92. Stealing skills
In the Taiping Clinic, only Old Man Yao was left standing behind the counter, fiddling with an abacus.
As he was dialing the phone, he suddenly stopped and looked at the bustling crowd outside the door.
In the past, I used to dislike the bunch of little brats making noise in the clinic, but today it suddenly became deserted, and I felt empty inside.
Old Man Yao pulled six copper coins from his sleeve and tossed them onto the counter. He interpreted the divination while muttering, "Not coming back tonight? Oh, that saves me from having to leave dinner for them."
A cat meow came from the backyard.
He walked slowly to the backyard, but saw Wuyun squatting obediently on the eaves of the wall.
There were more than twenty tabby cats around it.
Old man Yao smiled and said, "Please wait a moment."
As he said this, he went into the house and took out the snack box from Zheng Xinzhai.
She opened the drawer and held the snacks in her hands.
The tabby cats lined up and jumped off the eaves one by one, taking the snacks away politely.
When it was Wuyun's turn, Old Man Yao simply opened the box and said, "Pick whatever you want to eat."
Wuyun didn't eat it, but looked up at him.
Old Man Yao was amused. He patted Wuyun's head and said, "You still remember to think of me eating first? I can't eat anymore."
The dark clouds are puzzled.
Old Man Yao smiled and explained, "Everyone is born, grows old, gets sick, and dies. Once you can't eat anymore, it's time to go. I used to be dissatisfied, but I've come to terms with it. I've lived to be ninety-two, so why should I be dissatisfied?"
At this moment, a voice came from the main hall of the clinic: "Doctor Yao?"
Old man Yao raised his eyebrows and walked to the main hall with his hands behind his back.
But the clinic was crowded with people, led by Chen Liqin, who was wearing a blue official robe.
Behind Chen Liqin, Chen Ji, a servant, carried eight boxes of gifts. Neighbors gathered outside the door, peeking in to watch the excitement.
Seeing Old Man Yao come out, a servant immediately announced loudly, "The Chen Mansion has not yet completed the eight items of payment: two jars of fine wine, ten pieces of bacon, one pork hind leg, two lambs, one pastry, ten silver ingots, two pieces of silk, and a silver ruler."
Old Man Yao sneered, "What are you grumbling about? Do you want the neighbors to know that you, the Chen family, are wealthy? Or do you want them to know that you don't know the rules, that you only offer a salary after two years of apprenticeship? Master Chen is such an imposing figure! He even wears his official robes when he comes to my little clinic."
Chen Liqin looked a little embarrassed and quickly clasped his fists, saying, "I have to attend the Autumn Examination Banquet at noon, so I went out in my official robes. Imperial Physician Yao, please forgive me. I came here today to express my apologies and make up for the poor etiquette of my family."
"Okay, just put your things down and go."
Old man Yao waved his hand.
Chen Liqin didn't leave. He hesitated for a moment and said, "I heard that my son has reformed. I wonder how he is doing here with you?"
"How's the performance?"
Old Man Yao thought for a moment and said, "Getting up early every morning to fetch water, sweep the floor, and wipe the table is so disturbing that I, an old man, can't get any peace of mind."
Chen Liqin asked again, "Did he continue gambling?"
Old Man Yao stroked his beard and shook his head, saying, "Some people say he used to be addicted to gambling, but he hasn't gambled a single day since he came to my clinic."
Chen Liqin breathed a sigh of relief: "I came to the clinic today because I actually have something else I want to discuss with you."
"What is it?"
Chen Liqin said, "Chen Ji has been extremely intelligent since childhood. It was because I was busy with official business over the years that I had no time to take care of him, so he grew up astray. Now that he has reformed, I am thinking of taking him back to my mansion and sending him to Donglin Academy to study for three years next spring."
"read?"
"That's right. Chen Ji is only seventeen years old this year. It's still in time for him to study for three years and take the imperial examination."
Old Man Yao looked at the huge crowd of Chen family members in front of him, his face gradually darkening. "If they are badly taught, you will abandon them to Taiping Medical Clinic, and if they are good enough, you will take them back? Is there such a good thing in the world? From now on, your Chen family will not teach their descendants by yourselves, send them all to me."
Chen Liqin said sincerely, "Doctor Yao, you understand. Studying for the imperial examinations is the right path. I used to think he was hopeless, but now that he has turned back, as a father, I naturally have to think about his future. If you love him, you would naturally hope that he would have a better future, wouldn't you?"
Old Man Yao sneered, "I don't agree with this. Take back all the gifts you sent me. I don't want them. I told you yesterday that from now on, your Chen family won't even have to pay for his apprenticeship. I will take him in as my apprentice, provide him with food and drink, and he will take care of me until I die."
Chen Liqin's expression darkened. "Doctor Yao, why are you being so unreasonable? I didn't promise you yesterday that I would learn from you and become a seventh-rank imperial physician at best. If I took the imperial examination, I could govern a region and benefit more people."
"What about Chen Ji? Why not let him decide for himself? I believe he knows what to choose."
Old Man Yao raised his eyebrows: "He's not in the clinic."
Chen Liqin frowned and said, "It's useless to delay like this."
Old Man Yao sneered, "He's at the kiln factory in Liujiatun. If you want to ask him, go there. If he wants to go back to the Chen Mansion with you, I won't stop him."
Chen Liqin was puzzled. "He's not studying in this clinic, but running around in that dirty kiln factory, working with the filthy bricklayers? Doctor Yao, why don't you keep him under control?"
Old Man Yao rolled his eyes and said, "My apprentice can do whatever he wants. What's it to you?"
Chen Liqin bowed and said, "Now, I feel that Chen Ji should go back to the mansion with me. Goodbye. If he is willing to go back to the Chen Mansion with me, please do not stop him."
After saying that, Chen Liqin went out and got on the carriage, heading towards Liujiatun in the south of the city.
Old man Yao looked at Shu Xiuli who was left in the main hall and remained silent for a long time.
Wuyun jumped lightly onto the counter and rubbed his head against the back of his hand.
Old Man Yao looked at Wu Yun and asked slowly, "I've already taught him the ropes of officialdom, and I don't have anything else to teach him. On one side is the old man from the Imperial Physician's Office, and the bitter, fishy smell of medicinal herbs filling the room. On the other side is the powerful Chen family, the current Minister of Revenue. What do you think he will choose?"
The dark cloud did not answer.
…
In the kiln factory.
Prince Jing stood with his hands behind his back, silently gazing at the downdraft kiln taking shape in front of him, as still as a mountain.
Feng Daban stood by his side, gently reminding him, "Your Highness, today is the day of the Autumn Examination. According to custom, the Luocheng government will host a banquet for the inner and outer curtain officials at Yingxian Tower at noon. You should leave for the banquet. On such an important day, the officials may feel uneasy if you are not present."
According to custom, a ceremony to celebrate the entrance of the imperial examination is held before the start of the autumn examination.
After the banquet, the examiners for the Autumn Examination were divided into inner curtain officials and outer curtain officials.
The inner curtain official is responsible for reviewing and marking the papers.
The outer curtain officer is responsible for supervising the examination room.
They don't see each other.
The banquet is usually hosted by the most prestigious person in the area.
Prince Jing said calmly, "We won't be going to the Shangma Banquet today. Things here are more important."
Feng Daban asked in confusion, "Your Highness, you listened to the Crown Prince's words early in the morning and immediately sent someone to the Craftsman's Office to summon the most capable military craftsman. Now you are absent from the banquet. It's just a kiln for firing porcelain, and I have never seen you care so much about porcelain before.
If you like the kiln, I will send someone to Jingdezhen to select one. Why bother firing it yourself?
Prince Jing pointed at the kiln under construction and asked with a smile: "Porcelain? Porcelain is not
There is no way I could rush here.”
Feng Daban was even more puzzled: "Is the prince looking for the thing that Doctor Chen mentioned that can replace the glutinous rice mortar?"
"Yes and no."
Prince Jing said slowly, "The imperial court's annual iron production is stretched thin. If we give too much to the border troops, even the price of iron pots will skyrocket. But if we give more to the border troops every other week, the border troops will suffer. Which general returning from the border towns doesn't complain about the shortage of military equipment?"
He continued, "Feng Daban, do you know what it would mean if the temperature of this downdraft kiln could be raised by another 20%?"
Feng Daban bowed his hands and lowered his eyes: "I am only a eunuch. I only know how to serve and protect the prince. I don't need to know anything else. Knowing too much will make my heart confused."
Prince Jing smiled and said, "Feng Daban, you are still so cautious."
Feng Daban also laughed: "Please enlighten me, Your Highness. Why are you so concerned about this kiln?"
Prince Jing slowly explained, "If this downdraft kiln can increase its temperature by 20%, it means that iron ore can be directly converted into molten iron. Then, our Ning Dynasty's border troops will no longer have to patch up broken weapons, and they can even aspire to the splendor of heavy cavalry."
Feng Daban looked surprised. "This is national policy. Compared to it, the Luocheng Autumn Examination is really nothing. But Your Highness has always been cautious in his actions. Why would he place such a heavy bet on a young man? What if he's just boasting?"
Prince Jing laughed and said, "Do you believe in fortune telling?"
"Hmm?" Feng Daban didn't understand.
Prince Jing did not explain any more.
Prince Jing changed the subject and began to tease, "Chen Ji may be clever, but he's still inexperienced. He only wanted to make something that would replace the glutinous rice mortar, but he never considered that the kiln modification technology is the real pearl."
Feng Daban was puzzled: "Your Majesty wants to buy this kiln renovation technology?"
Prince Jing laughed heartily. "Buy? Let's teach this young man a lesson first."
At the entrance of the kiln factory, Chen Ji was driving an ox cart back from outside, with a pile of blue bricks on the cart.
Liang Maoer and the prince were pushing the cart from behind.
A man came forward and said, "Doctor Chen, I have a question. Could you please answer it for me?"
Chen Ji called She Dengke to lead the cow, and then he dusted off his hands and said with a smile, "Okay, let's go to the kiln and talk. What do you want to ask?"
But Chen Ji was standing in front of the kiln, pointing everywhere and explaining to the man.
"Doctor Chen, why is the main flue buried directly under the kiln? Shouldn't a chimney be erected behind it?"
"The fire-absorbing hole must be buried directly below to allow the flame to flow backward inside the kiln."
"Doctor Chen, why does the size of the flame hole have to be 20% of the size of the grate?"
"Because if it's any bigger, it will burn the grate."
Chen Ji and a man stood side by side in front of the kiln.
Behind the two men, a man silently took out a small notebook from his pocket and wrote down Chen Ji's explanation with a charcoal pencil.
After Chen Ji finished answering, he pretended nothing had happened, put the notebook back into his arms, and continued to work.
Bai Li silently looked at Chen Ji's straight and thin back, and felt that he did not look like an apprentice in a medical clinic at this moment.
No matter how disheveled he looks, covered in dust and with disheveled hair, he just needs to brush off the dust and he will look like a gentle and calm teacher who teaches and answers questions.
This gentle boy and the killer whose knife broke that night seemed to be two separate people.
Like the natural alternation of day and night.
But she suddenly noticed the military craftsman's small action, and he raised his foot and walked towards Chen Ji to inform him.
End of this chapter.
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