Chapter 20: 20, Wolf pack

The patient couldn't help but lament how he hadn't run faster, feeling deeply wronged: "I've already run with all the strength of a nursing baby, okay? It's you who's being unreasonable!"

Ren Xiaosu smacked his lips and said, "Everyone else has paid and left. What are you going to do about this? We're a clinic, not a charity!"

"What do you suggest?" The man was nearly in tears, unable to fight back and lacking enough money—he might end up donating his life here today...

"You see, it's like this," Ren Xiaosu said with a smile, "Do you have any hidden money at home?"

"No, who dares keep money at home these days? Even one's own wife can't be trusted!" The man was desperate.

Ren Xiaosu grew impatient: "Don't act so pitiful, big man. Just tell me how much you have left!"

"We're only four or five days from payday, and it's month's end. We laborers can't save anything..."

"I asked you how much you have!" Ren Xiaosu roared.

"432," the man cried.

Writing an IOU was out of the question—who would dare ask someone to write one these days? Tomorrow, that person might not even exist...

Ren Xiaosu wondered if the man had any valuable items on him.

Suddenly, Ren Xiaosu thought of something. His eyes lit up as he said, "Here's the deal. You're not easy, so let's waive the rest. Just give me the money in your pocket, and I'll leave you 32 yuan for meals... Wait, make it 2 yuan."

Upon hearing this, the man nearly wept with gratitude: "Thank you, thank you!"

"Thanks from Dong Mingsheng, +1!"

Ren Xiaosu's heart raced—he had finally found a way to earn gratitude!

First, the pricing had to be fair. The clinic charged 600, and he charged 600 too, so people wouldn't think he was overcharging. Second, he had to perform—earn enough sympathy, even if it meant less profit!

Money wasn't important; gratitude was. With gratitude came money! In just a day, Ren Xiaosu had earned 2,230 yuan—this was far quicker than catching sparrows, and far safer.

Now, his gratitude coins had returned to four, which didn't seem like much growth, but the key was that he had found a method!

At this point, Ren Xiaosu was already savoring the thought of buying a new set of autumn clothes for Yan Liyuan. He glanced at Xiao Yu Jie and thought, she could use a cotton coat for winter too!

Xiao Yu Jie had already embraced her role as a nurse, and Ren Xiaosu couldn't let her work for free, could he?

But there was no rush—first, he'd see how much he could earn in a month, then decide on her salary.

...

The news of the factory boiler explosion had reached the settlement. Many women were anxious, fearing their husbands might have met with an accident.

Ren Xiaosu spent the afternoon in his hut waiting for the wounded to return, but none came.

The hardest hit was probably the conman at the settlement clinic—he had been excitedly waiting for patients after hearing about the explosion, but by evening, no one had come!

The young doctor went to inquire and learned that three people had returned in the afternoon, all injured. Why hadn't any of them come to his clinic for treatment?

But when he asked, he was stunned—someone had intercepted his patients!

He wondered who was bold enough to steal his patients. When he found out it was Ren Xiaosu, the young doctor hesitated, then gritted his teeth. What of Ren Xiaosu? Could he just take someone else's livelihood?

Yet the young doctor felt something was wrong—how had Ren Xiaosu suddenly learned to treat wounds and save lives? He had heard before that Ren's black medicine was just some random herbs, and he hadn't believed it. Now, he had no choice but to believe.

Fuming, the young doctor stormed to Ren Xiaosu's hut. Just as he arrived, Ren was peeling potatoes with a bone knife, stabbing one clean through.

Ren asked nonchalantly, "You're looking for me?"

"No, I just wanted to ask if you've eaten," the young doctor forced a smile.

Ren glanced at him: "You're not young anymore, and the old doctor's legacy is fading. I advise you to hurry back and study the old medical texts—otherwise, you'll suffer a worse fate."

"What are you talking about?" You Tong said nervously. "I study medical texts every day!"

"That's good," Ren said, lowering his head and continuing to peel potatoes.

To be honest, Ren Xiaosu and the others used to eat potatoes without peeling them, eating them directly, because peeling would waste a lot of weight. But now, things were different—Ren had money, and he was bloated!

At that moment, dozens of people rushed into the settlement shouting, "Something's wrong! Something's wrong!"

Ren frowned and grabbed one of them: "What happened?"

"The blood from the factory explosion has attracted a pack of wolves," the man stammered. "These wolves are unknown in number, but there are many!"

"How many is many?" Ren pressed.

"Probably over a hundred!"

This was indeed a serious matter—the workers left in the factory were likely doomed.

Wolf packs hadn't appeared in over a year, and during that time, people had almost forgotten their threat. No one knew where they had gone, but their numbers had multiplied several times upon their return.

However, the wolves wouldn't dare raid the settlement, for there were high walls there, and on those walls were firearms.

This was why refugees gathered outside the walls to form the settlement.

"Stop staring—eat," Ren told Yan Liyuan.

After speaking, he sat down to eat, while Yan Liyuan ate and curiously observed the outside: "Brother, how did you survive back then? You never told me."

Ren glanced at him but never answered. Xiao Yu Jie also looked at Ren but said nothing.

After Yan Liyuan finished a potato, Ren handed him another: "Eat more to grow strong—this way, you'll have a better chance of surviving than others."

"Brother, are you worried the wolves will come to the settlement?" Yan Liyuan noticed Ren's furrowed brow.

"No," Ren shook his head. "They're smarter than you think. They won't risk coming here. If the factory hadn't exploded and caused casualties, they wouldn't have gone there. They weren't drawn by the blood—they were drawn to death itself."

"Then what are you worried about?" Yan Liyuan asked curiously.

Ren thought long and hard: "What if the wall collapses one day?"

Xiao Yu Jie was stunned: "Will the wall collapse?"

"I don't know," Ren shook his head again. "But nothing in this world remains unchanged. I've actually seen wolf packs twice before—the first time, I was far away and ran. The second time, I wasn't so lucky, but I always felt... they were becoming stronger!"

In truth, Ren Xiaosu was also pondering—what if the barrier fell one day? What would the world become?

...

Thanks to the gray ash falling as the book's silver ally, thanks to kingyyh, Nifeng Zilan, Lu Yinheng, and Hua Bi Xuan for becoming the book's new ally.