Chapter 8: On the Way to the Medical Hall
Time flew like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye, Friday arrived. After a full fifteen long and arduous days of university military training, it finally came to a successful conclusion. Every day during this period was filled with sweat and exhaustion, yet it was also immensely fulfilling and meaningful. Under the strict training of the instructors, the students not only conditioned their bodies but also forged their willpower, leaving everyone with a completely refreshed outlook.
Considering that the freshmen had just undergone high-intensity military training, the school thoughtfully arranged two precious days of rest for everyone. By Monday evening, a grand welcome gala would be held—promising a joyful, lively night full of surprises.
Qin Yongping already had his own plan in mind; he decided to use these two days of free time to go learn at a Medical Hall. Early Saturday morning, sunlight filtered through the thin clouds, scattering across every corner of the campus. After washing up, Qin Yongping went to the school cafeteria, casually selected some food, and quickly finished his breakfast. Then, with a brisk stride, he walked out of the school gates and headed toward the nearby bus stop.
Perhaps because it was Saturday morning and most people were still deep in sweet slumber, the bus was quite empty with very few passengers. After boarding, Qin Yongping walked straight toward the back door and found a comfortable seat by the window. Just as the driver was about to close the doors and pull away, a hurried shout came from outside: "Driver, wait!" A young woman was seen hurrying toward them, and upon seeing her, the driver paused and waited until she got on before closing the doors. After boarding, the girl scanned the back of the bus, and seeing that there were not many people, she walked over and sat down. Catching a faint, clean fragrance, Qin Yongping glanced sideways at the girl. She was dressed ordinarily yet looked very delicate and pretty, with clear and bright eyes.
The bus slowly pulled away. Just as the girl walked past Qin Yongping, the wheels hit a speed bump and the bus suddenly jerked. Losing her footing, the girl quickly grabbed the back of the nearby seat with both hands and, due to inertia, stumbled right into the empty seat beside Qin Yongping. Qin Yongping asked with concern, "Are you alright, classmate?" The girl nodded awkwardly and replied, "I'm fine." The two began to chat.
"Good to hear! When I saw you walking out of the school just now, I was wondering if you might also be a student at Guanghai University," Qin Yongping asked with a smile.
The girl nodded gently and answered softly, "Yes, that's right. I really am a student at Guanghai University, and a freshman this year, too."
Hearing this, a flash of pleasant surprise crossed Qin Yongping's eyes, and he hurriedly introduced himself: "Haha, what a coincidence! We're both freshmen then. My name is Qin Yongping, from the School of Medicine. I didn't expect you to be so capable, finding a part-time job so soon after starting university."
The girl smiled slightly. "I'm in the School of Medicine too," she explained. "Actually, I started this part-time job during the summer—it's tutoring. The employer told me that if I have free time on weekends after the semester starts, I can continue coming over to help tutor. So today, I'm heading out to do tutoring after coordinating with my employer."
Puzzled, Qin Yongping asked, "We're classmates? But why do I have no impression of you at all?" As he spoke, he scratched his head, seeming to struggle as he tried to recall any details about the girl, but ultimately came up empty.
Hearing his question, the girl smiled slightly, revealing two cute little canine teeth, and replied softly, "You must be in Class 2. My name is Zhou Qingqing, and I'm from Class 1. Seeing you heading out so early, are you going home?" Her bright, large eyes flickered, shining as brilliantly as stars in the night sky.
Qin Yongping sheepishly touched the back of his head and smiled as he explained, "Ah, I see! No wonder I didn't recognize you before. Actually, my home is a bit far from the school, so I probably won't be going back very often. I'm not heading home today either; I just wanted to visit downtown and clear my mind." With that, a relaxed and pleasant expression appeared on his face.
Just as the two were chatting happily, the bus slowly stopped at a station. Qin Yongping looked up out the window and realized he had reached his destination.
He quickly stood up, nodded politely to Zhou Qingqing, and said, "Ah, what a coincidence, my stop is here. It was really great meeting you here, and it's nice to know you. We can chat another time, bye-bye!" With that, he stepped off the bus with light, quick steps.
Stepping down from the bus, Qin Yongping stretched his body lightly and then walked with steady strides toward the nearby Medical Hall. The Medical Hall was antique in style, with an old yet classically charming sign hanging above the entrance.
As he stepped inside, a faint scent of herbal medicine wafted over him. Passing through the front hall into the back courtyard, he saw sunlight spilling across the yard, where Senior Sister was vigorously practicing a set of boxing forms. Her movements were fluid, combining hardness and softness, with every single form and stance imbued with profound skill.
Qin Yongping stood aside to watch quietly, his gaze focused and earnest. After a while, he began to cautiously mimic Senior Sister's movements. At first, he was somewhat awkward, but as time passed, he gradually grasped some of the techniques and his form looked better and better.
After finishing the boxing routine, Qin Yongping felt thoroughly refreshed, with a light film of sweat coating his skin. He walked over to Senior Sister, smiled, and greeted her: "Morning, Senior Sister!" Senior Sister stopped, turned to look at him, and with a flash of approval in her eyes, said, "Not bad, Yongping, you've improved!"
Praise from Senior Sister made Qin Yongping feel wonderful inside. After chatting with her for a few moments, he turned and walked toward the study. The study was very quiet, with only the occasional chirp of a bird from outside the window. Qin Yongping walked over to the bookshelf, gently pulled out a thick volume of the Materia Medica Canon, found a seat, and began to read with rapt attention. The book detailed the characteristics, efficacies, and identification methods of various medicinal herbs. Qin Yongping memorized silently as he read, as if trying to carve all this precious knowledge deep into his mind.
Unaware of how much time had passed, the tightly closed door of the study was slowly pushed open, and a slightly aged yet spirited figure walked in. It was Elder Guo. He walked with steady steps directly behind Qin Yongping, who was engrossed in studying his medical text, and gently patted him on the shoulder with a broad palm.
Hearing the sound, Qin Yongping immediately put down his book, stood up at once, and turned to face Elder Guo. With a face beaming with respect and joy, he said, "Hello, Master!"
With a smile, Elder Guo looked his disciple up and down, satisfaction shining in his eyes as he nodded and praised, "Mm, not bad, not bad. After this period of military training, Yongping, I can see your physique has grown much sturdier."
Qin Yongping sheepishly scratched his head and replied with a smile, "It's all thanks to Master's usual guidance." Then, as if remembering something, he asked, "Master, what shall we study next?"
Elder Guo smiled slightly, stroked his beard, and said slowly, "We can pause your reading of the Materia Medica Canon for now. Starting today, I will begin teaching you about the human body's meridians and acupuncture points." With that, he walked over to the desk, picked up a yellowed ancient text, opened it, and began pointing out the densely packed meridian diagrams to explain them to Qin Yongping...