Chapter 860: Chapter 733: Doctor Hu, Acupuncture Master

"Grandpa, is my great-grandfather really awesome?" Ping’an asked with sparkling eyes, unable to help but interrupt.

The old man reminisced, "Of course! When I went back, I made sure to ask around. Besides having some brotherly friends, even the princesses wanted to marry him."

Zhou Jiao promptly coughed several times to interrupt. The old man’s tales were getting less and less believable; if he continued, there would be tales of romantic confidantes.

"I was taken up the mountain by my master to avoid trouble, never got a chance to thank him in person. Then later... you all know. Luck was on my side after all."

"It’s a shame I only learned about your family a few years ago, otherwise I would have gone to Jiangnan earlier. Aren’t you curious about who I am? Take a guess!"

Zhang Guoqing shook his head, "I’m just a country boy, not familiar with any famous people. I’m really clueless!"

"Exactly, just a silly kid like you can’t guess, no surprise at all. Back in my days roaming the world, you wouldn’t know where I was."

For this old mischief, Zhou Jiao was both amused and exasperated.

"But the little girl should be able to guess a little. That damned Lin Family has always been chasing me. Still wants salvation, it’s his luck I didn’t give that venomous woman any medicine."

"Acupuncture Master Doctor Hu!" Zhang Guoqing exclaimed in shock, then abruptly stopped. That explained it, such a quirky man showing up was no surprise.

"See, my meal wasn’t for nothing, was it?" Master Hu said, looking at Zhou Jiao, "Little girl, what you learned from the Huang Family is superficial, learn real skills from me."

Zhou Jiao shook her head, "If you hadn’t mentioned great kindness, with a famous doctor like you, I wouldn’t miss the chance. But let’s leave it for now."

Doctor Hu wouldn’t give up. Finding a student like Mr. Yu, with photographic memory and medical skills, wasn’t easy.

"Don’t be in a hurry to refuse. I came to Beijing last year, learned a lot about your situation. You’ve been studying medicine since childhood, is it right to give up so easily?"

Plus, your father is military, your kids, just this little boy already training martial arts, they might join the military. Learning medicine is all benefits."

This hit Zhou Jiao’s soft spot!

"Apart from your grandfather’s kindness, I value your personality. You two should have heard the rumors about me."

Zhou Jiao nodded. He was notoriously capricious, refusing treatment if he didn’t like the patient, hiding away in mountains and forests when feeling down.

"Little girl who knows when to let go fits well as my apprentice. You can also refuse to treat the undeserving, be happy as you wish, just like me."

Zhou Jiao looked at him amusingly.

"Don’t laugh. Don’t see Master visiting for free meals, but if I really wanted fame, just a shout and people would flock to invite me."

This referring himself so lightly as ’Master,’ had Zhang Guoqing chucking a laugh beside.

"Little apprentice, look, as a girl you don’t even have self-defense skills. Knowing medicine and poison, with my skills, you need not worry about dealing with undesirables."

Zhou Jiao listened to his rambling, truth be told, she was wavering. With medical skills in hand, she needn’t work at a hospital, learning more while young is beneficial.

Yet she couldn’t trust him. The so-called grandfather’s kindness is just words, no proof. But what could she offer him?

Zhang Guoqing noticed her indecision, chuckled, "Old man, truthfully, isn’t it her memory that caught your eye? I’ll tell you, you might be disappointed."

The old man raised his chin, glanced at him without denial, "Thought about it before coming. A good memory halves the effort. I either take no students or the best, so my legacy won’t be tarnished after death."

Zhou Jiao smiled quietly listening to their chatter, already deciding but wishing to consult her father first.

"How about you stay in the east room? Come back with us to the Big Courtyard in a few days."

"No, no! Once there, can’t leave."

The old man struggled, considering whether to reveal embarrassing truths. What if it scared away the little apprentice?

"Then you stay here, we’ll visit often."

The old man steeled himself, turning his head, "The city hospital trapped me, as long as I’m in Beijing, can’t leave for a while."

Zhang Guoqing stifled laughter, pinching his leg, "Who has such skill?"

"It’s that bastard’s sly trick. Some household registration nonsense, I accidentally got caught up."

Having said it, the old man wasn’t embarrassed, turned to Zhou Jiao, "Girl, your Master Uncle took a bunch of dodgy students. The city hospital’s damned director is your third senior brother, be wary of him. That guy smiles and is the best at scheming."

Zhou Jiao laughed and nodded.

"At least the kid’s decent; he doesn’t dare call me for patients I dislike. You have many senior brothers, tell them what to do when needed."

Zhou Jiao amusedly nodded again. Is this winning a forced lottery? Looking at this muttering old man, was she being too cynical? He’s childless, what could he possibly want?

The old man stood up, fiddling out an ancient book from his worn jacket’s inner pocket, handing it to Zhou Jiao, "Memorize this first, I’ll check later."

Zhou Jiao seriously nodded.

"Have your father meet me when he can. I won’t go to government places, any word let Xiao Wu find me at the hospital. Oh, I’m now Gu Yue, Gu Yue Sheng."

Zhang Guoqing couldn’t hold in laughter anymore. Gu Yuehu, Gu Yue Sheng... what an idea!

Zhou Jiao nodded, "Got it. Dad’s on a business trip, back soon, I’ll tell him directly when he gets home. Is working at the hospital tiring? Move here in the future."

"Forget it, don’t trouble your third senior brother. The year will pass quickly, then I’ll move."

At this point, Zhou Jiao didn’t persuade further. She usually acted rather than talked. Took out a keyring from her pocket and handed it to him.

"This?"

"You take it, it’s the key to this courtyard."

Beside him, Zhang Guoqing wrote down their home phone number and handed it over too, "When in trouble, call me. The East Room is ready, you can come anytime."

"This courtyard is always said to be Xiao Wu’s elder relative’s. If anyone asks, claim it’s yours."

The old man laughed heartily, "Not a loss! Took a little apprentice, got this kid’s respect."

Ping’an chimed in, "I’ll be respectful too."

"Sure, sure... I’ll call those old fogeys, tell them I have descendants. My little apprentice tops their bunch."

Zhang Guoqing saw him hurriedly dressing to leave, amusedly pulled him, "Wait until after lunch to leave."

"No time! Got to make them prepare gifts for my apprentice." The old man couldn’t wait, "Girl, hurry and make something nice for Master."

Zhou Jiao chuckled and nodded, heading out to prepare food.

Inside, the old man ruffled Ping’an’s hair, "Master will bring you good stuff in two days, find a decent mental method. What you’re practicing isn’t worth a damn."

Hastily coming and going, after Zhang Guoqing escorted the old man off with a bag, Zhou Jiao watched their departing figures, chuckling happily. How unreliable this Master seemed!