“Mr. Tang is referring to the old house where my family used to live in the village, right?” Shi Yun said. “After my father passed away, a local businessman came to our door, saying he really liked the old house and that it had cultural value. He was willing to pay 50,000 yuan to buy it. At the time, that was a large sum of money, so my mother agreed. We planned to use the money to support my sister and me in our schooling. After selling the old house, our family moved to Dali.”
Upon hearing this, Song Hao suddenly realized something and secretly praised Tang Yu's intelligence. He quickly said, "I now suspect that your father has hidden those ancient medical books again in the old house, because those ancient medical books were found in this old house that your father bought from a neighbor years ago. Perhaps you and your sister were too young to remember these things back then. But for some reason, your mother also forgot this important matter. So, I now give you and A Long an important task: go back to that village in Dali Prefecture and buy that old house back from that businessman at a high price. Tianyi Hall will pay for it. If it is found that those ancient medical books are still hidden in the old house and still belong to your Shi family, Tianyi Hall will buy them at a high price."
Shi Yun said, "This is the task assigned to me by President Song. Ah Long and I will try our best to complete it. Since it is Tianyitang's acquisition, if we can buy it, that house will become Tianyitang's property, and everything found inside will naturally belong to Tianyitang. The talk of acquiring ancient medical books will then be meaningless. My father did indeed have a batch of ancient medical books in his possession, and I hope to find them in this old house. Let's consider it as our two generations of the Shi family making a contribution to Tianyitang."
Song Hao was deeply moved upon hearing this. He patted Shi Yun on the shoulder and said approvingly, "Thank you for saying that. In any case, it was your Shi family who provided us with the clues. Let's wait until we buy that old house and find those ancient medical books inside before making any further plans. Tianyi Hall will not forget you. If we succeed, your name and your father's name will be recorded in history."
“President Song!” Shi Yun said, “Since President Song values these ancient medical books so much, Ah Long and I will hurry back to the village in Dali Prefecture and buy back that old house so that we can search for them.”
"Good!" Song Hao said happily, "This matter is very important, don't be afraid to spend money. To tell you the truth, if that batch of ancient medical books is indeed still in that old house, and we were able to find it, it would be worth it to use the seven or eight million we saved from the gastrodia elata procurement battle in March Street to buy this old house."
"Those ancient medical books are priceless!" Shi Yun exclaimed in surprise. Only now did he realize the importance of those ancient medical books and the mission he was on. Zhao Lida and A Long beside him were also astonished; this fact was beyond their expectations.
"Shi Yun, A Long!" Zhao Lida said earnestly, "Since President Song considers those ancient books so important, you must successfully purchase that old house. And this matter must be kept secret for now to facilitate your actions. From now on, this is your job."
Song Hao said, "Once the purchase is successful, notify me immediately, and Mr. Tang and I will head over right away."
Zhao Lida said, "The office will send people to help President Song find that batch of books."
Song Hao laughed and said, "We don't need too many people. A few of us will be enough. Director Zhao can just send a sealed truck to safely deliver the batch of ancient medical books back to the Tianyitang headquarters."
Shi Yun and Along then drove off to Dali Prefecture with great enthusiasm.
Back in her room, Tang Yu said, "I only have a suspicion about the Shi family's old house. If they don't have those ancient medical books, it would be a waste of money."
Song Hao said, "The eighty-six volumes of the *Lingtai Secret Canon* should still be hidden in that old house. Because no groundbreaking works have appeared in modern times, otherwise they would have been widely circulated among the people long ago. I think Luo Beiming's despicable behavior back then frightened Shi Tingchuan, fearing these books might cause trouble for his family in the future. So, after driving Luo Beiming away, Shi Tingchuan hid those medical books again. That's why Shi Yun and her brother don't know about this; they were too young to remember. Shi Tingchuan realized the importance of the eighty-six volumes of the *Lingtai Secret Canon* back then, perhaps due to the times..." During the Cultural Revolution, when the whole country was destroying the Four Olds, and after the incident of Luo Beiming's reverse acupuncture, he felt it wasn't the right time for these precious medical books to be published. Therefore, he hid them in the old house, waiting for a destined owner. Shi Yun's mother probably knew about this, even the location of the books, but why she didn't explain it to Shi Yun and his sister is unknown. I suspect that the old woman still held onto old-fashioned ideas and the influence of her husband, Shi Yanzan, and feared that the books might cause trouble for Shi Yun and his sister in the future. Therefore, she preferred to sell the house and keep the books hidden forever, letting the matter fade into obscurity.
Tang Yu nodded and said, "Your analysis makes sense; that should be the case."
At this moment, Song Hao felt a surge of excitement and said, "If these legendary ancient medical books can be successfully published, they could potentially supplement or even expand upon existing TCM theories. The discussions on medicine might be more direct, and many unsolved mysteries could be answered within them. The eighty-six ancient medical books in the *Linglan Secret Canon* should provide us with methods. They will also help us intuitively explain the mysteries of medicine using modern language. The wisdom of ancient sages and the wisdom of modern people will be interconnected through these books."
"That's right!" Song Hao exclaimed excitedly, "Shi Tingchuan once learned an ancient forbidden technique from these WwWs, which allowed him to counter Luo Beiming. This shows that many other miraculous techniques related to controlling and healing the human body were also included in the medical arts by these ancient sages. Ordinary people could learn them by obtaining their secret methods. So the true secret techniques of shifting essence and transforming qi should also be included here, and there should also be elements of Qimen Dunjia, different from the false ones in the world. The 'Linglan Secret Canon' should have the power to encompass the heavens and the earth! It should have the ability to include everything! In the eyes of the ancients, the medical arts were inherently connected with the way of heaven. The unity of heaven and man, the mutual transformation, is the true, ever-changing, and wonderful world!"
Looking at Song Hao's excited expression, Tang Yu shook her head and laughed, "Look how happy you are! It's as if the 'Spirit Orchid Secret Manual' was specially prepared by the ancient Yellow Emperor for you in later generations. Today, by chance, I specially asked you to come and get it."
Song Hao said, "Since the time of the Yellow Emperor, and having escaped the burning of books by Qin Shi Huang, these extremely precious ancient medical books have remained unpublished for thousands of years. It's truly not yet time for them to be revealed; they're waiting for me from Tianyi Hall. Or rather, only Tianyi Hall can truly utilize these ancient medical books. If they fall into the hands of others, or even related institutions, they can only be used as data and for archaeological research—at least for the next few years. Of course, if we find these books, we can also collaborate with relevant national departments researching traditional Chinese medicine to excavate and organize them. We can reveal the mysteries of the relationship between heaven and man that the ancient sages have already glimpsed to the world as soon as possible, allowing people in the world today to have a better understanding of our world." A renewed understanding is of paramount importance. The significance of these precious scriptures transcends the mere act of healing. Just like the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as we know them today—the harmony between humanity and nature, Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, the theory of Qi and Blood, and the holistic concept—their significance goes far beyond simply treating illness. In a certain time and space, they have already surpassed current human understanding. Yet, people ignore this, and even criticize them. Ignorance and foolishness have led to the current stagnation of TCM. What is being delayed is not only the revitalization of medicine, but also an obstacle to people's correct understanding of the world. The level of understanding of the world that people currently possess is only the beginning, and it will never end.
"The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic) is considered the foremost of all medical classics, laying the theoretical foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine. The *Linglan Midian* (Secret Canon of the Spiritual Orchid), a work from the same era that includes elements of the *Neijing*, contains eighty-six volumes. Its theories are unimaginably profound and extensive! I believe that some of its content, like the *Neijing*, was also revealed to the world, becoming a source of many cultural influences. The *Linglan Midian* was written during a great era. Given the level of understanding of the world at that time, it would have been impossible for people to create such a great collection of books, nor could it be called 'books from outer space.' It should be said that a group of exceptional wise men emerged among the ancient people, observing the heavens, surveying the earth, and understanding human affairs, thus advancing..." By glimpsing the secrets of the Heavenly Way and discerning the essence of life, we realize that Heaven, Earth, and Man are inherently one. Thus, books were written to guide future generations. Our task now is to find these scriptures, gain a new understanding of the wisdom of the ancients, and enjoy the fruits they have left us. The more ancient a civilization, the closer it is to the essence of things. Sometimes, we are not blindly believing in the wisdom of the ancients, but rather blindly believing in modern technology. Blinded belief is true superstition. Centuries later, humanity may suddenly realize that what they once considered superstition was actually the threshold to understanding truth, and thus return to simplicity. Perhaps this is the cycle of the world.” Song Hao then remarked with emotion.
“A true healer should be a wise person who sees through all things, and only then can he achieve the omnipotent way of medicine!” Tang Yu said with a smile.
"Indeed! Thank you for your summary!" Song Hao gave Tang Yu a thumbs up.
Exploring Thirty-Six Ancient Houses
The next morning, Ah Long called and said, "President Song, Shi Yun and I arrived at the village where the old house is located last night and met the current owner. To be on the safe side, Shi Yun told him he wanted to buy back the old house as a vacation spot. However, the owner said the house has appreciated in value and he won't sell it for less than 500,000 yuan, and he doesn't want to sell it either. I think he's trying to inflate the price; the house isn't worth that much now. Shi Yun is very angry about this and doesn't want Tianyitang to pay such a high price for the house. He's planning to negotiate the price again."
Song Hao said, "Then let's raise the price a bit more. Don't be afraid to spend money. We must buy the house today. I understand how you and Shi Yun feel, but this matter is of utmost importance. Don't waste time to avoid any accidents."
Ah Long replied, "Alright, I'll go over there with Shi Yun again later. Actually, if President Song could give us a few more days, we could get it for two or three hundred thousand. We inquired yesterday and found out that the current owner of this house lost money in business and is looking to sell it. It's just that we've been too proactive, so he's started to raise the price."
"Hehe!" Song Hao laughed upon hearing this, "Thank you and Shi Yun for thinking of Tianyi Hall, but what you're doing now isn't a business deal, but a very important matter, so don't haggle over the price. If I went, I would have given them millions even if they asked for it, which is why I refrained from going. Here's what you do: you and Shi Yun go and talk to the landlord again. You can use your wisdom, but you must get a result today. Otherwise, if they hear any news, they'll make exorbitant demands and oppose us."
"Don't worry, Mr. Song, the house will definitely be bought before tonight," Ah Long said.
At noon, Ah Long called again, excitedly saying, "Mr. Song, it's done! After speaking with you this morning, Shi Yun and I discussed it and decided we couldn't let the original homeowner get away with it too easily. So, instead of going directly to him, we found another old house in the village and offered a higher price. After some haggling, we even paid a 10,000 yuan deposit. Guess what? The original homeowner, upon hearing the news, immediately contacted us and voluntarily lowered the price by 50,000 yuan, and..." They decided to leave everything behind, only moving out with their family. Shi Yun then told him that he had already bought another house and paid a deposit. The original owner then voluntarily lowered the price by 30,000, saying his house was several hundred years old and had significant historical value. Shi Yun and I, with smiles on our faces, pretended to inspect the house again, and finally agreed on a price of 420,000. Shi Yun is currently inside signing a preliminary sales contract with the owner; we'll go complete the property registration later. President Song and President Tang can arrive tomorrow.”
"Well done! You guys are very clever!" Song Hao exclaimed.
"Hehe!" Ah Long laughed, "This is a 'playing hard to get' tactic we learned from President Song on March Street, and it really works! It never fails!"
Upon hearing this, Song Hao laughed and said, "You're able to apply what you've learned, that's impressive! We don't need to wait until tomorrow. Since the house has already been bought, Mr. Tang and I will head over there shortly."
“Alright!” Ah Long replied, “Shi Yun and I will wait for President Song and President Tang in Dali City.”
After finishing his call with Ah Long, Song Hao shook his head and laughed, "Ah Long and Shi Yun are really two smart people; they've already bought that house." He then recounted the story of how the two bought the house to Tang Yu.
Upon hearing this, Tang Yu smiled and said, "These two are indeed capable. Tianyi Hall should definitely make good use of them in the future."
Tang Yu then asked Zhao Lida for a car, and he and Song Hao rode towards Dali Prefecture.
The car arrived in Dali close to evening. Although the March Street Gastrodia elata purchasing frenzy had ended more than half a month ago, returning to this place felt like it had happened just yesterday, and the tense atmosphere was still vivid in my mind.
After making a phone call to Ah Long, an SUV pulled up and stopped. Ah Long and Shi Yun, both beaming with joy, jumped out of the vehicle.
Song Hao praised the two of them, and then Ah Long drove them towards the village in the Cangshan Mountains, with Shi Yun's car following behind.
An ancient Bai ethnic village lies nestled amidst beautiful mountains and forests. With its unique scenery and clear waters, it resembles a paradise on earth.
The two cars stopped in front of the gate of a simple and solemn courtyard house with blue bricks and green tiles. This was the former residence of Shi Yun.
Song Hao got out of the car and looked at the old house. It was clearly different from the other houses in the village. It must have been a house built in the style of the Central Plains hundreds of years ago.
Shi Yun walked over and explained, “These old Han-style buildings are quite special and rare in this Bai village. According to the elders, they were built here hundreds of years ago by a Han businessman surnamed Li, probably drawn by the beautiful scenery of Cangshan Mountain. Some say that the Li businessman built them here to house a concubine. Since when, a few Han people have lived in this village. Our Shi family moved here when my father was young, for the convenience of gathering medicinal herbs in Cangshan Mountain.”
Ah Long said, "The house is now fully furnished with all the furniture and appliances left by the original owner. Shi Yun and I have also bought some food. We can stay here and slowly search for what we are looking for."
"President Song, President Tang, this old house now belongs to Tianyitang. Please come in." Shi Yun opened the courtyard gate.
This is indeed an ancient building that is several hundred years old. The original owner has been trying to maintain its original appearance. The wooden doors and windows with carved patterns and the old walls and tiles give people a sense of antiquity.
This courtyard house is designed with a front and back layout. The front is the main hall, spacious and furnished with antique-style tables and chairs. The back courtyard is the inner courtyard, with a total of twelve rooms, and side rooms on both sides, including a kitchen. The floors inside the houses and in the courtyard are all paved with square marble, giving it a solid and dignified feel.
Song Hao looked it over from front to back and said, "This courtyard house is located in the Cangshan Scenic Area. 400,000 yuan is not expensive. Shi Yun, your family sold it for only 50,000 yuan back then. You really lost money."
Shi Yun laughed and said, "Times have changed. Back then, selling for 50,000 was already a very high price. This village is a bit remote, and few tourists come to visit."
Song Hao said, "No matter what, we've successfully gotten in now. I hereby announce that starting today, the four of us will live here, and we'll officially begin our work tomorrow, searching for the scriptures hidden in this old house."