"Old Zhang, I'm halfway to recovery now that you're here. With you around, I'm sure I'll live a long, long life." Su Lie smiled ingratiatingly, not forgetting to flatter his mischievous friend.
"snort……"
After a while, Zhang Qiubai wrote down the prescription on the prepared paper and ink, handed it to his personal apprentice to get the medicine, and instructed him to brew the medicine and bring it over. Only then did he start talking to his friend.
"Old Su, this village is nice. I only glanced at it on the way here and thought it was a good place. I'm here and I don't plan to leave. I hope you don't mind me bothering you."
Su Lie patted his friend twice happily, "Don't mention it, my home is your home, feel free to stay, we can even grow old together, that would be perfect."
"Cough cough cough..."
Zhang Qiubai quickly picked up the water that Shen Qi handed him and fed Su Lie a couple of mouthfuls.
"At your age, look at you, still so loud and boisterous. Calm down, don't you know?"
"I'm so happy you're here. It's a good opportunity for you to meet my granddaughter-in-law. There's no girl more clever than her."
Su Lie's smug expression was so obvious that Zhang Qiubai was almost dying of curiosity.
"What kind of girl do you praise so highly? How can a guy with such an icy face like Chen win a girl's heart?"
Shen Qi's face stiffened, her expression turning icy. Who was she talking about?
Su Lie laughed heartily, feeling both smug and excited. Zhang Qiubai's family was full of children and grandchildren, something he had always envied.
Now he was truly fulfilled, with his children and grandchildren around him, and even Old Zhang's family couldn't find such an outstanding girl.
Zhang Qiubai glanced at his friend speechlessly and rolled his eyes at him.
After packing his medicine kit, Zhang Qiubai followed Shen Qi to the prepared room to rest.
Xiao Li knew that Grandpa Su was ill, so she took the cooked yam and millet porridge and vegetarian buns to the next room.
These are not ordinary steamed buns and porridge. These are porridges cooked with spiritual spring water by Xiao Li, fillings made with fresh and tender wild vegetables grown with spiritual power, and bun wrappers made with wheat from her spatial storage.
Not only is it delicious, but it also has a lot of spiritual energy, which is perfect for the old man's health.
Su Lie was happy to see Xiao Li arrive. He didn't think the food was simple and simply said he was hungry and started eating.
Once he tasted it, he realized how good it was. As the porridge went down into his stomach, he felt comfortable and full of energy.
Zhang Qiubai came in just in time to see it and couldn't help but marvel. He carefully examined Xiao Li; her hair was as black as ink, her figure graceful, her skin like solidified cream, and her smooth, radiant oval face featured willow-leaf eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, a delicate nose, and cherry lips.
She has such a beautiful face, especially her eyes, which are bright and clear, almost able to see into one's heart.
This young man Shen is truly blessed, and old man Su is also lucky; in this remote and impoverished place, he actually managed to find a golden phoenix.
"Xiaoli, this is your maternal grandfather's good friend, you can call him Grandpa Zhang," Shen Qi introduced to Xiaoli.
Xiao Li quickly bowed to Zhang Qiubai, "Hello, Grandpa Zhang!"
Zhang Qiubai touched his sleeve, took out a purse, and handed it to Xiaoli.
"It's just a little thing, you can play with it."
Xiao Li looked at Shen Qi, and seeing that he nodded, she accepted the gift. She could always make something for this person when she was showing respect to Old Master Su in the future.
Shen Qi then quietly introduced Zhang Qiubai's identity.
"Old Zhang, you can't be stingy. I won't stand for it if you don't bring out a few bottles of your Little Rejuvenating Pills. Let my granddaughter-in-law have a taste," Old Master Su teased.
Zhang Qiubai immediately jumped up and down, "How many bottles? Not a single one! Do you know how many precious herbs are needed for a single pill? You just spout off, asking for 'how many bottles'..."
Seeing Grandpa Su's wide eyes, Zhang Qiubai also felt a little breathless. Oh well, he'd still give him one.
He then reached into his robes, pulled out a small jade bottle, and placed it in Xiaoli's hand.
"Alright, alright, I'll give it to you!"
Xiao Li looked at the small jade bottle in her hand in surprise. Was this the legendary Lesser Rejuvenation Pill?
"No, but as long as they're not completely dead, they can be saved," Grandpa Su kindly explained. It turned out that Xiao Li had unconsciously asked the question aloud.
"That's amazing! This medicine can save lives!" Xiao Li exclaimed with admiration. This doctor is a miracle worker!
Seeing the little girl's expression, Zhang Qiubai wasn't so heartbroken anymore. Oh well, although medicinal herbs are hard to find, they're not impossible to find. This girl is likable, so giving her away isn't unacceptable.
Seeing his friend smiling, Su Lie said to Shen Qi, "Take the medicinal herbs you got last time and give them to your Grandpa Zhang. The herbs used in this Lesser Rejuvenation Pill are hard to find. Lest he suffer a great loss."
Zhang Qiubai had just smiled when his friend, who was being sarcastic, poked him in the heart, and they started arguing again.
Xiao Li watched the two old men bickering and covered her mouth to chuckle. She planned to bring some precious medicinal herbs for this legendary doctor later, so that he wouldn't suffer any loss or feel bad.
Looking at this Grandpa Zhang, Xiao Li couldn't help but think that learning medical skills would be very useful.
Traditional Chinese medicine is profound and extensive, but much of it has been lost in later generations, and good TCM doctors are even harder to find, simply because learning TCM requires too much time, and Xiaoli has no shortage of time.
She needs to think carefully about how to please that Imperial Physician Zhang.
From that day on, Xiaoli put in her best effort, sending delicious food, drinks, and precious medicinal herbs to the neighbor's house like a flowing stream. Even Grandpa Su noticed this and secretly spoke up for her.
"You're lucky, my granddaughter-in-law will give you half." Su Lie was overjoyed inside, but still looked resentful on the surface.
After testing Xiao Li, Zhang Qiubai was overjoyed to accept her as his student. Her photographic memory and ability to apply what she learned to other situations delighted him, and he wished he had met her years earlier. He then devoted himself to teaching her.
Xiao Li spent her evenings reading medical books and reviewing medical records, and her days digging and processing medicinal herbs—a busy yet fulfilling life.
Two years have passed in the blink of an eye. Xiao Li has made rapid progress. Her strong mental power, coupled with her water and wood elemental spiritual roots, has made it much easier for her to learn about herbs and pharmacology. She has also studied acupuncture and moxibustion very diligently.
"Xiaoli, I have nothing more to teach you. You must accumulate experience on your own. You should have a sense of awe and remember the benevolence of a doctor."
Zhang Qiubai is going back to the capital. He has been here for two years, and now it's time for him to go back.
"I will follow your teachings, Master. Master, please take care of yourself when you return to the capital. I will visit you when I have time."
Xiao Li loaded the medicinal herbs and mountain goods she had prepared onto the carriage, then helped her master onto the carriage, bidding him farewell with tears in her eyes.
After two years of getting to know each other, Xiao Li truly regarded Mr. Zhang as her own family. "A teacher for a day is a father for life" is not just a saying.
Shen Qi held Xiao Li's hand, offering her silent comfort. Xiao Li had made great progress in the past two years, not only studying medicine but also accompanying Elder Zhang on his medical practice. She was already able to see patients on her own, and he couldn't let her fall behind.
Shen Qi also quietly developed his own business empire, which included not only inns and restaurants, but also docks, carriage shops, and brothels.
In the shadows, there was an information industry chain that covered the entire Dali Dynasty.
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