Chapter 27.3

Twenty days later, Cai Guofu arrived at Guan Yue’s place, carrying two large chests. By then, a large gate with guards had been installed at the entrance to the valley outside Qingxi Village.

Cai Guofu mentioned he was there to visit Guan Yue, but the guards informed him he needed to register before entering. 

“Wait a moment. We’ll have someone call Xiao Ma over to guide you up the mountain,” one of the guards said.

After Cai Guofu and Cai Zhiming completed their registration, Cai Zhiming quickly responded, “No need to trouble anyone. We know the way.”

“Even if you know the way, you still need an escort,” the guard replied firmly.

The father and son fell silent. 

They waited by the gate for a few minutes before a young soldier in uniform, sporting a dimpled smile, ran over. He introduced himself as Xiao Ma.

Xiao Ma greeted them cheerfully, “You’re here to see Dr. Guan, right?”

“Yes,” Cai Guofu confirmed. “I’m Guan Yue’s uncle, and I’ve brought her some things.”

“Oh, you’re Dr. Guan’s uncle? Please, come in.”

Finally, the gate was opened, and the two men followed Xiao Ma into Qingxi Village. The scene inside the valley was completely transformed. 

On the right side of the valley, at the foot of Daqing Mountain, the area remained as it was. But on the left side, near the base of Xiaoqing Mountain, two rows of spacious houses had been built. The doors were shut, concealing the interiors, but the exteriors were freshly painted white, giving the buildings a brand-new look.

Even the path leading through the village had changed. What was once a dirt road was now a cement one.

On Xiaoqing Mountain, scattered cabins dotted the forested slopes, blending beautifully with the natural landscape. Though some houses were still under construction, workers could be seen moving about, their conversations faintly echoing in the distance.

As they walked, Cai Guofu struck up a conversation with Xiao Ma. “It’s been less than a month, hasn’t it? You’ve been working pretty fast.”

Xiao Ma chuckled. “Not fast enough! Minister Li insists on high standards and strict requirements. Otherwise, we’d have finished much earlier.”

“These houses are wide enough. They could probably accommodate one or two hundred people, right?”

“More than that! Once everything is completed, Minister Li said there’d be room for at least three hundred beds,” Xiao Ma replied proudly.

“Goodness, can Guan Yue handle all this on her own?” Cai Guofu asked, incredulous.

Xiao Ma grinned sheepishly. “Of course not! Dr. Guan has other doctors helping her out.”

Knowing that Cai Guofu was Guan Yue’s uncle, Xiao Ma was particularly warm and forthcoming, sharing everything he could with him.

The three of them walked to the wooden cabin, finding the yard empty except for the sound of machinery coming from the left-hand cabin.

Xiao Ma, nearly bursting with excitement, said, “You’re not in a rush, are you? If not, just wait a bit. Dr. Guan is probably making her miraculous medicinal powder. Best not to disturb her.”

Last week, the grinding machine Guan Yue had ordered had been delivered. In less than ten days, she had already produced two bags of the legendary powder, all of which had been sent to the front lines.

Both Cai Guofu and Cai Zhiming were perceptive and immediately assured Xiao Ma they weren’t in a hurry and would wait. Judging by Xiao Ma’s protective demeanor, they knew better than to interrupt Guan Yue; otherwise, they might be escorted off the mountain on the spot.

After this visit, Cai Guofu had a firsthand understanding of how much the higher-ups valued Guan Yue. Under such circumstances, it would not be easy for her to leave even if she wanted to.

Thinking of the letter from Xu Hua’an, Cai Guofu decided it would be best to speak frankly with Guan Yue’s teacher. If those wealthy patients wanted to consult her, they would have to find their way to her. Guan Yue leaving was out of the question.

The sound of the machine eventually stopped, but there was still no movement from the cabin. Cai Guofu and Cai Zhiming had no choice but to keep waiting. 

The sun had risen high in the sky by the time Guan Yue and Gu Sui finally emerged from the cabin. 

Guan Yue spotted Xiao Ma standing by the gate and waved him over. “You’re here! Perfect timing. I just finished preparing a bag of hemostatic powder. You can take it now.”

Xiao Ma, thrilled, thanked her profusely. “Oh, thank you, Dr. Guan! I’ll take it right away.”

Halfway down the path, Xiao Ma suddenly remembered something and stopped. “Dr. Guan, you have visitors. It’s your uncle!”

Guan Yue had already noticed Cai Guofu in the yard. “I know. You go ahead with your work.”

“Got it!” Xiao Ma replied cheerfully and hurried off.

As Xiao Ma left, Guan Yue’s eyes fell on the chest by Cai Guofu’s feet. “Did my teacher send me something?”

“It’s not just from your teacher. A patient sent something too,” Cai Guofu replied.

“A patient?” Guan Yue asked, her brow furrowing slightly. Could it be the man with the heart condition from last time?

She took out the letter and skimmed it quickly. After finishing, she set it down and opened the small chest. Inside, beneath a thick folder of medical documents, was an impeccably arranged box filled with gold bars.

Both Cai Guofu and Cai Zhiming sucked in a breath, astonished. Wealthy people really knew how to make a statement!

Guan Yue glanced at the pile of gold, then opened the document bag. Inside were medical records belonging to the aforementioned Mr. Zhang. They included both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medical files.

The Western medical records puzzled Guan Yue. He said, “Gu Sui, take a look.”

Gu Sui, being a practitioner of Western medicine, reviewed the diagnostic reports and the medical images. After a moment, he remarked, “I don’t fully understand this condition, but judging from the combination of the Western and TCM diagnoses, it seems to be a case of congenital deficiency—not a particularly severe one.”

Guan Yue, while reading the explanatory notes, responded, “Exactly. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have taken until adulthood for the condition to fully manifest.”

Leaning in, Gu Sui examined the TCM diagnosis written by Mu Liyan. “This was triggered by a severe illness that led to heart disease. Is it possible to cure this?” he asked.

“There’s a high chance,” Guan Yue replied. “But as I’ve said before, I need to see the patient in person to make a definitive diagnosis.”

Guan Yue had already recognized the sincerity of Zhang Mingrui. There was no issue in preparing a customized Yang Xin Pill, but it would take a week to make.

Cai Guofu nodded. “One week is already quite fast.”

Cai Zhiming added, “Then I’ll come by to pick up the medicine in a week.”

Guan Yue shook his head. “No need for you to come. I’ll have Xiao Ma deliver it to you.”

“Wouldn’t that be inappropriate?” Cai Zhiming hesitated.

Considering their connection to Hong Kong, any exposure could lead to trouble.

“Don’t worry, it’s not a problem,” Guan Yue reassured him. “My teacher’s background and connections have already been thoroughly investigated by them. They rely on me and know what lines they shouldn’t cross.”

Cai Zhiming’s face betrayed his fear. “What about us?”

Guan Yue offered an apologetic smile. “Since they’ve investigated my teacher, it’s likely they’ve also looked into your side.”

Cai Guofu remained calm and composed. “Don’t panic. Since we’re still standing here unharmed, it should be fine.”

Cai Guofu and Cai Zhiming stayed for lunch on the mountain before heading back. On their way out, they encountered some soldiers. The sight of them made Cai Zhiming’s heart tremble with unease.

At the mouth of the valley, Xiao Ma was waiting by the main gate. Seeing them approach, he grinned. “Heading out already?”

Cai Guofu replied with a faint smile, “We’ve delivered what we came for, so we’ll be leaving now.”

“Alright, take care! Come back again next time,” Xiao Ma said warmly.

“Sure. See you,” Cai Guofu responded as they left.

Cai Zhiming kept his head down, following his father. It wasn’t until they were out of the guard’s line of sight that he let out a sigh of relief.

Cai Guofu grunted, “Look at you, all nervous.”

Cai Zhiming was drenched in cold sweat. “Father, aren’t you afraid? They hold such a big leverage over us. If they want to harm us, they could take the lives of our entire family at any moment.”

“Don’t worry. With Guan Yue around, they won’t be able to take your life,” Cai Guofu replied confidently, trust evident in his voice when he spoke of Guan Yue.

The gold from Zhang Mingrui had been casually placed somewhere by Guan Yue. The clothes and jewelry sent by Jiang Zhi were what truly caught her interest.

It was already early winter. Guan Yue excitedly picked out a long white coat, putting it on over a pair of jeans and long boots. She looked stunning.

Guan Yue eagerly tried on all the outfits, changing into each one in turn.

During this, Gu Sui didn’t have to do anything except answer every time Guan Yue asked, “Do I look good?”

His answer was always a confident, “You look great!”

When Guan Yue smiled, her almond-shaped eyes seemed to sparkle with light. “Then I’ll wear these in rotation.”

“Mm, wear whatever you like,” Gu Sui agreed.

The fabric and workmanship of the clothes were clearly not from domestic production.

As Guan Yue had mentioned before, her connections had long been investigated by Li Dingbang and others, so there was nothing to hide.

In the evening, Guan Yue, wearing her favorite white coat, descended the mountain. When Li Dingbang saw her, he complimented her outfit.

“That fabric, it looks really expensive!”

Guan Yue smiled and replied, “My teacher gave it to me. I’m not sure how expensive it is.”

“Your teacher’s really thoughtful, looking out for your clothes and food even from so far away. Think about that cheap teacher you had in Qingchuan… tsk, that won’t do!” Li Dingbang remarked.

He was referring to Deng Weimin, and Guan Yue couldn’t help but laugh.

That day, Guan Yue had given them another bag of the miraculous medicinal powder. The sanatorium was also nearing completion. Li Dingbang was in a good mood as he said, “Once the house is done and aired out, after the New Year, the doctors and nurses should be moving in. After the holiday, the patients will start coming in gradually.”

Guan Yue made her stance clear: “I definitely won’t be staying at the hospital all the time. You need to be mentally prepared for that.”

“Don’t worry, I understand your rules. You’ll be busy with making medicine, so you won’t be wasting time on patients who aren’t seriously ill,” Li Dingbang reassured her.

Guan Yue nodded, then casually added, “I need to send some things to my teacher. When the time comes, have someone help me deliver them to my Uncle Cai’s house. You can check both the items and the letter; don’t worry, there’s no sensitive information.”

With Guan Yue being so open, Li Dingbang didn’t hesitate to agree. “I trust that you wouldn’t do anything harmful to national interests, but we still need to follow the proper procedures. Don’t take offense.”

Both Guan Yue and Li Dingbang knew exactly where her teacher was, and where the items and letters were to be sent.

After Guan Yue wrote the letter to her teacher, she prepared to make the medicine and called Xiao Ma up in advance.

Guan Yue said, “I’m making pills, and there won’t be any hidden messages or notes inside. You can watch me do it, so when the time comes, there’s no need to cut open the pills.”

Xiao Ma scratched his head and grinned, “Wait, Doctor Guan, I’ll get someone to help.”

A while later, a soldier came up with Xiao Ma.

Xiao Ma was a soldier under Li Dingbang’s command, responsible for logistics, and his personality was somewhat diplomatic. The soldier he brought seemed plain at first glance—so ordinary that he could be lost in a crowd. But after a second look, it became clear that this person was no simple individual.

Guan Yue’s instincts told her that this man was likely involved in intelligence work.

Guan Yue prepared the medicinal powder and other ingredients, placing them on a long table.

She sat down. “Watch closely. I’m about to start making the pills.”

Xiao Ma replied, “Doctor Guan, take your time. Just pretend we’re not here.”

Guan Yue began rolling the pills. She was now very proficient at it, and her hands moved so fast that they almost left afterimages.

Xiao Ma kept his eyes fixed on Guan Yue’s hands, his gaze following every movement, his eyes spinning in focus.

The other man, the one with the ordinary face, kept his gaze clear and steady, watching Guan Yue’s every move.

The medicines for Xu Huaping and Zhang Mingrui were both prepared in half-year quantities. Guan Yue quickly finished rolling the pills.

Gu Sui brought over three cups of water. “Take a break.”

Guan Yue stretched her hands. “Mm.”

Xiao Ma took the water from Gu Sui’s hands. “Thank you.”

Gu Sui nodded. “You’re welcome.”

Guan Yue made her stance clear: “I definitely won’t be staying at the hospital all the time. You need to be mentally prepared for that.”

“Don’t worry, I know your rules. You’ll still be busy making medicine, and for patients who aren’t seriously ill, it won’t take up much of your time,” Li Dingbang reassured her.

Guan Yue nodded and casually added, “I need to send some things to my teacher. When the time comes, have someone help me deliver them to my Uncle Cai’s house. You can check both the items and the letter. Don’t worry, there’s no sensitive information.”

With Guan Yue being so open, Li Dingbang wouldn’t refuse. “I trust you wouldn’t do anything against national interests, but we still need to follow the proper procedures. I hope you don’t mind.”

Both Guan Yue and Li Dingbang were well aware of where her teacher was, and where the items and letters were to be sent.

Guan Yue wrote the letter to her teacher and, when she was ready to start making the medicine, called Xiao Ma up in advance.

Guan Yue said, “I’m making pills, and there won’t be any hidden notes inside. You can watch me do it, so when the time comes, you won’t need to cut open the pills.”

Xiao Ma scratched his head and grinned. “Wait, Doctor Guan, I’ll get someone to help.”

A short while later, a soldier came up with Xiao Ma.

Xiao Ma was a soldier under Li Dingbang’s command, handling logistics, and had a somewhat diplomatic personality. The man Xiao Ma brought appeared plain at first glance—so ordinary that he could blend into any crowd. But after a second look, it became clear that the man was not someone ordinary.

Guan Yue’s intuition told her that this person was likely involved in intelligence work.

Guan Yue prepared the medicinal powder and other ingredients, placing them on a long table.

She sat down. “Watch closely. I’m about to start making the pills.”

Xiao Ma responded, “Take your time, Doctor Guan. Just pretend we’re not here.”

Guan Yue began rolling the pills. She had grown quite skilled at this, and her hands moved so swiftly that they seemed to leave afterimages.

Xiao Ma watched her hands intently, his eyes following every movement in fascination.

The other man, the one with the ordinary appearance, kept his gaze clear and steady, observing Guan Yue’s every action.

The medicines for Xu Huaping and Zhang Mingrui, both in six-month quantities, were quickly completed by Guan Yue.

Gu Sui came over with three cups of water. “Take a break.”

Guan Yue stretched her hands and nodded. “Mm.”

Xiao Ma took the water from Gu Sui. “Thank you.”

Gu Sui responded, “You’re welcome.”

Gu Sui sat down next to Guan Yue and began filling the labeled medicine bottles.

After filling one bottle, Xiao Ma noticed something unusual about the bottle.

Xiao Ma said, “This bottle is really different.”

Gu Sui handed it to him and asked, “Isn’t there even the tiniest gap?”

Xiao Ma nodded repeatedly.

Gu Sui said, “Try to open it yourself.”

He passed the freshly sealed bottle to Xiao Ma. Xiao Ma studied it for a while, but couldn’t manage to open it.

The man with the ordinary face carefully watched how Gu Sui sealed the bottle, thought for a moment, and after some effort, managed to reopen the bottle.

“Impressive!”

Gu Sui smiled and said, “It’s a method Guan Yue came up with. Don’t be fooled by the wooden bottle; look at where the lid meets the bottle—there isn’t a single gap. You could even submerge it in water, and no water would get inside.”

Guan Yue chuckled. “It’s just a small trick. The military definitely has better ways than this.”

The man with the ordinary face didn’t say anything, and Xiao Ma just grinned without replying.

Once all the medicine was packed, Guan Yue handed Xiao Ma the unsealed envelope. “You can check everything and send it out.”

“Got it!”

A few days after Guan Yue sent the letter to her teacher, the sanatorium down the mountain was finally completed.

Li Dingbang asked Guan Yue if she needed help. “If you two are trying to fix up the house on your own, it could take forever. It’ll waste too much time. Why not let us find someone to do it? It’ll be done in a few days.”

“No need. I want to do it myself,” Guan Yue insisted.

“Well, fine. Since things here are wrapping up, I’ll head back tomorrow. From now on, Xiao Ma will be in charge of everything here. If you need anything, just ask him.”

Before Li Dingbang left, he settled the wages for the workers, and everyone happily prepared for the upcoming New Year.

Li Tao had also set a date for his wedding. It would be on the eighth day of the twelfth month, which conveniently coincided with the slaughter of pigs, providing both meat and vegetables, perfect for hosting guests.

On the sixth day of the twelfth month, Li Tao’s family came up the mountain to visit Guan Yue. Their purpose was twofold: first, to invite Guan Yue to attend the wedding on the eighth and to enjoy the slaughtered pig dishes; second, to ask her to check the health of little Li Qingxi.

Li Qingxi, the baby born to Lin Haiyin at the end of last year, was three months old today.

When Guan Yue heard the baby’s name, Li Qingxi, she paused for a moment. Was it named after Qingxi Village?

Lin Haiyin, with her rosy complexion and a slight touch of extra weight, smiled and said, “I have a connection with Qingxi Village. After discussing it, we decided to name the baby Li Qingxi.”

Zhang Cuihua was not the type of cruel mother-in-law who would mistreat her daughter-in-law. Even though Lin Haiyin didn’t have her own family to back her up, Zhang Cuihua treated her as if she were her own daughter, which was evident from her healthy, rosy face.

Lin Haiyin placed the child into Guan Yue’s arms. “You hold him.”

Before Guan Yue could react, the baby was already in her hands. She was so cautious, holding the soft bundle, that she didn’t dare move.

The baby was friendly and smiled at Guan Yue, even blowing bubbles with its tiny red lips.

Guan Yue smiled and said, “This little girl is really cute.”

The Li family burst into laughter. Guan Yue was confused. “What are you laughing at?”

Li Tao almost laughed himself into a fit. “You’re not the first. In our whole village, whenever people hear my nephew’s name is Li Qingxi, they always think it’s a girl.”

Guan Yue gasped. “Oh, it’s a boy!”

She quickly added, “Boys are great too.”

Lin Haiyin smiled. “Whether it’s a son or a daughter, they’re both good. We had a son for the first child, and for the next one, I’d like to have a daughter.”

Guan Yue carefully cradled the baby with one hand, while she used the other to take Lin Haiyin’s pulse. Her health seemed fine, but she still advised her, “You’ve only just given birth. For the sake of your health, it’s better to wait two years before trying for a second child.”

Li Da chuckled. “We’re not in a hurry. We’re still young.”

Lin Haiyin shot him a shy glare. “Did I ask you?”

Li Da, the henpecked husband, was silenced by his wife’s glare. All he could do was laugh, not daring to say another word.

Surrounded by family and happiness, it seemed like married life was treating them well.

Guan Yue couldn’t help but smile as she checked the baby’s pulse, everything seemed fine.

She hoped the little one would grow up healthy and have a smooth life.

The entire Li family came up the mountain to visit Guan Yue, and she didn’t turn them down, agreeing that she would definitely attend Li Tao’s wedding.

Zhang Cuihua squinted her eyes in a smile. “Li Tao’s wedding dress is made from the red cloth you gave Haiyin last year.”

Guan Yue replied, “I still have some red cloth here. I was planning to give it to Li Tao.”

Li Tao quickly waved his hand. “No need, no need. The cloth you gave was wide, and my mother made me two pieces. That’s enough.”

Guan Yue asked Li Tao to wait for a moment, then went into her room to rummage through her jewelry box. She found a red flower made from satin ribbon, placed it in a box, and gave it to Li Tao.

“Here, this is for you, wishing you a happy wedding in advance.”

Li Tao opened the box. “Wow, this red flower is beautiful! I’ve never seen such a lovely flower before.”

Lin Haiyin glanced at it. “Is this made from silk or satin?”

Guan Yue smiled faintly. “I’m not sure what fabric it is, but it’s very beautiful. You can keep it.”

Li Tao asked, “Isn’t this expensive?”

“It’s not expensive. It was a gift from my Teacher’s Sister-in-law. I have plenty more, so you can keep it.”

Li Tao held the red flower lovingly, not wanting to let it go. “Guan Yue, your Teacher is really nice.”

“Yes, my Teacher is indeed a good person.”

The Li family stayed on the mountain until noon before heading back down. After seeing them off, Guan Yue felt particularly cheerful.

Gu Sui took her hand. “Don’t you want to have a life like that?”

Guan Yue feigned ignorance. “What kind of life?”

“The happy married life.”

Ah, that. Guan Yue honestly said, “I’m still young. My mom says that when you’re young, you’re not mature enough. Marriage is a big deal, so it’s better to wait a little longer.”

A hundred years from now, not getting married won’t be unusual, and even those who do marry will generally marry later.

“How old do you think is the right age for marriage?”

Guan Yue thought for a moment. “Thirty?”

Gu Sui almost choked. Thirty? Did that mean he’d have to wait ten more years to marry her?

He sighed deeply, looking utterly disheartened. He crouched down in front of Guan Yue, shamelessly burying his face in her lap. “Thirty is a bit too late. How about we get married earlier?”

“How much earlier?” Gu Sui thought to himself, of course, the earlier, the better.