Yun Jiao couldn’t understand what had gotten into Gu Mei; she wasn’t someone who liked reading books!
Frowning, she said, "Gu Mei, by your logic, both Xiao Chuan and I have shares in the family fields, so why do you get all the Silver?"
"I don’t want to argue about this with you. Giving you these books would be a waste; even if you got them, you wouldn’t read them!"
Most of the medical books at home are rare editions, and there are some cases organized by the ancestors. These things are invaluable and must not be ruined by Gu Mei.
Gu Mei pointed at Yun Jiao, "Are you afraid that if I read these medical books, I’ll become even better at medicine than you in the future?"
Yun Jiao wore a confused expression, "Gu Mei, do you have a brain just for decoration? Can’t you use it to think a bit?"
"By your reasoning, as long as literate people read a few medical books, everyone can become a divine doctor."
"Why don’t you consider why only Dad practices medicine in our family, while Second Uncle and Third Uncle don’t?"
"Aren’t they literate? Didn’t Grandfather teach them the same when they were young?"
"Why was it only Dad who took over Grandfather’s mantle?"
"Do you think with your brain, you can understand medical books? Let alone treat patients!"
Yun Jiao rattled off a string of words in one breath, while Gu Mei retorted defiantly, "Why do you think I’m brainless?"
"Don’t think you’re the only smart person in the world."
She thought to herself, if you were truly smart, you wouldn’t have been tricked into marrying into the Jiang Family for good fortune!
Yun Jiao took a deep breath, "Fine, you want to read the books, right?"
"I can’t stand in the way of your progress!"
She picked up a copy of "Great Chu Materia Medica" from the table, "Take this book to read first. Once you’re done, come back to exchange for another one."
She just finished reading this book, had memorized its content, and it was a printed edition, not a handwritten one, likely available on the market.
Even if Gu Mei lost it, it wouldn’t be a big deal.
Seeing Gu Mei still eyeing the other books, Yun Jiao said coldly, "Moreover, when you come to exchange this book, I’ll test you on its content. If you can’t answer, it means you didn’t read carefully, or you read it but didn’t understand."
"In that case, don’t bother reading anything else."
Gu Mei wanted to argue back but had no grounds to, so she pointed at the books on the table and said, "Why are you testing me? Do you remember all the books you’ve read?"
Yun Jiao replied calmly, "Yes, I do. How else can one master the material and prescribe medicine?"
Gu Mei picked up a copy of "Chijia Prescription," "You’ve read this book, haven’t you? Let me test you first."
Yun Jiao remained silent and watched coldly as Gu Mei clumsily flipped open the book and began reading haltingly.
She grew anxious as Gu Mei couldn’t even punctuate properly and made two reading mistakes in a single sentence. Yet, she still wanted to study medicine?
She opened her mouth and continued where Gu Mei left off, "This illness is suited for the Modified Three Immortals Wei Ling Soup, adding both raw and cooked hawthorn, 120 grams each, roasted malt 21 grams, roasted Shenqu..."
Yun Jiao recited the prescription in one breath, while Gu Mei held the book and stared hard, trying to find an error in Yun Jiao’s recitation. But there wasn’t a single mistake, not even in the dosage measurements.
After finishing, Yun Jiao took the book from her hands and pressed "Great Chu Materia Medica" into them, "I spent half a month reading this book. I’ll give you a month to finish it; then come find me to exchange for another one."
Gu Mei was bewildered, holding onto the book as Yun Jiao pushed her out.