No matter what, the long history of Huichun Hall is beyond doubt, and Xu Changshan's medical skills are also widely recognized, especially in the treatment of bone injuries, with the family's traditional ointments being extremely effective.
However, after the 1990s, the societal recognition of traditional Chinese medicine plummeted, and its survival space kept shrinking. In the realm of medicine, the dominance of Western medicine over traditional Chinese medicine became an undisputed fact.
In such an environment, Huichun Hall's business naturally suffered. Fewer and fewer young people came to visit, and given Xu Changshan's advanced age, the physical demands of bone setting and massage meant he had to reduce such activities.
With Xu Changshan's reputation, many sought to become his apprentices. However, he was conservative in teaching, adhering to the principle of passing knowledge to sons, not daughters. The only one he could rely on now was his grandson, Xu Chunliang. If his grandson refused to learn, the Xu family's medical skills would be lost. This worried Xu Changshan greatly, fearing he wouldn't be able to face his ancestors.
Xu Chunliang was reclusive and taciturn from a young age. By today's standards, he had a severe social anxiety disorder. His academic performance was mediocre, with no outstanding skills. According to his teachers, he was inattentive, uninterested in studying, unsociable, and without friends.
If it weren't for Xu Chunliang's persistence, Xu Changshan wouldn't have let him retake the college entrance exam three times. His scores got lower each time, and this time, he couldn't even pass the 400 mark, making private universities out of reach. With his conditions, he could easily choose to study abroad, but Xu Chunliang refused, so Xu Changshan dropped the idea.
Xu Changshan didn't value formal education. He himself had no academic background, yet it didn't hinder the recognition of his medical skills. The depth of Chinese medicine is profound, studying the Tao of heaven and humanity, which Western medicine cannot compare to. The transmission method of Chinese medicine over five thousand years—master teaching apprentice—proves this method is aligned with the country's circumstances.
Lu Qi drove the grandfather and grandson to Huichun Hall and learned Xu Cong had lost his ID card during the journey. He advised Xu Cong to reapply at the police station soon and consoled him that college entrance exam results aren't everything. He himself never took the exam, yet he serves the people with a secure job.
Xu Changshan looked at his grandson, wearing only shorts and remaining silent. He felt both love and pity. When Xu Chunliang was just three months old, his parents separated, leaving the child with him. One flew to the United States, and the other to Europe. Soon, each built their own lives and had other children. Except for holidays, no one remembered this child back home.
Xu Changshan believed his grandson's misfortune was largely caused by his parents, though he also held some responsibility. Over the years, he had been busy healing others and neglected his grandson's education. Thinking back, the child was clever in early years, recognizing all the herbs in the shop by age five, and reciting human meridians and acupoints proficiently by age six.
However, after starting school, his personality suddenly changed. Xu Changshan vividly remembered the day he came home from school crying, asking why others had their parents pick them up while he didn't. From then on, he became increasingly silent, withdrawing from the world.
The police car stopped at the entrance of Huichun Hall, and Lu Qi got out first, opening the door for the elderly man. Delicately, Lu Qi supported his arm as Elder Xu walked out.
Then, Xu Chunliang exited the car, saying, "Let me handle it!" He took the initiative to assist his grandfather.
Seeing this, Lu Qi was slightly relieved; anyone indifferent to their own life wouldn't care for others. Various signs indicated Xu Chunliang had abandoned any thoughts of ending his life.
Xu Changshan cautioned his grandson, "Be careful where you step; don't hurt yourself." Xu Chunliang was still barefoot.
"Look at how much your grandfather cares for you," Lu Qi remarked to Xu Chunliang with a smile.
Just as Xu Changshan was about to invite Lu Qi in for tea, Xu Chunliang spoke first, "Brother Lu, you went through a lot just now. Would you mind coming over to my humble abode? I have prepared a modest drink to share."
Elder Xu was bewildered. What happened to my grandson? I've never seen him speak like this before.
Lu Qi thought, "A true family of traditional medicine indeed, speaking almost like classical Chinese. Such a young man, yet so out of touch with the times." He smiled and replied, "Maybe another day. I'm still on duty and can't park outside too long. Head inside, take good care of the elder, and don't let him worry anymore."
Xu Chunliang thought to himself, "Truly a righteous man! Such a person is worth befriending!"
With a slight bow of his fist towards Lu Qi, he said no more and helped his grandfather into Huichun Hall.
Lu Qi watched them enter before driving off.
Huichun Hall was a simple two-story building. The clinic was downstairs, and the grandfather and grandson lived upstairs. A middle-aged woman named Lin worked there, taking care of cleaning, running the shop, and cooking. She didn't handle medicine or treatment.
Xu Changshan hired her particularly because she knew nothing of medicine. How could ancestral medical skills be carelessly spied upon by others?
Fearing his grandson might try to harm himself again, Xu Changshan followed him to his room, urging him to take a bath and change clothes.
Xu Chunliang retained a complete memory of his previous life, while in this life, his consciousness felt fragmented. He quickly extracted useful information from these shards, telling himself never to blame the world or self-destruct, no matter the time or place.