"Just let the small ones go." Chen Mo grabbed a few fish weighing four or five pounds from the bucket and tossed them back into the river.
He Yushui watched with a pang of heartache. "That’s such a waste," she said, looking reluctant.
"The most important thing about fishing is the fun," Chen Mo said, tapping her nose. "If you want to eat fish, I’ll cook for you every day until you’re sick of it."
He Yushui thought to herself that since Brother Chen Mo was so skilled and could catch fish so easily, there was no need to feel sorry about it. Chen Mo took the opportunity to spirit some of the various fish away into the pond within the secret realm.
Just then, an old man walked over to Chen Mo, looked at the large fish in the bucket, and said with a smile, "Young comrade, that’s some fine fishing skill you have there."
Chen Mo turned around to look at the two men. One was around sixty years old, with white hair and a kind, benevolent face, yet he carried an air of authority. Chen Mo felt his face looked familiar but couldn't quite place it.
The other man appeared to be about thirty. There was a faint sharpness to him, and a bulge at his waist made it obvious he was carrying a gun.
It didn't take a genius to realize the old man’s status was significant; the man beside him was clearly a bodyguard.
"Haha, just playing around. Practice makes perfect, that’s all," Chen Mo replied with a smile.
"Haha, you’re an interesting young man," the old man said. "Do you mind if I fish next to you?"
"This isn't my home, sir; please, make yourself at home," Chen Mo said.
The couple continued having a great time, pulling up a large fish every few minutes, and tossing many of them back just as frequently. The old man nearby had been sitting there for a long time, yet he had caught nothing.
Unable to watch any longer, Chen Mo pulled out a clump of bait and handed it to him. "Sir, take this. You won't catch anything decent with just those earthworms."
"Is this what you’ve been using to catch these?" the old man asked.
"That's right. Just give it a try and you'll see."
"Hahaha, then I must try it." The old man hooked the bait Chen Mo had given him and cast his line. Instantly, schools of fish swarmed toward it. The old man was startled; the bait was remarkably effective. Before long, he pulled up a large grass carp weighing seven or eight pounds.
"Hahaha, this stuff is incredible! Young comrade, thank you truly," the old man said, beaming.
"It’s just a bit of bait, don't mention it," Chen Mo said dismissively.
As the sun began to climb higher, Chen Mo felt it was time to stop. He led He Yushui to the shade of a nearby tree, took out a large black carp, pulled out a scalpel, and began to process it.
The old man and his companion noticed their activity, but the old man was still basking in the joy of his catch and didn't pay much attention. However, it wasn't long before the tempting aroma drifted toward him on the breeze.
"That smells wonderful."
Seeing the scent was coming from Chen Mo’s side, the old man, now satisfied with the several large fish he had caught, decided to stop fishing and walked over.
"Young comrade, this fish smells incredible. Did you add some special seasoning?"
"Just some salt and pepper I mixed myself. Would you like to try some, sir?" Chen Mo sliced off a piece of fish with his knife, placed it on a lotus leaf, and handed it to the old man.
The old man took a bite without hesitation. A burst of fragrance instantly filled his mouth. The young man beside him couldn't help but swallow hard.
Chen Mo cut another piece and gave it to him. "Take it. I saw you swallowing; stop acting like you don't want it."
The young man blushed but accepted the fish. After tasting it, he couldn't help but marvel. It was delicious and lacked even a hint of fishiness.
"This grilled fish is excellent. Xiao Zhang, go to the car and get the bottle of wine. It wouldn't be right to eat this without a drink," the old man said.
"Yes, sir," the bodyguard Xiao Zhang replied, smiling as he walked toward the car parked nearby.
"Don't," Chen Mo said quickly. "Your heart isn't in great shape, sir. You shouldn't be drinking."
Xiao Zhang immediately grew alert. How could this kid know the Chief had heart trouble? The old man was also surprised and looked at Chen Mo. "How did you know that?"
"I’m a doctor," Chen Mo said nonchalantly. "You have slight swelling in your face, a sallow complexion, and purple lips. That indicates poor blood circulation caused by an irregular heartbeat. Plus, the slight tremor in your right index finger suggests damage to your left heart meridian. Based on your condition, you’ve had this for at least seven or eight years. So, you really shouldn't drink."
The old man was shocked. "You could tell all that just by looking?"
"In traditional Chinese medicine, we emphasize observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking. A skilled physician can get a very accurate read just through observation," Chen Mo explained.
"Hey, young man, don't tell me your medical skills are already at the level of a national master?" the old man asked with a laugh.
"I’m not boasting, but while there may be people in this world with better skills than mine, there certainly aren't many." Chen Mo gave a piece of fish to He Yushui and took one for himself. "The flavor is a bit lacking. I should bring a grill next time."
The old man looked at Chen Mo's self-confidence—it seemed to come from his very bones and didn't strike him as arrogance. Moreover, what Chen Mo had said was correct; his heart condition was the result of an injury sustained eight years ago during the war. Although he had received treatment, it had never fully healed. He didn't necessarily believe this young man was truly that gifted, but he asked anyway: "I didn't expect you to be a little miracle doctor. Can you treat my condition?"
"For me, there is no illness I cannot cure, save for the natural decay of old age. However, my consultation fee is very high," Chen Mo said. He was curious to see how many merit points he could earn from treating such a prominent figure.
Chen Mo wasn't about to grovel just because of the man’s status. They were just two strangers meeting by chance. Building a bit of goodwill might save him some trouble when the "winds" eventually changed. To Chen Mo, the old man was merely a test subject.
When the mention of money came up, Xiao Zhang, thinking Chen Mo was a con artist, looked displeased and was about to speak, but the old man signaled him to stop and asked, "How much do you want?"
Chen Mo glanced at Xiao Zhang and said, "Don't look at me like I'm a swindler. A healer never begs for business; it is others who come to me. I only mentioned it because I found you agreeable, sir. If you don't trust me, then pretend I never said anything."
"You..."
The old man waved his hand quickly. "Young comrade, if you can cure my illness, I will certainly reward you handsomely."
"Very well. I’ll write a prescription. You take the medicine for a month. Given your status, I’m sure you’ll have a specialist verify the prescription first, and that’s fine. After a month, I’ll provide the second course of treatment. Three courses should be enough for a full recovery. It’s one hundred yuan per course. You can wait until you're cured to pay me. I believe someone of your stature won't welsh on a debt," Chen Mo said with a smile.