PCJ – Chapter 24 Could it really work?

“I just went to call Doctor Liu, but it turns out Doctor Liu went to the county town. He won’t be back for two days. He went there in Master Liu’s car. I don’t think we can even get a tractor. This is fate. There’s no savior.” Luo Ximei choked up, her words barely audible, her face already obscured by tears.

 “Why don’t we call someone from the village to carry him to the hospital?” Zhang Youping said unwillingly.

“It’s too far, and we won’t make it in a few hours. What if something happens on the way? Besides, with the temperature so high, it might worsen Shicai’s condition. Ah, sister-in-law, didn’t you call for Daoist Priest Ma to come take a look? Maybe he has a solution.” Zhang Dechun also chimed in.

“I did call, but he seems to have hidden away as soon as he knew it was someone from our village calling. He’s already made it clear that he won’t help with anything related to the Zhang family in the future. I don’t know who offended him in our family.” Zhang Enzhong said from the side. He was the one who accompanied Luo Ximei earlier.

Upon hearing Zhang Dechun mention Daoist Priest Ma, Zhang Youping naturally understood why Daoist Priest Ma refused to come. He lost face on the Zhang family’s side; how could he dare to come? Zhang Youping also had a thought in mind. Their son often talked about learning Daoist spells from the old Daoist in his dreams. Maybe he could help. Of course, Zhang Youping wouldn’t mention it in front of everyone. People in the village still held a lot of reverence and even superstition towards Daoist spells. Zhang Youping worried that if word got out, their son would face even more rejection from the villagers.

After comforting Luo Ximei for a few moments, Zhang Youping hurried back home, looking for his son.

“Where’s Jiaohua?” Zhang Youping asked casually as he entered the house and glanced around.

“He was here just now. Go check behind the house. He’s so bored at home alone, none of the village kids play with him, and he has nowhere to go.” Liu Qiaoye said with a touch of sadness.

“Ah, what can we do? Lately, I haven’t heard him mention Jinhu.” Zhang Youping suddenly remembered something.

“Yeah, he keeps saying he got beaten by his master, that old Daoist. I wonder what kind of master he is, always beating our Jiaohua.” Liu Qiaoye felt heartbroken every time she heard Jiaohua talk about being beaten by the old Daoist, even if it was in his dreams. She couldn’t bear to see him suffer, not even a touch.

Zhang Youping chuckled, “Do dreams count?”

Pushing open the back door, Zhang Youping called out, “Jiaohua, where are you?”

“I’m here, playing with the water gun.” Zhang Jiaohua emerged from the bushes, holding a bamboo tube and waving to Zhang Youping.

“Come back first, later Dad will make you a better one.” Zhang Youping beckoned.

Zhang Jiaohua immediately ran back, “Dad, you better not be lying to me.”

“When did Dad ever lie to you?” Zhang Youping laughed and then asked, “Jiaohua, didn’t your master teach you how to make water that can reduce inflammation and pain?”

“Yes. The water used for surgery and bone-setting can do that. Dad, didn’t you drink it before?” Zhang Jiaohua said without hesitation, recalling how many times he had been beaten for remembering these spells. It was already ingrained in his memory. This kind of corporal punishment was not entirely useless.

“Then make me a bowl of that water. Shicai’s wound is infected, and he’s running a high fever. We can’t take him to the hospital, so we can only see if your water works.” Zhang Youping couldn’t bear to see Shicai, who usually got along well with him, suffering like this, nor did he want his son to make water. This kind of thing would eventually come to light.

Once the villagers knew that their son had entered Daoist Temple, what would happen in the future, Zhang Youping could imagine.

Zhang Jiaohua didn’t have as many thoughts as adults. Making water wasn’t a big deal for him. Every time he dreamed, he passively learned these things. Sometimes he found it interesting, sometimes he wanted to curse the old Daoist’s mother for beating him.

Zhang Jiaohua skillfully took out a small blue porcelain bowl from the cupboard, filled it with half a bowl of water, and started making water in the hall.

Liu Qiaoye gently pulled Zhang Youping, “Why did you let Jiaohua make water? If the villagers find out about this, our family won’t have peaceful days in the future.”

“Shicai is pitiful, blind in one eye, finally turned the corner, and now his wound is infected. Ninth Aunt only has this one son, and now she can’t even go to the hospital. I just can’t bear to see it, so I thought of letting Jiaohua make water. Saving a life is better than building a seven-tier pagoda. Our Jiaohua should do more good deeds, and he will have good karma in the future.” Zhang Youping was conflicted.

“I really don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing.” Liu Qiaoye’s eyes were filled with worry.

“The boat will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge. Let’s not think too much about it.” Zhang Youping patted his wife’s shoulder.

“Dad, Mom, the water’s done.” Zhang Jiaohua came over with a bowl of water.

Zhang Youping quickly took it, “Jiaohua, you’re amazing. Dad will make you a water gun later.”

“Don’t lie, Dad.” Zhang Jiaohua didn’t want to owe anything.

Zhang Youping chuckled, “Whoever lies is a dog.”

Zhang Youping carried the bowl of water carefully all the way. What would usually take a few minutes took more than ten minutes this time before he arrived at Zhang Shicai’s house.

“Yuping, what are you doing? Is this some kind of medicine?” Zhang Dechun was still at Zhang Shicai’s house, racking his brains. He was frantic. Meizi’ao village didn’t even have a phone. He had sent someone to the township government. There was a phone there, operated by hand-cranking. He hoped they could get an ambulance from the hospital. But Zhang Dechun knew the likelihood was slim. Right now, the only hope was for the township to arrange a tractor to come.

“A few days ago, I gave a beggar a liter of rice, and he made me a few bowls of water. He said it was water for surgery and bone-setting. I drank a bowl, and the wound really healed quickly, without worsening. I didn’t drink the other two bowls, so I brought them here for Shicai to try and see if it works.” Zhang Youping made up excuses all the way, although it sounded unbelievable, it could barely pass. At this critical moment, who would bother to think about so many details?

“Let’s give it a try. Oh, I hope it works.” Zhang Dechun also didn’t want to dampen Zhang Youping’s enthusiasm.

“Thank you so much.” Though somewhat skeptical, Luo Ximei thanked them profusely. She took the water from Zhang Youping’s hand and slowly fed it to Zhang Shicai.

At this point, Zhang Shicai had already lost consciousness. At first, the water swirled around his lips, unable to enter his mouth. Gradually, a tiny bit of water seeped in. This small amount seemed to give Zhang Shicai a start, as if he suddenly regained some consciousness and felt very thirsty. His lips smacked, swallowing all the water that had spilled onto his lips.

Luo Ximei was overjoyed and quickly fed more water into his mouth. At this point, Zhang Shicai surprisingly cooperated well.

Zhang Dechun and others watched on, their faces showing doubt. “Could it really work?”