Chapter 1424: Chapter 1402: Unable to Identify the Problem (November Monthly Bonus Update 9)
"It’s not that I dislike it, but after a year, I can almost grab those prescriptions with my eyes closed, and it’s not very interesting."
Manbao was thoughtful, "Is it that good? I wonder if your father would allow Liru to manage the medicine cabinet for a while too, it’d be best if he could memorize those commonly used prescriptions and medications."
Zheng Gu: ... That’s too much, aren’t we talking about my issue?
But before he could protest, Manbao already switched the topic back to him, "Then let me test you, using the cases I saw earlier this morning."
Since they were patients seen just that morning, even without the booklet by her side, Manbao could recount the pulse cases, and Zheng Gu quickly prescribed without much thought.
Although his prescriptions differed somewhat from Manbao’s, they weren’t wrong. Manbao tested him on several cases in succession and found no problems.
Thus, the teacher and apprentice looked at each other in surprise.
Seeing Manbao’s bewildered expression, Zheng Gu felt a bit disappointed but also gleefully thought that his father might have stumbled this time.
Zhou Man simply couldn’t find the issue with him.
If she couldn’t find the problem, how could she teach?
After a long silence, Manbao finally realized that Zheng Gu’s problem might be more serious.
Because she felt that Shopkeeper Zheng and Doctor Ding could hardly make a misjudgment, given their skills and experience.
As her mother would say, the experiences of the elders are there, and whether their words are right or wrong, you should think them over carefully. Even if wrong, there’s a reason behind it.
Finding the reason would reveal how to handle it.
Though Manbao believed herself smart, she did not think she was better than Shopkeeper Zheng and Doctor Ding at the moment, so she trusted their judgment more.
That only meant she wasn’t skilled enough to spot Zheng Gu’s issue.
With a solemn face, Manbao patted Zheng Gu on the shoulder and said, "I understand. Tomorrow you’ll sit at the hall with me, okay?"
Since Shopkeeper Zheng and others thought he couldn’t sit at the hall, then by doing so, they’d find out by prescribing themselves.
Zheng Gu happily agreed.
Seeing the time was almost up, Manbao got up and said, "Let’s go, let’s return to Jishi Hall, I also have to go to the Imperial Academy."
She wasn’t going alone; she was taking Zhou Lixue and Zhou Ligu along, as they hadn’t met Yin Huo and the others yet.
The four of them rented a carriage on the street, dropped off Zheng Gu when passing Jishi Hall, picked up Sanya, and then went to the Imperial Academy together.
Manbao asked her, "How’s your learning going?"
Zhou Liru replied, "At first it was smooth, but after knowing more, the herbs got mixed up."
Manbao understood, "That’s how it was for me when I first started learning too."
No, they weren’t the same. When Manbao learned to recognize herbs, she memorized the properties and uses of the herbs along the way, whereas she only recognized herbs.
And this afternoon, she wasn’t just recognizing herbs. Shopkeeper Zheng was making ointments and sorting herbs, which was most of his work.
Zhou Liru had replaced his usual assistant to help him.
Especially when making ointments.
It wasn’t because Shopkeeper Zheng favored her over others but because he trusted Zhou Liru more.
Why?
Because the recipe for the ointment was given by Manbao.
And while making the ointment, Shopkeeper Zheng told her what an appropriate amount of each ingredient was and what would happen if one was too much or too little, or if the wrong herb was used—for example, using kencur instead of Bai Zhi—the effect...
This was one of the most headache-inducing things for Zhou Liru because several herbs looked similar, and she’d misidentified them several times.
Only then did she know that not only was prescription-making dangerous, but also dispensing medicines, as one mistake could be life-threatening.
Zhou Liru asked, "Auntie, aren’t you afraid of prescribing wrong, or getting the medicine wrong?"
After just one day, she was scared enough.
Manbao scratched her head and hesitated, "I suppose I’m not afraid by now?"
When she first started prescribing, it was under Doctor Ji’s watchful supervision for nearly half a year before she began prescribing independently.
Since Doctor Ji allowed her to prescribe independently, it meant he recognized her ability.
The most common illnesses diagnosed at the pharmacy were the same ones she had prescribed countless times before, so of course, she wasn’t afraid.
She comforted Zhou Liru, "You don’t need to be afraid either; once you learn to prescribe, I’ll definitely guide you for a while and only let you prescribe when I feel confident in your ability."
Zhou Liru nodded.
Nearby, Zhou Lixue and Zhou Ligu were a bit envious of her, and whispered to her behind Manbao’s back, "Third Sister, are you about to become a doctor and earn money soon?"
Zhou Liru proudly replied, "Almost. Maybe give it another two or three years."
While they chatted, the gate to the Imperial Academy opened, and students poured out.
Bai Shan and Yin Huo came out together, wearing the Imperial Academy’s attire, with cloaks over their shoulders due to the cold outside.
He spotted Manbao immediately, and hurriedly pulled Yin Huo and others over, asking, "Have you been waiting long?"
Manbao laughed and shook her head, "We just got here."
She looked at Yin Huo and saw that although his complexion was not as rosy as some of the other students nearby, it was no longer pale and weak. She nodded, "Have you been taking the medicine I prescribed?"
"Yes." Yin Huo laughed, "I’ve also followed your advice and had medicinal food. Maybe it’s because I’ve been eating more meat lately, but I feel stronger."
Manbao warned, "Don’t eat too much meat, or you’ll have difficulty digesting it."
Yin Huo’s body was like a delicate porcelain that needed careful handling; too much was problematic, as was too little.
However, with many people present, Manbao refrained from offering to check his pulse; instead, she greeted Liu Huan and curiously glanced at Ji Hao, who had followed the group, then introduced Zhou Lixue, Zhou Ligu, and others to them.
After introductions, Yin Huo smiled, "I have already informed my family, today we will treat you to a meal to welcome you. I even asked Changshou to reserve a table at the Primus Pavilion, so let’s go now."
Bai Shan and the others naturally had no objections and noisily climbed into the carriage together.
Feng Zongping and the other two came out of the Imperial Academy, looking refreshed, and upon seeing them, they immediately recognized that they were headed out to eat. Feng Zongping grabbed Yun Xinjue with one hand and Yi Ziyang with the other, intending to join them for the meal.
Yin Huo glanced at Bai Shan and Manbao, and seeing no signs of objection from the two, extended the invitation.
Thus, by the time they arrived at the Primus Pavilion in grand style, the large private room was filled.
The attendants left the private room, leaving just the twelve of them there.
Knowing that the three Zhou nieces and nephews were Manbao’s, and that they had come to the capital to study and learn from her, Feng Zongping jokingly asked, "Is your family planning to stay in the capital permanently?"
Manbao replied, "Probably, it’s more convenient in the capital." And the income is better, too.
Yun Xinjue commented, "Songhe Academy is quite good; last year, three people passed all four exams."
Manbao’s spirit lifted, and she turned to Zhou Lixue and Zhou Ligu, "Did you hear that? The top three might pass all four exams."