"With everyone's support, I have even more confidence," Song Hao said with emotion.
Baihe Town. The Baihe River is still so clear and bright, and the Wansong Ridge in the distance presents its vast and majestic outline. The ancient town corresponds to this, and everything is so natural and perfect.
Baihe Town has changed significantly since Song Hao left a few years ago. Due to the development of tourism, a series of related economic industries have emerged, and its overall economic strength has far surpassed that of the county seat, and it is booming.
"What a beautiful place!" Tang Yu exclaimed as she looked out the car window.
Zhang Baolun, who was driving, laughed and said, "This is an ancient town, about five or six hundred years old. It has many historical sites. When you have time, I'll have Song Hao show you around. Anyone who comes here will love to stay."
"No wonder Song Hao insisted on coming back to develop his career! With the right timing, location, and people, it truly is a treasure trove!" Tang Yu exclaimed.
"Most importantly, this is where I grew up, and all my happy childhood memories are left here," Song Hao exclaimed.
"Song Hao, do you know why we like you?" Zhang Baolun said with a smile, "You have a unique temperament of an ancient scholar. You are upright, kind, loyal, and sentimental. Back then, you were not only a role model for us, but for the whole class."
"Go ahead and brag in front of Tang Yu! I'll definitely treat you to a drink later to thank you," Song Hao said with a smile.
"That's the absolute truth. Who didn't know about the little miracle doctor from Ping An Tang before?" Zhang Baolun laughed.
As they spoke, Zhang Baolun drove the car into a courtyard. In front of them stood a three-story building with about twenty or thirty rooms. This place was located on the eastern outskirts of Baihe Town, next to the highway, and the Baihe River was just a few hundred meters ahead.
"Song Hao, you guys take a look around the yard first and see what's going on. I'll go negotiate the price with the homeowner," Zhang Baolun said. He then got out of the car and walked towards the building.
Song Hao, Tang Yu, and the squad leader looked around in the courtyard and were quite satisfied.
"This yard is quite large, and there's a lot of open space in the back, so it can be expanded in the future. It's really great!" Tang Yu said.
"The key is that we already have a place. With some renovations and the purchase of some medicine cabinets, we can get it up and running quickly," Song Hao said.
Before long, Zhang Baolun came out of the building with a big smile and said excitedly, "It's done! Sold for 1.2 million! The cost of buying the land and building this place a few years ago was worth 1.5 million! The owner will bring the property certificate and contract this afternoon to complete the transaction. Now this place is yours."
Upon hearing this, Song Hao was overjoyed and said happily, "Thank you!"
Zhang Baolun said, "I've rented a few rooms on the first floor to use as storage! They'll be vacated for you in the next few days, so you can start decorating your Tianyi Hall. Alright, leave this to me. I'll find someone to do the decoration for you, and I'll just charge you for the labor costs."
"Then I'll have to trouble you!" Song Hao said gratefully.
Tang Yu said, "I will provide the decoration design, but we also want to make some modifications to the building, such as building a basement to store some special medicines." Tang Yu remembered the Tian Sheng Acupuncture Bronze Figure, so she decided to build a separate secret room to store it, as it would be unsafe to leave it in the Song family's old house in Penglai for too long.
“No problem,” Zhang Baolun said. “You can change the way you provide the materials however you want. Materials and workers can be brought in from Liu Tian’s construction site at any time. These are free. We can also build a few warehouses in the backyard. It’s a bargain to him.
"That's not quite right. We'll just pay for the materials," Tang Yu said.
"It's alright!" Zhang Baolun laughed. "If you weren't in such a hurry and short on time, we would have had Liu Tian demolish this building and rebuild a new one for you, without spending a single penny. It's all just a matter of a word from him. That kid's got some serious skills now!"
Song Hao laughed and said, "We are already very satisfied. We can find him again when we expand in the future."
"Okay! Don't be polite with him then, or he'll say you look down on him. By the way, I have to go back to the company to take care of some things. You guys figure out what to do next. Magee should be back by noon, then Liu Tian and I will come over and have lunch with you." Zhang Baolun finished speaking, waved his hand, and drove off.
"Your classmates all look like nouveau riche, so vulgar, but they're really good friends when it comes to getting things done! I underestimated them," Tang Yu shook her head and said with a sigh.
"They're all kind people who cherish the past!" Song Hao exclaimed.
"What should we do next?" Song Hao asked, somewhat bewildered.
"You don't need to worry about it. Our Tang family has experience in running hospitals. I know what to do. I'll just give you a ready-made Tianyi Hall. Let Xiao Wu come with me to the building to see how to set it up. You haven't been back for years, so go and take a look around yourself. Don't get in my way here," Tang Yu said with a smile.
Chapter Twenty: The Initial Establishment of Tianyi Hall (2)
“Okay!” Song Hao nodded happily, relieved to be free of any worries.
"You're lucky to have such a helpful person around!" Tang Yu said with a smile.
"The money and documents are with you. You can also carry out the transaction this afternoon. I really have something to take care of," Song Hao said, glancing at Wansongling in the distance.
"You're pushing your luck! You're using me as a laborer!" Tang Yu complained.
"Brother Song is the boss's wife who puts Sister Tang Yu in charge!" the sergeant said with a simple smile.
"Xiao Wu, you've learned to be cheeky too! I'm ignoring you guys." Tang Yu pretended to be angry and walked into the building, but in her heart she was overjoyed.
The sergeant scratched his head and followed.
Song Hao smiled, turned around, and left alone. He first bought some paper money, incense sticks, and offerings, then headed towards Wansong Ridge. He was going to pay his respects at the grave of his great-grandfather, Song Jingchun, and also at the grave of Song Gang.
Wansongling is covered with lush pine trees, many of which are hundreds of years old, hence its name. The mountain is high and the forests dense, and due to the suitable climate, it is a natural treasure trove of medicinal herbs, home to thousands of medicinal plants and hundreds of insect species. Gathering herbs at Wansongling with his grandfather, Song Zihe, was one of Song Hao's most cherished experiences.
On a hillside stood two earthen mounds overgrown with weeds, where the Song family's grandfather and grandson lay buried. Song Hao cleared away some of the weeds and knelt deeply before Song Jingchun's grave. His great-grandfather Song Jingchun's legendary life had inspired Song Hao to aspire to be a "heroic healer."
"Great-grandfather, I am now establishing Tianyi Hall here to help people and practice medicine, and to revitalize traditional Chinese medicine. If you are watching over me from heaven, please bless me with smooth sailing," Song Hao silently prayed.
Standing before Song Gang's grave, Song Hao wept bitterly, overwhelmed with guilt and remorse. He firmly believed that he was responsible for Song Gang's untimely death, a tragic end orchestrated by the Qi family of the Tianyi Sect.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Song Gang. Although I can't avenge you, I will never let the Qi family's plan succeed. I will always be a descendant of the Song family. I will take good care of Grandpa, so please don't worry."
For Song Hao, the medical skills he has achieved do not actually belong to any particular family or individual, but to this country and this nation. What is national is also global. The vague awareness he once had, under the guidance of his master Xiao Boran, has made Song Hao understand that he bears a sense of mission. This special sense of mission has given Song Hao even greater determination and perseverance to fulfill this mission, although he understands that the task is arduous and the road ahead is long, he will forge ahead bravely. Perhaps this is the meaning of life.
After paying his respects, Song Hao stood there silently for a while. As he turned to leave, he suddenly noticed a disheveled, ragged old beggar peeking from the nearby woods. Song Hao was startled, for he remembered seeing this same beggar near the Song family cemetery seven or eight years ago. He had seen him during a Qingming Festival visit with his grandfather. At that time, the beggar had been wandering around his great-grandfather Song Jingchun's grave, and when he saw Song Hao and Song Zihe arrive, he left. The grandfather and grandson hadn't paid much attention, assuming he was just a wandering beggar looking for food among the offerings left at the graves. They never expected that this beggar would reappear here seven or eight years later.
When the old beggar realized that Song Hao had noticed him, a look of surprise appeared in his bewildered and cloudy eyes. He then turned and disappeared into the woods.
Song Hao shook his head, not paying any attention. He could pick up the fruit offerings placed in front of the grave later.
A vast expanse of sky stretched out, a gentle breeze caressed his face. Birds soared, mist rose and smoke billowed. In this ethereal realm, all things merged into one. Standing atop Wansong Ridge, Song Hao gazed at Baihe Town nestled among the distant mountains and the ribbon-like Baishui River, his heart filled with emotion. The true cause he had pursued throughout his life could finally begin. His journey of healing the world would begin at Tianyi Hall.
A black sedan sped up on the road at the foot of the mountain and stopped by the roadside. Two people got out and looked up at the mountain. Song Hao recognized them as Ma Ji and Liu Tian, knowing they had come to pick him up. He quickly came down the mountain.
"I knew you'd come here! You must have gone to visit the graves." Liu Tian said with a smile when he saw Song Hao.