Chapter 45: Issuing a Side Quest
Cai Su’s vision was blurred by tears. Not watching where she was going, she bumped into Shen Lu, who was heading to the bathhouse.
She was chronically underfed and weak, and the impact nearly made her drop the child in her arms.
Shen Lu quickly reached out and caught the child, saying, "Careful."
"I’m sorry." Cai Su wiped harshly at her tears and held the child more securely.
"It’s alright." The woman before her looked so fragile, as if she might shatter at any moment. Her red, swollen eyes betrayed a mix of despair, terror, and a stubborn resilience.
Shen Lu couldn’t help but ask, "Did something happen?"
She remembered her quite well. After all, just a couple of days ago, the woman’s husband had nearly beaten her to death over a nutrient liquid, and she also seemed to have a good relationship with Granny Jin.
Cai Su glanced at Shen Lu, recognizing her as the tenant who had recently moved in. She ran a stall on Gold Street, and business seemed to be quite good.
She had never been the type to burden others; she’d only gone to Granny Jin today out of sheer desperation. Now, with Xiao Lang’s condition so dire, it forced her to compromise her principles further and further.
"My child is seriously ill. Could you lend me some money?" Cai Su knew she was being presumptuous, but for her child’s sake, she had to ask, no matter how forward it was.
Shen Lu neither agreed nor refused. After thinking for two seconds, she said, "Let’s go. I’ll go with you to the hospital and see what the doctor says."
If she hadn’t found the Vibranium today and been in a good mood because of it, Shen Lu would never have bothered to meddle in someone else’s business.
"The hospital is too expensive. The money I have is only enough for a clinic."
"To the clinic, then."
Shen Lu had some money on hand, but not enough to squander. Even acts of charity had to be weighed carefully.
Besides, she didn’t know Cai Su well. If it weren’t on Granny Jin’s account, she wouldn’t have even asked what was wrong.
Cai Su couldn’t figure out what Shen Lu was thinking, but her child couldn’t wait. She had no choice but to lead the way, hurrying to the nearest clinic.
The clinic was located in the Eleventh District, the closest one to Seventeenth Street.
From the outside, it was dilapidated, like the back-alley clinics Shen Lu had seen in her previous life.
The doctor at the clinic was a woman in her thirties with a cold expression.
There were no sophisticated instruments in the clinic; diagnoses relied purely on the doctor’s assessment.
"How do you want to treat him?" The doctor quickly checked Xiao Lang’s vitals and asked sharply, "Save his life, or make his passing more comfortable?"
’The implication was clear: she couldn’t cure him.’
"Save his life!" Cai Su answered without hesitation.
"2,000 Star Coins. Go pay the fee."
Cai Su’s hands were clenched tightly together. She only had the 400 Star Coins from Granny Jin, nowhere near enough for the 2,000 Star Coin life-saving fee.
The doctor was unfazed by her reaction. She hung the stethoscope back around her neck and said indifferently, "You should know the clinic’s rules. We don’t do credit."
"May I ask what exactly the child’s condition is?" Shen Lu suddenly asked softly.
The doctor leaned against the table. "It’s the precursor to an awakening, but due to chronic malnutrition, his body can’t supply the energy needed for it."
Cai Su was taken aback. "Isn’t it... just a cold and a fever?"
The doctor scoffed. "If a simple cold and fever could do this... Since we entered the New Era, humanity’s physical constitution has improved significantly. A common cold isn’t enough to kill a child anymore."
"So if we just give him nutrients, he’ll be okay?" Shen Lu asked.
"Theoretically, yes." The doctor spread her hands. "But what are you going to use to give him nutrients? A nutrient supplement? Don’t make me laugh. The energy from a single supplement is pitifully low. In his condition, a hospital would give him enhanced nutrition injections. One hundred thousand Star Coins per shot. Three shots and he’ll be fine immediately."
The more Cai Su listened, the paler her face became. "I-I don’t need him to awaken a superpower. I just want Xiao Lang to live."
"If you ask me, you’re both lucky and unlucky. Not even one in ten thousand people can awaken a superpower. Too bad your kid is malnourished."
On the bed, Xiao Lang suddenly convulsed. A grayish pallor spread up from his neck. His eyes flew wide open, and he stopped breathing.
The doctor didn’t move an inch, only urging, "So, what’s the decision?"
Cai Su dropped to the floor with a THUD, kowtowing as she pleaded.
"Please, I’m begging you, save Xiao Lang! He’s so young, he shouldn’t die like this."
’She didn’t know who to beg, or what else she could even do. This undignified kowtowing seemed to be her only remaining option.’
"Save his life." Shen Lu immediately pulled out 2,000 Star Coins. "Give him the medicine now!"
This time, the doctor moved with incredible speed. She could tell the amount the second the money touched her palm.
She pulled open a drawer, took out several vials of a green solution, and within a minute, had injected the contents directly into Xiao Lang’s arm.
The boy’s condition stabilized immediately. His face was still flushed an unhealthy red, but the grayish pallor receded, settling at his throat.
The doctor went to the dispensary in the back and prepared two IV bags, which she then set up for Xiao Lang.
"I can only stabilize his condition for now. If you want to cure him, you have to go to a hospital."
Shen Lu helped the limp Cai Su to her feet but didn’t say anything.
She could afford the 2,000 Star Coin fee to save his life, but she really couldn’t fork over a hundred thousand for one of those enhanced nutrition shots.
Glancing at the wall clock, Shen Lu knew she couldn’t delay any longer, or she would be late to set up her stall.
She patted Cai Su on the shoulder, went to the bathhouse to wash herself and her clothes as fast as she could, then rushed back to her rented room to prepare the ingredients for her stall.
Fortunately, she had gotten used to the routine, and with familiarity came a significant increase in speed.
Shen Lu managed to get the snack cart out of the storage room, arrange everything neatly, and hang the malatang cooker on it just before Wang Daguo arrived.
DING-DONG~ Mission issued: Please sell 45 cups of mint water, 35 egg waffles, 35 servings of malatang, as well as 10 servings of fried rice and 10 servings of fried noodles.
As soon as she finished, the system’s mission prompt appeared right on cue.
Gazing at the growing list of tasks, Shen Lu sighed.
She had to sell this much just to complete the mission, and she had actually prepared even more ingredients than that.
She was earning more and more money, and her popularity value was rising faster and faster, but she was also growing increasingly exhausted.
Before she could even finish her thought, the system chimed again.
DING-DONG~ Mission issued: Hire one employee.
This is a side quest, which the host can choose to complete or ignore. A corresponding reward will be given for its completion!
’This system is an absolute treasure!’
’Shen Lu wished it had a physical form so she could pull it into a hug and smother it with kisses.’
’Waaah, I take back everything I said before! My dear system isn’t stingy at all; it’s the most thoughtful treasure ever!’
Shen Lu: "Tongzi, I declare you’re officially my bestie!"
System: ⁄(⁄⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄⁄)⁄ Teehee.
As for this employee, though, she would have to think carefully about who to hire.
Being quick and nimble was one thing, but having good character was also essential.
No one wants to hire an employee who’ll just backstab them, especially in a place like this with its weak laws, where human life is cheap.
Right at that moment, Wang Daguo arrived.