Chapter 53: Following Your Heart

Tong Caizheng’s heart was especially uneasy. He couldn’t quite figure out Mr. Chen’s mood, afraid he might say something wrong. But when Mr. Chen talked about having an affinity with Zhihuan, he couldn’t help feeling excited.

An immortal’s affinity!

That was an immortal’s affinity!

Tong Zhihuan too felt a little stunned, but he seemed much more relaxed than Tong Caizheng, maybe because he had met Mr. Chen earlier.

Tong Caizheng stammered as he said, “Sir… my son, is he truly this lucky?”

Chen Changsheng said, “The affinity doesn’t come from me, but from yourselves.”

“Doctor Tong, you often provide free care, helping the poor and the suffering. You’ve practiced medicine for half a lifetime, naturally gathering good fortune. Young Master Zhihuan owes his luck to you. He has had blessings and fortune since childhood, facing few disasters. This comes from doing good and building virtue, following the Heavenly Dao, so the Azure Heaven blesses him.”

Tong Caizheng sighed deeply and said, “To be honest, I think my medical skills are weak. Even though I saved some people, many others I couldn’t help at all, and I had to just watch them pass away…”

Chen Changsheng said, “That’s a wrong way to think. Once you try to save them, you’ve already built a good affinity. If you can’t save them, that’s fine too. With a kind heart over time, fortune and blessings will come naturally. Doctor Tong, why feel so low about yourself?”

“Truly embarrassed,” Tong Caizheng lowered his head.

Chen Changsheng smiled warmly, turned to look at Tong Zhihuan, and said, “Later, no matter if you stay on the medical path, always remember: keep a kind heart and build many good affinities. It will never be wrong.”

Tong Zhihuan blinked and said, “Mr. Chen, does that mean I might not become a doctor?”

Chen Changsheng said, “Isn’t that for you to decide?”

Tong Zhihuan smacked his lips and turned to look at Dad.

Tong Caizheng caught on right away and said, “Sir sees clearly. On the medical path, my son really struggles. Could you point him the way?”

Chen Changsheng shook his head and said, “You should ask him. Compared to that, following your heart is the way.”

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His eyes rested on Tong Zhihuan.

Tong Zhihuan opened his mouth slightly. He looked at Mr. Chen, then he looked at Dad.

He knew that what he said next might change his whole life, so he couldn’t help feeling nervous.

Tong Zhihuan calmed his thoughts and lowered his head to think.

‘Following your heart.’

Following your own heart.

He closed his eyes, but after thinking again and again, he still didn’t understand what it meant to follow your heart.

Tong Zhihuan raised his head and asked, “Sir, what exactly does it mean to follow your heart?”

Chen Changsheng said, “Don’t think about anything outside yourself. Your first thought—that is following your heart.”

Tong Zhihuan thought once more, but this time he lifted his head quickly and said, “Sir…”

“I still want to be a doctor.”

Tong Caizheng couldn’t help feeling shocked.

His own son—how could he not understand? Zhi Huan wasn’t very good at learning medicine; it took him twice as long as others to get a medical idea.

“Zhi Huan, please think hard about it,” Tong Caizheng said.

Tong Zhihuan looked at Dad and said, “Dad, but I really want to be a doctor. When I was little, I followed you practicing medicine in the Civic District. The neighbors all respect you, Dad. In my mind, you’re the strongest person. Back then, I thought, when I grow up, I want to be a doctor too. And I’ve always thought that way…”

Tong Caizheng felt emotional hearing this. He knew that Zhi Huan could choose a better path.

It was a bit sad, but Tong Caizheng then changed his thoughts. Some people spend their whole lives doing things they don’t like, while others do things and even if they’re not the best, they’re happy. They enjoy life that way.

That was pretty good.

Chen Changsheng smiled gently and said, “No choice is better than doing what you like. The Heart of a Child is just like that.”

Tong Zhihuan saw Mr. Chen smiling, so he couldn’t hold back a smile either.

He felt incredibly happy inside. Choosing what you want to do—that’s the best thing.

Chen Changsheng looked at Tong Caizheng and said, “I feel an affinity with your son. Tonight, let him stay in the temple. Doctor Tong, what do you say?”

Tong Caizheng was startled and quickly stood up.

“Dad?”

Tong Zhihuan froze, not fully following.

Tong Caizheng pulled Tong Zhihuan to kneel under the Peach Tree.

Tong Caizheng bowed down and said, “That my son can get your teaching is his big luck. I thank you deeply on my son’s behalf!”

Tong Zhihuan now understood and bowed too as he said, “Thank you for your great kindness!”

Chen Changsheng helped them both up and said, “This is only an affinity.”

…

Tong Caizheng went down the mountain.

On his way down, he told Tong Zhihuan many times to listen closely to Mr. Chen, and that he must catch every word Mr. Chen said.

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It was really important; he even repeated those words three times.

Tong Zhihuan remembered every bit in his heart, not daring to forget a single word.

Tong Caizheng walked down the mountain with an uneasy heart. When he reached the turn, he couldn’t help looking back at Tong Zhihuan. At last settled, he went down.

Chen Changsheng stood next to Tong Zhihuan and said, “Don’t waste your Dad’s hard feelings for you.”

Tong Zhihuan nodded and said, “This boy will study hard with you, sir.”

Chen Changsheng heard this and asked, “How old are you this year? Why do you still call yourself a boy?”

Tong Zhihuan answered, “I only just reached adulthood.”

“Oh?”

Chen Changsheng asked again, “Do you have a name from your elders?”

Tong Zhihuan shook his head and said, “Not yet. Dad said that even though I’m an adult now, I still don’t know much. He said he’d give it to me in two more years.”

Chen Changsheng nodded and said, “That makes sense. Two years is fine. But from now, don’t say ‘boy’ when you’re with me; it sounds odd.”

“What should I call myself?”

“Call me however; just do what you like.”

Tong Zhihuan nodded to show he got it.

He smacked his lips a little and said, “Actually, Dad wanted to ask the Dan Fuzi of Anning District to give it to me…”

He paused and added, “I don’t really like that, though. I want to ask Mr. Chen to give it to me.”

“Me?”

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, “By rules, that should be an honored elder or a respected Senior. I might not be right…”

Tong Zhihuan blinked and said, “Isn’t you a Senior too?”

Chen Changsheng laughed and said, “I have no fame and no real skills; how am I a Senior?”

Tong Zhihuan heard that and knew Mr. Chen was just being humble. So he didn’t push anymore, but he felt very sad about it, and his face showed it clearly.

Chen Changsheng reached out and patted his shoulder, saying, “If you truly don’t mind, ask your Dad. If your Dad says yes, I will finish it for you.”

Tong Zhihuan beamed happily right then and could not stop thanking him as he said, “Thank you, sir, Dad will be glad for sure.”