No matter what, the long history of Huichun Hall is beyond doubt, and Xu Changshan’s dical skills are also widely recognized, especially in the treatnt of bone injuries, with the family’s traditional ointnts being extrely effective.
However, after the 1990s, the societal recognition of traditional Chinese dicine plumted, and its survival space kept shrinking. In the realm of dicine, the dominance of Western dicine over traditional Chinese dicine beca an undisputed fact.
In such an environnt, Huichun Hall’s business naturally suffered. Fewer and fewer young people ca to visit, and given Xu Changshan’s advanced age, the physical demands of bone setting and massage ant he had to reduce such activities.
With Xu Changshan’s reputation, many sought to beco his apprentices. However, he was conservative in teaching, adhering to the principle of passing knowledge to sons, not daughters. The only one he could rely on now was his grandson, Xu Chunliang. If his grandson refused to learn, the Xu family’s dical skills would be lost. This worried Xu Changshan greatly, fearing he wouldn’t be able to face his ancestors.
Xu Chunliang was reclusive and taciturn from a young age. By today’s standards, he had a severe social anxiety disorder. His academic performance was diocre, with no outstanding skills. According to his teachers, he was inattentive, uninterested in studying, unsociable, and without friends.
If it weren’t for Xu Chunliang’s persistence, Xu Changshan wouldn’t have let him retake the college entrance exam three tis. His scores got lower each ti, and this ti, he couldn’t even pass the 400 mark, making private universities out of reach. With his conditions, he could easily choose to study abroad, but Xu Chunliang refused, so Xu Changshan dropped the idea.
Xu Changshan didn’t value formal education. He himself had no academic background, yet it didn’t hinder the recognition of his dical skills. The depth of Chinese dicine is profound, studying the Tao of heaven and humanity, which Western dicine cannot compare to. The transmission thod of Chinese dicine over five thousand years—master teaching apprentice—proves this thod is aligned with the country’s circumstances.
Lu Qi drove the grandfather and grandson to Huichun Hall and learned Xu Cong had lost his ID card during the journey. He advised Xu Cong to reapply at the police station soon and consoled him that college entrance exam results aren’t everything. He himself never took the exam, yet he serves the people with a secure job.
Xu Changshan looked at his grandson, wearing only shorts and remaining silent. He felt both love and pity. When Xu Chunliang was just three months old, his parents separated, leaving the child with him. One flew to the United States, and the other to Europe. Soon, each built their own lives and had other children. Except for holidays, no one rembered this child back ho.
Xu Changshan believed his grandson’s misfortune was largely caused by his parents, though he also held so responsibility. Over the years, he had been busy healing others and neglected his grandson’s education. Thinking back, the child was clever in early years, recognizing all the herbs in the shop by age five, and reciting human ridians and acupoints proficiently by age six.
However, after starting school, his personality suddenly changed. Xu Changshan vividly rembered the day he ca ho from school crying, asking why others had their parents pick them up while he didn’t. From then on, he beca increasingly silent, withdrawing from the world.
The police car stopped at the entrance of Huichun Hall, and Lu Qi got out first, opening the door for the elderly man. Delicately, Lu Qi supported his arm as Elder Xu walked out.
Then, Xu Chunliang exited the car, saying, "Let handle it!" He took the initiative to assist his grandfather.
Seeing this, Lu Qi was slightly relieved; anyone indifferent to their own life wouldn’t care for others. Various signs indicated Xu Chunliang had abandoned any thoughts of ending his life.
Xu Changshan cautioned his grandson, "Be careful where you step; don’t hurt yourself." Xu Chunliang was still barefoot.
"Look at how much your grandfather cares for you," Lu Qi remarked to Xu Chunliang with a smile.
Just as Xu Changshan was about to invite Lu Qi in for tea, Xu Chunliang spoke first, "Brother Lu, you went through a lot just now. Would you mind coming over to my humble abode? I have prepared a modest drink to share."
Elder Xu was bewildered. What happened to my grandson? I’ve never seen him speak like this before.
Lu Qi thought, "A true family of traditional dicine indeed, speaking almost like classical Chinese. Such a young man, yet so out of touch with the tis." He smiled and replied, "Maybe another day. I’m still on duty and can’t park outside too long. Head inside, take good care of the elder, and don’t let him worry anymore."
Xu Chunliang thought to himself, "Truly a righteous man! Such a person is worth befriending!"
With a slight bow of his fist towards Lu Qi, he said no more and helped his grandfather into Huichun Hall.
Lu Qi watched them enter before driving off.
Huichun Hall was a simple two-story building. The clinic was downstairs, and the grandfather and grandson lived upstairs. A middle-aged woman nad Lin worked there, taking care of cleaning, running the shop, and cooking. She didn’t handle dicine or treatnt.
Xu Changshan hired her particularly because she knew nothing of dicine. How could ancestral dical skills be carelessly spied upon by others?
Fearing his grandson might try to harm himself again, Xu Changshan followed him to his room, urging him to take a bath and change clothes.
Xu Chunliang retained a complete mory of his previous life, while in this life, his consciousness felt fragnted. He quickly extracted useful information from these shards, telling himself never to bla the world or self-destruct, no matter the ti or place.
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