Chapter 54 Drafts

A large rock lay across the edge of the field.

Leng Xue walked straight over, plopped down, raised his arm, and vigorously wiped the sweat from his face with his wrinkled sleeve.

His soaked clothes clung tightly to his back, and a gust of wind brought a chill, but he felt much more at ease.

A hint of frustration lingered on his cold-blooded face.

His brows were furrowed, as if weighed down by worries.

Along the way, as soon as anyone knew he was an official, they scattered and fled like birds and beasts.

Those who dared to look him in the eye were filled with disgust, as if he were a pile of dog excrement, something to be avoided at all costs.

Some people were even spitting on him behind his back.

Just like the fish girl he met on the day he went fishing, her expression changed immediately when she heard that he was a constable. She didn't care about the unsheathed sword anymore, and with a sudden burst of strength, she broke free of the fishing line and jumped into the water with a "plop," disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Cold-blooded, she didn't even know who she really was.

She came in a hurry, and left in a hurry.

All that was left for Leng Xue was a tangled mess of fishing line and a heart full of confused questions.

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Ever since that incident, Leng Xue seemed to have flipped a deadly switch. Along the way, the closer he got to the besieged city, the more hostile the people became towards him.

He could feel the sting of hatred everywhere he went.

Of course, Leng Xue didn't intend to blame the strange atmosphere entirely on the fish girl.

Because the girl's attitude seemed to differ from the reasons why these people disliked the officials.

Leng Xue felt that the girl's behavior was more like she found it troublesome than simply disliked it. At least "finding it troublesome" was a valid reason, much better than this kind of inexplicable hatred.

The attitude of the people near the besieged city was truly strange.

His stubborn streak kicked in all at once, and he was determined to get to the bottom of things, but he had no clue what to do and couldn't grasp the key point. He could only sulk and feel frustrated with nowhere to vent his anger.

Thinking of this, Leng Xue couldn't help but sigh.

He sat on the rock, staring blankly at the busy figures in the fields.

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In mid-spring, March, rice seedlings have begun to be planted in the southern rice-growing areas, but things are different in the vicinity of Weicheng.

Here, the river network is dense and the paddy fields stretch endlessly. The temperature rises more slowly, and farmers worry that the low temperature will cause the rice seedlings to rot, so they always transplant the rice later than in other places.

These past few days, everyone has been busy tilling, irrigating, and soaking the fields.

The peasant women rolled up their trousers and stepped into the paddy fields.

They first picked up hoes and tilled the land, stroke by stroke, then drew water into the fields. The water flowed slowly along the ditches, mixing with the newly turned soil to form mud, which would be ready for transplanting rice seedlings the next day.

Watching the busy figures of the peasant women, Leng Xue felt a surge of respect. He took a deep breath, the fresh scent of muddy water filling his lungs and dispelling some of his restlessness.

Just then, a beautiful peasant girl strolled over, swaying unsteadily.

Suddenly, she pulled out a knife and slashed her left wrist, blood gushing out and flowing down her arm.

The peasant girl, dragging her bleeding arm, stumbled and rushed towards the muddy pond. Several peasant women threw down their hoes and gave chase, shouting, "Stop her!"

Leng Xue never expected that his momentary daze would lead to such a thing. He instinctively rushed to save him, his feet suddenly exerting force, and he dashed towards the mud pit, but it was too late.

Just as the peasant girl was about to jump into the muddy pond, a sudden "clattering" sound of bells rang out in the air!

The wind howled!

Suddenly, a tiger-shaped support flew out from nowhere, spinning rapidly and brushing past everyone's heads.

"Bang!" The tiger-shaped brace struck the peasant girl's calf with pinpoint accuracy.

The peasant girl fell onto the muddy ground by the pond. The force was just right, knocking her to the ground without injuring her bones.

Immediately afterwards, the tiger-shaped propeller spun around and bounced onto the big locust tree behind the peasant girl.

The locust tree branch trembled slightly, as if startled by the sudden force, before bouncing the tiger-shaped brace back. It spun a few times in the air before finally landing steadily in a slender hand.

This tiger brace is wielded like a boomerang, swift and decisive, the movements executed in one fluid motion, truly remarkable.

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Following the trajectory of the tiger's hooves, one could see a young itinerant doctor standing on the edge of the field.

She carried a bamboo medicine basket on her shoulder and held a tiger-shaped hoe in her hand.

In the sunlight, her figure exuded a calm and composed demeanor.

She wore a straw hat, the brim of which slightly obscured her eyebrows and eyes.

She wore a purple blouse and a crimson skirt, her black hair was tied up with a wooden hairpin, and she wore a pair of soft hemp shoes. The shoes were light and sheer, revealing the pale yellow of the new hemp, and there were a few specks of fresh mud on the edges.

It was the fish girl that was caught in the Hutuo River that night.

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But Leng Xue no longer cared about the novelty or reminiscing.

Looking at the horrific scene before him, he felt a chill creep up from the soles of his feet and instantly permeate his entire body.

Why would something like this suddenly happen?

The sun hung pale in the sky, and the surroundings were eerily silent.

The peasant woman's eyes were vacant, her hands tightly clutching her abdomen, her body curled up in a ball. Her trouser legs were soaked with blood, and the ground beneath her was gradually turning red.

Her wrist was still bleeding, thick blood flowing between her fingers and dripping onto the muddy ground with a soft "drip-drip" sound.

"Ayu—"

A piercing scream pierced the hearts of everyone present, making their chests feel tight.

The young man's legs gave way, and he knelt heavily beside the peasant girl, kicking up a cloud of dust. He held his sister tightly, tears streaming down his rough cheeks.

The crowd swarmed around the young man and the unconscious Ayu, chattering excitedly.

"What a terrible thing... That person deserves to be torn to pieces for committing such a heinous act! They deserve retribution!"

"Ayu is so young, and she wouldn't even step on an ant normally. How did she end up in this mess?"

"But... but what can we do?"

The moment those words were spoken, the room fell silent. The previously noisy commotion ceased abruptly, and even the air seemed to freeze.

Upon hearing this, the young man burst into tears and hugged Ayu tightly.

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Leng Xue couldn't help but ask the peasant women, "What exactly happened?"

However, nobody paid any attention to him.

The peasant women looked at his unfamiliar face with suspicion and disgust in their eyes, and they all lowered their heads.

Leng Xue was so anxious that he broke out in a cold sweat.

No matter who he asked, he was met with a cold shoulder; everyone seemed to be keeping some secret and ignored him.

Just then, You Mingjiang finally pushed through the crowd and squeezed to Ayu's side, saying, "Make way, I'm a doctor!"

Seeing the young man clinging tightly to Ayu, refusing to let go no matter what, You Mingjiang couldn't help but grab the man's collar. With a forceful push, she shoved him aside and hissed, "Stop wailing here! Take the door panel down and drag it over here!"

As if waking from a dream, A-Ping immediately turned around and rushed towards the nearest house. He knew that the person in front of him could save his sister, so he quickly wiped away his tears and scrambled to do as he was told.

He cried his heart out while praying to God that his sister would pull through.

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"Get out of the way! Don't crowd around!"

While shouting for everyone to disperse, You Mingjiang quickly applied pressure bandages to stop the bleeding for Ayu. He gently laid Ayu flat and, after confirming that the wound had not severed any arteries, quickly rinsed the congealed bloodstains on Ayu's wrist with saline solution and then disinfected it with iodine solution.

Seeing the worried expressions on everyone's faces, and that they still refused to leave, Leng Xue quickly stepped forward to help clear the area, shouting, "I'm a constable, I'll guard this place, don't crowd around here and delay the doctor from saving the person!"

"Lackey." A few low curses came from the crowd.

Cold-blooded, barely suppressing his anger, said, "I'm not a lackey!"

However, no one paid him any attention. The crowd remained noisy, and those resentful gazes felt like needles pricking him.

To be honest, I'm used to being cold-blooded.

Ever since he stepped into the territory of the besieged city, as soon as he revealed his identity as an official, people avoided him as if he were a snake or a scorpion.

Leng Xue knew perfectly well that behind the people's hostility toward the officials lay the suffering caused by the terrified General's relentless oppression.

But this feeling is not pleasant.

Cold-blooded and helpless, he felt as if a stone was pressing on his heart.

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With his sharp eyes, You Mingjiang located the bleeding vein, took out a vial of lidocaine hydrochloride injection, gently shook it, and immediately administered local anesthesia by aiming the needle near the wound.

The peasant women gathered around, breathless with tension. They held each other's hands, silently praying for Ayu.

Without pausing, You Mingjiang began to treat the ruptured tendon, stitching each stitch meticulously.

Not only the surrounding peasant women, but Leng Xue also gasped in shock, his heart filled with astonishment.

After suturing, You Mingjiang gently cut the sutures, took out sterile gauze to cover the wound, pressed it gently, and then bandaged and secured it.

After bandaging, You Mingjiang performed a tetanus skin test on Ayu. Only after confirming that there was no allergic reaction did he take out the tetanus immunoglobulin and inject it into Ayu.

Ayu opened and closed her mouth slightly, making silent noises.

"She's alive! Ayu is alive!"

"This itinerant doctor is truly skilled; who would have thought she had such a unique ability!"

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Suddenly, a series of clattering sounds came from behind. Aping carried the door panel and ran over, kicking up a cloud of dust.

You Mingjiang immediately called out, "Someone come and help! Keep your head down and feet high, be careful."

"I'll do it!" Leng Xue hurriedly volunteered.

Together with the young man, he gently placed Ayu on the door panel and hurriedly lifted her up.

The villagers quickly made way for You Mingjiang to continue his rescue efforts. A Ping wiped away her tears and, together with Leng Xue, lifted the door panel, trying to carry A Yu home as steadily as possible.

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Ayu's home consisted of several dilapidated thatched huts.

The walls were made of adobe bricks, pitted and uneven, with some thatch stuffed into the gaps. Inside the room was a dilapidated wooden bed with broken planks under the legs and a thin quilt covered with patches upon patches at the head of the bed.

The windows were covered with yellowed oil paper, which was torn in many places and rattled in the wind.

The heavy corvée labor made people unable to straighten their backs, and the taxes were levied layer upon layer, making life seem bleak.

He gently moved the person to the bed and then cold-bloodedly left the room.

Ayu lay on the tattered mattress, her body slightly curled up, the blood on her skirt a shocking sight.

You Mingjiang squatted down beside her, gently held Ayu's wrist to take her pulse, and then carefully lifted Ayu's skirt.

The situation is not optimistic.

You Mingjiang tucked the blanket around Ayu, afraid of disturbing her. Then, she looked up, glanced at Aping, and nodded slightly, indicating that he should come outside with her to talk.

Aping asked in a trembling voice, "Doctor, is Ayu alright?"

You Mingjiang pondered for a moment, then sighed softly, "The fetus has died and cannot be delivered."

“Ayu… what should we do…” Aping sobbed uncontrollably and knelt down in front of You Mingjiang with a thud.

Even a cold-blooded heart trembled.

"Doctor..." A-Ping looked up, his face streaked with tears, his eyes filled with a desperate plea, "My sister is still so young, is there really no way at all? No matter how hard it is to find the medicine, I'll risk my life, I'll steal or rob, I'll get it!"

Clinging tightly to You Mingjiang's clothes, he repeatedly banged his forehead against the ground, pleading, "Please save Ayu...please..."

You Mingjiang hurriedly reached out and supported A Ping's arms, helping him up, and said urgently, "Get up, get up, don't do this yet, let me finish what I have to say."

"Please, doctor, please..."

Aping was pinned to the ground, refusing to get up no matter what he did. He kept banging his head against the ground like a pestle, his forehead hitting the ground with a dull thud.

Suddenly, a series of staggering footsteps came from behind!

The three were startled and instinctively looked in the direction of the sound.

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Her fingertips trembled as she gripped the doorframe tightly, barely managing to steady herself. Her face was deathly pale, and her chapped lips quivered slightly.

"Brother, don't make things difficult for the doctor. These days are too hard to bear. Why don't I and the rotting flesh in my belly... go to heaven together sooner..."

"We...we're not going to get treatment..."

Every word Ayu said was like a dull knife, cutting cruelly into Aping's heart. Aping instantly collapsed, crying his heart out, and slumped down like a lump of mud that had lost all its strength.

Her hands still clung tightly to You Mingjiang's legs, her nails almost digging into her flesh, as if if she let go, Ayu's life would slip through her fingers: "Doctor, please, Ayu is so young, she has a long road ahead of her, she still has hope... Please save my sister..."

Ayu turned her head away, tears streaming down her face.

She was never bound by the concept of chastity; she only felt as if she had been bitten by a smelly old bald dog!

So, he randomly grabbed some herbs, boiled them, and drank the decoction. Little did he know, what he got in return was continuous bleeding.

Ayu knew better than anyone that continuing treatment for this illness would drain the family's savings. She didn't want to be a burden on her brother; she needed to leave him some money to survive. Thinking of this, in utter despair, she chose suicide. In her mind, perhaps this would end it all and bring her a quick end.

Hearing these words, not only was A-Ping heartbroken, but Leng Xue also clenched his fists, his blood rushing to his head!

He was determined to get justice for Ayu!

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You Mingjiang helped Aping up, patted his shoulder, and said softly, "Don't worry, I'll do my best."

Aping was filled with gratitude and thanked her repeatedly. He carefully helped Ayu into the house, turning back to look at her every few steps.

You Mingjiang sighed softly.

He had only taken two steps to the side when he suddenly turned around and demanded, "Why are you following me?"

Cold-bloodedness followed her like a little tail.

He followed her every step she took.

“I…” Leng Xue’s face flushed red instantly. He stammered, he couldn’t just say that he was afraid she would run away, could he?

Take the rescue she did by the field ridge just now, for example. Her medical skills are superb. With her there, Ayu's chances of recovery are definitely much higher.

You Mingjiang raised an eyebrow and took a step closer to him. Leng Xue's face flushed red, and he subconsciously took a step back. Only then did she notice that he had a pair of beautiful green eyes.

You Mingjiang pressed on relentlessly, forcing Leng Xue back outside the fence, and said calmly, "Chest out, head up, stomach in!"

Cold-blooded, he gritted his teeth and obediently did as instructed.

Recalling the day he told her he was a constable, she found it troublesome and didn't want to deal with officials, so she simply jumped into the river and left. You Mingjiang smiled at him, a sweet smile, and while he was momentarily stunned, she frowned and made a move to close the fence gate.

"Wait!" Leng Xue reacted quickly, grabbing the fence gate and squeezing in, afraid that this old acquaintance would kick him out. He stammered, "I'm not following you, I just want to help... I'm strong, and I can run errands!"

Hearing Leng Xue say that, You Mingjiang thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, you're quite good at handling things."

Then she instructed, "Go, pound some rice, gather some red amaranth, and cook porridge."

Hearing that she had assigned him tasks, Leng Xue was actually delighted and obediently followed her orders.

He likes the feeling of having something to do, being able to participate, and not being ostracized.

For him, this in itself was a great act of kindness.

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Until he opened the old rice jar at A Ping's house.

At the bottom of the jar, there were only a dozen or so grains of unpounded brown rice and a few handfuls of sprouted broad beans...

A look of surprise appeared on his cold-blooded face.

He pondered for a moment and decided to boil water first, but when he looked up at the corner of the wall, he realized that there was no firewood left!

To pay the taxes, the family's meager savings were completely wiped out. They wanted to buy firewood at the market, but lacked the means.

It wasn't that A-Ping was lazy; the heavy corvée labor had worn him down to exhaustion. Every day before dawn, he was urged by the constables to leave and dig the moat for the besieged city, and he wouldn't return home until late at night, dragging his almost broken body. He didn't even have time to catch his breath, let alone go up the mountain to chop firewood.

Firstly, the family didn't have any mules or horses to carry firewood. Secondly, the surrounding mountains and forests had already been occupied by wealthy local families, and anyone who dared to trespass would surely be beaten severely.

Sometimes, when no one was looking, Ayu would gather some dry branches at the edge of the forest, something better than nothing. Who could have imagined that one day, Ayu would stumble upon the terrifying General...

Alas, the rope always breaks at its thinnest point.

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Money can solve these problems, but the key issue is that I don't have any. It's like trying to cook without rice – even a skilled cook can't make a meal!

He was afraid of angering You Mingjiang and being kicked out of Ayu's house, thus missing the opportunity to understand the people's conditions.

Cold-blooded was so anxious that he paced around in circles, not knowing what to do.

Just then, You Mingjiang walked over, looking him up and down with a hint of doubt in her eyes.

"Young constable, what are you doing, pacing around in circles? Where's the porridge?"

Leng Xue was a little afraid of her.

He always felt that she was like a strict private tutor who would strike his hand with a ruler if she found out he was lying.

"I..." Under her gaze, Leng Xue hesitated, unsure whether he should reveal the whole truth.

You Mingjiang asked curiously, "Is the porridge ready?"

"No..." Leng Xue muttered softly, his voice so low it was like a mosquito's hum.

"Have you started the fire yet?"

"No..." He spoke softer and softer, his head gradually lowering.

Leng Xue was filled with frustration, wishing he had a magic bag so he could fill the rice bin and raise the woodpile with a single reach, thus avoiding her scrutinizing gaze.

You Mingjiang paused for a moment, then seemed to understand something. She gently patted her head and said nothing more. She simply took a piece of tofu from the bamboo medicine basket and handed it to Leng Xue.

"Can you make tofu soup?" she asked softly.

Leng Xue's eyes lit up immediately: "Yes!"

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Author's Note: [Good Luck Lotus] Ayu: A tragic passerby in the background, a peasant girl who became pregnant after being violated by Ling Luoshi. Driven to despair, she resolved to die, cutting her wrists and drowning herself in a mud pond. Leng Xue witnessed her death but was unable to save her. When she was pulled out, she was unrecognizable.

[Good Luck Lianlian] "This little fish cares" is a quote from the text "The Little Fish in the Shallow Puddle".

[Good Luck Lotus] Purple Tie-lined Robe + Scarlet Skirt: Unearthed from the Bijiatan Tomb in Huahai, Gansu.

[Crack] The terrifying General Ling Luoshi is so perverted that it disgusts me. I really want to use a Hanyang rifle to smash this beast.