Chapter 1 - The Flirting Storyteller
Ten years, there weren't many changes in the arrangement of the pharmacy, the layout was still the same. There was a long herbal cabinet far inside, emitting a medicinal fragrance. On the tall desk was a measuring steelyard and kraft paper for wrapping drugs.
At two sides of the lobby, one was a resting room and the other was the consultation room used for treatment. Further inside would be the drugs warehouse and medicinal brewing room.
A man strode into the resting room, put down the fire pan and took out around ten badly-damaged ancient books from an old medicinal box. He kneeled down on one knee before the portrait of an elder and softly said, "Grandfather, I have retrieved all the Imperial Physician Scriptures that have been pa.s.sed down from our ancestors. I will be burning them for you now."
Swiping the match on the coa.r.s.e striking surface of the matchbox, a red spark of flames sipped up the paper, turning them to dust after a short time.
He left this place when he was ten and now, he had returned.
Sitting before Su Tao was the daughter of Boss Cai, the owner of the neighbouring Antique Store.
She was twenty-six, with an appearance like a flower. She didn't have a boyfriend, a rare species for the Sanxian City, which was enveloped in the atmosphere of early marriage and birth.
Cai Yan belonged to those open and well-ripened types. Her pair of peach blossom round eyes were looking at Su Tao. Her gaze was like a wave that spoke for itself. She pursed her lips with a 'smile-yet-not-a-smile' expression. Facing such a beauty, how could his heart not be in disorder?
"Physician Su, what jokes are you telling me today?" Cai Yan looked at Su Tao as she retracted her hands after having her pulse taken and spoke with somewhat expectation.
"I'll tell you about a character from the Three Kingdoms. His name is Lu Bu, known as having three families with the surname of slaves, the cla.s.sical story of shooting the prost.i.tute at the gate." Su Tao blurt out. After coming in contact with Cai Yan for some time, both of them were extremely familiar with each other. Therefore, she wouldn't feel disgusted, even when he told her some obscene stories.
"Pfft!" Cai Yan laughed and her ample bosom danced. "You're too nonsensical. Lu Bu is obviously a slave with three surnames and it's shooting the halberd at the gate. It's the third tone, how is it shooting prost.i.tutes."
Seeing Cai Yan's brows smoothing out, Su Tao faintly smiled. "A mistake, a mistake. Let's change to a brain-twister, then. A Martial Compet.i.tion hosted in the army, the last section is to compete by holding one's breath. The first person lasted five minutes under water, the second person lasted eight minutes. Lastly, the third person lasted for half an hour and could still keep his face in the water, why did you think he's so awesome?"
Cai Yan furrowed her brows as she pondered for a long time, "Half an hour? Could he have cheated and secretly ventilated air? Or was he suffocated to death?"
Su Tao shook his head and sighed with sorrow, "The judge took a glance over and cursed 'WTF'. So it turns out that fellow drank all the water in the washbowl."
Cai Yan's chuckles sounded like silver bells again as she wiped the tears off the corner of her eyes, "You should go on television and make some programs of your own. You'll definitely be a storytelling expert!"
"Laugh a little and ten years younger. The recent symptoms of chest pain, troubled and frequent urine have been relieved, right?" Different patients required different tactics. Cai Yan's illness required her to maintain a joyful state of mind, so Su Tao would tell her a few stories daily.
But Cai Yan might misunderstand that he was teasing her on purpose by telling her stories every day; the best storyteller was also the best flirter.
"Physician Su, your medical skills surpa.s.ses that of the older generation. In the past, Old Physician Su would constantly prescribe medicine for me. And right now, you're able to make me better with just acupuncture. I hate those traditional chinese medicines." Cai Yan rather admired Su Tao.
Su Tao's gaze fell onto Cai Yan's slender fingers, the five jade scallions that seemed like a work of art. Thinking in his heart that if Cai Yan was willing, she could be an excellent moulder. He faintly replied, "Then, I'll need you to help me advertise. As you can see, ever since I've taken over the Three Flavour Hall, business has been dropping."
Realising that her hair was a little messy, Cai Yan gently stroked it while changing her posture, revealing the snow skin on her waistline. She brushed her hair in the midst of talking.
She wore a thin low-collared bottoming blouse. She placed her arm on the desk, which squeezed out the deep ravine from her ample chest, and rested her cheek on her hand. A charm hung on the corner of her lips as she made a little s.e.xy posture, which would give others an impulse to look at her.
Su Tao couldn't help taking two more glances at her snow-white neck, while suppressing the stirring in his heart. "Miss, please restrain your actions a little. Are you trying to tempt others into committing a crime?"
Cai Yan spat in contempt as her face flushed red, "Dream on! I've been sitting in this posture for too long, so I'm just changing it."
