Under the meticulous guidance of the respected and experienced Elder Guo, Qin Yongping embarked on a grueling yet challenging journey of studying medicine. Deeply aware that this field of knowledge was profound and vast, requiring tremendous effort and dedication, he resolved to apply himself diligently, starting with the most fundamental task of identifying herbs and medicinal ingredients.
During that sweltering summer vacation, while other children were freely playing and enjoying the break, Qin Yongping dedicated most of his time to his medical studies. Whenever he had a spare moment, he would eagerly rush to the Medical Hall, thirstily absorbing medical knowledge. Regardless of the scorching sun or pouring rain, he never interrupted his studies.
Day after day passed. Relying on his firm belief and unyielding persistence, Qin Yongping gradually mastered an increasing number of medicinal herb properties and efficacies. Hard work pays off: just one day before the vacation ended, he finally succeeded in completing his initial study of the thick Materia Medica Canon. This classic was like a treasure trove; the massive amount of information it contained filled him with boundless excitement, while also making him acutely aware that he had merely touched the tip of the iceberg in the medical field. Yet, this small achievement was already enough to become a powerful driving force propelling him forward, inspiring him to continuously advance toward deeper realms of medical skill.
The day before the new semester began, sunlight filtered through mottled tree leaves, casting fine patches of light and shadow, while a gentle breeze caressed the weeping willows on both sides of the street. On such a serene and lovely day, Elder Guo walked up to Qin Yongping, slowly pulled a thick stack of banknotes from his pocket, and handed them to him.
Gazing at the crisp ten thousand yuan in cash, an indescribable wave of emotion surged in Qin Yongping's heart. This was not merely money; it represented his master's deep care and expectations for him. However, he was not carried away by this large sum. After a brief moment of reflection, he decided to accept only a portion of it.
Carefully taking the stack of banknotes, he pulled out enough to cover his tuition and accommodation fees, and counted out five hundred yuan for his living expenses for the coming month. Then, neatly folding the remaining cash, he handed it back to his master with both hands and said sincerely, "Master, thank you for your kindness, but this is simply too much. I truly don't need this extra money. Please take it back."
Looking at the sensible apprentice before him, a trace of gratification flashed in Elder Guo's eyes. Extending his wrinkled hands, he gently patted Qin Yongping's shoulder and said affectionately, "My child, your expenses after the semester starts won't be small, and you still need to purchase many things. This amount isn't much—take it all, just in case you need it."
Qin Yongping shook his head gratefully and continued, "Master, my parents are honest farmers who make a living by working the land, and our family doesn't have many savings. Fortunately, they've already helped me prepare my daily necessities. Ever since I became your apprentice and they learned that you were willing to sponsor my tuition, they couldn't be happier. They repeatedly instructed me to express my deepest gratitude to you, and vowed that if I achieve success in my studies in the future, I must do my utmost to help you."
As they were talking, a light footstep sounded, and Junior Sister walked over. She smiled at Qin Yongping and encouraged him, "Junior Brother, don't be so polite with Master! Our Medical Hall will depend on you to carry it forward in the future!"
Turbulent emotions stirred within Qin Yongping, and he secretly resolved to study medicine with the utmost diligence to repay his master's kindness. "Meeting you truly is the greatest fortune of my life!" Qin Yongping looked at Elder Guo with complete sincerity, his eyes filled with gratitude and reverence. His voice trembled slightly, as if those words carried too many unspeakable emotions.
Next, Qin Yongping turned his gaze to Junior Sister standing nearby and asked with a smile, "Junior Sister, I haven't had a chance to ask yet—are you still a student?"
Junior Sister nodded lightly, replying in a casual tone, "Yes, I'm at the same university as you, and I'll be entering my senior year when the semester starts. But don't worry, I'm in no rush to head back just yet." Her expression appeared somewhat detached, yet a subtle, hard-to-detect train of thought seemed to linger in her clear eyes.
At this moment, Elder Guo waved his hand and said kindly, "Alright, it's getting late. Both of you should head back early and get some rest. Especially you, Yongping—school starts tomorrow, and you'll have plenty to keep you busy!" With that, a warm smile appeared on Elder Guo's face.
Qin Yongping and Junior Sister exchanged a glance, bid farewell to Elder Guo, and turned to leave, setting off on the road home. The gentle night breeze brushed against their cheeks, bringing a touch of coolness, while their longing and expectations for the future shone brightly like twinkling stars in the night sky...
Night had already fallen quietly when Qin Yongping pushed open his front door, his body carrying a hint of fatigue. The house was completely silent inside, appearing somewhat desolate under the dim lights. He glanced around, guessing that his parents and younger sister had not yet returned from their hard labor in the fields, as this season was the busiest time for farming.
Qin Yongping sighed softly, put down his schoolbag, rolled up his sleeves, and walked into the kitchen to start preparing dinner. The clatter of pots and pans rose one after another in the kitchen. He skillfully washed, chopped, and stir-fried vegetables, and in no time at all, a table full of delicious dishes was laid out. However, even when everything was ready, his family still had not returned.
Taking advantage of this free time, Qin Yongping turned and walked into his room to pack his luggage for the start of school tomorrow. He carefully organized his books and clothes, placing them into his suitcase while his mind constantly conjured images of the upcoming campus life.
Before he knew it, the hands of the wall clock pointed past seven in the evening. At that moment, familiar footsteps and cheerful laughter drifted from outside the door. It turned out that his parents had returned home with his younger sister after a day of labor. The moment she stepped through the door, little sister's sharp gaze was immediately drawn to the lavish meal on the table. She ran over excitedly, a happy smile blooming on her face, and cried out to the busy Qin Yongping, "Wow, Big Brother is amazing! You actually made so many delicious things—you must have known I was starving! But what a pity school starts tomorrow, and I won't get to see my dear big brother for quite a long time."
Hearing his younger sister's innocent words, Qin Yongping paused in what he was doing, walked over with a smile, patted her little head, and gently comforted her, "Silly girl, don't be sad. Even when Big Brother isn't home, I'll often make time to come back and visit you all. Besides, next year it will be our little Yue's turn to take the college entrance exam, so from now on you need to put more effort into your studies. I'm sure you'll do even better on the exam than I did! Mom and Dad's greatest wish is for us to get into good universities in Kyoto and bring honor and pride to them."
"Mm-hmm, don't worry, Big Brother! I study hard and do practice problems every single day," Qin Yue nodded obediently, tightly grasping Qin Yongping's big hand. In truth, however, a firm resolution had already taken root deep in her heart—she was determined to get into Guanghai University, because only then could she continue growing alongside her big brother at the same university.
At this point, Qin Haiming said, "You two siblings stop standing there, sit down and eat first, and we can talk while we eat!"
"Alright, alright, I'm about to starve to death!" Qin Yue declared, eagerly sitting down at the dining table. Her bright eyes flashed with anticipation, and the corners of her mouth curved up into a playful smile.
Turning her head toward her brother, Qin Yue smiled and said, "Big Brother, I hope the start of your semester goes smoothly! May you achieve great success in your studies this new semester and have everything go your way!" With that, she gave a mischievous wink.
By now, the family was gathered around the dining table in a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Although the dishes were simple, they were extremely tasty and exuded an enticing aroma. Father and Mother wore smiles, their eyes filled with deep affection and pampering for their children.
Everyone picked up their chopsticks and began enjoying the delicious meal. Laughter rang out from time to time, and the entire room was filled with the fragrance of happiness.