Chapter 39

"Grandpa Chen, I've gathered all the herbs."In the Halfway House, Lu Qing, a bit out of breath, showed the herb basket to the old doctor Chen.

After digging up the Cowbone Grass, he had sprinted all the way up, fearing he wouldn't make it in time.

The old doctor glanced at the herbs in the basket and nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad, not bad. You really managed to gather all these herbs."

"Grandpa Chen, what do you mean by that?" Lu Qing asked, puzzled.

The old doctor seemed to have more to say.

"Do you know why I set the assessment range near the village?" the old doctor asked.

"No, I don't." Lu Qing shook his head.

"That's because the herbs growing near the village are actually quite few, barely ten kinds at most." The old doctor stroked his beard. "For you to dig up these herbs intact and bring them here within an hour shows you've paid attention to these herbs in your daily life."

Hearing this, Lu Qing couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.

In his daily life, he hadn't really paid special attention to the herbs near the village.

Maybe subconsciously, he believed there wouldn't be any precious herbs near a bustling village.

So unless he encountered them while out, he would use his abilities to check.

But to say he had consciously looked for how many types of herbs were near the village, he hadn't.

It seemed his mindset was still too lax.

Even the old doctor knew what herbs were near the village, yet he, with his abilities, hadn't done this. It was indeed inexcusable. Sᴇaʀᴄh the ɴøᴠel Fɪre.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Lu Qing couldn't help but reflect on himself.

The old doctor saw Lu Qing silent and thought he was acknowledging it.

He smiled and said, "Alright, you've passed this assessment. Now go invite the village elders up here."

"Invite the village elders up here?" Lu Qing was a bit stunned.

"Yes, I want to officially take you as my disciple. There should be some witnesses present, otherwise, it would be too casual."

"Yes, I'll go right away!"

Lu Qing, overjoyed, ran back down the mountain.

The villagers, knowing Lu Qing was taking the old doctor's assessment today, had been paying attention all along.

Seeing Lu Qing run down from the mountain and learning that the old doctor invited the village elders to witness the ceremony of officially accepting Lu Qing as a disciple, everyone was delighted.

"Great, great, now our village finally has a doctor!"

"Well done, Lu Qing. You're truly the smartest kid in our village, really passing the assessment."

"Lu Qing, go tell Doctor Chen we'll be up soon!"

The villagers had previously seen Lu Qing going to the old doctor's place every day to learn things and thought he was already the doctor's disciple.

But later, Lu Qing told them he could only be considered the old doctor's apprentice at most and wasn't qualified to officially become his disciple yet.

Now hearing Lu Qing finally passed the assessment and was to be officially accepted as a disciple, how could they not be excited?

Lu Qing returned to the Halfway House, and before long, the village elders, all dressed neatly, came up the mountain.

Some elders even wore the clothes they only wore during the New Year.

Besides the village elders, other villagers at home also came up to watch the fun.

Some villagers brought rice, eggs, and meat.

Doctor Chen was already waiting at the courtyard gate.

Seeing the crowd coming up, he went forward and saluted.

"Thank you all for coming to this old man's apprentice ceremony."

"Doctor, you're too kind," said Elder Zhang, hurriedly. "It's us who should thank you."

"Since you came to our Jiuli Village, you've rid us of countless ailments. We always remember your kindness."

"Elder Zhang, you're too kind. I just did my duty as a doctor, it's not worth such gratitude," the old doctor smiled faintly.

"Whether it's a favor, we know in our hearts."

Elder Zhang took a basket from a young man behind him.

"Doctor Chen, we don't have anything valuable to give. Here are some eggs and bacon, and some rice and flour as a small token for Lu Qing's apprenticeship. Please don't mind."

After speaking, two young men brought up two bags of rice and flour.

This scene left Lu Qing and the old doctor both stunned.

Elder Zhang continued, "It's quite embarrassing. Most of us in Jiuli Village were refugees back then."

"It was a difficult time. Without Lu Qing's grandfather's support and leadership, we wouldn't have survived that disaster, let alone found this place to settle down."

"You could say, without Lu Qing's grandfather, there wouldn't be the current Jiuli Village."

"Sadly, Lu Qing's grandfather fell ill during the escape and passed away early without proper treatment."

"And we couldn't protect his son and daughter-in-law either. They were deceived and left, leaving only Lu Qing and Xiao Yan behind."

"Now that Lu Qing is fortunate enough to be chosen by you as a disciple, it's his great fortune. We hope you'll be lenient with him in the future, even if he makes mistakes."

After saying this, Elder Zhang bowed deeply to the old doctor.

Other elders and villagers followed suit.

Seeing the villagers bowing to him, even with his decades of cultivation, the old doctor couldn't help but feel moved.

As for Lu Qing, he was already deeply shaken.

First, some things Elder Zhang mentioned were not in the original owner's memory.

Secondly, he never expected the villagers to do so much for him.

The old doctor, startled, quickly helped Elder Zhang up.

"Please, get up. You're making this old man feel ashamed."

Then he said to Elder Zhang, "Elder Zhang, Lu Qing is a very smart child. It's my fortune to take him as a disciple, so don't worry, I'll teach him well."

Elder Zhang, thrilled, said, "Then I'll thank you on behalf of his grandfather and parents!"

Saying this, he handed over the basket.

"These modest gifts, please accept them."

"Elder Zhang, you mustn't. I know life is hard for you, so there's no need for such gifts."

"But a gift is necessary. Since it's an apprenticeship, there should be an apprenticeship gift."

...

After several refusals, the old doctor finally took a few eggs and a piece of bacon from the basket as the villagers' gift for Lu Qing.

As for the rest, he wouldn't accept anything more.

Watching this, Lu Qing made a mental note to repay the villagers later.

Honestly, he hadn't thought about the apprenticeship gift at all.

He thought it was just about bowing to the old doctor in front of everyone.

But he overlooked that this was a world similar to ancient times.

A formal apprenticeship ceremony was more complicated than he had imagined.

After this episode, the old doctor invited the villagers into the courtyard.

Then, in front of everyone, Lu Qing officially became his apprentice.