Chapter 35: Sudden Death
Shen Lu thought for a few seconds before finally nodding.
She helped Zeng Xiaodao up. "Can you walk? Let’s go to my place and treat your injuries."
"I can." Zeng Xiaodao grimaced, his blood-stained lips pulling into a grin. "Shen Lu, thank you for helping me."
"Don’t talk."
’If he hadn’t saved me before, I wouldn’t even give him a second glance if he died on the side of the road.’
The moment Shen Lu helped Zeng Xiaodao into the room, Fu Cheng sensed it. He forced his right eye open when he smelled the heavy stench of blood.
’I recognize the boy Shen Lu helped in. He came to the stall twice and didn’t have to pay for his food. I think his name is Zeng Xiaodao?’
’What happened to him?’
’Why is he so badly injured, and why did Shen Lu bring him back?’
Worried about getting blood on the sofa, Shen Lu had Zeng Xiaodao sit in a chair.
"I have medicine." Zeng Xiaodao managed to pull out a folding first-aid kit. "Could you please help me patch myself up?"
Without a word, Shen Lu opened Zeng Xiaodao’s folding first-aid kit with practiced ease.
The kit wasn’t as large as Fu Cheng’s, and it contained far less: just a few packets of medicinal powder, two rolls of gauze, and a box with a suture needle and catgut.
Shen Lu looked at the gash on Zeng Xiaodao’s arm. It was a downward slash, more than ten centimeters long.
The skin was red and swollen, the flesh peeled back, and it was already showing signs of inflammation.
Even though she wasn’t a medical student, she knew it needed to be cleaned and then sutured.
"Just pour the powder on it and wrap it. It’ll be fine." Seeing Shen Lu’s hesitation, Zeng Xiaodao didn’t press her.
’I heard she was a child switched at birth and used to live a life of luxury. Forget stitching wounds, she’s probably never even held a needle before.’
"Wait here." Shen Lu got up and left, leaving Zeng Xiaodao completely bewildered.
But she returned moments later, followed by an old woman.
"So it’s you, kid." Granny Jin raised an eyebrow. She clearly knew Zeng Xiaodao, and quite well at that.
"Grandma Jin," Zeng Xiaodao greeted her dutifully.
Granny Jin wasn’t one for idle chatter. Shen Lu had already briefly explained Zeng Xiaodao’s situation when she went to get her. She walked over, picked up the suture needle, and was about to begin when Shen Lu hastily stopped her.
"I-I have some saline solution left from when I changed Fu Cheng’s dressing. We should clean the wound before you suture it."
’I can’t believe Granny Jin is this rough. Zeng Xiaodao’s wound is filthy. How can she not clean it first?’
The part about the saline, however, was a lie. The little bit of saline in Fu Cheng’s first-aid kit had been used up long ago. What she brought out was just plain water, though it was very clean.
Neither Granny Jin nor Zeng Xiaodao suspected a thing. In fact, they both thought she was being incredibly kind.
Medicine was extremely expensive here, so they never imagined she would willingly use saline on Zeng Xiaodao.
Shen Lu quickly washed the wound for him, rinsing away most of the dirt and revealing the raw, red flesh beneath.
Granny Jin told him to brace himself and began stitching the wound.
Her technique was average at best, but she worked quickly, finishing in less than half an hour.
After sprinkling on the medicinal powder and wrapping the wound in gauze, Zeng Xiaodao was drenched in sweat from the pain, having nearly ground his back teeth to dust.
"Can’t you just stay out of trouble for once?" Granny Jin sighed. "Do you have to make your grandmother worry sick?"
Zeng Xiaodao pressed his lips into a thin line and didn’t answer.
Seeing his stubborn expression, Granny Jin lost the will to lecture him. ’Everyone has their own path. It’s a waste of breath to say more if he won’t listen. I might as well save my energy.’
Granny Jin said a quick word to Shen Lu and went back to her own room. After closing the door, Shen Lu asked Zeng Xiaodao uncertainly, "Are you sure you don’t need to go to a clinic or a hospital?"
’He’s lost a lot of blood. I’m afraid he might bleed out and die in my room.’
"No need," Zeng Xiaodao refused weakly. "I won’t die."
’I’ve had worse injuries than this. I’ve pulled through before without anyone to clean, stitch, or medicate my wounds.’
’More importantly, I don’t have the money for a hospital anyway.’
"Can you eat?" ’People here must have stronger constitutions,’ she guessed. Since he insisted, she didn’t press the issue.
"I can." Zeng Xiaodao licked his dry lips. He was actually a little hungry after losing so much blood.
Shen Lu turned on her malatang machine and used the leftover clear broth to make some dough drop soup, adding a few red dates.
She divided the soup into two bowls. She gave one to Zeng Xiaodao and placed the other on the table to cool before she fed it to Fu Cheng.
Zeng Xiaodao ate the dough drop soup, scooping it with his right hand. The warm food soothed his stomach, and it felt as if a pair of gentle hands were massaging the tearing pain in his arm. The sensation was incredibly comforting.
Shen Lu had eaten an egg waffle in the afternoon, so she wasn’t very hungry. ’I’ll just have an apple after he leaves,’ she decided.
Zeng Xiaodao ate quickly, SLURPING the soup down. The bowl was empty in less than five minutes.
He let out a burp, and a bit of color returned to his face.
"Boss Shen, your food is amazing."
"It’s just some simple home cooking." Shen Lu touched the side of the other bowl. Feeling it had cooled enough, she sat on the edge of the bed to feed Fu Cheng. "So how did you get injured, anyway?"
"It was Granny Liu." Now that he felt better, he was in the mood to talk. "She cornered me in an alley after I left your stall today."
"She’s completely lost it." Zeng Xiaodao frowned, recalling the scene. "She had a knife and was trying to hack me to death. Her strength and speed had increased so much I couldn’t even outrun her."
’Superhuman speed?’
Shen Lu asked, puzzled, "Did she awaken a superpower?"
"I think so?" Zeng Xiaodao shook his head. "I’m not sure. She slashed me a few times, and this one on my arm is the worst. If I hadn’t dodged in time, she would’ve hacked my entire arm off."
"Then how did you get away?"
"She suddenly spewed a huge mouthful of blood, and her eyes bulged out." A look of disgust crossed the boy’s face. "And then she just... died."
’Dropped dead just like that?’ A thought struck Shen Lu.
"Yeah."
Shen Lu lowered her gaze, hiding the look in her eyes. ’This is all so bizarre.’
"Thanks for everything today." Zeng Xiaodao pushed himself up from the table. "I’ll be going now."
Shen Lu looked up. "Okay. Be careful."
She didn’t ask him to stay.
’Bringing him back was just a temporary measure. I have my secrets, so I can’t possibly let him stay.’
’Fu Cheng is different. He’s lying here unable to move or speak, and he’s unconscious most of the time. He’s safe to have around.’
Zeng Xiaodao reached the door and had just put his hand on the knob when Shen Lu spoke again.
"I helped you today, so now we’re even."
’Don’t blame me for keeping such a clear tally. Money doesn’t grow on trees.’
’I have to scavenge junk every single day just to trade for ingredients. Every extra meal I have is one less meal I can sell.’
’Besides, we’re not that close. It’s better to be clear about these things.’