Chapter 169: 【Abdominal Exploration】 (Part 2)

Hu Xiaotian repeatedly praised it as wonderful; in the past, Li Yifeng, the manager of Yi Yuan Tang, had given him some painkillers, but those painkillers were not very effective. However, Zhou Ju's anesthetic effect also awaited verification; hopefully they could find an effective anesthetic plan, and if they could solve this problem, future surgeries would be much easier.

Liang Da Zhuang quickly retrieved Hu Xiaotian's surgical instrument box, and Hu Xiaotian leisurely carried out the disinfection steps.

That year, after the scholar retreated to the courtyard, the short, fat man walked over, somewhat anxiously saying: "Elder brother, do you really believe them?"

The scholar sighed: "What else can we do if we don't believe them? You know, if the young master encounters any mishap, do you think the chief will let us off?" He hadn't finished speaking when the short, fat man's face changed; he slowly nodded and said: "For now, we can only take a gamble—treat a dead horse as if it were alive."

The scholar glared at him, obviously blaming him for using inappropriate words.

At this moment, Hu Xiaotian walked out from inside; seeing him come out, the two immediately stopped talking. The short, fat man instantly put on a fierce expression toward Hu Xiaotian, while the scholar remained very polite, courteously saying: "Sir Hu, what are your orders?" At least for now, they still needed Hu Xiaotian's help to save a life, so they had to be courteous.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Your young master has lost too much blood and needs a blood transfusion."

"How to transfuse blood?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Find a suitable blood source and inject it into his body, so all of us must undergo a blood-matching test to see if our blood types match the patient's."

These people had never heard of blood transfusion or blood matching; each felt as if they were listening to Arabian Nights, but they had seen the young master's massive blood loss, and Hu Xiaotian's suggestion seemed reasonable, so they could only follow his instructions and come together for blood matching.

Even Liang Da Zhuang and Zhou Xing were included; none could escape. Hu Xiaotian's blood-matching method was simple: following the ancient saying of dripping blood to recognize kin, he took a bowl of clean water, dripped the patient's and their own fresh blood separately into it, and whoever's blood merged with the patient's was the suitable donor.

It sounds strange, but most people's fresh blood dripped into the bowl did not merge with the wounded person's blood; they remained separate clumps. Only the short, fat man's fresh blood, when dripped into the bowl, quickly merged with the wounded person's blood into one.

Hu Xiaotian pointed at the short, fat man and said: "Come over here."

The short, fat man blinked his eyes, sure he was pointing at himself, and exclaimed in surprise: "Me?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Go find a clean basin, boil water to disinfect it, then pour out a basin of blood."

Hearing this, the short, fat man was startled: "Let blood?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's you—your young master has lost too much blood and needs a transfusion. You are loyal to him; surely you won't begrudge even this bit of blood?" As he spoke, he forced back a laugh, letting you, you rascal, play tricks; now I'll let you know that opposing me brings no good end.

The short, fat man angrily retorted: "Why me? If blood is to be let, let yours be let." Gazing at the nearby basin, I said, whoever lets out this basin of blood will die; this is just a trick to trap me. Thinking of giving me a thorough beating.

Hu Xiaotian secretly chuckled; this of course had a trick. The dripping blood process was fine, the blood was fine, but the water in the bowl was problematic. In the past, Hu Xiaotian could achieve this effect with medicine, but here he had to consult Zhou Ju on this matter. Zhou Ju was extremely familiar with the properties of various herbs. With a little scheme, he could determine whether fresh blood would merge; Hu Xiaotian wanted to trap the short, fat man. He sighed and said: "You just saw, everyone's fresh blood does not merge with your young master's; only yours does. If we forcibly transfuse blood to him, his blood will immediately clot. Blocked blood vessels stop flow, blood stops flowing, the heart naturally stops, he will surely die; only your blood transfused to him will avoid clotting, and your young master will be safe."

The short, fat man was half-believing, half-doubting; Nian Shi had also just participated in blood matching, but his blood did not merge with the young master's—this was Hu Xiaotian's prearranged plan. If they made it appear that everyone's blood was compatible with the flower thieves, it would surely arouse suspicion. So they had to adopt a one-by-one elimination approach, targeting one person first.

Nian Shi gazed at the basin and said: "Sir Hu, I fear even if one person's entire blood were drained, it wouldn't fill this basin; surely we can't save one by killing another?" Although he didn't understand the principle, he had personally witnessed only the short, fat man's blood merging with the young master's, so it should be correct.

The short, fat man stared at the large basin, sweat beading on his forehead; I said, why am I so unlucky? Why must my blood be compatible with his? Let me shed this much blood—no way.

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Does the wounded have parents or brothers?"

Nian Shi nodded, then added: "Unfortunately, they are not here at the moment." After a pause, he added: "They can't arrive in a moment's notice."

Hu Xiaotian sighed, fixed his gaze on the short, fat man, and said: "Sir, the situation is urgent, a life hangs in the balance; I can only trouble you."

The short, fat man gritted his teeth: "You little brat, you're trying to harm me in disguise."

"How so? I sincerely want to save lives; frankly, if you're reluctant to shed your own blood to save your young master, just say so—why blame me?"

The short, fat man gripped his knife hilt again: "I'll kill you, this deceitful scoundrel……" Before he could draw his blade, Nian Shi already restrained him, angrily saying: "Old Five, calm down."

The short, fat man glared, eyes wide, wishing he could swallow Hu Xiaotian whole.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I thought you truly wanted to save lives, but now it seems just empty boasting. Fine! Since you refuse to help, I'll have to risk saving him myself, but I warn you first: if he dies from excessive blood loss, you also bear responsibility."

That sentence struck the short, fat man's weak point; in this situation, if the young master really died, he would be the primary culprit and inevitably face death. After thinking it over, he steeled himself: "Let it be—worst case, I die. I am wholly loyal to the young master; heaven can see."

Hu Xiaotian secretly rejoiced, fearing your disloyalty; loyalty is best, and often it's people like you who die.

The short, fat man appeared ready to sacrifice himself heroically, drawing his sword with a clang, startling Hu Xiaotian, who thought he had changed his mind, a cornered dog jumping over the wall to murder him.

But then the short, fat man said: "I'll do it myself!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "The blood you let out yourself is useless, maybe not usable; I must do it myself." Although he had schemed against the short, fat man, he hadn't intended to kill him on the spot—not out of reluctance, but because killing him now would likely bring revenge from his companions.

Accompanying the short, fat man into the room—don't look at how fierce he was just now; at this moment he couldn't help but turn pale with fright. Hu Xiaotian first disinfected his wrist; he was intent on causing trouble, and even if the flower thief needed a transfusion, there were no such conditions now; he was deliberately seeking an opportunity to let the short, fat man shed some blood, to give him a profound lesson, and incidentally undermine his fighting spirit.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian pick up the scalpel, the short, fat man trembled and asked: "Does it hurt?"

Hu Xiaotian's mouth twitched, revealing a hint of a smile; to the short, fat man, this smile looked especially ferocious.

"Wait!" Hu Xiaotian hadn't yet cut, he hurriedly called for a halt.

Hu Xiaotian said: "What? Regretting? Afraid?"

The short, fat man forced courage, stubbornly saying: "Losing a head is just a bowl-sized scar; when have I ever been afraid? Just……" He turned to Nian Shi behind him: "Elder brother, I still have an elderly mother over seventy and two underage children at home; if something happens to me, you must look after them." Speaking, his voice trembled involuntarily. This short, fat man had always been known for bravery among them, but facing actual bloodletting, he couldn't help but feel terrified.

Nian Shi appeared somewhat reluctant, sighed: "Old Five, don't worry!" He then turned to Hu Xiaotian: "Will he be alright?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Blades have no eyes; this is hard to say."

After being frightened by him, the short, fat man's face turned even paler; yet Hu Xiaotian still asked: "By the way, what's your name?"

The short, fat man angrily replied: "What's it to you?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "My blade never kills nameless ghosts; at least give me your name, so if I slip, I'll offer you incense on the first and fifteenth each month."

The short, fat man was so frightened his seven souls fled, his spirit scattered; hating to turn and run, yet restrained by scruples, he trembled: "Hu Jinniu."

"Ah, you're from my own clan! Don't fear, I'll look after you, it won't hurt!" Hu Xiaotian picked up the scalpel, wanting to say that in the past he had treated many wrist-cutting suicide patients, but using a scalpel to cut veins for others was his first time.

Hu Xiaotian had Hu Jinniu clench his fist; the scalpel flashed across his pulse point, cutting the skin on the inner side of his wrist, locating the vein, and with one slash, fresh blood gushed out. Hu Jinniu turned his head away, covered his eyes with his right hand; despite that, he still let out a mournful wail.

Hu Xiaotian had Hu Jinniu extend his bleeding wrist into the bronze basin; watching the crimson blood continuously flow, Nian Shi also couldn't help but feel secretly alarmed—if truly a basin were filled, his sworn brother would likely lose his life eight out of ten.

At this moment, Zhou Ju came over carrying a basin full of warm water; Hu Jinniu jumped again, thinking maybe one basin wasn't enough and they'd need two; if so, he would die here today.

Seek monthly tickets! (To be continued……)