Chapter 13: Taking Sister Lin to See the Old Chinese Doctor!

Each to their own.

Rain began to fall along the way.

With visibility impaired, a figure suddenly darted out from the right side. In a panic, the driver slammed on the brakes.

Caught off guard, Du Xi’s entire body collided against Tang Ye.

Tang Ye felt Du Xi’s cheek press against the right side of his face.

A faint fragrance from the tips of Du Xi’s hair wafted into his nose.

“Master, please drive slower. There’s no rush.”

Tang Ye quickly took hold of Du Xi’s arm. Once they had some space between them, he quietly spoke with the driver.

“Ah, sorry about that. It was a drunkard—reckless as can be!” the driver complained with a sigh.

Du Xi felt her heart tighten suddenly, a tingling sensation coursing through her. She instinctively stole a glance at Tang Ye.

Tang Ye looked straight ahead as if nothing had happened, but he spoke less.

The once lively conversation instantly grew tense.

Sun Hai, carefree and talkative, rambled on without noticing the deliberate distance growing between the two in the back seat.

The taxi stopped at the gate of the Yunhu Courtyard residential complex. A middle-aged woman holding an umbrella stood on tiptoe, looking around.

Du Xi recognized her mother, smiled, and said to Tang Ye and Sun Hai, “My mother’s here to pick me up. You don’t need to see me inside.”

Tang Ye instinctively complimented, “Auntie looks very young.”

Du Xi pressed her lips into a faint smile and quickly shot Tang Ye a glance. “When we go out shopping, people think we’re sisters.”

Du Xi got out of the car and saw Tang Ye preparing to follow, but she stopped him. “It’s raining hard. You don’t have to come out.”

Tang Ye had already placed one foot outside the door. “I should greet your mother; it would be rude not to.”

Du Xi introduced, “This is Tang Ye. The person in the car is Sun Hai. They sent me back.”

“Auntie, hello!” Tang Ye greeted Du Xi’s mother warmly.

Du Xi’s mother’s gaze quickly scanned Tang Ye. “It’s raining heavily—better get in the car quickly.”

Tang Ye waved to Du Xi and her mother. “You should head inside the complex too.”

Watching the taxi drive away, Du Xi’s eyes remained fixed on its tail.

Her mother, hinting delicately, said, “So this is your old classmate Tang Ye—tall and quite handsome.”

Du Xi was momentarily stunned, cheeks burning. “Mom, don’t misunderstand.”

Her mother smiled. “A man should marry when he’s grown, and a woman should wed when she’s mature. You two were high school classmates, know each other well, and have a foundation. If it’s suitable, you might consider spending time together. But he works in Pinghu Town, and you’re in the city. It’ll be hard to meet regularly.”

“You’re overthinking! We’re nothing like that!” Du Xi understood her mother’s meaning and was wary of Tang Ye’s rural post. “He’s a cadre assigned by the municipal party committee. He’ll be back in the city after a year.”

“Xi Xi, you’re too naive. You don’t know how dangerous the world is. You need to examine people closely—make sure his intentions aren’t ulterior, and that he’s not just approaching you because of your father.”

“What are you talking about? He doesn’t have a hint of that!”

Du Xi shot her mother an irritated glance, stomped her foot hard, and burst alone into the rain.

“I was just saying that casually. Why are you so angry?”

Du Xi’s mother felt alert. Could her daughter really be falling for him?

Du Xi had never been in love before. Many fine young men had been introduced to her, but she always found reasons to refuse. Tang Ye’s character was good, but she didn’t know much about his family. Marriage was a serious matter—not to be rushed.

Inside the taxi, Sun Hai chatted idly with Tang Ye.

Sun Hai’s father was a somewhat famous developer in Hanzhou, but Sun Hai and his father had a strained relationship. Back in high school, Sun Hai disliked studying, and teachers often called his parents. When he went home, he was frequently beaten, his body often bruised.

“Tang Seng, I want to find a way to get rich. You have to help me think it through.”

Sun Hai had mentioned this several times over meals, but Tang Ye thought he was joking and didn’t respond.

Not afraid of rich kids living riotously, but rather afraid when they want to start a business.

“Isn’t it better to just enjoy being a rich second generation?”

“I fell out with my father. I want to achieve something that will make him see me differently. Pinghu may be small, but there must be business opportunities. If you come across any, point me in the right direction. I don’t have much capital, so I can’t do anything big. I have to start small.”

Tang Ye smiled. “I’ll keep your words in mind.”

Though they had only recently reconnected after many years apart, Tang Ye already understood Sun Hai’s character.

Quick-witted, emotionally intelligent, and socially savvy.

He might just carve out a path amidst the turbulent waves!

…

The next day, 9:30 a.m.

Tang Ye waited outside the city hospital for Cheng Lin.

Compared to her usual formal attire, Cheng Lin’s outfit today was more casual but clearly chosen with care. Her jet-black hair fell over her shoulders, a light blue hairpin pinning back her bangs to reveal a smooth, full forehead. Her lips bore nearly nude lipstick, and her delicate features paired with an intellectual and charming aura could hold their own even among actresses.

Tang Ye exaggeratedly looked her up and down, sighing, “Lin, long time no see. You’ve become even more beautiful.”

Cheng Lin tapped Tang Ye’s shoulder. “You’re getting bolder with your jokes.”

Tang Ye rubbed his shoulder, grinning. “Just speaking the truth. Look around—you’re the center of attention!”

Indeed, some people were staring. Cheng Lin blushed and quickly lowered her head, tugging at Tang Ye’s shirt. “Let’s get inside before the doctor waits too long.”

Tang Ye accompanied Cheng Lin into the hospital, occasionally greeted by familiar faces.

Dr. Cao from the emergency department caught Tang Ye and pulled him aside. “Where have you been? Haven’t seen you for ages.”

“Oh, went to the countryside.”

“To Pinghu? That’s tough work.”

“Not as tough as you. Up late again last night? Your eye bags are so dark you could squeeze ink from them!”

“There was a patient whose stomach was pierced by a bull’s horn while feeding the cattle. We worked all night to save him. Luckily, he pulled through.”

“Tsk tsk, impressive!”

Tang Ye thought to himself: the world is full of wonders; that patient was just unlucky!

After Tang Ye left, Dr. Cao quietly admired the woman beside him—so beautiful and elegant.

Tang Ye grew up in the hospital compound, well acquainted with the medical staff.

He was well-liked at the Bureau for Retired Cadres, partly because he had special privileges. When veteran comrades came for medical appointments, Tang Ye handled the registration and queues for them all.

In the traditional Chinese medicine consultation room.

Seated was a short but spirited elderly gentleman.

White-haired with a youthful face, exuding an ethereal, sage-like presence.

He invited Cheng Lin to sit and placed his hand on her wrist to take her pulse.

“Grandpa Hu, judging by your expression, it shouldn’t be serious.”

Dr. Hu withdrew his hand and said, “Oh? You had her pulse taken? Tell me about it.”

Tang Ye hurriedly shook his head, smiling. “I didn’t! I know your habits—if you raise one eyebrow, it means no problem. Two, then it’s serious!”

Dr. Hu gave Tang Ye a mock glare before quickly writing out the prescription.

“Yin deficiency syndrome. Take this medicine for a month to regulate it.”

Cheng Lin glanced at the flowing, almost illegible script.

Though all in Chinese characters, she couldn’t recognize a single one.

Tang Ye transformed into a “Chinese-to-Chinese” translator: “Cypress leaf, prepared rehmannia, raw rehmannia, achyranthes…”

Tears glistened in Cheng Lin’s delicate eyes.

Little Tang really had some skills—otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to read the prescription.

“Thank you.”

Dr. Hu noticed Tang Ye discreetly placing two boxes of tea leaves on the counter. He smiled. “Support Tang Ye more in the future. Though his father is a Western medicine doctor, he and I get along well. He often helps me during summer, acupuncture and massage—he knows it all.”

Cheng Lin smiled faintly and glanced at Tang Ye.

The message was clear: you’ve been hiding quite a bit…

Tang Ye, embarrassed under her gaze, joked, “It’s just a hobby. At most, I can treat small animals—be a… veterinarian.”

Dr. Hu frowned. “You’ve studied with me for so many years and are wasting your talent. I’m not happy about that. If you’re shameless, I care about my reputation!”

Tang Ye glanced toward the door, smiling. “There are more patients waiting. We shouldn’t hold things up.”

About to say “Get lost,” Dr. Hu caught Cheng Lin’s eye and softened his tone. “Alright, off you go.”

Tang Ye accompanied Cheng Lin to the herbal medicine window to collect the prescription, passing through the emergency hall.

A crowd gathered at the emergency treatment room’s entrance.

Dr. Cao was surrounded in the middle.

Tang Ye tucked the hem of his shirt into his waist, frowned, and said, “Lin, I’ll go see what’s going on.”

Cheng Lin watched Tang Ye’s back, shaking her head and holding her forehead.

That troublesome little brother!

His “meddlesome” habit was acting up again…