newbobooks Chapter 459 The Opening of the Great Qin Medical College
Chapter 459 The Opening of the Great Qin Medical College
"Chunyu Shu, from now on, you are no longer a member of the Chunyu family!" The bamboo stick slammed onto the blue bricks, shaking off the dust accumulated between the beams.
Chunyu Shu was held tightly by her mother, watching her grandfather's faltering figure as he walked away. As the hem of his black robe swept across the threshold, she clearly saw that the great scholar who dared to remonstrate with the King of Qin in court now looked even more weathered than the centuries-old cypress trees in the ancestral hall. The north wind outside the ancestral hall swept in withered plum blossoms, landing on the bloodstains seeping from her mother's back, a red and white intertwining, much like the unfinished painting "Apricot Blossoms and Swallows in Spring" on her aunt's mourning hall.
As the sunlight rose higher, it pierced through the eaves and brackets of the Chunyu Mansion. Chunyu Shu's hands trembled as she wiped her mother's wounds. The old and new scars, ghastly visible under the sunlight, seemed to silently tell the story of the tragedy of two generations of women in the Chunyu family. Her mother, however, simply shook her head gently, a relieved smile on her lips: "Shu, don't be sad. Today you can finally pursue your dreams."
At noon, Chunyu Shu quietly packed her bags. Sunlight streamed through the window onto her desk, illuminating the medical books she had handwritten. The dense annotations revealed countless nights of arduous study. She carefully placed the half-finished medical text, secretly given to her by her mother and left to her by her maternal grandmother, close to her body. Turning away, she took one last look at the deep, repressive courtyard that held so much sorrow and pain, before resolutely stepping out the gate.
Xianyang City remained bustling with activity. Chunyu Shu strode towards the Great Qin Medical College. Along the way, her mind was filled with images of her aunt's despairing face, the brand beneath her mother's collarbone, and her grandfather's trembling figure as he walked away. These images, like heavy shackles, also became the driving force that propelled her forward.
Having walked for half an hour after leaving Xianyang, Chunyu Shu's bandage rubbed against her back, spreading a dark red stain over the blood-soaked back of her robe. The scorching sun of late afternoon made her vision blur, and in her daze, she heard her grandfather roaring in the ancestral hall again: "You unfilial daughter! How could you do such a disgraceful thing to the family!" The dull thud of the bamboo cane striking her back and her mother's suppressed sobs still echoed in her ears.
Chunyu Shu had always traveled by carriage, but now, without one and with her wounds, she realized just how far the Great Qin Medical College was from Xianyang City. Exhausted, she reached out and held onto a roadside signpost to rest.
After resting for a while, Chunyu Shu remembered the medical book wrapped in oilcloth in her arms. This was a keepsake her mother had secretly given to her grandmother, and it held great significance for her. She carefully reached out and touched it, confirming that the medical book was still there. A huge weight was lifted from her heart, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then, a donkey cart slowly approached. The old man driving the cart saw Chunyu Shu standing by the roadside, so he reined in the cart and asked with concern, "Miss, would you like a helping hand?" Although Chunyu Shu was feeling unwell, she still shook her head, indicating that she did not need any help.
However, when she caught sight of the old man driving the donkey cart, a feeling of warmth welled up inside her. The old man looked very kind and approachable. Chunyu Shu hesitated for a moment, but finally asked, "Uncle, do you know how far it is to the Great Qin Medical College?"
Upon hearing this, the old man first exclaimed "Whoa!" and then looked Chunyu Shu up and down. His gaze fell on the blood-stained hem of Chunyu Shu's clothes, and he seemed somewhat surprised. After a while, the old man slowly said, "Young lady, are you going to study medicine? Walk another mile from here, and you'll see the Great Qin Medical College in the distance. Look..." As he said this, he pointed ahead.
Seeing this, Chunyu Shu looked in the direction the old man was pointing. Sure enough, several tall buildings stood not far away; that must be the Daqin Medical College. Chunyu Shu glanced at her pack and assessed her physical condition, a wave of worry washing over her: given her current state, she probably didn't know when she would arrive at the Daqin Medical College!
She hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to ask the old man for help: "Uncle, could you please take me to Daqin Medical College? I will pay you." Chunyu Shu's voice revealed a hint of pleading.
Upon hearing Chunyu Shu's request, the old man smiled kindly and quickly waved his hand, saying, "No need, no need, young lady. I'm going that way anyway, so I'll give you a ride." With that, the old man warmly invited Chunyu Shu to get into his car.
Along the way, the old man talked incessantly to Chunyu Shu about his family, especially his children, his words filled with pride and satisfaction. Chunyu Shu listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a few words, and the two had a very harmonious conversation.
From the old man, Chunyu Shu learned that his son had also been admitted to Daqin Medical College. The old man was incredibly proud of his son's achievement, and Chunyu Shu could feel his joy as a father.
Before she knew it, the car had arrived at the entrance of Daqin Medical College. Chunyu Shu thanked the old man and got out of the car. She reached for her wallet, but in the blink of an eye, the old man was gone. Chunyu Shu sighed, turned around, and stood in front of the entrance of Daqin Medical College, gazing up at the magnificent building, her heart filled with anticipation and longing.
On either side of the vermilion gate, plaques bearing the inscriptions "Hanging a Medicine Puppet" and "Saving the World" gleamed with a dark red hue. Chunyu Shu stepped into the Daqin Medical College, where she saw a bustling scene of people coming and going. Her sharp eyes quickly scanned the area before her gaze settled on the large characters "New Student Registration Office" not far away.
Everyone was shocked to see Chunyu Shu appear. They all seemed frozen in place, their gazes fixed on her. Their eyes held a mixture of doubt, curiosity, disgust, and even some ill intent.
However, Chunyu Shu ignored these stares. She straightened her back and walked step by step toward the new student registration office. Along the way, many people watched her and whispered, some shaking their heads and sneering, seemingly filled with disdain and contempt.
Chunyu Shu completely ignored the reactions of these people; her steps were firm and powerful, as if the whole world had nothing to do with her. Finally, she arrived at the new student registration office. The teacher in charge of registration was also surprised for a moment when he saw Chunyu Shu, but he quickly returned to normal and registered Chunyu Shu in an orderly manner.
The registration process was actually quite simple, and Chunyu Shu quickly completed all the formalities. Just as she turned to leave, the registration officer suddenly noticed the blood seeping from Chunyu Shu's shoulder. He frowned and asked, "Are you injured?"
Upon hearing this, Chunyu Shu stiffened slightly, but she quickly composed herself, forced a smile, and replied, "It's alright."
The teacher clearly didn't believe Chunyu Shu's words. He wanted to say something more, but Chunyu Shu had already turned and left, leaving behind a straight back. Watching Chunyu Shu's receding figure, the teacher sighed inwardly, "That child, she's truly stubborn..."