“You see, even the animals are teaching me. I’ve recently become more and more studious. Wang’s tumor was the most enlightening. Ah, what a fantastic way to communicate!”

Mrs. Yi nodded in agreement. She said that she would like to sit in on Wang’s class in a couple of days, hoping that she’d be able to spread Wang’s experience and knowledge. She was particularly interested in the details of the reactive communication between the brain tumor and Wang. And she was moved by the tacit understanding between Wang and the director.

The director beamed. Then he asked if she had run into Dr. Lin Baoguang on her way to the county seat. At a loss, Mrs. Yi shook her head and said no.

“I wouldn’t recognize him even if I did. He’s a legendary doctor who hasn’t left the mountain for a long time. Do you think he’ll come here today?”

“According to the message I received this morning, he should have come. Why do you think you wouldn’t know him? On the contrary, Chunxiu, you will recognize Dr. Lin as soon as you see him. I’m sure you will.”

“Do you think so? That’s wonderful! He’s the miracle-working doctor of Blue Mountain.”

“You’ll learn more and more about the secrets of Blue Mountain.”

“I’ve already learned some things. The time when I went to dig up the goldthread—”

“Hush, you mustn’t say anything about that. You can only hold it in your heart.”

“You are so kind. I love you, and I always will.”

Before leaving, Mrs. Yi walked in a circle around the empty classroom. The silence of the classroom carried her thoughts far away, and a voice kept whispering to her, “Do you have everything with you? Did you forget something . . . ?” The question seemed to ask her to dig deeper into her memory . . . the faraway memory.

After leaving the director’s place, as she walked on the main road in the county town, the sadness she used to feel when she was missing the director had vanished. Feeling an impulse to fly, she stretched out her arms. Then she thought of Wang and his heroic life—living with his brain tumor.

“Ma’am, what’s happening with malaria control in Yun Village?”

The speaker was an unusually small old man, his back bent almost to the ground.

“It’s almost over. The disease is under control.” She bent down to speak to him. “Where are you from? You look familiar.”

“You have to ask? You already know,” he said reproachfully.

“Oh, this is incredible. I’m so fortunate!” Her voice was shaking a little.

The old man waved her away, saying, “Let’s go our separate ways.”

On her way to catch the bus, Mrs. Yi thought, Dr. Lin Baoguang! How serious he is! Perhaps he’s not satisfied with my work? She felt uneasy.

Oddly enough, she saw the old man again in the station. He was talking with a young man. Mrs. Yi distinctly heard the shy young man call him “Dr. Lin.” On the bus, the two of them sat a few rows in front of Mrs. Yi and talked on and on. Mrs. Yi managed to catch some fragments of their conversation, such as “The one from Lubi’s family scattered grass seeds everywhere . . . ,” “There are indications . . . ,” “The vegetation problem . . . scarlet fever is not scary,” “Animals are infected . . . ,” “. . . The veterinary station on the hill . . . ,” “Experiments are occurring spontaneously everywhere,” “. . . Yes, mountains and lakes.” Mrs. Yi thought, Perhaps a big plan is brewing. How inspiring! Had her experience in the banyan forest actually been fate urging her on? Her face was hot.