In the Taiping Medical Hall, only Old Man Yao remained, standing behind the counter and fiddling with an abacus.
As he worked, he suddenly stopped and gazed at the bustling crowd outside the door.
In the past, he had often complained about the noisy youngsters in the medical hall, but now that it was suddenly quiet, he felt an emptiness in his heart.
Old Man Yao took six copper coins from his sleeve and tossed them onto the counter.
As he divined the hexagram, he muttered to himself, "Not coming back tonight? Hmph, saves me the trouble of leaving food for them."
From the backyard came the meow of a cat.
He slowly made his way to the backyard and saw Wuyun, the black cat, sitting obediently on the wall, surrounded by more than twenty tabby cats.
Old Man Yao smiled and said, "Wait a moment."
He went inside and brought out a box of pastries from Zhengxin Zhai.
Opening the drawer, he took out the pastries one by one and placed them in his palm.
The tabby cats lined up and jumped down from the wall, politely taking the pastries in their mouths.
When it was Wuyun's turn, Old Man Yao opened the box and said, "Pick whichever one you want."
Wuyun didn't eat.
Instead, it looked up at him.
Old Man Yao chuckled and patted Wuyun's head.
"You're worried about me eating first? I can't eat much anymore."
Wuyun looked confused.
Old Man Yao explained with a smile, "People are born, grow old, get sick, and die. When you can't eat anymore, it's time to go. I used to resist it, but now I've come to accept it. Living to ninety-two is more than enough."
Just then, a voice called from the main hall of the medical hall, "Physician Yao?"
Old Man Yao raised an eyebrow and walked to the main hall with his hands behind his back.
He saw the medical hall packed with people, led by Chen Liqin, dressed in a blue official robe.
Behind Chen Liqin, servants from the Chen family carried eight boxes of gifts.
Outside, neighbors gathered, peeking in to see what was happening.
When Old Man Yao appeared, a servant loudly announced, "The Chen family has brought eight gifts to complete the apprenticeship ceremony: two jars of fine wine, ten strips of cured meat, one pig's hind leg, two lambs, a box of pastries, ten silver ingots, two bolts of silk, and a silver ruler."
Old Man Yao sneered, "What are you shouting for? Are you trying to show off the Chen family's wealth to the neighbors, or do you want everyone to know you don't understand the rules? It's been two years since the apprenticeship, and only now you bring the gifts? Official Chen, you sure have a lot of authority, coming to my humble medical hall in your official robe."
Chen Liqin looked embarrassed and quickly clasped his hands in apology.
"I have to attend the Autumn Examination banquet at noon, so I came out in my official robe. Physician Yao, please forgive me. I came today to apologize and make up for the Chen family's lack of courtesy."
"Fine, leave the gifts and go," Old Man Yao waved his hand.
Chen Liqin didn't leave.
He hesitated for a moment and said, "I heard my son has turned over a new leaf. How has he been performing here?"
"Performing?" Old Man Yao thought for a moment.
"He gets up early every day to fetch water, sweep the floor, and wipe the tables. He's been making a lot of noise, disturbing my peace."
Chen Liqin asked again, "Has he been gambling?"
Old Man Yao stroked his beard and shook his head.
"Many say he used to be a gambler, but since he came to my medical hall, he hasn't gambled once."
Chen Liqin sighed in relief.
"Today, I also came to discuss something with you."
"What is it?"
Chen Liqin said, "Chen Ji has been clever since he was young. Over the years, I've been too busy with official duties to take care of him, and he went astray. Now that he's turned over a new leaf, I want to take him back home and send him to Donglin Academy next spring to study for three years."
"Study?"
"Yes, Chen Ji is only seventeen this year. Three years of study will give him enough time to prepare for the imperial examinations."
In the medical hall, Old Man Yao looked at the crowd of Chen family members and his expression gradually darkened.
"You messed up his upbringing and dumped him in my medical hall, and now that he's improved, you want to take him back? Do you think the world works that way? Why don't you just send all your future descendants to me for upbringing?"
Chen Liqin said earnestly, "Physician Yao, you know that studying and taking the imperial examinations is the right path. Before, I thought he was beyond saving, but now that he's turned over a new leaf, as his father, I naturally want to think about his future. If you care for him, wouldn't you also want him to have a brighter future?"
Old Man Yao mocked, "I don't agree with this. Take your gifts back. I don't care for them. I already said yesterday that from now on, your Chen family doesn't even need to pay tuition. I've taken him as my disciple. I'll feed him and take care of him, and he'll take care of me in my old age."
Chen Liqin's expression also darkened.
"Physician Yao, why are you being so unreasonable? I didn't agree to this yesterday. Learning from you, at best, he'll become a seventh-rank physician. But if he takes the imperial examinations, he could govern a region and benefit more people. Why don't we let Chen Ji decide for himself? I believe he knows what's best."
Old Man Yao raised an eyebrow.
"He's not at the medical hall."
Chen Liqin frowned.
"Delaying things like this won't help."
Old Man Yao sneered, "He's at the kiln in Liujiatun. If you want to ask him, go there! If he wants to go back to the Chen family, I won't stop him!"
Chen Liqin was puzzled.
"He's not studying at the medical hall, but instead working in that dirty kiln, mingling with filthy laborers? Physician Yao, why aren't you keeping him in check?"
Old Man Yao rolled his eyes.
"My disciple can do whatever he wants. Who are you to control him?"
Chen Liqin clasped his hands.
"Now I'm even more convinced that Chen Ji should come back with me. Goodbye. If he's willing to return to the Chen family, I hope you won't stop him."
With that, Chen Liqin left and got into his carriage, heading towards Liujiatun in the south of the city.
Old Man Yao looked at the gifts left in the main hall and remained silent for a long time.
Wuyun gracefully jumped onto the counter and rubbed its head against the back of his hand.
Old Man Yao looked at Wuyun and slowly asked, "I've already taught him the ways of the medical hall. There's nothing more I can teach him. On one side, there's an old man in a medical hall and the bitter smell of herbs. On the other side, there's the grand Chen family, with the Minister of Revenue. What do you think he'll choose?" Wuyun didn't answer.
...
At the kiln, Prince Jing stood with his hands behind his back, silently watching the construction of the inverted flame kiln.
Feng Daban, his attendant, gently reminded him, "Your Highness, today is the day of the Autumn Examination banquet. According to tradition, the Luocheng government will host a banquet at Yingxian Tower at noon for the inner and outer examiners. You should head there. On such an important day, your absence might make the officials uneasy."
According to custom, before the Autumn Examination, a "mounting the curtain" banquet is held.
After the banquet, the examiners are divided into inner and outer examiners.
The inner examiners are responsible for grading the papers, while the outer examiners oversee the examination hall.
They are not allowed to meet each other.
The mounting the curtain banquet is usually hosted by the most respected person in the area.
Prince Jing said calmly, "I won't attend the banquet today. What's happening here is more important."
Feng Daban was puzzled.
"Your Highness, you sent for the most skilled military craftsmen from the Imperial Workshop early this morning after hearing a few words from the young master. Now you're skipping the banquet... It's just a kiln for making porcelain. I've never seen you so interested in porcelain before. If you like kilns, I can send someone to Jingdezhen to pick one out. Why bother making one yourself?"
Prince Jing pointed at the kiln being built and smiled.
"Porcelain? Porcelain isn't what brought me here in such a hurry."
Feng Daban was even more confused.
"Your Highness, is it because of what Young Master Chen said about finding a replacement for glutinous rice mortar?"
"Yes, and no," Prince Jing said slowly.
"The court's annual iron production is barely enough. If we allocate more to the border troops, the price of iron pots for the common people skyrockets. But if we allocate more to the provinces, the border troops suffer. Every general returning from the border complains about the lack of military equipment."
He continued, "Feng Daban, do you know what it would mean if this inverted flame kiln could increase the temperature by another twenty percent?"
Feng Daban clasped his hands and lowered his eyes.
"I'm just a eunuch. I only know how to serve and protect Your Highness. I don't need to know more. Knowing too much would only confuse me."
Prince Jing smiled.
"Feng Daban, you're as cautious as ever."
Feng Daban also smiled.
"Please enlighten me, Your Highness. Why are you so interested in this kiln?"
Prince Jing explained slowly, "If this inverted flame kiln can increase the temperature by another twenty percent, it means iron ore can be directly turned into molten iron. Then, our border troops won't have to patch up their broken weapons anymore. We might even dream of having heavy cavalry."
Feng Daban looked enlightened.
"This is a matter of national policy. Compared to this, the Luocheng Autumn Examination is indeed insignificant. But Your Highness has always been prudent. Why are you placing such a heavy bet on a young man? What if he's just boasting?"
Prince Jing smiled.
"Do you believe in divination?"
"Huh?" Feng Daban didn't understand, but Prince Jing didn't explain further.
Prince Jing changed the subject and teased, "Chen Ji is smart, but he's still inexperienced. He's focused on finding a replacement for glutinous rice mortar, but he hasn't realized that the real treasure is the technology to modify the kiln."
Feng Daban was puzzled.
"Your Highness, are you going to buy this kiln modification technology?"
Prince Jing laughed.
"Buy? First, I'll teach this inexperienced young man a lesson."
At the entrance of the kiln, Chen Ji was driving an ox cart back from outside, loaded with a tall stack of green bricks.
Liang Mao'er and the young master were pushing the cart from behind.
A man approached and said, "Young Master Chen, I have a question. Can you help me?"
Chen Ji called for She Dengke to take the ox, then clapped the dust off his hands and smiled.
"Sure, let's go to the kiln. What do you want to ask?"
Chen Ji stood in front of the kiln and pointed to various parts as he explained to the man.
"Young Master Chen, why is the main flue buried directly under the kiln? Shouldn't it be a chimney at the back?"
"The suction holes need to be buried directly below to create a reverse flow of flames inside the kiln."
"Young Master Chen, why does the size of the fire hole have to be twenty percent of the grate?"
"Because if it's any bigger, it will burn out the grate."
Chen Ji stood side by side with the man in front of the kiln.
Behind them, another man quietly took out a small notebook from his pocket and used a piece of charcoal to jot down Chen Ji's explanations.
After Chen Ji finished answering, the man casually put the notebook back in his pocket and continued working.
Bai Li silently watched Chen Ji's straight, thin back.
At that moment, he didn't seem like a medical hall apprentice.
No matter how disheveled and dusty he looked, once he brushed off the dirt, he seemed like a teacher imparting knowledge, gentle and composed.
This gentle young man and the knife-wielding assassin from that night seemed like two completely different people, as natural as the alternation of day and night.
But then she noticed the military craftsman's subtle movements and quickly walked over to Chen Ji to inform him.
(End of Chapter)