The most secure job in Dajin

Chapter 12, New Technique Unlocked

Hua Wu Niang was taken away by Mrs. Zhou, who was by Mrs. Zhou's side.

Watching the carriage go away, the Hua family members were extremely silent.

Seeing that Fourth Aunt Hua was standing at the door for a long time without coming back to her senses, Hua Changxi could not help but step forward again: "Fourth Aunt, since you don't want Fifth Sister to be a concubine, then go and call her back quickly. It's not too late now."

Aunt Hua's eyes were red and her lips were trembling. She wanted to say something, but in the end she said nothing.

Old Madam Hua's unhappy voice sounded: "Mrs. Hua Jiu, who let you out? It's your turn as a little lady to butt in on the affairs of the adults."

"Fourth Aunt!"

Hua Changxi called out to Aunt Hua Si again, but Aunt Hua Si lowered her head and did not respond.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi felt helpless. Seeing that Old Lady Hua could no longer conceal her anger, and not wanting to be locked up in the ear room again, which would cause problems for the Medical Department's apprentice examination four days later, he went back to his room obediently.

Returning to his room, Hua Changxi was a little dazed.

Seeing what happened to Hua Wuniang, she couldn't help but think of herself.

Before this, she was generally satisfied with being born into the Hua family.

Although the elders tend to favor boys over girls, and although the family's resources are biased towards boys, the girls in the family are not treated harshly.

But when Hua Wuniang's incident happened, her opinion changed.

For the sake of the men in the family, the young lady can be sacrificed.

Today it is Hua Wuniang, tomorrow it could be her.

Although she was lucky enough to get the opportunity to practice, she knew nothing about cultivation and had no idea what was waiting for her in the future.

The only thing we can do now is to be admitted to the Medical Department and work hard to improve the level of medical skills inheritance.

In the next few days, the Hua family yard was somewhat silent, and Hua Changxi also stayed quietly in the house and concentrated on his practice.

In the blink of an eye, September 20th arrived. Hua Changxi went out before dawn accompanied by Hua Liulang and went straight to the Medical Bureau.

"It's not that easy to get into the Medical Department."

Seeing Yao standing at the door and watching the two children go away, Hua Minghe walked over and said, "I asked around and found that there are many people applying for the Medical Department this time. Jiu Niang may not be able to get in."

Yao showed disapproval: "Pharmacist Xu also recognizes Jiu Niang's medical skills."

Hua Minghe sighed: "To work in the government, ability is important, but relationships are more important."

Yao frowned: "Someone with connections would be interested in the job of an apprentice in the Medical Department?"

Hua Minghe: "Who doesn't have a few relatives? The nobles may not like it, but the relatives of the nobles may like it."

"A lot of people are eyeing the Medical Department. When Sanlang was fifteen, I thought about letting him join the Medical Department. Unfortunately, his medical skills were not good enough, so he didn't pass the exam. I also couldn't find a way to get in through connections."

Yao exclaimed in surprise: "Why haven't I heard you and Sanlang talk about this?"

Hua Minghe: "Why talk about things that have not been done? Besides, Sanlang is already grown up, and he needs to save face."

Yao frowned: "Is it so difficult to enter the Medical Department?"

Hua Minghe: "The Medical Department is a government office. Even the most powerless and deserted government office is still popular. What's more, the Medical Department is not deserted. It is a place that the emperor is keeping an eye on."

Yao was worried: "According to what you said, Jiu Niang will most likely not be able to enter the Medical Department?"

Hua Minghe sighed: "Our daughter is proud and arrogant. She is naive and stubborn and refuses to submit to anyone."

"You were right to let her take the exam for the Medical Department. Let her fall hard a few times, and she'll know how cruel the world outside is."

Yao was about to say something when, with a loud splash, a basin of water was splashed out from behind her, splashing onto the street in front of the door and raising a cloud of dust.

"Auntie!"

Hua Minghe and Yao turned around and saw Old Lady Hua standing behind them holding a wooden basin.

"You guys are getting more and more capable. You let a little girl like Jiu Niang apply for the Medical Department without telling her family. Do you still have this family in your heart?"

After saying that, Old Lady Hua went back to the yard angrily with the wooden basin.

Hua Minghe and Yao hurried to follow.

"Mother, it's not that we didn't tell our family that Jiu Niang applied for the Medical Department exam. We didn't really have high hopes for her, we just let her take the exam for fun."

"I didn't tell my family because I didn't want them to worry about me."

Because of the sudden appearance of Old Lady Hua, before Hua Changxi even entered the examination room, everyone in the Hua family knew that she was going to take the apprentice examination of the Medical Bureau today.

The Medical Bureau is located in the northeast of the capital, covering a vast area, occupying three streets, which is several times the size of an ordinary district.

When Hua Changxi and Hua Liulang arrived, a large crowd had already gathered in front of the Medical Bureau.

"So many people!"

Seeing the reference personnel entering the Medical Department one after another, Hana Rokuro was a little dumbfounded.

Someone immediately said, "I heard that there are thousands of people applying for the Medical Department this time, but the Medical Department will only recruit 200 people."

Hua Liulang swallowed and looked at Hua Changxi: "Jiu Niang, with so many people, can you pass the exam to get into the Medical Department?"

Hua Changxi looked at the plaque of the Medical Department, his eyes flickering with determination: "Sixth brother, you go home, I'm going in."

Having said that, he took out his admission ticket and went to line up.

The Medical Department is the gathering place for the medical masters of the Jin Dynasty. Even if you come here as an apprentice, you may need to reach a certain level of medical skills.

In the past, recruiting apprentices only required a written test, but this time, a practical step in handling medicinal materials was added.

Hua Changxi is very confident in herself. Even though she had serious deficiencies in warrior medicinal materials before, "Baicao Jingzhu" has made up for it for her.

As for processing medicinal materials, that’s even easier.

In her previous life, she had been following her grandfather to learn how to process Chinese medicine since she could walk. In this life, she also helped out at the Hua family's medicine shop for several years, and many of the herbs sold by the Hua family were prepared by her.

The written test tested everyone's accumulation of medical knowledge. After Hua Changxi finished reading the test questions, he had a rough idea in his mind and began to answer the questions calmly.

As the competition was too fierce, she was the first one to hand in her answer sheet in order to let the invigilator notice her as a "promising talent".

After the written test, Hua Changxi was taken directly to a square by a medical officer without any time to rest.

There are several rows of wooden tables in the square, and a few herbs are placed on each table.

The medical officer took Hua Changxi to a wooden table and waved to the people in the house on the west side of the square. After a while, a middle-aged medical officer came over with paper and pen.

"Someone has finished the written test so soon? I heard that this written test is not easy."

The middle-aged medical officer looked at Hua Changxi for a few times and said with a smile: "Are you going to leave without answering the questions?"

The medical officer who led the way clasped his fists and saluted: "Greetings, Medical Officer Sun." Then he smiled and said, "I only led the way. I don't know whether she answered the questions or not. I led her here. Medical Officer Sun, you supervise her practice."

Only after Doctor Sun and other leading medical officers left did they turn their attention to Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi clasped her fists and bowed, imitating the way the medical officer who led the way greeted her: "My daughter Hua Changxi greets Lord Sun."

Seeing her like this, the middle-aged medical officer raised his eyebrows, laughed, and without saying much to her, he pointed to the herbs on the table and said, "Prepare these five herbs."

There are five medicinal herbs on the wooden table, three of which are ordinary herbs, and two are medicinal herbs used by warriors.

Hua Changxi had prepared ordinary herbs before, but he had never processed the two herbs used by warriors before.

However, the "Bai Cao Jing Zhu" has a detailed explanation of the medicinal properties of the two herbs, and she can prepare them according to the medicinal properties.

Hua Changxi thought so and started to take action.

The first step in processing medicinal materials is to clean them to remove dust and mud.

When Hua Changxi finished cleaning a medicinal herb, a line of words suddenly appeared in his sight.

[Immortality (beginner): Cleansing herbs 1/10]
Hua Changxi's eyelids trembled. He suppressed the excitement in his heart and carefully washed the herbs. After washing all five herbs, the words in his sight also changed.

[Immortality (beginner): Cleansing herbs 5/10]
After cleaning the medicinal materials, the next step is to prepare them.

There are three methods for preparing medicinal materials: water preparation, fire preparation, and water and fire preparation.

The five herbs on the table can be prepared using fire method according to their medicinal properties.

Hua Changxi took the cleaned herbs and walked to the iron stove next to him to bake them, determining the degree of drying based on the medicinal properties.

Doctor Sun looked at Hua Changxi's skilled and smooth movements and couldn't help but ask, "Are there any elders in your family who are doctors?"

Hua Changxi quickly replied with a smile: "In response to Lord Sun, my family runs a pharmacy, and my grandmother's family is a drug dealer." Doctor Sun looked as if it was true: "No wonder you are so skilled in handling medicinal materials." As he said that, he asked about the situation of the Hua family.

After learning that although there were people from the Hua family working in the government, they were all low-level officials, he lost interest in asking more questions.

At this time, a group of people pushed several large carts of medicinal materials through the square, led by a white-faced, beardless eunuch.

Hua Changxi looked at the medicinal herbs in the car and felt a burning sensation in his heart.

She had never seen those medicinal herbs outside, but they were all recorded in "Bai Cao Jing Zhu".

When Doctor Sun saw the person coming, he immediately greeted him with a big smile on his face and asked, "Eunuch Jia, have you just returned from the pharmacy?"

Eunuch Jia waved his hand to signal the people behind him to continue walking, but he stopped and asked instead, "Doctor Sun, why is this place arranged like this?"

Doctor Sun said with a smile, "Eunuch Jia, you are so forgetful. Have you forgotten that today is the day to recruit new apprentices?"

Eunuch Jia let out a long "Oh" and said nothing more. Instead, he looked at Hua Changxi who was turning over the herbs and roasting them: "Not bad, your technique is very skillful. It seems that the Apprentice Hall is going to have another talented person."

Doctor Sun sighed and said, "Thank you for your good words. The tasks assigned by the Shangshu in the past two years have become heavier and heavier. The Apprentice Hall is almost overwhelmed. If we can really summon someone who can be used, the Apprentice Hall will be able to relax a little."

Eunuch Jia raised his chin towards Hua Changxi and said, "The talent is right in front of us. If the Apprentice Hall can be more resolute, there will be no need to worry about not having people to use."

After saying this, without waiting for Doctor Sun to say anything, Eunuch Jia said, "I have something else to do at home, so I won't chat with Doctor Sun any more. Goodbye."

Looking at Eunuch Jia walking away, Doctor Sun restrained himself and said "Pooh".

Doesn’t the Apprentice Hall want to be more confident? But do they have a strong backing?
The Apprentice Hall, the Miscellaneous Services Hall and the Disciple Hall are all core departments of the Medical Bureau. The Miscellaneous Services Hall is backed by people in the palace, the Disciple Hall is personally watched over by the Supervisor, and only the Apprentice Hall is raised by a stepmother, so anyone can interfere in the hall's affairs.

Doctor Sun felt that he was being played by Eunuch Jia. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Suddenly, he turned around and looked at Hua Changxi.

Seeing Hua Changxi busy roasting medicinal herbs and not glancing at him at all, Sun Zhigang showed a trace of regret on his face.

Whenever this candidate behaves in a slightly unruly manner, he will have someone to vent his anger on.

Not long after, an unfamiliar medical officer came over with five candidates.

Hua Changxi just looked up at the few people and was slightly surprised to see that there were three women among the five people, but he didn't think much about it and continued to concentrate on roasting the medicinal materials.

When she finished preparing a herb, a line of words immediately appeared in her sight: [Canon of Canon (Beginner): Preparation of Medicinal Materials 1/10]
Hua Changxi was delighted that a new technique had appeared.

It turned out to be a good idea to come to the Medical Department. Now, I have unlocked two new skills.

Just as Hua Changxi was stunned, Doctor Sun came over and said to her, "Okay, you can go now."

Hua Changxi came back to his senses and looked at the herbs that were still being roasted: "The herbs haven't been prepared yet."

Doctor Sun: "This is none of your business. Please leave."

Hua Changxi frowned slightly. Seeing that Doctor Sun showed an impatient expression, she was worried that she would give her a bad review, so she didn't dare to stay any longer. She put the prepared herbs on the table and walked out slowly.

She did not leave immediately. Instead, she turned the corner of the square and stopped when she saw that there was no one around. She lay down at the corner and looked towards the square.

When I saw this, anger immediately surged in my heart.

The five new candidates were all passing notes to Medical Officer Sun.

Although Doctor Sun looked somewhat reluctant, he accepted all five notes.

Hua Changxi wanted to rush over and catch them in the act, but in the end he suppressed the impulse in his heart.

If she pretended not to see what happened, she would still have a chance to join the Medical Department. If she ran out and made the matter public, she would probably never have the chance to join the Medical Department again.

But, can she really enter the Medical Department with her medical skills?

She hasn't finished preparing those five herbs yet.

Being admitted to the Medical Department is too important for Hua Changxi, she doesn’t want to go back just like that.

If she wasn't on the job offer list three days later, she would be in trouble.

Hua Changxi thought of Pharmacist Xu. Knowing that Pharmacist Xu worked at the Ninth Street of the Medical Bureau, he went to look for him without being noticed.

She was lucky because Ninth Street was right next to the square.

"Nine Street No. 12"

Hua Changxi found the pharmacy at No. 12, 9th Street, where Pharmacist Xu worked, according to the address Pharmacist Xu gave him. Just then, someone came out of the pharmacy, so he hurried forward and said, "Hello, sir. I'm looking for Pharmacist Xu. Can you help pass the message?"

Soon, Pharmacist Xu came out.

"Jiu Niang, why are you here?"

Seeing Hua Changxi, Pharmacist Xu was surprised at first, then he pulled Hua Changxi and walked quickly into the alley: "The Medical Department does not allow outsiders to wander around casually."

"Are you here for the exam?"

Hua Changxi nodded and quickly told what happened in the square: "Uncle Xu, that Doctor Sun drove me away before I even had time to prepare the herbs. Does this mean that I won't be hired?"

Pharmacist Xu was silent for a while. Seeing Hua Changxi looking at him eagerly, he sighed and said, "Nine Lady, come and take the exam next time when the Medical Department recruits apprentices."

Hua Changxi looked anxious: "Why?"

Speaking of this, Pharmacist Xu said in a somewhat aggressive tone: "Why else? The quota has been taken."

Hua Changxi: "Didn't you tell me before that you would recruit 50 female apprentices this time? You can't have taken all 50 places, right?"

Pharmacist Xu said nothing and agreed.

Hua Changxi's eyes widened: "Are all 50 really taken?"

Pharmacist Xu: "This situation never happened before, but I don't know what happened this time. Many noble families are sending people to the Medical Department."

"You know, this time even the young lady from the Duke's Mansion came to get involved."

Hua Changxi frowned, "How can a noble family be interested in the job of an apprentice in the Medical Department? Don't they think it's not decent?"

Pharmacist Xu: "The job at the Medical Department is actually quite popular. Noble families have the habit of training female doctors as dowries for their daughters."

"Where is the best place to train female doctors? The Medical Department!"

Hua Changxi was very angry. When his anger subsided, he immediately looked at Pharmacist Xu and said, "Uncle Xu, I must join the Medical Department. If you help me, I will reward you handsomely in the future."

Pharmacist Xu looked embarrassed: "I have no say in recruiting apprentices."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi was silent. After a while, his face turned fierce and he said, "I will go back to find that Doctor Sun. If he doesn't hire me, I will tell others about him receiving the note."

Hearing this, Pharmacist Xu was shocked and pulled Hua Changxi: "Oh my aunt, please don't do this. Even if your threat succeeds and you really get into the Medical Bureau, what awaits you is a series of retaliations, and you will still be kicked out of the Medical Bureau in the end."

As he spoke, he paused.

"How about this, I'll go find Doctor Wang who is my good friend in the Apprentice Hall and see if he can make some concessions for you."

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi's face suddenly brightened with joy.

Pharmacist Xu added, "But don't hold your hopes too high. Although the Medical Department is different from other government offices, it is still a government office, and the affairs of a government office are intricately connected."

"Just like the recruitment of apprentices this time, the Apprentice Hall doesn't have much power to decide who to recruit."

Hua Changxi was silent and lowered his head: "Uncle Xu, I understand. I am sorry for causing you trouble."

Pharmacist Xu thought about it and advised: "Nine Lady, listen to Uncle Xu. If you can't enter the Medical Department this time, we can try again next time. I don't believe that the nobles can take up all the places every time."

Hua Changxi forced a smile: "Okay, I'll listen to Uncle Xu. Uncle Xu, go and do your work, I'll be back soon."

Pharmacist Xu was still a little worried: "Don't go find that Doctor Sun, okay?"

Hua Changxi nodded: "I won't, I just said it in anger."

Pharmacist Xu gave a few more instructions before entering the pharmacy, looking back every few steps.

Knowing that there was a high chance that he would not be able to enter the Medical Department, Hua Changxi was extremely unwilling.

If her medical skills were not good enough, she would accept it, but that was not the case.

Although he verbally promised Pharmacist Xu not to go look for Doctor Sun, Hua Changxi's feet still uncontrollably walked to the square.

At this time, the square was already full of candidates participating in the practical exercises.

The supervising medical officer was no longer just Doctor Sun, there were also a dozen other medical officers.

Hua Changxi thought that if she had not handed in the paper in advance, she might not have seen the scene of Doctor Sun receiving the note.

(End of this chapter)