Chapter 2: Maggots in the Wound
The bailiffs had just drawn their swords when they discovered that everyone had disappeared!
Not only did he lose two bags, but he was also kicked all over and his whole body was in pain!
Suddenly he started cursing.
No one from the Huo family was seriously injured. It was obvious that the refugees were not evil people and just wanted to steal food.
There was one bag missing, the one containing food.
Now, even the black steamed buns distributed by the yamen runners are gone!
The elderly, the weak and the sick are even more dejected, with dull eyes and numb expressions, like rotten bodies that have long lost their souls.
"What bad luck! Why are there so many refugees?"
The yamen runner who was kicked by Sang Ning cursed and lifted up his clothes to let his companion apply medicine.
"Damn it! Who is so mean to kick me in the waist? Hiss—"
Sang Ning: I'll kick you in the back! That way you won't have to stare at me with those sneaky eyes and try to rip my clothes off!
Finally, Sang Ning had time to look at everyone.
Including her, there are ten people in the Huo family.
Old Madam Yang, eldest sister-in-law Li Yuzhi, third sister-in-law Xie Yurou, younger sister-in-law Huo Jingya, Huo Dalang's son: seven-year-old Huo Jintang, Huo Erlang's daughter: two three-year-old twin girls.
There is also a cousin named Yun Shuixian who grew up with the old lady.
Then there is her cheap husband, Huo Changan.
The 19-year-old boy had been moved by Li Yuzhi to lean against the tree trunk, staring blankly at the sky.
His eyes were long and narrow, slightly tilted upwards, very charming phoenix eyes, but now covered with a layer of dust.
Among the few fragments of Sang Ning'er's memories, the most profound one is the scene where the two of them hugged each other in the imperial garden.
The youthful demeanor was captivating, his eyes seemed to be smiling even when he wasn't, his voice was half drunk and lazy, and it went straight into people's hearts.
Sang Ning was sure that the original owner had fallen in love with him.
As she recalled this moment, her heart skipped a beat.
The boy's face was delicate and beautiful, as if carved from jade, with sharp edges and corners, thin lips and a straight nose, the standard facial features of a handsome man.
But now, the left side of his face was completely destroyed, like a piece of fine porcelain dropped into a pool of smelly mud, with black flesh and blood turned inside out, and yellow pus oozing from the burnt edges.
What a pity!
This must have been burned by a soldering iron.
It hurts just looking at it.
His legs were twisted unnaturally, probably because his lumbar vertebrae were broken. His lower body was completely disabled, and he was wearing a prison uniform covered in blood.
His fingernails were also pulled out, leaving his fingers black.
I really don’t know how he managed to climb on top of her that day and protect the dignity of the Marquis’ Mansion.
Perhaps Sang Ning's gaze lingered for too long, the young man turned his head slightly and looked over with his gray eyes.
Sang Ning's heart trembled.
Those eyes that were once filled with starlight now only have endless vastness in them.
The wilderness is lush and vast, and the emptiness is boundless.
The once unrestrained and carefree son of destiny has been reduced to dust.
After all, Sang Ning was a good citizen who grew up under the red flag, with good morals, intelligence and physique. She was kind-hearted and would feel sorry for the person even if he was a stranger, not to mention that the person had protected her.
She smiled friendly, but before her mouth was halfway open, the boy turned his head away in disgust.
Forget it, everyone hates me.
Sang Ning pursed his lips and looked away.
"Get on the road! We have to get to the next town before dark!"
The bailiff packed up and came over with a whip.
Old Madam Yang quickly protected her two trembling granddaughters, while the others stood up, either in shock or numbness.
Li Yuzhi called out softly, "Fourth brother..."
Huo Changan couldn't use the strength in his waist, so Li Yuzhi helped him lie down and then put the rope on the raft on his back.
During this time, he didn't even blink like a puppet.
Just as the yamen runners were waving their whips arrogantly and driving people away like livestock, Yun Shuixian let out a shrill scream.
Then he was whipped by the yamen runner: "What are you yelling for! You scared me!"
Yun Shuixian's clothes suddenly tore open, revealing the fair skin on her shoulders.
There was a hint of fanaticism in the eyes of the yamen runner.
Yun Shuixian is a cousin who was raised in the Huo family since childhood. She is the daughter of the old lady's sister. Originally, she was supposed to marry Huo Changan as soon as she reached the age, but unexpectedly, she was snatched away by Sang Ning'er.
She was not a member of the Huo family and could have been exiled, but for Huo Changan, she was forced to be exiled along with them.
She was the most beautiful and fairest girl here, and with Huo Jingya protecting her all the way, she was never whipped.
This was the first whipping I received today.
"Narcissus!" The old lady hurried to protect her.
"Aunt, aunt, Brother Chang'an's legs...legs...ugh..." Yun Shuixian pointed at Huo Chang'an's legs in horror and couldn't help retching.
What's wrong with your legs?
Huo Changan rolled his dull eyes, stared at Yun Shuixian's expression for a while, then a hint of self-mockery appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he closed his eyes directly.
Even my cousin who keeps saying she won't marry anyone but him is disgusted...
All the women in the Huo family looked pale and looked at Huo Changan's legs in horror.
His legs had been tortured, and some parts had begun to rot, emitting a foul stench.
Although my sister-in-law and the old lady cleaned it every day, the situation got worse day by day because there was no medicine, no clean water, and no doctor to scrape off the rot.
And now, because Huo Changan was unconscious and motionless, maggots were born in the rotten flesh!
The milky white worms twisted their fat bodies, frightening the women so much that they turned pale, felt creepy, heartbroken, and nauseous.
The old lady, who was used to many storms, held back her tears, took the shriveled water bag, poured a little water on the rag, wiped it, and then used the tip of a wooden hairpin to pick it out.
"Fourth brother, bear with it, mother will clean it for you."
After the old lady finished speaking, her heart choked.
My little one’s legs have lost all feeling, why should I endure it any longer?
Huo Changan was finally no longer indifferent. Looking at the old lady's hair that had turned white overnight, his long-dried eyes suddenly ached.
"mother……"
Don’t worry about it, don’t worry about it, just let your son go!
How he wanted to say that.
But looking at the helpless women, he didn't dare to close his eyes.
How could he leave with peace of mind?
But what else could he do? He had become a disabled person!
I can no longer protect them and will only become a burden to them.
I closed my eyes again, but not a single tear came out.
"Stop! You can't pick!" Sang Ning grabbed the old lady's dry and bloody hand.
"Sang Ning'er! What are you going to do now! He is your husband! Do you want to watch him die in such a disgusting way?" Huo Jingya cried.
"My brother Chang'an loves cleanliness the most..." Yun Shuixian sobbed.
"Ms. Sang, let go." The old lady's voice was still strong, but it was harsh on the outside but weak on the inside.
After all, she was old, and her body was struggling.
"That... old lady." Sang Ning held it in for a long time but still couldn't call out "mother".
But no one cared about her name.
"You can't clean it like this. This isn't a maggot. Although it looks like a maggot, it has a distinct mouth organ on the top, is red, and has a longer body than a maggot."
"This thing is called a silkworm, and it usually hides in the bark of trees. I guess these crawled into Shiro's body while he was resting under the tree."
"Its mouthparts contain toxins and are very easy to break. If you pick it out like this, it will easily break into the flesh. The toxins will seep into the bloodstream and gradually cause organ failure. By the time you realize something is wrong, it will be too late!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
