He wrote down all the information because it was valuable accumulating experiences that could be passed to the next generation. Treatments and prescriptions chosen for some special diseases also needed the reference provided by a past similar medical case.

Wang Yao went to People’s Hospital in Lianshan in the morning to treat Li Maoshuang’s uncle.

“Doctor Wang, how about my father?” Li Maoshuang’s elder cousin asked Wang Yao in the corridor rather than in the ward to avoid unpleasantness.

“Your father’s condition is steady,” Wang Yao said. “It’s becoming better.”

“Ah, good. Thank you,” the cousin replied. “Would you like to stay for lunch?”

Wang Yao politely decline the invitation and shook the man’s hand.

“What about the treatment cost?” He had asked about it more than once.

“We’ll take about it later,” Wang Yao answered.

His willingness to treat him came from both Li Maoshuang’s request and the sudden mission issued by the system. It would cost more than $1 million based on the previous charge standards since all the medicine herbs required were high-priced licorice roots. The treatment itself was kind of experimental, which was why Wang Yao hesitated whether to charge so much since he was using his patient’s life and body as experiment subjects.

It would be better to think about such things to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding. He could fix prices for the prescription as long as it was not designated by the system. For now, it was best to put it off without any solution.

Their conversation was heard by others.

“Your father doesn’t look too bad,” said a family member of the next patient to the elder cousin in the ward.

“Yes, he is much better,” Li Maoshuang’s elder cousin replied.

“Hey, buddy, what about having a smoke outside with me?” the other man asked.

The two went outside.

“May I ask whether that Doctor Wang can cure such disease?” that man asked while lighting a smoke.

Li Maoshuang’s elder cousin was shocked. Nothing could be kept secret forever in this world. Plus, they were in the same ward. It was impossible for Wang Yao to avoid them since he had come several times.

“He can cure some diseases”, he answered after thinking.

“Can I ask him to treat my father?” the man asked.

Li Maoshuang’s elder cousin was embarrassed. He was told by his younger cousin that it had been difficult to ask Doctor Wang to treat his father. Plus, the doctor could not ensure the disease could be completely cured. Nobody but a god could cure terminal diseases. But, he couldn’t say that.

“Sorry.” He shook his head.

“Could you please talk to him about us? We will pay for it no matter how much it will cost,” that man said in a hurry.

The chief doctor indicated to the man that there no treatment politely. His father had become worse day by day. The old man next to father had the same illness and doctor but was able to talk and get up to eat. His father barely had strength to breath and talk. The only difference was that a young man had visited the other old man every two days, feeling his pulse and bringing some special things like medical soup.

“I have no intention to embarrass you. What if I ask him about it next time?” the man asked.

Li Maoshuang’s elder cousin nodded.

…

In an apartment in Lianshan.

A child yelled out miserably pressing his stomach with bean-sized beads as sweat ran down his face, “Mom, I have a stomachache.”

“Xiao Dou, what’s happened?” His mother was frantic. “I’m taking you to hospital.”

The child rushed into the toilet. After a little while, a scream came out from the bathroom.

“What’s going on, Xiao Dou?” The woman heard the yelling and rushed into the bathroom. She saw her son, who was pulling his trousers up, looking at the commode. His pale face looked scared.

The woman looked in the toilet and saw 10 parasites the size of small earthworms wriggling in the feces.

“My god!” She hurried to close the toilet lid and flushed them down. “No worries. Those are the parasites from your stomach. You will be better once they are out.”

She took her son in her arms, comforting him in a low voice. The child gradually calmed down.

“Mom, that medicine worked, didn’t it?” he asked.

“It must have,” she said.

It seemed the medicine that young doctor had prescribed was useful.

“If I am to take it several times again, I won’t have a stomachache or vomit?” he asked.

“Yes, you will be better,” she said.

…

Tian Yuantu paid a visit to Wang Yao’s clinic that afternoon.

“It’s been long time since you came here,” Wang Yao said. “Would you like to have a drink?”

He offered Tian Yuantu Qimen black tea, which gave off a rich fragrance.

“I came to tell you that the charity fund of our organization is ready,” he said. “We have to choose a lucky day for the opening ceremony.”

“Yes, we do indeed,” Wang Yao said.

“What about finding a fortune teller?” Tian Yuantu asked.

“Good, find one and let us know. We will do it together,” Wang Yao said. “By the way, what about your company?”

“It’s been listed,” Tian Yuantu said.

“Can be traded?” Wang Yao asked.

“No, we have to wait for a while,” Tian Yuantu replied.

“I’ve seen some construction and workers in the village. Their cars come from the island,” Wang Yao said. “Oh, Sun Zhengrong bought two properties here for bringing his son to see me.”

“Are there any empty houses in the village?” Tian Yuantu asked.

“There are two.” Wang Yao replied. He had asked his father to inquire about available homes. There were two houses made of stones that had sat empty for more than 10 years.

“Good, I plan to buy one,” Tian Yuantu said.

“What for?” Wang Yao asked.

“For the good-quality air in the mountains,” Tian Yuantu replied with a smile.

Wang Yao laughed. City folks all admired the good-quality air in the mountains. They would feel refreshed when living in the village for the first day or two. Within a week, they would be tired of it. There were no bars, supermarkets or restaurants. Life here was simple and plain without any bustling or colorful lifestyles like in the city.

It did not cost much to buy a house in the village. It was even less than $100,000 to afford four houses with slated roofs in a village far away from the city and not near any classic resorts.

Most of the young people had left the village for city life. Only middle-aged people and the old were left in the village.

Tian Yuantu cordially took his leave. On the way out of the village, he stopped to look at the two houses being built. They had to be the work of a professional designer. The two houses were connected and had eight spacious rooms with a slanted roof. The courtyard was so big that it could be changed into a basketball court.

Not bad. He walked around and nodded. He knew Sun Zhengrong wanted a house here because of his son’s disease and treatment. As for him, however, it was not necessary.

Wang Yao closed his clinic and returned home around 5 p.m. There was one more person at home.

Du Mingyang was in the kitchen helping Wang Yao’s mother cook.

“Hi, you came back,” Du Mingyang said with a smile.

“Hello!” Wang Yao smiled and shook hands with him.

“Xiao Du, you can chat with your uncle in the room. No need to help here,” Wang Yao’s mother said.

“What’s going on?” Wang Yao asked.

“I don’t know. He came just a bit earlier this afternoon and brought many gifts,” his mother said.

“Doe my sister know this?” Wang Yao asked.

“Probably not,” his mother said.

“I have to tell her about this,” he said.

“You don’t have to. I think he is a good boy, but I need more proof,” his mother said.

“Proof? Are you serious? If my sister disagree, what proof do you need?” Wang Yao asked.

The iron door suddenly opened like it was kicked open. A woman rushed in from outside.

“Sister, why did you come back today? It is not your holiday,” Wang Yao said.

“Stop jabbering. Where is Du Mingyang?” she asked.

Wang Yao nodded toward the other room.

Wang Ru rushed into the living room like a gust of wind. Du Mingyang was politely pouring some water for her father.