"How are you feeling now?" Wan Yunting asked as he used his internal energy to massage Nie Shengrong's head.
"Mmm, my head doesn't hurt as much," Nie Shengrong replied. His old eyes brightened. Less than five minutes of Wan Yunting's Tai Ding Chong Zhen method combined with massage had noticeably relieved his headache. The effect was immediate.
"That's great, as long as it's working..."
Seeing Wan Yunting's treatment having an effect on the elder, Nie Jianta and Nie Yuqing, along with other Nie family members, praised him, "Doctor Wan is truly miraculous, his skill is far superior to the old Chinese medicine practitioners who came before."
Huang Hongying and the chief professors from the military region hospital standing nearby also nodded in tacit approval of Wan Yunting's medical skills.
Wan Yunting continued massaging Nie Shengrong's head and explained with a smile, "Actually, it was those few fragments pressing on some nerves and blood vessels in the elder's brain that caused the deterioration and the pain. I used acupuncture to first unblock several acupoints in the elder's head. Clearing the meridians alleviates the pain."
"That's indeed true," Huang Hongying agreed. However, observing Wan Yunting's massage technique, she added, "But your massage technique is something very few people can achieve."
Wan Yunting smiled, "Director Huang, you must know about internal martial arts masters, right?"
Nie Shengrong's old face startled, and he asked, "Young man, have you learned internal martial arts?"
Nie Xiaoyu chimed in, "Isn't Doctor Wan the master of a martial arts sect, the master of the Wuliang Taoist temple?"
Wan Yunting glanced back at Nie Xiaoyu and nodded with a smile, "I used to be, but not anymore."
Nie Shengrong chuckled, "No wonder your massage feels warm and is more comfortable and pain-relieving than others who've massaged me."
Wan Yunting explained, "I circulate my internal energy through my hands, which makes the massage more effective in unblocking your blocked acupoints and meridians."
Huang Hongying commented, "Traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts are inseparable. It's a pity my talent is insufficient to control the 'qi' spoken of in internal martial arts!"
Wan Yunting turned to her and smiled faintly, saying nothing more, and continued massaging Nie Shengrong for another ten minutes. The elder's complexion grew more ruddy, and his spirits seemed to lift considerably.
He said with great pleasure, "Young man, you're quite something. I can't feel the headache anymore, and I feel so much more energetic."
"Elder, please don't move yet. I'll remove the silver needles," Wan Yunting said, stopping his massage. He carefully removed the silver needles from Nie Shengrong's acupoints and put them back into the needle case. Smiling, he continued, "We'll stop here for tonight. I'll come back tomorrow for further acupuncture treatment. A few more sessions should alleviate the severe headache you used to experience."
"Excellent, excellent. Thank you, young man."
With the headache gone, Nie Shengrong couldn't help but get out of bed and walk around. Nie Xiaoyu and his grandmother, Cao Yumei, tried to support him, but he waved them off, "I'm fine, I feel very energetic now. Let's go to the living room for some tea."
"Dad, what time is it? Still drinking tea?" Nie Jianta said.
Nie Shengrong turned and glared at him, pointing at Wan Yunting, who was packing his needle case, "We have a guest, shouldn't you brew some tea to entertain him?"
Nie Jianta could only smile helplessly and invited Wan Yunting and Huang Hongying to follow the elder out and sit at the coffee table in the living room. Wan Yunting, carrying his medical bag, opened it and said, "Elder, I'll write you a prescription."
"Alright."
Nie Shengrong personally brewed tea and then, remembering something, smiled at Wan Yunting, "Young man, how about writing me a prescription with a calligraphy brush?"
Wan Yunting, who was just taking out paper and pen, paused, holding up his ballpoint pen and smiling, "I didn't bring a calligraphy brush."
"I have one!" Nie Shengrong exclaimed excitedly and immediately told Cao Jianta, "Go get the brush and ink from the study."
Seeing this, Wan Yunting smiled and nodded. As Cao Jianta returned with the brush and ink, Wan Yunting prepared to write. Nie Shengrong then added, "Try writing it in the Shoujin style."
Wan Yunting turned to look at him, nodded with a smile, held the brush in his right hand, and pressed the paper with his left, beginning to write in the Shoujin style.
Nie Shengrong couldn't help but get up and lean closer to watch. His sharp old eyes widened, and he stared intently at Wan Yunting's Shoujin calligraphy, exclaiming involuntarily, "The brushwork is agile and swift, the strokes are slender, yet not lacking in substance, and they reveal a sharp edge with powerful strokes. Truly, it has the bearing of a king. Excellent calligraphy!"
Hearing the elder's high praise for Wan Yunting's calligraphy, Nie Jianta, Nie Xiaoyu, and the others, as well as Huang Hongying, all gathered to admire Wan Yunting's Shoujin script. Although they didn't understand calligraphy, Wan Yunting's brushwork was undeniably striking at first glance.
After finishing the prescription, Wan Yunting took out ink paste and a small seal from his bag and stamped his name on it. Nie Shengrong's hand immediately reached out to take the prescription, "Let me see..."
The Nie family was a military family. They were usually in the army, so they didn't know much about Wan Yunting. Only Nie Xiaoyu had a very deep impression of Wan Yunting from the disaster relief effort last year. However, Nie Shengrong had heard of Wan Yunting long ago, as he had won the Lanting Award calligraphy competition last year.
Now, in his retirement, Nie Shengrong spent his time looking after his great-grandchild and occasionally studying calligraphy at home. While he couldn't compare to those so-called calligraphy masters, he had achieved a certain level. Ever since he saw Wan Yunting's calligraphy in the news, Nie Shengrong had greatly admired it. He felt that both Wan Yunting's Shoujin style and his wild cursive script exuded a regal aura, which Nie Shengrong greatly appreciated. However, with his calligraphy being hyped to prices in the hundreds of millions and Wan Yunting rarely releasing his works to the public, Nie Shengrong had never had the opportunity to witness his calligraphy firsthand.
Now, holding the prescription written by Wan Yunting in the Shoujin style, the ink not yet dry, Nie Shengrong, as if holding a treasure, his old face flushed with excitement and admiration, praised, "This is truly comparable to Song Huizong in modern times. Young man, your calligraphy is superb."
Wan Yunting smiled, "Elder, you are too kind. I can tell you have a keen interest in calligraphy."
Speaking of his own passion, Nie Shengrong became a bit embarrassed. Grandmother Cao Yumei playfully remarked, "He doesn't understand calligraphy at all. He just practices in seclusion for his own amusement."
Wan Yunting pointed to a calligraphy piece hanging on the wall next to the TV cabinet in the living room and said with a smile, "That piece was written by the elder. I think it's very good and not inferior to those calligraphy experts."
"Haha, don't flatter me like that." Nie Shengrong sat down. Although he knew it was a compliment, he was still very happy. "Compared to yours, my characters are worlds apart."
This remark made the Nie family laugh. Nie Xiaoyu couldn't help but giggle, "Grandpa, you're self-aware."
Wan Yunting pointed at the prescription in his hand, "Elder, you should take the medicine as prescribed and combine it with my acupuncture treatment. Let's try a few sessions and see the effect."
"Alright, alright. You're the doctor, and I'm the patient. I'll listen to you."
Nie Shengrong, clutching the prescription like a treasure, was reluctant to put it down, making Nie Jianta and the others shake their heads with smiles.
Wan Yunting stayed at the Nie family's home for over half an hour before Nie Xiaoyu personally drove him out of Haiding District towards his home. Glancing at Wan Yunting, who was sitting in the passenger seat, Nie Xiaoyu said, "Thank you tonight."
"You're welcome, Officer Nie," Wan Yunting replied, turning to look at her and waving his hand with a smile.
Nie Xiaoyu nodded and continued driving, falling silent. Neither of them spoke, and the atmosphere felt a bit awkward. Bored, Wan Yunting took out his phone to read the news. He saw an official news report about a new virus, Red Ebola, that had broken out in Mali, Africa, causing many deaths among the African population. Simultaneously, the Chinese peacekeeping forces were stationed in Mali, and the Red Ebola virus also posed a threat to the peacekeeping soldiers, with several already infected.
Reading the news, Wan Yunting sighed, "You soldiers work very hard, even stationed in Africa. Now you've contracted this Red Ebola virus; it seems quite serious."
Nie Xiaoyu, who was driving, nodded and replied, "Some soldiers in the army are infected with this virus. The country has also sent many experts to research and combat the Red Ebola virus. Yes, Director Huang will be going with us in a few days!"
This statement made Wan Yunting's expression change. He turned to look at her, asking, "You're going to Africa?"
Nie Xiaoyu nodded, "I'm currently in the peacekeeping force. We're going to Africa to replace the previous batch of personnel returning home. We'll depart next Monday, and simultaneously protect Director Huang and the group of medical experts who are going to research this Red Ebola virus."
Wan Yunting looked at the news about the Red Ebola virus and said, "This virus is highly virulent, extremely contagious, and has a high mortality rate, similar to the plague."
Nie Xiaoyu explained, "Many civilians in Mali are infected with the Red Ebola virus. Thousands have died in just a few days, and there are signs of it spreading to others, so it's very serious, and the leadership is paying close attention."
Wan Yunting put down his phone and said, "With Director Huang's professional research team going there, they will surely be able to develop a medicine to combat the Red Ebola virus soon."
Nie Xiaoyu nodded, "Let's hope so."
They fell silent again, but Wan Yunting didn't feel anything unusual. After all, they weren't very familiar with each other, and this was only their second meeting. It was normal not to know what to talk about. He couldn't exactly ask Nie Xiaoyu about the peacekeeping force's classified operations.
Soon, Nie Xiaoyu's car stopped steadily at Ouyang Mansion. Wan Yunting got out with his medical bag and smiled, "I'll come over again this afternoon."
"Okay, I'll pick you up then," Nie Xiaoyu replied.
Wan Yunting waved his hand with a smile, "No need to trouble yourself, I can come by myself."
"Alright, thank you for the trouble," Nie Xiaoyu said, standing beside the car, thanking him again.
Wan Yunting smiled and waved goodbye to her, "Go back."
Nie Xiaoyu nodded, watched Wan Yunting enter the house, and then got into her car. Just then, her phone rang. Seeing that it was Huang Hongying calling, Nie Xiaoyu raised her eyebrows in confusion, wondering what Sister Hongying wanted. She answered the phone, "Sister Hongying, have you gone back?"
"Yes, I've arrived at the hospital." Huang Hongying, who was already back at the hospital, got straight to the point. "When will that Doctor Wan be seeing your grandfather tomorrow?"
Nie Xiaoyu raised her eyebrows, "Tomorrow afternoon. Is Sister Hongying asking about this?"
"I'll go over tomorrow afternoon. I'll tell you more then. I'm having a meeting with the director now, so goodbye for now." Huang Hongying said. Nie Xiaoyu murmured an "Mm" with confusion and hung up, wondering what Huang Hongying was up to.