Chapter 15: 15, Self-production and self-sale

Ren Xiaosu left in a sulky mood, though he had wanted to give the young doctor a beating. But his reasons didn't hold water, since his initial intention was to steal the man's livelihood.

Doctors must become doctors, Ren Xiaosu agreed wholeheartedly with Yan Liuyuan's view—being a doctor was indeed a profession that easily earned others' gratitude.

But how could one be a doctor without medical skill?

He reached the schoolhouse and pondered deeply, then suddenly remembered the scene from the pawnshop the night before. A woman wept and wailed at the clinic door, while the man's blood wouldn't stop, eventually ceasing his heartbeat.

Unintentionally, Ren glanced at his tiger's mouth (the web between thumb and index finger), and exclaimed, "The wound that was infected yesterday has already formed a scab today!"

It turned out the black ointment not only reduced inflammation but also accelerated wound healing?!

He understood the body's self-healing ability, knowing that a wound as deep as a sparrow's peck wouldn't form a preliminary scab in less than seven days.

Wait, Ren Xiaosu seemed to have figured out how to become a doctor. The clinic's doctor only knew how to deceive and boast, yet he, Ren Xiaosu, now possessed such a miraculous remedy—why couldn't he be a doctor?

Opening a knife wound specialty clinic would suffice. When patients came, he'd stitch their wounds and apply the black ointment. Done!

The old doctor once said he didn't perform such suturing because he lacked sterilization conditions. Those bacteria left in the body could kill. So stitching was futile.

The old doctor understood this well.

But now Ren Xiaosu was different—he didn't have to consider this at all!

Thinking this, Ren had an idea, even planning how to arrange Xiao Yu Jie in the future.

Xiao Yu Jie's plan was to take on some minor sewing jobs to earn a living. But Ren thought it was hard; in the refuge barrier, many would seek her. Yet outside the settlement, everyone was struggling, and such work was done at home—who would pay for it?

Ren thought, since they couldn't mend clothes, they'd mend wounds instead. He wondered if Xiao Yu Jie was squeamish about blood...

He consulted the schoolmaster Zhang Jinglin, who knew more.

Zhang Jinglin stared in surprise: "You want to open a knife wound clinic? Do you have sutures?"

Ren thought and asked, "What are sutures?"

"...Do you have anesthetics?"

"What are anesthetics?"

"...

Zhang Jinglin suddenly realized Ren had nothing prepared...

Zhang Jinglin patiently explained, "Do you know why our settlement's clinic never did this business? Not only due to infection risks, but also the lack of anesthetics and sutures. Even the refuge barrier is short on these."

"Administering anesthetics requires skill—too little causes pain, too much leads to aftereffects. Sutures aren't just about tension but also friction coefficients suitable for human tissue."

"Oh, I see," Ren waved his hand, "That's not a problem. People are dying anyway, so I'll use sewing thread."

"What about sterilization?" Zhang Jinglin asked, stunned.

"I have a secret formula!" Ren replied.

Actually, as Ren guessed, Zhang Jinglin wasn't an expert in everything. He had his specialties, but others were just "understood" level.

So Zhang Jinglin suddenly found himself unable to counter Ren, finally waving his hand: "Go to your class. Next is survival class."

That day, Ren, having tasted the sweetness for the first time, decisively dragged the class until dark...

At that time, some students still didn't realize what kind of life they were about to begin.

As students left, none thanked the teachers. Ren couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you going to thank the teachers?"

The students were startled and collectively turned back to thank the teachers.

But Ren sighed inwardly, his palace (heart) had no gratitude coins...

Zhang Jinglin had said before that not being understood as a teacher was normal. Ren felt he still had a long way to go.

Returning home, from afar Ren saw light in their hut. He lifted the curtain and entered, finding Xiao Yu Jie sitting on their broken chair, mending their clothes. There was also cooked corn porridge and wild vegetables.

Clothes were usually left in the hut since no one stole them. If stolen, you'd have to wear them out, risking recognition. Then Ren would kill the thief.

Xiao Yu Jie smiled, "I came in without your consent. Your clothes are torn. Let me mend them. Hurry and eat."

Yan Liuyuan reached for the porridge. This meal in the settlement was quite luxurious; usually, they ate black bread or potatoes. Ren slapped him: "Did you thank Xiao Yu Jie?"

Yan Liuyuan was honest: "Thank you, Xiao Yu Jie."

"Don't hit him so hard," Xiao Yu Jie said.

"I can spoil him, but outside, no one will," Ren explained, then sincerely said, "Thank you, Xiao Yu Jie."

"You're welcome," Xiao Yu Jie smiled, "What do you usually eat for dinner?"

"We usually don't eat dinner," Yan Liuyuan said.

"That won't do. You're both growing," Xiao Yu Jie said.

For some reason, Ren felt Xiao Yu Jie was like their sister. Before, no one had ever told them they were growing.

"Xiao Yu Jie," Ren asked, "Your sewing skills are great. When our knife wound clinic opens, come help us?"

"Knife wound clinic?" Xiao Yu Jie was stunned, "Why suddenly think of opening a knife wound clinic?"

"Because I have a herbal remedy for knife wounds that reduces inflammation and heals quickly," Ren said, showing his scar. Xiao Yu Jie saw the wound had indeed scabbed over.

"But in the settlement, fights have decreased. Before, ten people were injured daily. Now, it's been days without any."

True, except for the man Ren killed and the one at the clinic door the day before, there were no more fights.

Those who were stabbed at midnight and dragged into homes didn't count, as such cases usually left no survivors.

Ren pondered, "Should I go cut them?"

Yan Liuyuan was shocked, "Brother, you're too ruthless. What's this, self-production and sales?"

Ren quickly shook his head, "No, no, I can't do that. I can't let profit cloud my mind."