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Ping’an nodded, his bright eyes sparkling as he looked at him.
This person was the eldest son of Baicaotang, and he appeared kind and showed great interest in him.
Sun Sichen didn’t follow the book’s order for questioning. Instead, he asked various questions, sometimes showing him pictures to ask about the herb names, sometimes asking about their uses, and other times mixing them up.
This went on for more than half an hour.
The more Sun Sichen observed this child, the more he liked him—smart and particularly endearing, with a delicate little face that looked adorable yet mature.
He himself had two sons and a daughter: his eldest son, Changqing, was ten; his second son, Changyuan, was eight; and his youngest daughter, Bansha, was five.
But he spent more than half the year away, and all three of his children, along with his nephew, were in the capital, spending half their days studying under their teacher and the other half learning medicine from their grandfather. He rarely had time to return home to be with them.
Seeing Ping’an today, who answered Doctor Sun’s questions without a hitch, filled him with admiration. For such a young child, learning to memorize medical texts was far more challenging than memorizing a simple primer.
“Ping’an, do you like medicine?”
Ping’an nodded, feeling anxious. Did the eldest son truly want to take him on as a disciple?
If so, what would happen to him? Would his parents agree?
His heart raced. This was an opportunity he couldn’t miss. With a master, he could gradually reveal his medical talent. Having lived for thirty to forty years as a physician in his previous life, he possessed knowledge that people in this era lacked.
Given time, he could become a top physician in this era.
He had no real interest in the Imperial Examinations.
Though the Great Zhou Dynasty emphasized literature, medicine was never looked down upon. A good physician could ensure a family’s survival, which was more important than anything else.
Moreover, martial arts were also highly valued in the Great Zhou. After all, if everyone focused solely on literature, who would protect the borders? The wars of recent years still haunted people’s minds.
In reality, the social status of merchants wasn’t very high, but it was much better than in previous dynasties, thanks to the young emperor’s emphasis on the economy. Without money, nothing could be achieved.
Facing Wan Changsheng, Sun Sichen said, “Brother Wan, can we discuss something? I really like this child, and his age is perfect for learning medicine. I want to take him as my disciple. So far, I haven’t taken in any disciples; my own two sons are learning medicine from their grandfather.”
Wan Changsheng forced a smile. “I’m sorry, Young Master, but my wife and I plan to send him to school. We’re sending him to the private school in early August.”
“You want him to pursue the Imperial Examinations? That path is not easy.”
Wan Changsheng replied, “It’s hard to say what the future holds. As you said, the examinations aren’t easy. However, my wife and I want him to at least become a Xiucai, so…”
He didn’t want to mention the labor and military service that were often the outcomes of failing the examinations.
Having spent seven years on the borders, he knew that skirmishes were constant, and disasters could easily lead to war. But he couldn’t say this out loud.
“Brother Wan, how about this? You hope for him to study, and I can let him learn medicine while studying. I can also teach him martial arts. That’s how I raised my own children.”
“There are many benefits to studying medicine, and I don’t need to explain them in detail. If he wants to take the Imperial Examinations, I won’t stop him. Regardless of whether he practices medicine in the future, becoming a Xiucai is essential. I can guarantee that as long as he is willing to learn, I will find someone to teach him.”
This offer was quite appealing.
Wan Changsheng felt a mix of emotions. This was a great opportunity for his son; Baicaotang was a place of fame and fortune in the Great Zhou.
But his son had just entered their home for a little over twenty days. If he were taken away now, their father-son relationship would undoubtedly suffer.
“Young Master, let me discuss it with my wife first and let the child think about it. I’ll get back to you soon, if that’s alright?”
Sun Sichen smiled with satisfaction. “That’s fine. I’ll wait here for three days. If you’re willing, you can arrange your things and bring your luggage along.”
After bidding farewell to the young master, Wan Changsheng and his son bought a few buns and headed home.
Today was originally meant for buying grain, but if all three of them agreed to this arrangement, they wouldn’t be buying any grain. If his wife was unwilling, they could always purchase it in three days.
He had also planned to sell the horse cart to buy a mule cart. Although a small donkey was cheaper, it couldn’t carry heavy loads and had a stubborn temperament.
In contrast, a mule cart could carry up to two thousand jin, was docile, and could be used for light work occasionally.
As they hurried home, Ping’an munched on the buns in his hand, while his other hand pressed against the silver in his pocket. Just now, his father had given him nineteen taels, which was essentially half of the money earned from the herbs.
With the previous amount, he now had around twenty-seven or twenty-eight taels.
That was a delightful sum. In the Great Zhou, one tael could buy a thousand steamed buns, so the purchasing power was quite good.
His father mentioned that the ginseng sold for thirty taels, the Astragalus for six taels, and the rest of the herbs added up to only two taels.
Both the ginseng and the Astragalus were found by him, and he had reluctantly accepted the silver after some hesitation.
Deep down, he was an adult. He couldn’t stand being financially dependent, having to ask his parents for every coin. It was incredibly inconvenient.
Today, the opportunity had come so suddenly; it felt like a pie falling from the sky, leaving him stunned.
He could study, learn medicine, and practice martial arts, all while leaving the village with his parents.
This was practically tailor-made for him.
Leaving the village meant that even if his biological father were still alive and found them, as long as they didn’t tell anyone where they had gone, it would be hard to locate them. Over time, the matter would be forgotten.
He was only two years old when his father left; how much affection could he have had?
As someone who had once been a modern elite, he naturally wanted to live well without being controlled while promoting the practice of medicine.
Everyone should have some ideals, shouldn’t they?