Among the many apprentices, Lu Changsheng hardly stood out. Most of them didn't even know his na, so when he stepped forward to declare his intention to take the apothecary's apprentice examination, they were markedly surprised.
Barely five months had passed since they were all recruited into Miaoshou Garden. During this period, most of them hadn't even learned all the written words yet, so naturally, no one had even thought of trying to beco an apothecary's apprentice.
To qualify as an apothecary's apprentice, they had to morize hundreds of dicinal herbs—their nas, properties, and growing conditions. All of it had to be learned from books, so without being literate enough, there was no hope of passing the examination.
Even Steward Zhang frowned in doubt. "You're sure you want to apply for the apothecary's apprentice examination?"
"I'm sure," Lu Changsheng replied.
"How confident are you?" Steward Zhang pressed.
Lu Changsheng thought for a mont. Not wanting to overstate his chances, he answered conservatively, "About seventy to eighty percent."
A trace of surprise appeared on Steward Zhang's face. To him, those odds were as good as a guaranteed pass. It was certainly impressive to have that kind of confidence after only five months of training. In ti, such a man could easily beco an apothecary, perhaps even a physician. Within Miaoshou Garden, a physician who sat in the hall to diagnose patients held a status far higher than the martial artists of the guard unit.
Steward Zhang nodded, his expression solemn. "I approve. Go ahead."
After a pause, he added, "Wait. Since you're only a nial apprentice, it might be too much trouble for you to go by yourself. I shall take you there."
It was an obvious gesture of goodwill. A man with the potential to one day beco a physician was worth making ties with.
"If you would be so kind," Lu Changsheng said, cupping his hands.
With that, he followed Steward Zhang out of the plaza. As they were leaving, the other apprentices erupted into chatter.
"He's really going for the apothecary's apprentice examination?" one asked in surprise.
"I always saw him reading those herb books. I thought it was just for show. Didn't think he could actually read them," another said.
"I haven't even learned all the words yet, and he's morized herb manuals?"
"Master Mo's fond of him. He often gives him private lessons."
A sigh ca from the crowd. "Never thought soone with so little martial aptitude could be so good at studying. Once he becos an apothecary's apprentice, he'll earn wages and outrank us by far..."
"No," another apprentice declared, "I've got to work harder on reading and try to beco an apothecary's apprentice too."
Their murmurs were filled with envy, admiration, and above all, a spark of motivation.
Regardless, Lu Changsheng paid them no mind. He followed Steward Zhang to the dicinal herb storeroom of Miaoshou Garden. This was where all dicinal materials were processed. Inside, apothecaries oversaw the apprentices as they dried, cured, and prepared the herbs.
"Old Wen," said Steward Zhang, bowing to an elderly man with white hair and beard, his back slightly bent with age.
The elderly man, Old Wen, looked up."What brings you here, Steward Zhang?"
"Old Wen, this is a nial apprentice who joined just five months ago. He's here to apply for the apothecary's apprentice examination," Steward explained. "Would you see to it?"
Steward Zhang replied, "Oh? A nial apprentice of only five months... He couldn't read when he arrived, could he? And now he's applying for the apothecary's apprentice examination?"
A flicker of curiosity passed through the Old Wen's cloudy eyes. He fixed his gaze on Lu Changsheng and asked, "Your na?"
"Lu Changsheng."
"A fine na," Old Wen said with a small nod. "How many herbs can you recognize?"
"Five hundred and eighty-three," Lu Changsheng answered.
"There are over three thousand six hundred herbs listed in the pharmacopoeia. To know over five hundred ets the standard for an apothecary's apprentice. Still, I shall have to test you." Old Wen rose and led Lu Changsheng to the storeroom in the backyard, where the ground was covered with herbs.
Old Wen casually pointed at a few herbs and asked, "Tell what these three herbs are, and what their main effects are."
Lu Changsheng answered without hesitation, "This is chaihu, [1]a non-toxic herb that is neutral in nature and has a bitter scent. It treats qi stagnation in the heart, abdon, and bowel. It's also used for food accumulation, alternating chills and fever, and pathogenic cold and heat[2]. Lastly, chaihu expels stagnant qi and promotes the generation of new qi, and if taken long term, the herb lightens your body and sharpens your eyesight.
"Moving on, that is baizhu[3]. It strengthens the spleen, benefits the stomach, gets rid of dampness, harmonizes digestive function, and calms the fetus. It treats qi deficiency in the spleen and the stomach, as well as lack of appetite, fatigue, shortness of breath, abdominal distension, diarrhea, phlegm retention, edema, jaundice, loss of mobility induced by dampness, difficulty in urination, dizziness, spontaneous sweating, and restlessness of the fetus.
"The other one is fennel, pungent in taste, warm in nature. When ingested, it enters the kidney and stomach ridians. It mainly treats cold in the middle burner, nausea and vomiting, as well as qi stagnation in the spleen and stomach..."
Lu Changsheng spoke with great precision, reciting the pharmacopoeia's entries word for word without missing a single detail.
Beside him, Old Wen kept nodding in approval. The examination lasted nearly two hours, during which Lu Changsheng identified dozens of herbs. There were only a handful he had never read about in the pharmacopoeia and thus failed to recognize them.
Nevertheless, Old Wen seed quite pleased with Lu Changsheng. Ultimately, the apothecary's apprentice examination proved to be no obstacle for him.
At the end, Old Wen gave his verdict. "Very good! It takes more than simple morization to be able to recognize this many herbs. It's clear you've studied diligently and properly applied your knowledge."
He then turned to Steward Zhang. "You have truly brought a promising pupil."
Looking back at Lu Changsheng, Old Wen declared, "From this day onward, you are an apothecary's apprentice."
Naturally, this ant Old Wen would assign an apothecary for Lu Changsheng to learn from.
However, after a brief mont of thought, Old Wen decided to do sothing different. He asked, "Would you be willing to serve as my apprentice?"
Lu Changsheng answered at once, "Of course, I would be most honored. I am infinitely grateful, sir."
His expression bead. Judging from how Steward Zhang acted in Old Wen's presence, it was clear that the elder's status and position were extraordinary. The opportunity to learn under such a man was exactly what Lu Changsheng had been hoping for.
Steward Zhang gave a smile. "Lu Changsheng, the opportunity to follow Old Wen is perhaps your greatest fortune yet. He's been with Miaoshou Garden for many years, and he can recognize even more herbs than those listed in the pharmacopoeia. Study well. Your future might not stop at becoming an apothecary. One day, you might even beco a renowned physician!"
Steward Zhang patted Lu Changsheng on the shoulder, offered a few words of encouragent, and then left.
With that, Lu Changshen followed Old Wen, thus beginning his life as an apothecary's apprentice.
The position ca with a bit of freedom; there was even a monthly rest day, and a modest wage of three silver taels. Although the amount was ager, Lu Changsheng didn't mind. What mattered to him was that single day off each month.
With that ti off, he would be able to go to Recumbent Ox Mountain and retrieve the silver taels stored there.
Lu Changsheng was in no rush. He waited patiently for an entire month, biding his ti until his day off arrived. When it did, he made up so excuse to leave and went straight to Recumbent Ox Mountain.
The cave was just as he had left it, covered in dust and with no signs of disturbance—not even a footprint. It was clear that no one had been there since that incident.
Lu Changsheng retrieved the gold and silver he had hidden away and left the jewelry and ornants untouched. Selling such items was bound to be troubleso, and there was also the risk of leaving a trail. After all, they were stolen goods.
With his valuables in hand, he returned to Miaoshou Garden without incident. After a rough count without the jewelry, his fortune had dropped from over eight hundred taels to roughly five hundred, which was still more than enough.
From here on, Lu Changsheng only needed to do two things. First, he wanted to visit a martial arts centre to learn or simply acquire the manuals for a few simple techniques. Second, he planned to buy dicinal als to support his practice of the Great River Blood Fortification Art.
Lu Changsheng took a mont to disguise himself. He attached an improvised mustache beneath his nose and used dicinal herbs to tint his complexion a waxy yellow, giving him the appearance of a middle-aged man. Then, he went straight out the door, heading directly for the herbal dicine shop.
1. This is a shrub known as Bupleurum in the West. ☜
2. Pathogens (邪气 xiéqì) are external influences, or "evils" that infiltrate the body and disrupt the qi. Two of the primary pathogens are cold (寒邪 hánxié) and heat (热邪 rèxié) ☜
3. This is a dicinal herb known in the West as Atractylodes. ☜
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