Chapter Ninety-Six: Where Did the Child Come From?
"Clerk Song, whose child is this?"
"How did you get so badly injured? Were you beaten by your family?"
Song Xingzhi shook his head: "I picked him up by the roadside. I only brought him to the hospital because he was so badly injured."
Upon arriving at the clinic, Song Xingzhi sat down on the observation bed beside the child and said, "Doctor, this child has many injuries. Could you please take a look?"
Dr. Yuan examined the little boy's injuries and was also shocked.
"My God! How could he be injured so badly!"
Looking at his body covered in wounds, he didn't know where to begin.
"His clothes are dirty and tattered, and they don't cover anything... To treat his wounds, we should cut off these clothes first!"
As he spoke, he picked up a pair of scissors and cut off the dirty, tattered clothes that were so worn that their original color was completely unrecognizable, making them look even worse than what a beggar would wear.
Suddenly, more wounds were exposed to everyone's eyes.
These wounds included those caused by being hit with a stick, bruises from falls, and even lacerations.
Especially the fresh wound on his thigh, which looked like it had been bitten by some wild beast.
His thin body was covered with so many wounds, both new and old, that it was hard to imagine what he had gone through.
"Whose child is this?" Dr. Yuan asked while cleaning his wounds. "Why does he have so many injuries?"
Song Xingzhi stood to the side with his brows furrowed tightly.
The situation is quite clear: the child's injuries were likely not sustained at home. In fact, if he had family members, he would not have suffered such severe injuries.
Then there's only one possibility: this child is homeless and is struggling to make a living on his own.
So, in order to survive, to steal and rob for a bite to eat, and even to fight with wild dogs for food, that's why they have so many injuries.
Thinking of this, Song Xingzhi felt a little heavy-hearted.
Given the events of the past, which led to the destruction of some families and even death, it's possible that something like this could happen again.
Dr. Yuan continued rambling on: "Child, where did you get all these injuries?"
"Where do you live? How did you get so badly injured?"
Where are your parents?
The little boy didn't speak; he just sat on the observation bed.
The alcohol-soaked cotton balls wiped his wounds, which were covered in dirt and blood. He was in so much pain that his face contorted and he broke out in a cold sweat, but he didn't make a sound.
Song Xingzhi had been observing him, and upon seeing this scene, his heart suddenly skipped a beat – Doctor.
"This child...could it be that he/she can't speak?"
Dr. Yuan, who was still trying to get the little boy to answer questions, was also taken aback: "No, really?"
He immediately looked at the little boy: "Child, can you talk?"
The little boy lowered his head and shook it slightly after a long while.
Dr. Yuan gasped in surprise: "You really don't know how to talk!"
A skinny, lonely little boy, who was also mute, must have suffered countless hardships to survive in such a world and such an environment.
"Oh dear, this poor child!" Dr. Yuan felt sorry for him and cleaned his wounds even more gently.
Song Xingzhi's brows were furrowed in worry.
He thought for a moment, then stood up.
Noticing his movement, the little boy also wanted to stand up, his eyes filled with fear.
Song Xingzhi quickly comforted him: "Don't worry, I'll go buy you something to eat... You look like you haven't eaten for a while."
He gave a gentle smile: "Don't worry, I told you, I'll pay your medical bills, I won't run away... The doctors and nurses here all know me."
Dr. Yuan then explained to the little boy, "This is the clerk in our brigade. He definitely can't run away, so don't worry."
The little boy's body then relaxed.
Dr. Yuan sighed again: "Besides, even if Clerk Song doesn't give you the money, I can't possibly ask you for it! How inhuman would I be?"
Song Xingzhi reached out and touched the little boy's dirty hair before turning around and walking out of the cleaning room.
The little boy was stunned for a while, and couldn't help but reach out and touch the spot where Song Xingzhi had touched him. For a moment, his eyes were somewhat blank.
Dr. Yuan quickly pulled his hand down: "Your hair is filthy! You have a wound on your hand, don't touch it, be careful not to get an infection!"
He stroked his chin and looked the little boy up and down: "Hmm, I see you have a head injury too. I'll shave all your hair off later!"
The little boy obediently put his hand down.
Song Xingzhi went for a stroll, bought two steamed buns at a state-run restaurant, and asked the chef to cook him a bowl of egg noodles. Only then did he hurriedly return to the hospital with his lunchbox.
The little boy visibly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Song Xingzhi return.
Song Xingzhi handed him the lunchbox: "Have something to eat!"
Looking at the snow-white steamed buns and the fragrant egg noodles, the little boy swallowed hard, but dared not move at all.
Song Xingzhi shoved the chopsticks into his hand: "Eat up! I bought these especially for you!"
The little boy gripped his chopsticks tightly, but finally couldn't resist and buried his head in his food.
He didn't know how many days he had been starving; he only knew that if he didn't eat soon, he might really die.
The last time I ate, I snatched half a steamed bun from a stray dog's mouth, and that dog chased me for a long way, even biting my thigh raw...
This noodle...smells so good...and there's an egg in it...
He hadn't tasted anything this delicious in years...
Song Xingzhi still had his own things to do. He glanced at the time on his watch, then turned to Dr. Yuan and said, "Dr. Yuan, please treat this child's wound first. I'll go pay the bill for him."
"He has too many wounds. Please arrange for him to stay in the hospital for two days. I will come to see him after I get off work tonight."
Dr. Yuan readily agreed, "Secretary Song, go ahead! I'll take good care of him!"
When the little boy saw Song Xingzhi about to leave, his expression tensed for a moment, but he quickly slumped back down, keeping his head down as he ate without saying a word.
After leaving the hospital, Song Xingzhi rode his tricycle to the brigade headquarters to complete the appointment procedures before riding to the village.
When the villagers saw Song Xingzhi riding a brand-new tricycle, they stared in disbelief.
"Secretary Song, you just bought a new tricycle?"
Don't you have a bicycle?
Song Xingzhi just smiled and didn't say anything, continuing to ride his tricycle forward.
The villagers were abuzz with discussion.
The village was in an uproar once again when Song Xingzhi rode his tricycle into Zhang Chunxue's yard.
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