Chapter 41: Doctor Wen, Go Study Medicine

Wen Xiuyi jerked his chin toward the kitchen. “Have you noticed anything odd about Doctor Wen lately?”

“Hm? My brother? What about him?” Wen Yao sat down beside him. Even Bighead, upon hearing this, stopped writing and leaned in. All three of them stared at Wen Jun, who was quietly working in the kitchen.

Though he didn’t understand why his father and sister referred to his older brother as Doctor Wen, it didn’t stop Bighead from worrying about him.

Wen Xiuyi said, “These past few days, I just feel like your brother isn’t himself. Sometimes he sits alone, looking gloomy, as if something’s weighing on his mind. But when I ask, he always puts on that calm, easygoing face. But who am I? I’m his… father. No one knows their child better than a parent. I’m telling you, something’s off.”

He nearly let his words slip, but managed to cover it up.

Wen Yao was puzzled. “Our life’s decent now, the stall business is going well, we haven’t run into any trouble—what could possibly be bothering him?”

Wen Xiuyi replied, “If I knew, would I be guessing?”

He glanced at his daughter. “Why don’t you find a chance to talk with your brother?”

Wen Yao rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you do it?”

He spread his hands. “I already tried, but he wouldn’t say anything.”

Both Wen Yao and Bighead fell silent. That’s what he calls asking?

“Fine, I’ll go ask.” Wen Yao happened to finish her pumpkin seeds. She clapped her hands and headed for the kitchen.

Wen Xiuyi nearly fell off his stool. “I didn’t mean right now! Do you even understand what ‘the right moment’ means?”

Without turning her head, Wen Yao replied, “There’s no time like the present.”

Wen Yao walked straight into the kitchen and called, “Brother.”

It was an everyday greeting, but it startled Wen Jun. At that moment, Wen Yao was finally convinced by Wen Xiuyi’s concerns.

Her brother was indeed troubled.

“Brother, is something on your mind?” Wen Yao went straight to the point.

Wen Jun paused slightly, then smiled. “No, nothing. Did Father say something to you? Don’t believe his nonsense. I’m fine.”

Wen Yao leaned against the counter. “Come on, you can fool Old Wen but not me. Out with it—what’s wrong? I am your dearest, most beloved sister, you know.”

Her antics made Wen Jun laugh. He placed the clean dishes into the cabinet, then looked down at his hands. “Yao Yao, do you think your brother is useless? Since we came here, you and Father have both found your roles, but I’m still stuck washing dishes and cleaning plates.”

These hands had once wielded countless scalpels, saved so many lives. Now, they were pale and wrinkled from constant soaking in water.

Wen Yao was stunned, straightening up as she gazed at her brother with a pang of heartache.

“Brother…”

She had never imagined that Wen Jun’s sense of loss came from this. She thought their lives were all moving forward, that everyone was content with their new circumstances. She’d forgotten that her brother’s dream had always been to heal and save lives as a doctor. That had been his one unwavering goal since their mother’s death.

Wen Jun was silent for a long while, then suddenly sighed deeply. When he turned to face Wen Yao again, his smile had returned. He reached out, as always, to rub her head affectionately. “Alright, I’m fine. Just a moment of weakness. I’ll be over it by tomorrow, so don’t worry.”

Wen Yao was speechless. How could she not worry?

Wen Jun finished tidying up the kitchen and left first. Wen Yao remained rooted to the spot, watching him crouch across from Bighead to help with his writing, and seeing Wen Xiuyi’s worried gaze, unable to find the words to ask his son what was wrong.

Suddenly, Wen Yao gritted her teeth, dashed over to the three of them, and said, “Father, let’s let my brother study medicine.”

If what he’d learned before couldn’t be put to use, then start anew. Her brother had a solid foundation in medicine, plenty of clinical experience—studying traditional medicine would be no challenge for him.

Wen Xiuyi paused, looked at his daughter, then at his son, and finally understood.

So that was it.

It was his own oversight as a father.

Bighead looked at the three of them in confusion, but upon hearing Wen Yao’s words, realization dawned. So that’s why Father and Sister called his brother Doctor Wen—they wanted him to study medicine.

He looked at his still-surprised brother, picked up a stick, and wrote “Doctor Wen” on the ground, then tugged at his brother’s sleeve to show him.

When Wen Jun saw those three characters, his eyes suddenly stung.

But as the eldest son, he knew his responsibility was to care for his younger siblings. His father alone couldn’t manage the stall.

“The stall can’t do without me. Father can’t handle it alone. Better forget it,” Wen Jun said.

But Wen Xiuyi slapped his thigh. “What do you mean, forget it? Your sister is right. You need to go study traditional medicine. Don’t worry about the stall, I’ll manage. You just focus on finding a teacher and learning medicine.”

Wen Yao chimed in, “Exactly, Brother. Not letting you study medicine is such a waste. These hands are meant to heal people, not scrub pots and plates. Remember that child we met? If not for you, he wouldn’t even be alive today.”

Wen Xiuyi was startled. “What child? What did you two do?”

Wen Yao looked at him. “Didn’t I tell you?”

He chuckled. “Well, you tell me.”

Wen Yao laughed awkwardly. “Oops, sorry, I forgot. Here’s what happened…” She recounted the story of the rescue to Wen Xiuyi, concluding, “I think it was a sign from above, reminding my brother not to give up on this path. Don’t you agree, Father?”

She nudged Wen Xiuyi, who nodded fervently. “Exactly, Yao Yao is right. Jun, this is the road you’re meant to walk.”

Bighead didn’t quite understand, but he sensed it was something important.

Seeing the debate going nowhere, Bighead suddenly tugged at their sleeves, made a few sounds, then raised his hand.

Wen Yao caught on instantly. “Bighead says we should vote, the family’s way. All in favor of my brother studying medicine, raise your hand.”

Bighead’s hand shot up high, Wen Yao raised hers without hesitation, and Wen Xiuyi quickly followed suit, leaving only Wen Jun.

Looking at the three who supported him, Wen Jun’s heart began to waver, but he still hesitated. “But what about the stall?”

Wen Yao snapped her fingers. “That’s easy—we hire someone. If you don’t trust outsiders, ask someone from the old house. Wen Nong is at home, right? He’s your age, quick-witted. Let him help Father with the stall. Father can teach him the business. That way, even if we stop one day, someone will carry it on.”

After all, the income from the wharf stall was no small sum—sometimes more than what people earned working in the city.