Chapter 22 Feverish Rainy Night Seeking Help
"First-rate, your internship ends next month. How about it, do you want to work in an office? I'll transfer you to the Forestry Bureau?"
Gu Yiliu looked at Bai Weigang across from her. Her internship was ending next month, and she had come early today to process some documents for her official employment. However, Bai Weigang didn't even look at them and started chatting with her.
She sighed and asked, "Chief, who will be coming to the Hongbuya outpost?"
Bai Weigang: "Ma Quan and Xiao Min are enough. You should go to a wider world."
Is sitting in an office really a wider world? Gu Yiliu disagreed. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I want to do fieldwork, and I like doing fieldwork. My butt hurts from sitting in the office."
“…I see,” Bai Weigang said, not at all regretful, but rather feeling sorry for her. “Then you must be very busy.” He had asked that earlier because many people had made long-distance calls from afar, trying to find out about Gu Yiliu and gauge his opinion.
"Director Bai, hurry up and sign and stamp it. I need to go back to the outpost today," Gu Yiliu urged him.
Bai Weigang said "oh" and stamped her work report several times. "Come back next month to get it stamped again, and then you can just take it to the archives."
Gu Yiliu nodded and left Bai Weigang's office after the stamp was completed.
Once on the street, she decided to have a good meal before leaving. After thinking for a moment, she decided to go to Luo's Stir-Fry Restaurant. It happened to be Friday, and Luo's Stir-Fry Restaurant was serving spicy dishes today.
She passed by a shop and found it to be a new restaurant. She stopped for a moment, attracted by its decor, which was both rustic and luxurious. The restaurant was called Yipin Meiwei (一品美味), and there were red lanterns hanging at the entrance, as well as many greeters standing at the door.
"Comrade, we have five servings of seasonal soup today. Come in and have a taste."
What is "Four Seasons Fresh Soup"?
The greeter replied with a smile, "It's made with the finest free-range chicken, using ancestral techniques and more than a dozen processes, simmering for five or six hours to create a delicious, flavorful, and highly nutritious broth."
Gu Yiliu looked at the upscale decor and the overly enthusiastic welcome. Although the explanation was very simple and easy to understand, she felt it was too exaggerated and subconsciously didn't want to go in.
She shook her head and quickly walked into Luo's Stir-Fry Shop next door, only to find it nearly empty today, with just a few tables occupied. She sat down and ordered three dishes. Just as she was enjoying her meal, she overheard two people at the next table discussing the shop next door.
Have you tried the food from the restaurant next door?
"I've never eaten there before. I don't dare to go in just looking at it. It seems very expensive. In this small county town, to set up such a luxurious store, I guess the business isn't very good."
"No, there are plenty of wealthy people in the county, and the prices at Yipin Meishi are reasonable, a little higher than Luo's Stir-fry Restaurant. I heard that the ingredients are all fresh and there's a daily limit, so it's quite worth it. Even people from other places come here to eat, and the business is better than we expected!"
The menu items were just too fancy. I guess I have a bad rap on this restaurant; I've eaten there twice, and both times I got diarrhea. I was thinking of going there again, but I was afraid of getting diarrhea and wasting my money, so I ate here instead.
Gu Yiliu listened to the conversation, finished eating the food she had ordered, and then prepared to leave.
"Boss, check please."
"Hey lady, it's you. You're eating alone today?" the owner greeted her with a smile. He clearly remembered Gu Yiliu. Then he glanced at the dishes on the table and said, "Two meat dishes and one vegetable dish. I'll give you a discount."
Gu Yiliu smiled and said, "Thank you, boss."
As I was paying and about to leave, I unexpectedly heard a familiar name.
"Han Yi, why don't we go eat next door? I'd like to try their food; I've heard it's delicious."
Gu Yiliu paused in his movement, and in that instant, someone entered through the door.
It was Han Yi and You Guang, along with a girl who looked quite young.
Han Yi looked up and saw the people in the store pause in their steps.
Standing inside against the light, she had changed out of her uniform and was wearing the most fashionable clothes of the moment, looking like a Madam straight out of a Hong Kong movie, casual and carefree.
Gu Yiliu raised an eyebrow, not noticing his pause, his attention was on all of them.
“The food over there is expensive. If you want to eat there, go ahead. We can just eat here,” You Guang said.
"Deputy Director Zeng, let's go eat together, it's on me."
Zeng Weide chuckled, "Let's eat here, don't waste money. I think the dishes at Luo's Stir-Fry Shop are quite delicious."
"But Han Yi doesn't eat spicy food, does he? The sign at the door says that almost all the dishes served today are spicy."
You Guang clicked his tongue helplessly, "Xiao Ye, can you please not go into other people's shops and say you're not going to eat here?" The girl immediately stopped talking, quickly came in, found a table, and sat down.
Gu Yiliu watched the play quietly for a moment, then walked away.
But she couldn't leave. You Guang spotted her.
"...Gu Yiliu? What a coincidence, you're here too?"
"I'm full, you guys eat." Gu Yiliu glanced at You Guang, nodded to him, ignored You Guang's hesitation, and walked away.
One of the most awkward things in the world is running into an acquaintance you're not very close to and having to make small talk.
If we stay any longer, it will be really awkward if we run out of things to say.
Han Yi kept looking at her, but she didn't give him a single glance.
"..."
Han Yi pursed his lips and stepped past her.
Someone bumped into her arm, and Gu Yiliu stopped. The other person seemed to stop beside her as well because of the bump. She turned her head speechlessly.
Their eyes met. Gu Yiliu raised his hand to tidy his disheveled hair, gave him a look that said, "You're so boring," then let go of his hair, tossed it aside, and walked out.
With the swinging motion, her hair flew directly into his face.
Han Yi subconsciously closed his eyes. Strands of hair brushed against his face, causing a slight itch. A faint fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, though he couldn't tell if it was from the hair or hers.
"Brother Yi, come and sit down."
Han Yi looked up and touched his face. Hearing someone call him, he calmed himself down and went over.
Gu Yiliu left with light steps, only to find that the once bright sunshine had turned gloomy once more.
"It's going to rain."
Gu Yiliu hurried to the bus stop, but was told that he would not be returning to town in the afternoon because it was going to rain and the bus would be difficult to drive on. They were also worried about something happening on the road.
"Come back tomorrow. Comrade, you should stay at a hotel for the night. You'll definitely be heading back to town tomorrow," the ticket seller said.
Gu Yiliu nodded. When she left the station, she found that it had started raining. The raindrops, as big as beans, stung her hands and were getting heavier. After walking for a while, her hair was soaked by the rain. She could only go back to the station and wait for the rain to stop.
But after waiting for a long time, the rain lessened but didn't stop.
"Comrade, would you like to buy an umbrella?"
"I definitely need to buy an umbrella," Gu Yiliu asked the old lady selling umbrellas, "How much?"
"Six pieces, very sturdy, can..."
Gu Yiliu didn't want to listen to the old lady's sales pitch, so he just gave her the money, took a handful, and left.
Gu Yiliu found a hotel that looked safe. Just around the corner from the hotel was the police station.
Even with an umbrella, his clothes were still a little damp from the rain. Gu Yiliu waited until his clothes dried on their own before finally going to bed.
The county town fell asleep in the middle of the night, and the noise from the pickup trucks appearing at the end of the road became the only sound in the quiet night.
When passing through bumpy sections of road, the car will make a clanging, metallic noise.
Gu Yiliu felt a little uncomfortable in her sleep; her throat was dry and itchy, but she could still bear it. However, she was still woken up by Dian Dian.
"What's wrong?"
"Yiliu, you have a fever, you should go to the hospital."
Gu Yiliu touched her forehead; it was indeed a bit hot, and her body ached somewhat. She knew this was because she had been caught in the rain and was wearing wet clothes.
"My health has really deteriorated," Gu Yiliu sighed.
She got up, drank some water, and then went downstairs to the pharmacy to buy medicine.
The rain was still falling, and the night wind was a bit chilly. Following Dian Dian's directions, Gu Yiliu quickly arrived at a pharmacy.
After examining her with a doctor's eyes, ears, nose, and palpation, the doctor gave her two doses of fever-reducing medicine and told her to avoid getting caught in the rain again.
Gu Yiliu took her medicine and saw that the rain outside was getting heavier. She sighed, not wanting to risk getting wet in the rain, otherwise she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. She waited at the pharmacy for a while.
"Comrade, you should go now, we're closing up shop," the doctor behind her called out.
Gu Yiliu responded, and just then, he heard a cry for help.
"Officer Gu! Officer Gu! Where are you? Help! Someone's trying to eat me!"
"Officer Gu, Officer Gu, help! I'm trapped! Help me! I don't want to be eaten!"
Gu Yiliu was stunned. "Dian Dian, why did I hear a cat meowing at me? And there was another sound that didn't sound like a cat, what was it?"
Dian Dian: "You heard me right. I received a plea for help from a black cat and a bamboo pit viper, so you can hear the cries for help. They are in the kitchen of the newly opened Yipin Meiwei Restaurant next to Luo's Stir-fry Restaurant."
It turns out that Dian Dian received the request for help first. She thought that after Dian Dian leveled up, she would be able to hear the animals' requests for help directly, bypassing Dian Dian.
"We have to save them now, they're going to be cooked as food."
Gu Yiliu looked at the black cat and the bamboo viper's plea for help and realized that Yipin Meishi Restaurant actually uses animals to cook dishes. They have all kinds of animals, as long as they are edible.
Gu Yiliu looked at the description the black cat was giving, and saw its companions and other animals in the same vehicle being skinned. The words made Gu Yiliu feel a chill.
Gu Yiliu touched his forehead; the fever had subsided somewhat.
She left the pharmacy and walked through the rainy night, asking the system questions as she went.
"Dian Dian, do you have any medicine to strengthen my body? I have a fever right now. I still have to help you with the work, and then I'll get caught in the rain. What if my fever gets even worse?"
"No." DotDot is an indifferent system.
"Your system is that weak? I used to read novels where the female protagonist's system was incredibly magical, able to conjure up all sorts of elixirs and panaceas."
“I’m not a magical system. Making an exception for you would be harmful…” Dian Dian’s voice suddenly paused, and she changed her words, “Never mind, you’re not feeling well, but you still have to help me complete the task. I’ll give you a pill to bring down your fever, but it will take half an hour to take effect. After you take it, even if you get caught in the rain later, you won’t get sick.”
Just a moment ago, she said she wasn't a magical system, but then she made an exception. Gu Yiliu felt that Dian Dian finally showed some humanity. "Thank you, Dian Dian."
Dian Dian took out the lottery wheel and started the lottery.
"You originally had 3 unused lottery chances, but since I'm drawing the lottery for you this time, I'll deduct one chance from your account."
Gu Yiliu: "It can be like this?"
Dian Dian smiled slyly, "So from now on, you should participate in the lottery as soon as you can, instead of saving them up."
"...So be it. If I finish the task later, I'll still have 3 attempts left."
Dian Dian ignored her and spun the wheel. Gu Yiliu watched Dian Dian spin the wheel, a faint green glow emanating from its fingertips.
Gu Yiliu looked at the system while pondering its origins.
Before she could finish thinking about it, Dian Dian had already finished drawing the prize and handed her a pill, saying, "Take this, and you won't get sick for a long time."
Gu Yiliu glanced at it and swallowed the pill without hesitation.
I didn't feel anything after eating it.
"Let's go, let's go to Yipin Meiwei Restaurant and see what's going on." Dian Dian said, her voice sounding weak and listless.
"What's wrong?" Gu Yiliu asked with concern.
"It's nothing, let's go." Where she couldn't see, DianDian looked at its health bar with frustration. It was originally at 21%, but now it had dropped to 16%, a sudden drop of 5%. So what if it was a system? It still felt pain!
Thinking about the task Gu Yiliu would have to complete later, Dian Dian was happy again; she should be able to make up for the lost 5%.
Gu Yiliu hummed in agreement and started walking.
"Gu Yiliu?"
Gu Yiliu paused, looking at the rainy night ahead, where Han Yi, wearing a raincoat, stood.
What are you doing here?
What are you doing here?
The two spoke in unison.
After a pause, Han Yi quickly approached her and took her hand, but then realized something was wrong. He looked down at her. "You have a fever?"
"The fever will subside after taking the medicine."
Han Yi frowned, pulled her to the eaves to take shelter from the rain, and then asked, "What are you doing here?"
"To rescue some small animals."
Han Yi was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening when he thought of her system. He then noticed that she was looking at him with an unnatural red face.
“I was on patrol. It rained heavily during the day, and a house collapsed. It’s raining heavily tonight too, so Deputy Chief Zeng asked me to come and check on that family,” he explained.
As he spoke, he couldn't bear to watch any longer and reached out to touch her forehead.
It was scalding hot to the touch. Han Yi frowned deeply, then noticed she was still wearing the same clothes. "Did you get caught in the rain today?"
His hands were icy cold, and Gu Yiliu shivered from the cold.
She didn't want to talk about it, so she brushed his hand away and said, "It's nothing, I'll be going now."
He gripped her wrist tightly. "I'll go with you."
"Tell me the specifics."
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