Chapter 42: All Familiar Faces

The man was Yue Yuan, whom they had briefly met on the train.  He was old enough to be Tang Xiaorou’s uncle.

“Uncle, what a coincidence!”

Seeing the smiling woman, Yue Yuan raised an eyebrow. He smiled. “Indeed. Come to my office later.”

“Okay. I haven’t seen you in a while, Uncle. I have a lot to tell you.”

Yue Yuan looked at Tang Xiaorou again. This girl was skilled in medicine and worldly-wise.  Most girls wouldn’t speak so freely to a stranger they’d only met twice.

The clerk who had checked their deed turned pale. He hadn’t expected Tang Xiaorou to know Secretary Yue.  His earlier words were wrong.

The clerk became restless and wanted to contact the person who had told him to do this.

Tang Xiaorou glanced at the clerk and smiled at Yue Yuan. “Uncle, you go ahead. We’ll wait for you in your office.”

Yue Yuan noticed her subtle gesture and looked at the clerk.

The clerk’s face drained of color. He slumped in his chair but quickly stood up, trying to remain calm.

Yue Yuan understood. The clerk had crossed Tang Xiaorou. Remembering she had saved Professor Wei on the train, he decided to return the favor.

“Okay, go to my office. I’ll be there soon.”

Tang Xiaorou and Yao Bingcheng sat quietly in the office. Someone came in and poured tea. “Comrades, have some tea. Secretary Yue will be free soon.” They were asked about their relationship with Yue Yuan.

“Thank you. We just came from our hometown to see Uncle and met him unexpectedly.”

The person understood they were Yue Yuan’s relatives, but she didn’t ask further. After pouring tea, she left.

After she left, Yao Bingcheng sighed. “Sister, the man we met on the train is a big shot! A very big shot!”

“He is a big shot.”

Even Tang Xiaorou was surprised Yue Yuan was a secretary.  Such a high-ranking official took a seated train car.  It was unexpected.

Before Tang Xiaorou could think further, Yue Yuan arrived.

“Hello. Why are you here?” He knew they were coming to Nanjing but not why.  He was surprised to see them again so soon.

Tang Xiaorou smiled. “Uncle Yue, we’re here about this house. We have the deed, but someone occupied it. The clerk said it belonged to someone else, so we’re helpless.”

Yue Yuan glanced at Tang Xiaorou. He didn’t see any helplessness.

“Let me see the deed.”

Yue Yuan took the deed and immediately understood. He didn’t expect it to be that garden.

Tang Xiaorou observed Yue Yuan’s expression. “Uncle Yue, do you know who occupied the house?”

Yue Yuan didn’t expect her to be so perceptive. He nodded. “I do. But don’t worry, I’ll help you.  Consider it repayment for saving Professor Wei.”

“Uncle Yue, saving people is my duty. Don’t say that. We’re really helpless, so we need your help. If you ever need my help, just ask.” Remembering his tired state on the train, she offered, “Uncle Yue, let me take your pulse. I’ll make you some warming pills.”

Yue Yuan was about to refuse, but Tang Xiaorou sat beside him, staring intently.

Yue Yuan didn’t expect her to be so direct. He smiled and extended his hand. He had been very tired lately, and she was a skilled doctor, so a pulse reading wouldn’t hurt.

Tang Xiaorou carefully took Yue Yuan’s pulse and frowned.

Yue Yuan asked, “What’s wrong? Is my pulse abnormal?”

“Uncle Yue, you need to take care of your health.” He looked tired, and his pulse was even worse. “Uncle Yue, you’ve overworked yourself for years. You don’t rest, do you?  This will affect your lifespan.”

This wasn’t an exaggeration. If Yue Yuan continued working without rest, he would shorten his life or even die suddenly. “Uncle Yue, your health is important. You need to rest.”

Yue Yuan knew he hadn’t relaxed, but he didn’t expect it to be this serious. “What should I do?”

“I’ll write a prescription. Take the medicine regularly. I’ll check your pulse again in two weeks.  The warming pills will come later.”

“Okay, I’ll listen to you.”

Yue Yuan wrote down his contact information. “You can find me here.”

Seeing Yue Yuan’s powerful handwriting and address, Tang Xiaorou wrote her name and address. “Uncle Yue, you can find me here too.”

Yue Yuan looked surprised. “You live in the big compound?”

“Yes, for now.”

“Does your family work in the military?”

Tang Xiaorou didn’t hide it. “Yes, my husband, Shen Huaixu, works there. We came here with him.”

“Pfft…”

Yue Yuan, who was drinking tea, spat it out.

Tang Xiaorou dodged the tea and asked uncertainly, “Do you know Shen Huaixu?”

“Is it the youngest son of the Beijing Shen family, Shen Huaixu?”

Tang Xiaorou wasn’t sure. “Shen Huaixu said he’s from Beijing, but I don’t know which family.”

“It must be. The youngest son of the Shen family is in this military district.

But when did Shen Huaixu get married? I didn’t hear anything.”