Chapter 44: I Want to Learn

After the surgery, the old man completely relied on pulse-taking to observe the patient’s heart rate and other vital signs.

By the time the surgery ended and the patient’s breathing became steady, Li Yiyi finally believed that they had completed the operation without advanced medical equipment.

Looking at the sky which was already getting light, Li Yiyi didn’t feel sleepy at all. Instead, she energetically approached her Third Uncle, who was talking with the middle-aged man.

She stood outside the village clinic, waiting for them to finish, before walking over to her Third Uncle. “Third Uncle, I’d like to talk to you.”

Hearing her voice, Third Uncle gave her a satisfied look as she approached. “Good girl, I thought you wouldn’t be able to bear the blood and would run away, but you managed to endure it. You have potential.”

Li Yiyi smiled humbly. “Thank you for the compliment, Third Uncle. By the way, I want to talk to you. Is now a good time?”

“What do you want to talk about?” Third Uncle motioned toward his office.

Understanding, Li Yiyi smiled and followed him into the office.

As soon as they were inside, Li Yiyi immediately started asking about what she had noticed during the surgery.

“This is the power of traditional Chinese medicine,” Third Uncle explained passionately. “Nowadays, those big hospitals rely on Western medicine, completely forgetting that our Chinese medicine is our ancestral medical art. What I’ve learned is just the basics. My master is much more skilled, but sadly, he was framed, and now he’s here, his skills buried.”

Seeing his excitement, Li Yiyi quickly patted his back. “Don’t get upset. Is Chinese medicine really that powerful?”

“Of course. Chinese medicine has been passed down through countless generations, full of innovations and efforts from many ancestors. It’s far more powerful than Western medicine, though it’s been forgotten by many now.”

After witnessing the surgery, Li Yiyi found herself deeply interested in learning more about Chinese medicine. She had studied Western medicine before but had never really been exposed to Chinese medicine. After seeing its effectiveness firsthand, she felt a sense of purpose.

“Third Uncle, after I pass the exams, I want to come work here. Can you teach me Chinese medicine? I really want to learn it,” she said, her eyes shining brightly as she spoke.

Third Uncle looked at her in surprise, confirming, “You’re serious, aren’t you? You want to learn Chinese medicine, not Western medicine?”

After all, most people believed Western medicine to be the best, especially in big hospitals where Western-trained doctors were highly valued.

“I don’t want to learn Western medicine. I’m tired of it. I want to learn Chinese medicine,” Li Yiyi replied. Western medicine had no appeal to her anymore; Chinese medicine felt like her true calling.

Third Uncle’s face softened with approval. “Good, good! Finally, a young person who appreciates our Chinese medicine. But I’ve only learned a little, and if you really want to learn, you’ll need to find a more skilled Chinese medicine master.”

“Can’t you teach me?” Li Yiyi asked, looking at him.

Without hesitation, Third Uncle shook his head. “I can teach you a little, but the deeper knowledge of Chinese medicine, I can’t teach you. I’ll help you find someone else.”

Li Yiyi’s face brightened. “Thank you, Third Uncle!”

By the time the sky had brightened, Li Yiyi returned to the Jiang household, immediately collapsing into bed for some sleep.

She slept so deeply that, had it not been for the excited voices outside, she would have continued sleeping.

Rubbing her forehead, she frowned. Her head still hurt from waking up after such a late night.

However, as she listened to the voices outside, she noticed something familiar in their tone. It sounded like her biological mother’s voice.

Remembering the mischief of her original family, she grew concerned that Jiang Hong might not be able to handle it, so she quickly left the room.

Sure enough, when she stepped outside, she immediately saw her mother, Li Mu, sweeping the yard.

“It was my fault before as a mother. I was angry, and I shouldn’t have hit Yiyi. That dead girl, though, she’s been holding a grudge all this time and hasn’t even visited her mother’s family once,” Li Mu was explaining, her voice sharp as she spoke to her son-in-law, who said nothing.

Jiang Hong’s expression was cold as he stood silently, his gaze as impassive as stone.

Li Mu noticed her daughter’s presence and quickly dropped the broom, rushing toward her as though she were a savior.

“Dead girl, why are you only waking up now? Making your husband do all the work outside? Do you want to ruin your life?” Li Mu scolded, slapping Li Yiyi’s arm. The force made Li Yiyi frown in pain.

Jiang Hong turned his head and saw this scene, his anger flaring. He immediately stepped forward, using his strong frame to block Li Mu’s hand.

“Mom, let me remind you. Yiyi is my wife, my Jiang family’s daughter-in-law. We wouldn’t even let her lift a finger. Please, be careful,” he said, his tone icy.

Li Mu, frightened by the chill in his gaze, immediately withdrew her hand and plastered a forced smile on her face. “I… I wasn’t going to hit her. I was just trying to discipline my daughter, for your sake.”

“No need. I’m very happy with my wife, even if she’s lazy. I’m willing to take care of her,” Jiang Hong said, his gaze softening as he looked at Li Yiyi.

Hearing his words, Li Mu subtly curled her lip. When she looked up again, she was all smiles, addressing him with a sweet tone. “Son-in-law, you go on with your business. I need to talk to my daughter.”

Jiang Hong stood his ground, making it clear he wasn’t leaving.

Li Mu, anxious, began signaling her daughter with her eyes, hoping she could get her husband to leave.

Li Yiyi smiled slightly at her mother’s antics. She was curious to see what her biological mother would do.

“You go on with your work. I need to talk to Mom,” she said gently, patting Jiang Hong’s back.

Jiang Hong hesitated but ultimately nodded, still clearly uneasy.

“Don’t worry. She’s my mother. She won’t hurt me. Besides, we’re at our own house. She wouldn’t dare do anything. I’m fine,” she reassured him, smiling as she spoke.