Chapter 108: Passed Down to Sons, Not Daughters
Upon hearing this, Grandpa Zhou nodded, "I see."
The old man insisted on inviting them to dinner, so Dr. Zhou closed the door early and everyone went to the restaurant together.
On the way, Director Zhou struck up a conversation with Lu Ye. "Company Commander Lu, how have you been lately?"
Lu Ye replied, "The recovery is very good. Acupuncture has been stopped. He only needs to take herbal medicine and combine it with moxibustion."
Director Zhou nodded, forcing an awkward yet polite smile. "Okay."
At the dinner table, the old man was very emotional, and kept telling the story of how he and Old Ye suffered together in the cowshed back then.
They talked about how destined they were to be together.
Both were traditional Chinese medicine doctors, and they were imprisoned in the same cowshed.
Besides working for others and being beaten, they spent their days discussing medical techniques.
When two people share a common profession and topics of conversation, those difficult days don't seem so long.
"Dr. Ye is lucky."
After the old man finished speaking, he glared at his two sons, his tone full of disdain, "Unlike me, my eldest son studied Western medicine and looks down on us traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, while my second son is hopeless and has no talent for medicine at all. I'm so frustrated."
Dr. Zhou, "..."
Who's hopeless?
Could you please give me some face?
Grandpa Zhou smiled and said to Bai Zhi, "Little Bai, when you find your maternal grandfather, how about you come to Nancheng with her? I'll invite you to work at Jishengtang then, and let Zhou Er assist you."
Bai Zhi smiled and politely replied, "Grandpa Zhou, I need to ask my maternal grandfather's opinion on this matter."
As soon as Bai Zhi finished speaking, the old man's eyes dimmed, and he couldn't help but sigh, "Alas."
No matter how outstanding Bai Zhi is, she's still someone else's child.
Seeing his father's melancholy expression, Dr. Zhou spoke up rather irritably.
“Dad, don’t sigh. I don’t have a talent for medicine, but your granddaughter does. She’s loved memorizing medicine names and studying traditional Chinese medicine since she was little. You didn’t want her to follow in your footsteps because she’s a girl. But look at Bai Zhi, she’s a girl too, and she’s the granddaughter of Dr. Ye, the old Chinese medicine doctor. She doesn’t have any of those concerns. Whoever has the talent can learn this stuff, regardless of gender.”
The old man looked at Bai Zhi, seemingly lost in thought.
Dr. Zhou said to Bai Zhi and Lu Ye with a resentful look, "My daughter is 17 years old this year. She is very interested in traditional Chinese medicine. She has read all the medical books in the house. My father has concerns about her inheriting the family's traditional Chinese medicine because of her gender."
Bai Zhi expressed her understanding of Dr. Zhou's complaints.
In traditional Chinese medicine, there is indeed a saying that it is passed down only to sons and not daughters.
Perhaps her maternal grandfather took her to learn medicine in her previous life out of necessity.
Her uncle was unwilling to get involved in this profession.
My grandfather's medical skills have no successor.
And coincidentally, she was interested in it.
Grandpa Zhou Zheng sipped his tea and sighed, "Seeing how outstanding Xiaobai is, it's time for me to change my outdated thinking."
Upon hearing Old Master Zhou's words, Doctor Zhou's eyes lit up. He quickly pressed his advantage, "Dad, you should have thought of this a long time ago. Your granddaughter is so outstanding; she definitely has a talent for traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, I think you should focus on nurturing her. Let me go."
Upon hearing his son's words, Old Master Zhou immediately flew into a rage. "You're utterly hopeless! I've been nurturing you for so many years, and you still can't even cure the most basic and simple illnesses. Look at what Jishengtang has become under your care. If it weren't for Baizhi, I don't think it would have survived this year."
"Dad, I've always been cut out for this. I have my own ideals and hobbies. You forced me into this, and now you're blaming me."
At this moment, Dr. Zhou thought of the dashing Ye Tiandong again, and he imagined, "I've decided to train my Zhou Qian and make her the second Bai Zhi. Once she's graduated, I'll retire."
"Bai Zhi, you've been studying for three years, right?"
Doctor Zhou looked at Bai Zhi with hopeful anticipation and confirmed it.
Bai Zhi's expression was strange. "I..."
Bai Zhi had previously told them that she had studied under her maternal grandfather for three years.
It's because of her age that she has to say that.
But in reality, even if you are very talented, studying traditional Chinese medicine for three years will not make it possible for you to truly become a qualified practitioner and treat patients.
That's unrealistic.
In her past life, she had always learned from her maternal grandfather, who taught her step by step and passed on all the secret recipes to her without reservation.
That's why she is who she is today.
Her eyes flickered slightly as she explained tactfully, "Dr. Zhou, I'm still young, and I've only learned the basics of traditional Chinese medicine. I haven't truly mastered it yet. People eat grains and other foods, and diseases are incredibly diverse. We'll dedicate our lives to this profession, studying and researching until we die."
"Xiao Bai is right, one should study until old age." Grandpa Zhou gave Bai Zhi a thumbs up.
"As expected of my brother Ye's granddaughter, she is intelligent and humble. You should all learn from her spirit of striving for progress and learning."
Dr. Zhou was very modest, nodding repeatedly, "I acknowledge Bai Zhi's medical skills and abilities, and I will learn from her, but..."
Dr. Zhou gave Bai Zhi a meaningful look, "Well, you need to have the opportunity to learn first. Xiao Bai is about to resign."
Grandpa Zhou said, "As long as you are willing to learn, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."
Dr. Zhou didn't reply, but looked at Bai Zhi expectantly and asked, "Xiao Bai, when are you coming back? I'll introduce my daughter to you. You can take care of her and influence her, let her learn from you."
He's already forty years old, and his ambitions don't lie in that.
You won't learn anything from studying.
This also requires talent.
In fact, talent is required for any job.
Bai Zhi readily agreed, "Okay, that's fine."
Dr. Zhou's elder brother, the highly respected internal medicine expert Director Zhou, barely got a word in edgewise, sitting quietly and listening to their discussion of traditional Chinese medicine.
At this moment, looking at Lu Ye, whose expression and complexion had basically returned to normal, Director Zhou felt a complex mix of emotions.
To be honest, although his father was a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, he himself had never really believed in traditional Chinese medicine since childhood.
This stemmed from a fever he had when he was a child.
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