He was giggling.

“Do you think I’m naive and ridiculous, brother?”

“No, not at all. I’m just happy for you. We love you so much!”

“Thank you. But I haven’t done anything for you folks yet.”

“You don’t have to do anything. It’s enough that you’re here.”

“Why are you leaving so soon?”

“I just came to check on you, and now that I know you’re all right, I can go. Good-bye.”

Leaning against the door, Angelica saw an old man walking briskly up the hill. This man didn’t look sick, so he couldn’t be Dr. Lin.

“How should I start practicing medicine?” Angelica asked herself.

Although this visitor and Blue had both said that she didn’t have to do anything—it was enough that she was here—Angelica still felt a little uneasy. She wanted to go to the mountains to collect herbs, but she was afraid of losing her way. Besides, she didn’t know anything about medicine yet, so her top priority was to find Dr. Lin Baoguang.

“Why don’t you go to the village to look for him? Everyone in the village knows him,” Blue said.

But Blue had left without telling Angelica how to get to the village.

Angelica thought for a while and then set out with a bag on her back. She walked along the path beside the mountain and did not see anyone for a long time. Some small birds with colorful necks chirped in front of her. These sounds lifted her spirits. There were trees all around, but no houses in sight.

She was a little tired, but she had to keep going. Where was Blue Village?

“Blue Village is the kind of place that exists in people’s hearts.”

The same person was talking to her again. Angelica assumed it was Dr. Lin Baoguang.

“Yes, you are right . . . ,” she responded inwardly.

So what would a village look like if it were in people’s hearts?

Angelica finally saw a man sitting on a stone stool by the roadside. Apparently he was suffering from abdominal swelling. He gazed at the fallen leaves on the ground, and he looked happy. Angelica heard Blue talking somewhere.

“He’s my husband, a true optimist.”

Angelica thought this optimist would have no interest in her. But when she passed by, the man said, “Are you here to replace old Dr. Lin Baoguang?”

Angelica stood still, her heart surging.

“How can I—replace? Can you please tell me where he is?”

“No.” He shook his head. “Sorry. Nobody knows where he is. We respect his privacy.”

“I stayed in his clinic last night.”

“That means you’re his replacement,” he said reproachfully.

“Maybe I am. But how can I . . . I don’t know medicine.”

“We need more than medicine.” He pointed at his bulging stomach.

But Angelica had no idea what he meant. Blue Mountain and this Blue Village were so profound.

“Our illnesses aren’t so painful. Okay, good-bye.”

With that, he lowered his eyes.

As Angelica walked on, she whispered, “Optimist, optimist . . .”