Chapter 322: Chapter 128 Miao’s Prescriptions_2

She asked, "Is he the one who harmed you?"

Miao Liangfang was stunned.

Immediately after, the man’s expression changed rapidly, as if he caught a glimpse of something he extremely despised and hated, his indignation was hard to conceal. After a long time, he gradually calmed down.

When he looked up again, his eyes were filled with exhaustion as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

His voice was also sorrowful, carrying a hint of helpless bitterness.

"Yes, he is the one who caused my downfall."

When Miao Liangfang was young, he was very proud and arrogant.

He was born in an obscure small village in the Yunling region, where his family had been barefoot doctors for generations. He was the youngest son, and none of his brothers and sisters could inherit their father’s medical skills, but he was born with an exceptional gift for medicine, surpassing the teacher. At a young age, he was able to practice medicine independently, attracting many people from afar to seek treatment.

Others said that a "Little Genius Doctor" had emerged from Miao’s village.

"When I was twenty, I heard that there was an imperial medical examination in the spring at the Imperial Medical Bureau in the Capital City. My family scraped together silver for me, and sent me to Shangjing to take the exam."

Young Miao Liangfang arrived in the Capital City, filled with aspirations for the future and yearnings for the Hanlin Medical Institute.

Since there was about half a year left until the spring examination, he found work at a pharmacy.

In the medical profession, there are many pharmacies, and the one where he worked was not small. Lacking manpower, they recruited him as an assistant to dispense medicines.

The shop assistants in Shengjing pharmacies got very low month allowances, so low it was almost as if there was none, but they provided food and lodging. The food wasn’t particularly good, and as for lodging, a space was swept clean in the firewood room at the back of the pharmacy, where one could simply lay a mat to sleep on.

"At that time, there was another person living in the firewood room with me."

"That person was Cui Min," Miao Liangfang said.

Cui Min was also a pharmacy assistant doing odd jobs.

He and Miao Liangfang were about the same age, very thin and fragile, not talkative, always getting ordered around by the pharmacy owner, who would often scold or beat them. Sometimes Miao Liangfang couldn’t stand it and wanted to stand up for him, but Cui Min would hold him back—Cui Min’s parents had died early, and he had no relatives. Without this job, he might have ended up homeless.

"At that time, after the pharmacy closed each day, I would hide in the firewood room at night to read medical texts in preparation for the spring examination, just like you are now," said Miao Liangfang, his eyes showing a hint of nostalgia, "Cui Min never interfered; he just sat quietly on the side, adding oil to the lamp for me."

Even now, Miao Liangfang would occasionally think back to that scene.

Two assistants in the pharmacy, squeezing on the ground covered with torn mats, poring over books at night. There was no imperious owner, no daytime clamor; the thin blankets that had lost their cotton couldn’t block the cold of the winter nights, nor could they hide the young men’s aspirations for the future.

Cui Min knew how to read.

He had been doing odd jobs in the pharmacy for more than ten years before Miao Liangfang arrived, handling everything from dispensing medicines to cleaning. The obese owner would have liked to use one person as ten, but he was lenient in one respect: he allowed Cui Min to read the medical books in the pharmacy.

By being constantly exposed and watching the doctors diagnose and dispense medicines every day, Cui Min learned a lot. He was smart and clever, and after talking with him a few times, Miao Liangfang realized that his understanding of medicine was no less than those of the doctors.

This pleasantly surprised Miao Liangfang.

Perhaps because they both came from common families and worked in the same pharmacy, Miao Liangfang felt a warmth towards Cui Min and a sympathetic understanding, although he disapproved of Cui Min’s timid and weak nature.

"Later on, one day, a commotion arose in the pharmacy. A customer was causing trouble, claiming that we gave the wrong medicine. The person was a bully known far and wide. The owner, not wanting any trouble, wanted to smooth things over and claimed it was my fault. I argued with them, and when Cui Min spoke up for me, we were both thrown out on the street."

"At that time, I personally didn’t think it was a big deal, since I didn’t plan on working as an assistant for the rest of my life. I could always return to Miao’s village. However, Cui Min was thrown out because he spoke up for me, and I couldn’t help but feel guilty about that."

"There were three months left until the spring examination, and I suddenly had an idea, suggesting that Cui Min should also take the exam."

Lu Tong asked, "Did he agree?"

Miao Liangfang gave a bitter smile, "At first, he refused."

When Miao Liangfang told Cui Min about his plan, Cui Min was taken aback.

"I can’t... I haven’t studied... I won’t pass the spring examination," Cui Min said softly. "Besides, without a recommendation quota from the medical profession, I can’t even participate."

Miao Liangfang slapped his chest, "What’s the difficulty in that? It’s just silver. I’ll pay for you!"

Back then, the spring examinations for commoner medical workers were not as difficult as these years. By giving some silver to the people in the medical profession, one could get added to the list of candidates. Miao Liangfang himself had done so right after arriving in the Capital City. For Cui Min to take the spring examination, it would be impossible without making arrangements. Miao Liangfang took out all the silver he had left, including the month allowance he had saved from working at the pharmacy, and scraped together enough.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read