I Can Talk to the Internal Organs-Chapter 176 - 149: Lacking the Hard Knocks of Society

Chapter 176: Chapter 149: Lacking the Hard Knocks of Society

Joking?

Huang Fusheng felt that Lu Jiu had no understanding of his own position.

A person with a solid foundation in basic TCM diagnosis, acupuncture skills comparable to a national acupuncturist, and who understands classic prescriptions, The Book of Changes.

Such talent at just over twenty years old.

In his lifetime, Huang Fusheng had never seen a young man with such high innate talent as Lu Jiu.

Let alone him, even the top National Masters of Chinese Medicine in the country would probably take a flight over tonight to teach him everything if they knew about Lu Jiu’s skills.

There’s no choice, it’s really, really difficult to find a highly talented successor among the younger generation.

For experienced TCM practitioners who are reaching the end of their careers, whenever they encounter a promising student, they are eager to impart all their skills unto them.

In this day and age, who cares about those ancient rules of not passing on secrets? As long as you are willing to learn and your character isn’t flawed, they will teach you until you master it, fearing only that you might not learn.

"If you feel this occasion is not formal enough, I can visit you at another time," Huang Fusheng said solemnly.

Lu Jiu waved his hand, "Elder Huang, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that I don’t understand why you see potential in me. We’ve only met once, and just because I answered two questions, you want to take me as your student. Honestly, it’s like winning the lottery, and I don’t like to attribute all of this to luck."

"Hahaha, we didn’t meet just once, it was twice." Seeing the shocked expression on Lu Jiu’s face, Huang Fusheng continued, "A few days ago, your uncle Lu Feng came to see me, trying to give me gifts and pull strings, hoping I could look after you. At that time, I was very angry, thinking I wouldn’t even ask a question on the interview day, and would eliminate you just seeing your name. But my students have watched your online videos and thought you’re a kid with decent character, advising me not to act rashly."

"After that, I visited your clinic with him and observed your consultations. I was surprised. I didn’t expect that in a small city, one could still find a TCM practitioner skilled in Piercing Cold and proficient in acupuncture as well as classic prescriptions. Now, you also understand The Book of Changes. To be honest, if I were to relay your credentials to the handful of senior TCM peers at the association, I fear I wouldn’t have the chance to recruit you as my student, hahaha."

What!?

Skilled in Piercing Cold!?

Huang Fusheng’s students all looked at Lu Jiu in unison.

Lu Jiu then understood that Huang Fusheng had planned to recruit him as a student for some time.

Only today’s performance convinced him of his decision, adding a bit of urgency.

Lu Jiu was very grateful for such deep regard, but when it came to becoming an apprentice, he did not immediately agree.

"Elder Huang, may I ask, does becoming your apprentice mean I have to study by your side?" Lu Jiu inquired.

Huang Fusheng immediately saw Lu Jiu’s intent, "Hehehe, it’s up to you. I take on students to answer questions and solve doubts. You can call me if you face difficulties, or you can follow me for a while if you wish. It’s all quite casual. TCM learning isn’t about those superficial things. If you can comprehend it, it’s yours. If you can’t, it doesn’t matter if you’re with me every day, it’s meaningless."

"So, there’s no need to dwell on this issue. If you’re tied up with your clinic, just contact me via WeChat for any questions. If you encounter a bottleneck in learning medicine and want to take time off, close your clinic and come to Nanhe to find me. I am always welcoming, though I’ll be staying in Jianghan until things are settled with the herbs base, then I’ll return to Nanhe."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jiu realized that if he didn’t make a move, it would be quite disrespectful to his elders.

Therefore, Lu Jiu stood up from his seat, then walked over to Huang Fusheng respectfully. Just as he was about to kneel and bow, An Xianda hurriedly stepped forward to support his arm.

"Lu Jiu, our teacher doesn’t require the traditional kneeling and bowing for accepting students, just bowing and offering tea will suffice." After saying this, he handed a bottle of mineral water to Lu Jiu, "Since the teacher chose this place, let’s keep things simple, shall we, teacher?"

Huang Fusheng smiled, "Let’s do it that way, I’m not that particular."

For him, receiving a talented student at his age was already quite gratifying.

The old customs didn’t mean much now; whether teaching one or teaching two students, as long as someone learns, he would be happy.

As for Lu Jiu, he felt that besides resolving queries, there didn’t seem to be much else left to teach.

Upon hearing this from Huang Fusheng, Lu Jiu didn’t persist. He picked up the mineral water, bowed at ninety degrees, then opened the cap and handed it respectfully to Huang Fusheng with both hands.

Huang Fusheng accepted it with a smile, taking a sip.

Lu Jiu smiled and said, "Teacher."

Huang Fusheng replied happily, "Alright, this is the end of the interview. Let’s exchange contact details, and please add theirs as well. Once I’m free from the tasks here, if you have time, come with me to Jinling. I’ll introduce you to some senior peers. Learning from them would greatly benefit you."

Wow!

The teacher is really going all out to help!

Huang Fusheng’s students were envious.

Of course, they have followed Huang Fusheng to meet those top names in the TCM field, but without enough talent, they’ve yet to fully comprehend under the teacher’s guidance. They don’t have the face to seek further mentorship.

In the TCM field, it’s not uncommon to have multiple mentors, but you must first achieve something under a current mentor. Only when a mentor has nothing more to teach will you and your mentor encourage seeking other senior mentors.

Huang Fusheng was undoubtedly implying that there wasn’t much he could teach Lu Jiu and that Lu Jiu needed to meet other senior practitioners.

They were in their forties and fifties, internally lamenting at the high praise Lu Jiu received, realizing there really is a great divide between people.

At just twenty-something, Lu Jiu already possessed a depth they hadn’t achieved in half a lifetime.

How is that even fair?

"Lu Jiu, add me first. I’ll pass on the teacher’s WeChat and phone number to you," An Xianda said with a smile.

An Xianda took out his phone and quickly added Lu Jiu on WeChat, then forwarded the contact information of Huang Fusheng and the other senior students at the table to Lu Jiu.

Finally, Lu Jiu learned the names of the six individuals.

Wang Xinda, Zuo Quan, Lan Mei, Fu Xingfa, Zeng Mengcheng, Xu Zhong.

Among them, Lan Mei is the only female Chinese doctor, she’s in her forties, and has dimples when she smiles.

After adding everyone on WeChat, Lu Jiu was about to say goodbye when An Xianda casually asked, "Hey? Lu Jiu, you’ve mastered Piercing Cold, what about Mountain Burning Fire? Do you know it too?"

Lu Jiu nodded, "Yeah."

The six people behind An Xianda couldn’t help but smile wryly.

To master a top-level Supplement and Drainage Acupuncture Technique is already impressive; if you know two, then you can basically cure small ailments on the spot, and even some so-called difficult diseases aren’t hard to treat with these two techniques.

Even though they thought that having mastered Piercing Cold, there was no reason not to know Mountain Burning Fire, since the techniques aren’t that different—just the sequence and number of needle insertions vary—as long as the Qi Sensitivity is there, they are connected. But when Lu Jiu affirmed it, they still felt quite emotional.

Lu Jiu also realized that he might have made everyone a bit awkward, so he bowed slightly and said, "Uh, teacher, and everyone else..."

An Xianda eased the situation, "Call us seniors. You can call everyone elder brother or sister in the future. Although some might be old enough to be your father, they’d be happy to be called young."

Lu Jiu laughed, "Alright then, seniors, I will take my leave."

An Xianda said, "Bye."

The seniors all waved to him as well.

Leaving the examination room, Lu Jiu returned to the waiting area.

Tang Yi saw Lu Jiu’s calm expression and already had the answer in his heart, "Brother Lu, did you pass? I saw you were inside for almost half an hour; among all candidates, you were the slowest one."

Lu Jiu said, "The results aren’t out yet, but there shouldn’t be a problem."

Having been accepted as a disciple, the spot as a Chinese medicine student is naturally secure.

Tang Yi smiled, "I knew there’d be no problem, hehe."

"By the way, what questions did the examiners ask that took you so long to answer?"

Lu Jiu said, "Just two questions. One was to elaborate on the etiology and pathogenesis of a disease and its progression and prescribe a formula. The other was to discuss what the self-healing ability of the human body is derived from."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yi’s head throbbed, "No way, Brother Lu, those were your exam questions? Why are yours different from others’? I could answer theirs, but yours stumped me completely. I might struggle with just the first one; as for the second, isn’t the self-healing ability just the function of the five viscera and six bowels?"

Li Wei, upon hearing this, immediately leaned over, "How did you answer them?"

Lu Jiu smiled wryly, "It’s too long; I’ll tell you another time. I think the questions you’ll be asked should also be different, so don’t let my answers disrupt your thinking now."

Indeed.

Li Wei didn’t pursue it further.

Tang Yi quickly calmed down.

He hadn’t expected to pass the interview anyway, so even if he couldn’t answer, there was no psychological burden.

Shortly after the 20th candidate finished, Tang Yi walked into the examination room.

Seven or eight minutes later, he came out, looking quite cheerful, which suggested he did okay.

Lastly, it was Li Wei’s turn; he was the 26th candidate. After waiting for half an hour, he entered.

Similarly, after seven or eight minutes, he came out of the examination room.

Tang Yi noticed something was off with his expression and quickly asked, "Brother Li, what’s the matter? Was it difficult to answer?"

Li Wei shook his head, "I answered everything correctly."

Tang Yi curiously asked, "Then why do you look so glum?"

Li Wei glanced at Lu Jiu, "Why was his question so hard, while mine was just the basics of Chinese medicine? It was completely treating me like a newbie, clearly looking down on me. I argued with them, and they found me troublesome. Why?"

Tang Yi asked curiously, "How did you argue?"

Li Wei replied matter-of-factly, "I just said they were looking down on me and asked for more challenging questions, ideally like his. And the examiners just laughed, which made me furious, so I questioned why they were laughing. Then one lady said I had an emotional problem and wasn’t fit to be a teacher. I wanted to argue more, but they said I was making too much fuss. Don’t you think they’re crazy?"

Uh...

It was the first time Tang Yi saw a candidate arguing with examiners.

Although he didn’t know why asking for the same standard as Lu Jiu was funny to those examiners, they just chuckled, and yet you got angry. If someone with this temperament were to teach kids, it’s not just the examiners who would advise against it; even the children’s parents might disapprove.

"Brother Lu, let’s go." Tang Yi sighed helplessly.

Lu Jiu also felt that Li Wei’s temperament indeed left nothing to be said.

Displaying emotions on your face doesn’t necessarily mean you’re sincere; sometimes you may just be too stubborn.

Just like in relationships, not every truth should be spoken. When Lu Jiu was in middle school, he had a classmate who would suddenly blurt out, "Your breath stinks!" while talking to someone. It wasn’t untrue; that classmate did have bad breath from not brushing, but saying such things in front of everyone wasn’t right. Yet, the classmate was completely unaware of the issue. When people stopped playing with him, he’d say they were petty.

Li Wei is that kind of person.

It can only be said that he lacks enough tough lessons from society. Only when he’s been battered and bruised might he learn the importance of keeping certain things to himself.

...