After Granny Yun led Yun Chu to worship the gods and Buddhas, Zhang Shi, carrying the apprenticeship gifts, boarded Yun Shenghua's donkey cart and went with Yun Chu to Ren'an Hall.
Ren'an Hall was bustling with activity today. The news that Master Zhong was going to take on a female apprentice had spread far and wide. This would be the second time a woman from Pingcheng had taken on a male position, following the emergence of a female yamen runner, especially since she was from the same Yun family.
Therefore, after Ren'an Hall opened its doors, the people who love excitement and gossip flocked to it, making the area outside Ren'an Hall completely crowded.
"Look, here she comes. I've seen this young lady before. She was standing next to Dr. Zhong listening to his heart and lungs before. I used to laugh at her for wanting to be a female doctor, but I never thought she would actually succeed."
"She looks quite nice, quiet and gentle. I wonder if she's betrothed yet?"
"Keep dreaming. What's wrong with Pingcheng having such a female doctor? Just because we have one doesn't have to marry her off? In my opinion, having such a female doctor is a blessing for us women. We don't have to suffer from that taboo between men and women."
"..."
Yun Chu had seen big events before, but back then it was a fashion show organized by Yun Ling. This scene was related to her, and she knew she couldn't handle it. Fortunately, Yun Shenghua and Zhang Shi were there to accompany and protect her.
The layout of Ren'an Hall is also quite different from before. There are three armchairs in the hall, and behind the armchairs is a long table with an incense burner on it. Above the table hangs a picture of the Medicine Buddha.
Yun Chu was a little scared. Yun Shenghua and Zhang Shi were also seeing such a formal ceremony for the first time, and they were unsure of themselves, so they didn't know how to comfort her.
"Chu Niang, Aunt, Uncle, good morning."
It was the first time Shen Changliu had met Yun Shenghua and Zhang Shi, so he respectfully bowed deeply.
Upon seeing Shen Changliu, Yun Chu felt reassured and warmly introduced him to Yun Shenghua and Zhang Shi:
“Father and Mother, this is my elder brother from the Shen family. He took good care of me at Ren'an Hall. I was able to become a disciple of Master Zhong without his help and guidance.”
Yun Shenghua and Zhang immediately became enthusiastic, thanking Shen Changliu repeatedly and expressing their gratitude. They almost grabbed Shen Changliu's hand and shook it vigorously.
Shen Changliu didn't respond much, only nodding slightly, then looked at Yun Chu and said:
"Have you prepared the apprenticeship gift?"
"Yes, my mother has prepared everything. There is dried meat as a sign of filial piety, lotus seeds to symbolize the teacher's painstaking teaching, red dates to wish her students success, red beans to symbolize good fortune, and celery to represent her students' hard work and diligence. I wonder if everything is prepared?"
Shen Changliu nodded, his expression remaining largely unchanged, and simply said:
"Relax later. The people outside are not important. Your master and you are the most important."
Yun Chu might have doubts about what others said, but Shen Changliu's words always had a magical power that gave her a sense of security, making her feel at ease without even realizing it.
Old Master Zhong arrived quickly. He was wearing a clean round robe today, which made him look like a Taoist immortal. With the hem of the robe fluttering, he sat down steadily in the grand master's chair in the center.
Then, two other renowned doctors from Ren'an Hall took their seats on either side of Elder Zhong, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
"Don't worry, I'll go over first."
Yun Chu clenched her sleeves and nodded shyly.
With Shen Changliu in position, the ceremony officially began.
"Invite the disciple to the hall."
Zhang gently pushed Yun Chu, who took the basket from Zhang's hand, took a few deep breaths, tried to calm her agitated heart, and then walked up into the hall.
"Old Master Zhong is a benevolent doctor with a righteous heart and truly effective medicines to save the world. He has already taken on two apprentices and was unwilling to go through any more trouble. However, he happened to meet the kind-hearted Miss Yun. Through their interactions, he was finally moved by her sincerity and her genuine love for medicine. Therefore, today, he makes an exception and takes her on as his first female apprentice."
"The apprentice steps forward and bows three times to his master."
Yun Chu placed the basket on the table beside her, and then respectfully bowed three times to Elder Zhong.
"The apprentice offers tea to his master."
Yun Chu turned to face Shen Changliu, took the hot tea from the tray, then turned back and smiled:
"Master, please have some tea."
"good."
After taking the tea, Old Zhong took a sip, and the host said again:
"The apprentice presents a gift to his master."
Yun Chu quickly presented the small basket again.
Old Zhong nodded and accepted it, saying:
"A doctor should have a human heart. The purpose of learning medicine is to save people. Since you have become my disciple, you should abide by my rules. In this life, you should only save people and not harm them. You should not indulge in momentary pleasures. You should study your skills diligently and do what you wish to do."
"Your disciple will respectfully follow your master's teachings."
"The apprenticeship ceremony is complete! From this day forward, our Ren'an Hall has gained a new female apprentice. We hope that everyone will help each other and strive together for progress."
After the ceremony of apprenticeship was completed, the solemn atmosphere dissipated, and everyone cheered with joy. Yun Chu glanced at Elder Zhong, then turned back to look at Yun Shenghua and Zhang Shi, whose eyes were wet with tears. A smile immediately spread across her face.
She has truly become a female apprentice!
She was happy, truly happy. This was a scene she had dreamed of many times, and now it had actually come true. How could she not be happy?
**
Yunling was also happy. Last night, she heard Pei Lin say that Yun Chu had been accepted as a female disciple by Elder Zhong, and she was so excited that she forgot all about the fatigue she had endured from walking all day yesterday.
But perhaps because she was too excited, she forgot to hide when she saw Lu Yinghuai coming out of Chen Jie's room.
"Lingniang, would you like to come with me to the trading company?"
Yunling didn't know why she nodded in agreement as if possessed; perhaps it was because she was excited, that must be the reason.
Tang Ling had been traveling all day yesterday, so she got up early this morning to start boiling water. Yun Ling, being considerate of her fatigue, let her rest at the house for a day, while she took Gangzi and rode in Lu Yinghuai's carriage to the Lu family business.
The Lu family business in Bianjing was very impressive. Just from the facade decoration, it was very different from the one in Pingcheng. In Gangzi's words, it was a shop that he would not dare to easily enter when he saw it on the road.
The shop has three floors. The first floor is the lobby, where you can see many glass bottles, each containing various items.
They have sun-dried tangerine peel with a natural sheen, high-quality honey with sediment and crystallization, and of course, their own royal jelly.
Good morning, young master.
"Greetings, young master."
"The things the young master wanted are all on the second floor."
"..."
Amidst the repeated calls of "Young Master," Yunling was led upstairs by Lu Yinghuai.
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