When it ca to that point, a large number of doctors would be necessary, and Mo Yan preferred to cultivate talents herself. Even if not every doctor possessed dical ethics, it was still much better than using those whose backgrounds were unknown.
Whether it was opening a dical hall or training doctors, both were massive undertakings that couldn’t be accomplished overnight. These plans were still within Mo Yan’s projections, but she did not know when they would co to fruition.
After drying the dicinal herbs, Mo Yan returned to the house, only to hear the rhythmic chopping of wood coming from the backyard. Seeing the lean youth skillfully swinging the axe and precisely splitting the log on the first try brought a smile to her face. Had practice made perfect?
While the log remained whole after a single axe blow, wasn’t this sort of task perfect for physical training?
Mao Tuan lay under the cool shade of the eaves, half-opening its tiger eyes to watch Cui Pingan chopping wood. When it saw its master approach, it quickly stood up and rubbed against her legs, sticking out its crimson tongue to incessantly lick its mouth, making a smacking sound.
Understanding what Mao Tuan was thinking, Mo Yan laughed and fetched three well-chilled waterlons from the well in the backyard, instructing it to gather the five beasts hiding in the shade to co out and eat.
"The sun is too fierce. Take a break and have so waterlon before you continue chopping," Mo Yan said to Cui Pingan through the kitchen window, as she went to fetch a tool to cut the waterlon.
Cui Pingan, indeed both tired and thirsty, perked up at the ntion of waterlon. He promptly put down his axe and ran into the kitchen; upon seeing the big, round waterlons, his mouth watered in anticipation. After washing his hands and face, everyone else and the Six Beasts had also gathered.
Mo Yan sliced the waterlons into pieces, giving the two larger ones to the Six Beasts, who had bigger appetites, and the smaller one was just enough for the seven humans.
The waterlon, grown in the family’s own garden in the empty space just outside the backyard wall and regularly watered with Spirit Spring Water, was both large and juicy. It tasted extraordinarily sweet and refreshing—a true delight.
The Mo Family, accustod to eating it, didn’t think much of it, but it was Cui Pingan’s first taste of such flavor. He felt it was the best waterlon he’d ever had. He devoured three large pieces in quick succession and was still not satisfied.
Mo Yan discouraged him from having a third piece not out of reluctance to share, but because Cui Pingan was fundantally frail. Though the waterlon was rich in beneficial Spiritual Energy, its cold nature ant that consuming too much could easily cause diarrhea.
Cui Pingan clearly knew he shouldn’t eat too much, but could not resist the temptation. He stopped when Mo Yan pointed it out and, after resting for a while, he went back to chopping wood behind the kitchen.
Seeing this, Mo Yan didn’t say anything and was about to return to her own yard for a rest when the birds she had released early in the morning to gather information began to return one by one.
As she listened to Xue tuanzi interpreting the feedback from the birds, it turned out as she suspected: the youth was indeed of extraordinary birth. What she never expected was that he was none other than Cui Pingan—Seventh Master Cui, the very sa person the matchmaker had spoken of when calling on her!
Mo Yan rubbed her throbbing forehead, uncertain whether Cui Pingan was aware of his own identity. Regardless of whether he knew or not, she couldn’t keep him stay any longer, so she found Cui Pingan and got straight to the point, "Your family is looking for you everywhere; Jing City has been turned upside down because of it. You should hurry back ho!"
"No, I won’t go back!" Cui Pingan instinctively shook his head in refusal, but once he realized what Mo Yan had just said, he widened his eyes in shock and stared at her, so startled that he didn’t even notice his axe drop from his hand, "How do you know my family is looking for ? You know who I am, don’t you?"
Mo Yan, impatiently waving her hand, responded, "It doesn’t matter how I know they are looking for you, and I don’t know who you are. In any case, you can’t stay here any longer. If you refuse to leave, I’ll send soone to inform your family so they can co and take you back."
"You can’t do that!" Cui Pingan cried out in protest, blocking Mo Yan’s path, fearful that she might actually send word to the Cui family, "Jing City is not my ho. I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to marry my uncle’s daughter. I want to return to Yuan City; I want to find Fangcao."
Mo Yan jumped at his vehent denial and, seeing how resolutely he was opposed, softened her tone a bit, "Your family is searching everywhere for you; it shows they care deeply about you. Can you bear to let them worry and be anxious? Your grandmother has been good to you, right? She’s an old woman who’s been frightened and distressed because of you. Do you think that’s right?"
Cui Pingan involuntarily shook his head, as he rembered how weak his grandmother looked when he ran away the previous night, a look of concern appearing on his face.
Seeing this, Mo Yan continued, "Then go back. If you cause your grandmother distress, will you be able to live peacefully for the rest of your life?"
A struggle flitted across Cui Pingan’s face as he said with difficulty, "But that’s not really my ho. I’m not happy there at all. I don’t want to go back! If my grandmother is willing to co with to Yuan City, I’ll take care of her for the rest of my life."
Mo Yan looked at him and suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for the simple-minded youth. Maybe he wasn’t very clever, but he probably understood everything in his heart. Thinking of him wanting to return to Yuan City to look for soone nad Fangcao, she guessed Fangcao must be the girl who held his affections.
Unaware of Mo Yan’s thoughts, Cui Pingan saw she wasn’t speaking and clutched his fists nervously, "Miss Mo, I’ll write a letter to reassure my grandmother. Could you entrust soone to deliver it to the Cui Mansion? She won’t worry when she sees it."
Looking at his pleading face, Mo Yan relented and nodded, sowhat helplessly agreeing, "Write it. I’ll find soone to deliver it, but if your family tracks you down through this letter and cos here to take you back, then you must leave."
Upon hearing this, Cui Pingan nodded vehently, his face filled with gratitude, "Thank you, thank you, Miss Mo."
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