Several days had passed since the incident with Mr Sun, the Luo ChengShi mayor.
Apart from the numerous light stab wounds, bruising and cuts on their limbs and torso, the large horde of villagers were, in the most part, relatively safe and were able to quickly recover back to full health, monitored by the skilled staff and preparations ordered by YaoMing; and today was the end of their stay.
On that bright sunny morning, the crowd gathered in the courtyard. While the children ran about with glee, the mothers tried their best to make them behave and the elderly lazed about on the extra makeshift benches lining throughout the court. The assistants were going around, checking their registry for the villagers’ names. It was quite the bustling site regardless of the unfortunate passing of the injured boy and his mother.
‘Is this how people grieve the dead? Or are they just ignorant about past events when the sun rises on the next day? To never look back, isn’t it?’
ReZhui had some lingering regret for their deaths but even he could tell that was uncalled for, Moreso, it's just useless emotional baggage for the 9-year-old boy to carry in which he had no participation within the incident whatsoever. He wasn’t the culprit nor the victim. All he was, was a bystander. Despite this reasoning, he just could not shake it off and move on. He felt unsatisfied. Leaning upon the inner wall of the Xu residence, he continued to watch from afar. That was when a voice called out to him.
“ReZhui.”
His father approached the young boy, waving his hand to signal his presence. ReZhui turned around to face his old man who just exited the pharmacy hall and down the stairs. Upon reaching talking distance, his father consoled the bewildered boy, carrying a large rucksack.
“Pa.”
“Just came back from YaoMing’s study to finalize some details. I will be leaving soon. So I would like to have a small talk before I go.”
“Sure…”
“Boy, tell me straight to the truth. What’s going on between you and Mr Xu?”
“W-What about him?”
ReZhui averted his eyes away from his father. He could tell his father was serious about this.
“Listen ReZhui, I am upset with you. I regularly saw you ignoring him whenever he asked for your help in the medical bays. Although you did help around, it was only when ShiYan or the other assistants requested the favor. Certainly, you are giving quite the cold shoulder to your current mentor, wouldn’t that disappoint Teacher Woo who did his best to give you this opportunity?”
“...” ReZhui fell silent at his father’s scolding. It never crossed his mind about Teacher Woo’s feelings if he did what he decided to do after what happened in that incident. His mind was clouded with the repeating scenes of the mother’s farewell and the son’s death. It was extremely haunting for him. His stomach swelled at its thought, making him want to puke. But, ReZhui couldn’t deny that he overlooked the effect of his decision on his long term goals to be a merchant and the apprentice relationship he painstakingly built over the weeks with Teacher Woo.
‘I gotta do better! I do not want to be like Mr Xu!’ ReZhui cheered himself on.
“I apologize, Pa. I…wait-ha-stop, stop that!”
A burly hand, nearly the size of ReZhui’s head, pressed down on the young boy, ruffling his hair into a slight mess. His father smiled gently as he said his parting words.
“Remember your original objective, ReZhui. You came here to learn more about being a businessman and Mr Xu is a superb one in that regard. And, I trust him. Shortly after this, I am returning back to Bai village. I can no longer delay my schedule for harvest since winter’s around the corner. Moreover, Ma couldn’t handle all that rice by herself. Heh.
Therefore, I expect you to behave until I return to pick you up and amend your relationship with Mr Xu. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason why you are mad with him but I can get the gist of it. Either way, don't worry. I don’t plan on intervening. You are my son so I am confident that you will succeed in what you can achieve here. This applies to your current internal struggle as well.”
“But, how did y-”
“Call it a father’s instinct. My advice here is to talk things out with him. He’s quite the nice fellow once you get to know him better.”
“But…But he let her die! He’s nothing better than that Mayor!”
This time, the father remained silent. Barely understanding how ReZhui came to that conclusion in a logical sense, his father corrected him.
“That is quite the statement, little man. If that’s your answer, I ask you to retrace your steps on how you came to that conclusion. Let me give you a headstart.”
With that, his father inquired a question.
“If Mr Xu was as what you said him to be, why did he look after the other injured villagers?”
“It’s because he received the money from that mayor. He paid him to do so.”
“Why did the Mayor give the money to him?”
“Mr Xu worked under him so this was his salary.”
“That’s incorrect. He gave that 50,000 gold like donation for charity. Mr Xu even tried to tear it up because it was ‘dirty’. I was the one who suggested keeping it. Using the money to cover the medical supplies the villagers used is to protect the funds needed for- Wait…”
“What’s wrong, Pa?”
“ReZhui, forget the last part I said.”
“The funds…What are funds?”
“Listen,” the father said exasperatedly.
“ReZhui, you are still a 9-year old. What I was about to disclose to you is something that should be left handled by the adults. Rather, everyone has their own reasons for doing things. Mr Xu has his reasons for following the mayor like a donkey. I have my own for not telling you even if you are my son. Would you believe that someone as smart as Mr Xu would be fooled by that childish mayor?”
“N…No.” ReZhui nervously replied.
“If you are afraid that the mayor will come and harm the villagers again, I promise that that will never happen ever again. I swear to my ancestors that I will take care of this.”
“Pa…”
As they made one last look at each other, the crowd at the center began to disperse, making their way out of the Xu residence in numerous small groups. Among the noise of their departure, the assistants scurried around the courtyard. They stored the makeshift benches and broomed the white pavement with incredible haste.
“Well, looks like it’s time to go. Gotta arrive before sundown.”
GuoZhao lifted his cloth rucksack while adjusting its contents. Securing his tightened boots, he made his way to the entrance gate. Yet, as soon as he took a single step outside, ReZhui screamed out for his father.
“Father, I am sorry!”
Taking one last look at the pharmacy, GuoZhao found his son bowing deeply in front of him. Taking a closer observation, he identified ReZhui’s hot red ears and his tugging of the folds on his pants.
‘Oh…He must be referring to this.’
GuoZhao softly touched his left cheek which was heavily bruised and covered with a bandage. Though the pain has been reduced over the days of recovery, a touch could send a sharp tingle down his jaw.
He cleared his throat loudly.
“Apology accepted… A-Anyways, remember what I told you alright. There is nothing wrong with asking him about it! You are still a kid after all; adults forgive more easily at this stage of your life so make as many mistakes as you can and learn from them. See you.”
GuoZhao made it back home later that evening. When asked about the injury on his cheek, he simply replied that he got into a small crash incident on the way there.
---
Sitting at the corner bench of the courtyard, ReZhui drank some water from the nearby well. He still felt extremely ashamed at what he did back then at the impromptu session between Mr Xu and Mr Sun. Not only did he provoke the mayor into targeting him, his father instead sacrificed his pride for his son’s own sake. And, when his father accepted the apology, it felt like a massive boulder was lifted from his shoulders. Even so, the persistent memories of that humiliation would go away that easily. He actually wished for them to remain within his mind, serving as a base for his future payback against the mayor.
‘I…I am such a bad son.’
ReZhui was not sure if his father would either support or condemn this form of action but he did not want to stress his father any longer.
‘Besides, I am currently too weak to do anything. We can have this conversation another time, right dad?’
ReZhui sighed deeply as he rested his head on the top rail of the bench, looking high into the cloudy sky. His eyes slowly began to close shut as his breath pattern decreased in pace. Moments later, there he laid in the sunny afternoon, taking a nap on the deserted bench. However, a short distance away stood a black shadow of a figure, eyes set on him.
---
“Hurry! How long till it boils?!”
“Master, give me a few minutes!”
“Yan, keep the torch near here! I will start removing the fourth layer of muscle.”
ReZhui dreamt of the night when the mother and her son died. He recalled watching Mr Xu through a gap in the wall with ShiYan. Within the operating room, there laid both of them in their respective beds. It has been hours since Mr Xu first started his treatment and very little was achieved that suggested potential recovery.
Despite their best efforts into trying to save the young boy’s life, it was all for naught. His brain was damaged beyond recuperation. The frontal lobe was squashed to the point where his injured brain took up half the space originally. Moreover, Assistant Ming unfortunately reported that the boy’s spinal nerves were severed right after the ‘emergency’ chiropractic procedure instructed by Mr Xu. There was nothing else that they could do despite the help of the talented practitioner. Even so, Mr Xu decided to risk it by giving experimental methods based on his theoretical analysis.
“Here is the broth!”
“Give it.”
They tried supplying the boy with a bowl of water, filled with a high concentration of nutrients.
Afterwards, reattaching the spinal nerves with thin metal strips.
When both failed, they resorted to using various imported chemicals.
That didn’t succeed as well.
Finally, his heart started to weaken. The interval between each felt heartbeat was not uniform and that’s when Mr Xu had it. He slammed his hands onto the work table. As he took deep breaths, he managed to subside his frustrations. Wiping his sweaty forehead with his sleeve, he sat down for a minute to reassess the boy’s condition. That’s when the mother spoke out again.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“doc…please tell your assistants to stop giving me treatment…”
“What is it this time?!” Mr Xu lashed out instinctively.
Too exhausted to show any shock, the woman continued.
“I give in, Doctor.”
“What?”
His eyes widened in bewilderment.
“But…why?” He asked weakly.
“It’s the perfect time to go. My husband might be dead already. My son is leaving soon. I..I want to accompany them. I do not think I can continue living with them. Please, I beg you…”
She tried putting up a soft smile as she spoke.
With her frail body, that kick apparently caused some severe internal bleeding in the abdomen. Although there was a chance for her to live another day, her body would never be the same again. It wouldn’t be a lie to say that it would be a fate worse than hell for her moving forward, unless she met her end here, that is. Thus, due to those reasons, Mr Xu made his decision.
“Alright…do as you wish. I’m leaving.”
“Master…”
His assistants quickly halted their work and tidily cleaned the room of any blood and moved the used utensils toward the washing bay. Mr Xu thoroughly washed his hands and face and removed his surgical gown; later, he made his way to the study.
“Tell the rest the operation is over.”
Those were his final words for the night…
As his chest made their last rise and fall, the boy stared blankly at the ceiling. He had no thought and couldn’t even do so whatsoever, remaining paralyzed with his lifeless hand gripped on tightly with his mother currently at his side. Having rejected any continuation of treatment, her condition started to worsen by the second. But, she held no qualms.
After the message was passed along to the villagers, they promptly made haste into the operating room to watch the mother and child in their final moments.
While Mr Xu was nowhere to be seen among the crowd, Mr Zhang stayed put to supervise the kids. ShiYan and ReZhui never told their parents about what they did earlier. Nonetheless, they quickly insisted that they wanted to continue seeing this through even if they had no relations with the dying boy. Everyone remained silent and observant throughout. ShiYan started to sob heavily at their agonizing passing. ReZhui himself was deep in thought about Mr Xu’s actions and he was stressed out from the mental pressure from Mr Sun earlier this evening. He remained concentrated, watching their pain to try and understand their suffering. The mother’s small irritated movements. Her random violent twitch of a limb. The vomiting of dried clots of blood from her dehydrated mouth. His complexion paled, starting from the ends of his fingers to now his cheeks. Failed struggles to lift his limbs and random movements of his eyes. Abrupt jerks and indescribable dialogue like a baby saying their first words. The mother laughed softly at this childish action, reminiscent of the days when her child was just a newborn. Her complexion turns paler by the second.
“how beautiful…our child…is, right…hus…band…”
‘Pitiful. It’s unfair. So tragic.’
He clenched his first in anger, not at Mr Sun but at himself. He blamed the mess due to his own lacking power. If he was stronger, the boy could have survived. Yet, even with those thoughts that continuously clouded his mind, only one question appeared at the most forefront.
“How is death something that makes you smile that sincerely? Why did the mother give up living? Death is not a good thing at all!’
As she drew her last breath, she lifted her right hand, shaking constantly as she moved along and brushed her bony fingers across her son’s bloodied cheek. He felt cold to the touch and so was herself.
“ha…ha…ha…”
Her final breath.
In the end, they left this world in their slumber. Not by swords nor illnesses. A peaceful death that will be recorded in the death handbooks. The villagers, who had just witnessed their passing, clapped their hands in unison for a silent prayer. A small blessing to guide them up towards Heaven’s Gate.
ReZhui blindly followed their actions but wished their farewell with good faith.
Nearby the operating room, at a window close to a long bookshelf of books, the smell of heavy alcohol filled the air, mixed in with the whiff of burning candle incense.
---
He woke up shortly after. His slumber lasted uninterrupted until ReZhui felt a change in his position. As he opened his eyes, ReZhui realized that he was laying on a girl’s lap. And that person was none other than ShiYan. She gazed down upon his yawning face, smiling from end to end.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in one of the wards?” He asked moodily. His voice was dry and coarse.
“Apparently the assistants were able to finish the clean-up earlier. My duty is done for the day.”
“Is…is that so?”
“Enjoy my lap pillow?”
“Better than the ceramic ones your father uses.”
“That’s for sure.”
They fell silent. There were no trails left to continue the conversation. ShiYan averted her gaze away. Feeling suspicious, ReZhui went straight in for it. He was fed up with all the arguments and drama that had happened for the past few days. Thus, he wanted to resolve this as soon as possible, if he could.
“ShiYan, what’s the matter with you? Speak up already.”
He said it with slight frustration.
“I…I didn’t mean to disrupt your nap but my father wants to see you.”
“What does your old man want from me?”
“ReZhui…”
Filled with shock at the way he addressed her father, ShiYan never thought the kind and thoughtful boy that she befriended with could act in such a way.
‘But honestly, wasn’t I the same back then?’
She recalled her tantrum against him. It was a faulty side of her that she now accepted and lived by to improve herself even further. She wanted to convey this to ReZhui after his introductory training. Unfortunately, they both were now swept by the waves that was the mess in which Mr Sun had orchestrated. Even if they were not affected directly like their fathers, there was the influence nonetheless. By then, ShiYan had some idea of what was going on between her father and Mr Sun. However, in ReZhui’s perspective, this situation was forcibly shoved into him and all at once. There were no breaks for rest.
Fear, humiliation and death.
All over the span of a week.
‘I shouldn’t be upset with his change. I should support him if this is what he chose to do moving forward.”
She leaned in close as she spoke softly.
“ReZhui, I am sorry but I hope you will forgive my father if he insulted you in some way.”
Surprised at the sudden change in tone, he paused for several moments before replying.
“ShiYan, what do you think of your father?”
“He is the best,” ShiYan said without any hesitation.
“But…he killed the mother when she could have been saved. How is he a good person?”
“Many people died under his care. I admit that’s true and I saw it with my own eyes. However, many more lived because of him,” she immediately countered.
“...”
“My father did his best and respects his patients wishes. He shrunk his pride for the sake of the village. He always stays up late at night doing paperwork whenever I pass by his room as I go take a potty. There are a lot of good sides to him. Therefore, I personally think your grudges are weakly justified.”
“N-”
“So please ReZhui…”
“...”
ReZhui grimaced silently and got up from his position. Making his way to a nearby well, he washed his face and quenched his thirst before clearing his throat.
ShiYan remained at the bench, wondering what he was going to do after she said that. This might be the first time they had such a disagreement between one another. She was worried that this might ruin their relationship but she will continue to persist.
“My father is now at his study,” she told the boy.
“Thank you, ShiYan. I will be going now.”
“I, I hope it goes well!”
---
The walk to the study was mundane. The sun was nearing its descent and the long shadows of the furniture entered the corridor along with the boy. Muffled chatter of voices could be heard coming from the kitchen and in the garden beside it.
ReZhui soon arrived at a door that was highly decorated with gold-filled patterns and engravings. He opened the unlocked doors and proceeded inward. What captured his amazement was the vast columns of bookshelves that seemed to stretch on indefinitely and the incredible lack of lighting in the room. The study had a heavy smell of incense and could be seen visually near the hung candles.
Stiffening his uneasiness, ReZhui proceeded forward. The dim light allowed him to make out a silhouette of a desk and a set of chair furniture, and it was an unexpected mess. Books lay all over, scattered with open pages, and stacks of scrolls were gathered at the side, each one rolled out irregularly. At the center lived a middle-aged doctor. He had more noticeable eyebags and his hands were covered in blotches of black ink. His hair was unkempt and his attire was a simple black robe.
As his nearing footsteps echoed more readily across the silent room, the doctor halted his writing and looked up to make eye contact with the approaching individual. ReZhui stopped right in front of the sofa.
“Take a seat, ReZhui.”
Mr Xu adjusted his glasses and gestured with his right hand.
“I understand.”
ReZhui did as he was told albeit reluctantly.
This was picked up by Mr Xu who then started the conversation.
“Do you know why I call you here, ReZhui?”
“Yes. It’s all about my bad behavior towards you during my stay at the Xu residence.”
“No. That is incorrect.”
“What?”
“My actual intention is to inform you that you will be staying here for the next week as well since this week was not the perfect scenario for your training and I was extremely busy that I didn’t focus on you at all. All you did here was simple chores and basic help. Nothing about entrepreneurship. Thus, I plan to start my initial training schedule with you next week when all matters have been settled down. Do you understand me?”
“But Sir, why was that the priority? And, why are you still determined to aid me when it is obvious that I disrespected you throughout the entire recovery period of the villagers?
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
“Wh-...Yes Sir. I understand.”
“Good. Now, since you brought up that issue, my answer is that I can see where you are coming from. Your reasons for disliking me. No, hating me. This reaction is very common among some of the relatives of my dead patients. But, it's only relatives in my experience. For you, to have that same level of attachment when you do not even know the mother and child’s names is testament to your innocent nature. It’s naive in a way, ReZhui.”
“My problem with you is that the mother could have lived on. Dying is unnecessary for her.”
“Listen, I know you were there with ShiYan at the corner of that hole in the wall. I am sure you heard the mother’s wish. So, what’s the point of going against another person’s desire for death? You are just stubborn and selfish. You just impose your ideas onto people to follow your ‘right’ way of thinking.”
“It is the right way, isn’t it? Everyone wants to live and that’s why prey run away or fight back to survive. Living is the most important thing in this world. Thus, I-”
“Enough with this nonsense.”
Mr Xu’s tone was much more deeper and angrier, similar to back then when he scolded ReZhui for lashing out. It was like rage that was seeping out of a sealed container that’s about to burst. ReZhui instinctively kept his silence.
“Not everyone has a good life, ReZhui. You were blessed with a good childhood, having caring parents and a good education. Her husband is missing and her only child is dead. No one would want to live a life of guilt and sorrow, knowing that they were the only ones left. To add more oil to the flame, she will certainly have a permanent injury that will make her disabled for the rest of her life, restricting her options to earn money. No one wants to hire a cripple. In the end, she will have to beg on the streets. Is that the life you want to give her?”
“W…wait a sec-”
“Have you ever taken into consideration their current position in life and numerous other factors?”
“But…”
“She is better off dead than live through that hell. And yes, I, a doctor, approve of such words.”
“...”
It was the exact same feeling when Mr Sun cornered him into submission. He had no comeback to Mr Xu’s harsh truths. And, while ReZhui was able to make sense of his reasoning, he still thinks that there could have been a better way to save the mother and let her live in happiness at the same time. ReZhui quickly turned his anger towards that instead.
“Sir, if that’s the case, then shouldn’t you-”
“You still have the guts to talk back when you already know that you are in the wrong?!”
“...”
“That’s pathetic, ReZhui! I expected some better level-headed observation from you!”
Silence.
He laid his head low, embarrassed to look at Mr Xu any longer. ReZhui shut his mouth in frustration. Frustration pointed towards himself. In that pause, Mr Xu cleared his throat before continuing.
“ReZhui, now that I think about it, you can sometimes be too influenced by your emotions. This has led to events with Mr Sun and against myself. It clouds your logical judgement to look at the bigger picture. What you feel is right, you will do it regardless of the opposition and that’s a wrong way to survive, even as a merchant and as a good person.”
“...”
“Anyhow, I recommend that you take 3 days off from your duties to refresh your mind and contemplate what I just said. I will arrange a letter for myself for official approval. Now, you may leave. Have a good night.”
Immediately right after, Mr Xu took out some paper and stamps from under his desks and prepared the documents.
ReZhui turned on his heel and headed towards the exit of the study.
But as he was about to make his way out, Mr Xu called out for him.
“Sorry ReZhui, one more thing. In three days, I will be out of town to do my monthly check ups on the slum neighborhoods, east of here. I want you to follow me as my main assistant and there is no room for rejection. That’s all.”
Sighing deeply, ReZhui slowly made his way through the doors and the corridor to his lodging room. At the end of the hallway however, ShiYan nervously waited for his return. As she approached the conflicted boy, she asked him.
“ReZhui! So, how did it go with Father?”
Still mad about what had occurred there, he replied coldly, “Move aside.”
He moved past her and towards his room.
ReZhui never looked back to see what expression she made with that response. Despite this, it doesn’t matter to him for now. He has got to sort out his thoughts first.