Chapter 128: More Feedback from Fu Cheng
Shen Lu mentally asked her system, ’Can the ingredients from your system also cure illnesses and heal injuries?’
"They cannot. Our system only provides ingredients of superior quality. It is possible that the environment here is too harsh, and the food cultivated is nutritionally incomplete."
Shen Lu found this explanation plausible.
After all, she had been eating it for over a month herself. Other than feeling a bit healthier, she hadn’t noticed any other changes.
"It’s probably just that the vegetables I buy are more nutritionally complete. They’re all very high-quality," Shen Lu said to Cai Su.
"So, if Doctor Xiao asks again, should I tell him the truth?"
"Don’t go out of your way to mention it. I don’t want to use ’nutrition’ as a selling point."
Shen Lu was very level-headed. Some gimmicks were fine to use, but others were best avoided.
Besides, in her case, it wouldn’t even be a false gimmick.
She was sure that if she heavily advertised how nutritious the food at her little shop was, business would definitely improve.
But you couldn’t control what people said. Shen Lu was afraid that increasingly exaggerated rumors would spread, eventually attracting the attention of the higher-ups.
’Just eat at her shop for a while, and the effects are comparable to a nutrient shot that costs 100,000 a pop!’
Once a rumor like that started to spread, Shen Lu figured someone from the hospital would definitely come looking for trouble. They might even shut her shop down.
’It’s best to just let things happen naturally.’
Cai Su nodded. "Okay, I understand."
As Shen Lu headed to the second floor, Bai Lei sent her several messages. She read them on her way up the stairs.
Bai Lei gave her a rough headcount, mentioned who had dietary restrictions, and said he hoped she could bring her own ingredients to cook.
Before her conversation with Cai Su, Shen Lu might have agreed to Bai Lei’s request. Now, however, she felt it was better to refuse.
’No need to reply right away. This isn’t something that can be sorted out in a couple of messages.’
’I should change Fu Cheng’s dressings first, then sit down and hash things out with Bai Lei.’
Shen Lu went to the bathroom, filled a basin with warm water, and grabbed the towel she used for Fu Cheng’s wounds before heading into the spare bedroom.
The first thing Fu Cheng noticed was that the hairclip he had given her was missing.
’Doesn’t she like it?’
’But she seemed so happy when she received it.’
Shen Lu noticed him staring at her hair. She subconsciously touched it, and then it hit her.
’I forgot to put the hairclip in when I got up.’
’But there’s no real need to explain. He gave me the hairclip; it’s my choice whether to wear it or not, right?’
Having changed his dressings so many times, Shen Lu’s technique was now comparable to a professional nurse’s—deft and quick.
Shen Lu noticed that the dark-red patterns covering Fu Cheng’s skin had faded considerably.
Torn muscles were knitting back together, and new flesh was forming.
He still looked terrifying, but it was a vast improvement from before.
Moreover, Fu Cheng was becoming more responsive.
Previously, no matter how she cleaned his wounds, Fu Cheng had been like a senseless corpse. He didn’t seem to feel any pain.
But today, as Shen Lu cleaned certain areas, she could clearly feel his muscles twitch.
She lifted her gaze. "Did I hurt you?"
The area she had just been cleaning was one of the most severe injuries, where you could still see raw flesh and bone.
Fu Cheng gave a slight shake of his head. He could now move his head in small motions, enough to nod or shake it.
Shen Lu continued cleaning the wound, but Fu Cheng’s muscles twitched again, like a startled chick.
Shen Lu pressed her lips together, steeled herself, and quickened her pace.
’The wounds have to be cleaned. Otherwise, they’ll get infected and slow down his recovery.’
Where Shen Lu couldn’t see, the tips of Fu Cheng’s ears quietly turned red.
He knew that in his current state, no one would have the slightest romantic notion upon seeing him. Shen Lu only saw him as a patient. Still, he couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
Fu Cheng took a few deep breaths, telling himself to calm his heart and mind and not to think about such nonsensical things.
Shen Lu’s routine was to start with his feet and save his head for last.
Back in that tiny rental unit, the bed had been small and narrow, with an immobile frame, which made the task very difficult for her.
Things were different now. When changing the gauze on his head, she could raise the head of the bed to help Fu Cheng sit up, which saved her a great deal of effort.
After unwrapping the gauze from his head, Shen Lu first wiped the area with the towel, then used a cotton swab to clean his left eye.
She cupped Fu Cheng’s face, her gaze intent, but the hand holding the cotton swab hesitated.
Fu Cheng’s scalp tingled under her direct stare. He desperately wanted to ask what she was looking at, but after struggling for a long moment, he could only manage an unintelligible gurgle.
"It looks like... your left eye is growing a new eyeball?" Shen Lu said, her voice uncertain.
Fu Cheng’s left eyeball had been damaged by a mutant beast. To be safe, the military hospital had removed part of it.
When Shen Lu had cleaned the wound in his left eye socket before, it had just been a blurry mess of flesh and blood. She hadn’t dared to touch it too much, afraid one wrong move would worsen the injury.
But now, Shen Lu noticed that the flesh where his left eyeball should be seemed... fuller?
She couldn’t be sure.
Shen Lu wasn’t a medical student, and the people here seemed to have incredibly resilient bodies. It was possible for some inexplicable medical miracles to occur.
’Is that what’s happening?’
For some reason, a pang of disappointment went through Fu Cheng.
As she cleaned, Shen Lu muttered, "Maybe we should go to the hospital for a proper examination? The clinic just gave you a quick look-over. We don’t really know your exact condition."
A check-up at the Lower City Hospital should be sufficient. Shen Lu decided she’d find time to take Fu Cheng there in the next day or two.
After finishing with the dressings, Shen Lu tossed the used gauze into a trash bag, gathered the various medicines, and carried the basin out of the room.
However, she paused at the door and turned back to explain about the hairclip.
"I forgot to put the hairclip in after my nap. It’s not that I don’t like it."
’Otherwise he’ll keep staring at my hair, and it’s giving me the creeps.’
’So that’s why.’
Fu Cheng finally averted his gaze and lay back down, his mind at ease.
After pouring the dirty water down the drain, Shen Lu washed her hands and went to check on the back kitchen.
The chicken legs and dried tofu were just about done. She added the peeled hard-boiled eggs, put the lid on, and turned off the heat, letting everything soak overnight to absorb the flavors.
After checking the gas, electricity, and water in the kitchen and confirming everything was fine, Shen Lu went to take a shower.
She flopped onto the sofa, propping her feet unceremoniously on the armrest, and began to reply to Bai Lei’s messages.
Shen Lu: For a party of about 50, I’d suggest a buffet. It’s more flexible, allowing guests to choose their own dishes. That way, they can simply avoid anything they have an aversion to or don’t like.
Shen Lu: Also, my capacity is limited, so I can only prepare some of the dishes. As for the ingredients, I won’t be providing them.
Bai Lei clicked his tongue after reading the message. Wanwan leaned over. "What’s wrong?"
"She won’t provide ingredients." Bai Lei poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue. "I’ll try to persuade her."
Bai Lei: But I really want to eat your food, like the braised pork belly and soy-sauce chicken legs. How about this? Just bring your malatang station over. The ingredients would just be part of the package then, right?
Shen Lu: Are you sure you want to serve malatang at a birthday party???