If one didn't look carefully, it could easily be overlooked. In fact, even a sensible person would not see if they didn't what they were looking for in advance.

w.a.n.g Yao was now almost certain that Professor Lin's guess was correct. Some of the mice did have some special relations.h.i.+p with the worms. He was very eager to follow these mice holes.

He dug in four places and found mouse holes everywhere. It was like a line connecting the different locations.

While he was engaged in his task, he heard someone shout, "Xiao Yao, what are you doing? Come out!"

He looked toward the direction of the sound and found someone was outside the death of place. It was w.a.n.g Fengming. "Uncle, why are you here?"

"I came over to have a look," w.a.n.g Fengming anxiously said. "I was afraid that something would come over again and be infected. I saw that the pit was deep. I was very worried. I didn't expect you to be here. Come out, it is dangerous!"

"Oh." w.a.n.g Yao came out.

"Hurry and pat the dirt on your body, then go back to take a bath," w.a.n.g Fengming said.

"No worries, I am fine," w.a.n.g Yao said. "I am not afraid of this thing. Did you drink the medicine earlier?"

"Yes," w.a.n.g Fengming said. "Don't stay here. No should come up. I even feel strange and scared when I stand here."

"OK, let's go." w.a.n.g Yao accompanied him down the mountain.

"What are you looking for?" w.a.n.g Fengming asked.

"I'm looking for what is going on below. I'm trying to figure out why these pieces of gra.s.s are not growing," w.a.n.g Yao said.

"Have you found the reason?" w.a.n.g Fengming asked.

"Yes," w.a.n.g Yao said.

"Why?" w.a.n.g Fengming asked.

"Mice. And, there are special worms, which I burned. The mouse did not die," w.a.n.g Yao said.

"That's easy. Go back and find some rat poison. Then, just sprinkle it on these areas," w.a.n.g Fengming said.

"OK," w.a.n.g Yao said.

As they parted ways, w.a.n.g Fengming said, "If you feel any uncomfortable, go to the hospital early."

"I see. Did you forgot that I am a pharmacist?" w.a.n.g Yao asked.

"I know. Just don't be so rash," w.a.n.g Fengming said.

w.a.n.g Yao returned home with a shovel.

"What are you doing?" his mother asked.

"Digging for treasure." w.a.n.g Yao smiled.

"Did you find some?" she asked.

"I really did," w.a.n.g Yao said.

After making a few jokes with his mother, w.a.n.g Yao entered the room. He did not have much dust on his body. When he was on the mountain, he was surrounded by an invisible wall of Qi, which kept the dust off him.

"Your sister and brother-in-law will come back tonight," Zhang Xiuying said.

"Really?" w.a.n.g Yao was surprised.

During the period of martial law, w.a.n.g Ru was particularly anxious. She made several phone calls to her family every day. She was worried that something was going wrong at home. She wanted to come back but was refused by Zhang Xiuying and w.a.n.g Fenghua. She came back after the martial law had been just lifted. After only a few days away, she was already missing her family.

"What do I need to do?" w.a.n.g Yao asked.

"Nothing. I bought everything in need," Zhang Xiuying said.

"Then, I will give you a hand preparing dinner," w.a.n.g Yao said.

"No, that's OK. You just get some rest," his mother said.

Du Mingyang and w.a.n.g Ru arrived around 5 p.m.

"Uncle, aunt, Xiaoyao." Du Mingyang pleasantly greeted everyone.

"Come on, come in quickly. Every time you come with so many gifts. Since we are almost family, you don't have to be so polite," Zhang Xiuying said with a smile.

"Dad, Mom, how are you?" w.a.n.g Ru asked.

"They must be fine since I am here," w.a.n.g Yao said.

"Take a seat in the room. Xiaoru, come to help me," Zhang Xiuying said.

The three men sat in the room and drank good tea. w.a.n.g Fenghua and Du Mingyang were both smokers, but, this time, Du Mingyang did not smoke.

"Why don't you smoke?" w.a.n.g Fenghua was somewhat curious.

"Hey, I quit smoking because Xiaoru doesn't like the smell," Du Mingyang said.

w.a.n.g Yao smiled. He was happy for his sister. It reflected that his future brother-in-law loved his sister very much.

The women were talking in the kitchen while they prepared the meal.

"Are you getting used to living with him?" Zhang Xiuying asked.

"It's OK," w.a.n.g Ru said.

"How does he treat you?" Zhang Xiuying asked.

"Good," w.a.n.g Ru said.

"Oh, that's good!" Zhang Xiuying smiled. Parents hoped that their children would have a good marriage and be comfortable. After all, marriage was a lifelong matter. "When are you going to have children?"

"Depends on G.o.d," w.a.n.g Ru said.

The meal was soon ready. They all sat and ate happily together. w.a.n.g Yao even drank a few gla.s.ses of wine.

"Do you still go up the mountain at night?" w.a.n.g Ru asked.

"Yes," w.a.n.g Yao said.

"Tomorrow, I will take your brother-in-law to go and see," w.a.n.g Ru said.

"OK," w.a.n.g Yao said.

That night, w.a.n.g Yao went up the mountain very late. He went to sleep shortly after arriving.

The next day, Du Mingyang and w.a.n.g Ru did not go up the mountain because w.a.n.g Yao came down early. There was a friend at the clinic.

"Mr. Sang, why have you come here?" w.a.n.g Yao asked.

Sang Guzi was with a man in his 30s, looked very handsome and seemed to be a student.

"I'm going to Ji for business, so I thought I'd pop into see you. I heard that a terrible disease just erupted here not long ago. Is it still under martial law?" he asked.

"Oh, now it's over," w.a.n.g Yao said.

"This is my son, Sang Jimin," Sang Guzi said.

"h.e.l.lo!" w.a.n.g Yao was a little surprised. He knew Sang Guzi was in his 70s, so he figured he would have much older son.

"h.e.l.lo, Dr. w.a.n.g, I have heard about you since you are so famous," San Jimin said.

"I don't know about being so famous," w.a.n.g Yao said. "Do you need to rush off soon?"

"Nope," Sang Guzi said.

"Then, how about staying to have a meal?" w.a.n.g Yao asked.

"Good," Sang Guzi said.

The three people continued talking in the clinic. It inevitably led to discussing the disease since they were all medicine pract.i.tioners. They were naturally concerned about this kind of thing, especially Sang Jimin.

"The microorganism has never appeared before?" he asked.

"Yes. It is a pathogen that has never been recorded," w.a.n.g Yao said.

"The bug is a variant of mole cricket, really?" Sang Jimin was shocked.

"Well, I asked someone to go to Jing to find an expert in the research of insects. That was his finding," w.a.n.g Yao said.

Sang Jimin asked a lot of questions. "Does the disease attack quickly?"

"Very quickly. The poison goes into the viscera, and people will lose consciousness and go mad," w.a.n.g Yao said.

"What medicine can cure it?" Sang Jimin asked.

w.a.n.g Yao also told him the prescription. There was no need to keep it confidential.

"I never knew that foxtail had such a role," Sang Jimin said.

When they are talking, someone started knocking on the door.

"Please come in," w.a.n.g Yao said.

It was Wu Tongxing from Jing. "h.e.l.lo, Dr. w.a.n.g, and you are Mr. Sang."

"h.e.l.lo, Secretary Wu," Sang Guzi said.

"Hey, you don't have to be so polite. Call me Tongxing or Xiaowu," Wu Tongxing said.

"Please sit down and have some tea." w.a.n.g Yao poured him a gla.s.s of water. "Is there something I can help with?"

"Oh, it's my father's illness," Wu Tongxing said.

"Is it unstable?" w.a.n.g Yao asked.

"It's still stable. He said his chest began to hurt so bad that he could not rest well at night," Wu Tongxing said.

"That is normal. After all, it is that kind of disease," w.a.n.g Yao said. "Why don't you come back again in two days. I will give you a medicine that can relieve pain."

"OK, then sorry to bother you," Wu Tongxing said.

Wu Tongxing stayed around 20 minutes and left.

"Him coming here is beyond my expectations," Sang Guzi said.

"Dad, who is this director?" Sang Jimin said.

"He is from the family of Wu in Jing, who is handling the power of the National Security Supervision Department," Sang Guzi said.