Chapter 1

### Chapter 1: The Way of Dao is Not Easily Passed On

"Little girl, how old are you? What's your name?"

Zeng Yi was sitting on a train bound for Rongcheng, smiling as he teased the little girl across from him.

The little girl looked to be about five or six years old, with clear features and a delicate appearance, but she seemed a bit listless. When she heard Zeng Yi's greeting, she shrank back, her small hand reaching for the boy beside her.

The boy immediately took the popsicle out of his mouth and put on a fierce expression, "I'll tell you, don't you dare bully my sister, or I'll beat you up!"

Zeng Yi laughed heartily, "You're quite a little man, aren't you? You know how to protect your sister even at such a young age."

The boy proudly "hmmphed" twice and turned to his sister, "Xin'er, don't be afraid. If he bullies you again, I'll use the dog-beating stick technique!" His words were bold, but after saying them, he embarrassingly licked his "dog-beating popsicle" again.

"The child is speaking without thinking, young man, don't be angry." An elderly man in his early sixties spoke up, with a dignified demeanor and a look of apology on his face.

Zeng Yi waved his hand and smiled, "No problem, children speak without reserve. It's clear that these two kids have a deep bond." When the old man and the two children got on the train, Zeng Yi had already noticed that they were a pair of dragon and phoenix twins, and the old man was likely their grandfather.

The old man couldn't help but feel a bit more favorably toward Zeng Yi. Although children speak without reserve, being called a dog without reason would be hard for most young people to bear, and they would likely say a few words to scold the child for being "ill-mannered" or "not speaking properly." However, this young man was very magnanimous and clearly didn't take it to heart.

"Where are you headed, young man?" The old man struck up a conversation with Zeng Yi. A long journey would be more pleasant with someone to chat with.

"I'm going to Rongcheng," Zeng Yi replied.

"Then we're going the same way! I'm also heading to Rongcheng!" The old man chuckled. He saw that Zeng Yi was in his early twenties, with a refined and scholarly appearance, and asked, "Are you going to study?"

Zeng Yi shook his head, "I'm going on a trip... " Zeng Yi didn't tell the truth. He was actually going to Rongcheng at the invitation of his senior classmate to intern at the provincial people's hospital, but he had no interest in working in a large hospital, so he wasn't very enthusiastic about the trip. He was only going out of respect for his senior classmate.

"You've chosen the right place. Rongcheng is the capital of Nanjiang Province, with mountains and water, a pleasant climate, and many places to visit, such as Qingyang Palace, Wenshu Temple, Yulong Mountain, and Tianfu Street..." The old man seemed very familiar with Rongcheng, listing the places like a well-versed guide. After introducing the good spots in Rongcheng, he said, "Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. It's very beneficial to travel while you're young."

"You're right, sir," Zeng Yi nodded with a smile, then continued, "Are you going to Rongcheng to see a doctor for your granddaughter?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the old man became wary. He had traveled extensively and knew that trains were full of all sorts of people. Some people would try to get close to you, extract information, and then set up a scam with their accomplices. The old man had seen this many times, but he didn't expect to encounter it today. This well-dressed young man must be an expert in such schemes, and he had subtly figured out that his granddaughter was sick.

"Can you also see illnesses, young man?" The old man's face remained smiling, but he didn't reveal anything.

"I know a little bit," Zeng Yi didn't realize that the old man was already on guard. He continued, "I don't think the little girl's illness is serious. She doesn't need to see a doctor. Just have her drink a cup of hot sugar water in the morning and evening, and avoid cold foods. She should be fine in a month."

Zeng Yi wasn't trying to chat with the little girl for no reason. He could tell at a glance that she was sick. The little girl was clearly underweight and had a slightly greenish complexion. Even a layperson who paid attention could see that she wasn't well.

However, this wasn't the main point. After speaking, Zeng Yi looked at the boy eating the popsicle and put on a serious expression, "Your grandson's condition is a bit more serious. It's very hot these days, and he needs someone to watch over him at all times, or it could be dangerous..."

When Zeng Yi said this, he deliberately lowered his voice, afraid that the child would hear and feel burdened.

However, this action made the old man even more suspicious. It confirmed his belief that this young man was a fraud, trying to scare him into believing his grandchild was sick to get money!

As a parent, who wouldn't be worried about their child? Most people would fall for such a trick, regardless of whether it was true or not. The old man wasn't heartless, but he knew his grandchildren's health very well. His granddaughter had indeed been sick, but his grandson was healthy, lively, and ate and slept well. How could he possibly be sick?

This despicable fraud, daring to curse my beloved grandson!

The old man was extremely disgusted but said, "You're right, young man. It is quite hot. I'll give him some Huoxiang Zhengqi Water later. Ah... I'm getting a bit tired from talking so much. I'll rest for a while." He then half-closed his eyes and ignored Zeng Yi.

Zeng Yi was taken aback. He thought, "You look so healthy and full of energy, you don't seem old enough to get tired after a few words." He had wanted to say more about the boy's condition, but seeing the old man's reaction, he realized that his enthusiasm had made the old man suspicious.

"Cough... Today I tried to be a good person in vain!"

Zeng Yi shook his head helplessly. The old saying was right: "A doctor does not knock on the door, and the way of Dao is not easily passed on." His proactive offer of help was seen as worthless and even suspicious. He decided to stop talking. If he continued, the old man might not believe him and could even call the train conductor. Fortunately, medical standards had improved, so even if the boy fell ill, it wouldn't be life-threatening, just a bit more painful.

Feeling the old man's wary gaze, Zeng Yi lay down and covered his head to sleep, out of sight and out of mind.

At around three in the afternoon, a pleasant voice came over the train's intercom, "Dear passengers, we have arrived at the final destination, Rongcheng Station. Thank you for riding with us..."

Zeng Yi took his wooden suitcase from the luggage rack and got off the train with the crowd.

The old man had been wary of Zeng Yi the whole time, but nothing had happened. When Zeng Yi took his suitcase, the old man noticed that the wooden box had a strange shape, similar to the kind doctors used to carry in ancient times. This made him wonder if he had misunderstood the young man.

Thinking back to the young man's words, the old man felt a bit uneasy. He looked down at his grandson, who was sleeping soundly on the bunk. He wanted to call the young man back to ask more, but in the blink of an eye, the young man was gone.

A luxury off-road vehicle with military plates slowly parted the crowd and drove onto the platform. A woman in her thirties, elegant and refined, wearing large sunglasses, stepped out of the car. Seeing the old man, she called, "Dad," and quickly approached, "I told you not to take the train, but you didn't listen! Even young people would find it hard to endure such a long journey."

The old man smiled, "You know I get carsick, and no medicine helps. The train is steady and safe! Alright, let's get the children in the car first!"

The woman's face lit up with happiness and satisfaction when she saw her children, but they were sleeping soundly, and she didn't want to wake them. She kissed each of them on the cheek and carefully placed them in the back seat.

After the old man got in the car, the woman said, "Let's keep the windows open!"

"Close them! The children are sleeping, don't let them catch a cold. It's a short drive, we'll be there soon." The old man got carsick but wasn't that fragile.

As the car started, the woman asked, "How is Xin'er doing now?"

"She keeps vomiting after eating and shivers in her sleep at night. The doctors at the sanatorium are good with elderly patients, but they don't have much experience with children. They haven't found the cause of her illness yet."

The woman looked at her daughter in the rearview mirror, her face showing concern, "I've already contacted the best pediatric professor at the 901 Hospital in Beijing. We'll see him first thing tomorrow."

The old man nodded and fell silent, not wanting to disturb the children. As the car passed through the bustling square in front of the station, the old man couldn't help but look out, hoping to catch a glimpse of the young man.

"Are you looking for someone, Dad?" the woman asked.

The old man shook his head and turned his gaze away.

The car sped off and soon disappeared from sight.

Zeng Yi emerged from the exit, took out his phone, and sent a text: "Arrived in Rongcheng, Zeng Yi." Then he hailed a taxi and headed straight for the Nanjiang Provincial People's Hospital.

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**End of Chapter 1**