Ch 246: Intercepting The Car

The Li Bai Chong couple exchanged a glance, their smiles growing warmer.

Li Bai Chong’s spouse even took Yu Bai’s hand, saying kindly, “This child, you’re too polite! We love these things, especially this incense; the scent is so calming!”

Yu Bai smiled, about to take her leave, but Li Bai Chong stopped her.

“Xiaobai,” Li Bai Chong paused slightly, his tone serious, “Since you have nothing on tonight, why not stay for a simple meal? I have a few old friends coming over, and I’d like to introduce you.”

Yu Bai’s heart stirred slightly at his words.

She glanced at Li Bai Chong; his gaze was unusually earnest, not the usual politeness.

Instantly, she understood his intentions.

This old professor, unless necessary, rarely socialized. Those he called “old friends” and specifically introduced must be important personages.

He intentionally wanted her to meet influential people.

Yu Bai naturally wouldn’t refuse such kindness.

“Okay, Professor Li,” Yu Bai responded readily, her smile bright, “I’ll go take care of things in the city and be back before evening.”

“Excellent, excellent, then we’ll be waiting for you.” The Li Bai Chong couple showed relieved smiles upon hearing her acceptance.

After making an appointment with Li Bai Chong, Yu Bai didn’t delay, driving straight to the city district.

She went to the city’s largest Chinese herbal medicine wholesale market, familiarly navigating several established herbal shops, quickly gathering the herbs and spices needed for making Brain-Clearing Incense and Soothing Incense.

Although there were many types, she already had a prescription in mind; her purchases were orderly, and in just over an hour, she was finished.

Concerned about the Li Bai Chong family’s dinner party, Yu Bai didn’t stay in the city district, throwing the large and small packages of medicinal herbs into the trunk and hurrying back.

She didn’t even have time for lunch, only eating two steamed buns she had brought from home in the car.

However, the journey wasn’t smooth. As she drove out of the city district and onto a somewhat secluded national highway, a small incident occurred unexpectedly.

Not far ahead, a black car was abruptly stopped by the roadside, its hazard lights flashing, seeming out of place.

Beside the car, a well-dressed young man was anxiously waving vigorously towards her, seemingly asking for help.

Yu Bai’s brow furrowed slightly, but her foot unconsciously eased off the accelerator.

In this desolate location, a sudden broken-down car and someone waving so urgently made her instinctively feel vigilant.

But on second thought, the man was well-dressed and didn’t look like a villain.

She slowly pulled over but didn’t turn off the engine. She only lowered the passenger-side window and looked at the man hurrying towards her.

“Hello, do you need any help?” Yu Bai’s voice was calm and steady.

The young man was about thirty years old, about the same age as her older brother, Yu Sheng.

Seeing Yu Bai stop, the anxiety on his face lessened, replaced by relief; he even imperceptibly sighed in relief.

He quickly walked to the window, his tone urgent yet polite:

“Ma’am, thank you so much for stopping! My car… I don’t know what happened, it suddenly broke down here.”

He pointed to the black car with its hazard lights flashing, looking helpless.

“My grandparents are also in the car,”

The man took a deep breath, his speech rate quickening, his worry deepening.

“They’re elderly, and they were already a little carsick. Now that the car is broken down and the air conditioning is off, I see their faces are pale, and I’m afraid they can’t take it…”

He paused, seeming hesitant, but urged,

“I’ve contacted a towing company and called the police, but it’s so remote; they said it’ll take at least an hour.”

“So… so I’d like to earnestly ask you, could you help me get my grandparents to the county hospital? I’ll pay for the medical and transportation fees; I won’t let you make this trip for nothing!”

He clasped his hands together, looking earnestly at Yu Bai, beads of sweat on his forehead, clearly distressed.

Yu Bai looked at the young man’s face for a few seconds, not immediately agreeing.

Her hesitation made the already anxious man even more nervous.

“Sir,” Yu Bai’s voice was still calm but cautious, “I don’t mind helping, but before that, can I see the condition of the two elderly people?”

Jiang Zhou—the young man—was visibly surprised, a flicker of astonishment in his eyes.

He was surprised Yu Bai would make such a request.

But thinking of his suffering grandparents in the car and his own dependent position, his slight surprise was quickly replaced by anxiety.

“Of course! Of course! Please, ma’am, they’re in the back seat.”

He quickly turned and led Yu Bai to the back door of the black car.

Only then did Yu Bai unbuckle her seatbelt and get out of the car.

Her movements were unhurried, but her gaze was sharp, secretly alert; her left hand unconsciously rested on her handbag.

In this desolate place, extra caution was always necessary.

Only after reaching the back door with Jiang Zhou and seeing the condition of the two elderly people through the window did the tension in her heart slightly ease.

The two elderly people were about seventy years old, dressed in fine fabrics—though not ostentatious, they conveyed understated elegance, showing a good family background.

Currently, the old lady leaned against the seat back, her face pale as paper, her forehead covered in fine sweat, her hand tightly clutching her chest, her breathing rapid and labored.

The old gentleman beside her had his eyes closed, his brows furrowed, his lips bloodless; his whole being radiated indescribable pain and weakness.

This pain was not feigned.

Yu Bai’s doubt and vigilance lessened considerably at this moment.

After a moment’s thought, she said, “I might have something that can temporarily alleviate their discomfort.”

Jiang Zhou’s eyes widened in surprise and slight distrust, “Really? Ma’am, what can you do?”

Yu Bai didn’t speak much but returned to her car and rummaged in the large backpack on the passenger seat.

In reality, she simply used the backpack as cover; with a thought, a slender, dark brown incense stick appeared silently in her fingertips—her specially made Brain-Clearing Incense.

She handed the incense stick to Jiang Zhou.

“This is my homemade Brain-Clearing Incense, made with all-natural herbs. It’s very effective in relieving motion sickness, headaches, and chest tightness.”

“The scent is light and harmless. Would you like to try it on the elderly?”

Jiang Zhou looked at the unassuming, even rough-looking incense stick, then at his still-suffering grandparents, and hesitated almost not at all.

“Try it! Of course, try it! As long as it makes them more comfortable, anything will do!”

He was desperate; if there was a glimmer of hope, he was willing to try.

With his permission, Yu Bai said nothing more, pulled out her matches, struck one, and lit one end of the incense stick.

“Hiss—” The match head ignited, the weak flame illuminating her calm face.

The incense stick was brought close to the flame; as the tip turned from black to red, a very thin wisp of bluish smoke rose, carrying an indescribable fresh, subtle fragrance that instantly diffused in the slightly stuffy air.

The scent was initially faint, but upon closer inspection, it was refreshing, as if washing away all anxiety and discomfort.

Jiang Zhou carefully received the incense stick from Yu Bai, following her instructions, inserting the lit end through the slightly open car window, allowing the fragrance to slowly spread in the somewhat confined car.

Almost the moment the scent entered their nostrils, a miracle happened.

The old lady, who had been frowning and breathing rapidly, her face contorted in pain, visibly relaxed.

She took a few deep breaths, her hand on her chest gradually loosening; a faint tinge of color miraculously returned to her pale face.

The old gentleman, who had been closing his eyes and enduring the pain, his furrowed brows slowly relaxed, even letting out an almost inaudible moan, as if his tense nerves had greatly loosened.

In just a minute or two, the pain on the two elderly people’s faces receded as if by a tide!

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