Chapter 513 - Chapter 513: Chapter 500: Talking About The Same Thing Again (1/2)

Chapter 513: Chapter 500: Talking About The Same Thing Again

“Little Sister Ning.” Upon seeing Zhuang Qingning, Zhuang Wencheng’s spirits lifted instantly, and he quickly approached her. “What brings you here?”

“Manager Cheng was looking for you. He has some matters to discuss, so I brought him here.” Zhuang Qingning responded truthfully.

Only then did Zhuang Wencheng notice Cheng Ruize and Fang Hou beside him. Apologetically, he said, “Hello, Manager Cheng. I was somewhat tired earlier and didn’t notice you.”

“I heard from Manager Zhuang that Doctor Zhuang had come home to see patients; it seems you’ve been overworked. No harm done.” Cheng Ruize waved his hand to indicate that it wasn’t a big deal, then continued with a smile, “Today I came to discuss a matter with Doctor Zhuang.”

“If there are matters to discuss, let’s talk inside where it’s warmer,” Zhuang Wencheng said, smiling as he invited Cheng Ruize and the others into the house.

After entering the courtyard, he hurriedly called Mrs. Wang to attend to the guests.

Mrs. Wang initially had mixed feelings when she saw Zhuang Qingning, but her countenance darkened further when she saw a young man following Zhuang Qingning into the house.

However, when she heard that this young man was Manager Cheng from the county town, who had come especially to find Zhuang Wencheng, and that Zhuang Qingning was simply guiding him, her face immediately broke out into a broad smile. She warmly welcomed them into the house and instructed her daughter-in-law to make tea.

She told her to use the best tea leaves.

After giving the instructions, she feared that her daughter-in-law would bungle the task due to clumsiness, so she let Zhuang Wencheng and the others sit and chat in the house while she went to the kitchen to make the tea herself.

Cheng Ruize, not one for unnecessary formalities, went straight to the point.

“Firstly, I arrived to apologize for an incident that happened previously, and secondly, to seek an apprentice for Doctor Shi. The latter is the primary reason. Doctor Zhuang need not feel embarrassed; I too, am keen on finding a suitable apprentice for Doctor Shi as soon as possible.”

Zhuang Wencheng was overjoyed by Cheng Ruize’s words.

Previously, when he was an apprentice in Ge Tonghua’s pharmacy in the county town, he heard of Doctor Shi, who was said to be a physician with even greater medical skills than Ge Tonghua.

In fact, in his younger days, when Zhuang Wencheng had ambitions to study medicine in the county town, he had hoped to apprentice under Doctor Shi, but Doctor Shi was not accepting apprentices at the time. As a result, after several twists and turns, Zhuang Wencheng ended up apprenticing under Ge Tonghua instead.

He never imagined that after so many years, he would still have this opportunity.

“Would Doctor Shi really be willing to take me as his apprentice?” Zhuang Wencheng asked with a hint of disbelief.

Typically, physicians prefer to take on apprentices when they are still children.

Firstly, children who have not yet been exposed to any medical knowledge are like blank slates, making it easier to teach them. Secondly, the bond between a master and apprentice is often strongest if the apprenticeship begins in childhood. For someone of Zhuang Wencheng’s age, physicians would generally be unwilling to take him as an apprentice, deeming him difficult to manage and overly thoughtful.

“I’ve mentioned this idea to Doctor Shi, and he seems quite interested. However, you and he will need to harmonize with each other frequently in the future,” Cheng Ruize replied.

“If Doctor Zhuang is willing, you can come to the pharmacy anytime to officially greet Doctor Shi as your master.”