Ning Yuchan did not know what kind of official a Prefect was. From the woman’s words, it seemed to be higher than a county magistrate.
Even obtaining a letter from the county magistrate was difficult. Could a foul-mouthed woman really obtain a personal letter from the Prefect?
No matter how gentle a person was, being repeatedly belittled, mocked, and ridiculed would still provoke anger.
She cast a calm glance at the woman and her dead fish-eyed son.
Then, in a slow and gentle voice, she said to Doctor Cui, “Taohua and I sincerely wish to study under Doctor Cui. We ask that Doctor Cui give us a chance. We will certainly do our utmost and never disgrace Master’s reputation.”
As she spoke, she pulled Taohua to kneel down. “We ask Master to grant us this.”
Doctor Cui lived alone, detached from worldly affairs. Ning Yuchan carried a similar temperament.
Doctor Cui could not help but look at her a few more times.
Tian Fengying was perceptive. When the dead fish-eyed boy tried to kneel earlier, Doctor Cui had stopped him.
Now, her daughter-in-law and daughter knelt, yet Doctor Cui said nothing.
It seemed there was a chance.
“Yuchan, Taohua, Doctor Cui has agreed. Hurry and kowtow and call him Master.”
Taijian’s mother was unwilling to accept this. Thinking that Doctor Cui had yielded to Tian Fengying’s loud voice, she also raised her voice and shouted.
“Doctor Cui, we are all here to take a master. I even have a letter from the Prefect. You cannot agree to them and not to us. Taijian, hurry and kneel and kowtow. Your master has agreed.”
Just as Taijian was about to kneel, Doctor Cui blocked him again with his foot.
“Open the letter first.”
As for this so-called letter from the Prefect, Doctor Cui gave it a brief glance. The signature at the end was a name he did not recognize.
“Is this the Prefect’s name?”
Seeing she could not hide it any longer, Taijian’s mother said confidently, “What difference is there between the Prefect and the Prefect’s gatekeeper? Even a servant of a prime minister is ranked as a seventh-grade official. A servant of the Prefect must be at least eighth grade. Doctor Cui, hurry and accept my Taijian.”
Standing at the doorway, Cui Shitou’s eyelids twitched several times.
Earlier, he had suspected that Tian Fengying had some extraordinary connection with his master. Seeing that Ning Yuchan was pretty, he had even entertained some thoughts.
Now, not only had he learned that she was not his master’s daughter, but she was also already married.
His expression immediately turned sour.
Seeing that his master was displeased, he squeezed forward to drive them out.
“All of you, get out. Get out. Don’t disturb my master’s rest. My master does not take disciples. If you don’t leave, I’ll call someone.”
Doctor Cui possessed exceptional medical skills. Countless people came to him to seek an apprenticeship.
Some came out of admiration, others through introductions by relatives and friends. But Doctor Cui had only accepted two disciples, and that was ten years ago.
In these ten years, he had not taken any more disciples. Cui Shitou had been in the medical hall for five years, and every New Year, he begged Doctor Cui to accept him, but his master always refused.
Yet today, who knew where these odd people had come from, actually daring to dream of becoming his master’s disciples.
It was simply laughable.
As Cui Shitou urged them, Tian Fengying was about to explode again. However, because of Doctor Cui’s almost immortal-like presence, she restrained herself from shouting.
She only shot Cui Shitou a cold glance. “Can you speak on behalf of Doctor Cui?”
Taijian also said, “Doctor Cui hasn’t told us to leave. What are you?”
Cui Shitou indeed could not speak for Doctor Cui.
He glanced at the brat called Taijian, then his gaze fell on Ning Yuchan. “Since you are already married, why do you still want to come out to take a master? Where is your husband?”
Tian Fengying wanted to make up an excuse, but she had not prepared one. Noticing Doctor Cui’s eyes, which were not easily deceived, she swallowed her words.
Ning Yuchan answered honestly, “My husband has gone out to join the army. Our family’s livelihood is difficult. My father-in-law has poor mobility, and my mother-in-law is just a woman. Taohua and I want to come out to ease the burden on the family.”
“Master, they are just out here to swindle food and drink…” Cui Shitou was angry and wished to drive them out immediately.
Doctor Cui waved his hand, signaling him to be silent.
He then turned to Tian Fengying. “You say the two of them are very clever?”
Tian Fengying nodded repeatedly. “Even a xiucai has praised them. They must be clever.”
Under his mother’s prompting, Taijian quickly added, “I’m also very clever.”
Doctor Cui fell silent for a moment, then pointed at Ning Yuchan and Taohua. “You two girls, come with me.”
Taijian was pushed by his mother and hurriedly followed.
Doctor Cui brought them to the main medicine room.
Tian Fengying wanted to follow, but Cui Shitou, clearly displeased, stopped her. “Master didn’t call you.”
Tian Fengying could only watch eagerly as the two of them walked away.
However, she still secretly followed when Cui Shitou was not paying attention.
After hesitating briefly, Taijian’s mother also followed.
“You two… or three… have you ever handled medicinal herbs before?” Doctor Cui asked.
Ning Yuchan shook her head. “I’ve only decocted medicine for my family. I prepare it according to how the doctor instructs.”
Taohua also shook her head. She had not even decocted medicine before. “I’ve helped Sister-in-law watch the medicine stove.”
Taijian followed up, “I’ve also helped watch a medicine stove.”
Taohua turned back and scolded him, “Shameless, always copying what others say.”
Doctor Cui’s senior disciple was currently preparing medicine for patients. When he saw Doctor Cui arrive, he respectfully greeted him, then continued his work.
With an expressionless face, Doctor Cui randomly took out medicinal ingredients from an entire wall of medicine drawers, selecting at least thirty or forty drawers’ worth, and placed them all onto a large sheet of oiled paper.
He signaled for Ning Yuchan and Taohua to come closer.
“I will only say it once. Whoever can remember more than thirty types of medicinal herbs, I will accept as my disciple. If none of you can remember any, then I will not accept any of you.”
Taohua felt a little nervous. She licked her dry lips. “If both of us remember them?”
Doctor Cui glanced over the two of them. He did not believe that two girls who had never come into contact with medicinal herbs could remember thirty kinds after hearing them only once.
This was merely an excuse for him to drive them away.
“Then both of you will stay.”
Taohua wiped the sweat forming on the tip of her nose. “Master, please go ahead.”
Taijian squeezed in front of Taohua. Looking at the dozens of medicinal herbs on the table, his expression turned extremely unpleasant.
“How can anyone remember this? I even brought a letter from the Prefect. Is Doctor Cui deliberately making things difficult for us?”
Taijian’s mother also squeezed forward.
“Exactly. We came because of Doctor Cui’s reputation. How can you deliberately make things difficult for people?”
At this critical moment, Tian Fengying and Taijian’s mother found themselves on the same side.
Tian Fengying hurriedly pushed her way to the front. Unable to hold back her anger, she no longer cared whether Doctor Cui seemed like an otherworldly immortal.
She raised her loud voice directly. “Doctor Cui, what do you mean by this? So many medicinal herbs, and you only say them once. They’ve never come into contact with these before. How could they possibly remember them?”
Doctor Cui remained calm and unruffled. “Anyone who wishes to become my disciple must pass a test. Those who fail will not be accepted. If the two elder sisters find it difficult, you may take them away.”
Tian Fengying hesitated.
Taijian’s mother also hesitated, but she had seen more of the world and was quicker-witted.
“Doctor Cui, today, three children are taking the test. No matter what, you must accept one. Let’s do it this way: whoever answers the most correctly, you accept that one.”
She did not believe that two little girls could outperform her son.
At this moment, curious onlookers gathered to watch the excitement.
They could not help but speak up for the three children.
“Doctor Cui is indeed making things difficult for the children. Not to mention those who haven’t been exposed to this before—even those who have might not be able to remember it all at once.”
Even the senior disciple felt some sympathy for the two girls, but he understood his master’s temperament and did not dare to say anything.
At this point, many people had gathered around the counter, all waiting to see how Doctor Cui would handle it.
Doctor Cui had only one sentence.
“This is my condition. If you pass, I accept you. If you fail, please leave.”
Tian Fengying and Taijian’s mother wanted to argue further, but Doctor Cui gave them no chance.
“Watch carefully. I will only say it once. This is Danggui, this is deer antler, Shaoyao, Duzhong, Baishao…”
Doctor Cui spoke at an even, unhurried pace as he pointed out all thirty-seven medicinal herbs one by one to the three of them.
After finishing, he asked, “Who will go first?”
Out of the thirty-seven medicinal herbs, Taijian only remembered four or five, and that was because he had eaten them before.
Earlier, he had pushed in front of Ning Yuchan and Taohua, but now he slipped behind them like an eel.
“I still need to recall them. You two go first.”
Taijian’s mother said angrily, “Who could possibly remember that? If you don’t want to accept us, then don’t.”
Cui Shitou said impatiently, “Then why aren’t you leaving?”
Upon hearing that Doctor Cui had set a test to accept disciples, the medical hall was now packed with people.
Tian Fengying felt sorry for the two girls. Worried they would not be able to answer and would lose face, she grabbed one with each hand. “Let’s go. If he doesn’t want to accept you, then so be it. It’s not like we can’t survive without him. There’s no need to beg him.”
Doctor Cui had nearly been selected as an imperial physician. His abilities were not small.
Ning Yuchan had finally obtained this opportunity and did not want to give it up just like that.
She pressed her lips together and discussed with Tian Fengying, “Mother, I want to try.”
Taohua also followed, “Mother, I want to try too.”
Tian Fengying released the two girls, put one hand on her waist, and glared at Doctor Cui, as if ready to fight him if he dared to hurt the girls’ dignity.
Doctor Cui did not wish to argue with a woman and simply said to Ning Yuchan, “Begin.”
Ning Yuchan closed her eyes and briefly recalled, like fleeting images, the order in which Doctor Cui had just taken out the herbs.
Then she opened her eyes, clear and focused, and looked at Doctor Cui. “Master, I’m ready.”
Doctor Cui nodded.
Ning Yuchan pointed to a medicinal herb, glanced at the corresponding drawer behind it, and reported its name.
“Danggui, deer antler, Shaoyao, Duzhong…”
All thirty-seven types, without a single mistake, exactly the same as what Doctor Cui had said.
Doctor Cui’s calm and expressionless face gradually showed a smile.
“Not bad. All correct.”
Thunderous applause suddenly erupted in the medical hall.
“This girl is amazing. Thirty-seven types of medicinal herbs, and she recited every single one correctly.”
“Yes, it’s the first time I’ve seen such a clever girl.”
“Incredible, incredible. She looks like a village girl, but truly, a hero’s origin does not matter. Village people can be just as intelligent.”
…
The praise continued without end. Tian Fengying felt as if she herself were being praised and proudly straightened her back.
“Just look whose daughter-in-law she is.”
Doctor Cui looked at Taohua and Taijian. “Which of you will go first?”
Taijian stepped back again. “Ladies first.”
Taohua glared fiercely at him.
She fixed her gaze on the herbs on the table. Following the order in which Ning Yuchan had recited them, she pointed to each one and called out its name. All thirty-seven types were also completely correct.
The smile on Doctor Cui’s face deepened further.
“Not bad. Very accurate.”
Applause once again filled the medical hall.
“Whose child is this? She looks about eleven or twelve, yet she remembered everything.”
“Her clothes are ordinary, but she’s very smart.”
“If only I had a daughter this clever.”
…
Tian Fengying felt as if even her slightly hunched back could straighten today.
It was a pity that the eldest branch was not here to witness such a moment.
If Eldest Aunt Huo knew, who knew how angry she would be.
Now only Taijian remained, the only one who had not answered yet.
Taijian’s mother thought that since both girls could answer, and one of them was even younger than her son, then her son would definitely be able to answer as well.
She pushed her son forward.
“Taijian, you go.”
Including Doctor Cui’s initial recitation, this was done three times in total.
Taijian did not avoid it. Logically, he had the greatest advantage.
But even forcing himself, he could only name seven or eight herbs.
He could remember the first few, but for the later ones, even if he remembered the names, he could not match them to the correct herbs.
Mocking voices immediately rose from the surrounding crowd.
“This boy isn’t very capable. He looks quite clever, yet he only answered a few.”
“Indeed, he’s not good. He went last and had the advantage over the first two.”
“Tsk tsk, just look at his mother. She doesn’t seem smart either. The child takes after her.”
“What a pity, what a pity.”
…
Taijian was ridiculed by the crowd, and his mother could not bear it. She angrily pulled him away.
“What kind of useless doctor puts on such airs? Let’s go. We’ll find an even better master.”