"We'll definitely have this meal after Kang's illness turns for the better." Wang Yao smiled sincerely.
"Thank you!" The middle-aged man, Zhou Xiong, sincerely expressed his gratitude.
Wang Yao drove home, quickly ate some stuff and went up to Nanshan hill. Leisurely, he enjoyed a cup of fragrant tea.
He made detailed notes of his diagnostic process at Lianshan County and made revisions to the original treatment plan. He double checked a few times, contemplated and ensured there were no problems, before putting away his notes.
He had been busy without realizing it until 4 pm. He took out the Natural Classics and softly read it aloud. Not long after, he heard a bark.
Someone's up the hill? Who could it be?
"Hey, you've been here the whole day and you're not bored out of your mind?" Wang Mingbao joked as soon as he entered the house.
"Hehe, I'm used to this." Wang Yao smiled and poured tea.
"When I get tired of running my business, I want to find a hill, build a few houses, a courtyard, plant an orchard, raise some chickens, geese, cows, goats and lead a carefree countryside life," Wang Mingbao drank his tea and commented.
"Sure, you can rent a hill in the village and keep me company," Wang Yao laughed.
"I would like to, just that this is not the right time. Life outside is exciting; I've not had my fill yet. Maybe in another thirty, fifty years, I may consider," Wang Mingbao said.
"Is there something you need?"
"Indeed there is," Wang Mingbao put down his teacup and said. "I would like to know, what kind of patients you can see and how much are your treatment fees?"
"Why are you asking me this?" Wang Yao was surprised upon hearing him.
"I have a friend—he has a strange illness that seems to be untreatable. If possible, I would like you to see him," Wang Mingbao replied.
"Have you told him about me?"
"Of course not. I heard him talk about his illness during a meal we had together. I've not said a word even to my parents. I would only do so with your consent. If you don't agree, forget about this," Wang Mingbao remarked.
In fact, Wang Mingbao had heard the person talk about it during a meal he had with a few business partners. This person had contracted a strange illness that was agonizing; he had seen a few doctors with no results. He wanted to take this opportunity to see if the business partners could help him, so it was not something that he said lightly.
"I cannot guarantee that I can heal him. It's best if you can show me his medical reports?" Wang Yao said.
"I know, I will ask him to bring his medical reports for your review," Wang Mingbao responded.
"Sure, just be warned, I may not be able to help him."
"I know."
It might have been because the weather had become warmer, but Wang Mingbao did not feel cold in Wang Yao's cottage, therefore he stayed longer this time.
"Have dinner at my grandparents' place, the old man misses you," Wang Mingbao said with a smile.
"I don't wish to cause any convenience; I will return home to have dinner."
"It's no trouble at all. Besides, I don't usually return to the village, and you are hardly in town."
"Sure, please inform Grandpa and Grandma not to specially cook dishes, I'll just eat what's normally cooked."
"Okay, that's set." With that, Wang Mingbao left the hill.
As evening approached, Wang Yao made his way down the hill. He went home to inform his family that he would not be having dinner with them and took two bottles of wine and a case of milk to Wang Mingbao's grandparents' place. These items were from relatives who visited during Chinese New Year.
The two elders were delighted to see Wang Yao.
Wang Yao went to the kitchen and saw a good many dishes being prepared, and they were in the process of preparing more. He immediately asked them not to, saying that they had already prepared six dishes.
"I won't dare to come in the future," Wang Yao quipped.
"We're happy whenever you come." The two elders smiled.
At night with nothing to do, Wang Yao drank a few glasses with them. The two elders were very happy. Even though they were very old—over seventy years old—they were very healthy and were in great spirits.
"Yao, thanks for your help that time!" the old man said.
"Don't say that. Mingbao and I are like brothers, you are like my Grandpa. Also, that was just a small matter; I didn't do much," Wang Yao responded.
"I never knew that you had such capabilities, Yao," the old woman complimented him.
"It was just a stroke of luck," Wang Yao replied.
It was by luck that he obtained the pharmacist system and it had changed his life.
Accompanying his friend, having a meal together, drinking, chatting casually and making the two elders happy—it was pleasant.
After dinner, the two elders saw him out and Wang Mingbao accompanied Wang Yao all the way to the start of the lane.
"It's so late already and you're still going up the hill?"
"Yes, I've gotten used to it. You can go home, no need to see me all the way."
"Okay, I will see you up to this point. Be careful."
"No problem."
From the village to Nanshan hill, in the past three years, Wang Yao had walked this road countless times. In the daytime, in the rain, in the snow, with the winds—he was very familiar with this road. He could virtually walk this road blindfolded.
Once up the hill, Wang Yao did not sleep immediately. Instead, he poured warm water, read aloud some scriptures and then fell asleep.
The next day, it was cloudy and strands of sunlight filtered through the clouds. The weather had become warmer.
Angelica, poria cocos, licorice…
Wang Yao prepared the herbs in his cottage. He intended to prepare a formula of Anshensan for the child to see if it would help. To decoct this formula, he had all the required herbs.
Close to mid-afternoon, the cottage was full of herbal aromas.
The firewood blazed and above the fire, the spring water was boiling within the multifunctional pot. The various herbs were slowly decocted and mixed with the spring water.
He was familiar with this formula.
Looking at the changing color of the herbal soup, smelling the wafting aroma, calculating the decoction time, finally adding the last herb, the Moonlight herb and waiting for a few minutes for the herb to melt into the broth—the formula was finally done!
This medicine could calm the nerves. This way, the child's symptom had an appropriate treatment. Thereafter, he had to consider how to alleviate the pain in the internal organs, particularly the intestines, so that the child could at least sleep peacefully at night.