“Wantang.”
Her mother, Wang Xiuying, came out of the kitchen carrying half a bowl of corn porridge.
“Your sister went to town early this morning. She said she was going to find some kind of ‘special medicine’ for Comrade Lu. Don’t just sit around either. Go to the clinic and help out. Assist Doctor Li with whatever he needs.”
Su Wantang suddenly raised her head.
“Mom, I can go too?”
“Why couldn’t you?”
Wang Xiuying shoved the bowl into her hands and lowered her voice.
“Your sister said that Comrade Lu is an important person in the army. He saved our village, so we have to do everything we can to help him. You can help change his bandages, boil water, and do your part.”
That was what she said on the surface, but Su Wantang understood the hidden meaning.
Su Wanrou needed someone to stay at the clinic to “watch over” Lu Zhanye.
And she herself was going to town personally to obtain some kind of “medicine.”
What kind of medicine required her to go personally?
[Warning: Plot point fluctuation detected. In the original storyline, today Su Wanrou will go to the town hospital to obtain “special medicinal materials.” This item is marked in the system database as a “restricted substance.”]
The system suddenly displayed a red warning.
Restricted substance?
Su Wantang’s hand trembled, and a few drops of corn porridge spilled from the bowl.
“What are you still standing there for?”
Wang Xiuying pushed her.
“Go quickly. Remember to be smart and don’t cause trouble for your sister.”
The clinic was filled with the heavy smell of blood and the bitter scent of herbal medicine.
Doctor Li was anxiously changing Lu Zhanye’s bandages.
Under the removed gauze, the wound was exactly as the rumors described—its edges had turned black and rotten, with pus and yellow fluid continuously seeping out.
“This is strange…”
Sweat appeared on Doctor Li’s forehead.
“I cleaned the wound already. I used anti-inflammatory medicine too. Why is it getting worse instead of better?”
Su Wantang stood at the doorway, her gaze falling on the horrifying wound at Lu Zhanye’s waist.
The exact same location as in her dream.
No…
It was even more shocking than in her dream.
In reality, the infected wound had swollen and turned outward, looking like an ugly centipede crawling across his muscular waist.
“Doctor Li, is there anything I can help with?”
She asked softly.
Doctor Li glanced back at her and waved his hand.
“Boil some hot water. Bring the clean gauze from that cabinet over there.”
Su Wantang did as instructed.
The fire in the stove crackled as she crouched in front of it adding firewood, but her eyes kept drifting toward the inner room.
Through the gap in the curtain, she could see Lu Zhanye’s exposed upper body—
Broad shoulders, firm chest and abdominal muscles, and the wound stretching across his waist.
The unconscious man’s brows were tightly furrowed. His Adam’s apple moved occasionally, as if he was enduring unbearable pain.
[System notification: Target’s life value continues to decrease. If effective treatment is not obtained within 24 hours, his life will be in danger.]
[Warning: Target’s death will cause beginner mission failure. Host’s life value will reach zero.]
Su Wantang’s hand stopped as she added firewood.
So…
if Lu Zhanye died, she would die too?
This realization struck her like a bucket of ice water poured over her head.
Originally, she had still held onto a little hope—
Maybe the system was just threatening her.
Maybe failing the mission wouldn’t actually result in death…
“Is the water ready?”
Doctor Li’s urgent voice came.
“Y-yes!”
She hurriedly scooped up the water. The steam burned her fingertips red, but she didn’t even notice.
All morning, Su Wantang stayed at the clinic doing odd jobs.
Changing bandages, boiling medicine, wiping the cold sweat from Lu Zhanye’s forehead.
Every time she touched him, her heart pounded like a drum.
She was both afraid that he would wake up and question her about last night…
and secretly hoping he would open his eyes and recognize her as the person from his dream.
But Lu Zhanye remained unconscious.
Only once, when she wrung out a towel and wiped his arm, his fingers unconsciously curled.
They lightly hooked onto her sleeve.
For that brief moment, Su Wantang froze completely.
Even her breathing stopped.
“Wantang?”
Doctor Li poked his head out from the medicine room.
“Has your sister come back? If this wound keeps getting delayed, someone really could die!”
Before he finished speaking—
A hurried set of footsteps sounded outside.
Su Wanrou pushed open the door.
Her hair at her forehead was damp with sweat, her cheeks flushed.
In her arms, she tightly held an oil-paper package.
“Doctor Li, I found the medicine!”
Her voice carried exhaustion from running, but her eyes were astonishingly bright.
Doctor Li immediately walked over.
“What medicine? Let me see!”
But Su Wanrou stepped aside, protecting the oil-paper package against her chest.
“This is… this is a special medicine I asked someone to buy from the provincial capital. It’s very precious. The method of using it is also special. I have to apply it myself.”
“Apply it yourself?”
Doctor Li frowned.
“Wanrou, you can’t mess around. The patient—”
“I know.”
Su Wanrou interrupted him.
Her tone was gentle, but left no room for argument.
“I asked at the town hospital. This medicine needs to be combined with a special technique and introduced into the wound. Doctor Li, please trust me once. If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility.”
Her words were firm and decisive.
Standing at the kitchen doorway, Su Wantang looked at her sister’s hands tightly protecting the oil-paper package.
[Scanning contents of oil-paper package…]
[Analyzing ingredients… Warning! High concentration of hallucinogenic substances and sexual stimulant components detected! The substance is commonly known as “Spring Breeze Intoxication.” After consumption, it will cause mental confusion and heightened desire.]
Spring Breeze Intoxication?
Su Wantang’s mind exploded.
So the so-called “special medicine” her sister found was actually…
“Wantang.”
Su Wanrou suddenly turned toward her.
Her smile was gentle.
“You’re not needed here anymore. Go home first. Mom said you should go chop the firewood in the backyard.”
Another dismissal.
But this time, there was a clear urgency in Su Wanrou’s eyes.
She needed Su Wantang to leave immediately.
The sooner, the better.
“I…”
Su Wantang opened her mouth.
[Emergency mission issued: Stop Su Wanrou from using restricted medicine!]
[Mission reward: Life value +12 hours. Failure penalty: Target will enter an uncontrollable state, greatly increasing the risk of beginner mission failure!]
Stop her?
How?
Su Wantang looked at her sister’s back as she walked toward the inner room.
She looked at Doctor Li’s hesitant but non-interfering attitude.
Her palms were covered in cold sweat.
“Why are you still standing there?”
Su Wanrou turned around.
A trace of impatience appeared in her voice.
Just then—
A commotion came from outside.
“Wanrou! Wanrou, are you here?”
A man’s voice approached from far away, carrying a drunken slur.
Su Wantang followed the sound and saw a young man stumble into the courtyard.
He wore a shiny polyester shirt, his hair neatly slicked back with oil, and he was carrying half a bottle of liquor.
It was Zhao Jianguo.
The village secretary’s son.
And the “scumbag childhood sweetheart” from the original storyline.
“Jianguo brother?”
Su Wanrou’s expression changed slightly.
She instinctively hid the oil-paper package behind her back.
“Why are you here?”
“Why can’t I come?”
Zhao Jianguo burped from the alcohol.
His eyes stared straight at Su Wanrou.
“Wanrou, I heard you’ve been running around all day for some soldier…”
“What, is my Zhao Jianguo not as good as some cripple who’s about to die?”
“What nonsense are you saying!”
Su Wanrou rarely lost control of her emotions.
Her voice rose sharply.
“Comrade Lu is a hero who was injured while serving the country. Watch your words!”
“A hero?”
Zhao Jianguo sneered.
He staggered forward and reached for Su Wanrou’s hand.
“What can a hero give you?”
“Wanrou, your father has already agreed to our marriage. We’ll hold the wedding next spring, you—”
“Let go!”
Su Wanrou violently shook off his hand.
The oil-paper package almost slipped from her grasp.
The two of them began struggling in the courtyard.