Deng Xiaoxian was twenty-seven years old this year, with a long face, thin eyebrows, thin lips, and a sallow complexion. A lock of long hair covered his left eye, and he often wore a collarless, left-lapel gray gown, covered by a white robe.
Zheng Qing still remembered the first time he saw Pan Lver five years ago, in early autumn.
Old Pan Lver pulled him by that lock of hair on his forehead, dragging him to his Huichuntang Pharmacy, his roar echoing through the entire street:
"A bottle not full, half a bottle sloshing!"
"Who do you think you are? What can you do? Do you know the fifteen uses of Pleiades Gold? You can't even recite all the medicinal properties and you dare to prescribe medicine like others! And you even boldly ventured into the New World!!!"
"If you get into trouble on your own, consider me unlucky! The Pan Lver family deserves to have no descendants! What if you harm the other members of the Hunting Team? Who would they complain to?"
"You think passing the Registered Wizard exam means you can turn the world upside down! What a huge joke! Do you think those great demons outside are made of paper?"
Zheng Qing crouched at the door, watching the usually kind old doctor turn red, erupt in a furious rage, and shed tears.
Pan Lver, meanwhile, hung his head, kneeling before the shrine in the main hall of Huichuntang Pharmacy, not saying a word.
From then on, the shopkeeper of Huichuntang Pharmacy became this young man with a lock of hair on his forehead.
The merchants of Hui Zi Market strictly abide by the national regulations. On weekdays, they open at nine in the morning and close precisely at five in the afternoon. Only Pan Lver disdained this, lazily opening his shop at noon and half-closing it by two or three in the afternoon.
After Old Pan Lver handed the shop keys to Pan Lver, he went off on his travels, not returning even once in three or five years. The shop did not employ any assistants; the shopkeeper had to handle all the dispensing and medical consultations himself. Pan Lver would also concoct prescriptions and refine pills and powders on weekdays. When customers occasionally came, he would either say the shopkeeper wasn't there or use those formulas to fool the customers, never putting his heart into this shop.
He was only focused on memorizing books.
Old Pan Lver once said that if Pan Lver wanted to leave, he must be able to skillfully prepare three hundred family-inherited medicinal formulas, fifty compounds, and also be able to recite tens of thousands of prescriptions from the three books, "Golden Chest for World Salvation," "Embracing the Bottle," and "Daoist Cold Plum's Sayings."
To leave Huichuntang Pharmacy as soon as possible, Little Pan Lver began to memorize books desperately.
Zheng Qing picked one character from each of the three book titles he was memorizing and gave them a homophonic nickname, "Jin Ping Mei." Every time he saw him studying, he would use the nickname to tease him.
Pan Lver would often blow air through his nostrils, making that lock of hair on his forehead flutter, feigning anger.
...
After placing the three kraft paper packages on the counter of Huichuntang Pharmacy, Zheng Qing hurriedly ran out to ask Pan Lver for advice on going to University, asking if he had any good suggestions.
"What advice do you want to hear?" Pan Lver put down his book and sat up straight.
Zheng Qing was speechless.
"I know over two hundred hidden passages between the four colleges; I also know the secret campsites left by our predecessors in the Silent Forest; and I even know which courses will be easier for you to get credits in next semester."
"But I can't tell you."
"Every student signs a 'Silence Contract' with the University before leaving, keeping everything about the University confidential. This contract was drafted by the First University Professor Joint Conference and notarized by the Wizard Council, and its effect is quite astonishing."
Seeing Zheng Qing's somewhat disappointed expression, Little Pan Lver rolled up the 'Jin Ping Mei' in his hand and admonished him: "First University is a sacred place. It can make you grow and mature quickly. The joy of life is hidden behind growth. It's like playing a game; if you rely on cheats to clear levels, what fun is there in that?"
"I only have one piece of advice for you: make more friends and participate in more social activities." Pan Lver held up two fingers, concluding.
"That's two," Zheng Qing corrected.
A customer came to the door of Huichuntang Pharmacy to get medicine. Pan Lver glanced at Zheng Qing, then blew that long lock of hair on his forehead again, leading the customer into the shop.
Zheng Qing let out a long breath, feeling much lighter for some reason.
...
Hui Zi Market is a very small market.
So small that this market still uses the primitive method of bartering.
There are only about twenty shops in the entire market. The streets are old, and the shops are also very simple. Many shop signs simply have the shop's name written on them, without any fancy magical effects.
This created a sense of disparity for Zheng Qing, who had experienced the splendid magical displays of Four Seasons Square.
He felt it was his duty to help his hometown folks change this backward appearance.
"Little Qingzi, have you used up the talismans from last time? How are your preparations for University going?" Granny Cai of Baicao Hall called out to Zheng Qing with a smile.
Baicao Hall is a shop in Hui Zi Market that specializes in talismans, cinnabar, ink, and other supplies. For a period, Granny Cai agreed to let Zheng Qing exchange used talismans for brand new blank ones, which Zheng Qing was very grateful for.
"I still have some talismans from last time. But since I'm going to University and probably won't be back for a while, I plan to get some more," Zheng Qing replied respectfully.
After returning from Four Seasons Square some time ago, Zheng Qing went straight to Hui Zi Market to inquire about First University from these old neighbors. He didn't expect that most of the shop owners in the market had never attended University; they had only heard that the University was quite good. They didn't know much more than Zheng Qing about other things. The only one who had attended University, Little Pan Lver, had been nowhere to be found for several days, not even opening his shop.
It was truly disheartening.
However, the shop owners in the market were all quite old and had more life experience. With just a few words, they gave Zheng Qing many good suggestions.
For example, Granny Cai asked Zheng Qing to leave a letter, explaining the situation, and she could help pass it on to Mr. Wu; another example, Mr. Huang of 'Da Dai Liji' suggested Zheng Qing bring some jade plaques and pendants as excellent small gifts for classmates; and Dr. Li of Bencaoju strongly urged Zheng Qing to bring a few doses of herbal decoctions.
"Preparation ensures success. You should always be a bit careful when eating food and drinks outside, or if you get a sprain or bruise, the University's school doctor won't always be following you. Bringing a few common doses in your bag will always give you some peace of mind."
At that time, Zheng Qing gratefully accepted these gifts. After returning home, the more he thought about it, the more embarrassed Zheng Qing felt. After days of racking his brains, he finally had a good idea.
He planned to help the old shops in Hui Zi Market install some modern, more dazzling signs, just like those shops in Four Seasons Square, which looked very high-class and impressive.
So, he came to the market today, also planning to do some preparatory work.
"Little Qingzi, did you forget something?"
"Did you remember you didn't bring Mr. Huang's granddaughter? You're too late, that Little girl was sent to the mountains by Mr. Huang!"
"Going to University makes you think a lot. You're measuring this and that, are you planning to take over all our old shops?"
The market was not large to begin with, and Zheng Qing's measuring quickly attracted the attention and teasing of other shopkeepers.
He awkwardly bowed and begged for mercy, and after measuring the facades of these shops, he fled in a hurry.
Next time he came back, he would definitely let these old fogeys witness the splendor of modern magic.
Zheng Qing thought fiercely to himself.