Praised simultaneously by all her little cousins, Zhao Zhitong felt a bit embarrassed: "Haha, no, not really, I'm not that amazing. It's just that I happen to recognize these herbs."
Zhao Zhitong wasn't lying; the herbs they showed her happened to be very common in their area.
Lately, whenever she had time, Zhao Zhitong would go out to the fields to find medicinal herbs. As a result, she had just seen these by the roadside and, by comparing them with books and Old Mr. Bai's pointers, she learned their names and effects and then memorized them.
But this happening to a child only four and a half years old is enough to surprise anyone.
At this moment, Sun Kang, who was standing not far away, felt just that.
Talent.
From his four-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter, he saw a talent for medicine.
For a moment, his emotions were mixed, a jumble of feelings. It was both surprising and unexpected, then slowly turned into regret and pity.
Family inheritance has always been passed down to males, not females.
Moreover, practicing medicine requires looking, listening, questioning, and feeling the pulse. A woman spending her days among various patients, inevitably including men, means unavoidable interaction.
This inevitably leads to gossip, which is extremely bad for a woman's reputation. He couldn't bear the thought of his beloved granddaughter being gossiped about in the future.
But, in the family, it was rare to have a gifted child.
For a moment, Sun Kang was torn.
Just then, the children's shouts brought him back to his senses.
"Grandfather, come quickly, our little cousin is so smart, she knows so many herbs."
Second cousin Sun Daqing turned around and saw his grandfather behind him. He ran over enthusiastically, wanting to lead Sun Kang to watch Zhao Zhitong showcase her herbal knowledge.
Sun Kang put away his emotions and ambled over to the group of children.
Seeing her grandfather arrive, Zhao Zhitong called out sweetly: "Grandfather, you have so many herbs at home, I can't take them all in. There are so many I've never seen."
Sun Kang laughed heartily: "Grandfather is a doctor, so of course, herbs are the most abundant at home."
Zhao Zhitong looked at her kindly-faced grandfather, her eyes sparkling: "Mother says doctors are angels in white who save lives. Grandfather, you are an angel in white."
These words were spoken by Sun Mei back during the pandemic as she watched the news at home with tears in her eyes.
At that time, Zhao Zhitong was only just over three years old and didn't understand what a pandemic was or what a doctor did. Seeing her mother cry, she comforted her in her childish way.
But those words left an impression on the little girl, and as she slowly grew up, she realized that being a doctor is a noble profession.
Sun Kang and the group of children were all bewildered and asked: "An angel in white? What's that?"
Thanks to Old Mr. Bai in the space reminding her, Zhao Zhitong realized she had misspoken.
She blinked and explained: "It means, it means, a really pure, clean, and kind person."
Sun Kang was charmed by Zhao Zhitong's sweet little mouth and burst into laughter: "Hahaha, what a talkative little girl you are."
He then asked, "Tongtong, how do you recognize these herbs?"
Fearing Zhao Zhitong might slip up, Old Mr. Bai in the space hurriedly spoke: "Girl, just say you saw them by the roadside and asked your mother."
Zhao Zhitong felt bad about lying, but Old Mr. Bai also said that if other people found out about him and the space, she and her parents would be in danger.
So, she recounted what Old Mr. Bai had instructed.
The Sun Family had been practicing medicine for generations. Sun Mei had been influenced by it since childhood, so recognizing a few herbs wasn't unusual. Sun Kang nodded, not suspecting anything.
At that moment, Zhao Zhitong asked the question that had been on her mind: "Grandfather, grandfather, many of these herbs are for clearing heat and detoxifying. I'm all confused. If I had a fever, which one should I use?"
Sun Kang thought that although her skills couldn't be passed on, the child was so bright and eager to learn, he might as well teach her more.
So, he pulled up a chair, sat under the big tree in the yard, took out his pipe, and began slowly: "Although the main effects of these herbs are all to clear heat and detoxify, there are slight differences. For example, 'a little red' and 'perennial green.'
Both can clear heat and detoxify, but 'a little red' also has anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects and is associated with the lung, stomach, and large intestine meridians. 'Perennial green,' on the other hand, has swelling reduction and blood stasis removal effects and is associated with the lung, large intestine, and bladder meridians.
Two herbs with similar functions can be used in different proportions, resulting in different effects. However, some medicines can't be mixed randomly; this involves the 'eighteen antagonistic combinations'…"
Once Sun Kang started talking about his expertise, he couldn't stop. Moreover, Zhao Zhitong listened attentively and occasionally raised a few questions, which made him even more engrossed in his explanation.
He went from discussing pharmacology to meridian associations and then to the 'eighteen antagonistic combinations.' In the end, he even began sharing stories from his medical practice.
Initially, Sun Daji, Sun Daqing, and a few of the kids listened in, accompanying Zhao Zhitong, but soon they were yawning and scratching.
Before long, the little boys couldn't sit still and started running off one by one.
In the end, only two little girl cousins stayed, sitting drowsily as if about to fall asleep.
Meanwhile, Zhao Zhitong sat on a small stool, holding her little head in her hands, staring intently at Sun Kang, listening with great interest.
By the time Sun Kang realized, the people who had gone to gather lotus leaves had returned.
Sun Youcai ran to the backyard to call them, but paused for a while, not daring to interrupt.
Just then, Sun Youli, who hadn't seen anyone in the front yard, ran in, and as soon as he entered the backyard, his booming voice exploded.
"Third brother, I asked you to call someone, why are you taking so long? Your sister and brother-in-law are about to leave!"
"Shh, shh..." Sun Youcai couldn't stop him in time, and his second brother had already barged in, yelling.
Sun Kang's storytelling was interrupted by Sun Youli's loud voice, snapping him out of his trance and realizing he had been talking for so long without realizing it.
Listening to half the story, Zhao Zhitong hadn't snapped out of it and clung to Sun Kang's sleeve, urging, "Grandfather, and then? What happened next?"
Sun Kang couldn't help but smile, standing up and ruffling her hair: "I've told you a lot already today, so let's stop here for now. Your mother is calling you outside; next time you come, grandfather will continue the story for you, okay?"
Even though the story wasn't finished, Zhao Zhitong was eager to know what happened next but didn't insist. She looked up at him, her childish voice making a promise: "Okay, next time I come, grandfather must finish the story for me."
"Okay, grandfather promises you. Let's go; your mother and father are waiting for you."
——
Because Sun Mei had to return to the school to cook for the children, they didn't plan to stay for lunch. After gathering the lotus leaves, they were ready to head home.
Sun Mei placed Zhao Zhitong on the cart, and a bunch of children gathered around, reluctant to see Zhao Zhitong leave, especially the two little girl cousins.
Zhao Zhitong didn't want to leave either, but she had to go to school with her mother, and she had already made plans with Qiao Jiaojiao to teach him how to climb trees after school.