Chapter 13: Saving a Life

"Th-this…"

"Take as much as you want; our whole family will eat it."

She naturally wouldn't shortchange her younger siblings; looking at the little mountain of bright red Tomatoes piled on the ground, the two of them jumped with joy!

"You, aren't you making it all dirty by taking it out like that?"

She, rarely childlike, stuck out her tongue at her mother and said, "Mother, I was wrong."

"Next time, you mustn't do this."

She bobbed her head repeatedly like a chick pecking grain, hurriedly crouched and picked up the Tomatoes that had fallen on the ground.

Don't be fooled by Ning Shi's usually gentle and fragile demeanor, as gentle as water; whether the three of them or their father, they all obey her completely.

Because those who are gentle can become even more terrifying when they get angry.

Shen Qingquan then used a pressure gauge to check her blood pressure and listened to the fetal heartbeat; it sounded fine for now.

When she was alive, she had also worked in medicine, especially with equipment, so she handled those medical devices with ease.

But she didn't know medical practice herself; she still needed to find a doctor for her mother, she thought silently.

"It's about time; let's set off."

After Ning Shi rested for a while, the family packed up and departed.

…

Half a day later.

They arrived at Xiangcheng again.

Along the way, after asking a passerby, they learned that the family had been driven dozens of li away! Halfway, they happened upon an ox cart; the old man kindly gave them a ride.

"The old man warned you, Xiangcheng has been chaotic lately, and after yesterday's flood the city is in even more disorder; you'd better not linger inside."

After dropping off the family, the old man hurriedly drove the ox cart away.

They walked for a while, and at last saw the gates of Xiangcheng in the distance.

At that moment, they suddenly saw the ox cart that had carried them overturned nearby, the old man's head broken and bleeding on the road, while the ox had vanished.

"Father, sister!"

They were already near the city gate, where occasional refugees passed, and even a red‑eyed beggar crouched by the roadside, staring intently at the old man.

It was as if he were looking at a delicacy.

Seeming to wait for him to die, they would swarm and devour him completely.

Though the old man was on his last breath, he still clutched a hoe in his arms, glaring fiercely at them.

"Sister…"

Shen Qingquan stopped him, drew a Fruit Knife from her sleeve, and approached slowly.

"Old man, it's me; are you alright?"

"Little girl, it's you…"

He seemed to recognize her, but his grip on the hoe remained unwavering.

"Let me check your wound first; relax, I won't hurt you…"

She sheathed the knife, raised both hands toward him, her eyes cold and clear; the old man's gaze flickered, and he slowly relaxed.

She crouched to examine his wound; the cut was still quite deep, blood streaming nonstop, and if it continued, it wouldn't be long before…

She recalled that he had kindly given them a ride before, and thought, never mind, consider it repaid.

She waved toward the rear, and the family came over; Shen Juancheng asked, "Qinger, how is he?"

"Father, let's move the old man to the roadside first."

"Alright."

Thus, the family shifted him to lean against a nearby tree; she took out a Hemostatic Bandage and Iodophor Alcohol, saying, "Please endure a bit; it may hurt."

"It's fine, little girl, I can endure."

She glanced at his gaunt hand beneath his tattered clothes, thinking his family must be in dire straits, yet he had given them a ride without demanding any payment…

She disinfected his wound, sprinkled medicinal powder, and wrapped a Hemostatic Bandage around it.

"Huh? Little girl, your medicine is good—Immortal Crane Herb, Mugwort, Hearth Soil, Bletilla, Purple Pearl… what else?"

"You understand pharmacology?" she exclaimed, surprised.

"Tsk, ask anyone within a hundred li, who doesn't know my reputation as Huang Laotou? I'm a doctor; my ancestors produced three generations of divine physicians, but unfortunately…"

His expression dimmed slightly, his tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.

"Chaotic times harm people! The nation is not a nation, families cannot become families; I never imagined that after a life of kindness, I, Huang Laotou, would almost be killed by a stick on the roadside…"

He had just lain on the cold ground,

truly feeling his life slipping away, yet no one was willing to lend a hand. Those he had once treated watched with cold eyes, indifferent, some even thought stepping on him would be fine.

Human hearts are cruel.

But who should he blame? The heavens? Or these people?

In truth, it's the world itself that harms.

"You should rest now; don't get angry."

Sensing his fluctuating emotions, she gently reminded him.

"Little girl, thank you."

"No need, consider it repaid."

He understood that she was repaying the favor of his earlier ride; in fact, he had also watched their whole family, the small ones, the wounded. Especially when he saw that boy from her family, it reminded him of his own grandson whose fate was unknown…

"Little girl, may I ask a favor of you?"

He seemed to clutch at his last straw, "My grandson is still inside the city; I need to find him. He said he would treat patients, but hasn't returned for two days, and yesterday the flood came; I'm worried something might happen to him…"

Shen Qingquan's eyes flickered slightly, but she did not respond immediately.

Shen Yuhuan's head was covered in silver hair, and the pleading look was truly pitiful.

Even if it were Shen Yuhuan, they would not be moved by compassion.

"Ajie…" Their eyes were filled with pleading, but the words that followed were not spoken.

She paused thoughtfully, then turned aside, "Father, what do you think?"

"Xiangcheng is so vast; to find one person, how easy could it be?"

"My grandson has been serving as a consulting doctor at Ji Ya Tang; if you go there, you will certainly find him!"

A flash of insight lit her eyes as she looked at Shen Juancheng; Shen Juancheng gave her a slight nod. After the father and daughter finished their exchange, she then asked him, "Are you skilled in obstetrics?"

"To be frank, my grandson excels in the priceless art of obstetrics! Especially in women's prenatal care and childbirth, he can work miracles! If you can save her, my grandson will certainly be able to help you!"

The old man said excitedly; she looked at him for a while, then suddenly laughed.

"In my view, the one who possesses the priceless obstetrics skill isn't your grandson; it's you, right?"

"You…"

The old man's expression suddenly changed, a flash of shock and astonishment crossing his face.

"Is that really so?"

"You're deceiving me?" he suddenly realized.

"It was originally just speculation, but now it's confirmed."

The old man looked at the woman before him, whose smile was ambiguous and whose gaze was cold as a blade, and asked, "You… how did you tell?"

"I only mentioned obstetrics, not pregnancy; if you hadn't seen that my mother was pregnant, why would I blurt out that it would help us?"

But… just a glance was enough to see that my mother was pregnant; it seems this old man's medical skill is extraordinary.

"Miss… you're as clear‑minded as ice and snow; the old man admires you. Forgive me, I only lied because I was worried about my grandson. Yet my grandson truly has superb medical skill; he is especially adept at surgery and has a knack for treating external injuries. If you can save him, the old man's family would be eternally grateful…"

Saying that, he was about to stand up and kneel before her.

Shen Qingquan hurriedly steadied him, "Old uncle, there's no need for that; I'll agree."

"Really? Thank you, miss; if you can save my grandson, your family would become the reborn parents of my Huang family…"? This book first released on 17K Novel Network, watch the official content first!