888 Try Poisons (1/2)
”Uncle, you are already at this age,” Wang Yao said. ”You cannot do heavy physical work. In your case, I think you still need to nurse your health so that Brother Zecheng will not be distracted. What if I try to persuade him to rest more and not strain himself at work?”
The old man remained silent. He understood the meaning of what he said. He also knew that his health was not good now, but this was not the result he wanted. He wanted to spare his son from the extra work and make some money. He didn't want to be a burden on his family.
”Uncle, you don't have to go outside the village to make money,” Wang Yao said. ”The pharmaceutical company in town is about to start production. It will definitely use a lot of medicinal materials. The mountainous area of our village is very suitable for herbal medicine. I told Brother Zecheng that if he plants a lot of herbs, he won't have to worry about selling them.”
”Yeah, I heard that from Zecheng,” the old man said. ”That sounds good!”
”Do you have anything else, Uncle?”
”Ah, it's OK.” Since Wang Yao had said that the family would soon have extra income, the old man's mood suddenly improved. There was now a smile on his face also had a smile instead of it being full of worries and sadness like when he came in.
”Uncle, please take care.” Wang Yao walked the old man out the door.
”OK.”
The old man slowly walked home, wondering if he should discuss with his son about ordering various herbs. He had no other skills, but he was a professional in the field. After all, he had done that for most of his life.
Because of the opening of the pharmaceutical company, Wang Yao's trip to Jing had to be delayed.
He sent a text message to Su Xiaoxue she had specifically told him that he had to tell her when the company opened.
Su Xiaoxue returned a response within seconds. [I'll make the trip this time.]
Wang Yao replied: [Focus on your studies.]. At this point, Su Xiaoxue should have been in class, so the two did not talk much. The brief communication was to determine that Su Xiaoxue would come to attend the opening ceremony of Nanshan Pharmaceutical Company.
In the small mountain village, the cold wind blew. Time passed slowly for three days.
In the morning, Wang Yao put a wooden sign on the clinic that he wouldn't be accepting any patients that day. He had other things to do.
”Well, I asked you all to come here today because I have something to discuss with you,” Wang Yao said.
”Mr. Wang, tell me if there is anything you want me to do,” Zhong Liuchuan said.
”Yes, I want to test whether the medicine you have taken for a few days has achieved the expected effect,” Wang Yao said. The purpose of their visit was part of an experiment he was doing.
”How do you test it?” Jia Zizai asked.
”It is rather simple,” Wang Yao said.
He Yao took out a small glass bottle, which contained a few black insects that looked a little creepy. These bugs were taken from the Lijiagou hot springs.
”What are these bugs?”
”Are they from the Lijiagou hot springs?” Jia Zizai recognized the bugs at first glance.
”Yes, these insects grow in areas with strong geothermal heat,” Wang Yao said. ”Their bodies have mutated. They can secrete a special venom, which is hot and toxic. A poisoned person will very quickly have a reaction.”
”I'll go first,” Jia Zizai said.
He knew that since Wang Yao was there, the poison would not threaten them at all.
”That is good,” Wang Yao said.
He took out a poisonous insect and placed it on the back of his hand. The poisonous insect immediately attacked Jia Zizai. He felt the back of his hand suddenly burning as if it was stung by a bee. The insect suddenly returned to the glass bottle Wang Yao was holding.
”OK, sit down,” Wang Yao said.
The area where the insect attacked soon became red and swollen.
”How do you feel?” Wang Yao asked.
”The back of my hand is hot and burns like I was scalded with hot water,” Jia Zizai said. ”The burning feeling is spreading and passing along my arm to my body.”
Wang Yao reached out and checked his pulse.
”There is no problem,” he said.
Zhong Liuchuan and Hu Mei sat to the side watching. Hu Mei was a little nervous.
”Don't worry. It's OK.” Wang Yao comforted her.
”It is alright,” Hu Mei replied.
After about 30 minutes, Jia Zizai said, ”I'm a little hot and thirsty.”
”Oh, drink some tea,” Wang Yao said with a smile.
He made good green tea for them. The aroma was tangy.
”I'm dizzy,” Jia Zizai said an hour later.