Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Dr Wang, you are such an extraordinary doctor. Even senior government officers in Beijing come all the way here to see you,” Sang Jimin said.

“I just happen to know them,” Wang Yao said.

He drove Sang Jimin and Sang Guzi to the village in the neighborhood at lunch time.

“Hello, Dr Wang, please come in.” The owner of the restaurant was very glad to see him. He hadn’t had many customers lately.

“Business is still not good?” Wang Yao asked.

“Not good. There are about two to three groups of customers coming here every day. I don’t expect the business will pick up any time soon,” the owner said.

“Don’t worry too much. It will get better.” Wang Yao tried to comfort the owner.

“I hope so,” the owner said.

“Same dishes as usual,” Wang Yao said.

“OK. I’ll make you a pot of tea. Try our spring tea leaves.” The owner was very nice to Wang Yao, who was an old friend and customer. Wang Yao had also helped him before.

There were not many people in the restaurant. so the dishes were soon served.

“Come on, let’s eat,” Wang Yao said.

“OK,” Sang Jimin said.

Wang Yao had ordered river fish and wild fungi. The food was very fresh.

“Hmm, delicious,” Sang Jimin said.

“I’m glad you like the food here. You can always come back,” Wang Yao said. “Dr. Sang, allow me to propose a toast to you.”

“Haha, thank you,” Sang Guzi said with a smile. He was very impressed by Wang Yao, who was a young and extraordinary doctor. Wang Yao was even a better doctor than him. Plus, his attitude was good. Unlike most capable young men, he was not arrogant at all.

Sang Guzi didn’t come across a lot of capable people with a good temper. “By the way, I have to apologize to you.”

“Why?” Wang Yao asked with surprise.

“Do you remember the patient in Dali I asked you to see?” Sang Guzi asked.

“Yes,” Wang Yao said. He remembered Han Xing’s youngest brother well. He had suffered from heat poison. His condition was similar to Su Xiaoxue’s. Wang Yao had made three decoctions and left them for him. Han Xing said he would be in contact, but Wang Yao never heard from him ever again.

“How is that patient?” Wang Yao asked.

“He should be fine. Otherwise, they would have contacted me already.” Sang Guzi sounded a bit upset.

“Is there anything else?” Wang Yao asked.

“Yes,” Sang Guzi said. “They went to see the King Pharmacist of Miao area.

“Really?” Wang Yao asked.

He had heard about the King Pharmacist. Whoever was called King proved to be an expert in his area. The King Pharmacist had been well-known in Yunnan for years.

“I’ve seen the King Pharmacist before and know a bit of his rules. He is truly an extraordinary doctor but ill-tempered. He won’t see anyone when he is not in a good mood. Even the president of China went to see him,” Sang Guzi said.

“Well, I heard of that, too,” Wang Yao said. The Han brothers told him about the King Pharmacist while he was in Dali.

“He lives in a village in Southern Yunnan. A lot of people go to that village to see him. Since he is a weird man, some people have to wait for more than a month to see him,” Sang Guzi said.

“A month! The treatment would be delayed,” Wang Yao said with surprise.

“Yes, but everyone is happy to wait. They don’t have a choice. All his patients have conditions that are difficult to treat. They go to see him because they can’t be cured in a hospital. They must have been to a number of hospitals before going to see him. And, he has a unique rule,” San Guzi said as he took a sip of the tea.

Wang Yao was quietly listening to Sang Guzi.

“If a person can offer him a special or unique herb meeting his criteria, he will do that person a favor,” Sang Guzi said.

“That is a weird rule,” Wang Yao said.

“Very weird,” Sang Guzi said. “Normally, people have to wait in a cue to see him. His assistant will give each patient a wooden number card. The King Pharmacist rarely leaves his village. However, if someone offers him a herb or decoction satisfying him, the person can see him right away. And, he will be happy to visit the person.”

Wang Yao sort of guessed what was going to be said next.

“The King Pharmacist gained his fame many years ago. He is truly a fantastic doctor. He has seen all sorts of herbs and formulas over the years, so not many herbs could raise his attention,” San Guzi said. “As far as I know, he was only impressed once by a formula in the last five years. This time, he went to the Han brother’s house to treat their youngest brother. I saw him in Dali. I think the Han brothers probably gave your decoctions to the King Pharmacist.”

Sang Guzi had witnessed and experienced the amazing effect of Wang Yao’s decoctions. Zhou Wuyi and Zhou Wukang were both cured by Wang Yao’s decoctions. Zhou Wuyi almost died, and Zhou Wukang had experienced a weird condition for years. To Sang Guzi, both of them were beyond cure. However, Wang Yao saved them with his magical decoctions.

“I see,” Wang Yao said.

His decoctions would surely impress the King Pharmacist. The three decoctions Wang Yao left for the Han brothers contained licorice roots, which were rare in the world. The pot and water he used to brew the decoctions were also unusual. It was no wonder the King Pharmacist was impressed by the decoctions.

“I didn’t expect they would do that. It was my fault,” Sang Guzi said.

“It’s nothing. Please stop blaming yourself,” Wang Yao said. He respected Sang Guzi very much since was a decent person, as well as a good doctor. “You said you didn’t expect them to do that.”

“I was just worried about their youngest brother. Their father used to help me a lot and saved my life once. He asked me to look after his sons before he died. I really didn’t see this happening,” Sang Guzi said with a sigh.

One might know a person’s face but not one’s mind.

“Never mind. Let’s stop talking about this. Cheers,” Wang Yao said.

“Right, cheers,” Sang Jimin said.

“What brings you to Qi Province by the way?” Wang Yao asked.

“I came here for some personal matters,” Sang Guzi said.

“Let me know if there is anything I can assist with,” Wang Yao said.

“Sure,” Sang Guzi said.

He came to Qi Province to meet an old friend. He would stay in the province for several days. Both him and his friend were in their 70s, so they might not have many chances left to meet.

…

Meanwhile, Pan Jun was seeing a patient in Pan Mei’s clinic.

“Well done, Dr. Pan, who did you learn massage from?” the elderly patient asked.

“A master,” Pan Jun said with a smile.

He had been practicing massage techniques in his sister’s clinic lately. The effect was quite impressive. Soon, people started to ask to see him in the clinic.

“I know you learned it from a master. Which master?” the elderly patient asked.

“Dr Wang. He used to come here,” Pan Jun said.

“That young man? I think he’s younger than you,” the patient said. He was a regular visitor to the clinic. He visited the clinic for any minor issues like a cold or headache. He vaguely remembered Wang Yao, a good-looking young doctor who was good at treating headaches.

“He is younger than me but a much better doctor,” Pan Jun said.

“You are right. Age is not an issue. We should only care about his skills,” the patient said.

“Indeed,” Pan Jun said.

“I feel much better after the massage. Thank you,” the patient said.

“You are welcome,” Pan Jun said.

The patient paid and left the clinic in a good mood.

“Have you seen your teacher lately?” Pan Mei asked.

“Yes, several days ago. I’ll visit him tomorrow,” Pan Jun said.

“By the way, I heard the traditional Chinese medicine hospital in the city hired a Chinese medical practitioner who goes there once a week. The fee he charges is quite high,” Pan Mei said.

Pan Jun didn’t comment. He just smiled.

…

Sang Guzi and his son stayed in Wang Yao’s clinic for a while after lunch.

“Dad, is Dr. Wang better than that old guy Wu San?” Sang Jimin asked in private.

“Stop calling him Wu San,” Sang Guzi seriously said. “He is much older than you after all. You shouldn’t be rude.”

“Why? He is such an ill-tempered person who doesn’t deserve my respect,” Sang Jimin said.

“You can’t be rude just because of his temper. You are right, he is ill-tempered, but he is not a bad person.” Although Sang Guzi didn’t see eye to eye with the King Pharmacist, he was a person of integrity.