Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Pan Jun was a bit nervous. This was his first time treating a patient in Wang Yao’s clinic. It was different from treating his wife at home. He remembered the first time he picked up a scalpel in the surgical theater. He had been nervous and excited.

  He took a deep breath and started to provide massage therapy to the two old patients. He was slow, but his hands were steady. After all, he could manipulate a scalpel.

  Pan Jun was familiar with the meridians and acupoints of the human body. He had also grasped the basic massage techniques. He only lacked practice. Therefore, he cherished the opportunity of hands-on practice.

  His hands were moving slowly. He applied small force initially and then gradually increased the force. These techniques were all taught by Wang Yao.

  “Ouch!” The patient’s body suddenly twitched.

  “Sorry, does it hurt?” Pan Jun anxiously asked.

  “Yeah, a little bit,” the old man said.

  “That’s normal,” Wang Yao said. One shouldn’t expect to feel comfortable and relaxed when having a massage therapy. Feeling sore, itchy or numb was normal. “Continue.”


  Pan Jun followed Wang Yao’s instruction. Time passed slowly.

  “I think that’s pretty much it,” Wang Yao said.

  The massage session had lasted about an hour.

  “Could you please wait for a while and see if you feel better,” Wang Yao said to the patient.

  “OK,” the old man said.

  The condition of the second patient was similar. Pan Jun was much more confident this time, so his movement was smoother. The massage session lasted 10 minutes less.

  The two old patients were happy with the massage therapy provided by Pan Jun. They were in pain and couldn’t walk properly when they came to the clinic. Now, they were much better.

  “Hmm, you are good,” one of the patients said.

  The two patients left after paying the fee.

  “What do you think?” Wang Yao asked.

  “It was like my first time successfully saving a patient in the emergency department. I feel rewarded,” Pan Jun said with a smile. He was telling the truth.

  “Come here as often as you can. You’ll always get an opportunity to practice. You can also treat patients at your sister’s clinic,” Wang Yao said.

  A large proportion of Wang Yao’s patients had headaches or pain in their legs. It was important to grasp the theory and practice to become a good doctor.

  “OK,” Pan Jun said.

  Time passed quickly. It started to get dark. Pan Jun left the village. He had a meaningful and full day.

  “Mom, the hot spring facility in Li Family Creek has opened. I’ll check it out tomorrow. You can take dad to enjoy the hot spring someday,” Wang Yao said.

  “I’m not interested.” Zhang Xiuying turned down the suggestion right away, although Wang Yao meant to be nice. She was obviously not interested. “Your sister’s engagement party is on the day after tomorrow. Don’t forget.”


  “I won’t,” Wang Yao said.

  It was the biggest event of the year for his family.

  In the evening, in a rental house, Wen Wan’s son was concerned about his mother.

  “Mom, how are you feeling?” her son asked.

  “I’m much better,” Wen Wan said.

  The decoction given by Wang Yao was very effective. She took the decoction twice a day and felt much better. Although she was still tired and uncomfortable, she was not as sick as she was the day before.

  “Good. Good night,” her son said.

  “Good night,” Wen Wan said.

  Watching his mother falling into sleep, which didn’t happen often, he put a cover on his mother and went to the courtyard. He lit a cigarette. Professor Lu was also in the courtyard smoking.

  “Your mother is sleeping?” Professor Lu asked.

  “Yes, the decoction works well,” Wen Wan’s son replied. “Uncle Lu, you don’t have to stay here. I can look after my mother.”


  “That’s fine. I have applied for some leave from the school. You won’t be able to manage by yourself here,” Professor Lu said.

  Wen Wan’s son kept silent for a moment. He then said, “I’m not sure how long we are gonna stay here for.”


  “We’ll stay here until she’s recovered,” Professor Lu said.

  Actually, Wen Wan’s son was reluctant to bring his mother to the village. After all, this village was isolated and the doctors in it might not be qualified. He didn’t have much faith. He didn’t think any good doctor would be willing to stay in a clinic in an isolated village. All the good doctors probably worked in big hospitals. If Professor Lu tried to convince him and his mother that Wang Yao was a fantastic doctor, he wouldn’t transfer his mother from a well-known hospital to a small village.

  He looks pretty much the same age as me, but is such an amazing doctor. Why does he want to stay here? Wen Wan’s son couldn’t get it.

  It started to get windy and was quite cold outside.

  “Let’s go inside. You’ve been busy the whole day. Rest early,” Professor Lu said.

  “OK,” Wen Wan’s son said.

  It was very quiet in the village that night. Professor Lu, Wen Wan, and her son all had a good sleep.

  The next morning, Wang Zecheng went to Wang Yao’s clinic around 9 a.m. to buy more decoctions since there was nothing left at home.

  “Come in the afternoon and bring your dad with you,” Wang Yao said.

  “OK,” Wang Zecheng said.

  “You also need to look after yourself,” Wang Yao said.

  Wang Yao found Wang Zecheng looked terrible. He had deep eye bags, which was an indication of being overtired.

  “OK,” Wang Zecheng said.

  He had changed, really changed. Previously, he just did some farming at home and worked casually in town. He never had a proper job. Now, in order to treat his father, he spent all the money he had saved over the years. If he continued to spend money like this, he wouldn’t have any money left. However, he had sworn to himself that he had to provide his father with a happy and comfortable life for the rest of his years. Since he had to continue to buy the decoctions from Wang Yao, he had to make more money. He now had two jobs, which made him exhausted.

  “Health is the most important thing. If you became ill, all that you’ve done would be a waste,” Wang Yao said.

  “I know. I just want to compensate for what I’ve done to my dad,” Wang Zecheng said.

  It was not easy for a bad person to turn good.

  “Look, I can continue to give you the decoctions, but you can just pay half for now,” Wang Yao said.

  “Are you sure that’s OK to do?” Wang Zecheng asked with surprise.

  “Yes,” Wang Yao said.

  “That’s great! Don’t worry, I’ll definitely pay you back,” Wang Zecheng said.

  He would be less stressed if he could pay half of the fee.

  “Anyway, don’t forget to bring your dad here in the afternoon,” Wang Yao said.

  Wang Zecheng told his wife about what Wang Yao said to him in the clinic.

  “Pay half first? That’s good,” his wife said.

  “Yes, I feel less stressed now,” Wang Zecheng said.

  “Right, I heard the apartments in the town center are being built quite quickly. We can swap our two old houses in the village with the apartments. If we are really short of money, we can sell the apartments,” his wife said.

  “You are right. That is a good idea,” Wang Zecheng said.

  Most of the villagers wanted to sell their houses in the village and buy apartments in the town center, while they wanted to sell the apartments in the town so they could cash in to treat their father.

  Wang Yao brewed another decoction in the morning. He was treating two cancer patients in the village.

  I’ll see him in the afternoon first and then think about what to do next.

  Wang Yao went to his clinic right after lunch. Wang Zecheng brought his father to the clinic at around 1 p.m.

  Wang Zecheng’s father looked good. His face was red, and his eyes were bright. He didn’t even look sick.

  I hope this is not a momentary recovery just before death. Wang Yao was surprised to see the way Wang Zecheng’s father looked.

  It was extremely abnormal for a cancer patient to look so well. Only a dying person would show such a sudden radius look.

  “Uncle Yilong, please sit down.” Wang Yao took a good look at the old man.

  “Good, you are fine,” Wang Yao said after checking the old man.

  He took a big sigh of relief after making sure that the old man was not dying. The old man was well, better than he had expected. It proved his theory. Good mood could speed up the recovery, even for cancer patients.

  “Uncle Yilong, how have you been feeling lately?” Wang Yao asked.

  “Good, I feel good,” the old man said. “I even went up hill the day before.”


  “Good. How is your appetite?” Wang Yao asked.

  “Better than before. I have also been sleeping well. Your decoctions are so effective,” the old man said.

  Wang Yao could tell a big change in the old man’s mood. The old man was smiling, and his smile was sincere. Happiness laid in contentment. A good mood would make a person look better.

  He still had cancer, but he the development of the cancer had been well controlled. Wang Yao’s decoctions were of course effective, but his mood also made a big contribution to his recovery.