78 The Hardest Thing Is to Return Someone’s Favor

It was a gloomy day and it started to snow in the morning. The snow got heavier and heavier. By the time of noon, everything between the sky and the earth was covered with white snow.

Wang Yao suddenly wanted to go out when he was looking outside through the window. He walked out of the cottage and climbed up to the top of the hill. He was fearless of the wind and snow. He was fast and didn't feel very cold as there was a trace of warm Qi inside his body.

Soon, he reached the top of the hill. He stood on a big rock and looked at the hill covered with snow. He was excited and wanted to sing and to make a poem but gradually, he calmed down.

Wang Yao was standing on the top of the hill and watching the snow quietly until he saw smoke from the village. He realized the villagers had started to cook lunch.

Time to go!

Wang Yao slowly walked down the hill.

San Xian was lying in his doghouse quietly, as if he was admiring the snow too. The eagle was standing in the wind. According to Wang Yao's observation, its wings had almost recovered; it should be able to fly again very soon.

It had been snowing for the whole day and still hadn't stopped in the evening.

Wang Yao decided to stay in the cottage instead of going home. He made himself a simple dinner. It started to get dark and the snow still hadn't stopped. Wang Yao went to sleep after reading the scriptures for a while.

The next day, the snow still hadn't stopped. Wang Yao thought about a poem when he opened the door.

I opened the door in the morning and found the hill was fully covered by the snow!

It was exactly like what was described in the poem. Wang Yao opened the door and found the hill was fully covered by snow, like it was wearing a white coat. 

Because of the snow, Wang Yao only watered the licorice roots. He neither watered the other herbs nor went to practice on the top of the hill. He sat in front of the house and practiced breathing instead.

Suddenly he heard footsteps.

Who was it?

Wang Yao opened his eyes and got up. He saw a shadow coming towards him. It was very obvious in the snow.

Who would come to the hill at this time of the day?

When the person came closer, Wang Yao recognized that it was Wang Mingbao. He was in a hurry—he seemed to have something urgent to tell Wang Yao. Wang Yao noticed that Wang Mingbao was very happy and excited. 

"What's up? Coming to the hill in such bad weather?" asked Wang Yao. "Don't tell me you are getting married?"

"No. It's my dad! He's going to be the mayor!" said Wang Mingbao excitedly.

"Really? Congratulations!" laughed Wang Yao. He didn't expect Tian Tuyuan could settle this so quickly. It showed that Tian Tuyuan's excellent connections with the decision-makers in the local government really paid off.

"I have to thank you for this. The person you spoke to made it work," said Wang Mingbao.

Wang Mingbao's father was very surprised and confused when he mentioned his new position to Wang Mingbao. He was almost certain he was not the candidate to take the position of city mayor. He believed the senior officers in the local government had already made a decision on the designation. They just hadn't announced it officially. Only someone extremely influential could change the decision.

But Wang Mingbao's father definitely didn't know who helped him. And it was not a good time to ask questions. He decided to thank whoever helped him after he was appointed.

Wang Yao was not aware that Wang Mingbao had guessed he was behind the whole thing as Wang Mingbao only told him about his father's potential promotion. Wang Mingbao remembered that Wang Yao promised him to ask someone for help.

"I'm not sure, he told me nothing," said Wang Yao with a smile.

"I really need to thank you for this!" said Wang Mingbao, "Tell me how much did you spend?"

As a businessman, Wang Mingbao presumed that Wang Yao had paid someone to help his father obtain the position of mayor. No one would do you a favor for nothing. The bigger the favor was, the more you had to pay.

"No, I didn't spend a penny. But I do owe him a favor," said Wang Yao.

"Right!" Wang Mingbao frowned.

For some people, a favor meant nothing, but for people like Wang Yao, a favor was the hardest thing to repay. Wang Mingbao knew Wang Yao well. Wang Yao was an honest person who valued friendship the most. He knew Wang Yao would try his best to repay the favor.

"How about inviting the person for dinner? You come along too. My treat!" said Wang Mingbao after keeping silent for a moment.

"Let's talk about it later. Let me make you a cup of tea," Wang Yao made a cup of black tea for Wang Mingbao. It was good to drink tea in the winter.

"You are not cold in the cottage? It's freezing inside," said Wang Mingbao. He looked around and didn't find a heater.

"I've gotten used to it," said Wang Yao. He had become very fit.

"It is so quiet on the hill. Do you really want to become a recluse?" asked Wang Mingbao.

"Of course not," laughed Wang Yao.

Wang Yao still had family, relatives and friends. He also wanted to get married and have his own kids in the future someday. He was still quite involved in the society. He was not going to be a recluse—that was not possible. He just liked a peaceful and slow lifestyle.

"I plan to decorate your new apartment after it gets warmer," said Wang Mingbao.

"Sounds good. No hurry at all. I'm not the one moving in any way," said Wang Yao.

"Right," said Wang Mingbao.

Even fit people like Wang Mingbao started to shiver after sitting in the cottage for a while. In fact, it was really cold in the cottage.

"I have to go. It's too cold here. Come to my home for lunch. I've got food ready," said Wang Mingbao.

"Okay," said Wang Yao.

Wang Yao locked the door of his cottage before heading to Wang Mingbao's home at noon. Wang Mingbao lived in town most of the time while his parents lived in the village. His grandparents also lived in the village and Wang Mingbao visited them regularly.

Wang Yao and Wang Mingbao had a nice meal with wine. They chatted and weren't aware it was already 1 pm.

"Are you returning to the hill in the afternoon?" asked Wang Mingbao.

"Yeah, but no hurry," Wang Yao had a look outside. It was still snowing.

No one would go to the hill on a snowy day, let alone go to the hill. Most people wouldn't even go out at all. It was cold and windy and it was much nicer to stay at home watching TV and have some snacks. So, Wang Yao was not in a hurry to go back to the hill at all.