"That brat might come again."
Hua Sochen also agreed with Old Man Ban's concern.
It was because he had said that he was a good-for-nothing who did all sorts of vile things, relying only on the power and wealth of Hundred Herb Forest.
"Is there a place to ask for help?"
At Old Man Ban's question, two places came to mind.
One was the Sichuan Tang Family.
But Chengdu, where the Tang family was, was too far away.
By the time the Tang family extended a helping hand, this side would have already suffered.
If so, there was also a way to ask for a martial artist from the Tang family in advance.
To have them stay at the clinic for about a year.
But that was a method she was reluctant to use, even for her younger brother Hua Yunhui.
And another place.
The Iron Wall Sect.
Looking at the actions of the master of the Iron Wall Sect when her father was alive, he was a person who would help the clinic.
But seeing him calmly there when she went to Hundred Herb Forest, it would be a relief if he didn't attack the clinic now.
"There isn't."
Hua Sochen answered with a heavy face.
The Hua Family Clinic was a place where doctors took care of patients. So since her grandfather's time, they had kept their distance from the martial arts families. The reason her father had not kept the master of the Iron Wall Sect, who came so often, close was because this was a clinic.
"Then there's no other way."
Old Man Ban said.
Not only Hua Sochen, but everyone looked at Old Man Ban.
"If that brat comes again, he will come with full preparations. If I happen to fall, the first thing you have to do, head of the family, is to hide."
"What?"
Not only Hua Sochen, who widened her eyes, but everyone made a face as if they couldn't understand.
To tell Hua Sochen, the head of the clinic, to hide?
They just couldn't understand.
"That brat won't want the clinic to disappear either. It's because it makes money. If the clinic disappears right now, the income of Hundred Herb Forest will also decrease, so he won't be able to do anything to the clinic."
"What does that have to do with me having to hide?"
"If he possesses you, he can have the entire clinic."
"What?"
"One of the things that such brats can easily do is to violate a woman."
"......!"
"He might violate you first and then force a marriage."
Even Hua Sochen, who prided herself on being quite strong-willed, could not say anything and made a face as if fear had washed over her.
"Sister, I'll protect you. Let's hide together."
Hua Yunhui said.
Then Old Man Ban shook his head.
"That's not good."
"Why?"
"Difficulties are to be overcome together, but this matter is not applicable."
"......?"
"Because there is no better prey than the two of you together."
"Please explain so I can understand."
"What if that brat catches you and threatens your sister? If she has to choose between your life and the clinic, what will your sister choose?"
Hua Yunhui, who had nothing to say at Old Man Ban's words, looked back at Hua Sochen.
Hua Sochen was also looking at Hua Yunhui.
"I can't lose you too. For any reason."
At Hua Sochen's words, Hua Yunhui also nodded.
They had the same thought.
Because nothing could be more precious than his sister.
The atmosphere became heavy, but when it seemed that everyone had understood what he was saying, Old Man Ban summed it up simply and clearly.
"If a fight breaks out and I fall, watch from a distance, and the head of the family should go to the Tang family, and the head of the pharmacy should go to Hundred Herb Forest."
"Why should I go to Hundred Herb Forest?"
"Because he's the one who's at least reasonable. Tell him that people will come from the Tang family, and that the price of purchasing medicinal ingredients will be returned to the original, so he should stop that good-for-nothing."
The head of the pharmacy looked back at Hua Sochen.
It was because of the words that the price of purchasing medicinal ingredients had to be returned to the original.
Hua Sochen nodded.
The head of the pharmacy sighed heavily.
"I understand. I will do so."
Old Man Ban looked back and forth between Hua Sochen and Hua Yunhui and said heavily.
"There will be lingering feelings, and you will be angry, but it will be better than seeing blood. You must not forget that it is wise to end it with me falling, since it is my fight."
Old Man Ban said in a strong tone.
If he died or fell, there was not much this young brother and sister could do.
So he hoped that the Hua Family Clinic would continue to exist somehow until they had grown up enough to overcome any difficulties on their own.
Old Man Ban finally thought of Cho Myung, who had gone to dig for herbs.
'Myung, the path you have to walk is like this. If you want to protect the clinic and continue to be happy with these people, you must be prepared to get blood on your fists.'
***
After that day, they regained their peaceful daily life.
But one morning a few days later, Old Man Ban asked Cho Myung.
"By any chance, have you ever learned to read?"
As he was writing the martial arts manual to leave for Cho Myung, he wondered if he knew how to read.
If it was a family so poor that they had to sell their child, they probably had not learned to read.
"No."
Cho Myung's face turned slightly red.
He didn't know why, but he felt ashamed.
At the expected reaction, Old Man Ban smiled kindly.
"It's not shameful to not know. It's natural not to know since you haven't learned."
"Okay."
"From tomorrow, I will teach you to read for an hour every morning, so be aware."
"Yes, I'll be going."
Cho Myung put on the hundred-catty iron armor and went out bravely.
Another energetic day had begun.
He took his basket and ran to the mountains.
Seokcheong did not even follow. It was because there was no point in going to the mountains if they were not going to be together all the time.
Cho Myung ran without resting.
He crossed three mountains and stopped at the top of the fourth mountain.
He looked around and took in the mountain scenery.
Although he had memorized it all after seeing it once, he still took in the mountain scenery in detail, in case he got lost.
So that he could find his way to the clinic no matter where he was, even if it got dark.
Since he had briefly gotten lost because of the red-eyed demon last time, he had begun to pay attention to the surrounding mountain scenery.
He did not want to lose this happiness for any reason.
Even if the red-eyed demon interfered, even if those grandfathers interfered.
"No! I don't want to think about that!"
Cho Myung hit his head to shake off the thought of the Ten Orthodox Heavens.
They were scary moments that would come to mind without fail if he showed even a little bit of a gap, making him cringe.
Cho Myung shook his head.
But since he couldn't easily shake it off, he ran down the mountain.
The wind brushed against his face as if it were hitting him.
He liked that feeling.
As he jumped over everything that blocked his way, he was able to shake off the thought of the Ten Orthodox Heavens.
So he felt good again.
"Herbs, where are you?"
Cho Myung twitched his nose and began to look for herbs.
***
Lunchtime.
Old Man Ban, Jeok Yorap, Hua Yunhui, and Seokcheong always ate lunch together.
So they all felt sorry that the young Cho Myung had to eat fist-sized dumplings in the mountains.
But today, two people joined them.
It was Hua Sochen and the head of the pharmacy.
"It's nice to eat together like this after eating alone."
Hua Sochen was really in a good mood, and a smile appeared on her lips.
"Then eat with us every day."
"Okay, I will. Unless I have urgent business, let's eat lunch together. Is that okay?"
The question was thrown at Old Man Ban and Jeok Yorap, looking back and forth between them.
Of course, the two nodded readily.
Lunch was simple noodles.
Although it was simple, it was full of meat.
"I know the clinic's finances are not good, is it okay to eat like this?"
Old Man Ban suddenly asked.
"My grandfather, who was called a divine doctor, told us to do so. He said that since the work of the doctors and workers is hard, we should always prepare a hearty meal."
"The doctors must have a hard time mentally as they deal with various patients, and if there is a seriously ill patient, they have to stay up all night, so it must be hard in many ways. But do the workers of the clinic have any particularly hard work?"
"Yes, they do."
"Is that so?"
"One of the most important things in the clinic is cleanliness. So the bedding used in the patient rooms has to be changed frequently."
"Ah, the laundry!"
"That's right. The physically really hard work is having to wash the bedding frequently. And we also have to wash the patients' clothes."
"I see."
Old Man Ban nodded as if he fully understood.
"But even if it's not that, he respected and cared for everyone who worked at the clinic."
"He was a respectable person."
"His medical skills were great, but he was called a divine doctor because of that kindness."
The head of the pharmacy added a word.
Before they knew it, the atmosphere had become somewhat heavy.
Old Man Ban looked back and forth between Hua Sochen and Hua Yunhui.
Hua Sochen, who looked calm, and Hua Yunhui, who was pretending to be so and was just focused on eating.
"The divine doctor and the head of the family and his wife must be satisfied. Although they are apart, their bloodline has grown up so well."
"Right?"
The head of the pharmacy received Old Man Ban's words.
The face of the head of the pharmacy, who was looking back and forth between Hua Sochen and Hua Yunhui, was full of satisfaction.
Old Man Ban nodded.
"If you don't forget the teachings that the divine doctor left behind, the clinic will surely prosper greatly."
Old Man Ban's gaze was directed at Hua Sochen.
Knowing what that gaze meant, Hua Sochen had no choice but to nod.
"When my heart became impatient, I became obsessed with what was in front of me."
"It is said that one should not be ashamed to ask those of lower status. There will be times when your younger brother, who is a step away and at peace, will see more."
It meant that when his head was complicated, he should also listen to Hua Yunhui's opinion.
Hua Sochen nodded silently.
Only then did Old Man Ban turn his gaze to Hua Yunhui.
"Doctor Hua."
"Yes?"
When Hua Yunhui looked at him, Old Man Ban said something out of the blue.
"Please teach Myung to read. I think Doctor Hua will teach him better than me, who has barely learned the characters. About an hour every morning, will you have time?"
"Probably."
"Can I teach him?"
Hua Sochen interjected and asked.
It was an unexpected situation, so Old Man Ban's eyes, who was looking back at Hua Sochen, widened.
"The head of the family?"
"Yes. If it's okay, I want to teach him."
Of course it's okay.
There's no reason why it shouldn't be.
But since it was something no one had expected, everyone looked at Hua Sochen.
As soon as Hua Sochen heard Old Man Ban's story, she wanted to teach him herself. So she just asked, but since everyone was just looking at her, she was slightly flustered and thought about the reason why she wanted to do so.
It was a simple reason that didn't require much thought.
"I feel sorry for Myung, and also... since we're one family, I want to help in any way I can."
Old Man Ban smiled first.
With satisfaction.
Jeok Yorap also smiled.
A look of gratitude was visible.
The head of the pharmacy also smiled, and Hua Yunhui also smiled.
Only Seokcheong did not smile.
Helping, teaching, isn't that just a natural thing? Why are they smiling?
It was rather a question.
"Then let's have the head of the family teach him."
Old Man Ban said after a long time.
Thus, Cho Myung's reading lessons were decided.
***
The next morning.
After finishing the meal, Old Man Ban said.
"Myung, I said I would teach you to read for an hour every day from today, right?"
"Yes."
"Your sister, the head of the family, said she wanted to teach you, so I said okay, but what does Myung think?"
"I like it."
Cho Myung, who answered excitedly as if there was nothing to think about.
A bright smile even appeared on his face.
He was in a good mood thinking that he would learn to read from Hua Sochen, who was a pretty sister and was kind to him.
"Shall we go now?"
At Cho Myung's reaction of fidgeting in his seat, Old Man Ban chuckled and nodded.
"Go ahead."
"I'll be back."
Cho Myung, who ran out of Jangsaengwon as soon as permission was granted. He ran straight to Hua Sochen's office.
Old Man Ban, who still hoped that Cho Myung would not be seen by people, had hoped that Hua Sochen would come to Jangsaengwon to teach him.
But Hua Sochen had said that no one would consider the current Cho Myung and the Cho Myung when he first came here to be the same child, and that Jangsaengwon was not a suitable place for reading lessons.
Old Man Ban, who had thought about it for a moment with Jeok Yorap, decided to send Cho Myung to Hua Sochen.
"Sister, head of the family, it's Myung."
When he shouted from outside the door, Hua Sochen's answer to come in was heard from inside.
Cho Myung opened the door and peeked in with just his head.
Hua Sochen was sitting in a chair and grinding an ink stick.
"Why are you like that? Come in quickly."
"Okay."
When Hua Sochen told him to come in, he went in with short steps.
"You have to close the door."
"Okay."
He obediently went back, closed the door, and then came running. And he sat down opposite Hua Sochen.
"You can't see the characters properly from there. Come and sit next to me."
"Okay."
Cho Myung quickly got up and sat down next to Hua Sochen.
The medicinal scent from Hua Sochen's body pleasantly entered his nose.
"Did you eat a lot?"
"Yes. It was so delicious that I ate until I was full."
"I'm glad it was delicious. If you're not full, go to the kitchen anytime. I'll ask them in advance to give Myung whatever delicious food he wants when he comes, so just go and say you're hungry."
"Really?"
"Of course. Since Myung is a good boy who listens well, I want to do everything for you. So don't hesitate and run to the kitchen when you're hungry, and if you need anything, come and find me. But, if people ask what your name is, you can't say Cho Myung. You have to say Eun Myung. Eun Myung! Got it?"
"Okay."
Cho Myung, who had answered bravely, watched carefully as Hua Sochen was grinding the ink stick.
"This is called an ink stick. This is an inkstone. They are things you need to write."
"Okay."
"Now, since it's all ground, shall we start?"
Hua Sochen put down the ink stick, took the brush, soaked it with enough ink, and then wrote a small character for one (一) on the white paper she had prepared in advance.
"How many lines did I draw?"
"One."
"That's right. This is the character for one, which indicates one."
Hua Sochen smiled and drew two lines next to the character for one (一).
"How many is this?"
"Two."
"That's right. Then how do you draw three?"
"You draw three lines."
"That's right. This is two, and this is the character for three."
Hua Sochen wrote the character for three (三).
One (一), two (二), three (三).
"The characters for one, two, and three, you just have to draw lines like this. It's easy, right? Now, then how do you write four?"
"Four lines."
Hua Sochen drew four lines. And she asked.
"Five?"
"Five lines."
"Ten?"
"Ten lines."
Cho Myung answered excitedly.
Hua Sochen drew ten lines and asked again.
"A hundred?"
"A hundred... lines."
Cho Myung's confidence dropped as he answered.
As he answered, he saw, how could he draw a hundred lines on this small piece of paper? Something was strange.
"Wow, our Myung is smart."
"What?"
"It's strange even when Myung thinks about it, right?"
"Yes."
When Cho Myung answered with a strange and unknowing face, Hua Sochen smiled and asked again.
"Now, think about it. I'm trying to write down the amount of money the clinic spent today in the ledger, and I spent five hundred taels. Then should I draw five hundred lines in the ledger?"
"No. I don't think so."
"That's right. No. You can't draw a thousand lines just because you spent a thousand taels. Think about how frustrating it would be if I or someone else had to count them one by one to check how much was spent later."
"It's frustrating."
"Right?"
"Yes."
"So we made a promise. Let's not draw four lines for four, but write it like this, and then five like this, and ten..."
Hua Sochen, who had quickly written four (四), five (五), and ten (十).
She soon wrote the characters for a hundred (百), a thousand (千), and ten thousand (萬).
"This is a hundred, and this is a thousand, and this is ten thousand. What do you think? If you just know these three characters, you won't have to draw a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand lines, right?"
"Yes."
A look of admiration appeared on Cho Myung's face as he answered.
"Now, look. If you put one (一) in front of this ten (十), it becomes ten, and if you put three (三), it becomes thirty, and if you put five (五), it becomes fifty. Then how do you write fifty thousand?"
"You put five (五) in front of this ten thousand (萬)."
"That's right. Myung is smart."
"Hehehe."
When Cho Myung laughed, Hua Sochen, who had smiled back, pointed to the paper again and said.
"A character like this is a promise. Let's call this one (一), and this ten (十). And we made a promise like this for a thousand (千) and ten thousand (萬)."
"Ah!"
Cho Myung, who exclaimed as if he had understood something at the word "promise".
Hua Sochen smiled as if she were proud and wrote heaven, earth, and man (天地人).
"This is heaven, this is earth, and this is man. Myung, you've heard the word 'under heaven', right?"
"Yes."
"What does that mean?"
"The whole world under the sky."
"That's right. It means the whole world under the sky. Then the character for 'under heaven' should have the character for 'under' next to this character for 'heaven', right?"
"Yes."
"This is the character for 'under' (下). So it becomes 'under heaven'."
Hua Sochen wrote the character for 'under' (下) next to the character for 'heaven' (天).
Cho Myung looked at the character for 'under heaven' carefully.
It was because as he looked at the character for 'under heaven', for some reason, something seemed to well up in his chest and his heart seemed to pound.
'Under heaven...'
Hua Sochen taught him one character at a time, watching Cho Myung's reaction.
Since it was the first day, she was careful to make it interesting for Cho Myung.
Thanks to Hua Sochen's efforts, Cho Myung was extremely focused on the characters.
Before he knew it, an hour had passed.
"Let's stop here for today."
"Okay."
"You can forget everything you learned today. But from tomorrow, you must memorize even if you learn just one character. Got it?"
"Yes. But I've memorized it all."
"Huh?"
"What I learned today. I've memorized it all."
"......!"
Hua Sochen made a face as if to say "no way".
But there was no reason for Cho Myung to lie, and he was not a child who would do so.
Hua Sochen, who had been thinking for a moment, spread a new piece of paper and wrote two characters.
It was 'clinic' (醫家).
"Clinic. This means doctor and to treat, and this is a house."
"That's right, then this?"
"That's easy. It's 'bright'. It means bright because the sun (日) and the moon (月) are together. It's my name. Hehe."
"That's right. Then this?"
"Heaven is black, and the earth is yellow. It means the sky is black and the earth is yellow."
"This?"
"Heaven is long, and the earth is unchanging. It means that heaven and earth are eternal."
After that, she wrote down the characters she had shown him for an hour one by one and asked him.
Cho Myung remembered every single one of them without missing a single one.
When there were no more characters to ask, Hua Sochen looked at Cho Myung with surprised eyes.
"Myung, you... you were a genius!"
(End of Chapter)