Volume One, Chapter 18: Seeking Qiao Xuntan to Confess His Feelings

Page 1/3

Tang Tang nodded vigorously, her innocent face full of earnestness. Suddenly, as if recalling something, she shook her head and pointed to one of the bamboo trays filled with herbs. “Tang Tang can still smell how fragrant they are—so many different scents, all so delightful. Tang Tang likes them!”

Jiang Xian looked puzzled. Fragrant herbs? She always found that all herbs had the same strong medicinal smell!

A figure darted out of the house swiftly and approached them, a look of secret delight and disbelief on his face. He reached out to take the herb Tang Tang had just pointed to and asked, “You can smell the fragrance of this herb?”

Jiang Xian was nearly startled by Doctor Chen.

Tang Tang lifted her small head proudly and nodded. “Yes, this one smells like orchids. It’s very similar to the scent of Mother.”

“Hmm, that’s Magnolia!” Chen’s lips curved wider as he picked up another batch of dried herbs from a bamboo tray and handed them to Tang Tang. “And this one? What scent do you smell?”

Tang Tang leaned in and sniffed. “It’s cool and refreshing—it really wakes you up!”

“Indeed, the aroma of patchouli is quite cooling!”

Chen handed Tang Tang several more samples in succession, and although her descriptions were childlike, they were generally accurate.

Chen’s eyes lit up as if discovering a new world, turning to Jiang Xian excitedly. “A promising seed! She’s definitely a natural born healer. Jiang Xian, if you don’t let her study medicine, that would truly be a waste of talent!”

“You said the same about me before,” Jiang Xian replied, “but don’t ask me—ask Tang Tang. I’m not the one to decide for her. If she’s unwilling, no matter how much you insist, I won’t agree!”

Chen fixed his gaze on Tang Tang with a stern yet gentle smile, full of kindness. “Tang Tang, you will learn medicine from Uncle Chen. I will teach you everything I’ve learned in my life. Then, when your mother has a headache or a fever, you can treat her yourself, and help her recognize herbs. How about that?”

Tang Tang’s eyes sparkled brightly. She turned to Jiang Xian, not to ask permission, but to express her own wish.

“Mother, Tang Tang wants to learn about herbs from Uncle Chen.”

Jiang Xian couldn’t help but marvel. This destined treasure truly had quick comprehension—she understood everything perfectly and adapted quickly. “Yes, you decide what you want to do. I support any choice you make.”

“You’re so kind, Mother! Tang Tang really loves you!” Tang Tang didn’t forget to flatter her mother before agreeing to Chen. “Uncle Chen, Tang Tang is willing to learn medicine from you.”

Chen was overjoyed; the usual aloof, ethereal aura that surrounded him softened considerably.

He hadn't expected that, hidden away in this rural village, he would encounter two prodigies.

His gaze swept quickly over Jiang Xian, then back to Tang Tang.

One should never be too greedy; passing on a lifetime of knowledge to one prodigy was already a blessing.

“Good. From now on, I will be your master, and you will be my only direct disciple, Chen Yuji.”

Tang Tang’s eyes twinkled as she smiled innocently like a crescent moon and asked, “What’s a master? Is a master like Tang Tang’s daddy?”

“Ha! A master is your teacher, and you can think of him as half a father. In short, after your family, your master cares for you the most!” Chen said. Fearing that they might change their minds, he quickly went back inside to fetch tea from the hanging stove, poured a cup for himself and another into a white porcelain tea cup, then came out, found a stool, sat down, and looked at Tang Tang.

“Today, in this humble countryside cottage, you will kneel three times and present a cup of tea to me, Chen Yuji. That will formally mark your apprenticeship!” Chen beamed, then looked at Jiang Xian standing nearby. “You, as her mother, will witness this ceremony. Once it’s done, Tang Tang will be my only direct disciple for life.”

Page 2/3

It was the first time Jiang Xian learned that Doctor Chen’s full name was Chen Yuji. The name suited a doctor perfectly.

This man was quite particular about etiquette. Jiang Xian looked at Tang Tang and said, “Since you have agreed to learn medicine from Uncle Chen, you must do as he says. Remember, once a day your master is your father for life. After the apprenticeship ceremony, you must respect your master just as much as you respect your mother and grandparents. Do you understand?”

Tang Tang was only half-comprehending. She didn’t grasp most of it, but she knew that by following her master, she could help her mother.

Without hesitation, she knelt down on the ground, mimicking how Ma Dan kowtowed to her grandmother, then tiptoed quietly and kowtowed three times to Doctor Chen.

Chen quickly brought a cup of tea, coaxing her, “Little Tang Tang, stand up and serve tea to your master. Remember to say ‘Master, please have some tea’ and don’t spill it!”

“Okay!” Tang Tang lifted the white porcelain cup steadily, walked forward, and looked at Chen with warm, serious eyes. “Master, please have some tea.”

“Well done, my good disciple! Ha ha ha, I never thought I’d have a disciple in my life…” Chen drank the tea in one gulp, as if it were nectar.

Jiang Xian was speechless.

Why was Chen so excited about taking on a disciple, jumping around like a completely different person from his usual ethereal self?

But since Tang Tang was willing to learn, Jiang Xian was fully supportive.

In a time when even a common cold could be fatal, knowing some medical skills was truly invaluable. Chen’s medical skills were well-known in Taoyuan Village—not some quack’s tricks.

After the formal apprenticeship, Chen returned inside and brought out two books for Jiang Xian, instructing her to take them home and let Tang Tang study the pictures first. She was to bring Tang Tang to him every afternoon to learn herb identification and literacy.

After making these arrangements, Jiang Xian was surprised to see the dark and golden aura that had always hovered over Chen’s forehead vanish, replaced by a deep red glow.

She glanced at Tang Tang in astonishment. This destined treasure’s fortune was truly powerful enough to nourish others.

Jiang Xian pocketed the silver coins and carried Tang Tang home.

Suddenly, Tang Tang asked, “Mother, other children have both mothers and fathers. Is my father the master we just met?”

Children always spoke bluntly.

Jiang Xian smiled and shook her head. “No, a master is a master. A father is your mother’s husband. They are two different things and cannot be confused.”

“Oh!” Tang Tang nodded, half understanding, then curiously asked, “Then who is Mother’s husband?”

“Well… Mother doesn’t have a husband yet. When I do, I’ll tell you, okay?” Jiang Xian smiled warmly, thinking that children truly had no filter, and handling them was no easy task.

“Okay!” Tang Tang smiled at her mother but thought to herself how pitiful Mother was without a husband. She vowed to find a perfect husband for her someday, sure that Mother would praise her.

The little girl hugged Jiang Xian’s neck tightly as they strolled toward the village’s arched bridge.

Halfway there, they ran into the village head.

“Uncle Liren, where are you off to this time?” Jiang Xian greeted cheerfully. Tang Tang sweetly called out, “Grandpa Liren.”

The village head smiled. “I’m going door to door notifying the children about school. Yesterday, you asked Qiao Tongsheng to help, right? I mentioned to him in the evening that we hope he can come teach at our village school, so during busy spring farming, everyone won’t have to bring their kids to the fields. Also, I’m going to see Uncle Youcai. He’s a carpenter and might help with that underground river water pit.”

“That’s a good plan. Please go ahead and notify everyone. I’m heading home with Tang Tang now!” Jiang Xian said and started to leave.

Just then, the village head thought of something and asked, “Xian girl, does Tang Tang want to attend the village school?”

Jiang Xian raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Huh? Isn’t the village school held at the Chen family ancestral hall? I thought only boys from the clan were allowed to attend, girls weren’t?”

“Ha, now we barely have enough food and people. It doesn’t matter if it’s boys or girls, as long as the school runs!” The village head was a diligent official. Since the Chen ancestors settled here and established the village, the school had never stopped, but no one had ever really made a name for themselves. Chen Laixi didn’t want the school to close or fall into disrepair while he was in office.

“The village head has a progressive mindset. Then Tang Tang counts as one student. When classes start, just tell me how much tuition or offerings are needed, and I’ll speak for you.”

The village head was pleased and waved goodbye, hurrying off.

Jiang Xian hugged Tang Tang as they walked through Huanxi Village. Seeing few people at the village entrance, she gathered courage and went to the Qiao family, knocking on the door.

Xiao Wang and Zhao Shi were lining up cooking. When they saw Jiang Xian with the child, they instinctively called out toward the east wing, “Sanlang, someone’s here for you!”

“Thank you!” Jiang Xian politely replied but did not enter, standing at the doorway to wait.

Soon, Qiao Xun came out, slightly surprised to see Jiang Xian, but he walked straight out and pointed toward the arched bridge nearby. “Few villagers go there. Let’s talk over there.”

Jiang Xian, holding her child, had a reason to come here.

Remembering the lifesaving favor from yesterday, Qiao Xun treated her respectfully.

Jiang Xian thought, this clever man was growing more impressive by the day. If only she could marry him into the family as a son-in-law.

Tang Tang widened her black, grape-like eyes, staring curiously at Qiao Xun. She thought this man looked like the divine lord from storybooks.

Children, regardless of gender, instinctively liked those who were handsome and refined, and Tang Tang was no exception.

They walked down to the base of the arched bridge as dusk approached, with few people traveling between the villages.

Qiao Xun finally spoke in a low voice, “Miss Jiang, what brings you to me?”

Jiang Xian cleared her throat and asked somewhat awkwardly, “Qiao Tongsheng, I see you as quite unlucky, but I’m lucky. Do you think if we were together, our fortunes would balance out, and you wouldn’t be so unlucky?”

Qiao Xun frowned slightly, his sharp brows knitting together. “What do you mean?”

Jiang Xian scratched her head, unsure how to explain, and took out the message the county clerk had given her the day before.

Qiao Xun read it and immediately understood Jiang Xian’s meaning.