“It has birthwort in it, so it works better.”

Mrs. Yi stood up to go. Widow Liang hated to see her leave. She held Mrs. Yi’s hand tightly, looked into her eyes, and said, “Mrs. Yi, if it weren’t for you, I might have gone with Liang Shan, and then Songbao would have been a miserable orphan. But now my stomach is almost better, and I’m ready for work. Songbao and I can’t thank you enough.”

“It’s just my job. The herbs are really miraculous. This is the advantage of living close to the mountains.”

The garden in front of the Liangs’ house was planted only in sweet potatoes; it had no green vegetables. Mrs. Yi thought, Widow Liang must miss her husband very much to plant so many sweet potatoes. The villagers said she was seeing a chicken dealer, but she apparently still missed her late husband. As Mrs. Yi walked down the path in the middle of the sweet potato field, a warm current coursed through her heart, because in the twilight she heard the crying again. It didn’t sound sad; instead it sounded a little joyful.

“Mrs. Liang, you’re a remarkable woman,” she sighed.

Outside the garden a woman came up to her with a big smile. She wanted to carry the medicine kit for Mrs. Yi.

“What is your name? Sorry, I’ve forgotten it.”

“I’m from another village. My name is Mia. Chunli is my cousin. I admire your work and came to see you. I’ve been waiting here for you for a long time. You are so patient with sick people.”

“Are you ill?”

“Not physically. My illness is in the mind. I am always afraid,” Mia said.

“Of what?”

“I’m afraid my husband will cheat on me and fall in love with another woman. Mrs. Yi, you don’t know our village. I wish our village were the same as your Yun Village. Uncle Liang Shan has been dead for several years, and his widow still grows his sweet potatoes. This reflects the morality of Yun Village. As for the herbs in your mountains, I’ve heard about them only recently from my cousin Chunli. Mrs. Yi, you’re a miracle. Everything in this world is connected to your heart. I want to visualize life the way you do.”

“Ha, Mia, you’re so serious about life—in a good way. But I think a woman of your caliber can do better. You have to be relaxed in both mind and body. You have a lot going for you. Don’t be nervous. Ha-ha-ha,” Mrs. Yi laughed.

“Me, my caliber? Mrs. Yi, you must be kidding.” Mia blinked in bewilderment.

“Yes, you are very capable. I can tell by your words. You are an earnest person. You have the ability to understand and appreciate people. You have good taste.”

“Mrs. Yi, I also want to learn some medical skills from you. Unfortunately, I’m too late. You’ve taken Gray in as your apprentice. Do you think I can learn medicine by myself?”