Zhu Yanyi spoke softly from the side. "Since that is settled, we can rest easy. Grandpa Yao’s main worry in the capital was your marriage and Fourth Senior Brother’s. At least Fourth Senior Brother has a son. You have nothing yet. Now that he knows you are dating, he will surely be happy."
The brothers also missed their master deeply. "It has been so many years. We have no news of Master. We wonder how he is doing?"
"He is safe with the Godfather," Zhu Yanyi said seriously. "At least for now, there is no danger. So we must grow stronger quickly. Then we can find Grandpa Yao sooner."
Seeing Zhu Yanyi’s calm demeanor, Gu Jingtian and the others temporarily set aside their longing for Old Master Yao.
"Little Junior Sister, have you prepared the herbs for Grandpa Zhu’s surgery?" Qu Chong asked.
Zhu Yanyi nodded slightly. "Yes. I extracted them all myself. These are special-effect medicines." She seemed to remember something and took a prescription from a nearby drawer, handing it to Dong Bocao.
"This is a new formula for a meridian-clearing ointment. I use wild herbs and extract them myself, so the effect is much better. Even if you use cultivated herbs to make this ointment, it will still help clear meridians and soothe muscles. It is very effective for rheumatoid arthritis." Zhu Yanyi explained.
"Alright, I won’t be polite then." Dong Bocao did not hesitate. He folded the prescription and put it away.
"Once the ointment is ready, save some for me first. The Miao region is damp and cold. Many people suffer from arthritis," Qu Chong said directly.
"Don’t the Miao people have their own Miao doctors? Their medicines are quite effective for rheumatism," Zhu Yanyi remarked. She remembered that although Miao medicine was not part of traditional Chinese medicine, it was still a respected minority medical tradition.
"They do have those herbs. That is exactly why Han doctors are looked down upon there. Now that we have our own medicine, we can surpass them. It saves us from their constant complaints," Qu Chong said with some helplessness. Han people did not hold high status in that region.
Zhu Yanyi sneered. "These people are just bored and looking for trouble. They only know how to compete. If they are so capable, let them compete with Westerners. They are like frogs in a well."
Zhu Yanyi hated such behavior. China had developed rapidly in recent years, but some areas still lagged due to ethnic prejudice. She hoped everyone would be treated equally. That was why she tried to spread medical knowledge that everyone could understand. That was why she wanted to establish a Chinese medicine school—to break these traditional shackles.
Chinese medicine, floral medicine, poison medicine, shamanic medicine—she hoped that regardless of the type, as long as it was useful, people could enjoy the benefits of treatment. There should be no hiding or guarding secrets, no mutual suspicion.
Many traditional skills were lost because people guarded their secrets, holding back knowledge. The worst result was the breaking of the lineage.
"Everyone thinks differently. Their mindset is understandable. They believe keeping secrets ensures they won’t be abandoned," Gu Jingtian sighed. The regrets caused by this situation were countless, yet it could not be stopped.
Zhu Yanyi pondered. "My Chinese medicine school must be prepared quickly. We cannot wait any longer." Her expression was serious. She would not let anyone leave regrets, nor would she leave regrets for herself.
Her path was now completely different from her past life. She originally thought it was just about learning medicine. But since the sect entered the world, and after learning a little about the Sage Academy, Zhu Yanyi knew she had entered a different world.
She did not know what the future held in this world. No matter how she walked, one thing would not change: everyone must have good doctors. Chinese medicine must not be lost.
"Agreed. The Chinese medicine school must be prepared. The sooner it is established, the sooner more people can start learning," Gu Jingtian agreed. Chinese medicine learning should start young, so earlier was better.
Zhu Yanyi hummed. "After things here stabilize and the Zhu family matters are resolved, I want to visit Second Senior Brother’s place. I want to see the herbs there." Zhu Yanyi had not forgotten that Qu Chong had once brought her a pile of poisons to extract. She had long wanted to visit, mainly out of curiosity about the local herbs.
"Sure," Qu Chong laughed. "If you go, you will definitely crush the Miao doctors there."
Zhu Yanyi glanced at Qu Chong. "Why would I compete with them? I want to win them over with my medical skills. Then I can invite them out of the mountains to teach a Miao medicine course at my Chinese medicine school."
"Little Junior Sister, I find you are becoming more cunning," Qu Chong said, surprised by her true purpose.
Zhu Yanyi smiled lightly. "If I didn’t have this purpose, I wouldn’t need to go to the Miao region. Although I am curious about the herbs there, if I need them, I can just ask you. You are my senior brother. Would you refuse me?"
Qu Chong paused. That was true. If his junior sister asked, he would never refuse.
Gu Jingtian also laughed. "In that case, you can go when you are free. But will you have time? Aren’t you teaching students?"
"Teaching students can include field practice. Isn’t recognizing herbs important? How can textbook theory compare with actual operation?" Zhu Yanyi glanced at Gu Jingtian, looking as if to say, You are indeed slow.
Gu Jingtian was amused and exasperated. He could only say, "Alright. Since you are the teacher, you decide."
Zhu Yanyi smiled and changed the subject. "Also, I plan to let some new, promising doctors watch when I operate on Luo La. People like Luoyang Jun can learn further."
Gu Jingtian understood. Zhu Yanyi wanted to spread surgical methods through different types of surgeries.