TSWPF -Chapter 59 Peril

When they reached the entrance of the pharmacy, Liu Zhimou asked Aunt Huang to hold Li Qingling while he went up to knock on the door.

Perhaps because of the heavy snow, or for some other reason, Liu Zhimou had to knock for quite a while before the apprentice finally came to open it.

The moment the door opened, the apprentice saw Liu Zhimou’s anxious face. His heart skipped a beat and he hurriedly asked, “What’s wrong? Is someone sick?”

“Young man, is Doctor Xu here?” Liu Zhimou asked, his voice full of hope, fearing more than anything to hear that the doctor was away.

Fortunately, the apprentice nodded. “Yes, Doctor Xu is inside.”

“That’s great! Xiao Ling is injured—she’s unconscious. Please, could you ask Doctor Xu to come take a look right away?”

Hearing that, the apprentice immediately understood this was a matter of life and death. He quickly swung the door wide open. “Young Master Liu, hurry and bring Miss Xiao Ling inside! I’ll go wake Doctor Xu right now.” He turned and sprinted toward the backyard.

Liu Zhimou carefully took Li Qingling from Aunt Huang’s arms and carried her into the pharmacy. Aunt Huang followed in with a thick quilt, gently covering it over Li Qingling’s body.

“Aunt Huang,” Liu Zhimou said, “please call Uncle Zeng inside too, so he doesn’t freeze out there in the snow.”

Aunt Huang quickly agreed and went back out to fetch Zeng Tietou inside. Then she stood aside, rubbing her hands and stamping her feet, cursing under her breath, “What kind of damned weather is this? It’s freezing people to death.”

Just as she finished grumbling, the apprentice returned with Doctor Xu.

Doctor Xu skipped all pleasantries and went straight to Liu Zhimou’s side to examine Li Qingling. When he saw the state she was in, he couldn’t help but gasp softly.

“How did she get hurt like this?” he muttered. If they had come any later, even the gods wouldn’t have been able to save her.

“The snow collapsed the roof—Xiao Ling was trapped underneath,” Liu Zhimou said quietly. As he spoke, he tightened his hold on her hand, voice trembling. “Doctor Xu, how is she?”

“It’s hard to say yet. I’ll need to take a closer look.”

Doctor Xu lifted one of Li Qingling’s eyelids to check her pupils. “Carry her into the back room and lay her on the bed. I’ll be right there.”

The apprentice led Liu Zhimou into the inner room. After laying Li Qingling carefully on the bed, Liu Zhimou thanked him. Just then, Doctor Xu arrived with his medicine box. He set it down and asked the apprentice to fetch a basin of water to clean Li Qingling’s wounds.

The apprentice nodded and went to draw water.

When he returned, Liu Zhimou took the basin from him, wrung out the cloth, and gently wiped the blood from Li Qingling’s face.

Once he had cleaned her up, he stepped aside to let Doctor Xu work.

Doctor Xu inserted several acupuncture needles into Li Qingling’s head. Seeing the slender needles sticking out, Liu Zhimou felt his heart twist painfully.

If he could, he would take her place and bear the pain for her.

After half an hour, Doctor Xu finally removed the needles. Turning to the stiff, motionless Liu Zhimou, he said, “Miss Xiao Ling’s injuries aren’t too serious. Once she wakes up, she should be fine.” The girl was truly lucky—being crushed under a roof and surviving with only a head injury was nothing short of a miracle. “But,” he added, “she’s caught a severe chill. Her body will need proper care, or it could affect her fertility later.”

At those words, all the tension in Liu Zhimou’s body drained away. His legs gave out slightly and he had to grab the wall to steady himself.

“Thank you, Doctor Xu,” he said hoarsely.

He was profoundly grateful that Doctor Xu had been in the pharmacy tonight. Otherwise, he might have completely fallen apart.

“If anything changes, come find me,” Doctor Xu said, packing up his medicine box. Handing it to the apprentice, he left the room to return to his quarters and rest.

Liu Zhimou stopped the apprentice. “Do you have any spare rooms here? Please arrange a place for Aunt Huang and Uncle Zeng to rest. They’ve been out in the snow.”

“Yes, of course,” the apprentice said quickly. “We keep a few rooms for patients staying overnight.”

“Thank you,” Liu Zhimou said sincerely.

The apprentice smiled and shook his head. “Don’t mention it.” Then he left to make the arrangements.

When the room quieted down, Liu Zhimou walked back to Li Qingling’s bedside. He took her icy-cold hand and gently rubbed it between his palms. “Xiao Ling,” he whispered, “please get better soon. Don’t make us worry anymore.”

Only now did he realize how deeply she had settled into his heart. If she were gone, his entire world would turn gray—devoid of any color or life.

He pressed her hand to his cheek, and tears that he could no longer hold back fell onto her skin. “You have to wake up. What would I do if I lost you?”

But the unconscious Li Qingling couldn’t hear him.

That night, Liu Zhimou talked to her endlessly, keeping vigil until dawn.

When morning came, he gently tucked her hand back under the quilt and stood up to go outside.

He found Aunt Huang and Zeng Tietou already awake, sitting on chairs. His voice was hoarse as he said, “Auntie, Uncle, please go back to the village and tell Xiaofeng that Xiao Ling is fine. Once she wakes, we’ll return home. Tell them to take care of the younger siblings and not to worry.”

Seeing his exhausted face and bloodshot eyes, Aunt Huang sighed heavily. “Alright, Zhimou. Don’t worry—we’ll tell them everything.” These children had gone through so much…

After thanking them repeatedly, Liu Zhimou watched them leave.

Then he turned back to the inner room. Seeing Li Qingling still unconscious, his heart sank again. Just as he was about to find Doctor Xu, the doctor appeared on his own.

Doctor Xu nodded at him, walked over, and took Li Qingling’s pulse. Finding it calm and steady, he relaxed.

“Doctor Xu, why hasn’t Xiao Ling woken up yet?” Liu Zhimou asked urgently. “When will she wake?”

“There’s no problem with her body,” Doctor Xu said, frowning slightly, “but as for when she’ll wake… that’s uncertain. Head injuries are unpredictable. It depends on her own will.”

Liu Zhimou pursed his lips and thanked him again.

Doctor Xu waved a hand. “Don’t mention it. But you should get some rest. If you collapse, who will take care of her?”

Liu Zhimou hesitated. How could he sleep when she was still unconscious?

“If you get sick, who will look after her?” Doctor Xu pressed gently. “Go rest. I’ll have the apprentice keep watch. As soon as she wakes, he’ll call you.”

Doctor Xu had a soft spot for the young man. Such a pity that Liu Zhimou’s father had passed away—otherwise, he could have continued his studies. With his intelligence, he might have passed the imperial exams someday.

Such a waste…

After a moment’s thought, Liu Zhimou nodded and went to the next room to rest. He chose one close by, so he could hear immediately when Li Qingling awoke.

But when he woke up from a short nap and rushed back, she was still unconscious. His heart sank again.

He sat quietly by the bed, staring at her pale face. “Xiao Ling,” he murmured, “when will you wake up? Don’t sleep so long, okay? You’re making everyone worry.”

He thought about the children at home and hoped they were behaving and waiting patiently for their return.

That night, despite Doctor Xu’s urging, Liu Zhimou insisted on staying by her bedside. He couldn’t bear the thought of her waking up and finding herself alone.

Seeing he couldn’t be persuaded, Doctor Xu sighed and left him be.

At dawn, Li Qingling’s eyelids fluttered. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

She stared blankly at the unfamiliar surroundings, unable to recall what had happened.

Then a sharp pain throbbed in her head, and everything came back to her—the roof collapsing, being trapped beneath it.

She… survived?

She reached up to touch her head, but as she moved, she realized her hand was being held.

Turning her head, she saw Liu Zhimou asleep by the bed.

“Brother Zhimou…” she whispered softly.

Whether it was the sound of her voice or a dream, Liu Zhimou suddenly jerked awake, calling out, “Xiao Ling!”

He looked like he’d just woken from a nightmare.

“I’m here…” Li Qingling said softly, seeing the fear in his eyes. “Brother Zhimou, I’m here.” His face was so haggard—had he not slept at all?

He must have been so worried about her.

“Xiao Ling?” Liu Zhimou blinked, staring at her in disbelief. “You’re awake?”

Li Qingling squeezed his hand lightly to show her strength and smiled. “Mm. I’m awake. I’m sorry for making you worry.”

She truly thought she was going to die this time. Who would’ve thought heaven would grant her another chance at life?