192 Ascending The Great Wall at Night, One Fist to Split the Air (1/2)
”Corydalis Tuber, Dahurian Angelica root, licorice, and what else…? Tang kuei, Poria cocos…Hmmm, something isn't right!”
Dr. Chen frowned.
Of the two herbs that Wang Yao had brewed, he could make out most of the herbs that went into it. It was only the few most important ingredients, or the ”core,” that he could not make out, no matter how hard he thought. There was no way, after all, those were magical herbs. Even though Dr. Chen had decades of experience, and was also known as the ”Xinglin sage,” these were, after all, herbs that he had never seen or heard of before.
...
In another part of Beijing, Zhang Xiufang was recounting to her husband the day's events.
”Hmm, it sounds too good. Why do I feel that this isn't very reliable?!” Wang Yao's uncle commented.
”I've seen the company; it doesn't seem fake.”
”It's the Keda company that's not too far from our house, right?”
”That's right.”
”The company is definitely not fake; it's been there for ten years. I've been there before myself.”
”Why don't I just give this company a shot?” Zhang Xiufang asked.
”But I still feel that there's something fishy about all this. This company is doing fine. Why would they invite you to work without any reason?” Her husband objected. This wasn't to put his wife down. He was clearer than anyone else that his wife had no education or special talents, but she was good and honest. However, that couldn't be the reason the company especially went to look for her!
”Yeah, I too feel that it is a little strange. But then, why would they try to trick me? I've got nothing for them.”
”Hmm. Maybe you should ask Yao; it might have something to do with him.” Zhang Xiufang's husband suddenly thought about this point, and his eyes lit up.
”What? What does this have to do with him?”
”No harm asking. It seems to me that Yao's connections in Beijing aren't normal.”
”Okay, then I'll ask him.”
...
In the middle of the small yard, Wang Yao unexpectedly received a call from his second aunt.
”Hello aunt, is there something wrong?”
”What, work? Oh, right, I did ask my friend about it before. You could check it out,” Wang Yao said, smiling.
...
”It really was Yao!” Zhang Xiufang said to her husband, after hanging up. ”He said he asked a friend for a favor.”
”Your affection on him was not wasted. You should resign from your job tomorrow and try working at Keda company then. It's very close to home as well.”
”I will.”
...
In another lab in Beijing, there were a few scientists hurriedly working.
”How is it?”
”Professor, we still can't determine the contents. It's still going to take some time to break it down.”
”It still can't be determined?”
”No.”
Dr. Chen had taken a sample from both of Wang Yao's herbs in hopes that he could determine the components of the decoction using state-of-the-art machinery. Unfortunately, it did not turn up any useful results.
In fact, these experiments had been conducted a few times outside of China. They wanted to determine and isolate the useful components of Chinese medicine and do away with unreliable methods as were traditionally used. Unfortunately, most of them were unsuccessful. These were the profundities of a thousand years of Chinese medicinal practice! Within it, there were the principles of Yin and Yang, and the interdependent interactions between the five elements. Medicine was not just a treatment, but a way of life—a culture. Within it is contained many things, and it could not be understood just by empirically breaking it down into its components.
...
The next day, the sky in Beijing was hazy, making one feel uncomfortable looking up at it. This was normal in Beijing.
Chen Ying walked over to Wang Yao, with the flight ticket in hand.
”Thank you, how much is this?”
”No need,” Chen Ying replied, smiling.
”How could I? That's another matter entirely,” Wang Yao replied.
”Since we invited you to treat a patient, we couldn't possibly make you pay for your own transport, now could we?”
”Well, fine, then I'll trouble you to accompany me again.”
”Sure.”
Then, Wang Yao gave his second aunt a call. At this time, his aunt had just completed the administrative procedures for her resignation and was on her way to Keda company. Hearing that Wang Yao had tickets for them, she asked him to wait at their house.
”Airplane?” Upon receiving the flight tickets, Zhang Xiufang was stunned.
It had been ten years since she moved to Beijing. In all this time, they could never bear to ride an airplane. Whenever they went back to Lianshan county, they would always take the train.
”Yeah. Will cousin be coming too?”
”She should be. It's the school break now. It's a short break before the final examinations.”
”Okay, then I'll come pick you up at that time.”
”Sure. Oh yes, thank you for the job.”
”Don't worry about it; we're family. Have you accepted it?”
”Not yet, I was actually on my way there,” Zhang Xiufang replied.
”Should I go with you then?”
”Okay.”
Wang Yao thus accompanied his second aunt to the Keda company building. Upon seeing Zhang Xiufang, Ms. Zhao was extremely happy. After completing the signing of the contract, she told Zhang Xiufang to report to work after the labor day holiday.
”Thank you.”
”It's my pleasure.”
After changing jobs, Zhang Xiufang was also rather pleased.
”Are you eating dinner with us tonight?”