"Chairman Gu, everyone on the list is present," said Dong Yuanlang after reading out the names.
"Good, please sit down."
Gu Yuanbai gestured for him to sit and then looked around at the group of young TCM teachers. He smiled and said, "I am truly delighted that you have all signed up to participate in this educational reform plan. On behalf of the Huadu Ministry of Education, I thank you."
*Clap, clap, clap...*
Everyone immediately applauded.
Gu Yuanbai raised his hand again and spoke formally, "I won't waste your time with pleasantries. Let's get straight to the point. We have recruited you to participate in this reform plan for TCM education to change the future inheritance of our TCM and to address the issue of widespread accessibility. We want the next generation to know and understand our TCM."
"Therefore, the Huadu Ministry of Education has selected three well-known primary schools. Starting from the third grade, a TCM course will be officially added... Oh, Xiao Lin, please bring out the TCM textbooks we compiled for everyone to see."
As he spoke, several association members brought up bundles of textbooks and distributed them to Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, and the others. Gu Yuanbai explained, "This TCM textbook is a compilation of knowledge carefully selected and categorized from major medical classics, presented in a simple and easy-to-understand manner."
"After all, third-graders cannot grasp very profound concepts. Therefore, our first lesson is on identifying medicinal herbs. We have included illustrations of various medicinal herbs in the textbook, along with simple introductions. They are easy to understand and can be used to introduce the herbs to children, sparking their interest..."
Gu Yuanbai held up the textbook and introduced it to everyone. Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, Qi Miaomiao, and the others also flipped through the books. As Gu Yuanbai had said, the textbook was mostly filled with illustrations of medicinal herbs, drawn in an engaging style. Each herb had a simple introduction, making it uncomplicated and allowing for more interesting presentations to children.
"This is the introductory course. As the children grow, we will develop textbooks with different levels of depth appropriate for their age, gradually increasing the complexity of the knowledge until they reach university, where they will receive formal medical education."
Gu Yuanbai looked at Wan Yunting, Xu Yuanhang, and on the other side, Ye Zhaohui, Song Sinan, and Wei Renxin, and asked, "What are your thoughts? Feel free to share them."
Everyone began to whisper among themselves, glancing at each other. In reality, they didn't have many specific ideas. After all, this introductory textbook was the result of immense effort by Gu Yuanbai and his team, designed to be appropriate for third-graders' cognitive level. Thus, the textbook was not difficult to understand.
The primary goal of the introductory textbook was to open children's minds to TCM, simply letting them know that China possesses a field of medicine called TCM.
"Alright, I will now arrange your teams and assign you to the three schools."
Seeing that no one had any particular ideas, Gu Yuanbai produced a list and said, "This time, we have selected three schools: Xingyao Primary School, which is a key primary school in Huadu."
"Also, Donglu Primary School and the First Experimental Primary School. The assignments for these three schools have been finalized. Xiao Lin, please distribute the list to everyone..."
Everyone took the lists and looked at the three schools. Wan Yunting saw his name prominently on the Xingyao Primary School list.
"Senior Sister, you and I are both at Xingyao Primary School, and so is Dr. Wan. That's great, we can be together."
Qi Miaomiao looked at the list, her eyes lighting up with excitement. Gu Luotang nodded and smiled, feeling even more thrilled. She hadn't expected her grandfather to understand her so well as to arrange for her and Wan Yunting to be at the same school.
"I've been assigned to Donglu Primary School..."
Xu Yuanhang, standing nearby, frowned. He hadn't expected to be separated from Gu Luotang, and more importantly, Wan Yunting was at the same school as her!
"Sister Nan, you and I are also at Xingyao Primary School."
Zhang Xiaoyu on the other side said, looking at the list. Song Sinan nodded and saw Wan Yunting's name on the Xingyao Primary School list. She looked up at the opposite side, at Wan Yunting, who was chatting and laughing with Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao...
Meanwhile, Wei Renxin, Ye Zhaohui, and others were also assigned to Xingyao Primary School. A total of fifteen teachers. Since Xingyao Primary School was the key primary school among the three, with the most classes, Gu Yuanbai and his team had carefully selected and assigned the most outstanding young teachers to Xingyao Primary School after much consideration.
Of course, other excellent teachers, like Xu Yuanhang, were assigned to Donglu Primary School and Tianhe Experimental Primary School accordingly...
"Furthermore, I will be the team leader for Xingyao Primary School, Director Jiang will be the team leader for Donglu Primary School, and Director Weng will be the team leader for Tianhe Experimental Primary School. We will lead you in participating in this reform plan to promote TCM education. Therefore, I hope everyone will dedicate their full enthusiasm and teach our students diligently. Can you all do that?" Gu Yuanbai stood up and called out to everyone.
"Yes..."
Everyone enthusiastically waved their hands and shouted in unison.
"Very good, that's the spirit..."
Gu Yuanbai was very satisfied with this group of young TCM teachers. The reason he didn't choose experienced older TCM practitioners to teach the children was his concern that they might be too rigid. That's why he selected energetic and vibrant young teachers like Wan Yunting.
The meeting finally adjourned at eleven in the morning. Wan Yunting took the introductory textbook back to familiarize himself with it and prepare his lessons. The following Monday, they were scheduled to report to Xingyao Primary School.
Seeing Wan Yunting leave, chatting and laughing with Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao, Xu Yuanhang, feeling unwilling, went to find Gu Yuanbai and said, "Principal Gu, I would like to request an adjustment!"
"An adjustment?"
Gu Yuanbai looked at him and asked, "You don't want to go to Donglu Primary School?"
"It's not that, exactly. I just thought that perhaps I could better utilize my teaching experience at Xingyao Primary School and make the Ministry's textbook more effective!" Xu Yuanhang said with a smile.
Gu Yuanbai nodded, understanding his thoughts. "Yuanhang, I considered you carefully before assigning you to Donglu Primary School. After all, you are the most experienced and skilled pharmacist among these young teachers. Therefore, you must lead the teachers at Donglu Primary School."
Xu Yuanhang was taken aback by Gu Yuanbai's words, but he remained unconvinced. Gu Yuanbai patted his shoulder and said, "Besides, Xingyao Primary School already has many teachers, so this adjustment is unavoidable. I hope you will lead everyone well at Donglu Primary School, understand?"
Now Xu Yuanhang didn't know how to argue his case and could only nod in reluctant agreement.
Gu Yuanbai smiled and nodded, "Then go ahead. Prepare yourself. Next Monday, you will lead them to report to Donglu Primary School with Director Jiang."
"Okay."
Xu Yuanhang replied and then turned to leave. Gu Yuanbai watched him go, shaking his head slightly with a smile.
"Dr. Wan, it's almost noon. Why don't we have lunch together?"
Qi Miaomiao said to Wan Yunting. Gu Luotang, standing beside her, lowered her head, a little shy, but she sincerely hoped the man would agree to have lunch together...
"Sure, it's my treat," Wan Yunting said with a natural smile.
"Great, then let's go in your car," Qi Miaomiao said happily. Gu Luotang felt even happier and gave Wan Yunting a slight smile. "You're treating us."
"It's just a meal. Can the two of you fairies really bankrupt me?" Wan Yunting said dismissively with a smile.
"That's right, Senior Sister, let's get in the car. You sit in the front..."
Qi Miaomiao nudged Gu Luotang to sit in the passenger seat next to Wan Yunting. She was making great efforts to help her senior sister pursue him.
So, Wan Yunting found a nice Chinese restaurant. Seeing Qi Miaomiao unceremoniously devour the food on the table, his mouth twitched. He suddenly regretted the words he had just spoken.
With Qi Miaomiao's appetite, he suspected he might actually go bankrupt.
Gu Luotang, on the other hand, was much more demure, eating slowly and deliberately, her head perhaps lowered due to shyness, as she hadn't dared to look up at Wan Yunting sitting in front of her...
"Senior Sister, say something."
Seeing Gu Luotang eating with her head down and not speaking, Qi Miaomiao turned and whispered in her ear.
Gu Luotang blinked, looked up slightly at Wan Yunting in front of her, and shyly pointed at a dish with her chopsticks, saying, "This dish is quite tasty..."
"Oh, my goodness..."
Qi Miaomiao immediately threw her head back, patting her forehead in exasperation and speechlessness. She was completely hopeless.
Wan Yunting, sitting opposite them, found it amusing. These two sisters were just too interesting.