Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Overdue Visitor

  The next morning, Sun Simiao left the inn again, and two male disciples, Wang Chong and Liu Hai, followed him.

  Like before, Chen Yi and Ning Qing still didn't get a clear notification from this eccentric old Taoist, and they didn't know what the three of them were going to do. Before leaving, Sun Simiao only told Chen Yi and Ning Qing that he had important matters to attend to, and if there was any situation, he would send someone to inform them at any time, asking Chen Yi and Ning Qing to continue staying in the inn, taking the opportunity to go out for a walk together, trying their luck to see if they could meet the people who got separated.

  For Sun Simiao's words, Chen Yi felt both moved and a little disappointed. This might be a common psychological reaction, when others intentionally hide things from you, and you really want to know, you feel that they don't trust you. Chen Yi had such thoughts, although he knew he hadn't known Sun Simiao for long, and the old Daoist's actions might not be public knowledge, but he still strongly wanted to know what they were doing, with a mix of curiosity and a desire to integrate into Sun Simiao's life.

  This thought arose, and thinking of his own situation, Chen Yi felt a little melancholy.

  It's been almost a month since I arrived in Chang'an, and I still haven't found my missing companion. Chen Yi is starting to lose hope. Maybe his companion had an accident, got injured during the sudden situation that day but wasn't rescued, died on the mountain, or was eaten by wild beasts or something!

  Because of this thought, Chen Yi suddenly gave up the idea of finding his past companions and starting a new life in the Tang Dynasty through them. He decided to take another path and create his own way in the Tang Dynasty. With this determination, Chen Yi's heart became calm and clear, and the last bit of unhappiness disappeared when Ning Qing came over to talk to him.

  Sun Simiao took Wang Chong and Liu Hai away, leaving only Chen Yi and Ning Qing in the inn. The two of them stayed in the same room, discussing Sun Simiao's sudden return and quick departure. Chen Yi had a vague guess, but he didn't dare to confirm it. He inferred this from last night when Sun Simiao pulled him into a discussion about medical principles, especially asking many questions about respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. However, Sun Simiao didn't explicitly say anything, so he couldn't be certain.

  The two of them guessed for half a day what Sun Simiao and the others were going to do, but after being unable to come to a conclusion, they also stopped this boring speculation.

  "Qing'er, where are we going to play next? Want to go out of town for a run?" The very famous Baqiao has not been visited yet, Chen Yi is eager to take a look. "Year after year the willow color, Baoling injury parting," in his study, there was a Li Bai's poem "_Yi Qin Ou" written by his father who loved calligraphy. There are many legends about Baqiao in historical records. Except for the imperial palace and the detached palace, Chen Yi has almost visited all the famous places in Chang'an City, so he suggested to Ning Qing that they go out of town for a walk.

  "Okay, then let's go play by the Ba River today!" Ning Qing immediately agreed with Chen Yi's proposal.

  Having reached an agreement, the two of them immediately went their separate ways to make preparations, change into traveling clothes, and ordered the young shop assistants to prepare horses for them.

  Just as they were not yet done with their preparations, an unexpected visitor interrupted them. The shopkeeper came over to report that someone had come to visit them. From the shopkeeper's words, Chen Yi understood that the person was looking for him and went out to greet them in confusion.

  But when he saw who it was, Chen Yi's heart leapt with joy!

  The newcomer was none other than He Lansheng, who had been drinking at Qujiangchi a few months ago.

  He Lan Sheng said he would come to the inn to visit him that day, and although Chen Yi thought it was probably just a polite remark, he still had some expectation in his heart. Today He Lan Sheng really came to the inn to visit him, and Chen Yi's heart was actually a little excited!

  Seeing Chen Yiying enter the main hall, Shi Shiran stood up, but He Lansheng's anxious expression immediately turned into a smile. He quickly walked two steps forward, bowed and said: "I have met Master Chen before, I came to visit today, please forgive me for any abruptness!"

  "I really didn't expect Mr. He to come visit the inn, I'm so sorry for not welcoming you properly!" Chen Yi quickly returned the courtesy, "Please, let's go inside and sit down!"

  "Mr. Chen is being polite, I'm the one who's being too presumptuous!" He Lan Sheng said with a suave bow, "Please, Mr. Chen!"

  "Mr. He, please!" Chen Yi made a bow and invited him, taking quick steps ahead to lead the way.

  He Lansheng followed behind, with two of his attendants carrying gift-like objects walking behind him.

  After entering Chen Yi's house, He Lansheng's two attendants put down the things in their hands, made a bow and retreated, closing the door behind them. Chen Yi looked at the thing wrapped in a box on the table with suspicion, asking He Lansheng with his eyes.

  Hulan's face showed a worried look, and he understood the meaning in Chen Yi's eyes. He quickly put on a smile and explained: "Young Master Chen, this is just a small gift. I came to visit you today because I have something important to ask for your help. Please, you must help me with this!"

  "Thank you, Mr. He, for your kindness. The other day when I was arguing with someone, you helped me out and I avoided getting into trouble. I'm really grateful, if there's anything I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask, no need to be so polite!" Although he said this, Chen Yi couldn't help but feel a strong sense of curiosity in his heart. They had only met a few times, and now He Lansheng was saying he needed his help, what exactly did he want him to do?

  "Since you've said that, I won't be polite either. Here's the thing: my mother has fallen ill and we've had many doctors come to examine her, but none of them have been effective. Originally, we wanted to ask Master Sun to go take a look, but he's been busy lately... sigh!

  He Lan spoke with a hint of disappointment and let out a slight sigh, but quickly recovered his normal expression, shining eyes looking at Chen Yi: "However... Master Sun recommended you to me, saying your medical skills are extremely refined, not inferior to his own. You're a rare talent in the world, and Master Sun asked me to come invite you to take a look at my mother's illness."

  He made another bow, entreating: "Please, Chen Gongzi, help me with this favor, go take a look at my mother's condition. I'll be eternally grateful!"

  Hearing He Lan Sheng say this, Chen Yi couldn't help but tremble with a strong suspicion that he was having another hallucination. This was the Great Tang Dynasty, and no one knew that he was a transmigrator, nor did anyone know that he used to be a doctor, one who had studied in medical school for seven years and worked in a hospital for seven years, with an excellent reputation and medical skills as a deputy director physician. Yet now there was someone standing in front of him, earnestly asking him to go on a house call, to diagnose the illness of a woman who should be a noblewoman, and it was even recommended by the great doctor Sun Si Miao - wasn't this just too absurd?