Chapter 25.1

Wei Zongnan felt a strong attraction to Guan Yue and wanted to invite her to settle in Hong Kong, believing that such a talent shouldn’t be confined to such an environment; she deserved a broader horizon.

Xu Hua’an disagreed: “Hong Kong is nice, but our hometown is also good. Don’t forget, no matter how talented a doctor is, without good traditional Chinese medicine, it’s all talk.”

Xu Huaping agreed: “Yes, Guan Yue provided the prescription for the Qing Fei Pill and the Yang Xin Pill for heart health. Recently, the new medicine hasn’t been delivered, and Hua’an prepared the medicine according to the prescription. The efficacy is significantly different from what Guan Yue prepared. It must be a problem with the medicinal materials.”

Mu Liyan showed interest: “I wonder if I could take a look at this prescription?”

Xu Hua’an firmly refused: “The prescription belongs to my disciple. If you want to see it, ask her directly.”

“Huaping!”

Xu Huaping softly scolded Xu Hua’an and then smiled at Mu Liyan: “Sorry, Doctor Mu, Hua’an is just overprotective of his disciple.”

“I understand, I understand. I was too forward,” Mu Liyan replied.

Wei Zongnan asked for the medicine in Xu Huaping’s hand: “Do you know Officer Zhang? He’s been having heart problems for years and always sees doctors. If your medicine could help him too, it would be a big deal.”

Jiang Zhi held her husband’s hand, smiling, and declined: “Old Wei, we’ve been friends for many years. Let me be honest with you—Huaping can’t do without the medicine now. We also don’t have much stock left. You know, the cross-straits controls are strict now; it’s really hard to get anything across.”

Xu Huaping said, “Jiang Zhi speaks directly; don’t be upset, Old Wei. You know my condition—full of wounds, can’t take any strain. Jiang Zhi is just worried about my health.”

Wei Zongnan understood: “I just thought this could be a chance to make a good connection with Officer Zhang. I didn’t mean to force you to give up the medicine.”

“We understand your intention. We’ve been friends for many years, so it’s good to speak openly,” Jiang Zhi replied.

After this exchange, Xu Huaping suggested a solution: “In principle, people of Officer Zhang’s status don’t lack top doctors. But if he’s truly interested in the medicine, have him write a medical report and send it back to let Guan Yue take a look. Perhaps she has a solution.”

“Exactly, no matter how good the medicine, if it’s not the right prescription, it’s useless,” Jiang Zhi said, looking at Xu Hua’an.

Xu Hua’an felt his sister-in-law’s gaze and reluctantly agreed: “I can help send a letter back to ask—whether it succeeds depends on what Guan Yue says.”

Wei Zongnan laughed heartily: “That’s fine.”

At this moment, they still didn’t know that Wei Zongnan planned to use the Yang Xin Pill for heart health to connect with Officer Zhang, and Officer Zhang was also investigating them.

Officer Zhang’s real name was Zhang Mingrui. Weak from childhood, he fell seriously ill at thirty and went to the hospital for a checkup. The Western doctors diagnosed him with heart disease. From then on, he sought treatment everywhere, and doctors told him he needed either a heart transplant or careful management with medication.

Wealthy people are not fearless when it comes to death—like Xu Huaping, they dared not undergo a heart transplant. Zhang Mingrui, a wealthy magnate, was even more hesitant.

Compared to an ordinary family, the Xu family is wealthy, but their assets do not compare to someone like Wei Zongnan, let alone Zhang Mingrui—clearly not in the same social circle.

Zhang Mingrui learned about Xu Huaping from a doctor who specialized in heart-related diseases. Xu Huaping had once been his patient, and the doctor had recommended her for her expertise. Originally, Xu Huaping had to visit his hospital several times a month. However, ever since she started taking the medicine provided by Guan Yue, she hadn’t needed to go back. At first, Zhang Mingrui thought something had happened to her, but a few days ago, he ran into her on the street and saw that she appeared perfectly normal.

When the doctor who made the house call mentioned this to Zhang Mingrui as casual conversation, it caught his attention.

Zhang Mingrui took the matter seriously after hearing this and sent someone to investigate. He personally contacted the Xu family to arrange a visit.

Zhang Mingrui, a person of his status, visiting their home?

Xu Huaping couldn’t understand it.

Zhang Mingrui had no connection with their family, the only person with even a tenuous connection being Wei Zongnan, who had visited their home a few days earlier.

Wei Zongnan was startled when he received the call from the Xu family, informing him that Officer Zhang was planning to visit. He jumped out of his chair: “I haven’t made a connection with Officer Zhang yet—it can’t be me!”

“If it’s not you, then who is it? Out of the blue, no business dealings—why would a wealthy magnate visit our home?”

Xu Hua’an wasn’t worried, casually commenting, “Wasn’t it said he’s coming tomorrow? We’ll know when he arrives.”

The family business was managed by Jiang Zhi and Xu Huaping—they had too many considerations to leave this to chance. They didn’t want to handle the situation so casually.

Xu Huaping asked Wei Zongnan if he would like to come to their house as a guest tomorrow.

Wei Zongnan thanked him for his kindness: “I’ll come tomorrow, but I’ll wait until after Officer Zhang leaves. It’s not appropriate for me to just show up without an invitation.”

“Okay, I’ll call you when he’s gone.”

After hanging up the phone, Xu Huaping and Jiang Zhi exchanged a look. For someone who lacked nothing, Zhang Mingrui’s visit couldn’t be just a simple courtesy call—there had to be other reasons.

What could those reasons be?

After thinking it over, it seemed the only thing their family had that Zhang Mingrui might be interested in was the Yang Xin Pill for heart health.

Xu Huaping hesitated: “Jiang Zhi, what if…”

“There is no what if!”

Jiang Zhi understood what he meant; she held his hand: “There is no what if; your medicine—no matter who asks for it—cannot be given. No amount of money or wealth can compare to your life.”

Xu Huaping smiled: “Don’t be so tense. The medicine Guan Yue sent is enough for me to take for half a year. I’m only one month in now, so I still have five months’ worth left. If Officer Zhang really wants it, we can give him a month’s worth. We can always send someone back for more if needed.”

Xu Huaping didn’t say it out loud, but the unspoken message was that if someone was truly determined to get the medicine, they couldn’t stop them—there was no point in making enemies over it.

Xu Hua’an scoffed: “Alright, go to sleep. What’s the point of getting so worked up?”

Jiang Zhi watched Xu Hua’an turn and head upstairs, then smiled at her husband: “Hua’an may be getting older, but he’s still the same old way—when will he ever mature, settle down, get married, have children?”

“No worries, if he doesn’t want to get married, he doesn’t have to. We’ve already talked to the oldest and second son—if Hua’an ever needs support in his old age, they’ll take care of him.”

Jiang Zhi and Xu Huaping have two sons who are currently studying abroad and not in Hong Kong.

“Hmm, if those two ever mistreat Hua’an, I won’t let them off the hook.”

Zhang Mingrui arrived early the next morning, and all three of the Xu family were at the door to welcome him.

Xu Huaping stepped forward: “This must be Officer Zhang. We’ve heard so much about you. Please, come in.”

Zhang Mingrui, today without airs, replied warmly: “Sorry for the intrusion.”

The two parties sat down, and Zhang Mingrui casually looked at Xu Huaping’s face, smiling, “Xu Sir seems very healthy, unlike me—I need to bring a doctor whenever I leave my house.”

Hearing this, Xu Huaping knew where he was coming from, and without hesitation, she laid it all out: “Mainly because I met a good doctor.”

Zhang Mingrui smiled meaningfully: “Finding a good doctor is rare!”

With honest exchanges, the communication flowed smoothly between them.

Zhang Mingrui asked to see the prescription, but Xu Hua’an refused. Zhang Mingrui didn’t press.

Zhang Mingrui stayed at the Xu family’s home for half an hour and left with a bottle of Yang Xin Pill for heart health.

After seeing Zhang Mingrui off, Wei Zongnan visited in the afternoon. Upon hearing Jiang Zhi’s recount of the morning’s conversation, Wei Zongnan felt they should bring Guan Yue over as soon as possible—this matter needed to be addressed quickly.

Zhang Sir took a month’s worth of the medicine, and to get another shipment would take nearly a month—one round trip would be required.

Wei Zongnan said, “If this matter is resolved, for your Xu family, it’s like a ladder to the heavens.”

Xu Huaping and Jiang Zhi exchanged a look, then glanced at their brother: “Still, it’s Guan Yue’s decision—whether she comes or not, it depends on her.”

Xu Hua’an hoped that Guan Yue would come to Hong Kong for a visit; if she liked it here and wanted to stay, it would be good. Life was plentiful in Hong Kong, with plenty of good food—she could change restaurants every day, and they could easily afford it.

If she didn’t like it here and preferred to return, it would be no problem. Xu Hua’an knew that his disciple had a special connection to the mountains and forests.

Wei Zongnan, upon hearing Xu Hua’an’s words, commented, “Likes living in the forest, does she? No big deal—Hong Kong has forests too, just smaller.”

No matter how much Wei Zongnan tried to persuade him, Xu Hua’an repeated, “Let her decide for herself.”

The next day, a letter and a box of gifts were sent from Hong Kong to the other side of the strait.

Guan Yue hadn’t received any letter from her Teacher yet, but Gu Sui had.

He had received a letter from his parents after the New Year—this was the second letter he had received this year, the first one coming after a few months.

Grabbing the letter, Gu Sui didn’t have time to read it, rushing straight to Daqing Mountain.

It was almost noon; if he didn’t leave soon, Guan Yue would surely be waiting on that cliff for him.

As Gu Sui left, a male Educated Youth teased, “Gu Sui is treating her like his daughter, so concerned about her daily meals and traveling such a long way—doesn’t he ever get tired?”

“What’s he complaining about? We work in the fields all day, that’s tiring.”

“Oh, complaining is one thing, but why drag Gu Sui into it? The cooling pills he brought from Guan Yue, did you ever use them?”

The person was embarrassed and snide in return: “Are you speaking up for Gu Sui? Do you have a crush on him? Too bad, he already has someone in his heart—you’re not his type!”

“Hey…”

The tension between the two was rising, and others saw the situation wasn’t good. They quickly stepped in to mediate. It was bad enough to have arguments at home—they didn’t want it getting out of hand.

They quickly pulled the two apart, leading them away to the kitchen to help prepare lunch, hoping that after they ate, the tempers would cool down.