Yun Shi Yu spoke of the previous owner of "Strange Tales," who had written a lament on the page of the story titled "Jiaona."
"Jiaona" is a typical tale of a scholar and a wild fox. What's atypical is that the male and female protagonists do not end up together; in fact, they never even spoke of love.
The male lead, Kong Xueli, married Jiaona's cousin, and Jiaona also married someone else. However, after enduring many hardships, they became intimate friends.
Throughout the story, the main characters are pure and innocent, without a hint of sentimentality. Yet in the end, the author conveyed a sense of ambiguous intimacy with just the word "intimate."
However, stories are after all just stories. The characters within do not have to grapple with the consequences, which is why the previous owner of "Strange Tales" wrote "I don't understand" after empathizing with them.
Now, Yun Shi Yu also "does not understand," which one must admit is quite a coincidence.
At best, it's called "You were born before I was born; by the time I was born, you were already old"; in harsher terms, it is a cursed fate.
Of course, Xiao Ming wouldn't be foolish enough to express this opinion, as Yun Shi Yu would likely fight him to the death over it.
While these two young men and women in the back seat of the limousine each had their own thoughts, Fang Muye was covered in sweat, his face filled with fear.
Given his status in the world of traditional Chinese medicine, patients who could summon him with a phone call were naturally of high status.
The Patriarch of the Shi family, Shi Qianshan, was a renowned national entrepreneur and patriotic businessman during the Republican era, who had dissipated his fortune to support the war against Japanese aggression, earning him immense merit.
The esteemed status of such a person is self-evident.𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
Although the old man had resided in the Capital City for a long time, he was originally from Longyin. He had recently returned to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors when he suddenly felt unwell, which prompted him to call upon Fang Muye.
This was not the first time Fang Muye had been consulted by Old Sir Shi.
The old man was still relatively robust, but with old age came degeneration of the body functions; he was fond of tobacco and alcohol and did not refrain from rich foods, resulting in a body laden with toxins he could not naturally expel.
The treatment was not difficult; it was only necessary to control the dosage and intensity of "detoxifying" to avoid excessive depletion of the old man's already weakened body.
After issuing the usual prescription and thanking the host for the consultation fee, Fang Muye took his leave. Just after getting into the car, he suddenly felt an inexplicable unease, as if something was about to happen, yet he had no clue what it might be.
In an attempt to suppress the restlessness within, he asked the driver to turn on the radio, hoping to divert his attention with the noise.
However, he was startled when he heard the weather forecast on the radio and instantly remembered the seemingly nonsensical question Xiao Ming had asked before leaving the teahouse.
"Stop the car! Turn around! Back to the Shi family's old mansion!" he shouted at the driver, his forehead breaking out in a cold sweat.
The weather forecast had indicated that a cold air mass from the northwest was moving southward. Over the next few days, temperatures were expected to drop dramatically, with a variance of more than ten degrees from the current temperatures, and the public was advised to bring an extra coat when going out.
In early autumn, during the high heat of the late-summer period, when dry and hot weather prevails and yang energy rises, Fang Muye had deliberately increased the "detoxifying" medication in Shi Qianshan's prescription to expedite the treatment's effectiveness and ensure a quick recovery, which would be hugely beneficial to his reputation.
But he had not anticipated a sudden drop in temperature.
The prescription that was designed to work in conjunction with robust yang energy, if used during a time of yin prevalence and yang decline, could have disastrous consequences when compounded by further purging.
This was especially true for the elderly and frail, who could potentially meet the King of Hell prematurely.
Just the thought of Shi Qianshan dying as a result of his treatment sent shivers down Fang Muye's spine.
Rushing back to the Shi family's old mansion at the highest speed, he immediately asked the old servant who opened the gate, "Has the old master taken his medicine?"
The old servant shook his head in confusion, "The medicine is still being decocted, but it should be almost ready."
"Pour it out, pour it out! Absolutely cannot let the patriarch drink it," Fang Muye let out a sigh of relief, "I need you to deliver a message at once, I have urgent business with the old sir."
Not knowing what had happened, but seeing the divine doctor drenched in sweat and anxious, the old servant did not dare to delay and hurried towards the inner residence.
Soon after, Fang Muye was brought into the inner residence where Shi Qianshan lifted the needle off the phonograph that was playing Kun opera and asked, "Did the gentleman forget something?"
Fang Muye shook his head and bowed deeply, expressing his apology, "I am ashamed! I almost made a grave mistake and have come to apologize to the elder. I ask for a chance to make amends."
Shi Qianshan, nearing ninety years old this year, appeared radiant and stout due to his broad-minded nature, looking around sixty or seventy at most.
He waved his hand, smiling, "The gentleman comes from a distinguished lineage and has been practicing medicine for decades, renowned in the medical community. What grave mistake could you have possibly committed?
Perhaps there has been some misunderstanding. Come, sit down and tell me slowly."
Fang Muye thanked him, sat down on the chair beside him, and did not conceal anything. He recounted Xiao Ming's reminder before parting and how he had overlooked the change in weather, as well as the potential consequences, all in one go.
"Old Sir Shi, if it wasn't for that Xiao today, I would be beyond redemption even if I died a hundred times.
If you are still willing to trust me, I can write you a new prescription right now.
Of course, it is completely reasonable for you to want to change your doctor. I can give you the contact information of all the colleagues I know."
"The gentleman worries too much, it's just a small matter. Just write a new prescription, no need to trouble yourself," said Shi Qianshan.
He took a sip from a purple clay teapot, "I am, in fact, more interested in that Xiao Ming friend of yours.
Do you really think he was reminding you, and not just making an arbitrary inquiry?"
"He is not a medical practitioner; his questions were nonsensical and made no sense," Fang Muye said. "Besides, I had just witnessed his miraculous ability at that moment.
Unless Duan Hongqing and Zhou Jicang were conspiring against me, I believe in Xiao's intuition."
"Oh? What was so miraculous about him? Do tell," urged Shi Qianshan.
Fang Muye immediately related the incident of Xiao Ming competing with Duan Hongqing's son in a stock market challenge.
Upon hearing that all eighteen stocks had not turned red, and all operations were precisely timed at the peak and trough of their respective prices, Shi Qianshan couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
He had spent a lifetime in business, and had seen his fair share of 'Stock Gods'—if not a hundred, then certainly eighty. Naturally, he had a deeper appreciation of Xiao Ming's achievements than Fang Muye did.
If it wasn't for sheer luck, then this young man's business acumen was an extraordinarily innate gift, a true prodigy.
Pondering, Shi Qianshan said, "It's about dinner time. If Mr. Fang has no other engagements, why not stay for a simple meal, and we can discuss in depth the events of your afternoon tea gathering?"
Meanwhile, Shen Siyi had just stepped out of the car, staring at the gates of his family villa, his hand involuntarily reaching into his pocket and gripping the USB drive inside.
When the secretary delivered the USB drive and conveyed Xiao Ming's words, he was baffled, but after watching the surveillance video contained within, everything became clear.
Knowing Shen Siqi as he did, there was no way he would initiate a collaboration with Ruiye on his own—it was clearly their father's decision.
Realizing that his father not only loved his brother but also cared about him filled Shen Siyi with strength.
Dad, once you watch the video, you should understand that having ability without character can still destroy the family's legacy.