Chapter 2: Debt Collection

Uncle also did not know and had not received my message, completely ignoring me. He greeted me to sit down and casually introduced, pointing at the young man, saying: "This is ... ..." Uncle seemed to hesitate for a moment, then said to me: "He is older than you, so you can call him Brother Chen."

I couldn't help but listen intently, but I could only hear faint sounds, as if someone were mentioning books or some remnants. I recalled the expression on my uncle's face at the dinner table; he seemed quite wary of ghosts. For the first time in so many years, I saw him being so polite to a young man, and I wondered if my uncle owed this kid something. Was he here to collect a debt? For the first time in so many years, I saw him being so polite to a young man, and I wondered if my uncle owed this kid something. Was he here to collect a debt?

As the meal was nearly ready, I noticed that my uncle seemed lost in thought, so I hesitated before speaking up and asked, "Uncle, what does that Chen brother do? Is he here to visit us?" He probably did not expect me to ask this, and after a moment of contemplation, he replied, "He is a colleague, here to visit."

Could you please fill in the blanks? I couldn't help but chuckle quietly. Just as I was about to tell him not to always bring me up, I saw that Mr. Chen suddenly put down his chopsticks and slowly said in a ghostly tone: "Mr. Sun, how is the preparation for the items I requested going?"

I glanced at the black villa I was in, feeling it was impossible. Reflecting on their earlier conversation, it seemed to always involve a book of some sort. Since they were colleagues, it was very likely a medical book.

This is quite possible. Many doctors have the habit of keeping reflective notes, and over the years, that collection of medical notes becomes a valuable asset. Colleagues with whom they have a good rapport often exchange and circulate these notes to enhance their own experience

I feel somewhat unconvinced, thinking that the age seems to be about the same as mine. How could Dao Zhen be so impressive? Moreover, why did my uncle have to lie? Could it be that he really owes someone money?

Moments later, the ghost Chen pressed her lips together and turned to leave

After speaking, we did not engage in further conversation and began to eat. During the meal, my uncle kept serving me dishes and occasionally patted my head, his affectionate gaze sending chills down my neck. I quickly pressed his hand down and said, "Uncle, please don't worry about me, just eat yourself. Look, compared to two years ago, I've lost quite a bit of weight, and there are more wrinkles on my face." As soon as I mentioned wrinkles, my uncle immediately touched his own face and said, "Eating pig skin can be good for the skin, Xiao Liu, hurry up and stew a pig's trotter, my little one needs proper nourishment."

I can't help but want to flip the table; if you want me to leave, just say so. Is it really necessary to put me in such a difficult position?

Four years ago, when I was still a freshman in college, I often enjoyed teasing my uncle during my visits. The reason was simple: my father always liked to compare me to him, saying that the little yellow dog was clever and promising, while I was simply tarnishing my own name

The person quickly made a gesture for silence and said nervously, "Shh, don't make a sound." This individual is a disciple my uncle took in four years ago. At that time, he had dyed his hair yellow and seemed to have wandered into our area. He has an exceptionally keen sense of smell; he can identify any medicinal herb with just a sniff, much like a little yellow dog. My uncle remarked that he was a person of great potential and thus accepted him as a disciple

I knew that my uncle had something to say to the person with the surname Chen, so I gave him some face and went to wash my "eye boogers" at the back of the house. Just as I arrived at the back, I discovered someone hiding there. When I looked, I couldn't help but laugh and lowered my voice to say: "Little yellow dog, what are you doing here?"

I inquired with my eyes, meaning to ask, who is this?

Although my uncle does not possess the official red book issued by the state, he still holds a certain level of renown in the community. For him to acknowledge someone as a peer is quite a significant matter, indirectly affirming that the young man possesses commendable medical skills

Just as I was about to speak up and prepare to confront him, the little yellow dog gestured to me, pulling me behind him and whispering, "Don't move, listen." He looked tense, hiding behind the door crack, signaling me with his eyes to look outside.

Brother Chen? Bah, I still have Brother Wu.

The mountain road was slippery, and I was soaked with dew. By the time I arrived at my uncle's house, my entire body was covered in mud spots

Did Uncle borrow the medical book from someone and not return it

My uncle's smile froze, he coughed once, appearing somewhat self-conscious, and then suddenly turned his face towards me, saying: "Cai Cai, you haven't cleaned your eye mucus properly, go wash it in the back."

I estimated that I should have finished washing my "eye crust" and thus ignored the little yellow dog, pretending not to see anything, and walked out as if nothing had happened. Then I exclaimed, "Where did Brother Chen go?"

I said: "How could I forget? Even if I forget where my parents live, I would never forget your home. Uncle, it has been two years since we last met, and I have missed you dearly"

I touched my face and felt that it was not holding up well. I thought to myself, I am already 24 this year, and you, an old man, still pinch my face and spank me. No wonder I can't find a wife; it's all your fault.

"Indeed," I said, "the Medicine King Sun Simiao, my father hopes that I can emulate the Medicine King." As I spoke, I quickly withdrew my hand; this Chen's hand was particularly cold and stiff, like that of a corpse

I saw a little yellow dog hiding behind, sneaking around, clearly up to something shameful. I felt a desire to play a trick on it. There's no helping it; I am naturally rebellious. Watching others jump around in response to my antics gives me a great sense of accomplishment

Little did I know, after I finished speaking, the young man merely glanced at me and continued walking forward with a blank expression, as if I had assaulted him. I was somewhat bewildered, thinking to myself: They say country folks are friendly, so why is this young man being so disrespectful?

Uncle noticed that I was distracted and thought I was hungry, so he hurriedly asked the household servant to prepare a meal

Although we hadn't seen each other for more than two years, there was no sense of estrangement between us. I casually chatted with my uncle about family matters when Aunt Liu called us to dinner. However, when I sat down at the table, I was suddenly taken aback, as there was another person seated there—the young man I had encountered previously.

Uncle chuckled, sat down in the armchair, pinched my face, and said: "Enough of that, as soon as your tail lifts, Uncle knows what kind of trouble you're up to, stop with the slick talk."

To reach my uncle's house, I had to walk a short stretch of wild mountain road. Since it had been a long time since my last visit, I was momentarily unsure of the way. At the fork in the road, I wandered for a while and then noticed a young man approaching from another main road.

My uncle's family is quite affluent. Although he has treated many wealthy individuals, regardless of their financial status, he charges whatever amount others offer him. Some who are short on money have heard that he has even accepted as little as one dime. Now, in the 21st century, being able to spend just one dime for medical treatment is probably only possible with my uncle.

I forced a smile and extended my hand, saying, "My name is Sun Miao, Brother Chen, please take care of me." The young man finally lifted his head, slowly reached out his hand, and with a ghostly tone, he responded, "Sun Simiao?" His voice was light and ethereal, as if a ghost were speaking, and I immediately felt a chill run down my spine.

Although I know that my uncle is lying, his remark about being a peer still surprised me, because Ghost Chen looks very young. In the medical profession, age and seniority are particularly emphasized, just as some people prefer to consult older doctors when seeking treatment.

I immediately leaned over, pushed the little yellow dog aside, and looked out through the crack in the door. I saw the ghost surnamed Chen and my uncle had already stood up from the dining table. My uncle had his back to me, so I couldn't see his expression clearly, but from my angle, I could see the ghost Chen. His face was stiff and cold, as if something unpleasant had occurred.

In front of outsiders, he indeed holds a high reputation, but in reality, he is also someone who lacks respect for the elderly. When he had free time as a child, he would take me up the mountain to catch toads, placing them in bamboo cages to fight. Whoever's toad lost would have to let the other ride on their back. At that time, I didn't know why, but my uncle always lost, so I would ride him around the yard. During that period, I was so happy that I didn't even want to go home.

My uncle remained in a position with his back turned to me, not moving for a long time. After about two minutes, he returned to his seat, his expression somber, gazing gloomily at the table full of dishes.

My uncle's complexion improved slightly. He said that the ghost Chen had finished eating and had gone back to his room to rest, urging me to continue eating. Occasionally, my uncle would serve me some dishes, but he seemed distracted, and several times he picked up the green peppers that I disliked the most. I endured and ate them anyway

The young man looked up and, upon seeing me, was momentarily taken aback. However, he gave off an air of arrogance. I noticed him frown slightly, and his gaze shifted to my uncle, upon which he called out, "Mr. Sun."

Rely on.

My uncle is particularly energetic; even at the age of fifty, he looks just like someone who has just turned forty-one. He is robust and strong. Upon seeing me, his face lit up with joy, and he quickly pulled me into the house, asking, "Little rascal, after such a long time, did you have trouble finding your uncle's home?"

This little yellow dog, don't even think about pulling my hand; usually, when it sees me, it acts like a mouse seeing a cat. I noticed something was off with its expression, and when I recalled the scene where my uncle deliberately sent me away, I couldn't help but wonder, has something happened?

I saw a young man walking with his head down, looking quite familiar, so I approached him and asked, "Brother, do you know how to get to Dr. Sun's house?" In fact, I was not far from my uncle's home, and those living nearby generally know who I am referring to when I mention Dr. Sun.

I secretly cursed the young man as a jerk while pulling out my phone to call my dad, asking for directions to my uncle's house. My dad scolded me for a while on the phone before finally telling me the way.

Before I even entered the yard, I saw my uncle waiting for me in the courtyard. The small black villa was particularly understated. No matter how I looked at it, it seemed out of place. I mean, if one were to build a villa, it should at least be in a second-tier city or above. Constructing a villa in the countryside is completely incongruous.

I felt a tightness in my chest, realizing that I had stumbled upon something I should not have seen. I immediately kicked the little yellow dog and thought, if you love to spy, then spy; why drag me into this? Now I am left with a tingling sensation in my heart, as if a little kitten were playing around.