In an instant, countless images of modern-day young people getting accused of hit-and-runs flashed through Tang Youyou’s mind, along with that classic line from judges:
*“If you weren’t the one who hit him, why did you help him?”*
She took several small steps backward, clasped her hands in front of her, and looked at the old man warily.
It wasn’t that she was heartless.
It was just that this old man’s attempt to scam her was way too obvious.
The old beggar lying on the ground, waiting to be helped up: ???
*Why isn’t this going the way I imagined?*
Whatever.
He braced himself against the ground with one elbow, pushed off with his right leg, crawled forward a few times, and then dramatically collapsed right in front of Tang Youyou again, in full view of the public.
*Are you seriously not done yet?!*
Tang Youyou gritted her teeth.
If only she hadn’t taken this shortcut.
She turned around and walked away.
“Hey!”
The old beggar genuinely hadn’t expected things to turn out this way.
He couldn’t hold back anymore.
He scrambled to his feet, then jogged nimbly over to block Tang Youyou’s path. He even put both hands on his knees and pretended to pant heavily.
After only moving twice, his face turned pale.
*Fake it.*
*Go ahead. Keep acting.*
Sure enough, society was going downhill, people were becoming colder, and life was full of unpredictable things…
Tang Youyou considered herself someone who had seen plenty of things in life, but she had never expected someone to throw away all dignity just to scam another person.
If she walked away again, would this old man clutch his chest, collapse, grab onto her leg, and wail?
As it turned out, she really shouldn’t have let her imagination run wild.
The moment Tang Youyou thought that, the old man actually collapsed.
Only…
Why was he clutching his stomach?
That tiny difference made her reaction half a beat too slow.
And the old beggar actually managed to grab her ankle.
“Ah! Aah! Aaaaaah!”
Tang Youyou jumped several times in fright.
She had no idea how many times she had stepped on the old beggar’s hand.
She even crouched down and whacked him several times with her little handbag.
Fine!
Tang Youyou caught her breath.
She admitted it.
She had done it on purpose.
*Serves you right.*
*Who told you to scam me?*
“Enough, enough!”
The old beggar couldn’t take it anymore.
He hurriedly raised a trembling hand, signaling that he surrendered.
Only then did Tang Youyou gracefully withdraw her hand.
She even elegantly smoothed her hair, her expression giving absolutely no indication that she’d been terrified just moments ago.
The old beggar curled up miserably on the ground and rasped,
“You little girl… you really don’t let anyone take advantage of you.”
*Huh?*
Tang Youyou tilted her head.
That familiar tone…
Did the original owner know him?
She brushed aside the hair blocking her vision and carefully studied the old beggar.
He did look somewhat familiar.
But who was he?
Seeing that she still hadn’t reacted, the old beggar became even more aggrieved.
“I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten anything for a whole day and night. Weren’t you supposed to bring food every meal?”
Ah!
Tang Youyou’s eyes lit up.
Wasn’t this…
Wasn’t this the old beggar the original owner deliberately cooked ten dishes for every meal and gave all the leftovers to?
Tang Youyou’s mouth twitched.
It wasn’t that she lacked compassion.
It was just that the original owner had been too stupid.
She thought she was doing good deeds, but instead, she’d been feeding a bunch of perfectly able-bodied people.
Wouldn’t it have been better to send those meals to an orphanage?
She took a step back, her expression turning cold.
“There won’t be any more from now on. If you want food, go find some on the street.”
With that, she turned and left.
“Hey!”
A painful cramp of hunger twisted through the old beggar’s stomach.
Once he recovered from it, he hurried after Tang Youyou.
“Wait! Girl, wait a moment!”
Bang!
He thought Tang Youyou had walked too quickly and bumped into someone.
But the next moment, cries of alarm came from the surrounding pedestrians.
“Oh! That old lady fell!”
“What happened to her? Her face is so pale!”
“The corner of her mouth seems to be twitching too!”
The old beggar’s heart skipped a beat.
He hurried over and took a closer look.
Her facial muscles were weak, her hands and feet were stiff, her pupils were unfocused, and there was already vomit at the corner of her mouth.
Considering the elderly woman’s age—she was nearly seventy—these were signs of an impending stroke.
The old beggar’s fingers twitched.
He hesitated over whether he should step forward.
“Is she okay? Everyone, please move aside.”
Just as he was hesitating, Tang Youyou’s calm and composed voice suddenly rang out.
The people who had stopped to watch also hadn’t expected a young girl to rush forward.
Several young men who had been about to help the old woman up paused and exchanged confused glances.
Seeing that no one was doing anything, Tang Youyou shouted sternly,
“What are you waiting for? Move back! Give the patient enough space!”
The crowd erupted in commotion, but her commanding shout worked.
The people around them gradually backed away.
Tang Youyou quickly turned the elderly woman onto her side and tilted her head toward her to prevent the vomit from blocking her airway.
Then she took out silver needles from her handbag—which were actually from her dimensional space.
She positioned them over several acupoints and inserted them without hesitation.
Guanyuan Point.
Shenque Point.
Qihai…
Through the thinning crowd, the old beggar clearly saw what she was doing.
Every needle was inserted with absolute composure.
Every single one landed precisely where it should.
Most importantly, she was incredibly calm, her movements orderly and methodical.
She was a promising student of medicine.
No…
Someone like her had probably already become a master herself.
The old beggar frowned.
*This little girl from the Tang family is actually hiding such a huge secret.*
“Grandma! Grandma, are you okay?!”
Just as the old beggar was pondering this, a woman in her twenties squeezed through the crowd and immediately tried to rush over.
The old beggar realized something was wrong and quickly grabbed her hand.
“Don’t move! Can’t you see that young girl is treating your grandma?”
The young woman was startled.
She looked closely and broke out in a cold sweat.
She had almost ruined everything.
Tang Youyou spared a glance in their direction before continuing to administer the acupuncture.
Fortunately, the old woman’s symptoms weren’t too severe.
After several needles were inserted, she slowly regained consciousness.
Meeting her hazy yet kindly eyes, Tang Youyou smiled.
“You’re awake. You’re okay now. Don’t worry. Get some rest.”
She withdrew the silver needles and turned to the several young men who had wanted to help earlier.
“Can someone help? Please take this grandma to the hospital. She’s awake and the immediate danger has passed, but she still needs to be examined by a doctor.”
The young men were all dazzled by her stunning appearance.
*So… so beautiful.*
“I’ll do it.”
“Me too.”
“No, I’ll do it.”
“Enough, enough.”
“My family has a handcart…”
Seeing the young men fighting over who would help, Tang Youyou put the acupuncture needles back into her dimensional space.
She couldn’t help sighing inwardly.
*1968… The people really are quite simple and kind.*
*Unlike me. I’ve already been corrupted by modern society.*
The young woman followed her instructions and squeezed through the crowd to thank her.
“Thank you, miss.”
Tang Youyou waved her hand.
“It’s nothing. Hurry and go take care of your grandma.”
Unable to leave her grandmother behind, the young woman gave Tang Youyou a deep look before quickly following them.
Once the crowd dispersed while praising Tang Youyou, she finally remembered why she had been on her way in the first place.
The old beggar slowly walked over to Tang Youyou.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to walk faster.
It was just that after all this commotion, he was even hungrier.
“Little girl, you…”
*You know medicine?*
Before he could finish, Tang Youyou immediately raised a hand in the classic “Erkang” gesture.
“Don’t come any closer!”
She looked at him warily.
She wasn’t from this era.
Kindness and simplicity had nothing to do with her.
*I’m out of here…*
Tap tap tap, tap tap tap!
Tang Youyou took off like a horse at full gallop.
The old beggar’s mouth twitched.
*Am I a plague or something?!*