"Fu Wang, do you know that Deng Linping is disliked by most of the Team of Wellbeing members?"
In the illumination of dimming candlelight at night, Zhu Youdun asked Zhu Su seriously, while Hu Nayin watched as she lulled Zhu Youjue.
"Really? Why?" It turned out that Zhu Su still did not get it, and even it was Zhu Youdun who had a better understanding of their team's behavior.
"He has a weakness that the scholar doesn't like - he likes to boast. He likes to show off. He likes to look smart and tries to surpass other members who are more senior than him. Moreover, you were only focused on what he said. You should pay more attention to the other members' expressions. It is clear that they looked irritated, nauseous, harassing, even very eager to do something to shut their mouths."
Only then did Zhu Su realize the atmosphere in that afternoon. A quiet atmosphere that gave an uncomfortable sensation. "Ah, I was too focused on looking for good processing methods, that's all. Not only Deng Linping, I will pay much attention to anyone who can give me useful advice."
"But Deng Linping appears like a sycophant who wants to to dominate your attention. They are not to blame. In my perspective, it is as if he is licking your boots in order to make you give him a high position."
"You really have such perception?"
"On the surface, yes. In my opinion, Linping is clumsy when it comes to etiquette. He mustn't have work experience, let alone in the palace bureaucracy. So he doesn't know how to behave properly."
Hu Nayin chimed in. "Linping is indeed smart, but smart guys are usually a bit strange. And this is indeed Linping's strangenesses. Your Highness, please allow me to give advice, you'd better treat Linping casually even though you are attracted to his intelligence. After all, many members of the Team of Wellbeing are also knowledgeable experts, such as Physician Li, Physician Guo, Liu Changshi, Shao Rong, and Master Yun. This is also for Linping, and to make our team work in harmony."
It made sense. Even though he did not completely agree with them, Zhu Su bowed in agreement. "Ah, it's true, that success is built of many factors. Not only intelligence, or persistence. Harmony with others is also a very important factor."
"All your team members are good people, Fu Wang. We should be grateful for it."
Hu Nayin nodded. "And if any problem occurs, rest assured, because as your family we are ready to help you."
Zhu Su looked at his wife and sons, eyes sparkled in delight. "If I succeed later, then the most important reason for it is, the support from all of you whom I love and care."
***
Deng Linping was very happy. He was always very happy with everything related to medical science. He was indeed a genius who could be obsessed with his passion and thus ignored anything he considered as unimportant and petty. He did not bother to think more about other polemics such as social relations, social norms, social rules, and even social pressure. It was not that he did not want to think, he just did not get the idea to think about it. At the Medical Center, he was able to clean the medicine-boiling stove while whistling without noticing the displeased glances of some team members. He did not realize that Li Heng, Guo Songmi, Qing, Rui, and Han Zhong were now staring at each other and started to discuss.
They walked over to Deng Linping.
Li Heng greeted Deng Linping softly, "Boy, you're a newbie here. We haven't had any conversations all this time. What if we chat for a while?"
Deng Linping stopped his whistling. He looked at all of them with sparkling eyes, "It's fine! What do you want to talk about? Is it about medicine? I will gladly accept your offer, Master!"
Li Heng cleared his throat softly. He dragged a chair and sat down, and so did the others. "I heard that you are the son of an Imperial Physician, your father worked for the Emperor at that time. What's your father's name, Boy? Maybe I know him."
"My father has the surname Wang."
Li Heng snapped his fingers. "Ah! Physician Wang! Well, well, he is indeed very senior and brilliant in medicine, such a shame..." He shook his head sadly.
Guo Songmi chimed in, "I also know Physician Wang, he is a good physician, and he is also a polite physician..."
Li Heng quickly held him back. He did not wish to appear like the common seniors who liked to suppress newbies with arrogance, his purpose was only to advise Deng Linping to carry out the ethics of teamwork. So he quickly calmed down Guo Songmi whose tension started to be out of control. "I respect your father very much. He is not so old, but his prowess is extraordinary. That's why many older physicians also respected him. But he wasn't arrogant. He became a role model for all of us the royal physicians."
Deng Linping - still be insensitive to Guo Songmi's dislike - smiled proudly.
"Have you ever followed your father in healing people?"
"Uhmmm... never. My father left me too soon without having chance to give me any knowledge. I learn everything myself."
Hmm, it means this kid is not too bad. Such a shame that he has bad ethics, Li Heng thought. "Too bad. You should have followed your father in treating his patients, he will teach you many useful things and you will become even greater than you are now."
"Well, I also hope for the same, but it's useless to regret..."
"Now your father has left you, what if you learn from us, your seniors? Let all of us to be your mentors, as deputy of your father. You will certainly learn good knowledge, which is commensurate with what your father may have taught you."
Deng Linping's eyes lit up. "Really?! Wow, of course, I want. Alright! I'm willing to learn from all of you!"
Li Heng smiled. This was what he indeed expected. He was a senior physician who was very well acquainted with people, different from his disciple Guo Songmi or other young members. He realized that Deng Linping was actually a good boy, yet lack of etiquette made him behave in such a way. Before Deng Linping got more arrogant and even insulted others, he wanted to guide him to behave better. And he was very pleased with Deng Linping's enthusiastic response.
"But, to receive guidance from us, you have to follow the prevailing ethics of disciple. You've studied San Zi Jing * , right?"
"Of course I know San Zi Jing!"
"We don't ask whether you know it or not, Bro. But whether you've studied it or not?" Guo Songmi asked anxiously.
"Only a slight degree of it."
Everyone clicked their tongues automatically. "Well, then, if you want to learn from us, then you must learn San Zi Jing * first."
Thus, from now on, Li Heng and other team members guided Deng Linping.
...
* San Zi Jing = also known as The Three Characters. The three-character classic consists of a number of sections: the importance of learning; basics of numbers and nature; moral code; learning the classics; a comprehensive dynastic history and further examples and admonishment of the need to study hard. It is carefully written to introduce frequently used characters that are useful in everyday life. (https://www.chinasage.info/three-character-classic.htm)