Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 51 The Spirit Spring Leads to the Initial Formation of the Alliance

Finally, Bao Yugang took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and his eyes flashed with determination and an irrepressible excitement.

He first dialed an internal phone, his voice slightly hoarse from the intense emotional turmoil: "Xiuying, come to the study, I have something important to discuss."

Without pausing, he immediately picked up the phone again and dialed the housekeeper's hotline, his tone urgent and brooking no argument: "Prepare the car immediately and invite Mr. Chen Jitang from 'Bai Cao Tang'! Whatever he's doing right now, make sure to invite him to our home with the utmost respect! Tell him... tell him I've suddenly fallen ill with a chronic condition, experiencing palpitations and discomfort, and urgently need his medical attention!"

He deliberately obscured the reason. Although his trust in Lin Er had increased greatly due to Lin Er's magnanimity and the generous gift of Ru kiln porcelain, this matter concerned the continuation of his lineage, and was far too important. He had to ask a professional he could absolutely trust to verify the prescription before he could be completely at ease.

After hanging up the phone, Bao Yu seemed to have slightly detached himself from the extreme tension and anticipation. Realizing that his actions had been somewhat impolite, he apologized to Lin Er, saying, "Mr. Lin, I am extremely sorry! It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that this matter... this matter is of great importance to my Bao family, I..." He didn't know how to explain this contradictory feeling of being both extremely excited and needing to be extremely cautious.

Lin Er seemed to have anticipated all of this, nodding in complete understanding: "Sir Bao, there's no need for further explanation. I fully understand. Caution is necessary; it's only human nature, and it's also for the sake of your wife's health." He then changed the subject, his tone becoming extremely serious, "However, I must add one more thing: please make sure you repeatedly instruct that this matter is strictly confidential, known only to you, your wife, and Mr. Chen. To outsiders, including others in the household, the only word to be that it's a prescription for your wife's health and well-being. Under no circumstances should you mention 'having a son' or any related words, lest it lead to unnecessary speculation, trouble, or even criticism, which would be detrimental to the Bao family's reputation and your wife's recovery."

"Of course! Mr. Lin is very thoughtful and meticulous. I understand! I will keep the secret strictly!" Bao Yugang nodded solemnly, his opinion of Lin Er's thoughtfulness and meticulousness rising even higher.

A short while later, the study door was gently pushed open, and Madam Bao, Huang Xiuying, walked in gracefully. She was dressed in an elegant cheongsam, her demeanor gentle and refined, a hint of doubt on her face. Bao Yugang stepped forward, took her hand, and led her aside, whispering a few urgent words in a low voice. Madam Bao was initially startled, then her face quickly flushed, her eyes revealing unbelievable joy and immense anticipation. Her hands unconsciously clenched the silk handkerchief in her hands, her heart skipping a beat. She suppressed her excitement and stood quietly beside her husband, her gaze, however, couldn't help but be filled with curiosity and scrutiny, secretly and repeatedly observing the extraordinary-looking Lin Er beside him, trying to find some clue on his face.

About half an hour later, steady footsteps sounded outside the study. The butler respectfully led in an elderly man with white hair and beard, but a ruddy complexion, dressed in a traditional grey long gown. The old man was Mr. Chen Jitang, a leading figure in Hong Kong's medical community. His family had practiced medicine for generations, possessing superb medical skills and high medical ethics, and were extremely famous in Hong Kong and even in the Chinese community of Southeast Asia.

"Sir Bao, what's wrong with you?" Mr. Chen Jitang asked with concern as soon as he entered the room. However, seeing that although Bao Yugang's face was solemn, his breathing was steady, which did not seem like an acute illness, and that the atmosphere in the room was rather strange, with an unfamiliar young man and Mrs. Bao present, he stopped talking and his wise gaze swept across the room.

"Mr. Chen, I'm so sorry to trouble you to make this trip so late at night." Bao Yugang stepped forward to greet him respectfully, his tone sincere. "It's not that I'm unwell, but my wife has been weak lately and needs long-term care. Today, I happened to come across a prescription, but its source is unusual, and the ingredients are quite peculiar. I'm quite apprehensive, fearing there might be some mistakes, so I've specially asked you, a renowned physician, to help me take a look and give me your approval." As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Lin Er.

Lin Er understood, took out an antique-style envelope from his assistant's briefcase, pulled out a prescription on Xuan paper, stepped forward, and respectfully presented it to Chen Jitang with both hands: "I trouble you, Mr. Chen, to take the time to appreciate it."

Chen Jitang nodded slightly, took the prescription, adjusted his reading glasses, and examined it carefully by the light of the desk lamp. At first, his expression was relatively calm, with a professional air of scrutiny, but as his gaze moved down line by line, his brows gradually furrowed, his breathing seemed to quicken slightly, and he began to murmur involuntarily, as if immersed in the world of the prescription:

"Hmm? This... the placenta must be taken from the firstborn male infant, and it must be harvested on the winter solstice, dried in the shade and ground into an extremely fine powder... the cistanche must be produced in a barren and cold desert place that is over a hundred years old, and only the core, which is as thick as a diaphragm, must be taken... the angelica must be the top-grade 'horse tail angelica' from Longxi, and it must be whole, with the root, body and tail all intact, each with its own wonderful use... the dodder seed paired with the astragalus seed, this ratio... seven parts and three parts? It is so exquisite and demanding! the deer antler glue must be made from the newly sprouted antler tips harvested at midnight on the winter solstice, and simmered with mountain spring water over a low fire, wonderful! Wonderful! The combination of the principal, assistant, adjuvant and guide herbs is simply seamless!"

The more he looked, the more excited he became. His fingers trembled slightly, and he couldn't help but lightly tap the table, whispering in admiration, "The ingenuity and unpredictability of this prescription, the boldness and precision in its use of medicine, the stringent requirements for the quality and season of the herbs, and the profound balance of the principal, assistant, and adjuvant herbs—in my lifetime of medical practice and countless ancient texts, I have never seen anything like it! This is no ordinary tonic; its effects in regulating the body's Qi, warming the uterus, nourishing the body's essence, and stimulating innate kidney Qi and vitality are truly... truly divine, a masterpiece of craftsmanship! If the herbs are all genuine and of sufficient age and quality, it would be an immense tonic for a woman's body, a complete transformation, a rebuilding of her foundation! I wonder which reclusive medical master created this? I... I truly wish to disregard my pride and pay my respects to learn from them!"

However, after his initial exclamation of admiration, a look of deep regret and helplessness quickly appeared on Chen Jitang's face. He slowly put down the prescription as if he were setting down a fragment of a priceless treasure, shaking his head and sighing, his voice heavy with sorrow: "What a pity... what a pity! Sir Bao, Mr. Lin, forgive my bluntness, but while this prescription is wonderful, it is almost a 'legend,' like a flower in a mirror or the moon's reflection in water. Not to mention that the century-old desert Cistanche deserticola and the deer antler tips at midnight on the winter solstice are already extremely rare and hard to find in the world... the prescription also contains..." Two crucial principal ingredients—a thousand-year-old He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) and a snow mountain purple ganoderma—I've only seen illustrations and records of them in a few nearly lost ancient medical books passed down in my family; they've been extinct in reality for over 150 years! Legend has it that these two substances possess spirituality and are beyond the reach of ordinary people… Without these two ingredients to guide the principal ingredients and govern the whole formula, even with all the other auxiliary ingredients, its efficacy would likely be less than one-tenth, and the medicinal properties might even be difficult to harmonize… What a pity, truly a pity! What a waste of such precious resources!”

Bao Yugang and Lin Er exchanged a glance, a tacit understanding flashing in each other's eyes. Suppressing the turmoil within him, Bao Yugang respectfully expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Chen Jitang: "Thank you so much, sir, for your insightful guidance and for resolving my greatest doubts. I've done my best; the rest is up to fate. I'm grateful for your late-night visit tonight; the consultation fee..."

"Oh, Sir Bao, you mustn't mention the consultation fee again." Chen Jitang quickly waved his hand to interrupt, his expression still immersed in the amazement and great regret over the prescription. "I have lived for decades, and to have seen this almost mythical ancient prescription today is already an immense opportunity, a blessing beyond measure. How could I dare to accept a consultation fee? It would be too much for me. But... but..." He hesitated for a moment, but still couldn't help but speak, his eyes filled with a faint hope, "If... if one day I truly possess extraordinary abilities and am fortunate enough to gather all the ingredients for this prescription... Sir Bao, could you, considering my heart's desire for medicine, tell me a little about the result, so that I too can... broaden my horizons and die without regret?" He still harbored a sliver of almost desperate hope for those nearly impossible medicinal herbs to gather.

"If that day ever comes, I will certainly inform the old gentleman of the latest developments." Bao Yugang gave a vague but solemn reply, and personally escorted Chen Jitang, who was still immersed in great shock and regret, out of the study.

"Mr. Lin," Bao Yugang's voice trembled slightly. He stepped forward, almost grasping Lin Er's hand. "Old Chen's medical skills, insight, and character are legendary in Hong Kong, unquestionable. Even he highly praises this prescription, calling it a 'miracle cure' and 'divine skill'... I already feel its immense value. But..." His tone shifted abruptly, his face showing extreme distress and near despair. "Just as Old Chen said, those 'thousand-year-old He Shou Wu' and 'Snow Mountain Purple Ganoderma'... these medicinal herbs, long extinct and existing only in ancient legends, are probably... I'm afraid that even if my Bao family's billions were spent searching the entire world, we would still be unable to find them! This... isn't this like having a mountain of treasure but being unable to enter? What should we do? Is this truly fate?" Behind the immense hope lay an insurmountable chasm of reality, almost crushing him.

"Sir, there is no need for you to worry about such trivial matters. I did not have time to say this earlier, but although these medicinal herbs have been extinct for a hundred years and are nowhere to be found, my Lin Group has the good fortune to have a collection of them, and their quality and age are all of the highest standard."

"They have them all?! And they're all in excellent condition and from the same year?!" Bao Yugang exclaimed in shock, his voice trembling. Even his wife, Huang Xiuying, who had been listening intently beside him, instinctively covered her mouth in astonishment, her beautiful eyes widening with disbelief and a dazzling light as if she had witnessed a miracle.

"Yes, Sir, you heard me correctly." Lin Er nodded firmly, his tone calm. "However, precisely because these medicinal herbs are so precious and rare, almost 'one of a kind in the world,' and because they concern the core secrets of the Lin family's heritage, I must forgive me for not being able to hand them over to outsiders, not even the most trusted doctor. This is an ancestral precept, and I hope Sir will understand."

He noticed the fleeting understanding and barely perceptible regret on the faces of Bao Yugang and his wife, and continued calmly to explain: "To ensure absolute safety, the decoction must be personally handled by a doctor within our Lin Group who is proficient in ancient methods, in an environment of absolute secrecy. Every step must follow ancient etiquette, without the slightest error, and must never be entrusted to others."

"Of course," he softened his tone, offering a concrete and feasible solution, "To make it as convenient as possible for your wife to take the medicine, after each decoction is prepared, I will send my most trusted confidant to personally deliver it to the vicinity of your residence and notify your steward to come and collect the medicine. The decoction will be sealed in a specially made warm jade bowl that can lock in the medicinal properties. It must be taken immediately after being collected to ensure that the medicinal efficacy and spiritual energy are not lost in the slightest."

He paused for a moment, then added to the doctor's instructions: "This medicine needs to be taken once every seven days, for a total of four times, before it will be effective. During this period, to achieve the best results, you and your wife must strictly abstain from alcohol and all spicy or irritating foods, refrain from sexual intercourse, cultivate a pure and tranquil mind, and strengthen your constitution so that the medicine can fully take effect and rebuild your foundation."

At this moment, Bao Yugang was completely stunned by the astonishing power and meticulous planning revealed in Lin Er's words. Not only did the other party possess peerless medicinal formulas, but he also had a collection of legendary medicinal herbs that had long been extinct in the world, and in perfect condition? Moreover, his actions were so meticulous and cautious, leaving no room for error, revealing the profound heritage and powerful strength of an ancient family! The slight doubt in his heart caused by not being able to see the medicinal herbs with his own eyes was instantly replaced by surprise and awe.

"Of course! Of course! Such a miraculous substance naturally requires utmost caution and adherence to ancient methods! Everything is at Mr. Lin's disposal! My wife and I will strictly follow the doctor's orders and dare not slacken in the slightest!" Bao Yugang hurriedly agreed, his tone even carrying a hint of involuntary respect. The Mr. Lin before him and the Lin Group behind him were simply unfathomable; their power and resources far exceeded his wildest imagination. This was no longer a simple business cooperation, but rather as if he had touched upon another, higher level of existence.

[It seems that the cooperation with the Lin family is more than just a matter of mutual commercial benefit...] Bao Yugang thought to himself.

In truth, Lin Er had his own calculations. While the prescription was indeed an excellent, ancient tonic formula that greatly replenished vital energy and had miraculous effects on regulating the body, the so-called "thousand-year-old He Shou Wu" and "Snow Mountain Purple Ganoderma" were indeed not found in the space's medicinal field—at least not now. Although the various seedlings planted there were growing rapidly due to the space's hundredfold time acceleration, Lin Yan had only been here for a little over a month, and the oldest were only a few decades old, far from the exaggerated level of "thousand years."

Lin Yan's true, and only, confidence came from the inexhaustible spiritual spring within the space.

He only needed to find an ancient prescription that nourished vital energy and balanced yin and yang, and carefully brew it using the high-quality medicinal herbs he already had in his space. Then, before sending it out, he would secretly add three drops of spiritual spring water to each sealed bowl of the medicine!

The spiritual spring water contains the essence of heaven and earth and the vitality of the source, its effects far surpassing any so-called "miracle medicine" or "immortal herb" in the mortal world. Used to regulate the constitution of ordinary people, optimize vitality, balance yin and yang, and nourish the foundation, it would be more than enough to significantly improve the health of Bao Yugang and his wife, let alone conceive a son. The so-called "secret formula for conceiving a son" is merely a conceptual package that Bao Yugang could not refuse.

"Mr. Lin... this kindness is heavier than Mount Tai! I... cannot express my gratitude enough!" Bao Yugang was deeply moved. He stepped forward and tightly grasped Lin Er's hand, his voice choked with emotion. "From now on, the Lin family's affairs are the Bao family's affairs! Whenever Mr. Lin and the Lin Group need my help, I, Bao Yugang, will never refuse! I will do my utmost!"