... ...
Young Lord Zi fell ill.
Hei Ta stood outside somewhat dazed, not knowing what to do.
His task was to protect the Young Lord from external harm.
But if the Young Lord himself fell sick,
He didn't know what to do.
Qin Luoxia and Jiang Changtian were startled by the child's cries.
To their surprise, it turned out that Young Lord Zi had a fever.
Jiang Changtian had some medical knowledge.
After taking his pulse, he felt it wasn't a wind-cold fever, but more like he was frightened, leading to feverish convulsions.
This illness required calming the spirit, or perhaps trying the local folk remedy of soul-calling.
In the winter, Qin Luoxia always kept various herbs at home, worried her husband might catch a cold.
As the urgent matter, Jiang Changtian didn't hesitate, grabbed some medicine and had Elder Sister Yu brew it.
He also had Feng go call the village elders.
Soul-calling required elders of great age.
The saying goes that the elderly have one foot in the grave already, just waiting for the other foot to follow.
So such people can usually call a soul back.
Jiang Mianmian was also a bit flustered.
The words Zi Xiaochong said before losing consciousness were rather frightening.
She felt quite anxious.
Doing a hospital internship was very tiring yet fulfilling.
Because doctors have to work night shifts, when you first start, there's always a line of patients, always work left undone, until your legs get varicose veins from the strain.
But when facing a grateful patient, it always feels worthwhile.
Although the compensation received is likely far less than the effort put in, it's still worth it.
But when faced with life and death, it feels especially different.
The vehicle that comes to their hospital to collect the deceased is usually a minivan, with no markings indicating it's a hearse, but she knows.
It makes her tense every time she sees that type of van.
She will encounter many life-and-death situations, but she really resists and fears them.
She's very apprehensive and afraid.
Sometimes she even thinks everything before her eyes is an illusion, that she has a Spirit Spring, and if her family gets sick they can just drink from it to be cured and become strong and healthy.
Like it's an amazing dream.
She was on duty when her dad called her.
"Mianmian, we're coming to see you, to celebrate your internship. Your mom, elder brother, and elder sisters are all coming too. We'll go out for a nice meal after your shift ends."
"Dad, I want to eat braised pig's feet, remember to order that for me."
She got temporarily reassigned to the ER because of an emergency, reportedly a car accident. She could only text her dad that she'd be late.
Then she went to receive the car accident victims.
She saw her own family, their bodies mangled and covered in blood.
So much blood.
... ...
"Come back, come back."
"For those far away, go find them. For those nearby, go search for them."
"If you meet a mountain, promise to cross it. If you meet a river, respond to the call across it."
"Mianmian, come back."
"She's back, she's back."
"Mianmian, you come back."
"She's back, she's back."
... ...
Jiang Mianmian opened her eyes, suddenly seeing a roomful of people.
She remembered Father had arranged for people to call back Zi Xiaochong's soul.
But she heard them calling her own name, many people calling for her.
It was too noisy, so she opened her eyes.
Zi Xiaochong was actually lying right beside her, looking at her with some concern.
Jiang Mianmian was quite confused about the situation.
Qin Luoxia and Jiang Changtian both breathed a sigh of relief.
Young Lord Zi had convulsive fever, and they had given him medicine, but it had no effect and his fever remained high.
Then they noticed Mianmian was also not right.
Normally this child doesn't cry or fuss and is very obedient, but her spirit is always lively.
Today she didn't cry or fuss, but was dazed, as if missing her soul.
So when the soul-callers came, they called for both of them.
Young Lord Zi woke up, then vomited.
He really loves being clean.
Before vomiting he could still hold it in, specifically finding a place to vomit.
What he vomited was very dirty, vile black water, making him question his existence - how could his body contain such filth?
After vomiting he felt much better.
No more fever, and he didn't feel unwell anymore.
Earlier today he had been talking to Mr. Jiang, and it frightened him.
Then when he went to sleep he felt groggy.
He knew he was ill.
He has a brain illness, so he sees more and remembers more than others.
He is special, but heaven is fair, so he won't live long.
If everyone was like him, the world would be in chaos, so perhaps it's fortunate he won't live long.
But he didn't expect little Jiang Xiaogui to also seem startled.
Since it was convulsions, they didn't dare move her, so she was still on the bed where he slept.
He woke up, the fever broke, and he felt much better.
But seeing little Jiang Xiaogui, at such a young age, also able to have convulsions.
Could it be that the words he said to her, she could actually understand, and it frightened her?
He made her cry.
Such a tiny heart.
Listening to the soul-calling chants over and over.
He joined in calling as well.
"Jiang Xiaogui, come back, come back, whatever you want to do in the future, I'll agree to it all."
"Come back, come back."
... ...
Jiang Mianmian opened her eyes.
She saw Father, Mom, Elder Sister, Elder Brother, she saw Zi Xiaochong, she saw the cotton quilt, she saw the horizontal beams, she saw the wooden roof.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
Just a nightmare.
Then she burst into wailing sobs again.
... ...
