When Duan Yelin came to Heming Medical Hall today, he saw boxes of expensive tonics being loaded onto the truck. It was a rare big business.
“Where did this God of Wealth come from?” He asked.
Physician Hu quickly stood up and replied, “These are all sent to the Governor’s Mansion. The Governor is very generous. What he bought in the past two days is enough to cover the turnover of the medical hall for half a year!”
“Him?” Duan Yelin sneered, “Can this old guy eat so much? Is he trying to cultivate immortality?”
“Aiyo, what you said is true. First of all, the Madam has just recovered from a serious illness and needs to be well-nourished. Secondly, the Governor and his wife have a harmonious relationship, so naturally there needs to be more tonics.”
Duan Yelin frowned slightly. He had heard Xu Hang mention this before: “His wife was the one who was trying to commit s*icide, right? How come she figured it out so quickly?”
Physician Hu stroked his beard and said meaningfully, “As the saying goes, the people should not fight against the officials. No matter how hard they struggle, the outcome remains unchanged. In this world, is there any point in resisting those in power? Whether you surrender sooner or later makes no difference. At the very least, you can enjoy a wealthy life without effort. Doesn’t that sound reasonable?”
After saying this, he turned around and asked the medicine boy to continue packing the herbs.
Duan Yelin felt very uncomfortable after hearing what he just said.
Elsewhere, in the Governor’s Mansion, Xu Hang was just finishing taking Ruan Xiaodie’s pulse: “Madam looks much better.”
Ruan Xiaodie was radiant, and the satin cheongsam wrapped her gracefully. She gathered her hair and said, “I have to thank Mister for your skillful hands.”
Wang Ronghuo walked in slowly and asked in a vigorous voice, “What’s going on?”
Ruan Xiaodie stood up slowly, walked to his side, and smiled sweetly: “Governor…”
Wang Ronghuo hooked her chin and patted her hand to show his affection.
Xu Hang picked up his brush and wrote a prescription: “Madam, do you still seem to be having trouble sleeping?”
Ruan Xiaodie pouted: “Yes, I am very particular about my bed. I’ve been experiencing nightmares lately. The prescription you gave me last time worked well, but ever since I stopped taking it, I haven’t been sleeping well!”
Wang Ronghuo immediately raised his eyebrows and said to Xu Hang, “Then open a few more pairs, open a few more pairs! Use whatever is most valuable!”
After writing it in a few strokes, Xu Hang handed it to the governor and said, “No need for any expensive medicine. Please prepare some more cinnabar for Madam, grind it into powder, and add it to the medicine for her to take.”
“That’s easy. I’ll talk to the butler in a minute. As many as you want!”
As Xu Hang handed it over respectfully, he looked up, and his eyes met Ruan Xiaodie’s, and they understood each other tacitly.
They are all people with calculations.
When he returned to Jinyan Tang, Chan Yi came to him and said, “Head of the Household, what a fresh day. We have a guest at home!”
A guest? In the past four years, no one except Duan Yelin has come to Jinyan Tang.
Confused, he stepped into the hall and spotted Yuan Ye standing tall in front of a Chinese painting at the center, studying it intently.
He looked so carefully that he didn’t even notice Xu Hang walked in.
“My painting can’t stand close scrutiny.” He reminded Yuan Ye.
Yuan Ye turned around suddenly and smiled: “You’re back?”
Xu Hang was stunned for a moment because Yuan Ye’s tone was so intimate, as if he was one of his family members.
Yuan Ye added, “This painting is quite intriguing. It utilizes traditional Chinese painting pigments and ink-wash brushstrokes, yet it doesn’t depict a landscape, flowers, or birds. Instead, it features a bright red background with a swallow emerging from the center, resembling a Western abstract painting. I wonder which master created it?”
Xu Hang ordered Chan Yi to bring him a cup of good tea: “It’s not some master, it’s just I… draw it randomly.”
Yuan Ye was surprised for a moment: “Really? Then I’ll have to look at you differently again.” He took a sip of tea. “I just returned to China not long ago, and I have only met you three times in total. You surprised me every time. First in the medical hall, then in the Governor’s mansion, and now in your own mansion. You are really different.”
Xu Hang had never been interested in other people’s praise. He didn’t care whether it was praise or criticism, so he said, “What can I do for Mr. Yuan since you came to see me?”
“Can’t I just come over to my friend’s house and visit if there’s nothing?” Yuan Ye seemed very surprised.
Xu Hang didn’t know what to say.
Yuan Ye asked tentatively, “Could it be that you have never entertained friends at home?”
Xu Hang shook his head.
“That’s good…”
“It’s not that I haven’t entertained anyone before, but I don’t have any friends.”
There was a moment of silence. Xu Hang knew that he had gone too far, but he didn’t like socializing with people, so he didn’t care whether Yuan Ye’s feelings were hurt or not. He just hoped that Yuan Ye would get angry and leave quickly so that he could be left alone.
Unexpectedly, Yuan Ye was not displeased at all but laughed even louder: “Well, from now on, you will have friends!”
He then took out a silver fountain pen from the inner pocket of his suit. The pen was smaller than those on the market and very clean. On the top was inlaid a huge, crystal-clear gem as big as a pigeon egg. It was obviously worth a lot of money.
“Since we are friends, there must be a gift for meeting. I don’t have any other hobbies, I just like collecting pens. This was specially made for me when I was studying abroad. I think you should be used to writing with a brush, but if it is inconvenient when you are away from home, this pen should be of some use to you!”
Xu Hang stared at him for a while, then said with a strange look on his face: “You… have you always liked making friends with others so much?”
Yuan Ye understood that someone as cold as Xu Hang was probably not used to it. He rarely treated people so coldly, but in troubled times, people with backbone were rare, and he liked people with backbone.
If you can make friends with talented people, what’s the harm in getting the cold shoulder in return?
“Hey, I didn’t give you this pen for free. If I need help from you in the future, you can’t charge me for it. Is that fine?”
At this point, Xu Hang accepted it and played with it in his hands.
“I’ve never seen the gemstone on it before.”
“That’s a diamond. Foreigners prefer diamonds to gemstones.”
“Diamond? It sounds very tough.”
“You’re correct. The original gemstone is a diamond, the hardest of all stones. That’s why foreigners always like to give it to the girls they like to express their loyalty… Don’t get me wrong, I gave it to you out of pure intentions!”
Xu Hang just laughed it off.
After seeing Yuan Ye off, Xu Hang closed the door and casually placed the pen in the pen holder.
He wondered what was going on in the mind of the first person who made the analogy of comparing such a sharp-edged stone to love.
The harder something is, the more dangerous it is.
At this time, there were two knocks on the door. The maid Chan Yi was outside the door. She asked in a soft voice with a hint of panic, “Head of the Household, the gardener you asked me to invite a few days ago is here…”
She took a deep breath before continuing, “Someone came to ask, What should we do with those abandoned graves in the yard?”
