208 Learning Pulse Diagnosis
However, because she was relatively old, her vision was not as sharp. When she was embroidering, she needed sufficient light.
Given the Wang Family’s stinginess, it was impossible for them to provide ample light. As a result, there were several instances when Yunniang embroidered incorrectly due to the dim lighting.
This greatly displeased Wang Fugui, who, without another word, imdiately kicked her out.
At the ti, Sun Lan felt quite regretful. She had witnessed Yunniang’s skill—her Double-sided Embroidery was superb—and had sought Yunniang’s guidance a few tis, confirming that Yunniang was indeed a very capable person.
However, Sun Lan herself was in a precarious situation in the Wang Family at the ti and was powerless to help Yunniang. She could only watch as Wang Fugui chased Yunniang away.
Zhao Zhitong crouched next to Sun Lan, resting her head in her small hands, and listened to Sun Lan tell her story.
When the story was finished, she asked, "Auntie, do you know where Yunniang’s house is?"
Sun Lan pondered for a mont and said, "I do. I heard her ntion that her house is in Wuli Village. I just don’t know if she still lives there."
Zhao Zhitong asked, "Wuli Village? Where is that? Is it far from our house?"
Sun Lan smiled and shook her head. "It’s not far. Wuli Village is situated on a slope five miles east of Anyang County. It’s not very far."
Zhao Zhitong was imdiately delighted and, hugging Sun Lan’s arm, said coaxingly, "Let’s go find Yunniang at Wuli Village another day and ask her to beco Sister Yaya’s teacher!"
Although Sun Lan was initially hesitant, she finally agreed after Zhao Zhitong’s persistent badgering.
With Zhao Zhitong’s encouragent, Sun Lan regained her spirit. Paying no heed to the surrounding gossip, she focused on making handkerchiefs and Tiger Head Shoes with Zhao Ya. Once the Lunar New Year passed, they had her Eldest Uncle sell them at the marketplace.
Although the money they earned wasn’t much, Sun Lan finally felt she wasn’t useless, and her temperant gradually beca less gloomy and depressed.
As the weather slowly ward, both her grandfather’s house and the Zhao Family began to get busy.
They were all striving for a better future and didn’t consciously pay too much attention to the Wang Family’s situation after Sun Lan’s divorce.
It wasn’t until her Eldest Uncle went to the county town to sell dicinal herbs that he incidentally heard so news about the Wang Family from passersby.
They heard that the Wang Family had failed to complete an order from Lingjian Villa on ti and had paid hefty compensation to the Liu Clan. Subsequently, the Wang Family’s embroidery shop beca unprofitable and had to shut down.
Later, it was rumored that the two concubines of the Wang Family’s son had absconded overnight with the family’s ager remaining assets, abandoning even his son.
When this news reached the Sun Clan mbers, Zhao Guifen just smiled and said it was retribution.
As for Aunt Sun Lan, she was montarily stunned and then smiled in relief.
After the Lantern Festival, Scholar ng returned from his hotown, and the school reopened after a break of over half a month.
Xiao Ge packed his belongings again and followed ng Fusheng to roam all corners of the country. This ti, he would be gone for a long while, at least half a year before he could return.
Before he left, Zhao Zhitong clutched Xiao Ge’s hand, crying like a little kitten. Her pitiful appearance almost made Zhao Yu reconsider leaving.
Finally, Zhao Dong carried Zhao Zhitong ho, and only then did Zhao Yu reluctantly depart with ng Fusheng.
Spring arrived, and the household began to get busy.
Since Zhao Zhitong had begun learning pulse diagnosis, her studies on both fronts intensified. At school, she learned to read with her Teacher, and after school, she went to her grandfather’s house to learn dical skills.
Her tightly packed schedule left her no ti to grieve Xiao Ge’s departure, and she soon recovered from the sorrow.
Ever since Zhao Zhitong learned to take a pulse, she beca quite obsessed with it. Whenever she had free ti, she would pull her family mbers over to take their pulse or grab her three best friends to practice on them.
Eventually, Zhao Yue and Wei Shulan would flee at the sight of Zhao Zhitong. They were terrified of her expression while she took their pulse; it was as if they were gravely ill, which was truly unsettling.
Only Qiao Muchen didn’t run away.
He not only hadn’t run but was also incredibly enthusiastic, chasing after Zhao Zhitong to ask if he’d gotten a lot stronger.
"Tongtong, I’ve followed your advice and have been drinking goji berry tea. Grandma Qian went to the county town and bought lots and lots of goji berries. During the New Year, my mom even made chicken soup stewed with goji berries."
Qiao Muchen was adamant that he had indeed beco stronger.
"I’ve also been exercising diligently. Look, I have muscles on my arms now! Did you detect that in my pulse?"
Qiao Muchen looked at Zhao Zhitong with sparkling eyes.
The ’half-baked’ practitioner, Zhao Zhitong, placed her small hand on Qiao Muchen’s wrist, her fingers tapping lightly. Her other hand stroked her chin, affecting an air of profound wisdom.
Regardless of how well she had learned the technique, she had perfectly mastered Sun Kang’s mannerisms.
A short while later, Zhao Zhitong withdrew her hand, shook her head, and sighed.
This sigh alone made Qiao Muchen’s little face turn pale. "What’s wrong? Why are you sighing?"
"Floating and sinking ascend and descend from the flesh; skin floating relates to the Lungs, blood to the Heart ridian; sinews sinking relate to the Liver, bones sinking to the Kidneys; muscles pertain to the Spleen, observed in the center..."
Zhao Zhitong recited the mnemonic for the twenty-eight pulse conditions, shaking her head and swaying.
Listening to this made Qiao Muchen utterly confused; he didn’t understand a word.
Then, Zhao Zhitong waved her hand and said, "You still need to continue exercising."
Her act complete, Zhao Zhitong happily returned to her seat, leaving Qiao Muchen alone to mope about not being strong enough yet.
In fact, after several months of daily training, Qiao Muchen’s body had improved considerably.
However, compared to a naturally chubby and tall child like Zhao Yue, he still appeared quite delicate.
But Zhao Yue, even more than Qiao Muchen minded his delicateness, was unwilling to admit he was fat. He insisted, "I’m sturdy, not fat!"
At such tis, Zhao Zhitong would pinch the flesh on his stomach and say, "You’re right, this is ’muscle,’ not flab."
This invariably provoked an outburst from Zhao Yue.
Then the children would chase each other, playing boisterously.
After Zhao Zhitong quieted down, Grandpa Bai would remind her, "Young girl, don’t just fool around. Do you still want to unlock the Space Mall?"
Zhao Zhitong retorted quite confidently, "Grandpa Bai, I’m not just fooling around, you know!"
Then, counting on her fingers, she began to explain to Grandpa Bai, "Grandpa Bai, don’t I earn rit Points for doing good deeds?"
Grandpa Bai nodded.
Zhao Zhitong then said, "So, once I’ve mastered dicine and can save lives and heal the injured, won’t I be able to accumulate lots and lots of rit Points?"
Grandpa Bai continued to nod. "In theory, that’s correct."
Zhao Zhitong said happily, "Exactly! Grandfather said I need to practice diligently now to better grasp pulse diagnosis. If I practice a lot on Qiao Jiaojiao and the others, I’ll soon be able to accompany Grandfather on his dical rounds."
Grandpa Bai found he couldn’t refute the little girl’s logic, so he indulged her. She was still young, after all; they could take things slowly.
When their Teacher announced the end of class, Zhao Zhitong, Qiao Muchen, and Wei Shulan walked out of the school together, discussing what the Teacher had taught in class.
Since Zhao Zhitong had to go to her grandfather’s house to study dicine these days, she bid farewell to Qiao Muchen and Wei Shulan at the school gate.
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