"Brother Cheng, I’m here to massage your legs." After dinner, Xu Nian’an hurried over to massage Pei Yicheng’s legs.
For dinner, Ling Dong had informed him earlier that he wouldn’t be dining at the factory.
"Nian’an." Hearing Xu Nian’an’s arrival, Du Chang remembered what Pei Yicheng said in the afternoon, and he spoke, "I heard that Nianhua taught you a set of massage techniques? Come on, show me."
Pei Yicheng had just washed his feet in preparation for the evening massage, and he had taken off his trousers long ago. He was now lying on the bed, with a charcoal fire warming the room.
"Grandfather Du, you won’t be angry, will you? My little sister said that this technique is especially good." Xu Nian’an felt somewhat guilty, but because of his trust in his little sister, he still explained where Xu Nianhua learned it from.
"No problem, if there’s a better technique, we should definitely try it." Du Chang looked at Xu Nian’an with a smile.
He sat to one side, observing Xu Nian’an’s massage techniques closely.
Wherever Xu Nian’an pressed, Du Chang would spout a series of professional terms. Xu Nian’an had also heard them from Xu Nianhua, and naturally remembered them clearly. After one round of massage, Du Chang said, "Your technique is indeed good. From now on, we’ll use your method."
Upon closer consideration, Du Chang realized that this massage method was all beneficial and no harm, and his own method had been used for over half a year without much effect, so why not try Nianhua’s technique.
"Nian’an, how’s your progress with memorizing the book?" Du Chang asked.
Xu Nian’an had just finished massaging Pei Yicheng and his hands were a bit sore. Hearing Du Chang’s question, he reflexively replied, "I’ve memorized it all. Grandfather Du, do you want me to recite it for you now?"
"Sure," Du Chang said.
A hint of surprise flickered in Du Chang’s eyes—it was only the sixth day!
There was still time before a week had passed.
And by the looks of it, Xu Nian’an clearly had not been prepared to recite that day.
Xu Nian’an took a sip of water to moisten his throat, gathered his emotions, and began to recite. His voice was loud and clear, with proper intonation and rhythm. His recitation was smooth and without a single error.
The more Du Chang listened, the brighter his eyes became because Xu Nian’an was consistently stable from start to finish, without any signs of forgetting or stumbling.
Putting aside the relationship between the Xu Family and theirs, just based on this, Du Chang felt that Xu Nian’an was indeed talented.
Moreover, Xu Nian’an’s technique in massaging Pei Yicheng was very precise, and this was just after having learned it.
"Little sister, Grandfather Du has decided to take me on as his apprentice!" Xu Nian’an felt thrilled, even though he was going to medical school, following Du Chang would surely allow him to learn a lot.
Xu Nianhua said with a beaming smile, "Congratulations, second brother! Should we tell our parents, and shouldn’t we prepare the ritual gift for becoming an apprentice?"
"Right, we must prepare one." Xu Nian’an couldn’t stop grinning. His dream of becoming a doctor was coming true.
"Second brother, don’t get too excited just yet. For the coming half a year, you will have to work harder than others." Xu Nianhua couldn’t help but pour cold water on his excitement to remind him. Being taken in as an apprentice was good, but it also meant that Xu Nian’an’s duties would be even greater.
"Don’t worry, little sister, I will definitely not delay college entrance exams," Xu Nian’an said with full confidence. He hadn’t made it this year because he deliberately left many questions unanswered.
"Second brother, your foreign language score needs to improve to at least ninety."
Before Xu Nianhua finished speaking, an incredulous voice from Xu Nian’an was heard.