162 No Vows, but Chit-chats

Someone left Beijing and headed down South at night.

"Hello, Miss. Guo," said Gu

"You don't need to call me Miss. Guo; just call me Sirou," said Guo Sirou. "Uncle Gu, we have pre-arranged your trip this time."

"Yes, the senior officer had given me all the instructions," said Gu.

"That's great!" said Guo Sirou.

Am I breaking my promise? thought Guo Sirou.

After Guo Sirou received a phone call from her grandpa about Xue, she was reluctant to take any action. After all, she had promised Wang Yao not to tell anyone about the fact that he had treated her grandpa. But she knew about Xue, who was two years younger than her. If she were Xue, she wouldn't have the courage to continue on living.

"We have to make an exception for Xue and owe Wang Yao another favor," said Guo Sirou's grandpa before she left.

How am I going to return the favor?! thought Guo Sirou.

Guo Sirou and Gu got off the airplane at Dao City, then met He Qisheng who had been waiting for them at the airport.

"Hi, Miss. Guo! Hi, Gu!" greeted He Qisheng. He was a bit surprised to see Gu, as Guo Sirou didn't mention that Gu was going to travel with her. He Qisheng only knew Guo Sirou was going to take someone with her.

"Hi, Qisheng, long time no see," said Gu, a middle-aged man.

"Yes, haven't seen you for a while," said He Qisheng.

"Let's talk on our way to Haiqu," suggested Gu.

"Okay," said He Qisheng.

"We are here to see Wang Yao. We need his help. Just help me think what I should say to him," said Guo Sirou.

"Do you want him to treat someone?" asked He Qisheng.

"Yes," said Guo Sirou.

"Where is the patient?" asked He Qisheng.

"The patient is not here. She is in Beijing," said Guo Sirou.

"Are you talking about Xue?" asked He Qisheng.

"Yes," said Guo Sirou.

"It's going to be tricky. You know, he doesn't like visiting Beijing," said He Qisheng.

"That's why I need your help to convince him," said Guo Sirou.

"It's going to be very hard!" He Qisheng shook his head.

"Why doesn't he like visiting Beijing?" asked Gu.

"I wish I knew," said He Qisheng.

"He more than just dislikes visiting Beijing. I've mentioned it to him before. There was no room for negotiation. You need to be prepared, Gu," said He Qisheng.

Gu frowned. He knew it was going to be tricky if He Qisheng and Guo Sirou were telling the truth.

They wanted a big favor from Wang Yao, so they couldn't force him to do things. Maybe they could convince him using their power. Talking about power, Guo Sirou's family had great power, which still couldn't make Wang Yao change his mind. Who is this Wang Yao? Gu wondered.

On one hand, Gu thought it was going to be tricky to convince Wang Yao. On the other hand, Gu had become more and more curious about Wang Yao, who he hadn't had a chance to meet.

The three of them settled in the best hotel in Haiqu.

"Uncle He, could you go to Nanshan hill and see if you can ask Wang Yao to come here?" asked Guo Sirou.

"Okay," said He Qisheng.

Guo Sirou didn't go to Lianshan immediately. She didn't want to disturb Wang Yao directly. Instead, she wanted He Qisheng to test Wang Yao's thoughts first. If Wang Yao was adamant that he didn't want to visit Beijing, they would have to think of alternative ways.

"I hope he will not be too stubborn this time," said Guo Sirou softly as she was looking at the night view of Haiqu through the window. It couldn't compare with Beijing's at all.

...

"Hi, what are you doing?" Tong Wei was speaking to Wang Yao on the phone.

"Nothing, I'm just sitting outside," said Wang Yao.

"Are you on the hill again?" asked Tong Wei.

"Yes, I'm on the hill and looking at the sky while talking to you on the phone." Wang Yao was sitting outside his cottage and speaking to Tong Wei on the phone.

"Are you busy at Dao City?" asked Wang Yao.

"Not too bad. I'm just a bit busy recently," said Tong Wei.

The conversation between them was as usual. They never made vows, only casual chit-chat, which only strengthened the feelings between them.

"I will return to Lianshan next week," said Tong Wei.

"Great, are you happy for me to pick you up?" asked Wang Yao.

"Yes, I'll call you on the day," said Tong Wei.

"Sounds good," said Wang Yao.

...

The next day, Wang Yao was interrupted twice by phone calls when he was practicing making herbal pills.

One of the calls was from Tian Yuantu who asked him to review Secretary Yang's mother after taking the decoctions made by Wang Yao. It had been a while since she started to take the decoctions from Wang Yao. The other call was from He Qisheng, who asked if Wang Yao was at Nanshan hill. He wanted to visit Wang Yao.

He Qisheng came to Nanshan hill at 10 am and brought a simple present for Wang Yao. Of course, the only thing simple was the package. But, Wang Yao was no longer a young man who had never seen any top-shelf products. He could tell immediately the present cost a lot.

"I've told you that you don't need to bring me anything," said Wang Yao.

He Qisheng just smiled. He didn't say anything.

"Please come inside," said Wang Yao.

...

In the shabby cottage sat a pot of tea.

He Qisheng expressed his purpose of visiting in a tactful way during his short chat with Wang Yao. At last, Wang Yao still declined him without hesitation.

Wang Yao wouldn't go to Beijing at this stage.

He Qisheng was not too surprised after being turned down, but he was still a bit disappointed.

Well, it looks like Miss. Guo has to come here in person! thought He Qisheng.

"That's fine; I won't disturb you anymore. I have to go," said He Qisheng.

"Wait, why do you and Miss. Guo want me to go to Beijing?" asked Wang Yao out of curiosity.

"We want you to see a patient," said Wang Yao.

"See a patient? There are so many well-known specialists and experts in Beijing. It won't be difficult for you to ask a divine Chinese Traditional Medical practitioner to treat the patient you mentioned given Miss. Guo's social status," said Wang Yao with a smile.

"Even a divine Chinese Traditional Medical practitioner couldn't treat certain diseases," said He Qisheng.

"What do you think I can do?" asked Wang Yao.

"I think your medical skills are not worse than any divine Chinese Traditional Medical practitioners," said He Qisheng. "The decoctions you make are more effective than the ones from those practitioners."

He Qisheng was telling the truth, and Wang Yao believed him. Apart from the rich knowledge Wang Yao obtained from the system, the wonderful licorice roots were also critical in treating one's disease. Maybe those divine Chinese Traditional Medical practitioners were extremely knowledgeable and experienced, but they didn't have licorice roots. 

In fact, the Regather soup Wang Yao made hadn't been taken by Guo Sirou's grandpa entirely. A small proportion of the decoction was sent to be tested in a specialized lab, as Miss. Guo's family wanted to duplicate the decoction. They were all amazed by the effect of Wang Yao's decoctions. But, the outcome of the test disappointed them. The lab could only test some herbs in the decoction, which could be easily found in any herb stores. Some components of the decoction couldn't be tested, so they couldn't make the exact same decoction.

It was like industrial production—30% of which relied on technology, while 70% relied on equipment. A wonderful decoction required wonderful herbs.

If Guo Sirou's grandpa hadn't ordered his men not to disturb Wang Yao, and only a handful of people knew about it, some of his men would have already found Wang Yao and force him to give away the herbal formula. They wouldn't mind getting their hands dirty to force or lure Wang Yao to tell them the ingredients of his decoctions.

This was the reality.

If one was not powerful enough, it would be suicidal to keep something extremely precious.

"I am flattered," said Wang Yao.

"Anyway, sorry to disturb you; bye for now," said He Qisheng.

He had seen Wang Yao and tried his best to convince Wang Yao. Now he knew Wang Yao's answer, so he didn't need to stay anymore. He Qisheng stood up and left.

Go to Beijing to see a patient?

Wang Yao frowned as he watched He Qisheng walking downhill. He had a feeling that the whole thing was not that simple.

He Qisheng drove back to Haiqu to meet Guo Sirou and Gu.

"Did he agree to come?" Guo Sirou asked as soon as she saw He Qisheng.

"No, he turned me down without hesitation," said He Qisheng.

"No room for negotiation?" asked Gu.

"No; he said no as soon as I mentioned Beijing," said He Qisheng.

"Maybe he has enemies in Beijing?" said Gu.

"Well, I don't know about this," said He Qisheng.

"Miss. Guo, haven't you told him about who you are?" Gu spoke in a tactful way, but both Guo Sirou and He Qisheng knew what he was talking about. He was talking about Guo Sirou's social status. He meant that Guo Sirou should tell Wang Yao what kind of family she belonged to.

Gu thought Guo Sirou should show Wang Yao what she was capable of.

"No, I didn't." Guo Sirou shook her head.

"No wonder. You should tell him!" said Gu. "If he knew who you were, he probably wouldn't be resistive to Beijing!"

"Maybe you are right," said Guo Sirou after thinking for a moment. She hadn't told Wang Yao about her social status because she didn't think it was necessary. But now she thought she should let Wang Yao know who she was. After knowing Wang Yao for a while, she had faith in Wang Yao's personality and character.

"Maybe I thought too much. Well, I'll go to see him. Uncle Gu, Uncle He, just wait for me here,"

"You don't need to go; I can visit him again," said He Qisheng.

"No, I think I should go in person," Guo Sirou insisted.

...

Wang Yao went to Haiqu in the afternoon with Tian Yuantu to see Secretary Yang's mother. After checking her pulse and observing her, Wang Yao found that the cold evil inside her body had reduced, although only a little. It indicated that the decoctions Wang Yao made were working.

"How have you been feeling?" asked Wang Yao.

"I have been feeling much more comfortable after taking your decoctions. I felt warm and even sweated a few days ago," said Secretary Yang's mother.

"Great! It means the decoction has been working. Let me make you another dose. Are you okay with taking another decoction?" asked Wang Yao.

"Okay," said Secretary Yang's mother.

Secretary Yang was busy this time because he needed to accompany the inspection team from the province. But, he had arranged his men to look after Wang Yao. He particularly asked his men to treat Wang Yao well.

"It is still early. We don't need to have dinner here. How about going back to Lianshan?" asked Wang Yao.

"Okay," agreed Tian Yuantu.

The two of them returned to Lianshan.

Wang Yao received a call from Guo Sirou on his way back to Lianshan. Guo Sirou wanted to know where he was so that they could meet. It was coincidental that both of them were in Lianshan.

They agreed to meet at a cafe near the ocean. Tian Yuantu went with Wang Yao.

This was the first time that Tian Yuantu met Guo Sirou. Tian Yuantu was surprised not because of Guo Sirou's beauty, but because...

I've seen her somewhere before, thought Tian Yuantu.

"Let me introduce you guys." Wang Yao introduced Guo Sirou to Tian Yuantu.