Chapter 56: Everything Is Ready

"What? Leave? You think the school belongs to your family? You only need to attend seven days of classes, and now you want to take two days off? What exactly are you trying to do? Don’t think curing my illness gives you free rein. Even if I approve your leave, the principal might not." Upon hearing this, Zhang Shen finally understood why Chen Rong had him make this call; it turned out that in the end, the old man had to give the final approval.

Still, Zhang Shen knew by now that Chen Rong would surely grant the leave, so he deliberately teased Hao Lei.

"Teacher Hao, is the prescription I gave you working well?"

"Uh... it's pretty good." Hao Lei replied, then suddenly realized something was off.

"Don’t think that just because you prescribed medicine for me, I'll approve your leave."

"Teacher, let me tell you a secret: this time, I'm leaving to find a medicinal herb for you, so I’m requesting leave to go out."

"What kind of herb?"

"A plant called dragon tongue flower. I’ve heard that if you extract the stigma, soak it for ten minutes, and apply it to the affected area, you’ll recover in ten days or so."

Hearing that Zhang Shen wanted leave for her illness, Hao Lei was tempted.

"Is that true?"

"Of course it’s true. Would a student ever deceive a teacher?"

On the other end of the line, Hao Lei had no idea Zhang Shen was struggling to keep himself from laughing. He was supposed to go up the mountain to find dragon tongue grass, but now it had become dragon tongue flower. And while the original intent was to treat Jiang Muyun, he had shifted to healing Hao Lei’s illness.

Chen Rong, standing nearby, couldn't help thinking this cheeky kid was quite the smooth talker.

"Alright then! But don’t tell anyone about this. When the time comes, I’ll just tell the principal it’s for medical reasons."

"Thank you, teacher."

"Remember to bring back that dragon... thing as soon as possible."

Zhang Shen knew Hao Lei hadn’t caught the name, so he quickly clarified, "Dragon tongue flower."

"Yes, that’s it."

"Teacher, just wait for good news from me!"

With that, Zhang Shen hurriedly hung up. At that moment, Hao Lei’s heart was racing, and Zhang Shen realized that his final words might have been easily misinterpreted.

Just then, Chen Rong’s phone rang.

"Hello!"

"Principal Chen, the new student Zhang Shen wants to take two days off to help someone. What do you think?"

"Teacher Hao, since he has important business, especially concerning an illness, I approve."

"Alright, Principal!"

Zhang Shen was naturally puzzled by the roundabout way Chen Rong handled things, but under someone else's roof, he had no choice but to go along. Since the old man insisted it was a procedural matter, so be it.

"In that case, we’ll set out tomorrow morning. Let’s meet at the school gate at seven."

"Yes, Principal."

After escorting Chen Rong to the end of Shunyi Lane, Zhang Shen returned to Jiang Muyun’s room.

"You’re back!"

"Yes."

Seeing Zhang Shen return, Jiang Muyun was about to ask his opinion on her illness, but noticing his troubled expression, she refrained from questioning further.

Meanwhile, Mu Qiao, deeply concerned about her mistress’s health, immediately pressed Zhang Shen, "What did the principal say?"

"He gave an answer."

"Then hurry up and tell us! Are you trying to drive us mad with worry?"

Zhang Shen gazed at Jiang Muyun with heartfelt sincerity and said, "Xiao Yun, let me be honest. The principal said we need to find a plant called dragon serpent grass on Liang Mountain. We must mix it with the black worms that crawl out from your face to suppress the toxins in your body."

"Oh, isn’t that a good thing?"

"But this is only a stopgap. We haven’t found a way to cure you completely yet."

"It’s alright. I’ve grown used to it."

Zhang Shen knew that Jiang Muyun’s illness seemed to be worsening, and he feared that if he failed to treat her in time, something disastrous might happen...

He dared not dwell on such thoughts.

"So, you mean we’re going to Liang Mountain tomorrow?"

"Yes, but we have to meet the principal first, then head to the mountain."

"Alright."

Seeing Jiang Muyun agree, Zhang Shen said, "Rest well. I’ll go prepare, and come for you early tomorrow."

"Mistress, let me see the doctor out."

"Thank you, Sister Mu!"

Zhang Shen and Mu Qiao walked together to the entrance of the nursing home. Along the way, Zhang Shen earnestly reminded Mu Qiao, "You must take good care of Xiao Yun."

Mu Qiao nodded repeatedly.

After Zhang Shen left, Mu Qiao dialed her employer Jiang Zhengxing’s number.

Normally, Mu Qiao contacted Jiang Zhengxing via messages, but after witnessing her mistress’s alarming illness firsthand, she felt a phone conversation was necessary.

Soon, the call connected.

"Hello!"

Jiang Zhengxing’s tone was cold; he didn’t know why Mu Qiao was calling him.

"Boss, I have something to tell you."

"Go on."

Mu Qiao, accustomed to Jiang Zhengxing’s indifference, was not surprised.

"I’ve discovered that Mistress is ill—no, to be precise, she’s been poisoned."

"Oh!"

Mu Qiao hadn’t expected such a response: Jiang Zhengxing remained unmoved upon hearing his sister was poisoned.

"What are you planning to do next?"

Jiang Zhengxing posed the question to her, but fortunately, Zhang Shen would take Mistress to Liang Mountain for medicine tomorrow, giving her something concrete to report.

"The miracle doctor who’s been with Mistress said he’s found a cure, and plans to take her to gather medicinal herbs tomorrow. There’s also an elderly professor joining them."

"Really? Have they truly found a way to treat Xiao Yun’s poisoning?"

At this moment, Mu Qiao realized her employer had long known about Mistress’s condition, but had been powerless to help. Hearing of a cure now, he was elated.

"Yes, Boss, they’re leaving tomorrow morning."

"Where are they going, who else is involved, what else do you know?"

Now, Jiang Zhengxing’s voice was tinged with emotion. After all, his sister had suffered for years, and finally, there was hope for her recovery.

"We’re heading to Liang Mountain near Yuehu City to gather a plant called dragon tongue grass. There will be four of us in total."

"If you hear any news, inform me immediately."

"Yes, Boss."

After hanging up, Mu Qiao returned to the nursing home to prepare for the next day’s journey.

After a night’s rest, Zhang Shen was awakened by his alarm at six-thirty in the morning.

Upon finishing his morning routine and descending the stairs, he saw a Buick parked outside his building. The little head peeking from the car window surprised him.