Elixir Supplier

“Hello, Ying, you look more and more pretty,” said the elderly man with a smile.

“I’m flattered,” said Chen Ying with great respect.

“Hello, doctor, my name is Guo Shengli.” The elderly man introduced himself.

“Hello, my name is Wang Yao,” said Wang Yao with a smile. He was neither humble nor pert.

“Why didn’t you want to see an old man like me?” asked Guo Shengli with a smile. He was nice enough, like an elderly neighbor. Given his social status, Wang Yao didn’t detect any arrogance.

“Are you afraid of trouble?” Guo Shengli answered his own question for Wang Yao as Wang Yao was hesitating.

“Yes,” said Wang Yao.

“Well, I could be trouble sometimes,” said Guo Shengli with a sigh.

“Grandpa, will you allow Dr. Wang to take a look at you?” asked Guo Sirou softly.

“No rush, we can have a chat first,” said Guo Shengli. “Dr. Wang, I have to thank you for extending my life for another few months.”

“You are welcome. You paid for the herbs anyway,” said Wang Yao.

“Money? Well, some people would be willing to give all they had to stay a few more days in this world but failed. When you are dying, what will be the use of money? What will be the use of power!” said Guo Shengli with a sigh.

He continued, “I will always remember that you saved my life. And our family will also remember.” People who knew Guo Shengli well would be in shock to hear what he just said.

“Okay, let me take a look at you,” said Wang Yao.

“Okay,” said Guo Shengli.

Wang Yao checked Guo Shengli’s pulse. He felt that Guo Shengli’s health status could be described as one foot in the grave. Guo Shengli was like the candle in the wind, which could be extinguished at any time.

His health status was not caused by diseases but natural aging. His body was getting weaker and weaker. The alternation of life and death was the most basic, natural rule in this world. Even he had taken Regather soup, or even the Prolongation pill, it still wouldn’t have a consistent effect on him.

Every human being would die eventually!

“Please take good care of yourself.” Wang Yao moved his hand away.

“Haha, okay,” said Guo Shengli with a big laugh.

It wouldn’t be true if Guo Shengli was not afraid of death at his age. But after having the critical life death experience last time, he was no longer anxious about death. If it wasn’t for his children who he always worried about, he would have already given up.

“Dr. Wang, can you prescribe another dose of herbal formula for my grandpa?” asked Guo Sirou.

“Of course, but the formula will be less and less effective,” said Wang Yao.

“I know. I understand and will accept what is going to happen. Thank you very much,” said Guo Sirou.

“Okay, I will make it for you another day,” said Wang Yao.

“I will ask Uncle He to get all the required herbs ready this afternoon,” said Guo Sirou.

Guo Shengli sat in the garden having a chat with Wang Yao. He talked slowly, and after a while, Wang Yao heard his breath become shallow. Wang Yao went next to the old man and was going to settle his breath by massaging his back. But the two men in their 30’s, who had been standing next to Guo Shengli suddenly walked towards Wang Yao and tried to grab Wang Yao’s arm. Wang Yao had to step back to duck.

“Xiaowu!” shouted Guo Shengli with his eyes wildly open. “Dr. Wang, please excuse them, they just wanted to protect me,” said Guo Shengli to Wang Yao.

“I understand,” said Wang Yao with a smile.

“Please continue with what you were going to do,” said Guo Shengli.

Wang Yao patted on Guo Shengli’s back with his palm, then pressed down following the meridians next to the spine. He focused on several important acupuncture points.

“Good, I feel much better now. I didn’t expect you to know Chinese massages so well,” said Guo Shengli. After being massaged by Wang Yao, he felt much better, and his breath was smoother and less heavy.

“I just know a little bit,” said Wang Yao.

Guo Shengli left the garden with the company of two young men after a short while. After all, he was over 80 years old and felt tired easily.

“I was going to ask you to visit my home, but I didn’t expect my grandpa would come here in person,” said Guo Sirou.

“Your grandpa is still quite weak. But it is good to keep mobile, just make sure he doesn’t over exercise and has enough rest,” said Wang Yao.

“Okay, I have to go, too. See you next time,” said Guo Sirou.

“See you,” said Wang Yao.

The cottage became quiet again.

“I didn’t expect you know the senior officer from the army!” said Chen Ying softly.

“I don’t know him,” said Wang Yao. And I don’t want to know him, either. Of course, Wang Yao didn’t say that out loud. These were just his thoughts.

Although Guo Shengli looked nice enough, he was high in social status.

“I need to go out.” Wang Yao poured the Regather soup into a porcelain bottle and walked out.

“Let me take you there.” Chen Ying followed him.

It was only a few miles walk, so there was no need to drive.

Su Xiaoxue was lying quietly on a bed surrounded by gauze inside her room. Her whole body was covered in bandages. No one knew when she woke up and opened her eyes.

I’m not dead. Am I going to live? thought Su Xiaoxue.

She felt hot throughout her body like she was lying in fire. She had gotten used to such pain day and night. She couldn’t move, like a zombie, but she still had feelings.

This life is no better than dying.

Squeak! The door opened.

Is there someone here?

Her head couldn’t move, but she could hear noises.

The horrible disease almost destroyed all that she had ever had, but she could still see and hear things.

Two people walked in: Wang Yao and her mother.

“I brewed a decoction for her. Let her take a small amount to begin with and see how she goes,” said Wang Yao.

“Okay,” said Su Xiaoxue’s mother.

She fed her daughter the decoction one spoon after another gently.

“Xiaoxue, time to take some medicine. You will get better soon,” said Su Xiaoxue’s mother softly in front of Wang Yao.

Maybe she didn’t believe what she had said herself, but she wanted to comfort her daughter. After all, there would be hope as long as Su Xiaoxue was still alive

After watching Su Xiaoxue take the decoction, Wang Yao sat next to her bed quietly and looked at the girl who had opened her eyes.

She must have been a very pretty girl before getting ill! Wang Yao didn’t know why he had such a thought.

“If the decoction works, feed her the rest of the decoction within a day,” said Wang Yao. He checked Su Xiaoxue’s pulse after a short while. The decoction worked again. Although it didn’t take effect as fast as the Prolongation pill, it restored her immune system.

The effect of the decoction started to spread inside Su Xiaoxue’s body immediately after she had taken the decoction. However, her internal organs were severely damaged, and the Qi and blood were both blocked; it was not easy for her to absorb the decoction.

“I’m leaving now, take care,” said Wang Yao.

“Thank you; bye for now.” Su Xiaoxue’s mother walked Wang Yao out of the house.

Soon after Wang Yao had left, Dr. Chen walked into the house.

“Hello, Dr. Chen,” said Su Xiaoxue’s mother.

“Hello, I just came to see Xiaoxue,” said Dr. Chen.

“Please come in, Dr. Wang just left. He gave Xiaoxue a dose of decoction, and I fed her part of it,” said Su Xiaoxue’s mother.

“Really?” said Dr. Chen.

They walked into Su Xiaoxue’s room. The room was dark but with good airflow. Dr. Chen sat down on the side of the bed and checked Su Xiaoxue’s pulse.

“Wow?!” exclaimed Dr. Chen.

“What’s wrong, Dr. Chen?” asked Su Xiaoxue’s mother immediately.

“Don’t worry, it’s a good thing. According to Xiaoxue’s pulse, she’s better than yesterday,” said Dr. Chen. “Can I have a look at the decoction brought by Dr. Wang?”

“Of course.” Su Xiaoxue’s mother went to get the unfinished decoction.

Dr. Chen poured a little bit of decoction out in a small cup and tasted it.

“It contains ginseng, glossy ganoderma, sealwort…” said Dr. Chen. If Wang Yao was here, he would be in shock, because he had added those herbs into the Regather soup. Of course, Dr. Chen wouldn’t be able to taste Shanjing and Guiyuan, which were the most two important herbs of Regather soup.

“The decoction wouldn’t have such wonderful effects with only these herbs. He must have added something else into it,” said Dr. Chen softly.

“What did you say, Dr. Chen?” asked Su Xiaoxue’s mother.

“Nothing, the decoction is wonderful; you can continue to feed it to Xiaoxue. It is good for her,” said Dr. Chen.

“Okay, I will feed her some more again after a while,” said Su Xiaoxue’s mother.

Dr. Chen didn’t stay long. After he had left Su Xiaoxue’s home, he made a phone call after thinking for a while. He called an old friend to make time to catch up.

…

Inside a courtyard, two men in their 70’s were lying down in wicker chairs. They were chatting and drinking tea.

“Is it really that wonderful?!” asked one of the men.

“Of course. I witnessed it with my own eyes. He saved her life just with one pill,” said Dr. Chen. “In addition, he just brought Xiaoxue another dose of the decoction which is also wonderful. I guess the elder from Guo’s family also received his help to survive.”

“So where is he from? Where has he inherited the skills from?” asked an elderly man who sat opposite Dr. Chen. He was a bit plump with small eyes and a wide forehead. His face looked shiny and warm. Although he was in his 70’s and his hair started to turn grey, he looked quite young for his age.

“He is such a good doctor at such a young age. I haven’t heard of any experienced doctors having such a good student,” said Dr. Chen.

“Let’s presume he had a teacher. As a student, he’s already an extraordinary doctor. His teacher must be even more extraordinary. Who could that be? The one from Miao region?

“Not possible. I heard the person in Miao region is quite ill himself. How could he let such a good student go to Beijing?” said Dr. Chen.

“Then who could be his teacher?” said the plump elderly man. “Ask him when you have a chance.”

“Okay. I actually quite like that young doctor,” said Dr. Chen.

…

Keep her alive, restore her corporeity, nurture her internal organs, unblock her meridians, prolong her life.

Wang Yao had been thinking about how to treat Su Xiaoxue since he came back from her house. He hadn’t even had lunch.

“Mr. Wang, do you want to eat something?” Wang Yao heard Chen Ying ask outside the room.

“Okay,” replied Wang Yao.

Wang Yao put away his notebook then walked out of the room. Chen Ying had cooked lunch already by the time Wang Yao entered the dining room. The dishes were delicate and delicious.

A girl who was not only pretty but also knew Kung Fu and how to cook delicious dishes, and was able to keep the house in order, would definitely become a good wife.

“I need to go out later, could you come with me?” asked Wang Yao.

“Sure,” said Chen Ying.

Wang Yao planned to visit his aunt and her family after lunch. It would be courteous for him to visit his family members while in Beijing.