TSWPF -Chapter 89 Hope

Lying on the ground was an old man in tattered clothes. He seemed to have fainted.

Liu Zhimou crouched down with a dark expression and checked the old man’s backpack. Among the herbs inside, he recognized the fever-reducing herb, but the rest were unfamiliar.

Could it be that this old man is a doctor?

The thought made Liu Zhimou slightly excited. He reached out and pressed the old man’s philtrum, trying to wake him up.

After a while, the old man slowly opened his eyes. Liu Zhimou quickly asked if he was a doctor.

At this moment, he didn’t care whether the old man was good or bad—he only wanted someone who could treat Li Qingling.

The old man stared at Liu Zhimou in a daze for a moment before nodding slightly and muttering that he was hungry…

Judging by his expression, Liu Zhimou guessed that the old man had fainted from hunger.

He helped the old man up, letting him lean on his back. He intended to carry him back.

The old man was drowsy and obediently did whatever Liu Zhimou instructed.

“Ah Huang, take the backpack. We’re heading back.” Liu Zhimou took a deep breath, had Ah Huang carry the pack, and shouldered the old man as he started walking back.

Although the old man looked thin, once lifted, he was surprisingly heavy.

Coupled with Liu Zhimou’s exhaustion from days without proper rest, each step felt as if he was about to collapse under the weight.

But thinking of the seriously ill Li Qingling, a surge of strength pushed him forward.

It took nearly half an hour to make the journey back.

Once inside the cave, he placed the old man on the ground and slumped beside him, gasping for breath.

Had it been any further, he might not have made it. Fortunately, he was back.

“Big brother, this person is…” Liu Zhiyan quickly brought a bowl of water to Liu Zhimou, his eyes curious as he looked at the old man lying on the ground.

At a time when they were barely managing to eat enough themselves, why did big brother bring someone back? Did he even know this person?

Liu Zhimou gulped down a whole bowl of water, finally catching his breath, and said, “He’s a doctor. He can check on Xiao Ling.” He handed the bowl back to Liu Zhiyan. “Go pour another bowl for the old man to drink. I’ll go see Xiao Ling.”

Liu Zhiyan’s heart leapt with joy. He happily ran off to get the water.

He had been worried sick about Sister Xiao Ling these past few days, fearing she wouldn’t make it.

Now with a doctor here, she definitely could recover.

Liu Zhimou staggered to his feet and walked shakily to Li Qingling’s side. He whispered to Li Qingfeng, asking how she was doing.

Li Qingfeng, having overheard him, quickly wiped his tears and said, “Her fever has come down a little, but it’s still high.” He looked at Liu Zhimou expectantly. “Brother Zhimou, is the person you brought really a doctor? Can he treat my sister?”

Liu Zhimou touched Li Qingling’s forehead, still feeling the burning heat, and pressed his lips together. “We have to try.” He was taking a desperate chance, unwilling to let any opportunity slip by.

Li Qingfeng nodded, anxiously watching his sister, silently praying that the old man Liu Zhimou brought could indeed save her.

“Big brother, he… he said he’s hungry.” Liu Zhiyan fed the old man a bowl of water, and upon hearing him say he was hungry, quickly called Liu Zhimou.

Patting Li Qingling on the shoulder, Liu Zhimou stood up and returned to the old man’s side.

“Sir, my fiancée has had a persistent fever. If you help her recover, I’ll cook for you.”

He wasn’t generous enough to feed a stranger for free.

If the old man wanted food, he had to earn it.

The old man opened his eyes, quietly meeting Liu Zhimou’s gaze. After a moment, he nodded in agreement.

Though the young man had brought him here to treat someone, he was also a lifesaver—otherwise, lying there, he might have starved or been eaten by wild beasts.

Moreover, after treating the patient, he would get food. Refusing such an opportunity would be foolish.

“Help me over there.” The old man was weak and couldn’t stand without support.

Liu Zhimou immediately helped him to Li Qingling’s side.

The old man sat down, felt Li Qingling’s pulse, and said, “This little girl surviving until now is a miracle.” He set his hand down and asked Liu Zhimou to bring him the backpack.

Before Liu Zhimou could move, Ah Huang ran over with the pack and dropped it in front of him with a plop.

The old man was startled by Ah Huang. Seeing that it didn’t attack, he murmured, “Is this… a tiger spirit?” He glanced at Ah Huang a few more times before picking out several herbs and handing them to Liu Zhimou. “Three bowls of water boiled down to one.”

Liu Zhimou quickly took them and turned to prepare the medicine.

Curious about the cave, the old man looked around. Seeing only a few children and no adults, he asked, “Where are your parents?” Their condition didn’t look like refugees.

Could they have always lived here?

Hearing the question, Li Qingfeng and the others immediately became alert. They buzzed nervously, “Why are you asking that?”

Their eyes studied the old man, trying to discern if he was dangerous.

The old man laughed heartily. These kids were really cautious.

“Don’t worry. I mean no harm. I’m just curious. Besides, with these two tigers here, I wouldn’t dare do anything anyway!”

Not only were the children unusual, but so were the tigers.

He had never seen anyone raise tigers before; it was truly eye-opening.

Despite his words, the children’s vigilance didn’t ease.

Seeing this, the old man touched his nose and refrained from asking more questions.

Once the medicine was ready, Liu Zhimou brought it over and fed it to Li Qingling, using the same method as before without worrying about the old man’s presence.

The old man clicked his tongue twice. “You’re taking advantage of this little girl! Ruining her reputation.”

Liu Zhimou finished feeding Li Qingling and said, “Times change. Reputation matters, but not more than life. If life’s gone, what use is reputation?” Neither he nor Li Qingling valued reputation much.

If they did, their families wouldn’t have merged and lived together like this.

Seeing Liu Zhimou’s calm expression, the old man fell silent.

After a moment, he seemed to have realized something. He patted Liu Zhimou on the shoulder and said with emotion, “Old men aren’t as clear-minded as you, young man!”

Had he realized this earlier, he wouldn’t have ended up in such a state.

Liu Zhimou smiled and turned to Liu Zhiyan. “Cook porridge. Old man, sorry, our food is limited, so you’ll have porridge.” He paused. “Since you fainted from hunger, porridge will be gentle on your stomach.”

The old man smiled, thinking this young man was considerate.

Impressed by this, he looked at Li Qingling and said, “This little girl’s constitution isn’t very strong. She hasn’t rested properly and has been under stress. Once she let her guard down, the illness hit hard.” Glancing at Li Qingling’s less flushed face, he continued, “Luckily, she has a strong will to survive; otherwise, she wouldn’t have made it until I arrived.” He was quite impressed by her determination.

Liu Zhimou listened anxiously, holding Li Qingling’s hand, thankful she had endured until the old man arrived.

“The fever’s down.” He touched her palm and forehead. After days of high heat, this dose of medicine brought it down.

He bowed deeply to the old man in gratitude, saying “thank you” multiple times.

Thanks also went to Ah Huang—without him, Liu Zhimou wouldn’t have found the old man.

Li Qingfeng and the other children bowed as well, sincerely saying, “Thank you, Grandfather.”

The old man stroked his beard and waved his hand. “It’s fate. Without it, I couldn’t have helped you.”

He never expected to encounter these children in this desolate mountain.

To him, this was indeed a rare piece of fate.

“Sir, I sincerely apologize for my earlier actions. I had no choice,” Liu Zhimou said earnestly.

The old man understood. “It’s wise to be cautious. You’ve done well.” Moreover, Liu Zhimou was sincere. He treated the girl while sending his brother to cook porridge.

Given this, he wouldn’t hold any grudge.

Seeing the old man truly unconcerned, Liu Zhimou breathed a sigh of relief. “Sir, may I ask where you’re headed? If you’re not in a hurry, could you stay a couple of days until my fiancée fully recovers?” He couldn’t rest until Li Qingling was completely well.

The old man sighed. “Where would I go at a time like this? If you can host me for two days, I’d be grateful.”

He had come to the mountains to avoid fleeing, never imagining he would faint from hunger.

If others knew how helpless he was now, they’d laugh for ages.

Liu Zhimou noticed the loneliness in his words and fell silent for a moment before saying, “It will pass. Eventually.”

“Indeed, it will pass,” the old man echoed.

No matter what, life goes on. This life, saved by the young man, would now be cherished even more.