Chapter 73: Apprenticeship Ceremony
As soon as school was over the next day, Wen Zhu and his family took the gifts they had prepared long ago and went to the newly opened Wen's Medical Clinic in town.
It’s not far, and it only takes seven or eight minutes to walk there.
From afar, I saw the plaque of Wen's Medical Clinic. It was simple but exuded an ancient charm, which complemented the original style of the house.
The little old man walked back and forth at the door, then went inside to sit, and then stood up and peeked at the door.
Not seeing anyone, he sat back down with a sigh.
Seeing the usually calm Mr. Wen, the waiter Xiao Liu couldn't help but ask, "Sir, how about I go outside and help you watch? I've seen that girl before, she's so pretty, I'm sure I can tell you right away. I'll come back and tell you when the time comes. That way you don't have to rush around. Is that okay with you?"
The old man stroked his beard and nodded.
"Well, go ahead. After all, I'm the master. No matter how much I want this disciple, I have to behave like a master. How can a master wait for his disciple? Don't you think so? I'll just sit here."
"You're right."
As soon as the boy went out, he saw Wen Zhu and his group coming towards him, and quickly turned around and ran back in, shouting as he ran.
"Sir, sir, someone is coming!"
Wen Yun quickly stood up, straightened the wrinkles on his Tang suit, and adjusted his collar before asking the waiter, "Xiao Liu, does this look okay on me?"
The waiter Xiao Liu replied with a smile, "It looks very professional, just like a master!"
Old man Wen was so happy that he trotted out the door in a few steps to greet people.
His beard fluttered in the wind, and the wrinkles on his face deepened.
The waiter called out, "Sir, didn't you say you'd behave yourself? Aren't you going to wait here?"
"gentlemen?"
"Aye, sir?"
He had already run a long way to chat and laugh with others. He had just agreed to put on airs, but now when he saw his long-awaited little disciple coming, he had completely forgotten about it.
When Wen Zhu saw his master walking so fast, he quickly told him to be careful.
When you enter the backyard of the clinic, you will see that all the necessary things such as the statue of the founder, incense burner, mat, tea cup, medical books, etc. have been prepared in advance.
Under the guidance of his master, Wen Zhu came to the statue of the ancestor.
Wen Zhu put his hand in the copper basin, and the bamboo leaves floated on the water, lush and green.
During this process, Old Man Wen changed his usual playful appearance and became serious and solemn, telling Wen Zhu about medical ethics and skills.
"Ten fingers dipped in the green water, washing away the worldly impetuousness;
The palm of your hand receives the sweet dew, but it also bears the suffering of the people."
After washing his hands, Wen Zhu knelt on the cushion and kowtowed to the statue of the ancestor to express his admiration for the origin of medicine.
Then he stood up, lit the incense, and reverently bowed three times to the statue of the ancestor. Then he inserted the incense into the incense burner.
After burning incense, Wen Zhu bent down and handed the letter of apprenticeship he had prepared to his master.
Old Man Wen took it quickly and laughed heartily.
"Serve tea!"
As he spoke, the waiter handed the teacup to Wen Zhu. Wen Zhu took it with both hands, knelt down, and raised his hands above his head to invite the master to have some tea.
"Master, please have some tea!"
Wen Yun was stunned. It was just a simple tea ceremony, but he hadn't expected this young disciple to be so devout. He stroked his beard, his eyes filled with satisfaction.
I didn't expect to meet such a knowledgeable and polite young man in this day and age.
He took the teacup, I took a sip, put it down immediately, and quickly helped Wen Zhu up with both hands.
"Today, I have drunk your apprenticeship tea. From now on, I will be your master. Once a teacher, always a father. I will teach you everything I have learned throughout my life. I hope that you will practice medicine, make good connections, and benefit the world in the future.
Also, remember this: since you've entered my sect, you and I are like family. If you encounter difficulties in the future, you can ask your senior brothers for help. If they can't solve the problem, there's always Master. You have the sect's support, so don't do the foolish thing of swallowing the injustice alone.
Do you remember it?"
Wen Zhu listened and nodded heavily, "I'll remember." Her voice was choked with sobs. These words were exactly the same as what her master had said to her in her previous life, not a single mistake.
Even if he has no memory of himself, he is still thinking about himself. If the master forgets me, then I will worship the master again!
Wen Zhu's family watched the ceremony silently and felt happy for their daughter (sister). They thought it was a lifelong blessing to meet such a good master.
Wen Zhu presented the six gifts prepared at home to the master: celery, red beans, lotus seeds, longan and bacon.
Old Man Wen took it with a smile and became more and more satisfied with Wen Zhu.
He then took out a yellowed but well-preserved medical book and handed it to Wen Zhu, "This 'Golden Chamber Profound Mystery' is a rare and well-preserved work handed down from generation to generation. It contains annotations and supplements based on my many years of experience and practice. Now, I pass it on to you.
I will also teach you the 'Three Dos and Nine Don'ts':
Read wordless books - watch the old farmer picking herbs to know the season, watch the woman feeding her child to know the innate nature;
Treat illness before it occurs – if you see a boy with red eyes, clear the liver; if you see an old woman with cold knees, warm the kidneys;
Be lonely - it is better to let the medicine gather dust on the shelf than let people in the world get sick.
The 'Nine Don'ts' are: Don't despise the poor, don't flatter the rich, don't tell lies, don't hide anything, don't abandon those in danger, don't fear the epidemic, don't seek fame, don't seek rewards, and don't forget your roots.
Wen Zhu thanked his master and took it with both hands through the cotton cloth.
Afterwards, the master gave her custom-made silver needles and a pulse pillow.
"Thank you, Master!" Wen Zhu bowed to express his gratitude.
"Sign this Master-Disciple Letter, and the apprenticeship ceremony will be complete. From now on, we will be master and disciple for life."
Wen Zhu's eyes lit up and he called out, "Master."
"Oh!" Old Man Wen was particularly happy.
He had experienced many ups and downs in his life. He had long since become indifferent to everything. But at this moment, he found the word "Master" particularly pleasant.
It was as if fate had destined it to be this way. It was as if he had been searching for an apprentice his entire life, searching and searching for years.
Even though he had already accepted three disciples, he still felt that he was not the right one. But at this moment, he felt a sense of fulfillment as if it were destiny.
After the apprenticeship ceremony, there should be a apprenticeship banquet.
So Jiang Qin took Wen Zhu, the new master, to his home for dinner. He should have invited relatives and friends to have dinner together, but his family was special, with almost no relatives, so he could just invite Qian Xusen and Qian Jingsheng from next door to have dinner together.
Old Man Wen laughed so hard that his beard trembled. He stroked his beard and said, "Okay, that's it. It's good!"
The food at his apprentice's house is more to his liking than that at a state-owned restaurant. He must go to this apprenticeship banquet!
"Can I have that kidney again from yesterday?!"
Wen Zhu smiled and said, "No problem, Master, if you want to eat it, I will make it for you every day!"
The young man saw Mr. Wen's cheerful expression, smacked his lips, and scratched his head, not understanding why the old man suddenly had such a sour expression.
Wasn't it him who said before that he wanted to act like a master?
I don’t know who is laughing so hard that his eyes are narrowed.
Is this the attitude of an old Chinese doctor?
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