Chapter 233: Taking A Disciple
When one’s famous, trouble follows. Shang Wan earns her money through her own skills and isn’t afraid of others’ envy.
For those who come openly, Shang Wan will report to the government if possible and let the government handle it.
She is now a major taxpayer, and for the sake of money, the county magistrate will protect her too.
For those who come sneakily, Shang Wan sharpens her knife—kill one for each that comes.
For this, Shang Wan even specially made a copy of the ancestral secret recipe to carry with her, just waiting for someone to steal it.
As for using power to oppress, she hasn’t encountered anyone with more power than the county magistrate yet; she guesses Boss Zhong must have handled it.
The Spiritual Medicine Pavilion’s medicine has earned Boss Zhong so much money; of course he has to protect it a bit.
Besides, the Spiritual Medicine Pavilion hasn’t expanded to the point of attracting giants to make a move.
As soon as she recalled, her thoughts drifted far away. Shang Wan looked down and saw several slices of well-cooked mutton already in her bowl.
Lu Chengjing picked the freshly cooked mutton into her bowl and said warmly, “Eat it while it’s hot.”
Shang Wan nodded. The mutton in her bowl was at the perfect temperature, and paired with Xiao Huan’s secret dipping sauce, the taste was unparalleled.
Drinking wine and eating meat, the three adults and one child had good appetites; two large plates of tender mutton were completely finished.
Shang Wan instructed someone to bring two more plates, and taking the opportunity asked Duanmu Kui, “What does Mister Duanmu want with me?”
Duanmu Kui’s lips were red from the spiciness.
The little divine doctor prefers light flavors but is also happy to try other tastes.
After tasting Xiao Huan’s excellent cooking, he goes to Bao Yue Zhai whenever he has time to eat the dishes she makes.
Yes, the owner behind Bao Yue Zhai is none other than Xiao Huan.
With Shang Wan’s funding, she now owns her first restaurant.
Although she owes a huge debt to Shang Wan, the young girl is still so happy she’s almost floating, even walking with a spring in her step.
Duanmu Kui picked up some chopsticks of cooked bok choy into his bowl and said flatly, “I want to take Yuan Yuan as my disciple.”
“Oh, taking a disciple…” Shang Wan’s chopsticks paused, and she suddenly looked up at the opposite side. “Who did you say?”
Lu Chengjing also looked over in surprise.
Duanmu Kui pointed to the little baby girl next to him whose cheeks were puffed out as she worked hard to chew the meat. “Her.”
Shang Wan: “!!!”
Lu Chengjing: “???”
Yuan Yuan… Yuan Yuan was focused on eating her meat and completely didn’t hear what the adults were saying.
Shang Wan carefully looked her child up, down, left, and right. Pardon her poor judgment, but does this round and plump little dumpling have the talent to study medicine?
Yuan Yuan saw her mother staring at her, tilted her little head and thought for a moment, then pushed her small bowl toward Shang Wan, indicating for her to eat.
Shang Wan casually picked up two pieces of bok choy and put them in her bowl.
“Mister Duanmu, why do you want to take Yuan Yuan as your disciple?” Lu Chengjing, as her father, couldn’t help but ask.
Duanmu Kui said, “Yuan Yuan is young, but she is extremely skilled at identifying medicinal herbs—many people who have studied medicine for years can’t match her proficiency. Yuan Yuan has the talent to study medicine. If she can apprentice under a good master, she will surely achieve something in the field of medicine in the future.”
Shang Wan: “…”
It was a misunderstanding!
Yuan Yuan is good at identifying medicinal herbs, but it’s purely due to her superior sense of smell, just like how she can identify mung bean pastry and red bean pastry with her eyes closed— it has nothing to do with “talent for studying medicine.”
Lu Chengjing obviously also thought of his daughter’s special ability, and his expression immediately became a bit strange.
Seeing the unusual expressions on their faces, Duanmu Kui thought the parents didn’t want their child to endure the hardships of studying medicine, especially since Yuan Yuan was a girl, and worldly prejudices would make the path even harder.
But he was delighted to find such a good seedling and didn’t want to miss Yuan Yuan.
Moreover, the little doll was cute, clever in temperament, and full of rare spiritual energy—she really appealed to him.
“Mister Duanmu, this is a misunderstanding.” Shang Wan felt she still needed to explain clearly. In this world, the master-disciple relationship is comparable to that of father and son; apprenticing is a very solemn matter, and she didn’t want Duanmu Kui to regret taking Yuan Yuan later.
It wouldn’t be good for Yuan Yuan’s growth either.
“Yuan Yuan has had a very keen nose since she was little; she can distinguish smells that ordinary people can’t with just a light sniff.” Shang Wan said, “That’s also why she can identify medicinal herbs.”
Medicinal herbs have distinct smells, and even those with very faint odors can be detected under Yuan Yuan’s super-enhanced sense of smell.
But Duanmu Kui saw this as an advantage. He said, “When I explained the properties of a herb once, Yuan Yuan not only remembered them but could also clearly recite them back.”
Shang Wan coughed dryly. This misunderstanding was huge.
“Well, Yuan Yuan just has a good memory; she can recite word-for-word the stories her father has told her.”
Duanmu Kui was stunned and looked at Lu Chengjing.
Lu Chengjing nodded to confirm that what Shang Wan said was true.
They had only discovered this recently. As for how they discovered it?
Lu Chengjing tried to use a story he’d told before to coax the child, but the little baby girl saw through it instantly and complained to her mother that Daddy wasn’t serious when telling stories.
So the couple tested it a few times and were surprised to find Yuan Yuan had astonishing memory. Anything told to her, no matter how much time passed, she remembered firmly.
This was also why Shang Wan wanted to quickly find a master to start Yuan Yuan’s enlightenment education.
It’s good for the child to be smart, but if guided incorrectly, the consequences would be disastrous.
“Mister Duanmu, you should think carefully about taking a disciple.” Shang Wan poured Yuan Yuan a cup of hot goat milk. “If Yuan Yuan doesn’t like it, her father and I won’t force her.”
Although Yuan Yuan could become a new formula master after training, Shang Wan thought the child’s happiness was most important.
As for taking over the family business, there was no need to start with a two-year-old child.
Duanmu Kui was speechless for a moment and didn’t mention taking a disciple again.
After the meal, the heavy snow had stopped. Sunlight shone through the clouds, making the piled snow gleam silver-white and dazzling to the eyes.
Seeing nothing was wrong at the manor, Shang Wan held Yuan Yuan and bid farewell to Duanmu Kui.
Yuan Yuan waved her small hand with smiling eyes: “Mu Mu, see you again.”
The little baby girl found Duanmu hard to say, so she shortened it to Mu Mu.
Duanmu Kui felt wistful inside; the prospective little disciple he liked turned out to have hidden issues.
He also waved his hand and watched the carriage leave before turning back to the manor.
·
The carriage headed all the way to Elm Tree Village, where people could be seen bundled in jackets shoveling snow along the road.
Cold wind blew in from the window, making the little baby girl clinging to the window edge sneeze loudly.
Yuan Yuan rubbed her little nose, closed the window, obediently sat back beside her mother, and snuggled against her mother’s arm.
Shang Wan poked her cheek. “Tired?”
“Mm.” Yuan Yuan crawled into her mother’s arms using hands and feet, curled up in her familiar spot, and yawned with her mouth open.
Shang Wan amusedly watched the little dumpling in her arms and asked, “Good child, do you want to study medicine?”
“What is studying medicine?” Yuan Yuan looked up at her mother, her eyes big and round.
Shang Wan explained simply: “It’s becoming a doctor, treating illnesses and saving people.”
“Can it save Gray Gray and Niu Niu?”
Shang Wan: “……That’s a veterinarian.”
Yuan Yuan blinked her eyes. “Can’t I be a veterinarian?”
Shang Wan pinched the little dumpling’s chubby cheeks and thought for a moment before saying: “If you like it, it’s not impossible, but… being a veterinarian has no future; the money earned can’t even buy the snacks you like. Do you still want to be a veterinarian?”
No snacks is not okay!
Yuan Yuan shook her head like a rattle drum, refusing to be a veterinarian.
