RYEY -Chapter 387 Godson Zhu Beishan

Actually, this is just a sign of how little many people understand Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine also has levels; someone of Shen Sanling’s caliber can act far faster than Western medicine. Basically, it’s a case of “the medicine works, the disease disappears.”

There was also someone named Ye Jun, whose medical skills were said to be extraordinary. He even took on a female apprentice, though no one really knew how skilled she was.

Of course, all of this was hearsay, but every rumor has its cause; otherwise, how could such stories spread?

There was only one person who didn’t speak. His head rested against the chair back, eyes gazing out the train window. He knew all these rumors were true because he personally knew the Ye Jun and his apprentice they were talking about.

If Cheng Qiao saw this person, she would surely recognize him—it was none other than Zhu Qingde from the cattle shed. Back when his wife left, his smile had been dazzling.

But looking at Zhu Qingde now, he seemed utterly alone. His clothes were even simpler than when he was sent down, and his shoes were worn through, exposing his toes.

“This… master, you look so familiar. Where have I seen you before?”

Zhu Qingde had been about to close his eyes for a short nap when a man in his twenties across from him stared intently, eyes full of confusion.

Zhu Qingde turned his head, sizing up the man opposite. He didn’t recognize him. Since that was the case, he didn’t bother speaking—but the man suddenly stood up and shouted excitedly:

“Master Zhu, is that you? I’m your little apprentice from back then, the one your wife chased away—the little scrawny one! You said the term ‘little scrawny’ was an insult, and I didn’t have another name, so you named me Little Beishan.”

“Little Beishan…” Zhu Qingde’s thoughts drifted back to the most prosperous days of the Zhu family. In Shanghai, Master Zhu was the head of a famous traditional Chinese medicine family.

The family owned countless fields and properties. Master Zhu regarded wealth as worthless, but he had an unwavering passion for medicinal herbs. You could take a whole box of silver coins from him without worry, but if you dared take even a single ginseng, he would fight you to the death.

Little Beishan had been a boy Zhu Qingde found on the street, no more than a teenager. The boy’s eyes were bright, and he was quick-witted. Out of kindness, Master Zhu brought him to the pharmacy and handed him over to an elder Chinese doctor.

The boy had no name and was called “Little Medicine Boy” by everyone—until Master Zhu married. Yuan Mengzhi, seeing the boy, directly called him “Little Scrawny.” From then on, Little Medicine Boy became Little Scrawny.

When Master Zhu found out, he disapproved of Yuan Mengzhi’s harshness, but the couple had just married, so he couldn’t directly contradict her. He renamed the boy Little Beishan.

The two names sounded similar, but their meanings were completely different. Touched, Little Beishan treated Master Zhu as the most important person in his heart.

Before the family mansion fell, Zhu Qingde naturally moved all family possessions, including Little Beishan, and gave him a substantial sum of money to start a new path.

Little Beishan seemed to sense the coming storm. He only took part of the money but requested some of the Zhu family’s rare books as well.

“Master, please accept a bow from your apprentice.”

Little Beishan went to the train corridor and bowed deeply to Zhu Qingde. Back then, he had done everything to protect those precious books, constantly hiding and running.

Fortunately, he had studied medicine diligently, especially herbal medicine. Once he had the herbs in hand, he could tell their weight almost perfectly.

With this skill, the memorized prescriptions, and the experience of assisting elder doctors in the pharmacy, he had gradually mastered medicine and found a way to make a living.

When he finally settled, he wanted to inquire about Master Zhu, only to learn that he had been sent down. Where exactly he had been sent was impossible to find out.

Yet Little Beishan did not give up. The world was vast, and he had no clue where to look—until a friend mentioned that the Shen family was seeking a Chinese doctor.

Hearing this, Little Beishan didn’t hesitate. He had a feeling that seeing Shen Sanling might lead him to Zhu Qingde.

By divine providence, his wish came true. After bowing, Little Beishan switched seats to sit beside Zhu Qingde.

“Master, where is Mistress?”

Zhu Qingde was a bit stunned. He thought, This is just a child I took in. When did he become my apprentice? But since the boy said it, he accepted it silently—after all, the boy was alone.

“We’re separated now. Where have you been all these years?”

“Ah, Master… it’s a long story. But I’ve kept all your books safe. I just didn’t expect to meet you here—otherwise, I would have brought them along.”

“No need, keep them where they are. I came at the invitation of Director Shen. Since I had nothing else to do, I thought I’d come take a look.”

Looking at the now gray-templed Zhu Qingde, tears involuntarily flowed from Little Beishan’s eyes. The changes in Master Zhu were so great he barely recognized him.

The first time he had seen Zhu Qingde, he wore a pearl satin Xiangyun outfit, a string of unknown beads on his left wrist, and held an unidentified medicinal herb in his right hand—handsome, elegant, and refined.

But now, Zhu Qingde had lost all the vigor of his youth, and the aura of the scion of a prestigious family was nowhere to be found.

It was clear he had suffered much over the years, but sweet times follow bitter ones. Now he had arrived. Little Beishan, an orphan under Master Zhu’s protection, knew it was time to repay him.

“Master, you know I’m an orphan. I want to recognize you as my godfather.”

Zhu Qingde was momentarily stunned. A warmth spread in his heart. He had no children of his own; even his only relative, Yuan Mengzhi, had left Shanghai in a hurry after returning, leaving him unaware of her whereabouts.

“Beishan, think carefully. I’m no longer the Zhu Qingde of the past. Now… I have little money.”

Little Beishan wiped away his tears, stood in the train corridor, and knelt deeply:

“Little Beishan willingly recognizes Zhu Qingde as his father. No matter if father is rich or poor, in this life, he will honor filial piety and uphold benevolence.”

Someone nearby led the applause. Soon, the entire carriage rang with cheers and clapping—they were witnesses to this father-recognition ceremony.

Zhu Qingde’s heart was finally filled with hope. He had a son. The unparalleled medical knowledge passed down from his ancestors now had a successor.

“Thank you all for witnessing this. Today, I, Zhu Qingde, officially recognize Little Beishan as my son. From now on, Little Beishan will be renamed Zhu Beishan. Son, rise.”

With Zhu Qingde’s help, Zhu Beishan stood up, tears streaming, embracing him. From that moment on, he finally had a father and was no longer wandering the world alone.