Chapter 96

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Chapter 96: Nursing the Injury

Zhang Xiaohu could only manage a bitter smile. A lifetime without worries? To put it lightly, it was nothing more than a sum of money. Even if enough silver was given for Zhang Xiaohua to live comfortably for the rest of his life, who could guarantee that Zhang Xiaohua would indeed be able to rely on it? What if something happened to the money? Could Zhang Xiaohua, with his injured hand, truly live a worry-free life?

The amount of silver aside, the wonderful life of a young man in his prime being ruined with just one strike, leaving him to depend on money, is life a life without pursuits that Zhang Xiaohua wants?

Can everything, every possibility, every dream, be replaced by a lifetime of food and clothing?

Others might not know Zhang Xiaohua’s aspirations, but Zhang Xiaohu did. Setting aside Zhang Xiaohua’s talent, his passion for martial arts was unmatched, even by Zhang Xiaohu himself. If Zhang Xiaohua learned he could no longer practice martial arts, would he still find a reason to go on?

Zhang Xiaohua was still just a child!

Could he endure such a blow?

Now, Zhang Xiaohu was filled with immense guilt and regret. If only he hadn’t agreed to the match, if only he hadn’t come to the escort agency, if only he hadn’t suggested going to Pingyang City… could everything have been different?

Seeing Zhang Xiaohu’s face clouded with uncertainty, Third Master Qu quickly said: “Zhang Xiaohu, your talent is exceptional. We’ve been considering sending you to the martial arts school for some time now. And now, with your victory over Yu Deyi, the others at the Martial Arts Hall will surely recognize your potential. In a few days, you’ll be sent there to study. The conditions here will remain the same, and you’ll still have to go out if there are missions. Your training at the Martial Arts Hall won’t cost you anything.”

Zhang Xiaohu, smiling bitterly, replied: “Third Master Qu, thank you for your kindness, but my brother…”

Master Qu glanced at Yu Deyi and said, “Zhang Xiaohu, don’t worry about your brother. Once Yu Deyi has taken care of him, I will personally go to the owner of Huanxi Villa and plead on his behalf. As long as Huanxi Villa stands, Zhang Xiaohua will have a place there. My reputation still holds some weight, and I believe I can secure this for Zhang Xiaohua.”

With things being said to this extent, Zhang Xiaohu could only nod in gratitude. Both Master Qu and Yu Deyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

At that moment, the doctor from the Martial Arts Hall arrived, much like a government official who always came late after everything was settled. Although he reeked of alcohol, he was still shocked by Zhang Xiaohua’s injury. The first words out of his mouth were: “This hand is ruined.”

His second sentence was: “I’m feeling dizzy. I can’t treat this properly. Please Find someone more capable.”

Third Master Qu was so angry that grabbed the doctor by the collar and asked: “The rules of the Martial Arts Hall state that doctors on duty must not drink. How dare you not follow this rule?”

The doctor, full of self-righteousness, said, “I am testing the efficacy of medicinal wine. In ancient times, Hua Tuo sampled hundreds of herbs, we should follow his example. How can I ensure its effectiveness in treating others without trying it myself?”

Third Master Qu threw him to the ground and said to Zhang Xiaohu: “Let’s go, take Zhang Xiaohua to another doctor.”

Fortunately, the doctor’s clinic was also in a corner of the Martial Arts Hall, and luckily, there was another doctor who hadn’t personally tasted the medicinal wine. An elderly doctor carefully aligned Zhang Xiaohua’s fractured arm and meticulously pieced together the shattered bones in his fingers bit by bit. Poor Zhang Xiaohua woke up when his arm was being set and fainted again from the pain as his finger bones were being put back together. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans dripped from his face, the saying ” the ten fingers are connected to the heart” was no exaggeration.

After the doctor applied the finest medicinal ointment and splinted Zhang Xiaohua’s arm, he slowly woke up again.

Enduring the piercing pain in his hand, Zhang Xiaohua looked helplessly at his splinted arm and tentatively asked the doctor: “How long will it take for my injury to heal?”

The doctor looked at him with pity and said: “Child, you need to nurse it carefully. No matter what, it will take at least a year or more. Poor thing.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua loudly exclaimed: “Oh no, I had an appointment with Captain He tonight to learn martial arts. What should I do now?”

The doctor replied: “You’re still thinking about practicing martial arts? With this injury…”

Before the doctor could finish speaking, Zhang Xiaohu interrupted him, saying: “Xiaohua, your injury isn’t too severe. For now, stop thinking about practicing martial arts. Once you’ve recovered, Captain He can continue teaching you. If that’s not possible, don’t we have Third Master Qu here? He’s one of the top martial artists at our Martial Arts Hall, he can teach you instead.”

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua’s face lit up with joy. He looked at the kindly-looking old man standing nearby and asked: “Will you teach me martial arts, Third Master Qu?”

Master Qu readily agreed, saying, “Of course, Zhang Xiaohua. Once you’ve recovered, I’ll teach you well. I promise you’ll become even better than your brother.”

Zhang Xiaohua thanked him, then turned to Zhang Xiaohu and said: “Second Brother, now that I’m injured, I can’t do my work at the villa. You should go and inform them so they don’t kick me out. Ask for some time off for me. Also, Second Brother here’s my monthly pay from last month. We need money for my treatment, and I was going to give this to you or send it to our parents.”

With difficulty, he used his left hand to pull out a few coins from his pocket and handed them to Zhang Xiaohu.

Seeing this, Master Qu shot a fierce glare at Yu Deyi and said: “Zhang Xiaohua, your injury was caused by Yu Deyi, so he should cover your medical expenses. Don’t worry about it. Also, I’ll immediately send someone to the villa to explain your situation and request some time off for you. You can rest peacefully at the escort agency and focus on recovering. Your brother is here and can take good care of you. How does that sound?”

Zhang Xiaohua’s grateful eyes and words of thanks touched Third Master Qu’s heart, making him feel a pang of sorrow. He finished speaking and quickly left, muttering to himself: “What a poor, sweet child.”

Once Master Qu was gone, Yu Deyi finally dared to speak. “Zhang Xiaohua, I’m really sorry. I… I lost my head for a moment and shouldn’t have used my inner energy. Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you. I’ll definitely compensate you until you’re satisfied.”

Zhang Xiaohua looked at the spoiled young master, unsure of what to say. He had intercepted Yu Deyi’s palm strike with his fist and ended up like this. What would have happened if that palm strike had hit his second brother’s chest? The thought was easy enough to imagine. If such a thing had occurred, would Yu Deyi still think of compensating with money? Sigh, of course, he would still think of using money! Zhang Xiaohua could almost guarantee it.

Zhang Xiaohua looked at him feebly, smiled, and nodded. Only then did Yu Deyi leave awkwardly, saying as he went: “Zhang Xiaohua, focus on getting better. I’ll ensure the doctor uses the best medicine to get you back on your feet as soon as possible.”

Shangguan Yun and Yu Lun offered a few comforting words to Zhang Xiaohua before following Yu Deyi out.

Li Jinfeng was still in the room. The scholar looked at Zhang Xiaohua but seemed at a loss for how to comfort him. He merely said: “Xiaohua, you’re a good child. Good things will happen to good people. You’ll recover soon. I’ll come to see you again tomorrow.”

With that, he patted Zhang Xiaohua’s head and started to leave. At the door, he seemed to remember something and turned back to Zhang Xiaohu: “Zhang Xiaohu, I came to the escort agency today to apologize. I promised to bring you and Xiaohua here from the carriage inn, but I actually forgot. I’m truly sorry. Alas, if I had taken Xiaohua somewhere else today, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.”

He didn’t wait for Zhang Xiaohu to respond before leaving.

Zhang Xiaohu, hearing this, recalled the long-forgotten “grudge”, and shook his head. If only you had taken Xiaohua somewhere else, that would have been an apology indeed.

Zhang Xiaohua, lying nearby, said: “Second Brother, it was I who brought Young Master Li here. He only thought to come and apologize after seeing me. He’s really quite a peculiar person. When I mentioned that we were waiting for him at the carriage inn, he felt the need to apologize. He apologized to me and even thought of apologizing to you in person. Now he can finally sleep peacefully tonight.”

Zhang Xiaohu listened, feeling a mixture of emotions. How could there be such a vast difference between people? Comparing Li Jinfeng to Yu Deyi, Shangguan Yun, and Yu Lun, each was so different. Here, he and his brother were strangers in the unfamiliar Pingyang City. While it couldn’t be said that they were struggling, their current situation left much to ponder. Should he inform their father and mother back in Guo Village about Xiaohua’s injury, or should he send Xiaohua home to recover?

However, he quickly made a decision. Since they were already out, he should take control of their fate. If he informed their family about Xiaohua’s injury, it might not only jeopardize their stay in Pingyang City but also do little to alleviate their concerns. What good would their worry and sadness do? He remembered that even their eldest brother had to be treated by Old Guo, the village veterinarian, and he shuddered at the thought. There was no way he was going to send Xiaohua back home.

Determined, Zhang Xiaohu decided to consult Zhang Xiaohua about the matter. He told him his thoughts, and Xiaohua’s response was unusually entirely in agreement with Zhang Xiaohu. His little head shook like a rattle, adamantly refusing to go home.

Just then, the elderly doctor entered the room again, examined Zhang Xiaohua, and checked his pulse. He turned to Zhang Xiaohu and said: “Zhang Xiaohu, your brother’s injury is quite severe. Although there’s no bleeding, the pain is intense and not something an ordinary person can endure. He’s fainted twice already and looks pale and exhausted. You should take him back to rest. Be careful not to disturb his injured arm and fingers. I’ve done what I can, and I hope your brother will recover well. Also, Third Master Qu has arranged for the medical expenses, so you don’t need to worry about that. I’ll provide the best medicine available for your brother. Actually, there’s no need for any special medicine, the bones are broken, and the key is in the ‘nurture’. The ointment I applied already contains tiger bone, the best medicine we have for treating bone injuries. I’ll prepare some calming and nourishing herbs for you and have the servants send them over later.”

Then, he patted Xiaohua’s head sympathetically, sighed slightly, and then left.

Zhang Xiaohu looked at his younger brother. Sure enough, he was drenched in sweat and pale-faced, clearly exhausted. Apart from feeling distressed, he also secretly blamed himself for being careless. Their parents were far away, and as the saying goes “the elder brother is like a father”. How could he overlook Zhang Xiaohua’s condition?

So, Zhang Xiaohu carefully lifted Zhang Xiaohua from the bed, intending to move him to his own small room. Despite Zhang Xiaohu’s carefulness, he was a man without experience in caregiving, so he accidentally brushed against Xiaohua’s injury twice. The first time Zhang Xiaohua was caught unaware and cried out in pain, and the second time, he gritted his teeth and endured, beads of sweat pouring down his face like raindrops. Zhang Xiaohu felt a deep pang of sorrow and became even more cautious.

Fortunately, as they moved slowly, he never touched Zhang Xiaohua’s injury again, which made Zhang Xiaohu feel a bit more at ease.

Zhang Xiaohu’s room was quite spacious, originally intended for two people. However, after Zhang Xiaohu won a fistfight against a senior bodyguard last time, Sixth Master Li had the other person relocated, allowing Zhang Xiaohu to have the room to himself to better focus on his martial arts. This arrangement was now ideal, as the extra bed would be perfect for Zhang Xiaohua to recover from his injuries.

Carefully, Zhang Xiaohu placed Zhang Xiaohua on the bed and covered him with his own bedding. Even though it was already summer, he chose a slightly thicker quilt, worried that his brother’s condition might worsen.

Not long after, an attendant from the medical hall delivered a freshly brewed medicinal concoction. Zhang Xiaohu fed the medicine to his brother. As he noticed his face covered in sweat, he intended to wipe him clean, but the attendant cautioned against it. The doctor had forgotten to mention that the patient should remain still to avoid disturbing the recently set bones. Even if he had sweat on his body, he had to endure it. Avoid to wipe it to not risk moving the injured area. After hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua had no choice but to stop.

By then, the sky had begun to darken. After seeing the attendant off, Zhang Xiaohu turned back to find Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes already closing, gradually falling into sleep. Yes, this poor child, after suffering so much, should enjoy as much peace as possible.

Zhang Xiaohu watched his beloved little brother’s peaceful yet occasionally pain-stricken sleeping face. A mixture of regret and sorrow filled his heart, and he remained still until nightfall.

Late into the night, Zhang Xiaohu rested by Zhang Xiaohua’s bedside. Knowing he was a deep sleeper and worried that his brother might need him, he decided not to sleep in his own bed. Zhang Xiaohua had always slept through the night until dawn before his injury, but now it was different. It was better to be careful, so he didn’t go to his bed to sleep.

Zhang Xiaohua was indeed a child who caused little trouble. He slept soundly from dusk until just before midnight, occasionally frowning in his sleep. After midnight, his expression became peaceful and he fell into a deep, serene sleep. Only then did Zhang Xiaohu relax, finally succumbing to his own exhaustion and falling asleep by the bedside.

In the quiet of the night, something unusual was happening with the twinkling inside Zhang Xiaohua’s dream. The rhythm of his twinkling seemed slightly off, more urgent than usual. A strange wave of energy emanated from his left wrist, spreading unnoticed throughout his body, especially towards his injured areas. Many unknown secrets, both harmful and beneficial, were unfolding in the unseen darkness.

As the first light of dawn broke, the mysterious energy abruptly stopped, and Zhang Xiaohua opened his eyes. Instinctively, he sniffed the air and tried to get up, but a sharp pain in his right hand made him cry out: “Ouch!” This startled Zhang Xiaohu, who quickly sat up and called out: “Xiaohua, what’s wrong?”

Seeing his second brother’s concerned face, Zhang Xiaohua took in his surroundings and the piercing pain in his right hand. He finally remembered that he was at the Lotus Escort Agency, not at the Huanxi Villa where he usually worked. Next to him was his dear second brother, not his smelly-footed coworker, Ma Jing. Zhang Xiaohua grinned and said: “It’s nothing, Second Brother. I just moved my right hand by accident after waking up.”

Zhang Xiaohu, filled with concern, advised: “Oh, be careful next time. Even though your arm is in a splint, if you strain your fingers, the bones could shift out of place. If they heal crookedly, it will be difficult to set them straight. I heard you’ll have to break them and start over again, which is a very painful process. So, don’t move it at all.”

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua stuck out his tongue and said: “That sounds awful. Breaking and resetting the bones? That can’t be true, can it?”

Zhang Xiaohu laughed and reassured him: “Doctor Cheng wouldn’t lie. He’s the best doctor at the Lotus Escort Agency.”

Only then did Zhang Xiaohua realize that the elderly doctor who treated him yesterday was actually the best doctor in the escort agency. It was true that experts often looked unassuming.

At that moment, Zhang Xiaohua’s stomach let out a loud growl, causing Zhang Xiaohu to laugh: “Xiaohua, your stomach is growling. You must be hungry. I’ll go get you some food.”

Zhang Xiaohua blushed and said: “Yes, please hurry, Second Brother. I didn’t eat lunch or dinner yesterday. How could I not be hungry now?”

Poor Xiaohua had skipped lunch the previous day, planning to eat at his second brother’s place. But then he encountered Yu Deyi at the escort agency, which led to a fight and his subsequent injury. Naturally, he hadn’t eaten dinner, only swallowing a lot of bitter medicine. His recovery needed nutrition, it’s no wonder his stomach was protesting.

Before Zhang Xiaohu could leave to get food, there was a knock at the door. Opening it, Zhang Xiaohu saw that it was Yu Lun bringing some food. Yu Lun explained that the food was sent on Yu Deyi’s behalf. Yu Deyi had also been injured the previous day and was now bedridden, unable to come in person to apologize. Zhang Xiaohu understood Yu Lun’s intention and accepted the food without further hesitation. He placed the food box on the table and prepared to feed Zhang Xiaohua.

Yu Lun did not enter the room, stating that he would come by again around noon to deliver more food. After this, he said goodbye and took his leave.

The breakfast that Yu Lun brought was carefully prepared, with many nourishing and easily digestible items. Zhang Xiaohua found the meal delicious and much better than the breakfasts he had at Huanxi Villa. Zhang Xiaohua ate everything cleanly, and in his mind, he wondered if whenever he was injured he would enjoy such good food.

As Zhang Xiaohu fed Zhang Xiaohua, he observed his younger brother eating with gusto. His body was weak and would need nutrition, being able to eat meant that his body was showing signs of recovery, so he was secretly relieved.

After finishing the meal and tidying up the dishes, Zhang Xiaohu turned to Zhang Xiaohua and said: “Xiaohua, you should rest here. I need to go out for breakfast and handle some affairs at the escort agency. I’ll come back as soon as I can. I’ll explain everything to Sixth Master Li, he’ll probably allow me to return earlier.”

Zhang Xiaohua responded: “It’s fine, Second Brother. You go ahead with your work. I’ll just stay here and rest.”