Chapter 103
There wasn’t much time left for the two of them to talk—they had to make use of the brief window to communicate. After exchanging a few urgent words and agreeing on a schedule, Yang Hui’s voice came from outside.
“What are you two doing standing at the door? Where are Doctor Xue and Xiao Jiu?”
“They’re stitching rabbit skins,” one replied. “They said they wanted to practice their suturing technique. I was too creeped out to watch…”
“Alright, alright. What use are you anyway?”
As soon as he said that, Yang Hui appeared at the cave entrance. His first glance fell on the two of them, noticing that although they were sitting close, there was a rabbit skin between them. By now, the rabbit skin had already been sewn up, the stitches remarkably even. Seeing the stitching made him think of Niu Er’s leg, and Yang Hui couldn’t help the urge to gag, but he held it back under everyone’s watchful eyes.
A faint smile appeared on his face, and the two could tell immediately that he had brought good news. As expected.
“Doctor Xue, I just discussed with the brothers, and they all agreed. But since we have someone above keeping watch, you can only go out to gather herbs for short periods each day. The others are just laborers and don’t know herbs, so it’ll still be tough for you to gather them on the mountain. Don’t worry, though—we’ll do our best to ensure your safety. I’ll send a few brothers with you every day. We may be rough men who don’t know herbs, but we can at least help carry your basket. Doctor Xue, what do you think?”
He had explained everything thoroughly. Xie Mingchen couldn’t really refuse in this situation.
Seeing him agree, Yang Hui looked much more at ease. He then glanced at the quiet, reserved Xiao Jiu, his gaze shifting slightly. While Doctor Xue was temporarily under their influence, he had been brought here by force and might harbor resentment. To make him willingly cooperate, both kindness and authority would have to be applied. Xiao Jiu, though thin, had performed well over the past few days. Cowardly? Precisely because of that, she wouldn’t act recklessly.
“Doctor Xue, our conditions in this mountain are basic, and there’s no woman to assist. I think Xiao Jiu is excellent—careful, strong, and she can even sew. Why not let her stay by your side? Maybe she can learn a trick or two, and we can enjoy the convenience as well.”
“Hmm…”
Xie Mingchen paused, scanning Xiao Jiu with his eyes, a hint of hesitation in his gaze.
“But I’m not from this place. If that injured person from earlier recovers, I must return…”
“Oh, no rush. We’re all brothers here in the mines. With your medical skills, you’ll naturally need to move between several mines, and Niu Er’s leg will require your care. I boldly ask you to stay here a bit longer. To be honest, our brothers in the mines are always short of medicine, and some have hidden injuries. We need your help to treat them. During your stay, let Xiao Jiu serve you. She’s obedient, I promise. Xiao Jiu, isn’t that right?”
Jiuque’s body trembled slightly, nodding repeatedly.
“Doctor Xue, please let me serve you. I’m quick and hardworking, and I can take good care of you!”
“…Very well then.”
Doctor Xue seemed reluctant but agreed under the circumstances. This eased Yang Hui’s guard; if Doctor Xue had eagerly accepted, it might have raised suspicion. Xiao Jiu looked thin and dirty, which, though normal in the mines, made Yang Hui hesitant.
Thus, the matter was settled.
By mid-afternoon, Niu Er woke up. Fortunately, he had no fever—his pale complexion was due to blood loss. Grateful for having his life saved, he was extremely thankful to Doctor Xue. Even Xiao Jiu received some goodwill, something Niu Er had never shown her before.
Aside from Niu Er, as dusk approached, Yang Hui faced a dilemma when asking Doctor Xue to see another patient. Previously, giving them prescriptions hadn’t caused hesitation, but now he seemed hesitant and evasive.
As Doctor Xue’s temporary assistant, Xiao Jiu naturally followed. When they finally arrived at a dark cave after winding paths, she understood why Yang Hui had looked uneasy.
Inside, a wooden fence enclosed a section where over a dozen disheveled women were confined. Due to poor ventilation, the cave smelled of a complex stench.
Jiuque clenched her fists under her sleeves. She wasn’t naïve—she immediately understood why these women were held separately. Her eyes darkened with a flash of anger.
She couldn’t assume that because Yang Hui and the others didn’t seem too bad, they were redeemable. Were these women imprisoned voluntarily? No wonder so few women appeared on the journey, except a few in the kitchen, who were either elderly or unattractive—now it was clear they had been locked up here.
“Doctor Xue, please help. Two of them keep bleeding. If they can be saved, save them; if not, then let it be.”
Yang Hui’s tone carried a hint of regret. The two women seemed to be relatives of minor officials, with delicate features and smooth skin. Growing up with little access to such beauty, he had never seen women like this. But not only were they from good backgrounds, their bodies were fragile, on the verge of death. Saving them would be best, but if not, at least others were still alive. The captured women brought back from outside were fewer and fewer; it was rare to rescue any, and none were attractive.
The brothers endured their harsh lives in the desolate mines; this was one of the few pleasures left. Otherwise, the men below would have gone mad.
Xie Mingchen was silent for a moment. Yang Hui had the two women, pale, emaciated, and bleeding from the lower body, dragged out.
They were young, and their faces had some resemblance—likely related. They had no strength left; when the men dragging them released their grip, they collapsed, their eyes dark and lifeless, gasping only for air in, none out.
Yang Hui was anxious.
“Look, they’re half-dead but still breathing. If we just buried them, wouldn’t that be a waste?”
Xie Mingchen closed his eyes, silently bending down to feel their pulse. Finally, he gave an ambiguous verdict:
“They’ve suffered too much damage, but we can barely try.”
