In the Taiping Medical Center, only Old Yao was left standing alone behind the counter, fiddling with the abacus.

After dialing, he suddenly stopped and looked at the bustling crowd outside the door.

In the past, I disliked a bunch of little brats making noisy noises in the hospital, but today it suddenly became deserted, and I felt empty inside.

Old Man Yao took out six copper coins from his sleeve and threw them on the counter. He explained the hexagram while muttering: "Not coming back tonight? Ha, it saves me having to leave food for them."

A cat meowed from the backyard. He walked slowly to the backyard and saw Wuyun squatting obediently on the eaves of the wall, and there were more than twenty civet cats beside him.

Old man Yao smiled and said, "Just wait a moment."

With that said, he went into the house and took out the snack box from Zheng Xin Zhai, opened the drawer and held the snacks one by one in the palm of his hand. The civet cats lined up and jumped off the wall one by one, politely taking the snacks away.

When it was Wu Yun's turn at last, Old Yao simply opened the box and said, "You can choose which one you want to eat."

Wuyun didn't eat, but looked up at him.

Old Yao was happy. He touched Wu Yun's head and said, "You still want me to eat first? I can't eat anymore."

Wu Yun is puzzled.

Old Man Yao smiled and explained: "Everyone is born, old, sick, and dead. Once you can't eat anymore, it's time to leave. I used to be dissatisfied, but then I saw it. I can live to be ninety-two years old, so what else can I be dissatisfied about?"

of."

At this time, a voice came from the main hall of the medical center: "Mr. Yao?"

Old Yao raised his eyebrows and walked to the main hall with his hands behind his back. He saw that the medical clinic was packed with people, led by Chen Liqin, who was wearing a blue official robe.

Behind Chen Liqin, a boy from the Chen family was carrying eight boxes of gifts. Neighbors gathered outside the door and poked their heads in to watch the fun.

Seeing old man Yao come out, a boy immediately said loudly: "The Chen family has repaired eight items for the ruins today: two jars of fine wine, ten pieces of bacon, one pig hind leg, two lambs, one snack, and ten silver collars."

, two pieces of silk and satin, and a silver ruler."

Old Man Yao sneered: "What are you yelling about? Do you want the neighbors to know that your Chen family is rich, or do you want them to know that you don't understand the rules and only served as apprentices for two years? Mr. Chen is such a big official.

Wei, you came to my little medical clinic wearing official robes."

Chen Liqin looked a little embarrassed, and hurriedly clasped his fists and said: "I have to attend the Qiu Wei Banquet at noon, so I went out wearing official robes. Forgive me, Imperial Physician Yao, I came here today to express my apology and make up for my lack of etiquette in the Chen family."

"It's easy to say, just put down your things and leave," Old Man Yao waved his hand.

Chen Liqin did not leave. He hesitated for a moment and said, "I heard that Quanzi has reformed. I wonder how he will behave at your place?"

"How's the performance?" Old Yao thought for a while and said, "I get up early every morning to carry water, sweep the floor, and wipe the tables. It makes my old man no peace."

Chen Liqin asked again: "Has he continued gambling?"

Old Man Yao stroked his beard and shook his head and said, "Many people say that he used to be a compulsive gambler, but when he came to my clinic, he never gambled for a day."

Chen Liqin breathed a sigh of relief: "When I came to the hospital today, I actually have something else I want to discuss with you."

"What's the matter?"

Chen Liqin said: "Chen Ji has been very smart since he was a child. It is because I have been busy with official duties and have no time to take care of him that he has grown crooked. Now that he has changed his ways, I am thinking of taking him back to the mansion and sending him to his hometown in the spring of next year."

Studying at Donglin Academy for three years."

"read?"

"That's right, Chen Ji is only seventeen years old this year, and he has enough time to take part in the imperial examination after studying for three years."

In the medical clinic, old man Yao looked at the bustling Chen family in front of him, and his face gradually darkened: "If your tutor is bad, you will leave me in the Taiping Medical Clinic, and if you learn well, you will take him back? Is there such a good thing in the world? From now on, your Chen family will

Don’t teach your children by yourself, send them all here to me.”

Chen Liqin said sincerely: "Mr. Yao, you also understand that studying for the imperial examination is the right path. I used to think that he was hopeless, but now that he has returned from his lost path, I, as a father, naturally have to think about his future. You

If you love and protect him, you will naturally hope that he will be more promising in the future, right?"

Old Man Yao said sarcastically: "I don't agree with this matter. Please take back all the gifts you sent me. I don't care about it. I said it yesterday. From now on, your Chen family won't even have to pay the student loan. I will accept it."

As my son’s disciple, I will take care of what he eats and what he drinks, and he will provide for me until I die.”

Chen Liqin's face also darkened: "Why should Imperial Physician Yao be unreasonable? I didn't agree with you yesterday. If I learn from you, I can become a seventh-grade imperial physician at most. If I take part in the imperial examination, I will be a pastor and benefit more people in the future. As for Chen Ji, it's better to let him

He can decide for himself, I believe he knows how to choose."

Old Yao raised his eyebrows: "He is not in the hospital."

Chen Liqin frowned and said, "It's useless for you to delay time like this."

Old Man Yao sneered: "Where is his kiln factory in Liujiatun? If you want to ask him, go there and ask! If he wants to go back to Chen Mansion with you, I won't stop him!"

Chen Liqin was puzzled: "He doesn't study in this medical clinic, goes to that dirty kiln factory, and associates with filthy bricklayers? Doctor Yao, why don't you restrain him?"

Old Yao rolled his eyes: "Do you care what my apprentice wants to do?"

Chen Liqin cupped his hands and said, "Now I feel that Chen Ji should follow me back to the Chen Mansion and say goodbye. If he is willing to follow me back to the Chen Mansion, please don't stop him."

After saying that, Chen Liqin went out and got on the carriage and headed to Liujiatun in the south of the city.

Old Man Yao looked at Shu Xiuli who was abandoned in the main hall and remained silent for a long time.

Wu Yun jumped up to the counter lightly and rubbed his head on the back of his hand.

Old Man Yao looked at Wu Yun and asked slowly: "I have already taught him the way to be an official, and I have nothing to teach him. On one side is the bad old man from the Imperial Medical Office and the bitter smell of the medicinal materials in the room, and on the other side is the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs.

The big Chen family, what do you think he will choose?"

Wuyun didn't answer.

…

…

In the kiln factory, Prince Jing clasped his hands behind his back and stared at the inverted flame kiln that was taking shape in front of him as silently as the mountains.

Feng Daban was beside him and reminded him in a gentle voice: "Your Majesty, today is the day when autumn comes. According to the usual practice, the Luocheng government office will entertain the inner and outer curtain officials at the Yingxian Tower at noon. It's time for you to go to the banquet.

, On such an important day, not having you here may make the officials feel uneasy."

According to custom, before the examination starts in autumn, a ‘horse-mounting banquet’ must be held.

After the banquet, Qiu Wei examiners were divided into inner curtain officers and outer curtain officers. The inner curtain officers were responsible for reviewing and marking papers, while the outer curtain officers were responsible for supervising the examination room. They did not see each other.

The horse banquet is usually hosted by the most prestigious person in the local area.

Prince Jing said calmly: "I won't go to the horse-mounting banquet today. Things here are more important."

Feng Daban said doubtfully: "My lord, after hearing a few words from the prince early in the morning, you immediately sent someone to work as a supervisor and summoned the most capable military craftsman. Now you are absent from the banquet... It's just a kiln for firing porcelain."

That’s it, I’ve never seen you care so much about porcelain in the past. If you like the kiln, I’ll send someone to Jingdezhen to select it, why bother firing it yourself?”

Prince Jing pointed to the kiln under construction from a distance and asked with a smile: "Porcelain? Porcelain cannot make me rush here."

Feng Daban was even more confused: "Is it because the prince said that Dr. Chen can replace the glutinous rice mortar?"

"Yes and no," Prince Jing said slowly: "Nowadays, the imperial court's annual official iron output is stretched thin. If too much is allocated to the border troops, the price of even iron pots among the private sector will skyrocket. But if too many quotas are given to the states, the border troops will

You have to endure hardships. Which general coming back from the border town doesn't complain about the shortage of weapons?"

He continued: "Feng Daban, do you know what it means if the temperature of this inverted flame kiln can be increased by another 20%?"

Feng Daban cupped his hands and lowered his eyes: "A humble minister is just a eunuch. He only knows how to serve and protect the prince well. You don't need to know anything else. If you know too much, your heart will be confused."

Prince Jing smiled: "Feng Daban is still so cautious."

Feng Daban also smiled: "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty, why is Your Majesty so concerned about this kiln?"

Prince Jing slowly explained: "If this inverted flame kiln can increase the temperature by another 20%, it means that the iron ore can be directly turned into molten iron. By then, our Ningchao border troops will no longer have to carry some broken weapons to repair them.

After tinkering, you can even admire the style of heavy cavalry."

Feng Daban looked astonished: "This is a national policy. Compared with it, Luocheng Qiuwei is really nothing. But the prince has always been prudent in doing things, why would he put so much emphasis on a young man? What if he was just boasting?

What to do in Haikou?”

Prince Jing smiled and said, "Do you believe in hexagrams?"

"Huh?" Feng Daban didn't understand, but Prince Jing stopped explaining.

Prince Jing changed the topic and joked: "Chen Ji is smart, but he is still inexperienced. He only wanted to make a substitute for glutinous rice mortar, but he never thought that the technology of changing kilns is the real one."

pearl."

Feng Daban was confused: "The prince wants to buy this kiln modification technology?"

Prince Jing laughed loudly: "Buy? First, let this young man who has no experience in the world teach a lesson."

At the entrance of the kiln factory, Chen Ji was driving an ox cart back from outside. The cart was pulling high stacks of blue bricks, while Liang Maoer and Shizi were pushing the cart behind.

A man walked up to me and said, "Dr. Chen, I have a question. Can you answer my question?"

Chen Ji called She Dengke to drive the cows, and he patted the dust on his palms and said with a smile: "Okay, let's go to the kiln and ask. What do you want to ask?"

But I saw Chen Ji standing in front of the kiln, pointing everywhere and explaining to the man.

"Dr. Chen, why is the main flue buried directly under the kiln? Shouldn't the chimney be erected at the back?"

"It is necessary to bury the fire suction hole directly below to allow the flame flow to form a rewind in the kiln."

"Dr. Chen, why does the size of the flame hole have to be 20% of the grate?"

"Because no matter how big it is, it will burn out the grate."

Chen Ji and a man stood side by side in front of the kiln. Behind them, a man silently took out a small notebook from his arms and wrote down Chen Ji's explanation with a charcoal pen.

After Chen Ji finished answering, he pretended to be nonchalant, stuffed the notebook back into his arms, and continued working.

Bai Li silently stared at Chen Ji's upright and thin back, feeling that he did not look like a medical apprentice at this time.

Regardless of how miserable the gray-haired man looks with his disheveled hair, the other person just needs to brush off the dust on his body, and he will look like a gentle and calm gentleman preaching, teaching, and resolving doubts.

This gentle young man and the killer who broke his sword that night seemed to be two separate people, alternating naturally like day and night.

But she suddenly noticed the military craftsman's little move, raised her foot and walked towards Chen Ji to report.
Chapter completed!