Free Web NovelChapter 359: Chapter 359: Extra Story 8
The lead-colored clouds covered layer by layer, and under the huge, dense raindrops, amidst the dull rumble of mountain rocks collapsing, the truck roared out charging.
"Ah—"
"Oh mother!"
The cheers of the three in the truck bed after surviving the danger indicate the peril of this incident.
The four in the car were also covered in mud. Shen Que was the first to ask, "Is everyone okay?"
"I’m fine! Thrilling!"
Master Guo was the first to answer, Jiang Cheng also said he was fine, only Gao Zhonghua grunted and said, vaguely, "I think I’m okay."
The adrenaline rush made Gao Zhonghua unable to feel pain, but the smell of fresh blood from his head was so familiar.
Both Master Guo and Shen Que sensed something was wrong. Master Guo dared not stop the car, so Shen Que got up from the back seat to check on Gao Zhonghua.
Red blood mixed with mud formed clots on Gao Zhonghua’s head, and was washed away by rain.
Concern rose in Shen Que.
Gao Zhonghua was different from them.
He had a ticking time bomb in his head—a shrapnel piece.
If it were just a simple external injury, they wouldn’t worry, but if the injury caused the shrapnel to move, then...
"Boss?"
Gao Zhonghua didn’t hear Shen Que speak, instantly realizing he had a wound on his head.
"It’s nothing, just a little injury."
Gao Zhonghua’s head started to feel heavy.
Shen Que spoke up, "It’s definitely nothing. I’ve asked someone to tell your fortune. The elder said you’ll live a long life, much longer than me."
Gao Zhonghua gave a simple, silly smile.
"I knew it."
Shen Que turned to look for the medical kit, while Master Guo hit the accelerator hard.
They all knew Gao Zhonghua’s situation.
Originally, Shen Que didn’t want Gao Zhonghua to come this time, but Gao Zhonghua said: If one spends a lifetime living cautiously, then what’s the taste of life?
Most importantly, even if living cautiously, one never knows when the shrapnel will move on its own.
Therefore, Gao Zhonghua wanted to do something meaningful.
Jiang Cheng watched Shen Que treat Gao Zhonghua’s wound, and she was just as anxious.
Gao Zhonghua’s head grew heavier and sometimes he couldn’t string together words.
Shen Que dared not let him sleep, trying hard to keep the conversation going, as did Jiang Cheng.
"Gao Zhonghua, Li Chunxiang is waiting for you to come home, your son is barely over a year old."
Jiang Cheng’s words were like a shot of adrenaline, making Gao Zhonghua grit his teeth and regain some clarity.
"My chubby kid...so cute."
"Sis-in-law...if I..."
"Gao Zhonghua! I don’t want to hear such talk. For the sake of your son, for Chun Xiang, hang in there, we’re about to leave the mountains."
"Gao Zhonghua, Chun Xiang loves you so much, she couldn’t live without you."
Jiang Cheng used Li Chunxiang to stimulate Gao Zhonghua. Hearing that Li Chunxiang couldn’t live without him, a smile appeared on Gao Zhonghua’s face.
"Chun Xiang...likes me the most."
"Yes, she likes you the most!"
"Just imagine, if you really gave up like this, if Chun Xiang forgets you and lets another man be your kid’s dad..."
Gao Zhonghua forcibly grasped Shen Que’s hand, straining to open his eyes.
"No way!"
Those two firm words made Shen Que bite his lip and hold Gao Zhonghua’s hand tightly.
"No way, just hang in there like a man!"
Shen Que held a towel against Gao Zhonghua’s head, hit by a rock. The bright red blood soaked the towel and stained Shen Que’s hand.
Beside him, Master Guo held his breath, putting all his strength into driving the truck out of the mountain road and into a safe area.
Without wasting a second, Jiang Cheng got out of the car and shouted to the three in the truck bed.
"Do you know where there’s a hospital?"
"Our companion is injured."
The three in the truck bed were also hit to varying degrees, but they were only minor injuries. Hearing Jiang Cheng speak in the local dialect, they enthusiastically offered help.
"The hospital is far away, even by car it would take over two hours."
"The town hospital has nothing, going there wouldn’t help."
"Well, if you trust us, follow us to the village. We have an old doctor who’s very skilled!"
"Yes, yes! The old Chinese doctor is amazing! He’s treated important people."
Jiang Cheng relayed this information to Shen Que and Master Guo, who was looking at the map and confirmed, "There really isn’t a hospital nearby, the town hospital is useless."
Everyone looked at Shen Que, the decision was too important.
Gao Zhonghua, holding onto a remaining breath not to faint, grabbed Shen Que as he was about to speak.
"My life, I decide."
"Boss, let’s go to that Chinese doctor they mentioned."
Gao Zhonghua didn’t want Shen Que to carry the burden of his life; he had enough already.
Having made the decision, the truck set off again.
One of the three in the back sat in the front to guide them, while Jiang Cheng translated.
The truck drove all the way, leaving the main road and entering a muddy path. The truck slipped several times, almost getting stuck in the mud, but Master Guo’s superb skills pulled them through.
While pulling through, Master Guo prayed, "Don’t break down, please don’t break down."
Maybe the prayer worked, or maybe heaven pitied good-hearted people, they arrived smoothly.
The three villagers knocked on the door, and soon a girl in a raincoat came out to open it.
"Save him!"
"He’s in bad shape!"
The three pointed to Shen Que carrying Gao Zhonghua, the girl at the door saw Gao Zhonghua’s blood-covered face, and without any nonsense, stepped aside to clear the way.
"Come in!"
The group quickly went in, an old man inside also heard the commotion and came up, upon seeing the injured, he directly instructed Shen Que.
"Put him here."
"Xing Er, go get the medicine box, and someone go boil water, and leave the room, you all carry too much filth."
Perhaps it was the steadiness of the elder, or the aroma of medicinal herbs filling the room, whatever it was, Shen Que and the others didn’t waste time questioning or hesitate.
The old man was pleased to some extent seeing this.
He hated those who wasted time with endless questions.
As he received the medicine box from Xing Er’s hand, the pulse diagnosis was already completed.
"Had a previous head injury?"
Shen Que, who was just reaching the door, immediately replied.
"Yes, he has shrapnel in his head."
"Today he encountered a mudslide, rolling stones struck his head, causing unconsciousness."
The old man listened and responded with a nod, gesturing, then said no more.
As Jiang Cheng and the others left, silver needles were already piercing Gao Zhonghua’s body.
Steady, accurate, ruthless.
At the same time, a glimmer of hope rose in everyone’s hearts.
The curtain fell, Master Guo began boiling water, Jiang Cheng expressed gratitude to the three villagers, Shen Que stood somewhat rigidly by the door, staring at the curtain.
After thanking the villagers, Jiang Cheng approached Shen Que and held his hand.
She wanted to say everything would be okay, but will it really?
She didn’t know.
All she could do was quietly accompany Shen Que.
Soon, steam filled the kitchen, Jiang Cheng tugged Shen Que’s hand, "Let’s clean up; we have too many germs, it might affect Gao Zhonghua."
"Okay!"
