Ma Tianliang glanced at Zhu Yanyi to ensure she was listening carefully, then continued, "At that time, our family was at a critical juncture. So, our ancestor led us to leave Shandong Province and hide on this island. As the shaman said, every descendant, regardless of gender, suffers from this ailment. Fortunately, it is not life-threatening, but no doctor could cure it. Later, our ancestor left a decree: whoever cures us shall become the master of the Ma family. We must serve her and her descendants for three generations."
Zhu Yanyi understood her meaning immediately. "So that is why you came to acknowledge me as your master today."
Ma Tianliang nodded and handed her a palm-sized token made of black wood. "This is the Ma Family Token. There are currently one hundred and two members in our direct lineage, and you have already met the young master. However, we have collateral branches scattered around the world. Some are famous, some work in economics, some in science, and others in various fields. Regardless of their status, as long as this token exists, they must obey. Since our direct lineage has recovered their health, they will surely come to pay respects to the master and seek treatment."
Zhu Yanyi chuckled lightly. "It seems your family is quite large."
Ma Tianliang laughed heartily. "A big tree has many branches. We have passed through twenty-one generations. If we only had a hundred people now, that would be absurd."
Zhu Yanyi agreed with her statement. "You can send them a message. I am returning to China tomorrow. Tell them to come to Beijing to find me. I will leave a phone number and a pager number. When they arrive in Beijing, they can contact me. As long as it is your illness, I can definitely cure it."
"Thank you, Little Master," Ma Tianliang said with a joyful expression.
Zhu Yanyi sighed helplessly. "However, acknowledging a master is too casual. I am a doctor; saving people is my duty. For you to command so many people to obey me is unfair to them." Seeing Ma Tianliang about to speak, she continued, "I know your intentions and understand your desire to repay kindness. But people are free. To be bound by a promise and obey a fourteen-year-old girl is not good."
"Little Master, you are overthinking it," Ma Tianliang smiled. "Although we have branched out, we stay in contact. We all remember our ancestor's words. If we do not follow the ancestor's instructions and do not acknowledge you, we are no longer descendants of the Ma family. Little Master, would you bear to see us expelled from the Ma family?"
Zhu Yanyi paused slightly, looking surprised. "That accusation seems a bit heavy. Is it really that serious?"
"Absolutely much more serious," Ma Tianliang said seriously. "We have survived for twenty-one generations because every Ma family member remembers the meaning of our existence. We keep the ancestor's words firmly in our hearts. If we do not follow the ancestor's words today, we are unfilial descendants. Little Master, you would not want us to become unfilial people, would you?"
The meaning was clear: acknowledging her as master was mandatory.