique (Entry): Cleaning Medicinal Herbs 1/10】

Hua Changxi's eyelids trembled. Suppressing the excitement in her heart, she earnestly cleaned the herbs. After cleaning the five herbs, the text in her vision changed.

【Purification Technique (Entry): Cleaning Medicinal Herbs 5/10】

After cleaning the herbs, it was time to proceed with processing.

Processing medicinal herbs included water-based methods, fire-based methods, and methods combining water and fire.

The five herbs on the table could be processed using fire-based methods according to their properties.

Hua Changxi took the cleaned herbs to the iron stove set up nearby for roasting, deciding the degree of drying based on their medicinal properties.

Seeing Hua Changxi's skilled movements and smooth operation, Medical Officer Sun couldn't help but speak: "Do you have elders in your family who practice medicine?"

Hua Changxi hurriedly replied with a smile: "Replying to Lord Sun, my family runs a pharmacy, and my grandmother's family are medicine merchants."

Medical Officer Sun looked as if he had expected this: "No wonder you are so skilled at processing medicinal herbs." Saying this, he inquired about the situation of the Hua family.

Upon learning that although the Hua family had people working in government offices, they were all low-level officials, he lost interest in asking further.

At this moment, a group of people pushing several large carts of medicinal herbs passed by the plaza, led by a beardless eunuch.

Hua Changxi looked at the medicinal herbs on the carts, feeling a surge of heat in her heart.

Those medicinal herbs were ones she had never seen outside, but they were all recorded in the "Commentary on the Hundred Herbs."

Seeing the person coming, Medical Officer Sun immediately greeted him with a face full of smiles: "Eunuch Jia, have you just returned from the medicine farm?"

Eunuch Jia waved his hand to signal the people behind him to continue moving, while he stopped his steps and asked instead: "Medical Officer Sun, why is it set up like this here?"

Medical Officer Sun smiled: "Eunuch Jia, you are a busy person and have forgotten—have you forgotten that today is the day for recruiting additional apprentices?"

Eunuch Jia let out a long "Oh," and then said no more, instead looking at Hua Changxi, who was turning and roasting the medicinal herbs: "Not bad, the technique is very skilled. It seems the Apprentice Hall is about to gain some talent."

Medical Officer Sun sighed: "I hope your words come true. In the past two years, the tasks assigned by the Minister have become heavier and heavier, and the Apprentice Hall is almost too busy to keep up. If we can really recruit usable people, the Apprentice Hall could also be a bit more relaxed."

Eunuch Jia lifted his chin toward Hua Changxi's direction: "Isn't the talent right before your eyes? If the Apprentice Hall could stand a bit firmer, why worry about having no one to use?"

After speaking, without waiting for Medical Officer Sun to say anything, Eunuch Jia said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I won't chat with Medical Officer Sun anymore. Farewell."

Watching Eunuch Jia leave with large strides, Medical Officer Sun spat in a restrained manner.

Does the Apprentice Hall not want to stand firmer? But do they have a solid backing?

The Apprentice Hall, the Menial Hall, and the Disciple Hall are all core departments of the Medical Department. The Menial Hall has people from the palace supporting it, and the Disciple Hall is personally watched by the Superintendent. Only the Apprentice Hall is like a stepchild; anyone can come and have a say in the hall's affairs.

Medical Officer Sun felt he had been mocked by Eunuch Jia. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he suddenly turned his head to look at Hua Changxi.

Seeing Hua Changxi buried in roasting the medicinal herbs without even peeking toward him, Sun Zhigang showed a look of regret on his face.

If only this examinee had been even slightly unruly, he would have had a target to vent his anger on.

Not long after, an unfamiliar medical officer brought five examinees over.

Hua Changxi only raised her head to look at them once. Seeing that there were three girls among the five, she was slightly surprised, but she didn't think much of it and continued to focus on roasting the medicinal herbs.

When she finished processing one medicinal herb, a line of text immediately appeared in her vision: 【Encyclopedia of Processing (Entry): Processing Medicinal Herbs 1/10】

Hua Changxi felt a surge of joy; a new technique had appeared again.

Coming to the Medical Department was indeed the right choice. Just like that, she had unlocked two new techniques at once.

Just as Hua Changxi was stunned, Medical Officer Sun walked over and said to her: "Alright, you can go."

Hua Changxi came back to her senses and looked at the medicinal herbs that were still roasting: "The medicinal herbs haven't been processed yet."

Medical Officer Sun: "You don't need to worry about this. You go."

Hua Changxi frowned slightly. Seeing Medical Officer Sun show an impatient expression and worrying that he would give her a bad review, she didn't dare to stay longer. She placed the processed medicinal herbs on the table and walked slowly toward the outside.

She didn't leave directly. Turning the corner of the plaza and seeing no one around, she stopped and crouched at the corner to look toward the plaza.

At this look, anger immediately surged in her heart.

Those five newly arrived examinees were all handing slips of paper to Medical Officer Sun.

Although Medical Officer Sun looked somewhat reluctant, he accepted all five slips.

Hua Changxi wanted to rush over and catch them in the act, but in the end, she suppressed the impulse in her heart.

Pretending she hadn't seen this, she still had a chance to enter the Medical Department. If she ran out and made a scene, she feared she would have no chance of entering the Medical Department at all.

However, could she really enter the Medical Department based on her medical skills?

Her five medicinal herbs hadn't even been finished processing yet.

Getting into the Medical Department was too important for Hua Changxi; she didn't want to go back just like that.

If she wasn't on the hiring list three days later, she would be completely lost.

Hua Changxi thought of Apothecary Xu and knew that Apothecary Xu worked on the Jiujie of the Medical Department, so she avoided people and went to find him.

Her luck was still quite good; the Jiujie was right next to the plaza.

"Number 12, Jiujie..."

Hua Changxi found the pharmacy at Number 12, Jiujie, where Apothecary Xu worked, according to the address he had given. Just as someone was coming out from inside, she hurriedly stepped forward: "Greetings, my lord. I am looking for Apothecary Xu. Could you please help me pass on a message?"

Soon, Apothecary Xu came out.

"Jiuniang, why are you here?"

Seeing Hua Changxi, Apothecary Xu was surprised at first, then pulled Hua Changxi and walked quickly into the alley: "Outsiders are not allowed to wander around the Medical Department at will."

"Are you here for the exam?"

Hua Changxi nodded and quickly told him what had happened on the plaza: "Uncle Xu, that Medical Officer Sun didn't even let me finish processing the medicinal herbs before driving me away. Does this mean I won't be hired?"

Apothecary Xu was somewhat silent. Watching Hua Changxi looking at him eagerly, he sighed: "Jiuniang, come back and take the exam when the Medical Department recruits apprentices next time."

Hua Changxi's expression became anxious: "Why?"

Speaking of this, Apothecary Xu's tone was somewhat sharp: "What else could it be? The spots have all been taken."

Hua Changxi: "Didn't you tell me before that they were recruiting 50 female apprentices this time? Surely all 50 spots haven't been taken, right?"

Apothecary Xu didn't speak, tacitly agreeing.

Hua Changxi widened her eyes: "Really, all 50 have been taken?"

Apothecary Xu: "In the past, this situation wouldn't happen, but this time, I don't know what's going on; many noble families are stuffing people into the Medical Department."

"Do you know? This time, even the young ladies from the Duke's Prefecture have come to get involved."

Hua Changxi's brows knotted: "How could noble families look down upon the job of a Medical Department apprentice? Don't they find it undignified?"

Apothecary Xu: "The job in the Medical Department is actually quite popular. Noble families have the habit of training female physicians to serve as dowries for their daughters."

"What place is most suitable for training female physicians? The Medical Department!"

Hua Changxi was furious. Once her emotions passed, she immediately looked at Apothecary Xu eagerly: "Uncle Xu, I must get into the Medical Department. Please help me; I will definitely reward you heavily in the future."

Apothecary Xu showed a look of difficulty: "I have no say in the matter of recruiting apprentices."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi was silent. After a while, her expression turned fierce: "I'll go back and find that Medical Officer Sun. If he doesn't hire me, I'll tell everyone about him accepting those slips of paper."

Hearing this, Apothecary Xu was startled and pulled Hua Changxi: "Oh, my dear girl, you must never do that. Even if the threat succeeds and you really get into the Medical Department, what awaits you will be a series of retaliations, and in the end, you will still be driven out of the Medical Department."

Saying this, he paused.

"How about this? I'll go find Medical Officer Wang, who is on good terms with me in the Apprentice Hall, and see if I can pull some strings for you."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi's expression immediately turned to joy.

Apothecary Xu added: "But don't hold too much hope. Although the Medical Department is a bit different from other government offices, it is still a government office, and the affairs inside are all intertwined."

"Just like this additional recruitment of apprentices by the Apprentice Hall, the Apprentice Hall actually doesn't have much decision-making power over who to recruit."

Hua Changxi was silent, lowering her head: "Uncle Xu, I understand. I've caused you trouble."

Apothecary Xu thought for a moment and still advised: "Jiuniang, listen to Uncle Xu. If you can't get into the Medical Department this time, we'll get in next time. I don't believe the nobles can take all the spots every single time."

Hua Changxi smiled reluctantly: "Alright, I'll listen to Uncle Xu. Uncle Xu, go do your work; I'll head back now."

Apothecary Xu was still worried: "Don't go looking for that Medical Officer Sun, you hear?"

Hua Changxi nodded: "I won't. I was just speaking out of anger earlier."

Apothecary Xu gave a few more instructions before entering the pharmacy, looking back at every step.

Knowing that she was ten-to-one not going to get into the Medical Department, Hua Changxi was extremely unwilling.

If her medical skills weren't enough, she would accept it, but that wasn't the case.

Although she had verbally promised Apothecary Xu not to look for Medical Officer Sun, Hua Changxi's feet still uncontrollably walked toward the plaza.

At this time, the plaza was already full of examinees participating in the practical session.

The invigilating medical officer was no longer just Medical Officer Sun; there were a dozen other medical officers.

Hua Changxi thought that if she hadn't handed in her paper early, she might not have seen the scene of Medical Officer Sun accepting the slips of paper. ===== CHAPTER 13 =====