Chapter 2672: Stirring Up a Commotion

Chapter 2672: Chapter 2605: Stirring Up a Commotion

Manbao sat until the sun set, and still no one came to her to take back the list. Instead, the Imperial Medical Office was bustling with activity.

Initially, some students who received notification to accompany the military were somewhat reluctant, as going with the military was not considered a good thing.

However, they quickly learned that all the female students in that class volunteered to accompany the military, and those few students who complained found it difficult to continue their grievances.

Someone spat and said, “Pah, to think I’m a man and yet inferior to a woman.”

“Exactly, the female students dare to go to the front lines, what fear should we have?”

“Who, who said we were afraid? I never said I wouldn’t go.”

“Who just complained that the military was crude and that the medics were butchers?”

The academy buzzed with noise, but soon it settled down. Some not on the list encouraged others, “I also want to join the military. I wonder why the teachers selected you and not us. If I sign up, I wonder if I can go with the army.”

“I want to go too, I want to…”

“It was Mr. Zhou who informed us. Why not go ask Mr. Zhou?”

“Going directly to ask the teacher? Isn’t that inappropriate?”

“What’s inappropriate about it? Mr. Zhou won’t eat us up. Come, let’s go ask now. Anyone interested in going to the front line with me, let’s go ask Mr. Zhou together.”

Thus, a large group went to find Zhou Man, some genuinely wanting to go to the front line, others just feigning enthusiasm, and most simply curious to see what was going on.

Manbao watched the sunset and took a deep breath, rolling up the list of new medicinal and consumable items she had compiled that afternoon before leaving. Just as she stepped out, she saw the large group of students approaching, including female students.

Manbao raised an eyebrow, tucked the list into her sleeve pocket, clasped her hands in front of her stomach, and stood on the steps waiting for them to approach.

Imperial Doctor Xiao Tan and others heard the commotion and came out, standing with her at the door. He frowned slightly and, when they got closer, asked sternly, “What are you up to? Have you finished your lessons today? Wouldn’t you review what you’ve learned after class? Do you know how difficult it is to be a physician? Inadequate skills can cost lives.”

The students shrank back but stood their ground, about to speak when a leading student loudly said, “Mr. Tan, Mr. Zhou, student Su Mu greets the teachers.”

Zhou Man recognized him. She had taught him for three years…but…

“Didn’t you graduate? Why are you still in the office?”

Imperial Doctor Xiao Tan said with some annoyance, “Initially, he learned acupuncture from you. After graduation, he went to the local medical office but reported within half a year that he wasn’t skilled enough and returned for more studies. I don’t know how he convinced Imperial Doctor Liu, but Imperial Doctor Liu admitted him to the physiotherapy class right into the fourth grade. He’s now a fifth-grade student and still has three more years before he can graduate.”

Other subjects have five-year programs because many incoming students are illiterate or only partially literate, requiring one to two years for adjustment. Therefore, students of other subjects are also divided into classes based on their literacy level, with courses lasting from five to seven years.

Only the physiotherapy department has strict requirements. Students admitted not only must be literate but are preferentially selected based on their medical background.

This subject admits the most students, but competition is fierce. In recent years, at its peak, eighty-six people competed for one admission spot. Only students who cannot get into the physiotherapy department consider other options.

Often, the subjects of ulcers, curses, and massage are chosen only after the other subjects are filled. Sometimes, if enrollment is insufficient, some students willing to be adjusted are admitted to these fields.

In such circumstances, transferring to the physiotherapy department from other subjects is rare.

Currently, Imperial Doctor Xiao Tan knows of only three such cases: one is Zheng Gu, who had the skill to prescribe and diagnose, and was unanimously transferred to the physiotherapy department by the Imperial Medical Office, and he graduated quickly;

Another is Zhou Liru, who also had the skill but transferred smoothly because of Zhou Man;

The last is Su Mu, rumored to be highly regarded by Imperial Doctor Liu, who plans to take him under his wing.

This is akin to apprenticeship, similar to what Zheng Gu, Zheng Shao, Liu Sanniang, and Zhou Liru were to Zhou Man. These four learned their advanced skills mainly from Zhou Man, and in the future, they represent this faction and system. When they take on disciples in the future, Zhou Man will be their grand master steward.

Imperial Doctor Xiao Tan hinted at Su Mu’s relation with Imperial Doctor Liu.

Manbao nodded, her expression unchanged, and asked, “What brings you and your fellow students here?”

Su Mu cupped his hands, with a solemn expression, and loudly said, “I heard Mr. Zhou will lead people to the front line with the military?”

Manbao nodded.

He then solemnly stated, “The student is willing to join. Please count me in.”

“Good.” Manbao agreed without hesitation.

Su Mu, having prepared a speech to passionately state his case, was momentarily stunned, then bowed his hands, “Thank you, teacher, for granting my wish.”

Manbao nodded and turned back into the room to retrieve paper and pen, looking down on them from the steps with a bright smile. She beckoned, “Come, come, anyone else who wants to join the military at the front line, come and sign up with me.”

The crowd buzzed with noise, with most people hesitating, but someone raised his hand and shouted, “Teacher, teacher, I’ll go, I’ll go. I’m a fourth-year student in physiotherapy, Yu Rong.”

Manbao wrote down his name.

Imperial Doctor Xiao Tan, breaking into a cold sweat, hurriedly tried to grab her pen, “Lord Zhou, he’s a fourth-year student and has just learned pulse diagnosis. He can’t even write prescriptions yet. What’s the point of taking him?”

Manbao said, “As long as he can recognize medicinal materials and knows how to fill prescriptions, the rest can be taught temporarily. Since they have the will, we cannot disappoint them.”

The people below heard this and immediately raised their voices, “Teacher Zhou, we are third-year students. Can we go too?”

Manbao smiled slightly and said, “Of course, any student who has passed Book Two of Pharmacology can go.”

Imperial Doctor Xiao Tan, unsure of what to do, lowered his voice and asked, “Taking so many students, what if something goes wrong?”

Manbao also lowered her voice and said, “Do you think I’d actually take them all without selection? Don’t worry, these sign-ups will definitely be screened later. Once on the front line, I won’t have time to placate them. So those who want to go, regardless of whether they can endure hardship, must at least have a resolute character. I don’t want my students executed as deserters before even rescuing the wounded.”

Imperial Doctor Xiao Tan finally relaxed, releasing her pen to let her continue writing.

No one heard what they said, so those wavering in their thoughts loudly asked, “Teacher, there must be some standards for selection. Why did you choose them before and not us, but allowing us to go once we sign up now?”