“No one is an amateur in this line of work, Mia. Once you start working, you’ll learn everything on your own. That’s what Mrs. Yi said,” Gray said brightly.

“Gray, you look completely different.” Mia’s eyes were full of admiration.

“Mia, I’d like to ask you a question. You don’t have to answer it. Will a true love, like the love between you and Lohan, ever change?”

“I’m willing to answer you: I think everything in the world may change. But love—if it is true love—may not change so easily. Gray, why do you have to break up with Spoon for the sake of your career? What a shame!”

“She’s the one who wants to break up with me. She can’t put up with my studying medicine.”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. Good-bye, Gray.”

This encounter with Gray shook Mia greatly. There weren’t enough barefoot doctors in the world, and they were facing endless challenges with little help . . . Gray had held out so far, but could he hold out to the end? Had he paid too big a price in sacrificing his love for the cause? Mia had met Spoon: the girl was an ardent canna that could change Gray’s temperament. But did Gray need to be changed? Life held some problems that were hard to solve, but Mia was not one to hesitate. Following the vague summons in her heart, she moved ahead.

Herbs had been planted on her hill, and they were growing well. She and Lohan often went to the hill at night, and they noticed that the voices on the hill had died away and it had become quiet. What was going on?

One time they met Yang, who was sitting on a rock smoking a pipe.

“Uncle Yang, you should come to the hill more often. I think it is upset,” Mia said.

“Ah, Mia, the hill is waiting and processing,” Yang said happily.

“Really? Ha, I’m relieved!”

“I told it just now, ‘The couple is making a home for you! You’re so lucky.’ ”

They invited Yang to go up the hill with them to see the herbs.

The moon was bright that night. As soon as Yang appeared among the herbs, the earth stirred. The indistinct human voices and animal voices mingled, as if saying, “Long time no see! Long time no see . . .”

Mia stood there motionless, listening so rapturously that she almost forgot that Lohan and Yang were there. She was trying hard to recall an event, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not recall it. Yang came over to her, his white beard fluttering so that he looked like an immortal in the moonlight. In a daze, Mia said to Yang, “It hasn’t acknowledged us, Uncle Yang. Have we done something wrong?”

“Mia, you’ve done a great job! What you’re doing is innovative. It can’t wait to join your cause. I heard it murmuring just now.”

Yang laughed and patted Mia kindly on the shoulder.