Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: The Treasure Boy

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Guo Dong held a long snake in his hand. When he returned to the peach orchard, all the peaches had already been picked and loaded onto the truck. Xie Minmin, who he hadn’t expected to see, personally drove over. Seeing Meng Xiaohan flee in panic and Guo Dong gripping a large snake, Xie Minmin suddenly took off her glasses.

“Boss Guo, I didn’t realize you had this skill!” The woman showed no fear at all and even leaned in to take a closer look at the snake in Guo Dong’s hand.

“A mountain man, used to going into the mountains to gather herbs, learned it from that!” Guo Dong replied.

Xie Minmin, who had been indifferent until now, was surprised. “Gathering herbs? You... are you still an herbalist?”

“What herbalist? This kid’s family tradition, Chinese medicine!” a villager nearby shouted, causing others to cheer.

These people had helped pick the peaches mainly to witness the payment. Hundreds of thousands! Even if they couldn’t get any, it was good enough just to see it!

“You also understand Chinese medicine?” Xie Minmin was now the one surprised. The unremarkable young man before her not only had skill in peach farming but was also a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine.

She knew well that Chinese medicine wasn’t like Western medicine, where a few years of study would suffice. Many famous early practitioners had started learning from childhood. They had to read countless medical texts and accumulate practical experience.

One could say that the reason Chinese medicine fell behind was because of these complex rules and the demanding learning process. Otherwise, after thousands of years and generations of refinement, how could Western medicine simply replace it?

“We don’t know how good this kid’s skills are, but Old Master Guo was truly formidable!” one villager said. “Not now, but back then, who in this area didn’t seek treatment from the old master?”

Hearing their praise, Guo Dong felt embarrassed. “That’s all talk. If my grandfather were really that great, he wouldn’t have ended up in so much debt. Times have changed. Nowadays, people with a headache or fever just go to the hospital for some medicine. Who still uses Chinese medicine?”

Guo Dong smiled wryly. He wasn’t sure about other places, but here, that was the reality. For minor illnesses, people would drive to the town hospital for injections and fluids. Who would bother with those bitter herbal concoctions?

“You can’t say that. Where there is existence, there is reason. Big cities even have specialized Chinese medicine hospitals. It’s not as bad as you say,” Xie Minmin said, pulling out her phone and starting the transfer.

The moment the money arrived, Guo Dong’s mood brightened immensely. Selling these peaches today was enough for him to pay off debts in the neighboring village.

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After today, he would be debt-free, light and liberated, never having to bow his head again.

He had wanted to invite Xie Minmin to stay for a meal, but remembering the snake in his hand, he gave up.

Unexpectedly, Xie Minmin suddenly spoke. “If you don’t mind, may I come to your home to meet your grandfather?”

“What?” Guo Dong was momentarily stunned.

Xie Minmin smiled. “I hadn’t planned on coming today. I was accompanying a friend to the city, but plans changed and I came back early. Since your grandfather is also a practitioner, I thought I could ask him some questions.”

“Your friend is ill?” Guo Dong realized and quickly led her toward his home.

“Just some skin problems that many hospitals couldn’t cure. The medicines and treatments were all the same, treating only symptoms, not the root cause. It was torturous. We went to the city for treatment today, but seeing it was the same as last time, my friend gave up. Someone suggested trying Chinese medicine, so we were planning to come tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Guo Dong nodded. Maybe because he was holding the snake, he quickened his pace.

“From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, the lungs govern the skin. Has your friend had a lung examination?”

“Lungs?” Xie Minmin was taken aback. The skin problem related to internal organs?

Guo Dong smiled. “Not always, it depends on the situation. Sometimes it’s linked to qi and blood. It’s best to bring your friend here for a look. My grandfather’s situation isn’t great, but his skills are still decent.”

By the time they reached their courtyard, Meng Tianming was still there, sitting and talking with Guo An.

Guo An wasn’t fazed by their return — he knew Xie Minmin. But Meng Tianming looked awkward, glancing at Xie Minmin and then at Guo Dong holding the snake.

“Guo Dong, who’s this?” Judging by his expression and tone, there was likely some misunderstanding.

He found a cage, put the snake inside, then said, “She’s from the county, surname Xie. The peaches I sold this time were to her.”

Hearing this, Meng Tianming finally relaxed. As he left, he glanced at Guo Dong a few times, his gaze oddly unsettling.

Guo Dong paid no mind and pulled out a stool.

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“Grandpa, Sister Min has a friend with a skin problem and wants to ask you something.”

Without looking back, he went inside to start washing vegetables and preparing the meal.

Since entering the courtyard, Xie Minmin’s eyes roamed everywhere. It was truly poor. The house looked old, but compared to others in the village, it was far worse.

The furnishings were the key: all old furniture, paint peeling, worn beyond repair. Especially the small room in the yard — empty except for a single bed.

Entering the yard, a strong herbal medicine scent hit her nose, deepening her impression of the grandfather and grandson.

While discussing the friend’s condition with the old man, her gaze kept drifting toward the kitchen. Peach farming, ambition, knowledge of Chinese medicine, cooking skills, and bearing the family’s burden at a young age — this was the classic hidden gem of a young man!

Yet such a boy was buried in this impoverished place.

Putting aside everything else, a person like this, if brought to a big city, would surely find a place, at least not worse than most.

Soon, the aroma from the kitchen spread, and Xie Minmin prepared to leave.

“Grandpa, since that’s the case, I’ll bring my friend along when I come tomorrow for a consultation!”

Guo An nodded, about to say something to keep her, when Guo Dong suddenly interrupted from the kitchen.

“Sister Min, did your friend have eczema as a child?”

Xie Minmin was unaware and shook her head. “I’m not sure. Should I call and ask now?”

“Yes, best to check. If that’s the case, my grandfather has some herbs here. You can take some home, sprinkle them in the bath at night, and see how it works.”

Xie Minmin glanced at Guo Dong still cooking in the kitchen, then at Old Master Guo, and quickly took out her phone to inquire.

Just then, Guo Dong finished cooking, took off his apron, and came out.

“Grandpa, the meal’s ready. You eat first; I’m going to East Village for a bit.”

Guo An glared at him. “Can’t you wait? Eat first, then go!”

Guo Dong shook his head. “Everyone’s home now. I’ll go quickly to get it done and save trouble.”

Without saying goodbye to Xie Minmin, he hurriedly rode off on his electric bike.

Xie Minmin, after finishing the call, was momentarily stunned, watching him leave.

“Old Master, what’s he doing?”

“Going to East Village to repay debts!”