When the donkey cart arrived in town, Zheng Chuan got off first, carrying the game, and said to Xu Zifan, "We're not going that way, I'll go to the restaurant."
Xu Zifan quickly said, "It's on the way. We always visit the town whenever we go there. I can accompany you to sell your game first. It'll be boring for you to go alone, so why don't we go together?"
Zheng Chuan frowned and refused decisively, "No need, I have other things to do, I'll be leaving now."
As if afraid he would say something else, Zheng Chuan turned and quickly left. Xu Zifan shook his head regretfully and said to Xiao Lian, "Let's go too, let's go sell your embroidery first."
Xiaolian glanced at the large bamboo basket on his back and quickly shook her head. "Third Brother, let's go sell your things first. This is too heavy to carry. Shall we go to the clinic or the bookstore?"
"Let's go to the clinic, so we don't have to go to other places where the medicine smells too strong." Xu Zifan thought for a moment and then decided. After saying goodbye to the others, the two headed towards the clinic.
Xu Zifan had already explored the town many times and had his eye on a mid-range clinic—Jishetang. He went to the clinic, briefly explained that he wanted to sell medicinal herbs, and an apprentice weighed each herb for him. Xu Zifan had collected twelve kinds of herbs, some very cheap, some more expensive, but the key was that he had processed them very well, making them top-quality herbs. The clinic could buy them and sell them directly, saving a lot of trouble. In the end, these herbs sold for a total of one tael of silver and 300 copper coins!
Xiao Lian, watching from the side, was stunned and stammered, "Third Brother... this... this can sell for so much money?!"
Xu Zifan smiled, put the silver into a money bag and stuffed it into her hand, saying with a smile, "Third Brother goes into the mountains to collect herbs every day, and goes to so much trouble to process them when he gets home. If he can't sell them for this much money, wouldn't he be losing money?"
Xiaolian blinked, not understanding how this could be a loss. Farmers work hard in the fields every day, and they only earn a few taels of silver a year. Xu Zifan earned more than one tael in just two or three days. The money came in too fast! She suddenly felt a fervent interest in medicinal herbs. This was much better than embroidery or farming!
Xu Zifan spoke a few words with the apprentice, then leaned closer and whispered, "Is your master here? I'd like to apply for a job as an accountant, but it's not convenient to discuss it here. I'd like to have a chat with your master in person to demonstrate my abilities. Do you think you could help me out?"
The apprentice paused, looking at the accountant who was working on the abacus, his face showing hesitation. Xu Zifan stuffed twenty coins into his hand and said, "Just helping out. I don't want to steal anyone's job. I just want your master to know that I exist, so that he can think of me when he needs me in the future."
That would be fine. The apprentice naturally put the copper coins into his sleeve pocket, coughed twice, and said, "My master is busy in the back. Please wait while I inform him."
"Okay, thank you for your help, young man."
The apprentice went to tell his master, Doctor Tong, who was also the owner of the clinic. After a moment's thought, Doctor Tong told the apprentice to bring Xu Zifan over. Doctor Tong was around fifty years old. When he saw Xu Zifan, he quickly looked him up and down, stroked his beard, and said, "You want to work here as an accountant? You seem quite young. Have you passed any imperial examinations?"
"Not yet, Doctor Tong. I am Xu Zifan from Xiaxi Village. I am currently studying and preparing to take the imperial examination for the title of Xiucai in six months. However, I am short of money and need to work hard to earn the money for my studies. Fortunately, I am quite interested in medicine and have been studying it on my own for several years. I believe that working in a clinic is the most suitable job for me, so I am offering my services. I hope Doctor Tong will consider my application." Xu Zifan respectfully cupped his hands to Doctor Tong, his words revealing appropriate confidence.
Doctor Tong said, "You should know that my clinic already has an accountant, so why are you here recommending yourself?"
Xu Zifan smiled. "Dr. Tong, please forgive my boldness, but because I am interested in medicine, I always take a look whenever I come to town. Coincidentally, I have seen the accountant make mistakes twice here, so I am the first to recommend myself to you. If Dr. Tong is interested in changing the accountant, please consider me first. Although I have not yet passed the imperial examination, I have no problem doing accounting."
"Alright, then I'll test you."
This was the second time Xu Zifan had heard this, but it suited him perfectly. He was never afraid of being tested; he was only afraid of not having the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities.
Dr. Tong took out paper and pen and wrote down some trivial and messy daily accounts. Xu Zifan, who could score over 700 points in the college entrance examination and had a photographic memory, naturally calculated it quickly. Dr. Tong gave him another question, which was more complex and tedious, but Xu Zifan used modern multiplication and division and some company information to calculate it almost at the same time that Dr. Tong finished writing it down.
Doctor Tong looked at him again, a hint of appreciation in his eyes, and then began to test his knowledge of medicinal properties and medical principles. Xu Zifan had worked as a Western doctor for thirty years in the world of the internet addiction school, and after retiring, he had studied traditional Chinese medicine for over twenty years. In the month or so since his transmigration, he had picked up all that knowledge again. His medical skills were far superior to Doctor Tong's, so he was naturally not stumped. On the contrary, Doctor Tong became more and more surprised as he tested him, and finally couldn't help but ask, "You learned all this on your own? By reading medical books?"
Xu Zifan could only nod shamelessly, "Since I started school, I have had a strong interest in medicine. However, my goal was to pass the imperial examinations, so I just quietly read all the medical books I could find. Before I knew it, so many years had passed, and I never expected to have gained so much. It's just a pity that I have never had the opportunity to treat people."
Doctor Tong, feeling a sense of appreciation for his talent, asked, "How confident are you in passing the imperial examination? I think you will achieve great things if you go into medicine. Your talent is exceptional; it would be a waste not to pursue medicine."
Xu Zifan has been studying for the exam for over a month and has even practiced past exam papers several times. Although he's still a bit behind, he's 100% confident he'll pass when he takes the exam in six months.
He said, "I have high hopes for passing the imperial examination, and my parents have always hoped that I can pass it. However, I want to become a doctor in the future and treat patients."
Doctor Tong nodded, pondered for a moment, and said, "I'll consider it for a few days. Once I've made a decision, I'll send my apprentice to find you. By the way, where should we look for you?"
Xu Zifan gave his home address and said, "I'm currently gathering herbs in the mountains. I'll come and sell them once they're ready. I'm also helping my father sell some bamboo products. I'll come to town every few days. If the clinic is too busy to leave, you can let me know when I arrive."
"Okay, we'll see how to make it cheaper then."
Xu Zifan cupped his hands and said, "Then I'll be going now. I still need to deliver the bamboo products my friend ordered. I won't bother Doctor Tong any longer."
"Take care." Doctor Tong watched him and Xiao Lian leave, then beckoned to his apprentice and asked, "What kind of medicinal herbs did Xu Zifan just sell? Bring them to me so I can see."
"Yes, Master."
The medicinal herbs had just been harvested and hadn't been carefully examined yet, so they weren't put away in the cabinet. The apprentice ran out and took all the herbs Xu Zifan had brought to Doctor Tong for inspection. Doctor Tong examined each one carefully and nodded in amazement, praising, "To have learned to such a degree through self-study, this child is destined for greatness!"
The apprentice asked in surprise, "Master, didn't he say he wanted to be an accountant? Does he also want to study medicine?"
"Of course, otherwise who do you think produced such good medicinal herbs?" Doctor Tong stroked his beard and said, "Talented people emerge in every generation. If Xu Zifan is willing to study diligently and walk the right path, he may become the most famous person in this area in the future."
"Master, you speak so highly of him, you...you wouldn't be thinking of taking him as your disciple, would you? Then he would be my junior brother?" The apprentice's eyes widened, unsure whether to be jealous of his junior brother's talent or happy to have someone else to run errands for him.
Doctor Tong glanced at him, flicked his finger on the head, and said, "Daydreaming. He's more than qualified to be your master." Doctor Tong waved his hand and said, "Alright, check all the medicinal herbs and put them in the cabinet. I'll test your studies later."
The apprentice immediately let out a wail, "Master, we just had the test yesterday, and now we have another one?"
Doctor Tong looked at him with exasperation, "When I tested Xu Zifan just now, he answered fluently. Can't you do something right? Hurry up and go!"
The apprentice, head drooping, slowly carried the medicinal herbs back. Doctor Tong shook his head, paced back and forth in the courtyard, lost in thought. In the end, he decided that he couldn't let talented people go elsewhere. There were only three decent clinics in town, and his clinic was in the middle. If Xu Zifan went to the lowest-ranking one, it might help that clinic catch up with his; if Xu Zifan went to the highest-ranking one, it would be like adding wings to a tiger, making it even harder for his clinic to catch up.
Only by keeping Xu Zifan in his own home can he widen the gap between himself and the lowest-ranking family, and strive to surpass the highest-ranking family. He suddenly stroked his beard and chuckled. No wonder Xu Zifan came to him first instead of those two families. Xu Zifan must have already anticipated that he would think this way. In addition, with the elderly accountant, his family indeed had a better chance.
Such a bright and hardworking person would surely be liked by everyone, and Doctor Tong decided to keep Xu Zifan after only a short time's consideration. However, dismissing the accountant required a suitable explanation and opportunity to avoid upsetting everyone, so there was no rush. Doctor Tong then called his apprentice over and instructed him to go to the town's academy to find Xu Zifan, informing him that Xu Zifan had been allowed to work at the clinic, but it would take a few days, until the clinic had settled some matters with the staff, and the deadline was no more than five days.
The apprentice hurried to the academy. Xu Zifan hadn't been gone long, and had just sold a dozen or so ornaments to the students when the apprentice arrived. Xu Zifan wasn't surprised to hear the message and smiled, "Thank you for making the trip. Please accept this money for the tea."
Xu Zifan took out another 20 coins, but the apprentice quickly waved his hand and took out the 20 coins he had received earlier and stuffed them into Xu Zifan's hands, saying, "Brother Xu, please take them back. We'll be working together from now on, how can I accept your money?"
Xu Zifan pushed it to him, saying, "You've helped me a lot and gone to the trouble of coming to tell me such important news. It's only right that you accept it."
"No, no, no, I can't accept it, I really can't accept it." The apprentice pushed him away forcefully, took several steps back, and waved his hand, saying, "Brother Xu, from now on we're family. Although we're not destined to be fellow disciples, we're much closer than outsiders. That's always how Master taught me—you must treat your own people well. So I really can't accept this money, I can't—ouch!"
The apprentice was so focused on backing away that he didn't see a small stone on the ground, stepped on it, and fell flat on his backside! His face contorted in pain!
Xiao Lian burst out laughing, quickly covering her mouth and hiding behind Xu Zifan. The apprentice, having made such a fool of himself, blushed bright red, scrambled to his feet, patted his bottom, and whispered, "Brother Xu, well, it's alright, I'll go back now!" With that, he hurried away, too embarrassed to look up the whole time.
Xiao Lian peeked out from behind Xu Zifan, then stepped forward and said, "Third Brother, was I being rude?"
Xu Zifan nodded. "Yes, a little, but I know you didn't mean it. Remember to apologize next time."
"I understand, Third Brother." Xiao Lian looked at Xu Zifan with bright eyes and smiled, remembering what the apprentice had just said. "Third Brother, you can go to the clinic in the future, right? Wouldn't that be a job in town? Being an accountant seems pretty respectable! And that Doctor Tong really likes you. He said you have a bright future. Will he let you treat patients in his clinic? Then you can become a doctor?"
Xu Zifan chuckled and said, "You're asking so many questions at once, which one should I answer? I don't know the specifics, but it's definitely the right step. However, if I work at the clinic, it will be inconvenient for me to go home every day, and I'll be far away from you and our parents, which is not good. This matter needs to be carefully arranged, so don't tell me when you get back."