Chapter 268: Chapter 208: A Light Boat, A Light Heart

She glanced at Chen Yi but didn’t continue, instead addressing the others, "Let’s eat first. We can discuss this later."

She had wanted to suggest that Chen Yi cooperate with Hundred Herbs Hall, but on second thought, she worried he would find it too troublesome.

Besides, the Medicine Hall’s business was not insignificant, as it concerned the Xiao Family’s income and expenses. She needed to ask the Old Master before making a final decision.

Fortunately, Chen Yi didn’t know what she was thinking, or the meal would have been thoroughly spoiled for him.

After all, he was Chen Yu, and Chen Yu was him.

Making him "cooperate" with Chen Yu would be like his left hand fighting his right; he’d be playing two different roles all by himself.

’Just thinking about it is exhausting.’

Xie Tingyun, seeing the two fall silent, began shooting meaningful looks at Chen Yi.

’Young Master-in-law, what’s the verdict on that matter?’

Chen Yi returned a confirming glance. It went without saying that the disciples of the Celestial Sect would be a huge help to Hundred Herbs Hall’s expansion for the time being.

Xie Tingyun’s face immediately lit up with joy. After shoveling down a couple of mouthfuls of rice, she stood up, clasped her fist, and said:

"Young Miss, this old... I have a favor to ask of you."

Xiao Wan’er smiled and nodded. "Tingyun, there’s no need to be so formal. Just speak your mind."

Then, under Shen Huatang’s stunned gaze, Xie Tingyun announced with a perfectly straight face:

"Now that Elder Demon Jia of the Illusory Sound Sect is dead outside Cang Lang Town, Tingyun wishes to make a trip back to the Celestial Sect."

"Firstly, to deliver Mid-Autumn Festival gifts to my master and the others. Secondly, I also want to bring some people down the mountain to gain worldly experience, as they mentioned in a recent letter."

"After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Tingyun will return to Shu State to await your orders."

After listening, Xiao Wan’er naturally had no objections and asked, "Are the gifts you have enough? Do you need the manor to add some more?"

"It’s more than enough. I bought quite a lot with Miss Pei earlier. On the way back, I’ll buy some wine, rouge, and other things for Master and Mistress as I see fit."

Xiao Wan’er nodded and said no more.

Chen Yi watched Xie Tingyun sit back down to eat, her face beaming with joy, and couldn’t help but marvel internally. ’Speak of the devil.’

He had been planning to have Wang Ji find a suitable place to practice his martial arts, precisely because he was worried about Xie Tingyun finding out.

’This is perfect.’

With Xie Tingyun going back to swin— ahem, to visit her fellow disciples from the Celestial Sect, he could have a few days of respite.

At that moment, Shen Huatang, seeing everyone eating with their heads down, couldn’t help but nudge Xie Tingyun and ask:

"Senior Sister, how come I don’t know anything about people from the Sect wanting to come down the mountain for experience?"

"Oh, just Little Six and the others. They wrote me a letter specifically, ahem... saying their worldliness is lacking and they need more training."

Xie Tingyun dodged the question and said dismissively, "I’m leaving for Tian Mountain tomorrow. Junior Sister, you must protect the Young Miss well."

"You don’t have to tell me that."

Shen Huatang retorted, but her eyes remained fixed on her senior sister.

’I have a feeling she’s cooking up another harebrained scheme.’

Recalling the secretive looks exchanged between Xie Tingyun and Chen Yi earlier, Shen Huatang grew suspicious.

’Senior Sister and the second son-in-law...’

’One is unreliable, the other is even more so. The two of them together...’

’I hope I’m just overthinking this.’

After dinner, Chen Yi returned to Spring Lotus Garden to continue his Cultivation of the Four Symbols Skill.

Xiao Wan’er, on the other hand, took the booklet containing the charter for the Medical Dao Academy to Qingjing Residence.

She explained her intentions.

The Old Master pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "This is indeed a matter that would benefit the country and its people."

Xiao Wan’er’s face lit up. "Grandfather, you agree?"

"It’s rare for you to have thought things out so thoroughly. Go ahead and do it."

"I will certainly do my best."

Hearing this, the Old Master waved his hand. A small smile appeared on his aged face as he advised:

"Take care of your health. Don’t overwork yourself."

Xiao Wan’er nodded and said with a smile, "I’ll keep that in mind."

"Thanks to Doctor Ma’s medicine, my health has improved a lot recently."

"The one from Jishi Medicine Hall?"

"That’s him."

"Speaking of which, we also have Boss Chen of Hundred Herbs Hall to thank. If not for his approval, a physician with Doctor Ma’s profound skills would never have come to our Medicine Hall."

At this point, Xiao Wan’er remembered something.

"I heard that Boss Chen Yu is a Medical Saint Hand."

"Doctor Ma must have studied under the same school of thought as Boss Chen. No wonder his Medical Skill is so remarkable."

When the Old Master heard this, his expression flickered slightly. He asked, "A Medical Saint Hand?"

Xiao Wan’er hummed in affirmation, then asked hesitantly, "Grandfather, are you worried there’s a problem with Boss Chen’s identity?"

The Old Master shook his head. "There’s no problem with his identity, but..."

"But he is rather like a divine dragon that shows its head but never its tail, hehe."

Xiao Wan’er, not suspecting a thing, smiled and nodded. "Boss Chen does indeed rarely show his face."

"Originally, I wanted to invite Boss Chen to be the acting head of the Medical Dao Academy, but my husband told me that when Boss Chen came down the mountain, he made a great vow to travel the world and save the common people."

"So he spends most of his time traveling and treating the sick."

Hearing this, a glint appeared in the Old Master’s cloudy eyes. "Is that so."

"It seems this old man should go and meet this Boss Chen someday."

"If you’re interested, Grandfather, I can go ask later if Boss Chen is still in Shu State."

"There’s no hurry..."

After a bit more small talk, Xiao Wan’er saw that it was getting late and prepared to leave.

The Old Master stood up to see her off, not forgetting to remind her to rest more. Finally, he said:

"Our family isn’t short on silver for the time being. Once you’ve chosen a location for the academy, Grandfather will give you the silver."

Of the 300,000 taels of silver obtained from Xiao Dongchen, after subtracting the 50,000 taken by Xiao Jinghong, the Old Master still had 250,000 taels on hand.

He wouldn’t feel the pinch of using a portion of it to build the Medical Dao Academy.

Xiao Wan’er pressed her lips together slightly and gave a slight bow. "Thank you for your support, Grandfather."

"It’s only right."

"For all these years, we’ve relied on you to manage the household. For both public and private reasons, Grandfather ought to support you."

"Besides, this is a great deed that could make the Xiao Family’s name go down in history. How could I let you bear the burden alone?"

"So, for the Medical Dao Academy, just go for it. Make it grand, and make it great."