Yang Shang had discovered that boy while making his rounds in another region. The boy not only had a solid theoretical foundation, but he had also cured several cases of chronic arthralgia in the countryside.
Wen Junyi had personally written a reply at the ti, promising to formally take him as a disciple as long as he passed the preliminary test.
Now, this girl had shown up. Although her performance was impressive, he couldn’t quite wrap his head around it.
A promise ca first, and rules were rules. He couldn’t easily go back on his word.
"Who said I had to accept you just because you solved that problem?"
He waved his hand dismissively. "Go ho. Don’t waste your ti here."
"You old man, why are you so stubborn!"
Yuan Juan was a little displeased, and her voice rose.
In her eyes, Song Qingya was intelligent and sharp, and she was sincere in her desire to learn. For Wen Junyi to reject her like this was simply unreasonable.
She was indignant on Song Qingya’s behalf, feeling it was a terrible sha to miss this opportunity.
But there wasn’t a hint of disappointnt on Song Qingya’s face.
Her expression was as calm as ever, and there was even a faint smile on her lips.
"Alright, then Sister Xinglu, Sister-in-law Yingzi, and I will be leaving. We won’t disturb you and Teacher Wen any longer."
After she spoke, she turned and walked toward the door without the slightest hesitation.
"Qingya, why don’t you try again?"
All the way out the door and into the car, Wen Xinglu and Yang Yingzi were still trying to persuade her.
Wen Xinglu held her hand and lowered her voice. "You were so impressive just now; there’s no way Elder Wen didn’t see it. Why don’t we wait a bit? Maybe he’ll change his mind."
Yang Yingzi agreed, saying they could ask soone to pull so strings.
After struggling through so many hurdles only to fail at the very end, they both felt incredibly frustrated.
From the county seat to the provincial capital, from the preliminary test to the second round, every step of Song Qingya’s journey had been difficult.
They had personally watched her stay up all night morizing dical texts, practice her acupuncture techniques over and over, and even seek out three old traditional Chinese dicine doctors just to understand a single ridian pathway.
Now, she was just one step away, only to be turned back with a single sentence. Anyone in her position would find it hard to accept.
But Song Qingya herself wasn’t anxious at all.
She sat in the car, resting with her eyes closed.
The others didn’t dare say more, afraid of upsetting her.
The sun was just setting when they returned to Liuchang Town.
Song Qingya said goodbye to Wen Xinglu and Yang Yingzi, then turned and walked toward her own small courtyard.
Fei Jin had just returned from the station. The mont he walked in, he saw Yang Yingzi winking and making faces at him, secretly pointing toward Song Qingya’s room.
He understood imdiately.
’Looks like my wife’s attempt to beco a disciple was a bust.’
He tiptoed to the kitchen and saw Song Qingya with her head down, chopping vegetables.
"Qingya, it’s okay," he said softly, standing behind her. "I’ll go with you next week to find another master. I know an old professor at the Provincial Chinese dicine Hospital who specializes in gynecology and acupuncture. If you’re willing, I can contact him for you."
Song Qingya shook her head. "No need. We just have to wait."
She put the chopped vegetables into the wok, her tone calm.
"Wait?"
Fei Jin was a little confused, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Mhm."
She humd in acknowledgnt, added a ladle of water to the wok, put the lid on, and turned to look at him. "Elder Wen didn’t accept today because he’d already made a promise to soone else. This shows he’s a man of his word and values rules. A person like that won’t keep overlooking soone who is truly suitable. I’m not in a hurry. When he thinks it through, he’ll naturally co find ."
Fei Jin was completely bewildered. Before he could say anything, Song Qingya had already snuggled up and given him a kiss on the cheek.
Her hands naturally found his waist as she wheedled in a lighthearted tone, "I’m not bothered by it, so don’t you worry yourself sick over it. I spent the whole day grinding it out at the old man’s place. I’m dead tired."
Fei Jin didn’t press the matter. He just gently put his arm around her shoulder and helped her slowly into the house.
He went into the kitchen, poured her a glass of warm water, and said in a low voice, "Here, have so water and rest for a bit. I’ll take care of dinner."
「Three days passed.」
The days went by, and life at ho continued as usual.
Fei Jin went to work as usual, and Song Qingya kept to her regular schedule, occasionally sunbathing in the courtyard.
She didn’t ntion studying dicine again.
But Fei Jin knew she was still thinking about it constantly.
He had seen her several tis flipping through old dical books, taking ticulous notes page by page.
Fei Jin was contemplating whether he should ask soone to find a reliable master for Song Qingya to fulfill her wish of studying dicine.
A few people he knew had dical knowledge, but their skill levels varied greatly.
He was worried that finding a random teacher would not only result in poor instruction but also be a waste of ti.
But if he couldn’t find a suitable person, Song Qingya’s passion would eventually fade.
He sat on the sofa, scrolling through his phone’s contact list, repeatedly mulling over the potential candidates.
’But then again,’ he thought, ’she’s getting further along in her pregnancy. Too much running around wouldn’t be good for her.’
She had recently started experiencing mild backaches and swelling, and the doctor had advised her to reduce long periods of standing and walking.
Rushing about in search of an apprenticeship would put too much strain on her body.
He sighed, put his phone aside, his heart torn.
He knew Song Qingya was stubborn; once she made up her mind about sothing, she wouldn’t give up easily.
Unexpectedly, one evening, as Fei Jin was on the balcony gathering the dry laundry, he suddenly heard a knock at the door.
He put down what he was doing and walked to the door.
The visitor had graying hair and was dressed in a simple Tang suit and cloth shoes, carrying a woven bamboo dicine box.
It was none other than Wen Junyi, the man who had rejected Song Qingya a few days prior.
"Is anyone ho? Sister Song! It’s Xiao Yang, I’m Yang Shang, the one who talked to you about acupuncture in Qi City!"
Yang Shang was wearing a dark blue jacket and a backpack, his face etched with anxiety.
Beside him, Wen Junyi was stomping his foot in impatience.
"Aiya, what are you babbling about! Get to the point! Just tell her that this old man has co to his senses and is willing to take her as a disciple!"
Yang Shang glanced at his master’s complete change in attitude—from arrogant to deferential—and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
He understood his master’s temperant. He was tough on the outside, but his heart had already softened.
"Sister Song, please open the door! Don’t be truly angry! My master’s temper is a bit rough, but he’s genuinely skilled! If you really want to study dicine, there’s no one more suitable for hundreds of miles around! He’s absolutely worthy of your talent!"
"This kid sure has a glib tongue."
The door slowly opened.
Song Qingya stood in the doorway, dressed in loose loungewear, a smile on her face.
She glanced at Wen Junyi, then at Yang Shang, her tone calm but with a hint of teasing. "Mr. Wen, why have you co in person? A phone call would have sufficed. There was no need to make the trip."
Wen Junyi coughed twice.
He sat in the center of Song Qingya’s main hall without any pleasantries or unnecessary formalities.
"You should know why I’m here today. I won’t beat around the bush. At my age, face isn’t important anymore. I ca to admit my mistake. The other day, you said you wanted to beco my disciple... Does that offer still stand?"
"Of course, it does."
Song Qingya’s reply was unhesitating.
She knew that the fact Wen Junyi had co at all spoke volus.
Given his status, it was difficult to even get a eting with him on a normal day, let alone have him make a personal visit.
This old man had already let go of his previous stubbornness and prejudice.
Wen Junyi stroked the beard on his chin, very satisfied with Song Qingya’s attitude.
The girl was neither arrogant nor impatient. She didn’t try to take advantage of the situation, and her words and actions were all proper.
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