The girl sketched in the master's handwritten notes was from six or seven years old up to twelve or thirteen. She had already looked over these young children and none matched the person in the portrait.
It has been over four years since the master passed away. If he sketched the portrait according to the girl's age, she should be around fifteen or sixteen by now.
She wanted to meet girls of this age here.
Upon hearing her words, the people present immediately went to call people of that age group. Soon, three boys and two girls came for vaccination, all around fifteen or sixteen years old.
Miss Jun carefully studied the faces of these two girls. Still not the one, she hid her emotions and lowered her eyes to vaccinate these people.
Perhaps it was just someone the master missed, or maybe she no longer existed.
"... Old Xia, Niuniu is also fifteen this year..."
The voice of Xia Yong's wife suddenly entered her ears.
Miss Jun's ears twitched, her hands kept moving, but her entire being tensed up.
Niuniu?
The words of Xia Yong's wife were not finished, as they were interrupted by Xia Yong's cough.
From the corner of her eye, Miss Jun saw them go to one side and whisper something in argument.
After a short time, Xia Yong and his wife stopped talking. Xia Yong walked to one side, and his wife went out.
Miss Jun's hand, holding the lancet, involuntarily tightened. Her peripheral vision obscured by the crowd, she couldn't see where Xia Yong's wife had gone.
Maybe, possibly, hopefully.
"All done." Miss Jun lowered her sleeve and said to the girl with a smile.
The girl, somewhat shy and flustered, bowed and then hurriedly ran to her family's side.
"Any more?" Miss Jun asked.
"No more." Xia Yong said, waving his hands at the crowd. "Let's all disperse, and give Miss Jun some rest."
The people then hurriedly left with their children, only Xia Yong remained in the courtyard.
"Please sit, Miss Jun." he said, taking a seat first on a low stool in the courtyard.
Miss Jun sat down too and glanced at Xia Yong's clasped hands in front of him, his thumbs unconsciously twiddling.
"Miss Jun, is this vaccination a family tradition passed down from your ancestors?" Xia Yong suddenly asked.
Finally, the question came. Miss Jun also clasped her hands.
"What's the matter?" She seemed somewhat puzzled, "Is there a problem?"
People are often drawn to questions, and sure enough, when countered like this, Xia Yong hurriedly waved his hands.
"No problem, no problem. I have no doubts about Miss Jun's family practice." he said, appearing satisfied with an answer that Miss Jun hadn't actually given.
Miss Jun watched him, waiting for his response.
"What I mean is, has anyone asked about your family's vaccination practice?" Xia Yong fidgeted, speaking hesitantly.
Was he talking about the master?
Miss Jun placed her hands on her knees.
"Many people inquire about vaccinations," she said.
"Not the patients, not the doctors," Xia Yong hurriedly added, seeming unsure how to describe them, "It's like they're very curious but also knowledgeable about vaccinations..."
Such a description was far from clear...
Xia Yong inwardly felt both anxious and guilty for his inarticulate words.
"Do you understand what I mean, that sort of person..."
As he got increasingly muddled, he looked up at Miss Jun, only to see her nod her head.
"I understand," she said.
Ah? Understood? Xia Yong was momentarily stunned, as he himself was not quite sure.
"I know what you mean," Miss Jun said softly, "Vaccination didn't just pop into existence; it's been passed down since ancient times. Many have speculated about it but failed to achieve it for various reasons, such as difficulty, inconvenience, or impossibility."
As she uttered these words, Xia Yong's eyes brightened, and he slapped his hand with a pop.
"Exactly, that's what he said." He spoke excitedly, standing up abruptly. "Miss Jun, have you seen him?"
Miss Jun's nose felt a bit sour.
"Who is he?" She asked, somewhat confused. "I mean, such people exist, but who are you specifically referring to?"
"He..." Xia Yong blurted out excitedly.
Who is he? What is his name? What is his real name?
Miss Jun's hands on her knees clenched tightly as she stared at Xia Yong.
But then Xia Yong closed his mouth, his demeanor becoming dejected.
"I don't know who he is," he said.
What? Miss Jun was astonished.
"I mean I do not know what name he uses outside," Xia Yong explained, laughing mockingly, "Maybe even the name I know him by is fake."
So it was not just her; the master indeed was... She had followed him for so many years, but now, she felt he was a stranger, someone completely unknown.
Miss Jun looked at Xia Yong, not knowing how many years they had known her master.
Regardless of whether the name the master told them was true or false, the master was definitely very concerned about them; otherwise, he would not have wandered the world under the name Zhang Qingshan.
Zhang Qingshan, Zhangqing Mountain.
"Tell me about it, maybe I've heard of it," Miss Jun said.
Xia Yong hesitated for a moment, just as he was about to speak, Xia Yong's wife hurried in from outside.
"My husband, sister-in-law has agreed," she said joyfully.
Hearing this, Xia Yong immediately rejoiced.
"Miss Jun," he said, "there's one more person who would need your help with vaccination."
Finally, was she about to appear?
Miss Jun's heart had already started beating faster the moment Xia Yong's wife rushed in, and upon hearing this sentence, she couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
"Sure," she said.
"This child will require Miss Jun to visit her home," Xia Yong's wife said, looking apologetically at Miss Jun, who was still seated.
"Of course, that's fine," Miss Jun said, bracing herself on the table corner to stand up.
As Xia Yong and his wife led the way, Miss Jun clutched the medicine box tightly to her chest and followed.
"Miss Jun," Xia Yong's wife, noticing her tight grip, offered her hand after a moment's thought, "that box must be heavy, let me carry it for you."
It seemed like ever since entering the village, Miss Jun was always holding the medicine box; didn't people usually carry it or wear it on their back? Was it too heavy, making it too tiring for the young girl to carry?
Miss Jun hurriedly shook her head with a smile.
"No need, it's not heavy," she said.
She just wanted to hold the medicine box like this because inside were her master's handwritten notes, serving as a token of his presence, much like a returning spirit tablet, visiting her kin in their ancestral home.
Xia Yong shook his head towards his wife.
The young girl must still be on guard; in a strange and tense environment, holding something familiar can offer comfort.
Xia Yong's wife didn't insist any further.
"It's a bit far," she said, changing the subject with a smile.
Miss Jun smiled and remained silent, following them as they quickly reached the foot of the mountain. From afar, Zhangqing Mountain did not seem large, but the dense forests and rugged rocks close-up were quite imposing.
Were they going up the mountain? Did the girl live up there? Miss Jun thought as she watched Xia Yong and his wife walking up the mountain road.
"Miss Jun, she's on the mountain," Xia Yong's wife called back, extending her hand again, "Let me help you up."
Miss Jun quickened her pace to surpass her as she climbed the mountain, then turned back and flashed a smile at her.
Xia Yong's wife chuckled.
This child...
Smiling yet feeling somewhat awkward, thinking that they didn't really know this child that well, why did she seem so familiar?
Miss Jun had already continued forward.
This mountain path was clearly man-made and well-crafted for easy walking.
Was it made for that girl? Why would the girl live on the mountain? Miss Jun walked while pondering, when suddenly someone called out.
"Stop."
Miss Jun's steps came to an immediate halt.
What's happened? Miss Jun instinctively looked forward; the intertwining woods and the vigorously sprawling grass of early autumn covered the ground.
This grass... something was amiss. Miss Jun squinted slightly. Though the grass lay chaotic and disorderly, through this tangled mess, one could still discern the trace of human intervention. The sunlight dappled the woods, and within the grass, Miss Jun could see crisscrossing lines.
A Hidden Formation was set up in the grass, just like the ones she arranged around her when she slept.
A Hidden Formation on the mountain path indicated that the girl must be very important and was being protected.
Miss Jun glanced at Xia Yong and his wife. Their expressions were tense, and they held their breath.
Was there some danger approaching?
This pause, this thought, was merely a blink of an eye; a buzzing sound then rang by Miss Jun's ear.
The Hidden Formation had been triggered!
Miss Jun clutched the medicine box tight as thin lines shot up from the grass under the sunlight, and a strange cry followed from the forest, while a colorfully plumed wild chicken fluttered into Miss Jun's field of vision.
A wild... chicken?
Miss Jun was stunned, hearing Xia Yong's wife's laughter and clapping.
"We caught a big one this time!"
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Thanks to md12 for the gift of a Spirit Beast Egg.
Thanks to MAX Stone, Jing Sanshao, Ice of the South, and Happy Everyday Life for rewarding the He's Bi.
Thank you all; have a happy weekend!