Chapter 548: A Visit to Invite
"Young Master, Second Young Master Meng of the Meng Family is here," A Feng said as he came in to inform An Zhihan.
The Second Young Master Meng whom A Feng mentioned was none other than Meng Chenghui. He was the second son in the family. His older brother, Meng Chengyao, the eldest, had been mature and steady since he was a child and was highly regarded by their parents. As a result, Meng Chengyao now managed most of the Meng Family’s business. This was why Meng Chenghui could afford to be a carefree, profligate son, becoming one of Xiangcheng’s most famous playboys.
"Why is Meng Chenghui here?" An Zhihan was surprised. He didn’t know Meng Chenghui well and was shocked that the man had actually managed to find where he lived.
Su Qing was also surprised but said nothing. ’Meng Chenghui is here to see An Zhihan,’ she thought. ’It has nothing to do with me.’
"Come on, let’s go meet him," An Zhihan said to Su Qing.
Su Qing nodded. She had just promised Mr. Gong she would stay for lunch, so she wasn’t going to be leaving for a little while anyway.
As the two of them left the study, they saw Meng Chenghui smiling and trying to cozy up to Mr. Gong.
"Sir, these medicinal herbs you’ve prepared are incredible. They look amazing. You’re a true master," Meng Chenghui said, giving Mr. Gong a thumbs-up.
After hearing Meng Chenghui speak, Mr. Gong looked up at him and said, "Young man, you’re from Xiangcheng?"
Meng Chenghui’s Mandarin wasn’t perfect; he had a noticeable accent, so Mr. Gong recognized it immediately.
"That’s right," Meng Chenghui smiled. "You have a sharp ear, Sir."
Mr. Gong smiled faintly. "Your accent gives you away. Are you here looking for Little Han?"
"Actually, I’m mainly here to see you," Meng Chenghui said to Mr. Gong with a quick smile. "I came here specifically today... because I have a favor to ask."
"To see me?" Mr. Gong asked. "Is someone sick?"
"Yes. My name is Meng Chenghui," he said, nodding quickly. "To be honest with you, I saw An Zhihan recently and was stunned to see his leg had completely healed. I made some inquiries and learned that you were the one who treated him. That’s why I’ve taken the liberty of visiting today. I hope you don’t mind. I am sincerely here to ask for medical help."
"I see." Mr. Gong had the heart of a true healer; he would never turn away someone who came to his door seeking help. "Let’s go inside and talk, then," he said. "Tell me the details of the situation."
"Yes, of course!" Meng Chenghui nodded eagerly and moved to help Mr. Gong up.
Mr. Gong waved him off. "I may be old, but my bones are still sturdy. I don’t need anyone to help me walk."
Meng Chenghui quickly complimented him, "You’re as hale and hearty as they come, Sir."
Just as Mr. Gong and Meng Chenghui were heading for the main hall, Su Qing and An Zhihan emerged from the study, and the two groups met head-on.
Meng Chenghui hadn’t expected to see Su Qing here. His face lit up with delight as he exclaimed, "Su Qing."
Mr. Gong, surprised that Meng Chenghui also knew Su Qing, remarked, "So you two know each other."
Su Qing smiled at Mr. Gong. "Grandpa Gong, we’ve met a couple of times."
Mr. Gong nodded.
Meng Chenghui also smiled. "That’s right. I met Su Qing in Xiangcheng. My cousin and Su Qing are good friends, so we’re fairly well acquainted now."
After he spoke, Meng Chenghui shot a subtle glance at An Zhihan, a knot of jealousy tightening in his chest. ’It’s obvious Su Qing and An Zhihan are on very good terms,’ he thought, feeling a pang of resentment. ’They were clearly alone together just now.’ The realization sparked an urge to punch An Zhihan. However, Meng Chenghui was self-aware. ’Su Qing already rejected my confession. I’m still trying to change her opinion of me, so I can’t do anything that would upset her.’
So, Meng Chenghui turned to An Zhihan with a smile. "I hope you don’t mind me dropping in like this. I came today because I have something to ask of Mr. Gong."
"You’re here to see my grand-uncle?" An Zhihan asked. He figured that since Meng Chenghui had managed to find him, he must also know about his relationship with Mr. Gong, so there was no reason to hide it.
"That’s right." Meng Chenghui nodded.
"Come on, let’s all go inside to talk," Mr. Gong interjected. He was, after all, a traditional Chinese medicine master with genuine skill. His expertise in the four diagnostic methods—observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation—was not only applicable to diagnosing illnesses but was just as effective for reading people.
After just a brief exchange, he could already tell there was some drama brewing between the three youngsters. However, he made it a rule not to meddle in the affairs of the younger generation.
A moment later, the four of them were seated in the main hall. A Feng brought out tea and refreshments. After taking a sip, Meng Chenghui couldn’t help but sigh to himself. ’An Zhihan is certainly living a comfortable life here in Beijing. The snacks are fine, but this tea is truly incredible. I’ve never had tea this good in Xiangcheng; neither my father nor my older brother has anything that compares.’
What Meng Chenghui didn’t know was that Su Qing had brought this tea. The leaves had been cultivated using her Wood Ability and infused with the green mist, making them far from ordinary. Not only could drinking it regularly strengthen one’s body, but its flavor was also incomparable to that of regular tea.
After his moment of silent admiration, Meng Chenghui got down to business. "Mr. Gong, I came today to ask if you would be willing to make a trip to Xiangcheng to see a patient. Please rest assured, as for your fee, it is completely negotiable."
Meng Chenghui may have been a playboy, but he understood social etiquette. Since he was the one asking for a favor, it was improper to make the other party bring up the matter of payment first.
"Who is the patient? And what is their illness?" Mr. Gong asked.
An Zhihan and Su Qing remained silent, listening quietly from the side.
Meng Chenghui explained, "The patient is my sister-in-law’s second uncle. Over twenty years ago, he was in an earthquake while abroad and was severely injured. He was young at the time and managed to pull through after treatment. But now that he’s getting older, he fell ill last year, which caused his old injuries to flare up. His health completely collapsed. For more than a year now, we’ve had him see all sorts of doctors, both traditional Chinese and Western, but all of them were at a loss. They could only advise him to rest and be careful. Beyond that, they said we could only do our best and leave the rest to fate."
He finished with a sigh. "My sister-in-law’s father and her uncle have been very close since childhood. He can’t bear to see his brother bedridden like this, so he’s been searching everywhere for a doctor. As I mentioned, when I saw that An Zhihan’s leg had healed a few days ago, I was astonished and asked around. That’s how I found out you were the one who treated him. So, I took the liberty of coming here today, hoping you might agree to go to Xiangcheng to examine the patient."
Meng Chenghui looked at Mr. Gong with earnest hope. Though he was a playboy, he took family matters to heart. He had heard from his older brother that his sister-in-law’s father had made a promise: whoever found a doctor that could treat his younger brother would be granted twenty percent of the mining rights to a newly opened jadeite mine in western Myanmar.