Chapter 48: An Outstanding Young Man with a Grateful Heart

“Oh, oh, thank you, Doctor Wang! Thank you so much!” Old Wen realized that his behavior just now had been rather abrupt, and at this moment he was full of apologies.

A chime sounded instantly in Wang Keyue’s mind. “Ding-dong! Received a heart of gratitude from Wen Jinshan, received a heart of gratitude from Wen Dali.” System 9538’s voice echoed in her head, sounding especially pleasant to Wang Keyue.

A great start—an auspicious sign! And a double blessing at that! Wang Keyue couldn’t help but glance back at the old man and the tall young man behind him. She was certain this tall fellow must be an outstanding young man with a grateful heart.

Old Wen noticed Doctor Wang looking at his nephew and immediately stepped forward to explain, “Doctor Wang, this is my nephew, my own nephew. He just came to bring me a pot and check on Little Tiger. He’ll be leaving right away, won’t trouble you at all!”

“Hey, Brother Wen, don’t be in such a hurry. This young man strikes me as particularly steady. Look, my apprentice isn’t here, and I don’t have anyone to lend me a hand. Why don’t you let your nephew help me out for a bit?”

Wang Keyue simply couldn’t manage everything alone; she needed someone reliable, diligent, and obedient. The tall youth before her seemed to fit the bill perfectly.

“Oh, that’s only right! Dali, quick! Come and greet Doctor Wang!” Old Wen was overjoyed and hurriedly pulled the tall youth forward.

In this era, skilled households would never take on apprentices so casually, let alone let someone help as freely as Wang Keyue did.

Now, with the respected title of doctor, anyone assisting her—even just lending a hand—would earn the respect of others, who would address them as a little doctor. Especially in these years of famine, the chance was even more precious. No wonder Old Wen was so thrilled.

Wen Dali dropped to his knees before Wang Keyue with a thud, kowtowing three times at her feet.

The tall youth, nearly six feet tall, raised his head, eyes red and brimming with tears. “Your apprentice, Wen Dali, pays his respects to Master!”

“Ding-dong! Received two hearts of gratitude from Wen Dali!” Oh! So gratitude can be earned this way too!

Wang Keyue was momentarily stunned. It had been clear—they were just looking for someone to help, yet suddenly it had turned into a formal ceremony of apprenticeship.

“Uh, well… get up,” Wang Keyue hesitated for a second, then quickly regained her composure. “Wen Dali, you’re a bit too old to be an apprentice in the strict sense. From now on, you just need to learn to recognize herbs, help dig them up, and handle some heavy work like grinding. I can promise you two full meals a day—will you accept?”

In these famine-stricken days, being able to eat even a thin gruel every other day and avoid starving was already considered fortunate. But here she was, promising two full meals a day. His eyes instantly lit up with hope. “I will! I will!”

Wen Dali nodded vigorously, his gaze fixed on Wang Keyue with an expression of such pure admiration that goosebumps rose all over her back.

“Ding-dong! Received another heart of gratitude from Wen Dali!” The system’s real-time notification helped her suppress the shiver crawling over her skin.

“Dali! Set up the pot and start boiling the medicine!” Wang Keyue wasted no more time, urging him by the campfire.

She wasn’t very skilled at building fires outdoors, so she handed Dali a leather pouch already filled with medicinal water.

Dali took the pouch with a moment’s surprise. He licked his parched lips, poured all the water into the pot, skillfully set some stones to make a simple stove, then placed the pot over the flames.

While waiting, Wang Keyue explained the herbs in her hand as she worked.

“Let’s work hard tonight and brew a bigger batch of medicine. Tomorrow, we can give it to the other sick people,” she murmured to herself.

Dali, tending the fire, hesitated, and finally stammered, “Master, I’m afraid… there isn’t enough water!”

Wang Keyue immediately understood. After months of drought, not only was there a severe shortage of food in the Great Qin, but water was even scarcer. Many rivers had dried up; the only water to be found was from deep wells or mountain springs.

“How have you been surviving these days?” Wang Keyue asked.

“We fled here with the villagers just a few days ago. There used to be a lot of refugees here, but a couple of days back, some soldiers took away the seriously ill to the Hall of Benevolence, saying they were afraid the sickness would spread. Here, the officials give us one bowl of thin gruel a day.” As he spoke, Dali rubbed his loudly growling stomach. For someone his size, one thin meal a day was nowhere near enough.

Wang Keyue understood. She took a cake from her sleeve and handed it to Dali.

Dali panicked, “Master, this is grain—”

Before he could finish, Wang Keyue stuffed the cake into his mouth. If he shouted any louder, every refugee would know about it!

With the delicious cake in his mouth, Dali couldn’t stop the drool from running down his chin. “Mmm, Master! I… I will repay you!”

“Enough! Just eat up!” Wang Keyue was exasperated. “Repay me? Honestly, you’d better behave!”

As he tended the fire, Dali nibbled on the cake bit by bit, cherishing it. He left most of it untouched, carefully tucking it away in his clothes. Wang Keyue noticed, but said nothing, focusing instead on brewing the medicine.