Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“What happened to the King Pharmacist?” a patient asked. “He hasn’t seen any patient for six days. I have been waiting 10 days.”
“Only 10 days. You should be content,” another patient said. “Somebody has been waiting here for 20 days!”
Since the King Pharmacist couldn’t figure out the composition of the decoction, he was in a bad mood. Therefore, he hadn’t seen any patients in a few days. This upset the people waiting to see him, even though they knew that if he was in a bad mood, he would not do his job.
“I don’t know when the King Pharmacist will cool down,” a patient said.
“Oh, we can only wait,” another patient said with a sigh.
The people waiting to see King Pharmacist looked helplessly at the two-story bamboo building. There was nothing they could do about the situation.
The next morning, it gently rained. The Han family moved their seriously ill brother to the car and headed to the King Pharmacist’s village. After a few hours, they reached their destination.
“Hey, the King Pharmacist has not started working yet today,” Han Xing said. He had gotten out of the car and overheard a conversation among the group of people waiting. “Do we have to line up too?”
“We shouldn’t have to,” Han Zhigao said. “He told us come in a week, didn’t he?”
“You should ask first,” Han Xing said.
“OK. I’ll go,” Han Zhigao said.
He got out of the car and headed toward the bamboo building.
“Don’t bother, younger brother. The King Pharmacist has been in a bad mood lately and has not seen any patients,” a waiting patient kindly said.
“Thanks. I think I will still go and have a look,” Han Zhigao said.
Outside the bamboo building, there was a fence around 4 feet tall and a wooden door with a bell hanging on it. Han Zhigao went to ring the bell.
Ring! Ring!
It was a man in his 30s walking out of the bamboo building. It was Jian, who had accompanied the King Pharmacist to Dali.
“Hello,” Han Zhigao said.
“It is you. Did the patient come with you?” Jian recognized Han Zhigao at a glance.
“Yes, we brought him,” Han Zhigao said.
“Wait a minute.” Jian entered the bamboo building and soon came out. “Bring the patient in.”
“Oh, thank you.” Han Zhigao hurriedly went back to the car.
Not long after, the Han brothers carried their brother on a stretcher into the bamboo building. The people waiting outside were very surprised.
“Didn’t he say he wasn’t going to see any patients? What is going on?” a patient asked.
“I guess the King Pharmacist already promised them,” a sensible patient said. “That person seems to be very sick!”
“Yes. He is all wrapped up in bandages,” another patient said. “Maybe he was badly burned.”
“The last time I saw a person come here like him, it was said that he had stayed for a month,” the sensible patient said.
“Have you been here before?” the other patient asked.
“I came with my friends that time, but this time I am here for myself,” the sensible patient replied.
In the bamboo building, the King Pharmacist did not seem happy. The Han brothers and their people did not even dare to breathe too loudly.
“Leave two people and the rest go out,” the King Pharmacist said.
Han Xing and Han Zhiyu stayed. The rest of their group went outside.
“Untie the bandages,” the King Pharmacist said.
“OK.” When Han Zhigao was about to start the task, Jian approached the patient and quickly untied thee gauze.
After unraveling it, they could see the three layers of the drug had solidified. It looked like a bloody scar with cracks.
“Break it,” the King Pharmacist said.
Jian quickly broke the knots. This time, his movement was very gentle. When it broke open, a unique smell rushed out that was pungent.
The youngest brother’s skin looked better than it had. There was even a faint flesh color. The treatment had already achieved great and begun to remove the necrotic tissues and promote granulation.
“It worked,” Han Xing quietly said to Han Zhiyu.
The King Pharmacist came to the front and looked at the patient carefully. He then said, “Medicine.”
Jian got out three jars of medicine.
“You can do it,” the King Pharmacist said.
“Yes, Master,” Jian said.
He quickly got to work, He opened the first jar. The medicine was green and sticky like honey. It also smelled slightly pungent.
Jian’s movements were much slower than those of the King Pharmacist the last time. But, his hands were steady, and he was very careful.
“Get him up,” the King Pharmacist said.
“OK.” Han Zhigao hurried forward to help. His hand inevitably touched the drug. It only felt very cold to him.
After the first layer of the drug was finished, it was time for second layer. It was thick like plaster. This layer completely sealed the first layer. Then, the third layer, a powder, was applied.
At this point, Jian’s arm holding the medicine jar slightly shivered. After this step, he took a long sigh of relief. After taking a break, he carefully covered the patient’s body with gauze.
“Well done.” The King Pharmacist nodded, apparently satisfied with the performance of his disciple. “Feed him a cordyceps pill.”
“Yes, Master,” Jian said.
He poured a pill from bottle that was about the size of a thumb and fed it to the patient.
“OK, come back in 10 days,” the King Pharmacist said.
“Thank you.” Han Xing and Han Zhiyu were astonished.
During the treatment, the two of them had been afraid to even breathe out of fear of angering the King Pharmacist. It had been a tormenting process for them.
“I am going out to call people.” Han Zhiyu got up to leave.
“Wait,” the King Pharmacist said.
“Was there something else?” Han Zhiyu asked.
The King Pharmacist stared at the two of them. No one could guess what he was thinking. The two brothers were very uncomfortable. It was as if they were being stared at by beast in the dark.
“Where do these three drugs come from?” the King Pharmacist asked, pointing to the three porcelain bottles in front of him.
The two secretly let out a sigh of relief and thought, That’s it? He didn’t have to be so scary.
“It comes from a young doctor,” Han Xing said.
“Please be specific,” the King Pharmacist said.
Han Xing told him their story in great detail, including that the drugs provided by Wang Yao and given to the King Pharmacist violated their promise to Wang Yao. There was nothing else to reveal.
“Sang Guzi, the old guy.” The King Pharmacist bowed his head and meditated. No one knew what he was thinking. He then waved his hand and said, “Go ahead.”
“OK.” The two brothers left the building. Along with the rest of their group, they took their youngest brother and prepared to leave.
“Since your hand touched the drug, it may be itchy and hurt,” Jian said to Han Zhiyu before the left. “Don’t be fearful. It will recover soon.”
“Oh, I see,” Han Zhiyu said.
The patients waiting saw them carrying the patient out.
“Hey, was there any treatment or not?” one of the patients asked.
“There was. Did you not see the gauze outside change?” another patient said.
“I’ll ask them.” The first patient approached Han Xing and said, “Excuse me, sir.”
“What is it?” Han Zhiyu asked
“Is the King Pharmacist going to see any patients today?” the man asked.
“We made an early appointment,” Han Xing said.
“Oh, thank you,” the man said.
“You’re welcome,” Han Zhiyu said.
The Han family then headed back to Dali.
One person waiting for treatment recognized Han Zhigao. “Hey, I remember! They were the ones who donated the drug to the king a few days ago. I know one of them.”
“Do you think they made the King Pharmacist angry?” another patient asked.
“I don’t think so,” the other patient replied. “I doubt he would treat them if he was not happy.”
…
In Lianshan County, it was still rainy. Wang Yao drove out of the mountain village and came to the nursery that often sold seedlings.
“Where is your boss?” he asked.
“I am the boss.” The receptionist Wang Yao spoke to was a man in his 30s and very strong.
“I usually deal with someone else,” Wang Yao said.
“My went to do other things and left me in charge. Do you know my brother?” the man asked.
“I know him,” Wang Yao said.
“You must be a regular customer. What is your name?” the man asked.
“My surname is Wang,” Wang Yao said.
“Wang Yao, is that right?” The man practically shouted out his name.
“Yes, that is me,” Wang Yao replied.
“Come in, please come in.” After confirming Wang Yao’s identity, the man was very polite. He led Wang Yao into the office in the nursery and gave him tea. “My brother specially explained to me that you are a respectable guest. He said I should give you the lowest prices and the best things. Oh, my name is Li Shiyu. Just call me Xiao Li.”
“Hello, Manager Li. These are the trees I want. Please have a look,” Wang Yao said.
“Yushu, eucalyptus, jujube…” Li Shiyu looked at them carefully. “No problem!”
He felt that the trees and shrubs the customer wanted were a bit strange. When he remembered what his older brother had said, he no longer thought about it.
“When do you need them?” Li Shiyu asked.
“Within seven days,” Wang Yao said. “You can call me when you are ready.”
Wang Yao then gave the man his phone number.
