Magnolia Lane

Tang Yiyi dragged her suitcase, rushing out from amid a crowd of taxi drivers vying for passengers. She took a deep breath and followed the flow of disembarking travelers toward the entrance of the bus station.

Turning left out of the station, ten meters ahead, a white Jetta waited. Xu Bin, wearing headphones, leaned against the car, nodding his head as he played on his phone. As Tang Yiyi approached, she could vaguely hear Xu Bin humming a tuneless melody. She took out her phone and dialed a number, prompting a musical ringtone from Xu Bin’s device.

Xu Bin straightened up, about to answer, when Tang Yiyi reached out and gently poked his arm with a finger. He turned and saw Tang Yiyi in a powder-blue T-shirt, and was momentarily stunned. She wasn’t the type of beauty favored by popular standards, but her fair petite face was adorned with a pair of unusually round, single-lidded eyes, bright and striking. He had never imagined single-lidded eyes could be so round.

He watched as she pouted her soft lips and said, “I’m Tang Yiyi.”

Xu Bin immediately broke into a smile. “I’m Xu Bin. You’re running late.”

Tang Yiyi nodded. “Yeah, there was a car accident on the way. A truck carrying pigs overturned, and the whole highway was full of them.”

Xu Bin took her suitcase and placed it in the car, laughing. “If I’d been nearby, I’d have gotten out and caught one.”

Tang Yiyi shot him a sidelong glance, suppressing a laugh. “Your little car couldn’t fit all that pig fat.”

Xu Bin opened the passenger door. “As long as it fits you, that’s all that matters. Get in.”

It was May, the cusp of spring and summer. Yicheng, a small city in the southwest, was at the perfect balance of warmth and coolness. Breezes from the open car window felt refreshing.

As the car passed a stretch of road construction, Xu Bin quickly rolled up the window. “They're resurfacing West City. Once it’s done, it’ll be fine. It seems they’re always working somewhere—makes the whole city feel like one big construction site.”

Leaving West City and entering the commercial center, the streets outside suddenly looked clean and tidy. Pots of colorful butterfly orchids bloomed on either side. Perhaps it was because evening was drawing in; most pedestrians seemed to be out for a post-dinner stroll, dressed comfortably and moving at a leisurely pace.

“Have you been to Yicheng before?” Xu Bin asked.

“Once, though not really. I was just passing through—from my hometown in the county to the provincial capital,” Tang Yiyi replied earnestly.

“Then when you have time, I’ll show you around.”

“Sure, my dad said the landscapes here are especially beautiful.”

“Absolutely. The three rivers meet here—Yicheng never lacks water.” Pride colored Xu Bin’s tone. He glanced at Tang Yiyi. “Did you get your diploma?”

“Yes, I did. I’ll be eligible to take the physician’s licensing exam next year. I hope to pass on my first try.”

“You’ll definitely pass.”

“Why are you so sure? I’m not even confident myself.”

“Professor Huang said you would, and he never misjudges his students. Anyway, you’re more reliable than me.”

Tang Yiyi wanted to offer Xu Bin a few words of encouragement, but seeing his nonchalant expression, she decided against it.

“How old are you?” she asked.

“Older than you, anyway. You’re just a little girl—just call me ‘brother.’”

Tang Yiyi looked at Xu Bin’s fair skin, much like her own, and his slightly rounded figure clad in a loose, stylish hoodie. She pursed her lips dismissively. She had just graduated from university, and judging by appearances, he was at most two or three years older. Calling him ‘senior’ felt appropriate.

The car turned a corner, and a faint floral scent drifted inside. “That’s the fragrance of Michelia,” Tang Yiyi exclaimed with delight.

Xu Bin smiled at her. “When you smell Michelia, we’re almost at Flourishing Hall Traditional Medicine Clinic.”

A narrow alley waited ahead, marked by a street sign: Michelia Lane. The car entered, just wide enough for two vehicles to pass. One side was lined with old apartment buildings, no more than five or six stories high, all dating from earlier days, their ground floors opened into small shops. The other side featured even older single-story or two- to three-story houses, most converted into storefronts facing the street. The alley felt like an elderly person—stooped with age, yet spirited and lively. Most shops had closed, except for the supermarket and fruit store at the entrance.

The floral scent grew stronger. The car stopped beside a large tree. Xu Bin said to Tang Yiyi, “Here we are. Flourishing Hall welcomes you.”

Tang Yiyi got out, looked up at the tree beside the car—large enough to embrace, its height reaching the third floor, covered with white Michelia blossoms. The fragrance was intoxicating, and she even spotted a bird’s nest amid the branches. The thriving ecology was an unexpected delight.

“Yiyi’s arrived?” A man in his fifties, dressed in white Tai Chi attire, walked over. She immediately bowed respectfully. “Hello, Master!”

Xu Mingtang smiled. “Glad you made it. You must be tired from the journey. Go in, wash up, rest a bit, and then we’ll eat.”

Xu Bin dragged the suitcase over and said to Xu Mingtang, “Dad, she’s safe and sound. My mission’s complete. I’ve got something to do, so I’ll head off.”

“Something to do? What could you possibly have? Yiyi just arrived. Can’t you join us for dinner?” Xu Mingtang frowned.

“Dad, I really do. It can’t wait.” Xu Bin dropped the suitcase and dashed off, calling as he ran, “Yiyi, I’ll treat you to dinner tomorrow!” Before he finished, he was already in his car and gone.

Xu Mingtang shook his head, troubled, and said to Tang Yiyi, “Don’t mind him. He’s always busy with who knows what. Come on.” He reached for the suitcase, but Tang Yiyi quickly grabbed the handle. “Master, I’ll do it myself.”

Tang Yiyi took the suitcase and walked alongside Xu Mingtang.

Pointing to a three-story building about five meters ahead, Xu Mingtang said, “This is our Flourishing Hall.”