The doorbell rang twice before the door finally opened. A middle-aged man in a white Tang suit stepped out. He had thick hair parted down the middle, a glowing, healthy complexion, and a string of Buddhist prayer beads on his wrist. His clothing was immaculate.
Though he looked refined and gentlemanly, his tone was icy and tinged with the impatience of one who had been disturbed. "Who are you looking for?"
Su Rong bowed and said politely, "Hello. My wrist has been injured, and I am hoping to find Divine Doctor Hua to treat it."
Hua Tuo’s whereabouts were unpredictable, and he was notoriously low-profile. Legend had it that once the "Ghost Hands, Divine Needles" went to work, even the King of Hell would have to step aside, yet very few people had ever actually seen him.
Therefore, anyone who could find this place so precisely must have been referred by someone. As a divine doctor, he did not see just anyone, nor did he treat just anyone.
"There is no divine doctor here for you," the man said, turning to head back inside.
Su Rong quickly changed her approach. "Please, sir, could you pass on a message? Tell him that Qingdai says she knows she was wrong, and she wants to come home."
The man froze. His mouth opened, but no words came out. After a few seconds, he turned, walked inside, and shut the door.
"What does he mean? He didn't say a word and just left us standing out here?" Liu Xu asked, looking bewildered. "Who is Qingdai?"
Su Rong shook her head. "I don't know. A woman I met in prison taught me to say that."
Li Nan had told her that if Hua Tuo refused to see her, she should leave that message. She hadn't explained who Qingdai was—only that it was the name of a medicinal herb, which likely shared a close connection with Hua Tuo.
About ten minutes later, the man opened the door again. His name was Zhang Shuo, and he was Hua Tuo’s assistant; he spent most of his time by the doctor's side.
Su Rong and Liu Xu looked at him expectantly, their feet nearly crossing the threshold.
Zhang Shuo blocked their path. "Mr. Hua will not be accepting any patients for the foreseeable future. You should go back."
Both women looked disappointed.
Su Rong hurried to say, "Since Mr. Hua is at home, I’ll wait here at the door. I’ll wait until he is willing to see me."
"Suit yourself. But please, move further away. Mr. Hua does not like to be disturbed." Zhang Shuo turned to go back inside.
Su Rong stepped toward him and held out her wrist to show him—she had to let the divine doctor know her situation. "Sir, my wrist was injured two years ago. The tendons were damaged, and because I didn't receive proper treatment at the time, it became a chronic condition. Please, I beg you to speak to Divine Doctor Hua for me."
Zhang Shuo stared at her wrist and asked bluntly, "How did you get injured? Where did it happen?"
Su Rong’s eyes reddened. "In prison. Someone smashed it. They used a hot iron to strike my hand and my wrist repeatedly. They were going to do the same to my right hand, but fortunately, another woman stepped in just in time to stop them."
"You’ve been to prison?" Zhang Shuo looked at her with disbelief.
"Yes. Three years, for causing a death in a car accident." Su Rong wanted to explain that she had been framed, but who would believe her? At least it wasn't a criminal conviction; it had been an accident.
Zhang Shuo said nothing more, turned back, and closed the door.
Liu Xu looked worried. "If you tell them that, do you think they'll have some kind of prejudice against you?"
Su Rong took a deep breath. "I don't know. But since he asked, I had no choice but to tell the truth."
"Let's go back and wait in the car," Liu Xu said, looking tired from standing.
"You take the car and park it further away. Stay inside, but I'm going to sit here by the side of the road." Su Rong walked away and sat down. They had been told not to disturb them.
A dense, prickling pain washed over her wrist. It would hit her several times a day at irregular intervals, sometimes lasting for half an hour. In the last few days, the pain seemed to have intensified, becoming so severe that she broke into a cold sweat.
Su Rong gripped her left wrist tightly, her resolve to get it healed only growing stronger. Without it, there was nothing she could do.
Liu Xu returned with two bottles of water and sat beside her. "Can they see us from the house if we sit here? Is this too far?"
Su Rong winced in pain. "I already told that man we wouldn't leave. There’s nothing else I can control."
"Is your hand hurting again?" Liu Xu began massaging her wrist. "Should I go knock on the door again?"
"No. Everyone has their own rules. I’ll just sit here," Su Rong said, enduring the pain. "Liu Xu, you don't have to keep me company. You should go back."
"I'm not going anywhere. I told you I'd stay with you." Liu Xu thought back to their encounter with the assistant. "Do you think it's because we didn't bring any gifts? Is that why they don't want to deal with us?"
Su Rong didn't think so. Li Nan had told her no gifts were necessary. "I don't think so. Besides, it’s not as if I wouldn't pay for the consultation."
Liu Xu offered some comfort. "These eccentric experts are always cold and aloof. We’ll just sit here and wait. We’ll move him with our sincerity."
It was noon, and the sky was gray, looking as if it might rain.
Liu Xu looked toward the villa gate. "I don't get this 'divine doctor' business. Isn't treating people his duty? Why turn us away?"
Su Rong smiled. "He doesn't have a sign hanging at the gate. This is his home, and he has the right to refuse patients."
Liu Xu was getting restless. "Are we just going to sit here like this? I mean, do you have any more information about him? Is there anything we can do to move him?"
Su Rong shook her head. "No. Other than sitting here, I really don't know what else to do."
"Fine, then we wait." The area was quite isolated; she doubted they could get food delivered. "I'm getting a bit hungry. I’ll go find something to eat."
"Go ahead," Su Rong said. She had to keep waiting.
Liu Xu went out and returned with two boxed meals. Once they finished, she cleaned up the mess.
By evening, it began to drizzle. In such damp, chilly weather, Su Rong’s wrist felt even worse, the pain piercing like needles.
Liu Xu could no longer stand it. She ran over and rang the doorbell again, three times in a row.
Zhang Shuo opened the door, looking displeased. "Why haven't you left yet?"
Liu Xu bowed repeatedly. "Sir, my friend’s hand is in a lot of pain. Please, I beg you, let her see Divine Doctor Hua! I’m begging you!"
Zhang Shuo glanced at Su Rong, who was sitting not far away, her face contorted in agony. He felt no pity. "Are you deaf? Mr. Hua said he is not accepting patients. Get out of here! And don't you dare ring that doorbell again!"
With that, he went inside and slammed the door shut.
Liu Xu didn't know what to do; she was on the verge of tears. "What kind of divine doctor is he? He doesn't even have a shred of compassion! We've been waiting all day, and he won't even show his face. Rongrong, what do we do?"
Su Rong didn't know either. Aside from waiting, she felt there was nothing she could do.
"He said he wouldn't be accepting patients for a while. Why don't we come back in a few days?" Liu Xu was worried about Su Rong’s health.
Su Rong shook her head. Finding this place and catching the divine doctor at home was a rare opportunity. His whereabouts were unpredictable; if she missed this, she didn't know how long she would have to wait. "I can't leave. No matter how long it takes, I have to wait. Liu Xu, you should go back. You've been with me all day; that's hard enough."
"What kind of stupid talk is that?" Liu Xu replied. "You haven't left, so how could I? Fine, we keep waiting, until that damn 'divine doctor' agrees to see you!"
***
Sheng Qiye stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the raindrops streak down the glass.
Leng Xiao had arrived, and after reporting on his work, he mentioned in passing, "Su Rong didn't go to Yugong today."