Chapter 12

As Lu Qing woke from his slumber, the first sound he heard was Xiao Yan's joyous laughter.He looked at himself and noticed that the silver needles were no longer there, and a thin blanket covered him.

He had no idea how long he had slept.

Lu Qing thought to himself, lifting the blanket and dressing, he walked outside.

In the courtyard, he saw Old Doctor Chen and Xiao Yan sitting at a stone table.

They seemed to be sharing a joyful conversation, both laughing heartily.

Especially Xiao Yan, who held a white pastry in her hand, laughing happily.

"Brother, you're awake!"

Xiao Yan, who had been giggling, saw Lu Qing coming out of the house and was instantly delighted.

She jumped off the stone bench with a thud, offering the pastry to Lu Qing.

"Brother, look, this is yam cake made by Grandpa Chen. It's delicious. Would you like to try a piece?"

Lu Qing did not take the cake but looked at Old Doctor Chen. "Grandpa Chen, Xiao Yan didn't trouble you, did she?"

Old Doctor Chen waved his hand. "No trouble at all. Xiao Yan is innocent and lively. Having her around to chat with is a joy. How do you feel now that you've just woken up?"

"I feel great." Lu Qing stretched his body. "It seems like I've suddenly gained a lot of strength. Grandpa Chen, does this mean I'm fully recovered now?"

"It's not that simple." The old doctor chuckled. "Your body is still very weak and needs to be nourished slowly. My treatment only temporarily boosted your energy, giving you the illusion of increased strength."

"From now on, you'll need to supplement your diet with medicinal food to truly recover."

"Here, this plate of yam cake is not only for Xiao Yan but also for you. Eat a few pieces."

"Yam has benefits for the spleen, lungs, kidneys, and essence, making it perfect for you."

The old doctor pushed the plate of snowy white yam cake forward, gesturing to Lu Qing.

Lu Qing looked at the plate of yam cake, hesitating. "Grandpa Chen, this yam cake must be quite valuable, right?"

"It's not particularly precious. It's rare outside but not hard to find in the mountains. I still have some stored here. You can eat it without worry."

Old Doctor Chen spoke lightly, but Lu Qing knew better.

The dangers of the mountains were well-known. The old doctor had the skill to gather these items, but to treat them as common was naive.

However, he also knew that since the old doctor had said so much, refusing would be overly pretentious.

So he bowed deeply to Old Doctor Chen, expressing his gratitude. "Thank you, Grandpa Chen."

Then he sat down at the stone table, picking up a piece of yam cake and eating it.

The cake was soft, fragrant, and delicious.

Even someone like Lu Qing, who had tasted various modern pastries in his past life, found it delightful.

As he looked at the pastries on the plate, a white light flashed, and words appeared.

[Yam Cake: A pastry made mainly from yam.]

[Beneficial for the spleen, lungs, kidneys, and essence, it seems to have a good nourishing effect on the body.]

The evaluation from his ability matched Old Doctor Chen's description perfectly.

"Brother, isn't it delicious?" Xiao Yan asked proudly.

"Yes, it's very delicious." Lu Qing nodded honestly.

Old Doctor Chen had been observing Lu Qing. Seeing him stop after eating a few pieces, he nodded approvingly.

Though hungry, Lu Qing remained disciplined, not overeating.

His behavior impressed the old doctor.

In the past, he had not noticed such an exceptional young man in the village.

However, it was too early to make a final judgment; further observation was needed.

Reflecting on the thoughts that had arisen while Lu Qing slept, the old doctor pondered.

Then he asked, "Lu Qing, you mentioned an interest in medicinal herbs. Do you want to study medicine?"

"I wouldn't dare claim to study medicine." Lu Qing quickly replied. "I'm just fascinated by the wonder of medicinal herbs."

"Grandpa Chen knows about the misfortunes my family faced, with my parents passing away and leaving us impoverished. It's hard to survive on just two acres of poor land."

"So I thought if I could learn to identify and gather herbs, I might support my sister and myself."

"Herb gathering is indeed a viable path," Old Doctor Chen nodded. "But it's not easy. The mountains are dangerous, and becoming a good herb gatherer is challenging."

"You have to try to know. Besides, what work in this world is easy?"

"True, there's no easy work in this world." The old doctor agreed. "Your understanding is rare."

"In that case, from next time, after your acupuncture, stay and help me dry herbs. How much you learn will depend on your comprehension."

"Thank you, Grandpa Chen."

Though Old Doctor Chen had mentioned this before, hearing it again still made Lu Qing happy.

"Grandpa Chen, why can't you teach my brother today?" Xiao Yan asked.

The little girl had been listening and understood a bit.

"Not today," the old doctor chuckled. "I have to go to town, and there's not enough time."

To town?

Lu Qing was intrigued but held back.

He had already stood out today and should not probe further.

Besides, knowing about the town wouldn't be useful to him now.

Xiao Yan, however, had no such reservations. Hearing about the town, her eyes widened with curiosity.

"Grandpa Chen, what's the town like?"

"The town? That's not something I can explain quickly. When you grow up, you can see for yourself. The town is much better than outside."

Xiao Yan looked longingly.

Even Lu Qing was surprised.

The old doctor's words made it sound like the town held many secrets.

After chatting a bit more, the old doctor stood up.

"Alright, you two should go back. I need to prepare for my trip to town. Lu Qing, remember to come back for acupuncture in three days." Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ NʘvᴇlFire.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Seeing the old doctor about to leave, Lu Qing hesitated, then asked, "Grandpa Chen, may I ask you something?"

"Oh, what is it?"

"I'd like to know if there's a type of silk thread that's tough and hard to break."

"Silk thread? Why do you ask?"

Lu Qing considered his words carefully. "Yesterday, I went fishing by the river and discovered I might have some talent for it. But the hemp line on our fishing rod isn't strong enough. A slightly larger fish breaks the line, making it hard to catch bigger fish."

"So I wanted to ask if there's a tougher silk thread suitable for making a better fishing rod."

"Tough silk thread..." The old doctor pondered, then walked towards the house.

"Wait here."