Chapter 444 - 386: Cause of Suicide
Chapter 444: Chapter 386: Cause of Suicide
Early Monday morning, Xiao Man saw Sun Yiming waving at her as she walked out of her dormitory. He stood in front of a cluster of pomegranate trees, their branches weighed down by plump, enormous fruits. The sight reminded Xiao Man of meeting Elder Sun a few years ago in that large, shared courtyard in Wancheng. Mr. Sun had been lying on a bamboo chair, also with a grove of fruit-laden pomegranate trees behind him.
Xiao Man couldn’t help but find it a little funny. ’They really are family, sharing the same tastes. Whether standing or sitting, the grandfather and grandson both seem to like having pomegranates as their backdrop.’
She had initially been annoyed that Sun Yiming had come so early in the morning, since that was something only boyfriends and girlfriends did. Ever since starting school, Xiao Man had intentionally acted reserved and avoided making friends, growing accustomed to being on her own. Sun Yiming’s sudden appearance as her companion would inevitably cause misunderstandings if others saw them, and she felt a little resistant. However, this memory made that resistance vanish. Instead, she felt a more casual warmth toward Sun Yiming and walked over to greet him.
Sun Yiming showed Xiao Man the basket he was carrying, which held a thermos and several delicate pastries. He smiled, saying he was a little nervous about the first day of class and figured he would bring breakfast to eat with her. He added that his family’s housekeeper was an excellent cook and made delicious pastries and soup. Since Xiao Man hadn’t eaten yet, she readily agreed. The two walked out of the women’s dormitory area side by side, found a pavilion on campus to eat, and then headed to their classroom.
Sun Yiming sat with Xiao Man for two consecutive classes, giving the impression that they were inseparable. When Professor Liu sent someone to summon Sun Yiming, he simply had them invite Xiao Man along as well.
The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine had a Chinese medicine research institute, run by Professors Xu and Liu. Xiao Man had been pulled into the institute less than two months after enrolling. It wasn’t that they had only just discovered in class that she was a highly talented prospect; they had been watching her for a long time.
A few years ago, Imperial Doctor Sun’s Golden Needle had reappeared. Although the Gu and Tang Families did their best to suppress the rumors, it was impossible to be completely thorough. What’s more, when Xiao Man administered the needle treatment to Mr. Gu at the hospital, four famous traditional Chinese medicine doctors were present. Aside from running their own public clinics, three of these four renowned doctors were also professors of traditional Chinese medicine at various medical colleges.
So, Professors Xu and Liu discovered Xiao Man almost on the very day she set foot in the Medical College. They were so excited at the time that they nearly lost their composure. They knew that since Xiao Man could use Imperial Doctor Sun’s Golden Needle, she must be a disciple of the Sun Family—but so what? She still had to spend a few years at the school to get her diploma and certifications. They were incredibly lucky to have this astonishingly talented young woman as their student. Even if they were just her mentors in name only, it was a tremendous honor and a huge boon!
After joining the two professors, Xiao Man learned that Elder Liu’s family had some history with the Sun Family. Though the Liu family’s medical arts were also passed down through generations, Elder Liu had trained under Sun Yiming’s grandfather in his youth. Now that Elder Liu had become Xiao Man’s mentor and Sun Jingzu had also placed Sun Yiming in his care, there was clearly a deeper meaning to it all.
The Black Mountain Spirit Lord had directly implanted the medical knowledge of an entire Jade Scroll into Xiao Man’s mind. Once she had fully absorbed it, studying *Sun’s Medical Books* became simple, and she even developed her own unique style in applying the techniques. However, as the direct heirs of the Sun Family, Sun Jingzu and Sun Yiming had only grasped less than half the essence of their family’s medical arts, despite having studied them. Xiao Man suspected that Sun Jingzu was too burdened by worldly affairs to dedicate himself to research, while Sun Yiming and his brother were influenced by the times. After all, modern medicine was more scientific, precise, intuitive, and fast-acting. Compared to the profound and complex field of traditional Chinese medicine, it was natural to prefer studying modern medicine. As the pace of life grew ever faster, traditional Chinese medicine was gradually being abandoned. But it was, without a doubt, a treasure passed down from the ancestors. Having made her decision, Xiao Man would not change her mind. She would use her own understanding and experience to help the father and son fully comprehend and apply everything recorded in *Sun’s Medical Books*. They might not reach the same level as Mr. Sun, but achieving seventy or eighty percent of his skill was still possible.
’I just hope that a good legacy can be preserved and passed down from one generation to the next.’
Saturday arrived in the blink of an eye, and it was time for Xiao Man to go home as usual. The Tang family had to attend two wedding banquets this weekend, so she declined Sun Yiming’s request to visit, arranging for him to come the following Sunday instead. Afterward, she returned to her dorm to pack a few things and leave.
However, on the main campus road, she ran into Tang Haocheng, who had come looking for her.
Tang Haocheng didn’t look well. His face was a little pale, and his lips were dry, cracked, and peeling.