Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Wang Yao’s mother chatted while Wang Yao dredged his grandpa’s channels and collaterals. It was already midday before they knew it, so the old man wanted to get up to cook.

  “You’d better lie down. I’ll do it,” Wang Yao’s mother said.

  They’d bought too much food on their way to visit. Vegetables in the north were rare in the winter, so they brought some Chinese cabbages and turnips they had planted. They planned on cooking a pot of stewed cabbages with meat, plus some fried vegetables.

  Zhang Xiuying was busy, so Wang Yao helped her. Together, they prepared the lunch quickly.

  “Ready for lunch, Grandma and Grandpa?” Wang Yao asked

  “Ah, why did you buy so much?” The old couple, who farmed, did not have steady income except. Thankfully, Wang Yao’s mother and his third aunt gave their parents some money monthly. But, they still pinched and screwed, which has become their lifelong habit.

  Wang Yao just smiled after hearing what they said.

  After lunch, Wang Yao’s mother visited some close relatives. It was important for her to keep the relationships good since her parents lived nearby and might need help from them someday. Her visit lasted until after 2 p.m.

  “Mom. I have an appointment with a patient this afternoon, so I have to go,” Wang Yao said. “I’ll pick you up later.”


  “I’ll go with you to let your grandpa and grandma rest,” Zhang Xiuying said.

  They said goodbye to his grandparents and returned to the village.

  Du Baozhan and his family had been waiting for almost two hours.

  “Ah, where does Doctor Wang go? Why hasn’t he come back?” They were in a hurry. “He promised yesterday he would come this afternoon. We’d better wait longer.”


  Finally, Wang Yao arrived. He apologized when saw the family. They went into the clinic so he could take a look at Du Baozhan.

  “Ah?” His condition was better than the previous two people he had seen.

  “What’s wrong with him, doctor?” the mother asked. Wang Yao’s sigh had made her worry.

  “No worries. I just wondered if your son’s condition is better than those two young men. Hasn’t his drug addiction attacked?” Wang Yao asked.

  “Yes, it has attacked. I tied him in the room to force him to stand that,” Du Baozhan’s father said.

  “Ah, that makes sense,” Wang Yao replied.

  It was completely different to resist the attack of drug addiction through an outside force rather than a willingness by the drug user. This young man acquired confidence from his first successful withdrawal, This made it easier to come off the drug by himself, even without Wang Yao’s treatment. This was different from the two young men he saw the other day.

  “Pretty good!” Wang Yao smiled and clapped his shoulder.

  He was still a good boy now that he knew he was wrong and was willing to make efforts to correct and overcome the difficulties.

  “Wait, please,” Wang Yao said.

  He went to next room and decocted the medicine. Like the other day, they would have to wait for him to make it.

  Even though it was only a little past 4 p.m., it was getting dark. Wang Yao sat on a wooden stool quietly like an old monk in meditation. The firewood was burning brightly and radiating light.

  “Isn’t the medicine ready by now?” Du Baozhan’s father asked.

  “Calm down and please wait,” Wang Yao replied.

  Du Baozhan looked at the furnishings and ornaments in the room more carefully than he had the other times he had been there. It was not out of curiosity. Rather, the long wait was boring. He found the room to be quite simple. There were only a few tables and a medicine box. He admired Wang Yao even more considering his remarkable medical skills only required the help of simple tools.

  The fragrance of medicine floated in from the outside of windows. In the moment, he began to deeply admire and become interested in ancient medicine. He thought, What did I learn as a student at my university?

  The door opened with a squeak.

  “The medicine is ready.” Wang Yao repeated his words again. This time, the duration of the medicine intervals would change again. “Come back in a month.”


  “A month?” Du Baozhan was surprised.

  “Yes. If you could successfully resist it the first time, then you can do it for the second time,” Wang Yao said. “Have confidence in yourself.”


  “OK. I trust myself,” Du Baozhan replied.

  Since the snow had not yet thawed, it was easier to slip on the road. Wang Yao reminded them kindly to drive safely.

  “Xiao Bao, how are you feeling right now?” Du Baozhan’s father asked.

  “Not bad. Pretty good really,” Du Baozhan replied.

  “That’s good. I think Doctor Wang treated us better than last time,” his father said.

  They felt that Wang Yao’s attitude had changed, though they did not know why.

  Around midnight, there was a cup of tea and a roll of Taoist scriptures sitting on a table. There was also the sound of Wang Yao’s chanting, which seemed like it could be heard from far away even though it was not loud.

  The next day, Tong Wei made a surprise visit. It was so cold outside, it looked like she was blushing.

  “Why do you come back without telling me?” Wang Yao asked.

  “To surprise you,” Tong Wei said with a smile.

  Wang Yao sensed that there was something on her minds. Her smile was still sweet and nice but not as natural as usual.

  “Is it snowy in Dao?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Tong Wei coyly replied.

  They stayed in the clinic for a long time. She was still beautiful as ever, but their talks were not as close as before.

  The person who had reservations was not Wang Yao. It was Tong Wei. He did not know what happened. He also did not ask her in detail. He just wanted her company as long as possible.

  Zhang Xiuying prepared a hearty lunch at noon. She asked Wang Ru and Du Mingyang to come back home and join them all.

  “Uncle and aunt, I’ll go to the U.S. and stay there for a while based on the company’s schedule.” Tong Wei shared her news when they were chatting after the meal.

  Wang Yao’s parents and sister were shocked.

  “Going abroad again?” Zhang Xiuying asked.

  As a traditional person, Zhang Xiuying inwardly agreed with the lifestyle that a man should play a key role in the society while a woman should be confined to family chores. She still believed that girls should put emphasis on the family, taking good care of her husband and children, and leave the making money and struggling in society to men. She did not think Tong Wei would be a good fit for Wang Yao.

  “You’ll go on your own?” Zhang Xiuying asked.

  “No, with my colleagues in my company,” Tong Wei replied.

  “You must take good care of yourself, especially when you are not at home.” The words were reasonable for a senior to say, though she did not want Tong Wei to go.

  After the meal, Tong Wei went into Wang Yao’s bedroom.

  “You have something on your mind, don’t you?” Wang Yao asked with a smile.

  “Not yet.” Tong Wei smiled and shook her head.

  “You can say whatever you have to. Don’t keep it bottled up,” he said.

  “I’m just not sure about things,” she replied.

  Wang Yao was startled at her answer. “What?”


  “I don’t feel fulfilled,” Tong Wei said. There was too much weighing on her mind due to work and another matter. She soon changed the subject. The two talked for a while. It confused Wang Yao.

  “What’s really the matter?” he asked.

  “Nothing.” Tong Wei gave the same answer.

  In the evening, she did not stay for supper. She asked Wang Yao to help her get home.

  Coincidentally, Tong Wei’s mother’s sisters were at her house when she arrived. They decided to have meal at home but changed their minds and went to a restaurant.

  Wang Yao did not go with them. He said goodbye to Tong Wei and drove home alone.