At the beginning, he took his seven younger siblings to join Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhongding didn't care about all the things that hadn't happened yet, and he did his best to treat him.

But he was injured in the nerves, a condition that will be difficult or even impossible to cure in the future.

Yi Zhongding could only use acupuncture to assist him in balancing the body's vital energy and nourishing the yin and yang to alleviate his condition.

The same applies to others; Yi Zhongding's goal is not to cure everyone, but to enable them to work and live comfortably in their later years without suffering from the pain caused by illness.

"I've prescribed the medicine and kept to the proper measure. They've finished their gunfights, and it's up to our generation to treat the shrapnel, leg pain, liver damage, and chest tightness that's left."

"Artemisinin is not only for saving the border regions, but also for saving the people."

Yi Zhongding thought for a moment, then spoke softly.

"Remember these words, and your trip today won't have been in vain."

Pu Fuzhou patted him on the shoulder.

A breeze blew across the lake, carrying a hint of winter's chill.

Yi Zhongding gathered the briefcase together and glanced back at the drab little building.

He can't extend people's lives, but he can certainly free them from the torment of illness.

He had just taken on the task of serving tea and water inside, so naturally, there was plenty of spiritual spring water.

As they talked, they reached the entrance of the east building.

Several black jeeps were parked at the bottom of the steps. When the drivers saw them come out, they quickly got out of their cars and opened the doors.

"Doctors, please get in the car first; it's windy outside."

The driver greeted him solicitously.

"No rush, let me talk to Zhongding for a few more minutes."

Liu Duzhou waved his hand, signaling the others to get in the car first.

Pu Fuzhou and Qin Zhiji exchanged a glance, smiled, and got into the car first.

"Kid, come visit me sometime. I have some good medicines; let me show them to you."

Shi Jinmo also got into the car, and before closing the door, he winked at Yi Zhongding, looking like a mischievous old man.

"I'll definitely go, Master."

Yi Zhongding responded respectfully.

The car door closed, leaving only Liu Duzhou and his apprentice Yi Zhongding inside.

Liu Duzhou stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the lake surface covered with a thin layer of ice in the distance. He remained silent for a while before speaking.

"Please speak, Master."

Yi Zhongding listened attentively with his body slightly bent over.

"It's not the prescriptions you wrote. Writing good prescriptions is just a basic skill, nothing to brag about."

"What pleases me most is that you haven't forgotten who you are just because you've entered this door."

Liu Duzhou turned his head and looked at Yi Zhongding's face with a mixture of scrutiny and satisfaction.

Yi Zhongding was slightly taken aback.

"Just now, when you were joking with that old general who was afraid of light inside, my heart skipped a beat."

"But then I realized that the fact that you can joke with him means you treat him like a person."

"If you treat someone who gets sick and feels pain as a human being, then the prescription you write will be the one that is fit for human consumption."

Liu Duzhou spoke slowly.

These words, though spoken lightly, struck Yi Zhongding like a heavy hammer blow to the heart.

"Master, I've got it."

Yi Zhongding remained silent for a moment, then nodded solemnly.

"Good that you've remembered it."

Liu Duzhou withdrew his gaze, took something out of his sleeve, and handed it to Yi Zhongding.

"What is this?"

Yi Zhongding took it.

This is a palm-sized brocade box with a black velvet surface. It is already somewhat worn and shows signs of age.

"Open it and take a look."

Liu Duzhou said with a smile.

Yi Zhongding took the brocade box and gently opened it.

Inside lay an old-fashioned silver pocket watch, with a Ganoderma lucidum pattern engraved on the cover. The lines were simple and smooth, clearly indicating that it was no ordinary item.

He picked up the pocket watch, gently pressed the crown, and the cover popped open, revealing a yellowed dial with the hands still moving steadily.

"This was given to me by an old medicine merchant when I was practicing medicine in Jiangnan when I was young."

He told me, "Dr. Liu, this watch has been with me for thirty years and has never stopped. I hope you can be like this watch and never stop, no matter what."

Liu Duzhou's voice was filled with the distant echoes of memories.

Then he turned to look at Yi Zhongding and continued:

"I'm giving it to you today not because your medical skills have reached their peak, although I have nothing more to teach you."

"It's because when you walked through that door today, your steps were still steady when you came out. In that respect, you're better than me."

Yi Zhongding held the warm pocket watch, feeling his palm burning.

He knew the significance of this watch!

This is not about the weight of gold or silver, but about an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor passing on his lifelong beliefs to the next generation.

"Master, I promise I won't let it stop."

Yi Zhongding said solemnly.

"Alright, get in the car. Your wife and kids are waiting for you at home. Give them my regards. I'll go see them when I'm done with this."

Liu Duzhou patted him on the shoulder, turned around, opened the car door, and climbed in first.

Yi Zhongding carefully placed the pocket watch into his inner pocket, then watched the car carrying the drivers slowly drive away.

The master just said something that was actually incorrect.

He truly had absolute respect, admiration, and reverence for the group of people inside.

However, he was just a doctor, not a god, and could not use divine methods to treat them.

If he could, what harm would there be in treating them like gods?

Yi Zhongding also got into the car and left.

The car slowly drove out of that area, crossed Chang'an Avenue, and headed south towards Luoguxiang.

The scenery outside the car window gradually changed from the solemn and orderly government compound to the familiar hutongs and siheyuan (traditional courtyard houses).

Dried wild vegetables and coal briquettes began to appear on the roadside to dry, several children chased and played at the entrance of the alley, and a group of listless old people numbly picked wild vegetables.

Yi Zhongding leaned back in his chair, his hand unconsciously touching the hidden pocket in his chest where the pocket watch was, feeling a sense of inexplicable peace of mind.

The car stopped at the entrance of the alley.

Yi Zhongding got out of the car, thanked the driver, and walked towards his own yard with his briefcase.

As soon as I reached the courtyard gate, I heard children's laughter and Tan Xiulian's shouts coming from inside.

Yi Zhongding pushed open the courtyard gate.

Just then, I saw Nine-Taels wobbling and chasing a spotted hen in the yard.

It looked like the same hen that Xu Damao had brought over a few days ago.

Liu Liang and San Liang squatted in the corner watching the ants move their nest.

Sanjin sat on the threshold, clutching a wild vegetable bun in his hand, his face covered in crumbs from gnawing on it.

The door to the west room was closed. Tan Xiulian, the eldest sister-in-law, was sunbathing with a four-pound baby in her arms, while Yi Zhongyao was holding a two-ounce baby and humming an unknown tune.

The sunlight bathed the family in a soft golden glow.