"I... never thought that my passion in medicine will screw up things and harm others..."
Finally, Deng Linping started to confide, yet he was stammering as he said. "At first I was very happy, finally I was able to get the opportunity I wanted so much, to work in the medical sector. I know that self-study would not make me a good physician, so I ask the senior members. I also often express my opinion, and I try to give help as much as I can. But I never thought, it makes them unhappy. Even one day they accused me. But the most senior Physician Li was so kind to me, the others respected him so that they didn't dare to corner me too extreme. But they still try to insult me. And... in the end, I really became as stupid as they think... I caused the experimental monkey that could have been saved, to die..."
"Don't think about that experiment too much. The monkeys were poisoned so severely, they won't be able to live nonetheless."
"No. Liu Changshi told me that I killed him."
"That's Liu Ku's nature, his tongue is sharp and he can be very annoying if he is unhappy."
"But... he is right. I caused the death of the monkey. I really feel guilty about it. Now I introspect about my passion in medicine, I start to doubt it. Am I doing the right things, or... not?..."
"You are doing the right things!" Zhu Su replied in a steady tone. "Nothing wrong, Linping! If you overthink like that, your passion might even sway!"
"But I indeed should think about it seriously. My goal is to help people, to heal people. If I will only worsen people's health and even take their lives, what's the point of me being here?"
"Now I ask you. The reason why you study medicine, does it aim to become a famous physician? Or, you study medicine because you really like it regardless you won't be famous for a lifetime, regardless your life will be average and boring, and regardless you will even endure more scolding rather than praise?"
"For the second purpose, of course!"
"Then why are you bothered with others' comments? If you stick to the first goal, you indeed have to think about it. But I tell you, whether you can or can't heal someone completely depends on destiny, because by healing someone, we are changing the wheel of life. Maybe the patient we treat is supposed to be dead, but we change his destiny by bringing him back to life. We are negotiating with the God of Death. And you know it very clearly, death is the absolute power of Heaven, how can we negotiate with him? To achieve the First Goal is like to negotiate with Heaven. However, it is different with the second goal. You just need to focus on yourself. You are not negotiating with Heaven because you only pay attention to your passion. You focus on mastering medicine because you are in competition with yourself, not with others. Even though you have to listen to others' scolding and insults every day, it won't become a problem for you. Because you only focus on doing your passion. You don't consider failure as an excuse to give up, but instead as an encouragement to be even better. Remember. No one immediately becomes a great medic. All famous physicians have ever mistreated their patients. Remember that failure is temporary and if you ignore this and keep moving forward, then one day you will become a brilliant physician."
Deng Linping looked at Zhu Su with wide eyes, as if he had just heard a Heavenly Revelation that he never heard before.
Zhu Su patted Deng Linping on the shoulder. "You are still young, you are even younger than Shao Rong that you can be my son, that's why you are still green in many ways. But now you start to understand that just smart in theory is not enough. Later you will see, this life is really unfair. Smart and talented people can be swept up in the crashing waves, while the winners are those who don't have any smartness but are good at taking advantage of situations and conditions - the world is often won by the cunning people. But, those who focus on their passions, can surpass those cunning people. Because cunning people win the world but they are unhappy, since they always get blinded by their endless lust to be number one and to step on others. While those who persevere with their passion will definitely manage to achieve the highest happiness in their lives, because endless lust can't control them at all."
"Yes... Your Highness..." Deng Linping eyes sparkled. "Now I really understand... I will no longer pay attention to those who corner me!..."
"And once more. After all, you work in a team. You still have to pay attention to the norms that apply to the team. And above all. You have to really understand their feeling. Try to put yourself as them. Then you get bothered and patronized by your juniors. Your juniors try to surpass you, try to suck up to your leader, and in your eyes, your leader also likes him, what will you feel?"
"Of course I will hate him, he has been insolent by breaking seniority!…" Deng Linping was stunned, as if he just realized something.
"Understand? Why do they hate and corner you? Not because of your passion. Every human has negative traits. Desire to dominate, dislike to be stepped over, hunger to control, eager to be the leader's most loved one, greedy or jealousy. I believe all members of the Team of Wellbeing are good people, but that doesn't mean good people don't have negative traits. I also have those negative traits. And you must have, too. You should understand it, before things get worse. You should be grateful because they are all good people, that's why they just treat you that way. The political intrigue in the Imperial Palace is far more terrifying than this, you definitely won't be able to live in peace with your immaturity if you're there."
Being given such advice, Deng Linping now bowed his head in shame. "Forgive me... Your Highness... I will try to change my immaturity..."
"Okay, then don't just be idle. Come on, start focusing on your passion, and contribute your talents. I am bothering with the procession of the plants that always lets the monkeys fall ill and die!"
Deng Linping bared his teeth, grinning. "Would you please let me brew tea, Your Highness? That's the way I am, I need tea to be inspired by a certain way. And please allow me to brew tea for you."
Happy that Deng Linping tried to get up from his depression, Zhu Su smiled, letting the teenager brew tea for both of them. Chatting cheerfully, Deng Linping quickly finished his tea, and when they finished drinking the tea in the jug, Deng Linping re-brewed the tea leaves.
"What the high-quality tea leaves! Even though it has been brewed for the second time, the taste is still unchanged. I think that even brewing it for three to four times won't make the taste fade," Deng Linping praised.
"Hahaha! Of course, this is a special tea..." Zhu Su suddenly realized something. His hand that was holding the teacup was suddenly frozen in the air.
"Your Highness?" Deng Linping was now observing Zhu Su, whose eyes got unfocused.
"Linping…" Zhu Su put down his cup carelessly, then immediately grabbed Deng Linping's shoulders, his eyes wide with excitement. "Thank you! Because of you, I can come up with this idea!..."
"Ah? I... do nothing?..."
"Xiangzishu shouldn't only be boiled once, but we must reboil it many times! Until the poison is gone! Just like brewing tea! That's right!"
And while Deng Linping was still dumbfounded, Zhu Su walked hastily to the medicine-boiling area. He took Xiangzishu, started to boil it.
"I have figured out what we have to do to neutralize Xiangzishu's poison!" While he was waiting for Xiangzishu's boiling until it was done, Zhu Su announced to his team, who immediately came to him with interest. "Xiangzishu must be processed by using shuiti fa - boiling it repeatedly, until the water is fresh, which means all the poison is gone, then Xiangzishu is safe to eat!"
Even Li Heng shone with amazement as he heard Zhu Su's idea. "Excellent, Your Highness! I'm sure no one will come up with this idea! But your thinking is based on logic and that is indeed correct. This time, we can be sure Xiangzishu's procession will be successful."
"So." Zhu Su said steadily. "Let's try it."