Chapter 65: ANYU IS A GOOD TEACHER

Anyu did not rush through the demonstration. He moved slowly enough for Li Yan to follow every step, explaining what he was doing before adding each ingredient to the preparation.

"The first ingredient is Frostleaf. Add three leaves, then grind them until the surface releases its natural moisture. Do not crush them into powder because that will affect the final consistency of the remedy."

Li Yan watched closely as Anyu measured the leaves and prepared them exactly as he had explained. He did not move on until Li Yan had seen the entire process from beginning to end.

Anyu repeated the preparation several times, but he deliberately changed the circumstances each time. During the first attempt, he used a limited amount of ingredients and demonstrated how to avoid unnecessary waste. During the second, he used abundant materials and showed Li Yan how the process could be adjusted when resources were not a concern.

The third demonstration combined both methods and focused more heavily on the small details that could easily be overlooked. Anyu explained why certain ingredients needed to be added gradually, why others had to be prepared separately, and how the texture of the mixture could reveal whether something had gone wrong.

Li Yan remained silent throughout the demonstrations. His eyes followed every movement, and his mind carefully retained each instruction. He had already memorized the names and appearances of the ingredients, but watching Anyu prepare the remedy had allowed him to connect that knowledge with the actual process.

Once the third preparation was complete, Anyu stepped away from the workstation and looked toward him.

"You have watched me prepare it three times. Now it is your turn."

Li Yan nodded and stepped forward. He did not immediately reach for the ingredients because he wanted to organize the entire process in his mind first.

He recalled the first ingredient, the required quantity, the method of preparation, the order in which everything had to be added, and the differences between using limited and abundant resources. Once he was certain that he remembered everything, he finally began.

His movements were careful and deliberate as he selected the first ingredient and measured the required amount. He prepared it exactly as Anyu had demonstrated before moving on to the next step.

Anyu watched without interrupting.

Instead of standing over Li Yan and correcting every movement, he allowed his disciple to complete each stage independently. He had already explained the process thoroughly, and now he wanted to see whether Li Yan could apply what he had learned without relying on constant guidance.

At the same time, Anyu retrieved his jade slip and began recording his observations. His expression remained calm as he occasionally glanced between the jade slip and Li Yan’s hands.

Due to nervousness, student increased the amount of Frostleaf by one leaf.

He paused briefly before continuing to write.

Student noticed the error before proceeding and corrected the quantity.

Li Yan remained unaware of the notes being recorded. His entire attention was focused on the remedy before him, and although his first attempt was not completely flawless, he quickly corrected his mistake and continued with the preparation.

Anyu made another note when Li Yan hesitated over the next ingredient.

Student hesitated before adding the second ingredient but recalled the correct quantity without assistance.

The preparation slowly began taking shape. Li Yan checked the mixture carefully before adding the next material, remembering that every ingredient had to be handled according to its properties rather than simply thrown together.

Fu Hanzheng watched from the side with his arms folded, saying nothing as Anyu continued recording the young disciple’s progress.

Li Yan eventually reached the final stage and carefully adjusted the mixture until it reached the consistency Anyu had demonstrated earlier. He stared at the finished remedy for several breaths before finally stepping away from the workstation.

Anyu looked at the preparation and then at Li Yan, allowing the silence to settle for a moment before speaking.

"Not bad for your first attempt, but before I tell you what you did wrong, tell me what you think went wrong."

Li Yan looked at Anyu with some uncertainty. He knew the first batch had not been perfect, especially since he had made a mistake with the amount of Frostleaf, but he was not confident enough to identify every problem on his own.

"I know I made some minor mistakes, but I am not sure I can point them all out."

Anyu smiled at his honesty and picked up his jade slip again. He glanced through the notes he had made during the preparation before turning his attention back to Li Yan.

"Then I will tell you what you missed."

He explained that the first issue had been the extra Frostleaf, which Li Yan had noticed and corrected himself. The second was his handling of the next ingredient. He had ground it slightly longer than necessary, producing a finer texture than the remedy required.

Anyu also pointed out that Li Yan had hesitated before adding another ingredient because he was uncertain about the measurement. Although the hesitation had not ruined the preparation, an Apothecary needed to develop enough confidence to make decisions without constantly second-guessing every step.

Li Yan listened carefully and asked a few questions about the parts he had misunderstood. Anyu answered each one before moving on to the things Li Yan had done particularly well.

"You remembered the order of the ingredients after seeing it only three times, and your measurements were accurate once you settled down. You also noticed the change in texture without me pointing it out, which means you were actually observing the preparation instead of merely copying my movements."

That assessment caught Li Yan’s attention. He had expected Anyu to focus mostly on his mistakes, so hearing that his ability to notice changes in the mixture had been useful made him understand why observation remained such an important part of Apothecary.

Anyu cleared the workstation and placed fresh ingredients in front of him. This time, he stepped farther away and left Li Yan to work without guidance, wanting to see whether he could apply the corrections independently.

"Make another batch. I will not remind you of the steps this time."

Li Yan nodded and began preparing the remedy. He measured each ingredient with greater confidence, paying particular attention to the amount of Frostleaf and the texture of the second material.

The preparation progressed smoothly, and he did not need to stop once to ask for confirmation. When he reached the final stage, he adjusted the mixture according to the changes he had observed during the first attempt and waited until it reached the correct consistency.

Anyu examined the finished remedy closely before checking it against his own standards. After a moment, the satisfied expression on his face made it clear that Li Yan had corrected every issue from the previous attempt.

"This is a perfect batch."

Anyu carefully transferred the remedy into a clean container and carried it toward Fu Hanzheng, who had been observing the entire lesson from nearby. He placed the container in his master’s hand and waited respectfully for his assessment.

"Master, please take a look."