Chapter 262: Chapter 206: Sincerity Is the Ultimate Skill (Part 2)
"Boss Chen said that Hundred Herbs Hall is preparing to tour Shu State and assess the conditions in various regions so they can better coordinate with the estate later on."
"He also said that both now and in the future, Hundred Herbs Hall will follow the lead of you and the Old Master. The profit-sharing ratio is negotiable and will depend on the circumstances..."
Of course, these were just empty pleasantries Chen Yi was passing along.
Business was business. The final terms of their cooperation would have to be put in writing. A signed contract was the only way to guarantee security for both Hundred Herbs Hall and the Xiao Family.
Xiao Wan’er naturally had no objections. After taking a moment to compose herself, the blush fading from her face, she asked thoughtfully,
"Then is there any issue with Boss Chen’s identity?"
Chen Yi paused, choosing his words carefully. "It’s hard to say."
"However, he is a Medical Saint Hand. I imagine that should mean he’s trustworthy."
"As far as I know, there aren’t many Medical Saint Hands in the entire Great Wei Dynasty. I doubt anyone would dare have him cause trouble for you and the Old Master."
Xiao Wan’er looked at him in surprise. "A Medical Saint Hand? Boss Chen is so young... is his mastery of the Medical Dao really that incredible?"
Chen Yi smiled. "His master’s lineage is likely very formidable."
Xiao Wan’er nodded. Then, as if she’d had a sudden idea, a joyful expression lit up her face. She asked,
"Then do you think Boss Chen could serve as an Instructor at the Medical Dao Academy? Or even... the Dean?"
’No.’
’Absolutely not.’
’Chen Yi’s heart skipped a beat. He was here devising strategies and preparing to train Ma Liangcai and the others into Medical Saint Hands, but he never imagined Xiao Wan’er would try to recruit him as well.’
’If he hadn’t known that Xiao Wan’er was unaware of "Boss Chen’s" true identity, he would have found some way to sabotage the entire Medical Dao Academy project, no matter what.’
Xiao Wan’er seemed to sense his strange reaction and asked quizzically, "He can’t?"
Chen Yi’s mind raced. "He probably can’t."
"Before Boss Chen completed his training, he promised his master he would roam the land and save ten thousand lives."
"So for the foreseeable future, he can’t remain in Shu State."
"Really?"
"Of course. That night on the Painted Boat, Boss Chen was very adamant about it."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wan’er couldn’t help but look surprised. She said with admiration, "No wonder Boss Chen so rarely makes an appearance in Shu State. So he has such a grand ambition."
"If only I had his level of Medical Skill."
Chen Yi muttered an agreement, then said comfortingly, "Everyone has their own strengths. You don’t need to envy others."
"Besides, it’s like the saying goes: give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Once the Physicians at the Medical Dao Academy complete their studies, won’t they save far more than ten thousand people?"
Xiao Wan’er nodded, her eyes filled with anticipation, clearly imagining the future once the Medical Dao Academy was established.
Then, she pulled a blue-covered booklet from her cloak and said,
"Brother-in-law, this is what I’ve compiled about the Medical Dao Academy over the last few days, based on what you said before. Could you take a look?"
Chen Yi would not refuse, of course. He took the booklet and scanned through it, a sense of gratification welling up inside him.
’He had to admit...’
’The charter Xiao Wan’er had put together was incredibly detailed.’
’She had not only categorized and listed everything they had discussed previously, but had also jotted down important notes and new ideas.’
"For the most part, it’s fine. We’ll just need to adjust some minor details based on the academy’s final structure—the dean, the instructors, the required texts, and so on."
"You’re right, Brother-in-law. That’s what I was thinking, too. I just have a few questions left, and I was hoping you could help me decide on them."
"For example, this part here..."
The two of them huddled together, studying the contents of the booklet. For the most part, Chen Yi did the talking while Xiao Wan’er listened intently, committing it all to memory.
When the carriage finally stopped in front of Guiyun Academy, Chen Yi closed the booklet and said with a smile,
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. This is more than enough for you to take that first step."
Xiao Wan’er nodded, her face breaking into a radiant smile, as bright and beautiful as a newly bloomed Snow Lotus.
’Exquisite.’
Chen Yi allowed himself another look before stepping out of the carriage. He gathered the twenty-odd brocade boxes containing the calligraphy pieces, ready to deliver them to Mr. Yue Ming.
Just then, Xiao Wan’er followed him out. She looked at the building with the plaque bearing the name ’Guiyun Academy’ and asked hesitantly,
"Can I come along and have a look?"
Chen Yi could see she was intrigued. He nodded. "Of course."
He even came up with a convenient excuse. "As it happens, it’s a bit awkward for me to carry all these boxes by myself. I’ll have to trouble you for some help."
"Alright."
Xiao Wan’er smiled and took two of the brocade boxes. She then instructed Shen Huatang to carry a few more, leaving only Xie Tingyun behind to watch the carriage.
The three of them entered the academy together.
Xiao Wan’er looked down at the boxes in her hands and said, "I heard Xiaodie mention before that you had them mounted, but I didn’t imagine there would be this many."
"Are all of these for the exhibition hall?"
Chen Yi grunted in affirmation and replied,
"I don’t know how large a space Mr. Yue Ming and the others have prepared, so I wrote a few extra pieces, just to be safe."
"If there are too many, you can just keep the extras for now. If there are too few... well, then there are too few. We’ll just have the dean and the others write some more."
Hearing the word "keep," Xiao Wan’er couldn’t help but remember the poem she had "stolen" from Chen Yi’s study. She instinctively ducked her head, not daring to ask any more questions.
Chen Yi, of course, was oblivious to her thoughts.
He continued to lead Xiao Wan’er and Shen Huatang deeper into the academy, nodding in return to students who greeted him along the way.
The students’ reactions to Chen Yi were normal. Whether they knew him or not, they all offered a proper, formal bow.
Upon seeing Xiao Wan’er, however, their composure faltered.
Even the resident playboys—those talented scholars who prided themselves on being suave and worldly—were no exception, all of them seemingly struck dumb by her heavenly beauty.
