Chapter 550: As Short as a Few Months, as Long as Half a Year?

Sitting in Hong Mei’s car.

Chen Xiao did not return to Qingtian.

The whole morning had already passed with all the back and forth.

In the afternoon, Chen Xiao still needed to go to the Provincial City to pick up Huang Zhao.

So he had Hong Mei drop him off at the district police division’s criminal investigation team.

Then, after saying a word to Lin Xi, Chen Xiao drove towards the Provincial City.

By the time he reached the Provincial City’s airport, it was already afternoon.

However, Chen Xiao had a good grasp of the timing; it would be half an hour before Huang Zhao arrived.

He took out his phone and found a number he had saved a long time ago but never contacted, and after confirming that Guo Zhengchang was resting at the hilltop villa today, he finally felt at ease.

After finishing the call, Chen Xiao continued to wait in the car for a while.

Before long, Chen Xiao picked up Huang Zhao at the exit.

After all, he was a skilled old Chinese doctor.

Huang Zhao’s complexion clearly looked especially healthy.

Despite his full head of white hair, the healthy flush on his face made people feel that even ordinary middle-aged men might not have the vitality this elder had.

Chen Xiao, all smiles, walked over and shook hands proactively:

"Elder Huang, I’m really sorry for asking you to come all the way here!"

Huang Zhao shook his head: "It’s no problem. I told you a long time ago that I have a connection with you, and if there is a sick person in your family, you can contact me anytime. Of course, back then, I also said that I hoped you would never need to find me."

Chen Xiao nodded slightly: "Actually, I can’t tell if there’s something wrong with the body, just that my elder recently seems noticeably low on energy."

Huang Zhao frowned: "How old is he?"

"Seventy-eight."

"At that age, being low on energy might seem like a small issue, but it can easily turn into a big problem."

"That’s why I brought you here with such consideration."

Huang Zhao made a sound of acknowledgement: "Alright, let’s go down and take a look then."

"Do you need a rest?"

"No need, just a flight, I’m not tired."

Chen Xiao couldn’t help but admire the elder’s physique, so after politely inviting him into the car, he drove at a steady speed towards the hilltop villa.

Upon arrival, a servant from the Guo Family was already waiting outside.

Seeing Chen Xiao, the servant happily waved:

"Mr. Chen, you’re here!"

Chen Xiao nodded: "Big sister, is Elder Guo still at home?"

"Yes, he just woke up from a nap."

"How was lunch?"

"Not great, normally the elder can eat a big bowl, but since he came back yesterday till noon, I don’t know if it’s even a full bowl."

The servant spoke with worry written all over her face.

Even Huang Zhao couldn’t help but look concerned: "This is a serious issue for an elder to have a reduced appetite, quickly take me to see him."

Chen Xiao immediately agreed and, without explaining to anyone else, took Huang Zhao to the study.

He knocked on the study door, and after Guo Zhengchang calmly said "Come in," Chen Xiao pushed the door open and entered.

Sitting in the study chair, Guo Zhengchang was wearing reading glasses and looking at a book.

As Chen Xiao walked up close, he raised his head to take a glance.

In just that one glance, he withdrew his gaze.

But in the next second, Guo Zhengchang suddenly turned his head: "Chen Xiao? Why is it you!"

Chen Xiao chuckled: "So, Elder Guo, are you surprised, are you surprised?"

Guo Zhengchang laughed heartily: "Surprised, surprised, very unexpected!"

Speaking, Guo Zhengchang also noticed Huang Zhao.

Seeing this, Chen Xiao immediately introduced: "Elder Guo, this is Huang Zhao, Dr. Huang, whom I mentioned to you before."

As soon as Huang Zhao’s identity was mentioned, Guo Zhengchang understood right away why Chen Xiao had come.

The smile that was already on his face grew even more intense.

"So, it’s Dr. Huang, I’ve long admired your name, long admired!"

Guo Zhengchang warmly shook hands with him, while Huang Zhao laughed and said:

"Old brother, where do I have any great name, I’ve merely learned a few skills in my youth to make a living."

Guo Zhengchang: "Since you have called me old brother, let’s not be so polite with each other. Come, old brother, sit down first. Someone... bring the tea!"

Guo Zhengchang pulled Huang Zhao down to sit.

Before long, when the servant brought in the tea, Guo Zhengchang and Huang Zhao started chatting.

Chen Xiao sat quietly on the side, watching.

Guo Zhengchang was definitely a man who had weathered many storms all his life.

No matter who he met, how many times he had met them, or what profession they were in, he could always find a point of agreement to open the conversation.

The two kept talking about matters of traditional Chinese medicine.

If it weren’t for Chen Xiao knowing Guo Zhengchang, he might think that Guo Zhengchang was also an old Chinese medicine practitioner living in seclusion.

However, Huang Zhao was also a man who had lived for decades.

While conversing with Guo Zhengchang, he was constantly paying attention to Guo Zhengchang’s tone and demeanor.

When a topic ended, Huang Zhao brought up his own topic:

"Old brother, during our conversation, I observed you quite a bit. Now, give me your wrist, let me check your pulse."

Guo Zhengchang didn’t refuse, extending his hand right away.

The study gradually quieted down as Huang Zhao checked the pulse.

Chen Xiao sat quietly to the side.

In fact, he wasn’t too worried about Guo Zhengchang’s health.

After all, there was always a professional medical team by Guo Zhengchang’s side.

His only concern was that Guo Zhengchang’s recent busyness might deplete his energy and stamina.

So throughout the process, Chen Xiao was merely curious about Guo Zhengchang’s health condition.

However, this time Huang Zhao took a particularly long time with the pulse-checking.

It was the first time since knowing Huang Zhao that Chen Xiao had seen him spend so much time feeling a patient’s pulse.

As Huang Zhao furrowed his brows, Chen Xiao’s originally relaxed mindset gradually tightened.

Even Guo Zhengchang become visibly tense, unable to resist asking first:

"Old brother, is there any major problem with my health?"

Chen Xiao seemed to sense something and hurriedly said: "Elder Huang, just speak frankly, I believe Elder Guo can understand you."

The words of Chen Xiao were clearly the opposite of what he meant.

Having lived for many decades and practiced medicine for many years, how could Huang Zhao not understand?

So, after releasing the pulse, Huang Zhao spoke in a relaxed tone:

"Old brother, you’ve been depleting your energy and stamina too much lately. The shortage of energy and stamina can be quickly recovered by young people if they take care of themselves, but at our age, we must let go of some things."

Hearing this, Guo Zhengchang breathed a sigh of relief.

"I’ve been busy lately, can you prescribe something for me to recuperate?"

"Of course, but old brother, I must seriously remind you. You absolutely cannot continue this way; you must follow my medical advice and recuperate properly. This time the loss of health is serious; it will take at least six months, or even several years, to recover!"

At least six months, as long as several years.

Hearing it stated so clearly, anyone could tell how serious it was.

Guo Zhengchang nodded seriously, no longer at ease as before.

After taking a look at Chen Xiao, Huang Zhao said to Guo Zhengchang: "Old brother, I am a bit tired from the journey."

"Alright, let me take you to rest."

"Elder Guo, let me take Elder Huang. Elder Huang did say that you must rest well next."

Seeing Chen Xiao so earnest, Guo Zhengchang laughed: "Alright then, you’re familiar here anyway, go ahead and take Dr. Huang."

Chen Xiao nodded and courteously said to Huang Zhao, "Please."

However, as soon as they left the study, Chen Xiao couldn’t help but ask:

"Dr. Huang, how exactly is Elder Guo’s health?"

Huang Zhao’s tone turned grave: "Let me amend my earlier words. His condition... he might have only a few months at worst, at best, no more than six months left!"