The Huang family is indeed quite something!
“However, let me make this clear first,” Han Yi cautioned, “you can’t force your aunt to sell the formula if she doesn’t want to.”
"Don't worry," Qi Yong sneered, "our family isn't that despicable."
He only needs to hint at what he wants, and plenty of people will send it to him, or even force him to.
Qi Yong felt that Han Yi's words were offensive and underestimated his abilities.
Han Yi did not refute, but he did not take it seriously. He had a feeling that this matter would be troublesome.
"Now that we've confirmed the formula belongs to the Huang family, let's make another trip today."
Ji Xuan's voice concealed a barely perceptible hint of anticipation.
The food at the Huang family's house is delicious and comforting, and the scenery is beautiful, making it suitable for... taking care of one's health.
"Then I'll go with you," Han Yi said, still worried about the two of them. "Things here have been mostly taken care of; there's nothing particularly difficult about them."
After giving Han Yi a meaningful look, Ji Xuan cupped his hands and said, "I'll trouble you, Brother Han."
In the town, at the pharmacy, early morning, the sky was overcast, as if it were about to rain.
"Master," Liu Yuzhu shouted as soon as she pushed open the door, "The weather is bad today, so no one should be coming."
The town is small and sparsely populated, so the pharmacy doesn't do much business. Only when the weather changes suddenly will there be more people getting medicine.
That's all there is to it, and most people choose to get through it with a bowl of ginger soup rather than spend money at a pharmacy.
"If no one's around, you can organize the medicinal herbs and read medical books. What's with the rush? You're a grown man, and you're still so impatient."
"What are you doing while he's sorting the medicinal herbs?" Doctor Gu sneered. "At your age, you're not even as good as a child. Where's your shame?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Zhiyuan felt very wronged.
He only said one sentence, and he was scolded by his master first thing in the morning. Is there no justice in this world?
The food and lodging were poor, and he was constantly being scolded. Even though he had already completed his apprenticeship, he was still treated like an apprentice who hadn't finished his studies. Liu Zhiyuan felt that he had completely lost face.
Since arriving here, I've suffered more grievances in a single day than I have in a year in the capital.
"Master, can you be reasonable? I'm only doing this for Yuzhu's own good."
How could a father harm his own son?
“If you can’t even set a good example yourself, how can you teach your children?” Doctor Gu pointed to the yard. “Sweep the yard clean, or you’ll end up getting Xiao Wu’s shoes dirty.”
"Okay, I'll scan!"
After saying that, he sullenly picked up the broom and started sweeping.
He had come to realize that he was the lowest-ranking person here, not even as good as the horse in the backyard.
Seeing this, Doctor Gu nodded in satisfaction. "Yuzhu, pack your things, we're going out for a bit."
"Going out again?" Liu Zhiyuan paused in his sweeping. "Master, where are you going?"
"Huangjiakou," Doctor Gu stroked his beard and said leisurely, "The weather is bad, it might rain at any time. Your junior sister is weak and can't get wet. Let's go to Huangjiakou."
I'll just freeload a meal while I'm at it.
It's been a long time since I've had a proper meal.
In order to train his eldest apprentice, Doctor Gu specifically asked the Huang family to stop bringing him meals and have been making do with whatever they could find these past few days.
He felt that he truly possessed the demeanor of a master teacher, willing to make such a sacrifice in order to correct his apprentice's shortcomings.
What about me?
“Stay home and watch the house,” Doctor Gu said without hesitation. “When there are patients, you see them and prescribe medicine; when there are no patients, you drink tea and read medical books.”
"What about food? What will my disciple eat?"
Liu Zhiyuan discovered that since arriving here, his requirements for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation had been reduced to an outrageous level.
It doesn't matter if the clothes aren't silk; you can go two days without washing them, as long as they don't smell bad.
It doesn't matter if the food is nutritious or not, and it's okay if it's a little salty, as long as it's not undercooked and makes you feel nauseous.
As for where to stay, that's even simpler, just don't sleep on the floor.
"The kitchen has rice, flour, meat, and eggs. You can make whatever you want to eat."
Upon hearing this familiar phrase, Liu Zhiyuan immediately lowered his head, fearing that he might impulsively commit the heinous act of murdering his master.
After a long silence, he composed himself and spoke softly, "My disciple is not good at these things, and I'm afraid he'll burn down the kitchen."
To this day, he would never dare to say the saying "A wise man keeps away from the kitchen" again; it is a lesson learned the hard way.
“That’s true,” Doctor Gu nodded in agreement. “That is indeed possible.”
If we hadn't discovered it early yesterday, the kitchen would definitely be gone.
“Dad, there are still two steamed buns in the cupboard,” Yuzhu reminded him. “You don’t need to light the fire.”
Liu Zhiyuan gave his son a cold look. "I'm talking to your master, what are you interrupting for!"
If it weren't his own son, he would have thrown him away; he has absolutely no sense of propriety.
"Yuzhu kindly reminded you, but you don't appreciate it. There's no need to throw a tantrum," Doctor Gu said unhappily, his voice becoming a few shaver degrees. "You're spoiled by not wanting to eat and going hungry."
They've been eating this for years without any problems, but the eldest apprentice couldn't stand it after just a few days. It's clear he's been living in luxury for too long and developed a host of bad habits.
"No," Liu Zhiyuan forced a smile, "Master, you see, I've been here for a few days now, shouldn't I go and visit my junior sister's family?"
He didn't actually want to go, but he didn't want to stay alone in the pharmacy even more.
Because of this junior sister, he didn't know how to address the Huang family.
But the last incident left too deep an impression on him, and he was afraid that the grandfather and grandson in front of him would forget about him again, so he could only pitifully fill his stomach with dried yams.
I deeply regret not bringing a servant with me when I came, which has left me in such a sorry state.
“Father’s words reminded me,” Liu Yuzhu asked cheerfully, “haven’t you given your junior aunt a gift yet?”
After discovering that her master had always protected her, Liu Yuzhu became increasingly bold and no longer afraid of her father.
Seeing his father, who constantly lectured him, so frustrated, he had to admit he felt incredibly relieved.
I used to think that my father was a huge mountain weighing me down, but now I see that he's nothing special. As long as I cling to my master's coattails, my father is nothing but a paper tiger.
Indeed, it's better to follow my master. Life is a bit hard, but it's comfortable.
"Yes, you haven't given me a gift yet," Doctor Gu said angrily, looking at his eldest disciple. "You haven't given me a gift in so long. Do you have a problem with the disciple I've taken on as my last disciple?"
“Master, how could I dare?” Liu Zhiyuan smiled wryly. “The gift for our meeting has been prepared long ago. I’m just waiting for the right opportunity.”
He originally planned to accept the tea offered by his junior sister in a dignified and imposing manner, dressed in a brocade robe, and then place the prepared gift in the little girl's palm, displaying the majesty of an elder brother.
The reality is that Liu Zhiyuan, who is used to being waited on, can't even comb his hair properly, and his clothes are loose and baggy, showing no semblance of decorum in the capital.
What's even more heartbreaking is that the junior sister he met for the first time mistook him for a beggar and took out the red bean cake hidden in her purse out of pity.
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