The ailment afflicting Elder Liu was a classic case of xiaoke (wasting-thirst disorder), exacerbated by his existing history of diabetes, making a complete cure notoriously difficult.

Difficult, however, did not mean impossible. Zhang Yang possessed several excellent prescriptions that could, at the very least, dramatically alleviate Elder Liu's condition, perhaps even curing his current xiaoke so he wouldn't need to clutch a cup all day long.

Returning to the small single room, Zhang Yang immediately picked up a pen and found a blank sheet of paper. In a short while, a new medicinal prescription was inscribed.

The time it took to return to the main hall where Elder Liu resided was barely five or six minutes.

Yet, upon his return, Elder Liu was no longer alone in the hall; two other people, a man and a woman, had joined him.

Seeing Zhang Yang enter, Elder Liu waved happily, “Zhang Yang, come, Xiaotang brought some cucumbers from the market; let's have some together!”

Zhang Yang immediately noticed several slices of cucumber arranged on the table in the hall.

“Elder Liu, I won't eat, but I have the prescription right here. Take a look first. Following this formula, your condition should improve within a few days, and you should be nearly well within half a month!”

Zhang Yang smiled, shook his head, and extended the freshly written prescription towards the elder.

Elder Liu did not take the paper. The person who accepted it was the man standing beside him, a man who appeared to be in his early thirties, quite imposing in stature.

Zhang Yang recognized this man from memory; it was Elder Liu’s eldest son, Liu Xiaotang. Perhaps due to his work at the Public Security Bureau, Liu Xiaotang usually maintained a stern demeanor. Zhang Yang had only met him two or three times before but had never exchanged words.

“What is this?”

Liu Xiaotang, standing at about 1.76 meters, glanced at the prescription and asked softly.

His voice carried an unnatural, faint air of authority. Zhang Yang’s eyes tightened slightly; this Liu Xiaotang was certainly no ordinary police officer, at least not a low-ranking beat cop. This kind of gravitas was not cultivated by just anyone.

“This is the formula Zhang Yang found for me. He just learned about my chronic illness and went specifically to get it for me. What are you taking it for? Give it here!”

Elder Liu approached, snatched the prescription from Liu Xiaotang’s hand, and muttered to himself while reading: Sheng Shu Di Huang six qian each, Sheng Shi Gao one liang two qian…

As he mumbled, Elder Liu nodded along. Decades of illness had made him a seasoned doctor; he had seen countless Western and Chinese medical formulas and could recite many of them from memory. After reading it just once, he knew this formula targeted his specific disease. At least some of the herbs were the same as in previous prescriptions, only the dosages differed.

“Zhang Yang, your formula is correct, but is it truly that effective?”

After reading it, Elder Liu felt a degree of certainty, having already believed Zhang Yang’s words, though he still harbored doubts about the claimed efficacy. He had used countless prescriptions over the years, and none had promised the results Zhang Yang claimed.

“Of course, Elder Liu. Why would I deceive you? Take this medicine twice a day according to the formula, and I guarantee you will see results within three days!”

Zhang Yang nodded cheerfully; this time, he wasn't boasting. Having personally diagnosed the patient and written the prescription himself, he naturally had this confidence. If he couldn't manage such a small matter, he would be unworthy of being a nationally renowned Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner.

“Did you really find this formula yourself?” Liu Xiaotang suddenly interjected. Zhang Yang paused slightly, then nodded immediately. “Yes. Someone in my family used it before, and it worked very well, so I kept a copy!”

“Alright, thank you. If it proves useful, we will certainly reward you handsomely!”

Liu Xiaotang didn't press the matter this time. After speaking, he moved back to Elder Liu’s side and said with a light smile, “Dad, we’ll head back today and visit again on the weekend. If you need anything, just give us a call!”

“Fine, go on back. Don’t worry, I’m here, and there are plenty of students around; there won’t be any trouble!”

Elder Liu waved his hand. The woman accompanying Liu Xiaotang also stepped forward to say a few words. From their conversation, Zhang Yang realized she was Liu Xiaotang’s wife and that her relationship with Elder Liu didn't seem particularly close. It was no wonder Zhang Yang had no memory of her file; Liu Xiaotang’s wife rarely visited this place.

Liu Xiaotang departed, casting one last look at Zhang Yang as he left. That look made Zhang Yang feel as if there was something more to it, as if Liu Xiaotang had glimpsed a secret.

Zhang Yang didn't dwell on it much. He was moving out soon anyway, and helping Elder Liu stemmed purely from his inherent nature as a physician. When a doctor spots someone in physical distress, they naturally pay extra attention, especially since Elder Liu was an acquaintance, and Zhang Yang wanted to rent his house.

After explaining the necessary precautions regarding the prescription, Zhang Yang immediately conveyed his intention to rent the property to Elder Liu.

Upon learning that Zhang Yang wanted to rent the two-bedroom apartment left vacant for his younger son, Elder Liu agreed after only a brief thought. His younger son no longer lived there, and keeping the unit empty was pointless. Elder Liu had already considered renting it out. However, it was a newly furnished apartment, and he felt a pang of reluctance, worrying that a tenant might leave it messy and dirty.

Elder Liu knew a bit about Zhang Yang; he knew Zhang Yang was a neat person. Among the twenty-plus tenants in the entire large building, Zhang Yang’s room was always the best kept, cleaner even than some of the girls’ rooms. Renting to Zhang Yang brought Elder Liu peace of mind. Since he found a trustworthy person and wanted to lease out the space anyway, the arrangement came naturally, especially considering Zhang Yang had already helped him quite a bit, just now offering a new prescription out of kindness. Even if the prescription hadn't been proven yet, it was a ray of hope and a gesture of Zhang Yang’s goodwill.

The matter of rent was even easier to negotiate. Elder Liu’s initial asking price for the fully furnished apartment was five hundred a month—a price that wasn't low for the time, considering Zhang Yang’s own small single room only cost one hundred a month. Because the tenant was Zhang Yang, Elder Liu intentionally knocked off another hundred. This price was quite reasonable for a furnished place, and Zhang Yang didn't mind either way, though a lower price was naturally more pleasing.

He was not the Vice President or the famous TCM doctor of his previous life; his total assets amounted only to a few thousand yuan, and the bank card was carefully hidden by the former 'Zhang Yang' in his room.

Finding the bank card and withdrawing the cash, Zhang Yang didn't need Elder Liu to guide him; he took the key and was ready to move. He knew the location of the new apartment.

For the move, Zhang Yang called Gu Cheng and Hu Xin to help. Being injured all over, he was in no condition for heavy physical labor. As for hiring movers, Zhang Yang dismissed the idea almost immediately; this was not his wealthy past life, and his finances were tight. He had only just over three hundred yuan left in his account, a fact that made him shake his head helplessly. After paying six months' rent upfront plus necessary deposits, Zhang Yang was nearly broke.

He needed to find a way to earn some money. When it came to earning, Zhang Yang had plenty of methods. His medical skills were not just for show; even without a practice license, he was confident he could advise a few wealthy individuals, and money would flow into his pockets like a river. Unfortunately, for the next ten days, he had to shadow Mi Xue closely to complete that damned Level Three mission; otherwise, Mi Xue might be in danger, and he would face punishment for mission failure. That was his most pressing concern; earning money would have to wait.

“Zhang Yang, when your injuries heal, you absolutely must treat us to a big meal!”

After moving for several hours, the group finally managed to transport all of Zhang Yang's belongings to the new place. Zhang Yang didn't have much, but his things were rather cumbersome, especially the large number of books that made packing the most difficult chore. Hu Xin was currently gasping for breath, sprawled out on the sofa in the living room, shouting this demand.

Gu Cheng, admiring the new furniture inside the apartment, added wistfully, “Yeah, exactly. But Zhang Yang, this apartment is really nice. I’m almost tempted to move in with you!”

“His lovely little nest, what are you doing here?” Before Zhang Yang could reply, Hu Xin blurted out. Zhang Yang simply laughed, telling them not to mind, and that they were welcome anytime.

After finishing the move and grabbing a quick bite, it was already past four in the afternoon. Zhang Yang called the roommate of Mi Xue’s dorm room and asked her to page Mi Xue. As he used the pager, Zhang Yang shook his head again.

The year 1998 was not like 2012. Forget college students; even middle schoolers rarely had cell phones, and many primary school students had them. In this era, students possessing mobile phones were a rarity. Only a select few students carried various types of pagers. Even so, those students with pagers were the envy of their peers; a good Chinese character pager cost over a thousand yuan, an absolute extravagance for students living on two or three hundred yuan a month for living expenses.

Mi Xue called back quickly. Upon learning Zhang Yang had secured a place, she said she would move in tomorrow. Zhang Yang opened his mouth a few times toward the phone receiver before finally agreeing with resignation. He desperately wanted Mi Xue to move in that night; the system only said the mission would occur within ten days, but it didn't specify which day. It could be the tenth day, or it could be the very first. Unfortunately, he couldn't bring himself to ask Mi Xue to move sooner. It was already a great concession for her to agree to cohabit; acting too eager now would surely damage his image.

Fortunately, Mi Xue offered to treat Zhang Yang to dinner that evening, giving Zhang Yang more time with her. This minimized their separation and offered a degree of security.

Early May marked the beginning of summer; the weather wasn't too hot, especially at night, which often carried a slight cool breeze. Around six in the evening, as dusk was beginning to settle, Zhang Yang, Hu Xin, and Gu Cheng arrived downstairs at the women’s dormitory. Upon arriving, Zhang Yang noticed quite a few unwelcome figures waiting by the entrance. Some were dressed fashionably, their hair slicked back brightly, carrying fresh flowers or similar items hidden in their hands.

“No wonder people often say online that the entrance to the women’s dormitories is never short of men!” Looking at the dozens of anxious men waiting around, Zhang Yang couldn't help but sigh in realization. He had attended university in his past life, but he had spent those years solely dedicated to integrating his medical skills with his ancestral qigong, neglecting other matters.

…………………… Urgent plea for votes; the chase is tight behind, though the lead was established quickly. Little Yu needs the strong support of friends. We are currently third on the New Book list, not far behind second place. Little Yu begs everyone to continue casting votes for Little Yu. I promise that if I can advance another rank, I will certainly erupt with updates tomorrow. Little Yu has no saved drafts, and each chapter is around three thousand characters long, meaning one burst update will be nearly ten thousand characters. I sincerely hope everyone will support Little Yu in recognition of my hard work. I beg you again!