Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 204: Chapter 118: Everything is of Inferior Quality, Part One Chapter 204: Chapter 118: Everything is of Inferior Quality, Part One Hu Yihai was on pins and needles, and everyone from the Liuzhou Medical Guild was extremely nervous, holding their breath and staring at the crier holding the Liuzhou Medical Guild’s turn-sign.

At this moment, the crier was also feeling very anxious, but duty bound, he finally flipped over the sign to see the front, took a deep breath, and called out loudly, “Liuzhou Medical Guild, number five!”

Instantly, the crowd erupted, everyone breathing a sigh of relief.

“They’re really in luck!” Jiao Fangyi snorted coldly.

This caused a flash of displeasure to cross the face of the old man sitting next to him, none other than Hu Bingzhi, representing the Taizhou Medical Guild in the competition.

Hu Bingzhi, in his sixties with greying temples, bore a slight resemblance to Hu Yihai. He was known for his aloof and proud nature, and his knack for monopoly. He deeply scorned Jiao Fangyi’s behavior, but he had to represent Taizhou and he had to win the competition!

However, the real opponent he needed to defeat had not yet appeared.

The true enemy had not shown up yet, making his mood even worse now.

The other number-signs were all taken away; no doubt, the Huzhou Medical Guild was the first to go up.

The medicine-identification contest was very simple yet highly tested the participants’ ability to recognize medicinal materials, as ten types of herbs provided by pharmacists were presented for identification by contestants from various medical guilds.

The contestant from the Huzhou Medical Guild solemnly ascended to the stage after the crier announced the rules, approached the row of herbs displayed, picked up each type to inspect closely, smelled it, and even tasted a little to conclude finely.

Contestants had to distinguish the authenticity and quality of the herbs based on their experience.

As contestants from the Huzhou Medical Guild, Changzhou Medical Guild, and Huaizhou Medical Guild went up one by one, the faces of Hu Yihai and his group gradually darkened, and the glint of hope in their eyes dimmed.

Right when Hu Bingzhi representing the Taizhou Medical Guild stepped onto the stage, a commotion suddenly erupted from the crowd below.

“Make way, make way, Lady Changsheng is here!”

“Lady Changsheng has arrived…”

“…”

After a series of excited cries, the bustling crowd parted to create a path as Gu Changsheng, in a brilliant red dress, was wheeled towards the stage by Hu Tiandong.

The scene was overwhelmingly spectacular, as if after a multitude of calls she emerged, holding a pipa half-hidden behind her.

Of course, Gu Changsheng wasn’t holding a pipa now; she was covering her mouth with her hand, yawning.

“What’s the rush? My wound just scabbed over again last night and it was terribly itchy. I had barely fallen asleep…” complained Gu Changsheng, yawning repeatedly.

Indeed, in her view, this first medicine-identification contest was absolutely unnecessary to participate in.

There was no point; why wake up at such an ungodly hour?

Clearly, not everyone felt the same way, especially since no one had excelled in a pharmaceutical contest in sixty years. They unanimously chose the medicine-identification contest to discern who was superior.

“Lady Changsheng! Lady Changsheng! The merciful and helpful Lady Changsheng!” Hu Yihai’s face lit up when he saw Gu Changsheng. He quickly ran over, calling out excitedly.

“It’s Guanyin Bodhisattva who alleviates suffering and difficulties, obviously, I am not her,” Gu Changsheng, yawning continuously, pushed him away and slowly stepped onto the stage.

Hu Bingzhi stood in front of the medicine-identification table, frowning as he watched Gu Changsheng slowly approaching.

Tall with her hair piled high, a forehead ornament resembling blood added resplendence, yet it couldn’t hide her inherent brilliance—skin like cream, bright eyes and white teeth. Especially those eyes; when she glanced back, they were clear and vivid, yet her expression was so indifferent as if she scarcely cared about worldly matters, curving her lips slightly.

Was this woman, an abandoned wife, really hooked by Prince Mu’s spring passion? Considering her now, it was no wonder—a woman like this indeed possessed the allure to captivate a man’s heart.

A gleam flashed in Hu Bingzhi’s eyes, he glanced coldly at Gu Changsheng, surrounded by a crowd, and scoffed, “Playing to the crowd, seeking cheap fame!”

As Gu Changsheng walked toward the Liuzhou Medical Guild’s seats, her figure paused, and she slowly turned her head towards him.

“You? Hu Bingzhi?”

Hu Bingzhi’s beard twitched, yet he completely disregarded her.

“Lady Changsheng…” following her, Hu Yihai wiped sweat off his face and had to speak up, “This man is indeed my uncle.”

Gu Changsheng looked back, saw his reluctant face, and smiled playfully.

Poor Hu Yihai, burdened with an uncle who had entered the Imperial Medical Bureau, which should have been a glorious blessing. Yet, who could have expected that this uncle would be one to help outsiders instead… tsk tsk.

“Chief Hu, you really are aggrieved…”

You are aggrieved, but I fear your uncle might not feel any less so.

There are far more dissatisfactions in the world than satisfactions; who can truly have everything as they wish?

Like Hu Bingzhi, with years of striving in the Imperial Medical Bureau yet without the glory of a triumphant return, only to end up notorious in his own town—his tragic story is probably known only to him!

“Continue the competition!” Seeing Gu Changsheng had arrived, the crier also breathed a sigh of relief.

Hu Bingzhi walked up to the medicine appraisal stand, glanced over at Gu Changsheng, and then picked up the first herb to carefully examine it.

His mission was to win this competition, to win over Gu Changsheng!

“Slight aroma, bitter taste with a sweet aftertaste, this is the Wenshan Pseudoginseng from Wenshan in Yunnan Province, superior quality.”

As Hu Bingzhi’s voice fell, the pharmacist judges subtly nodded their heads, almost imperceptibly.

Being able to discern the origin of the medicine by examining it, Hu Bingzhi was indeed worthy of the name of a famous doctor; he really had some skills.

“Tsk…” Sitting not far from the appraisal stand, Gu Changsheng could not help but scoff aloud.

Hu Bingzhi immediately turned around with displeasure, his gaze piercing as he looked over.

Under that gaze, Gu Changsheng shrugged, “Don’t mind me. Please, continue!”

Hu Bingzhi snorted coldly and continued the competition, beginning to examine the next herb.

As he examined each herb, the curve of Gu Changsheng’s lips grew wider, and she couldn’t help but turn to Hu Yihai and ask, “Is this how you all appraise medicines?”

“Exactly like this. Is there something wrong?” Hu Yihai responded.

Seeing him act as if it were the most natural and proper thing, Gu Changsheng was speechless for a moment…

This was their way of appraising medicines? This was just too ridiculous; could it get any more ludicrous?

With traditional Chinese medicine having degenerated to this degree, wouldn’t the pharmacists be running rings around them?

The state of medical skills in this world was too backward, the art of medicine appraisal even more so, even the herbs were so inferior that it was disagreeable. She must still be dreaming, please allow her to sleep a bit more!

Thinking so, Gu Changsheng did just that, continuing to doze off during Hu Bingzhi’s appraisal intervals.

Cupping her chin with one hand, her head was nodding off bit by bit…

The onlookers watched this and were struck speechless.

They knew that being the last to appraise during the competition was a significant advantage; the observations of predecessors provided valuable references. Yet here Lady Changsheng was, arriving late and immediately falling asleep!

Was it confidence or arrogance? Or did she not take this tremendously significant contest seriously at all?

After Hu Bingzhi finished his appraisal, what he saw was this scene; he was so frustrated that he almost choked on his own blood, opened his mouth a few times, and could only snort coldly as he stepped down from the stage.

The group of pharmacist judges seemed very pleased with Hu Bingzhi’s appraisal results, exchanging smiles and nods continuously.

Only after the emcee called Gu Changsheng’s name did she slowly come to her senses with a light shake and call from Hu Yihai.

“Is it my turn now?” Blinking hard, Gu Changsheng stood up, looking bewildered.

Hu Yihai nodded with a bitter look, utterly defeated by Lady Changsheng’s indifferent demeanor.

The onlookers were speechless again. Was it really so easy to participate in a competition?

Each of the previous contestants had been extremely cautious and on guard. Why did it all change when it came to Lady Changsheng?

“Lady Changsheng, this is a competition! This is the Jiangnan Medical Debate Conference, please take this seriously. This is about the future prospects of the Liuzhou Medical Guild for the next five years; it’s not something to joke about…” Stepping forward, Hu Yihai couldn’t help but repeatedly remind Gu Changsheng.

“Relax, it’s just a competition! A competition!” Gu Changsheng covered her mouth as she yawned again and slowly walked up to the medicine appraisal station under the worried gaze of the audience.

The entire Liuzhou Medical Guild held their breath in concentration, even the representatives from other medical guilds participating seemed a bit nervous. Gu Changsheng, this unknown female doctor, was the biggest talk of the Jiangnan Medical Debate Conference and the largest uncertain factor!

Even the judges sitting at the top frowned and looked over, an elderly man at the edge of the judges’ bench raised his snow-white eyebrows, but ultimately did not open his eyes, continuing to rest with closed eyes.

Under the scrutiny of the crowd, Gu Changsheng slowly raised her hand, and when everyone thought she was about to pick up and carefully examine the herbs, her hand gesture slowly changed to a point, and with her lips slightly parted, she uttered two words: “Inferior quality!”

“What!” A murmur of astonishment arose from the audience.

That was the Panax Pseudoginseng that Hu Bingzhi had just appraised as superior. Yet, Gu Changsheng assigned it an inferior rating!

This…

Before the murmurs had subsided, Gu Changsheng’s finger pointed at the second herb, her lips parted slightly, and again she uttered two words: “Inferior quality!”

Her voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone’s ears, and they were speechless at her method of appraising by merely glancing, without smelling or tasting, and directly concluding it as of inferior quality. It left everyone utterly dumbstruck!

“Inferior quality!” Another point, and the conclusion was the same.

“Inferior quality!” The audience’s mouths hung open, unable to close.

“Inferior quality!” As Gu Changsheng declared yet another inferior rating, one of the pharmacist judges slammed the table and stood up, unable to contain his anger, “Do you even know how to appraise medicine!”

“Of course, I do. Actually, I’m too lazy to even appraise…” Gu Changsheng shrugged, responded with a mocking smile, and her finger quickly pointed across the herbs on the appraisal station, “In my eyes, they are all inferior!”