Chapter 525 — Shocking News
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Guan Xuewen had always kept the great houses at arm's length — neither too close nor too distant. He was a physician of extraordinary skill, yet he scrupulously minded his own business: his consultation fees were modest, and he put on no airs. In the eyes of every great house, his reputation stood very high.
Moreover, Guan Xuewen was a man whom all the great houses courted. After all, everyone eats the five grains and suffers the five illnesses — who could claim never to fall sick? To know a divine doctor was to have one's life guaranteed.
Yet Guan Xuewen accepted no house's advances, nor did he ever go out of his way to visit anyone.
The Yu family had proposed more than once that the Guan family be made a great house as well, but Guan Xuewen had never given his assent. He knew perfectly well that the status of a great house was a fleeting glory; he had no worthy successor, no one to preserve the Guan family's prosperity for generations to come.
With the line of his eldest son, he could feel next to nothing anymore. That left Guan Xin as his only heir — and a girl would marry out in the end, so whether they were a great house or not hardly mattered.
If his granddaughter found herself a capable man, riches and honor would naturally follow her all her days; whether the Guan family ranked as a great house would make little difference.
So Guan Xuewen's unannounced visit this time left the Yu family quite taken aback.
"Second Uncle, shall I go out and receive him?" Yu Haitian was no fool. With Divine Doctor Kang's arrival, whether to receive him or not was a matter on which he must defer to his second cousin-uncle. But now that Dr. Guan had come, receiving him was an absolute necessity.
"I'll come with you." The middle-aged man hesitated a moment, then rose to his feet as well.
Yu Haitian was slightly startled, then understood at once. Given Guan Xuewen's standing, it was only fitting that his second cousin-uncle welcome him in person. Even the old imperial physician's heir from that hidden house behind the Yu family was no more than Guan Xuewen's equal in medical skill.
After instructing his subordinates to show every courtesy, Yu Haitian went with his second cousin-uncle to the reception hall, where they happened to see Guan Xuewen, Lai Changshan, and Wei Zhao walking in together.
"Professor Guan! What a rare guest indeed!" The middle-aged man stepped forward first and warmly clasped Guan Xuewen's hand. Such enthusiasm was unprecedented, and it took even Yu Haitian aback.
"Heh, you must be the second son of the Yu family, aren't you? What was your name again? My memory's not what it was, and it's been some time since we last met." Guan Xuewen gave the middle-aged man a placid nod, showing neither excessive delight nor warmth.
"That's right, I'm Shuixing — Yu Shuixing!" The middle-aged man took no offense at Guan Xuewen's manner in the slightest and remained most enthusiastic. "You treated me when I was a child!"
"Mm, I remember," Guan Xuewen said with a nod. "Shuixing."
After exchanging pleasantries with Guan Xuewen, Yu Shuixing turned to Yu Haitian. "Haitian, where are your manners? This is your Grandpa Guan!"
"Grandpa Guan!" Yu Haitian called out hastily and respectfully.
Guan Xuewen nodded in acknowledgment. This was his way, always — toward anyone, he showed no great warmth. Only in Wei Zhao's presence did Guan Xuewen display any excess of enthusiasm.
Men of learning, for the most part, admire those of greater learning than themselves. So this was merely an exception.
"Professor Guan, your coming at this hour — is there something we might be of service with?" With Guan Xuewen, Yu Shuixing was not one to beat around the bush: plain words, straight to the point, and whatever could be done, he would spare no effort.