Chapter 22: Zhang Jing Becomes a Target of Interest

After finishing their meal, Li Ziqi insisted on paying the bill. She then hailed a ride-sharing car and returned home, beaming with joy.

The moment she stepped through the door, she bounded onto the leather sofa, clutching her phone and giggling at the photo of Zhang Jing she had just received. An elderly woman walked out from the bedroom upon hearing the noise. She was Li Ziqi’s mother, a full-time housewife.

"Xiao Qi, what has gotten into you? What are you giggling about all by yourself?"

"Mom, I have some huge news for you! You’re about to become a mother-in-law," Li Ziqi announced excitedly.

"What? Has your sister finally found someone?" The old lady was startled at first, but her face immediately lit up with joy.

Li Ziqi’s mood plummeted. She pouted and complained, "You only ever focus on Li Zimeng! It’s me—I’m the one getting a boyfriend, you know!"

"You?" The old lady laughed dismissively. "What kind of boyfriend is that? Probably just another 'guy best friend' you eat, drink, and play with. Count on your fingers how many of those you’ve gone through this year alone!"

"Mom, that’s so biased! I know Li Zimeng is better at studying and works for a multinational company, but I’m not half bad either. Just ask around—in Lu County, is there anyone who doesn't know the top food blogger, Li Ziqi?"

"Yes, yes, Mom knows you’re great too! But you’re still young. Your sister should settle down first. She’s twenty-five already; if she doesn’t get married soon, she’ll become… what’s the term? Right, a 'leftover woman,'" the mother pacified her.

"How am I young? I’m over twenty; that’s the legal age for marriage! Why should there be an order to this? I’m not having it! I finally found someone I really like, and I won’t let this slip away." Li Ziqi was even more incensed.

Knowing her precious daughter had been spoiled since childhood, the mother didn't dare provoke her further and relented. "Alright, alright, Mom was wrong. Tell me, which young man have you set your sights on?"

Li Ziqi shoved her phone in front of her mother and huffed, "See for yourself."

"Oh? Xiao Qi, have you had a change of heart? Why is he a doctor?" The old lady’s eyes brightened.

"What do you mean 'change of heart'? Don't put your own daughter down like that!" Li Ziqi glared.

The mother was actually quite pleased with the profession of a doctor. In fact, across the country, which mother-in-law would reject a doctor as a son-in-law?

"That’s not what I meant. I just meant you have good taste. Being a doctor is a good, promising career, and this young man looks quite decent. I approve. By the way, Xiao Qi, which hospital does he work at? What’s his monthly salary? What do his parents do..."

"Mom, what are you doing? Running a background check?" Li Ziqi interrupted.

"Hey! I’m just happy for you. Besides, if you’re serious about dating him, shouldn't you know the details?"

"How worldly!" Li Ziqi pouted, giving her assessment in two words. However, realizing that a smooth romance would require her mother’s full support, she decided to come clean.

"He works at a Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic here in the county. As for his salary, I haven't asked, but he just graduated from university not long ago, so it probably isn't very high."

"Oh, I see. So, he doesn't even have a secure government position?" The old lady felt a twinge of disappointment upon hearing he was just a small-time practitioner of TCM. She knew full well that among hospital departments, TCM usually had the lowest pay and very little room for advancement.

"What century are you living in? Who still cares about 'iron rice bowls'? You’re so old-fashioned!"

"It’s not that I’m snobbish; I’m doing this for your own good. Xiao Qi, you’re too young and haven't spent much time in hospitals. You don't know that there’s a hierarchy among doctors. For instance, surgery is the most lucrative, while the TCM department is arguably the least."

"All you talk about is money, money, money! And you say you aren't snobbish. I’m not talking to you anymore; you don't understand me." Li Ziqi turned away, sulking.

"Fine, fine! Don't be angry, sweetheart. Mom was wrong again. How about this: bring me to see him another day so I can vet him, okay?" The mother had no choice but to concede once more.

"Seeing him is fine, but we need an excuse. How about you go see him as a patient? Sister Bing said his medical skills are excellent."

The old lady laughed to herself. A newly graduated TCM practitioner couldn't possibly have much skill. It was surely just the girl giving him a boost because she was afraid her mother would look down on him. Then again, the idea was actually quite clever. If she just showed up as a mother-in-law-to-be, things would be terribly awkward. But if she went under the guise of seeking medical treatment, she could observe him and chat a bit without anyone suspecting a thing. Whether she approved or not, everyone would save face.

"Alright, I don't have to work anyway. Whenever you want to go, I’m ready," the mother replied with a smile.

"Uh... could we bring the aunts and cousins along too?" Li Ziqi suggested cautiously. She did this because Bai Bing had mentioned during lunch that Zhang Jing had just started seeing patients and didn't have many yet; it would be a good way to drum up some business for him.

"This..." The mother hesitated. A group outing for a matchmaking dinner was one thing, but a group trip to a clinic for medical treatment under the guise of matchmaking was a bit hard to explain.

"Please? Just talk them into it!" Li Ziqi shook her mother’s arm, acting cute.

"Alright, alright, alright. Stop shaking me; my old bones are about to fall apart." The mother paused and added, "I don't mind asking them, but I have one condition you must agree to."

"Mom, tell me! I’ll definitely do it."

"From now on, whether to her face or behind her back, you are not to call your sister by her full name."

"Huh? Just that?" Li Ziqi was stunned; she had expected her mother to demand she find a real job.

"Exactly. You are sisters, yet you call her 'Li Zimeng' all day long. It’s so rude if others hear it," the mother said sternly.

"She doesn't call me 'little sister' either," Li Ziqi protested quietly.

"That’s different. She’s the older sister; the younger one shouldn't be so informal." The mother shifted her tone. "But I’ll talk to her, too. As long as you agree to call her 'sister,' I guarantee she’ll call you 'little sister'."

"Fine." Although Li Ziqi didn't fully trust her mother’s guarantee, she decided to compromise a little for the sake of love.

"Great, I’m going to go talk to your aunts and cousins right now!" The mother ran off happily to make calls, her intuition telling her that this time, her daughter might be serious.

...

Miles away, Zhang Jing was naturally unaware that several women had been talking about him all through lunch, and that a whole group was already on their way.

Ever since taking Wang Sen as his "apprentice," Zhang Jing had been guiding him diligently. And it must be said, Wang Sen was truly hardworking. Ten minutes, thirty minutes, over an hour passed. He remained buried in his practice of rolling mugwort, completely unaware that the time to finish for the morning had long since passed.

Rolling mugwort was a technical skill that wasn't easy to master; it required at least tens of thousands of dedicated attempts. Furthermore, the long, repetitive practice was the best way to temper one’s character. When it came to rolling mugwort into a perfect ball, only a calm mind could achieve true mastery. This was also a fundamental psychological requirement for any TCM practitioner.

Zhang Jing was gratified; Wang Sen was well on his way to becoming a true TCM doctor.

"Ding..."

At that moment, a system notification arrived. Zhang Jing closed his eyes to receive it.

"System Message: Congratulations to the host for successfully helping Wang Sen embark on the path of TCM. Clinical experience points reward +1000."

"Below is your latest personal attribute panel:"

Host Name: Zhang Jing
Gender: Male
Age: 25
Profession: Pure TCM Practitioner
Medical Ethics Rating: Excellent
Medical Skill Level: County-level Renowned Physician (Comprehensive Assessment)
Specialized Departments: Internal Medicine (County-level Renowned), Pediatrics (City-level Renowned), Acupuncture (Small reputation)
Clinical Experience: 1002

Zhang Jing had only gained 2 clinical experience points from the two previous patients—one with recurring high fever due to Yangming organ-stasis, and one with a stiff neck. He never expected that taking on Wang Sen as an acupuncture apprentice would result in such a massive increase!

He had taken a huge step toward his small goal of 10,000 points. Zhang Jing felt more and more invigorated; the system was quite clever after all! After all, in a sense, discovering a pure TCM practitioner was indeed much more valuable than treating an ordinary patient.