94 Gold in the Sands, Moon in the Clouds

"Is there a problem?" asked Wang Yao as he saw Tian Yuantu hesitating.

"She is in very poor health, so she definitely can't travel. She is also extremely sensitive to the cold. I don't think she can even get out of her house at this stage," said Tian Yuantu.

"I see, then she'll have to wait for a while," said Wang Yao.

Treating this patient was not one of Wang Yao's missions, so Wang Yao could visit her at home. But Wang Yao didn't want to make any promises until he knew the patient's social status better. After all, not many people could make Tian Yuantu visit Wang Yao again and again for herbs. Wang Yao didn't want to get into any trouble.

"Okay. But can you still give her more herbs?" asked Tian Yuantu.

"Give me seven days, but the herbs..." Wang Yao didn't say it out loud. He didn't get the herbs for free. It costed him reward points, so whoever got the herbs would have to pay a set price.

"I see. That's fine," said Tian Yuantu, who immediately got what Wang Yao meant to say.

Tian Yuantu didn't stay for long.

Home visiting? Wang Yao was considering it.

A Chinese Traditional Pharmacist was not a recluse. Wang Yao still had to engage in social activities some time. Nowadays, even monks and Taoist priests were very worldly, to say nothing of Wang Yao.

But Wang Yao needed to be careful with who he hung out with and what he should and shouldn't do.

His herbal field was like gold in the sand or a moon in the clouds which shone brightly. Wang Yao worried that he wouldn't have the ability to protect it. The herbal field had brought him tremendous profits. If any powerful and plotting people knew about it, Wang Yao could get himself into big trouble.

Wang Yao didn't want to know how dark the world could be.

He needed to keep a low profile before he had the ability to protect his herbal field.

He was like a three-year-old child holding a stack of cash at the moment.

Although it was not urgent for him to be armed with power to protect his herbal field, he could not delay for too long. He needed to take advantage of any opportunity to make a good move.

Wang Yao had to go to town again for Tian Yuantu's requests. He visited the herbal store where he normally bought herbs.

Li, the manager, welcomed Wang Yao to the store lounge. Li was happy to see Wang Yao again and made him a cup of tea. Li knew Wang Yao was an expert of herbs and a potential long term client, so he treated Wang Yao's requests seriously.

"Thank you for the tea. I'm actually here for a favor," smiled Wang Yao.

"No problem. What favor?" asked Li.

"I need to buy the exact same herbs I bought last time, but twice the amount," said Wang Yao.

"When do you need them?" asked Li.

"Best within a week. Actually...as soon as possible," said Wang Yao.

"Not a problem," promised Li.

"Would you like me to pay the deposit?" asked Wang Yao.

"That's fine. But finish your cup of tea first," smiled Li.

Wang Yao left the herbal store after he had paid the deposit. He drove around town and bought some dog food.

When Wang Yao arrived at home he found there was a guest whom his mother was speaking to. The guest looked to be in his 40's and very thin. He was wearing casual clothes and looked tired with messy hair.

"Yao, you have a visitor," said Zhang Xiuying as soon as she saw Wang Yao.

"Me?" said Wang Yao in surprise. He had never seen this man.

"Hello, my name is Zhou Xiong." Zhou Xiong stood up when he saw Wang Yao.

"Hello, I don't think we've met," said Wang Yao.

"I'm here to seek help from you," said Zhou Xiong.

"Help?"

"I want you to see my son, who is ill," said Zhou Xiong.

"I see." Wang Yao frowned.

He started to wonder how Zhou Xiong got to know about him. Who told him that I can treat illnesses? 

"I'm sorry, I can't." Wang Yao declined the request from Zhou Xiong as he knew nothing about him.

"Well..." Zhou Xiong was surprised. He didn't expect such an answer from Wang Yao. "Money is not a problem."

"It's not about money. I..." Wang Yao was going to say he didn't know how to treat illnesses, but it suddenly occurred to him that the system wouldn't allow him to deny his ability as a Chinese Traditional Pharmacist.

How should I turn him down? thought Wang Yao.

"I'm too busy at the moment. Sorry." Wang Yao had to use such a lousy excuse.

"I can bring my son here. Please save him," begged Zhou Xiong.

"Well, let me ask you a question first and you need to tell me the truth," said Wang Yao.

"Okay," said Zhou Xiong.

"How do you know I can treat illness?" asked Wang Yao.

"Well..." Zhou Xiong hesitated.

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me," said Wang Yao.

"Doctor He told me," said Zhou Xiong.

"He Qisheng?" asked Wang Yao.

"Yes," said Zhou Xiong.

"You are not local, right?" asked Wang Yao. He could tell from Zhou Xiong's accent that Zhou Xiong was from a different city.

"No, I'm not local. I'm from Cangzhou," replied Zhou Xiong.

"Cangzhou? It's thousands of miles away from here!" shocked Wang Yao.

"Yes, so please help my son!" begged Zhou Xiong again.

"Okay, please leave your contact details and I'll get back to you within three days," said Wang Yao. He really couldn't turn Zhou Xiong down as he traveled from such a far place and was honest about his purpose of visit.

"Great!" Zhou Xiong was thrilled.

Zhou Xiong didn't stay long after Wang Yao agreed to consider helping him.

"You should help him," said Zhang Xiuying after Zhou Xiong left.

"Why?" said Wang Yao.

"Because apparently, he's desperately in need your help," said Zhang Xiuying.

"Mom, there are millions of people out there in need of help. I don't know anything about Zhou Xiong. I don't want to bring trouble to me and you and dad," said Wang Yao.

Although Wang Yao had decided to help Zhou Xiong, he needed to make it clear to his mother that he wouldn't just help anyone, and she couldn't make any promises on his behalf.

"Okay, I'm sometimes too soft," said Zhang Xiuying.

"That's fine. Don't worry about it, leave it to me," said Wang Yao.

Wang Yao went back to Nanshan hill after lunch. As soon as he entered the cottage, he received a call from He Qisheng, who apologized for asking Zhou Xiong to visit Wang Yao.