Luo Liansheng gestured for Luo Ziling to sit down and talk.
Obediently, Luo Ziling sat down in front of Luo Liansheng, waiting for his grandfather to answer him.
"Ling'er, you've followed me and learned medicine for so many years, and indeed, your medical skills are not bad, but," Luo Liansheng paused here, "due to many reasons, the development of traditional medicine has now come to a standstill. Most of the practitioners of traditional medicine rely on studying ancient books to find diagnostic and treatment methods, unwilling to innovate, unwilling to delve deeper, which is the sadness of traditional medicine. We all know, no matter the field, it develops through constant exploration and research, and only when many people are willing to delve into it can there be progress and development. What a pity!"
Having said this, Luo Liansheng let out a long sigh and continued, "Our practitioners of traditional medicine just lie on the achievements of their predecessors and reap the benefits without innovation and change, resulting in today's situation where traditional medicine is considered by many to be pseudoscience. Most people, when they fall ill, choose Western medicine first, and only when Western medicine can't cure them do they turn to Chinese medicine with a defeatist attitude, as a last resort. This is the sorrow of Huaxia's traditional medicine."
Hearing Luo Liansheng speak this way, Luo Ziling became even more confused, "Grandfather, then why are you asking me to study Western medicine?"
Could it be that Grandfather also thinks Chinese medicine is inadequate, thus wanting him to switch to studying Western medicine?
"To integrate the strengths and compensate for the weaknesses, to assimilate the essence of Chinese medicine, as long as you can do this, you can become a generation's Medical Honorific," Luo Liansheng said with a laugh that seemed laden with deeper meaning, "Many aspects of Chinese medicine have been proven wrong by the times, and Western medicine is the same. It's like this with every discipline, embracing the true elements while discarding the false is what allows us to not treat the findings of our predecessors as infallible, and to keep improving and advancing. In fact, there's no need to see Chinese medicine and Western medicine as opposing each other, as they both have their strengths. By learning their essence and taking the best of both, don't you think you can tremendously improve your medical skills?"
"You're right, Grandfather, it's definitely like that," Luo Ziling nodded in agreement with Luo Liansheng's words.
In fact, Grandfather has always been doing this, otherwise Luo Ziling wouldn't have been able to learn the skillful surgical techniques nor some other diagnostic methods outside the scope of Chinese medicine. Taking the essence and discarding the dross is the attitude every field must have to avoid being outpaced by time and to develop significantly.
"If I asked you to go to the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, what do you think you would learn?" Luo Liansheng said with a proud smile, "None of the teachers there could teach you anything more, you could teach any of their professors. Therefore, Grandfather wants you to study Western clinical medicine, hoping you can learn the essence of Western medicine, especially pharmacology, and after absorbing what's beneficial, use the advantages of Chinese medicine to rejuvenate Huaxia's traditional medicine further."
Luo Ziling was a bit shaken by Luo Liansheng's words and suddenly didn't know what to say.
"Of course, that's not the most important reason for you to go to Yanjing to study," Luo Liansheng's smile faded, and he spoke almost word for word, "You're already twenty years old, you can't continue to live in this remote little mountain village, you need to go out and see the world, to reintegrate into modern life. This is Grandfather's wish, and also… her demand."
In the end, Luo Liansheng decided it was better to tell Luo Ziling this.
At these words, Luo Ziling was momentarily stunned; he knew who "she" was, whom his grandfather was referring to.
For all these years, Grandfather had never brought up this person voluntarily—it was the first time today.
The thought of this woman filled Luo Ziling's heart with a flood of emotions.
"Sigh!" Luo Liansheng let out another sigh without saying anything.
He went inside the room, took out a photo, and handed it to Luo Ziling, "Take this photo with you!"
Luo Ziling stood up and silently took the photo from his grandfather's hand.
He had secretly looked at this photo many times before.
In the photo, that almost ineffably beautiful woman was looking at him with her expressive, large eyes.
Luo Ziling avoided his gaze, but he could still feel the woman's eager eyes in the photo.
A trace of faint sorrow crossed Luo Liansheng's face as he looked at his grandson and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Ling'er, don't resent her, she had no other choice, she has already done very well. After you go to Yanjing for school, I believe you'll soon meet her."
"Grandfather, I've never thought about this matter. After all, I've never seen her, and it doesn't matter whether I see her in the future." Luo Ziling lowered his head and said softly, "Grandfather, in my heart, you are my only family."
"You're still holding a grudge against her for abandoning you when you were little," Luo Liansheng sighed heavily again, "But it's understandable, anyone who has gone through such a thing would complain. However, Grandfather still hopes you won't hold any resentment against her; she has had a harder life than anyone, it hasn't been easy for her. Sigh!"
Luo Ziling opened his mouth, wanting to ask something but not knowing how, and in the end, he said nothing.
"She is the woman who loves you most in this world, there's no other."
Luo Liansheng's words struck Luo Ziling's heart, almost making him unable to hold back his tears.
Seeing Luo Ziling's sad face, Luo Liansheng also felt somewhat wistful and suddenly didn't know what to say.
After a moment of silence between grandfather and grandson, Luo Liansheng remembered another very important matter.
"There is another very important task that I need you to do," Luo Liansheng, taking Luo Ziling's hand, gestured for him to sit down.
Luo Ziling obediently sat down.
"Do you remember when you were five years old, a lovely little girl came to our house?" Luo Liansheng asked Luo Ziling, "There was also an old man who came with her, a very tall old man. That little girl came to seek medical treatment."
"I remember," Luo Ziling nodded, the little girl was the playmate he had always remembered. That proud little princess, after so many years, he still remembered how pretty she looked back then.
"Back then, Grandfather and her grandfather arranged a marriage for you two through a child betrothal!" Luo Liansheng said, a bitter smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"What?!" Luo Ziling was once again surprised, feeling a bit slow to grasp it all.
That beautiful little girl, she was his bride-to-be? In an instant, Luo Ziling's heart rate quickened.
Could it be that Grandfather wanted him to study in Yanjing and also to take the opportunity to welcome that girl to their home?
"You take this letter from me, find that old man, and call off the marriage," Luo Liansheng handed Luo Ziling a letter.
Luo Ziling was stunned yet again, feeling as if his mental capacity was insufficient.
Luo Liansheng explained with a smile, "She's older than you, and you two aren't suitable. Also, there are people who disagree with the arrangement. So, when you go there to study, Grandfather wants you to call off the engagement as well."
"Alright!" The considerable ups and downs of life came too fast, and Luo Ziling struggled to keep up, managing only a mechanical agreement,
In the distance, snow-capped peaks; nearby, a cedar forest; several houses nestled amongst the tinted layers of trees; a small bridge over a stream; the morning mist embracing all the scenery within its hold—the little mountain village was picturesque.
Within this picturesque scenery stood two figures, one old and the other young.
Luo Ziling, with a travel bag on his back, was speaking to Luo Liansheng, who stood under the bridge at the entrance of the village.
"Grandpa, I'm leaving. You must take care of yourself," Luo Ziling said, his face full of reluctance.
"Go ahead," Luo Liansheng watched his grandson affectionately, smiling with a hint of sorrow.
Seeing the loving smile on his grandfather's face, Luo Ziling felt a wave of emotion but mustered a forced smile, "I'll come back to see you during the winter break, to spend the New Year with you. I'll show you the photos I took at school, tell you about university life, and bring you some specialties from Yanjing."
"During the winter break, you don't have to come back." Luo Liansheng's smile had a tinge of sadness, "By then, the paths will already be sealed off by heavy snow."
"No, I will definitely come back to spend the New Year with you."
"Ah!" Luo Liansheng patted Luo Ziling's shoulder heavily, said nothing more, and turned to walk back to his house.
Only after watching the old man enter his house and disappear from view did Luo Ziling turn around and stride away.
Upon crossing the bridge and exiting the valley, facing the vast grassland, Luo Ziling stopped in his tracks and looked back at the beautiful mountain village where he had lived for nearly twenty years.
He took out a slightly yellowed photograph from his pocket and stared at it with a complex expression, the astonishingly beautiful woman in it causing him to mutter somberly, "After all these years, why haven't you come to see me?"
No matter how many unspoken hardships you have, but having abandoned me twenty years ago and never coming to see me, at least for now, I cannot forgive you—as for later, we'll see!
"I'm going to study in Yanjing; will you come to see me? If someday, you unintentionally appear outside my classroom, how will I feel? Will I cry or smile, or would I not want to acknowledge you?"
He glanced at the photograph silently a few more times, carefully put it away, and then shouldered his travel bag properly before walking on without looking back.
After two hours of walking across the grassland beyond the valley, Luo Ziling reached the nearest small town to their village.
This town, represented by merely a dot on the provincial map, was the liveliest spot for miles around.
He caught the daily bus that only went one way to the county town, had lunch there, and then took the afternoon train heading to the provincial capital, Wushi.
The plane he was to catch was departing at ten o'clock the following morning.
After a grueling train journey lasting more than ten hours, Luo Ziling finally arrived in Wushi.
This was Luo Ziling's first time flying, and he had no idea how to proceed with the boarding formalities.
As Luo Ziling was about to ask at the information counter, he accidentally bumped into a pretty woman with a suitcase.
The woman with the suitcase walked quickly with her head down, while Luo Ziling was looking around; thus, their collision was entirely unintended.
"Sorry," almost knocking the woman over, Luo Ziling quickly apologized.
"It's okay, I wasn't careful," the mature and attractive woman, who looked to be in her thirties, examined Luo Ziling closely before breaking into a brilliant smile, "Handsome boy, did I hurt you?"
Relieved by the woman's friendly reaction, Luo Ziling quickly shook his head, "No!"
As they spoke he became somewhat shy, his expressions always revealing his discomfort under the gaze of a beautiful woman.
The woman did not leave immediately but looked Luo Ziling over and continued to chat, "Handsome boy, are you in a rush to board your plane? What time is your flight? Have you checked in yet?"
"My flight is at ten o'clock," Luo Ziling said, growing even more embarrassed, "I haven't checked in yet."
"What a coincidence?" The beautiful woman asked with curiosity, "My flight is also at ten o'clock. Which flight are you on?"
After checking his ticket, Luo Ziling replied, "CZ6901."
"That's such a coincidence, I'm on the same flight," the beautiful woman laughed joyfully, "How about we go check in together?"
Luo Ziling, unsure of how to check in, was instantly delighted and quickly agreed.
Following the beautiful woman, Luo Ziling quickly completed his boarding procedures.
The beautiful woman helped him pick a seat, and their seats were next to each other.
During the boarding process, Luo Ziling also learned that the beautiful woman's name was Li Jing, a Yanjing native, on a business trip to Wushi.
He was very glad that the accidental bump had saved him a lot of trouble.
Li Jing was very enthusiastic, taking care of all the procedures for him, and it was she who led Luo Ziling onto the plane.
During the flight, she helped Luo Ziling get a meal and drinks, chatted with him all the way, and told him about Yanjing.
Li Jing's warmth eliminated Luo Ziling's caution and led him to share his purpose for going to Yanjing with her.
After Li Jing found out he was going to school, she told him many interesting stories about Yanjing University and things to pay attention to while studying.
Luo Ziling was even more grateful.
Having an enthusiastic beauty for company, the hours-long flight journey went by in a flash.
After getting off the plane, it was again Li Jing who led him to pick up his luggage.
After leaving the airport, Li Jing did not say goodbye to Luo Ziling, but took the same subway with him.
"I live near Yan University, we're on the same route," Li Jing said with a smile to Luo Ziling, "It seems I'm really destined to meet this handsome young man."
These words made Luo Ziling blush, and a strange feeling arose in his heart.
Being unfamiliar with everything, he was very glad to have met someone as enthusiastic as Li Jing; otherwise, he would have faced many more difficulties.
He was extremely thankful to Li Jing.
Lacking a mother's love since childhood, in just a few hours of contact, he had developed a deep attachment to Li Jing.
He couldn't help but wonder if that woman would also have been this good to him if she were by his side.
Thinking about this, a sour feeling involuntarily rose in his heart.
Li Jing and Luo Ziling exited the subway station, accompanied him to the gate of Yan University's campus, and took a few photos of him with her phone.
"Once you've bought a phone, I'll send you the photos!" On the plane, Li Jing had already learned that Luo Ziling didn't have a phone. She gave him her phone number and made him promise to notify her once he bought a phone.
Luo Ziling naturally agreed.
When saying goodbye to Li Jing, Luo Ziling sincerely said thank you, "Mrs. Li, I'm very thankful for your help."
"Meeting is destiny, and who knows, we may meet again," Li Jing said, smiling and waving goodbye to him.
After watching Luo Ziling enter the campus, she finally took a long breath, took out her phone, and dialed a number.
The call connected immediately.
"Hello," a rather magnetic female voice came from the other end of the phone, "Li Jing, have you arrived in the Capital?"
"Miss, it's me," Li Jing's face showed respectful deference, "We've arrived, and I've safely brought him to the campus of Yanjing University."
The woman on the phone was silent for a moment and then, trying to suppress the excitement in her heart, said softly, "You've worked hard!"
"Miss, I've taken some photos of him, I'll bring them to..."
Li Jing was interrupted before she could finish her sentence: "Send them to me now, immediately!"
"Yes, Miss!"
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