Chapter 2
Beginner Potion Mastery!
“Ding! You have collected a [ Potion Essence (White) ], [ Potion ] Experience +1.”
“Ding! You have collected a [ Potion Essence (White) ], [ Potion skill ] Experience Points ”
Qin Huai did not reject anyone and swept his hand at all the white experience points that dropped around him.
In the blink of an eye, [ Medicine ]’s experience had reached 29/100.
In an instant, the harvesting methods and uses of several herbs appeared in Qin Huai’s mind.
However, after everyone had picked up a round of experience, Qin Huai waited for a long time, but no white experience balls dropped from them.
The next day, though, Qin Huai had collected another round of experience from everyone, 60/100. Among them, there was also the little bit of experience he gained from grinding medicinal powder for a day.
‘It seems everyone can only collect experience once a day. Although it’s a little less, at this rate, I can become an internal affairs apprentice in the next test.’
Qin Huai had a relaxed expression. Under normal circumstances, according to his one and a half day of experience, it would take him two hundred days, or more than half a year, to learn the skill of pharmacy.
Now, he only needed three to four days, which was forty to fifty times faster. How could Qin Huai not be happy?
“A week is good.” Qin Huai was full of energy. Once he learned the art of medicine, he would be able to become an internal affairs apprentice.
“When that time comes, I’ll have meat to eat, money to earn, and even martial arts skills.”
…
In the blink of an eye, a week had passed.
In addition to grinding medicinal powder and picking herbs in the mountains every day, Qin Huai would also do some work like cleaning the toilets and slaughtering pigs and sheep.
When he had time, he would be called to the study by his Senior Sister Liu Xiaomei to help note down some of the prescriptions Liu Changyue had figured out.
Of course, there were very few prescriptions, and most of them were about the medicinal properties of herbs.
But even so, Qin Huai still took the opportunity to learn a lot. Every time he memorized something, he would gain more experience.
This was something his master, Liu Changyue, had acquiesced to. It was also one of the benefits of being literate.
There were more than forty people in the medicine shop, and only five of them were literate.
One of them only knew how to write his own name and the words “Yang Family Apothecary.” It could be said that it gave Qin Huai a deeper understanding of this cultural desert.
It was also because of this that Qin Huai stood out among the apprentices. Eventually, he took over the recording work in the study.
Liu Changyue would gather some medicinal herbs and prescriptions for daily use, compile them into a book, and send them to the big house in Pingnan City.
This week, Qin Huai also wanted to find his senior brother who practiced the nurturing Qi to see if he could collect some experience points.
But unfortunately, these senior brothers seemed to have a special courtyard and time for their daily practice. Qin Huai could not enter at all, so he could only give up.
Fortunately, he could enter today.
“I’ve finally completed my alchemy.” Qin Huai finished collecting the experience balls for the day.
With a thought, his personal panel appeared before his eyes.
Name: Qin Huai
[ Cultivation Method: none ]
[ Skill: Alchemy (Beginner, 0/200) ]
[ Stage: none ]
In his mind, a large number of medicinal herbs, medicinal properties, and combinations flowed rapidly in front of his eyes like a stream.
…
“Everyone, gather around!”
Liu Xiaomei, the eldest senior sister, hit the gong and woke up everyone who was taking a nap.
“Today is the examination. Everyone, go to the small room and say a prescription for kidney Qi or stomach disease.” Liu Xiaomei’s hair was in braids, and she was wearing a blue robe with white flowers embroidered on it.
As she spoke, she walked into the small room. A fierce-looking senior brother was left in the courtyard to supervise.
“Qin Huai, you’ll be the first. Wait in the study after you’re done.” Liu Xiaomei had a casual look on her face. She usually watched Qin Huai jot down things.
Even a fool would be better at copying all day than others. Therefore, he wasn’t worried that Qin Huai wouldn’t pass the exam.
“1.5 grams of maidong, 1.5 grams of raw yellow ginseng, 1.5 grams of fresh lotus root, 1.5 grams of gorgon fruit, 1.5 grams of golden cherry, 1.5 grams of jackal meat. The lotus roots were mashed to get the juice and then fried with the other ingredients to get the juice. Two doses a day. It nourishes Yin, lowers fire, soothes the mind, and soothes the spirit.
“It’s effective for short-lasting symptoms such as amnesia, tinnitus, palpitations, fatigue, and lower back pain,” Qin Huai blurted out.
“This isn’t my father’s recipe, right?” Liu Xiaomei raised her head, her face full of surprise. She was also proficient in medicine, so she knew that it was definitely feasible after hearing Qin Huai’s prescription.
“Yes.” Qin Huai nodded. “I’ve been making copies in the study these few days, and I’ve gained some insight.”
After learning the art of medicine, it was as if there was a machine in Qin Huai’s mind, operating at high speed to arrange the medicinal herbs he knew. There weren’t many that could be combined, but it was definitely enough.
“There are still a few formulas that can be used.”
“There’s more?” Liu Xiaomei couldn’t sit still anymore. She quickly walked to Qin Huai.
This week, he had two meals a day. Although there was no meat or fish, Qin Huai still grew a lot taller. His entire body was like an inflated balloon, becoming much stronger.
Liu Xiaomei, who used to be almost the same as Qin Huai, was now two centimeters shorter than him.
“Ginseng is three Qian, tea leaves are one Qian. Boil it in water and take it once a day. Take it twice to supplement Qi and yang.” Qin Huai was indifferent.
Ignoring Liu Xiaomei’s dazed look, Qin Huai gave her two more prescriptions that were good for the liver and spleen.
“You comprehended all of this on your own?” Liu Xiaomei finally spoke.
Qin Huai nodded. “Senior Sister, can I become an internal affairs apprentice now?”
“You wait here. I’ll go get Father!” Without waiting for Qin Huai’s reply, Liu Xiaomei dashed out of the small room.
The apprentices outside were stunned and began to whisper. After a while, they saw Liu Changyue walking into the courtyard in a hurry.
“Good day, master!” Everyone shouted in unison.
Unfortunately, Liu Changyue didn’t even take a look and walked straight into the small room.
“What can you treat with Osmanthus?” Liu Changyue asked as soon as she saw Qin Huai.
“It nourishes yang, warms the stomach, removes cold, and clears the blood vessels. It cures the weakening of the vital door and the weakening of the cold meridians in the limbs.”
“Scutellaria?”
“Clearing heat, drying dampness, cooling blood, and birth control. It’s mainly used to treat fever,” Qin Huai blurted out.
Liu Changyue asked a few more questions, some of which Qin Huai could answer, some he couldn’t.
Although Qin Huai, who had the support of beginner-level [ alchemy ], knew a lot, the amount was limited.
Despite this, Liu Changyue’s expression became more and more excited as time passed.
“Good! Good! Good!” Liu Changyue patted Qin Huai’s shoulder heavily after asking.
Qin Huai felt as if a large stone had hit his shoulder. His legs went soft, and he almost knelt on the ground.
His master looked elegant and thin, but he was actually so powerful? Was this what a martial arts practitioner was like?
“From now on, you’re an internal affairs apprentice!” Liu Changyue smiled kindly as he sized up Qin Huai and then looked at Liu Xiaomei.
“How old are you, by the way?”
“Fourteen.”
“Oh, okay! Good!” Liu Changyue was relieved as he was the same age as Xiaomei.
“Work hard and don’t be arrogant. In the future, you can take a look at the prescriptions in the study. You can also use the brush and ink as you wish. Try to make your own prescriptions.”
Qin Huai’s talent was definitely unquestionable, but his character and personality needed time to be considered.
When it came to taking in disciples, talent was usually secondary. The most important thing was still character. Thus, Liu Changyue was not in a hurry. There was still a long way to go.
Liu Changyue left the room and announced his decision.
“It’s good to be literate. You can memorize fast and remember fast.”
“It’s only been a week, and you’ve already become an apprentice in housekeeping.”
Gao Cheng and the others were envious.
“This world is really unfair.” One of them felt a little bitter. He was short and had a pockmarked face.
He was usually not welcomed in the apothecary and took two years to become an internal affairs apprentice.
In addition to him, many of the old apprentices who had been here for a few months or even a year also had mixed feelings of jealousy, bitteress, and various other emotions.
When Liu Changyue left, Liu Xiaomei tiptoed and put her arm around Qin Huai’s shoulder. Suddenly, there were waves that stacked up and crashed down.
Qin Huai was shocked. He didn’t expect this young Senior Sister to be so aggressive. He couldn’t tell at all.
‘You really can’t judge a book by its cover.’
“My father already has the intention to take in a disciple. If you do your best, you might be able to become my father’s disciple in one or two years.” Liu Xiaomei smiled.
“Then when can I learn the Qi cultivation technique?” Qin Huai thought to himself.
“Tomorrow at seven o ‘clock, you can go to the backyard and wait.” Liu Xiaomei tiptoed again, wanting to touch Qin Huai’s head. In the end, she gave up helplessly and left the small room while rubbing her feet.
“Anyway, from now on, you will be an internal affairs apprentice. Move to the backyard.”