Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Wang Jiangang didn’t stay for long. He left after a short while.
Wang Yao went back to Nanshan Hill earlier than usual at night. He had something to do before leaving for Beijing.
Wei Hai almost ran out of the decoctions. He had told Wang Yao by phone and transferred the payment for more decoctions. Secretary Yang called Wang Yao to invite Wang Yao to his house. It was obvious that he wanted Wang Yao to see his mother again. Pan Jun also wanted to invite Wang Yao for dinner.
Wang Yao planned to brew some Deworming powder for Wei Hai, visit Pan Mei’s clinic in the morning, and go to Haiqu to see Secretary Yang’s mother the next day.
I should reduce the frequency of home visits.
Wang Yao was considering it when preparing the herbs on Nanshan hill.
He had wasted too much time on the road. Secretary Yang’s mother was fit enough to be looked over on Nanshan hill. He didn’t need to visit her anymore.
But people of high social status were too concerned about face-saving, or they never put their feet in the shoes of people who provided services to them.
Not everyone would put his or her feet in other people’s shoes.
For example, Secretary Yang never mentioned the cost of treatment. Although Tian Yuantu had agreed to pay for the treatment of Secretary Yang’s mother, as a son, Secretary Yang should at least mention the cost for once.
Those people working in the government department often thought they were high above the ordinary people.
For them, it was natural and right for other people to pay for the services they received. But they shouldn’t take advantage of other people. So Wang Yao didn’t like those who held a high position in government departments, but he couldn’t do anything about it.
This situation won’t change any time soon.
Wang Yao worked until the middle of the night. He had prepared all the herbs required for the decoctions before going to sleep.
It was a nice day the next day.
Wang Yao started a fire outside his cottage to brew the decoctions.
San Xian was sitting next to him and staring at the multifunctional pot for herbs.
“There is no meat in the pot,” said Wang Yao.
Woof! Woof!
It was relatively easier to brew the Deworming powder because less herbs were involved. The dominating herb for Deworming power was miasma grass.
He just needed one leaf of miasma grass.
After he had finished brewing the Deworming power, he one more decoction to brew, which was Sanyang powder. Sanyang powder was full of Yang energy. It was used to treat the symptoms caused by too much Yin energy.
It was not Wang Yao’s first time to brew the two decoctions. They were not too tricky to brew. As long as he stayed focus and took his time, he wouldn’t make any mistakes while brewing them.
When the sun was high up in the sky, the Sanyang powder was also ready.
Wang Yao put both decoctions into porcelain bottles then did some stretches.
I still have some time left.
He talked to his parents on the phone then drove to Lianshan town center with the decoctions. He went straight to Wei Hai’s tea shop.
…
“I’ve been to King Lam’s feast. I’ve also been the top scorer…” Wei Hai was humming with the Huangmei opera on the radio.
Ding! The door opened, and someone came into the shop.
“Hello?” said the client entering the tea shop.
“Hello, who are you looking for?” asked Wei Hai.
“I’m not looking for anyone specifically. I want to buy some fresh tea for the year. Do you have any available in the shop?” asked the client.
“No, I don’t sell tea here,” said Wei Hai.
“What?” The client was surprised.
“I said I don’t sell tea here. You can leave now. Make sure you close the door when you leave. Thanks,” said Wei Hai.
“What? You don’t sell tea in a tea shop? How ridiculous!” said the client.
Wei Hai just ignored him. He was drinking tea while lying in a chair and listening to Huangmei opera. He was having a good time.
Ding! The door opened again.
“Hello, do you have any fresh tea?” said another client.
“What? Another one? Do I have to stick a label on the door? I don’t sell tea here!” Wei Hai turned his head around, then grinned.
“Haha, what tea do you want?”
“You do know how to enjoy yourself. Did that person come here to buy tea?” Wang Yao just passed the client who wanted to buy tea and heard him cursing.
“Please come in; what tea would you like?” asked Wei Hai.
“Any tea is fine with me. What are you listening to? Hmmm…Huangmei opera. Is it Female Consort?” Wang Yao listened to the radio for a while after sitting down. He was surprised as not many people would listen to those classic Chinese operas except for elderly people nowadays.
“Yes. I’ve got nothing to do. Hey, listen, it sounds nice.” Wei Hai made Wang Yao a cup of tea.
“Haha, it’s a good thing you like listening to Huangmei opera. It’s an upper-class hobby,” said Wang Yao.
“This is the decoction I brewed for you. The dose stays the same.” Wang Yao placed the decoction on the table.
“Thank you,” said Wei Hai.
“You are welcome. Let me check your pulse,” said Wang Yao.
After checking Wei Hai’s pulse, Wang Yao found Wei Hai’s condition had improved since the last time they met on Nanshan hill. It was good news.
“I brewed a decoction every day according to the formula you gave me. All the wild herbs in the decoction were from Li Maoshuang. The more decoctions I drink, the stronger and more alert I feel. I also spent two hours a day practicing Tai Chi. By the way, when will Zhou Xiong come back here?” asked Wei Hai.
“He needs to run some errands in Cangzhou. I don’t think he’ll come back anytime soon,” said Wang Yao with a smile.
“I see. What a shame. I’ve got some questions to ask him,” said Wei Hai.
“Well, I’ve got to go. Make sure you continue to have enough rest and a good lifestyle. I will be away for a while,” said Wang Yao.
“Where are you going?” asked Wei Hai.
“Beijing,” said Wang Yao.
“Have you had lunch? Do you want to have lunch together?” suggested Wei Hai.
“Okay,” said Wang Yao.
Wang Yao and Wei Hai met with Wang Mingbao for lunch at a healthy cuisine restaurant.
“You are going to Beijing again?” asked Wang Mingbao.
“Yes, I’ve promised those people I’d go, so I have to go there again,” said Wang Yao.
“How long are you going to stay this time?” asked Wang Mingbao.
“I’ll try to come back before the Dragon Boat Festival.” Wang Yao stuffed some food into his mouth. “By the way, I need to tell you something.”
“What is it?” asked Wang Mingbao.
“Do you remember the primary school at the south end of our village?” said Wang Yao.
“Yes. It has become really old and shabby since the primary school was closed. What about it?” asked Wang Mingbao.
“I want to buy that area,” said Wang Yao.
Realty was a big thing in the village. It was especially so in this case since it was related to such a big plot of land. Although it was not arable land, a lot of villagers were interested in that area. A decision wouldn’t be made until the major members of the Village Committee agreed to sell the land to someone during a meeting. In that case, Wang Mingbao would probably be able to help as his father was the mayor of Lianshan. It was just a piece of cake for Wang Mingbao’s father.
The fact was that it would be much easier to achieve something if you knew the right person.
“No problem,” said Wang Mingbao without hesitation.
“Are you going back home after lunch?” asked Wang Mingbao.
“No. I’ve got to go to Renhe clinic,” said Wang Yao.
“Okay, off you go,” said Wang Mingbao.
Wang Yao drove to Renhe clinic after lunch.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were gonna come?” Pan Mei came out to welcome Wang Yao with a smile.
“Sorry, I didn’t keep my promise,” apologized Wang Yao.
“That’s alright. I heard from Pan Jun that you would be away for a bit,” said Pan Jun.
“Yes,” said Wang Yao.
“Take a seat,” said Pan Mei. She then went to made Wang Yao a cup of tea.
Pan Jun came back a moment later.
Wang Yao was highly regarded by Pan Jun and Pan Mei, as he was an extraordinary doctor. Pan Jun and Pan Mei were from a medical family. They knew well who was a really good doctor and who just appeared to be a good doctor.
Wang Yao didn’t see any patients in the afternoon. Instead, he chatted with Pan Jun and Pan Mei.
“I won’t be able to come here for a while,” said Wang Yao before leaving.
He had to tell Pan Jun and Pan Mei sooner or later, so he chose to tell them sooner.
“Why?” Pan Mei was surprised.
“I’m too busy at the moment, and I’m going to open my own clinic,” said Wang Yao.
“I see, when are you going to open your clinic? Remember to invite us to your opening ceremony,” said Pan Mei generously.
“I just have the thought now. I haven’t started yet,” said Wang Yao.
Wang Yao was going home for dinner in the late afternoon, but Pan Jun and Pan Jun insisted on inviting him for dinner instead.
Wang Yao agreed to stay eventually. He knew what they thought, but he was still resistive to those social meals.
It was past 9 pm when he arrived home. After he had parked his car, he walked back to Nanshan hill straight away.
He had completed two things today.
Sometimes life was like solving math problems. One must solve a few math problems every day, and often those problems were same. It was boring and meaningless, but there was nothing that could be done about it.
I need to go to Haiqu tomorrow.
Wang Yao entered his cottage and then turned the light on. After reading some scriptures several times, he went to sleep.
He went to Haiqu together with Tian Yuantu the next day.
“What happened to you? You look terrible!” Wang Yao noticed that Tian Yuantu still looked exhausted. Obviously, he wasn’t getting proper rest, “Are you still busy working on the proposal?”
“Yes, almost done,” said Tian Yuantu.
“Listen to me, you need to take a break,” said Wang Yao.
The human body had limitations. Working too hard would cause illnesses.
