Chapter 2 The Distressed Xiao Geer

Chapter 2: The Distressed Lad

"Master Wu! It really is you!"

Lei Tan bowed to the man before him. "I saw your back from afar just now and thought it looked familiar, but I didn't dare to recognize you rashly. I never imagined it was truly you!"

Wu Qiu was very fond of this lively child, and a faint smile appeared on his pale face. However, Lei Tan was secretly startled. In just four or five days, Wu Qiu's complexion had worsened further; even his lips were devoid of any color. His robe hung loosely on him, and when the wind blew, it outlined a figure even more slender than before. Though puzzled in his heart, he couldn't show it on his face. He still respectfully invited him into the clinic and asked, "Master Wu, are you here to get medicine again?"

Wu Qiu nodded. "Recovering from illness is like pulling silk. My mother's illness has improved, but it's not yet fully cured. I appreciate your trouble."

Lei Tan went to fetch Lei Ding. Lei Ding inquired in detail about the patient's condition and prescribed a new formula. As there weren't many patients at the moment, Lei Tan also went to the back hall, leaving only Lei Ding and Wu Qiu in the room. While wrapping the medicine for him, Lei Ding didn't forget to advise, "Based on the symptoms you described, this prescription is gentler. However, I don't know if the illness might relapse. If it's convenient for your family, it would be best to have a physician make a house call."

Wu Qiu didn't respond to this suggestion, merely smiling and thanking him. He didn't know how much a house call from a physician in Yongning City would cost. He was already in dire financial straits, nearly at the end of his rope, so how could he dare to ask Lei Ding for a visit? Even coming to get medicine today, he had been quite anxious upon entering, silently calculating the price in his mind, unsure if he even had enough money to pay for this batch of medicine.

His emaciation and unease did not escape Lei Ding's notice. Lei Ding wanted to ask if he had any difficulties, but Wu Qiu was a young man, and he couldn't pry too much into his private affairs. So, he found an excuse, asking Wu Qiu to wait a moment while he went to the back to fetch medicine. He then called Lei Tan over, instructing him to bring some food for Wu Qiu and see him out.

Lei Tan immediately understood. He ran to the kitchen to get a food box, but then reconsidered. With refugees already on the streets, a food box might be too conspicuous. So, he switched to a small medicine case. It wasn't the hour for a meal, so there weren't any proper dishes prepared. He just picked a few kinds of pastries, packed them, placed the medicine bundle inside the case, and brought it out to Wu Qiu. "Sir, here is your medicine!"

Wu Qiu hurriedly thanked him. "A simple medicine bundle would have sufficed. Why go to such trouble? Please take this case back."

Lei Tan had already picked up the medicine case for him. "It's rather stuffy inside. Sir, let me walk you out; I could use some fresh air too. Our family has plenty of these medicine cases. Please use this one for now."

Wu Qiu, unsuspecting, thanked him and walked out with him. Lei Tan started chattering, telling him various tidbits of news about Yongning City. Wu Qiu listened quietly, occasionally responding or agreeing. However, with too many unfamiliar faces in the city now, they hadn't gone far before Wu Qiu urged Lei Tan to return quickly. Lei Tan had to agree, but before parting, he didn't forget to remind him, "Sir, since you're new in town, if you encounter any inconveniences or need help, please don't hesitate to come find me!"

Wu Qiu smiled and agreed. After taking the medicine case and walking a few more steps, he felt the weight of the case was off. Not wanting to open it on the street, he turned back to look for Lei Tan, only to find he had already run far away.

Only after leaving the city did he find a secluded spot to open the case. Seeing the lower compartment filled with food, he was deeply moved. Though these weren't delicacies, just ordinary homemade pastries, for his current situation, they were like timely aid in a snowstorm. He carefully repacked everything, thought for a moment, then took out a few pieces of flatbread and tucked them into his robe before continuing on his way.

The nearest place outside Yongning City was Dayou Village. A main road leading into the city passed through the village. Usually, many traveling merchants and travelers passed by, either staying overnight or occasionally doing business, so Dayou Village had always been prosperous and bustling. However, recently, a breach in the river hundreds of miles upstream had flooded many villages, and refugees began appearing in Dayou Village. As time passed, the number of displaced people increased, inevitably leading to many conflicts and incidents. Thus, Dayou Village lost its former peace and harmony. Households kept their doors tightly shut; women and young men no longer ventured out freely during the day. Even men, when approached by strangers, would mostly give perfunctory replies before avoiding them, fearing to attract trouble.

Wu Qiu was one of the refugees who had fled here.

He originally lived in Xuejia Village, over three hundred miles away. The Tuo River upstream had flooded, and Xuejia Village, being too low-lying, had its fields and houses washed away by the floodwaters. He had planned to seek refuge with distant relatives of his late husband, but shortly after arriving in Dayou Village, he encountered unexpected misfortune and had to delay here for several days. The silver he had brought was almost spent. Wu Qiu was so worried he couldn't sleep at night, unsure how to overcome this crisis.

But there was a more immediate trouble at hand. Just after Wu Qiu passed the village entrance, several people suddenly jumped out from the roadside and surrounded him without a word.

Wu Qiu seemed prepared. He said softly, "Please, gentlemen, have mercy. This is medicine for my mother. She is seriously ill and needs this medicine to save her life..."

The two men leading the group: one seemed physically disabled, hunched over, unable to straighten his back. He had a weasel-like face with thin, squinting eyes, two slender, downturned mustaches, and fine teeth, with a repulsive appearance. The other had a brutish, scowling face, looking quite fierce. Most of the others following them were also poorly dressed refugees. They reached out to grab Wu Qiu's belongings.

Wu Qiu had nowhere to escape. He tried to protect the medicine case in his hands, but the fierce-looking robber twisted his arm, causing such pain he couldn't speak. These people swarmed him, snatched his medicine case, and pointed at the remaining pastries inside. "Is this medicine too?"

...

Reporting to the authorities was useless. Wu Qiu had already gone to Yongning City to find the Patrol Officer and the County Captain. However, with unrest everywhere now and limited government personnel, the local ruffians in Dayou Village colluded with refugees to rob people of money. Since no lives had been lost and no major chaos had erupted, the authorities managed it once or twice but then had no more time to spare. Initially, Wu Qiu always avoided them. Later, some of them specifically spied on the movements of passersby, making it difficult for Wu Qiu to evade them. He had already been intercepted several times.

He got up from the ground, not even caring about the bruises all over his body. The medicine case was thrown on the ground, and the medicine bundle had come undone. Wu Qiu hurriedly gathered the herbs. He wasn't originally a weak-willed person and had resisted fiercely at first. But after several encounters, with no one to help and worn out from being constantly on the run, he gradually lost the will to struggle. If they wanted to rob him, so be it; even when receiving a few punches and kicks, he just silently protected his head and neck, letting them have their way.

Wu Qiu just thought, fortunately, he had been prepared and hidden some food. That bit of food was a life-saving treasure to him. He could only silently pray that this batch of medicine would work and that they could leave this place soon.

The dwindling silver, the ruffians and hooligans running rampant, the gradually increasing influx of refugees... Wu Qiu felt he had no way to survive, but there was still someone who needed his care, so he couldn't afford to die.

"Big Brother—"

Lei Ding put down the book in his hand and took a handkerchief to wipe Lei Tan's sweat. "When did I ever ask you to inquire about anything?"

Lei Tan raised his eyebrows, lifting his little face. "That's strange. You told me to bring him food. Wasn't it because you wanted to help him yourself, wanted to ask if he had any difficulties, but felt too embarrassed to ask? Otherwise, you could have just waived the medicine fee. Why tell me to see him out?"

Lei Ding: "...Don't talk nonsense."

Lei Tan smiled. "If Big Brother isn't concerned, then I won't say anything?"

Lei Ding looked at him rather helplessly and said, "If you don't want to say it, then don't."

Lei Tan loved to talk the most. If he really wasn't allowed to speak, he would become terribly anxious, stomping his feet repeatedly. It seemed he needed a couple more years of practice to truly outmaneuver his big brother. The little fellow, having lost this round of wits, reluctantly began, "Master Wu wasn't willing to say much. I tried to ask indirectly for a long time but didn't find out a lot. I only know he came from Xuejia Village in Feng County, Hedong Circuit, and plans to continue south to visit relatives. Now his mother is ill, so they are temporarily staying in Dayou Village. He didn't say much about his husband or children, and I didn't feel it appropriate to ask further."

After saying this, Lei Tan went to the backyard kitchen to get some cool water to drink. Lei Ding picked up the book again, glanced at it a couple of times, but couldn't concentrate. Wu Qiu's thin figure kept appearing before his eyes. Earlier, he hadn't spoken up, but he had seen faint, unhealed red and swollen marks on Wu Qiu's wrist. He was certain this person was facing some hardship in life.

It's said that physicians have benevolent hearts. Seeing a kind-hearted young man like Wu Qiu reduced to such a state, Lei Ding naturally felt compassion. That's why he not only gave him things but also secretly reduced half of his medicine fee. However, as physicians, they had seen countless pitiful people. Even with the influx of refugees now, they could only try their best to help, assisting where they could, but truly lacked the capacity to help everyone escape their predicament completely. Over time, Lei Ding began to suspect he had become cold and unfeeling—towards death, separation, and the sufferings of the world, he seemed able to turn a blind eye...

While lost in thought, he suddenly remembered the address Lei Tan had mentioned earlier. Feng County in Hedong Circuit—wasn't that precisely where the river had breached this time?

Lei Ding suddenly felt certain. Wu Qiu was most likely not simply visiting relatives but was forced to flee here due to the flood disaster. Judging by his situation, he was probably also strapped for cash and in quite a predicament. He secretly regretted ending the conversation with Wu Qiu so hastily today. If he had asked a few more questions, perhaps he could have helped him further.

He also thought, since Wu Qiu had a sick person at home and was staying in nearby Dayou Village, and Dayou Village had gathered many people fleeing the disaster, there would inevitably be injuries and illnesses. Why not take this opportunity to hold a free clinic?

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