The next morning, Zhu Yanyi took Qin Tianxiang to the exam site. Qin Tianxiang would hide herself nearby and wait for Zhu Yanyi to finish before coming out to meet her.
Zhu Yanyi walked into the testing center. The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) license exam was quite different from the Western medicine exam. To take the TCM exam, one usually needed at least ten years of study. This was unlike Western medicine, where most candidates were young people. The difference lay in their focus: TCM valued experience, while Western medicine relied on mechanical data analysis.
For example, for a cold, a TCM doctor would prescribe a unique formula based on the patient’s cough duration, severity, and whether there was phlegm. Each person received a different prescription. In contrast, Western doctors relied on lab data to diagnose a cough or cold and prescribed standard patent medicines. Because Western medicine was easier to learn and relied on standardized tests, many people preferred it, which contributed to the gradual decline of TCM.
Zhu Yanyi became a unique sight as she entered. She was far too young to be taking the TCM license exam. In others’ eyes, she seemed like a freak. In reality, she had studied for over ten years, but all within her Ruyi Space.
Some people were surprised to see her. Most candidates were nearly thirty, some even older. Zhu Yanyi looked only like a teenager.
“Little girl, did you come to the wrong place?” a man who looked about twenty-four or twenty-five asked curiously.
Zhu Yanyi shook her head slightly and showed her admission ticket. “I am here to take the exam.”
The man looked at her ticket in surprise. she could confirm it was genuine. “How old are you, little girl?”
“Eleven,” Zhu Yanyi said without hiding her age. “But this exam tests qualifications, not age.” Knowing what she doubted, she remained calm. Without some skill, who would dare to challenge such a test?
The man paused for a moment, then laughed. “True, it is a qualification exam, not an age test. My name is Luo Yangjun. My surname is Luo. When I was born, my mother was in Luoyang, so she named me Luoyang. Later, my father said that was too simple. Just then, an army passed by our door, so she added ‘Jun’ (army) to my name. I am twenty-three this year. People call me a genius, and I was happy about it. But seeing you, regardless of your knowledge, the fact that you are qualified to take this exam makes you a true genius.”
Luo Yangjun was very friendly. His chatty introduction showed he was naturally outgoing.
Zhu Yanyi smiled. From her introduction, she could tell she was a humorous person. “With your personality, you study TCM?” TCM required patience and steadiness, traits she did not see in Luo Yangjun.
Luo Yangjun sighed. “I know my personality is funny. My mother says I am a reincarnation of a silly person. I think I inherited this from my parents. Otherwise, why would they give me such a name?”