"Let's wait until my biological grandfather arrives to discuss this. It’s too complicated to explain right now," Zhu Yanyi said, offering a brief explanation.
"That works. Regardless, if you need any help, just say the word. My medical skills might not match yours, but I do have some connections," Gu Jingtian said seriously to his junior sister.
Zhu Yanyi laughed. "Senior Brother, you don’t need to be so careful with your words. Rest assured, when I need your help, I won’t be polite. As the saying goes, if you don’t use your senior brother, the offer expires."
"When did a saying like that come into existence?" Gu Jingtian looked at Zhu Yanyi, amused and exasperated. "You should at least say 'someone said' or something. Using 'as the saying goes' might make people laugh at you."
"What’s the big deal? You senior brothers all protect me, so I created this saying myself," Zhu Yanyi said seriously, looking at Gu Jingtian as if to say, This is all your fault.
Gu Jingtian looked at her speechlessly. "Are you doing this on purpose?"
Zhu Yanyi giggled. "I am doing it on purpose. Senior Brother, would you really dare to settle the score with me?"
"I would dare, but your senior sister-in-law wouldn’t," Gu Jingtian said, thinking of how her wife treated Zhu Yanyi like her own daughter. So, even if she wanted to hold her accountable, it wouldn’t work.
Zhu Yanyi made a funny face and then said, "It’s really a turbulent time lately. Everything is piling up in this short period."
"That’s because you’re becoming more famous. Once you send Lord Luo to Jiang, your reputation will grow even stronger. Then, even more international friends will come seeking medical help," Gu Jingtian said earnestly.
Zhu Yanyi thought for a moment and said, "Senior Brother, I plan to establish a pure Traditional Chinese Medicine school within five years. You must come to support me then."
Gu Jingtian nodded. "Just tell your senior brother how to support you."
"Since it’s pure TCM, I want to start teaching from a young age. So, I’d like you to lead a grade level—either middle school, high school, or university. Elementary school can be taught by doctors who haven’t practiced TCM for long, since elementary education focuses on basics. What do you think?" Zhu Yanyi had a plan, but it needed people to support it.
Gu Jingtian pondered for a moment. "Junior Sister, laying a foundation is crucial. Doctors who just passed the TCM exam aren’t suitable for guiding elementary students. In my opinion, you should teach the elementary level yourself." Gu Jingtian had more experience in this area than Zhu Yanyi. "You must know, TCM is a very bitter subject. Without interesting and accessible examples, elementary students won’t be able to persist."
When Zhu Yanyi learned TCM, she did it out of interest and natural talent, so she didn’t find it bitter. But hearing Gu Jingtian’s words, she realized she had fallen into a misconception. She looked at her. "Senior Brother, you’re right. I fell into a trap. Elementary education is very important."
Seeing that Zhu Yanyi understood, Gu Jingtian felt relieved. "If you guide the elementary students yourself, it might bring different results."
As long as people knew about the Little Divine Doctor and that she was teaching students, many would come. This was another interpretation of the celebrity effect.
Zhu Yanyi smiled lightly. "I understand. I’ll make arrangements then. Even if I don’t teach them directly, I must choose a teacher who is interesting and has a broad knowledge base."
The senior brother and junior sister chatted while waiting for the plane on the rooftop.
The flight from Zhu City to Kyoto took four hours. Zhu Yanyi watched as the plane flashed its lights and landed on the rooftop platform. When the plane stopped and the cabin door opened, she saw Zhu Shunyao carrying an old man out. Zhu Yanyi knew immediately that this old man was her biological grandfather, Zhu Shenfu.
Zhu Shenfu was arranged in the North Wing of the special ward, an area reserved for Zhu Yanyi’s patients. Only her patients could stay there. This was mainly to avoid unnecessary situations when Zhu Yanyi went to see her patients daily.
Zhu Yanyi personally handled the hospitalization procedures. She also asked Zhu Shunyao and Yan Aohan and the other men to help take Zhu Shenfu to the hospital’s bath first, before returning to the ward.
It had been over forty years—forty full years. During these years, except for his wife wiping his body regularly, he had never had a proper bath. Now, suddenly able to bathe and feeling the softness of the water, Zhu Shenfu felt incredibly relaxed. He touched the water with his hands, excitedly, making Zhu Shunyao’s eyes tear up.
While bathing Zhu Shenfu, Zhu Shunyao held back tears and smiled, saying, "Dad, from now on, I’ll bathe you every day. We’ll bathe together, father and son."
Zhu Shenfu’s spirit was much better now, partly due to the effect of Zhu Yanyi’s Spirit Spring water. Hearing this, she was very happy and patted Zhu Shunyao’s hand, as if saying, "Good, good."
Yan Aohan came in with the clothes Zhu Yanyi had prepared, smiling. "Ah Ba, Grandpa, I’ve brought the clothes."
"Dad, I’ll dry you off," Zhu Shunyao said to Zhu Shenfu.
Zhu Shenfu nodded without hesitation. Although he couldn’t see, his hands were fine, and he could dry himself. But he and his son, Zhu Shunyao, hadn’t seen each other for over forty years. Now that they had met, he naturally wanted to enjoy his son’s filial piety. So, besides nodding, he didn’t know what other gestures to make.
Zhu Shunyao dried Zhu Shenfu’s body and, together with Yan Aohan, dressed him in clean clothes. Yan Aohan then threw away the old clothes.
They then placed Zhu Shenfu in a wheelchair and pushed him into the ward.
Zhu Yanyi and Gu Jingtian were waiting. When they saw Zhu Shenfu arrive, Zhu Yanyi stood up with a smile and walked over. "Grandpa, I’m your granddaughter, Zhu Yanyi. I’m here to check your health."
Zhu Shenfu nodded in agreement.
Zhu Shunyao carefully lifted Zhu Shenfu onto the hospital bed, and Zhu Yanyi began to take her pulse.
As soon as she took her pulse, Zhu Yanyi had to admire Zhu Shenfu’s perseverance. Forty years of confinement, although Zhu Yongfu had provided water and dry rations, it was barely enough to keep her from starving. Her internal organs had begun to shrink due to lack of nutrition. Furthermore, the person who gouged out her eyes had operated barbarically, causing damage to the right side of her left brain nerve. Her legs had been broken over forty years ago, and no doctor had ever treated them, so several bones in her legs were misaligned.
It took immense courage and perseverance for him to survive.