Chapter 25: 25, A Silk Banner (Bonus Update, Please Recommend)

“If you don’t want it, give it back to me. Don’t be so disgusting,” Wang Fugui said, reaching out to snatch the swallow’s nest back.

Ren Xiaosu cheerfully closed the box and tossed it into the shed: “No one’s being disgusting. It’s just a joke, isn’t it?”

He glanced at the people behind Old Wang, and to be honest, if he called them “local gentry,” it would be an insult to the term…

They all carried small gifts, though everyone was familiar with Ren Xiaosu. This visit was mainly to curry favor with him, to say, “We accept you into our circle. From now on, we’re all friends.”

Ren Xiaosu didn’t bother with politeness. Yan Liyuan was still lying in bed recovering, so why not enjoy the supplements?

“Ren Xiaosu,” Old Wang pulled him aside: “You should move to the clinic soon. There are two rooms behind it, each with a small courtyard of over ten square meters. Many people have their eyes on them.”

“Okay,” Ren Xiaosu nodded. He was still being polite with Wang Fugui.

“Also, Boss Luo had someone bring you some medicine from the stronghold. This is valuable stuff. I’ve had it delivered directly to the clinic. The most precious are the anti-inflammatory and anesthetic drugs. You’d better take good care of them,” Wang Fugui whispered: “Some people can’t find cigarettes, so they steal anesthetics to substitute for those addictive ones. I’ve suffered from that myself.”

Ren Xiaosu froze. He hadn’t realized anesthetics had such effects? But receiving gifts was a good thing. He asked eagerly, “What else did they send?”

“A banner.”

…

In the morning, Ren Xiaosu and Xiao Yu casually packed their things and went to the clinic. Who would want to stay in a shed when there were clean brick rooms?

He had already planned it out: the two rooms in the back, he and Yan Liyuan would share one, Xiao Yu would have the other to herself.

Xiao Yu had lived in a brick room before, but later moved to the shed for the two “brothers.” Now, letting her return to the brick room fulfilled a wish.

But when Ren Xiaosu carried Yan Liyuan into the clinic, he suddenly felt unwell.

On the wall of the clinic hung a banner in the center: *Miraculous Hands, Luo Lan*.

According to Wang Fugui, as long as this banner was there, no one would harm Ren Xiaosu—provided he didn’t do anything that touched Luo Lan’s interests.

It was a talisman, though it made Ren Xiaosu’s teeth ache. He didn’t know if Luo Lan had casually ordered it made or if the other party was deliberately teasing him.

It was more likely the former. To Luo Lan, he was just a vagrant buying medicine outside the stronghold.

Ren Xiaosu settled Yan Liyuan down. Xiao Yu, already heartbroken, had only learned of the incident that morning.

Yan Liyuan, enjoying Xiao Yu’s care, suddenly remembered how he used to tease her. Weakly, he said, “Xiao Yu, I’m sorry for what happened before.”

Xiao Yu shot him a glare: “What’s there to apologize for? You two are just kids with adult minds. If not for your maturity, you wouldn’t have survived this long.”

“It’s mainly my brother who’s capable,” Yan Liyuan smiled.

“I wonder how much hardship Ren Xiaosu has endured all these years,” Xiao Yu sighed.

“Countless hardships,” Yan Liyuan replied calmly.

Ren Xiaosu was checking the remaining medicine in the clinic, along with the new supplies sent by Luo Lan. Perhaps someone had told the boss that he treated external injuries, so the anesthetics and anti-inflammatories were particularly abundant.

Suddenly, he spotted a large box of medicine containing a cooling and detoxifying liquid. Overjoyed, he took the anti-inflammatory and cooling medicine to give Yan Liyuan. His fever and swollen tonsils weren’t necessarily a perfect match, but it would definitely cure him.

The clinic also had some herbs, with labels on the cabinets indicating their names and ailments. Ren Xiaosu sighed—Tong truly had a good father, yet he never cherished him.

That night, Yan Liyuan finally broke his fever. Relieved, Ren Xiaosu told Xiao Yu, “Boil all the supplements they sent for you two to eat.”

“Okay,” Xiao Yu nodded and went to cook.

Now the three of them were like siblings, no longer formal with each other. It had to be said, fate was strange—three people who seemed unlikely to be together had somehow ended up that way.

When Xiao Yu brought the tray and called Ren Xiaosu and Yan Liyuan to eat, Ren Xiaosu suddenly said, “Xiao Yu, your room will be next door. When you marry, you can use it as a bridal chamber.”

The originally prepared bowl in Xiao Yu’s hand changed expression: “So soon you’re tired of me? Did I eat too much? Or spend money recklessly?”

Ren Xiaosu froze: “Xiao Yu, I didn’t mean it that way…”

“Then what did you mean?” Xiao Yu withdrew the bowl and pouted: “Ren Xiaosu, you’re heartless. You eat my cooking and still want to drive me away. I won’t even feed you if I were a dog.”

With that, Xiao Yu shoved the bowl into Yan Liyuan’s arms: “Eat it all.”

Yan Liyuan: “???”

After speaking, Xiao Yu couldn’t help but laugh first. Ren Xiaosu and Yan Liyuan followed suit.

Yan Liyuan suddenly thought Xiao Yu’s laughter was so gentle. It was a pity… she was born in the wrong era.

“Xiaosu, what are your plans?” Xiao Yu asked while eating.

“No plans. Take it one step at a time,” Ren Xiaosu said. What he cared most about now was still that unlocked weapon.

Originally, his only wish was to survive with Yan Liyuan, but now that he possessed supernatural abilities, his heart harbored more desires.

The chain mission remained unfinished: *Save 10 patients*.

He didn’t know what the next mission would reward, or if the mysterious vending machine would offer more than black medicine.

All unknowns awaited him to uncover.

Yan Liyuan looked at Ren Xiaosu eagerly: “Brother, what are we doing tomorrow? Let me help you treat people.”

Ren Xiaosu laughed: “What, you’re cured?”

“Yes,” Yan Liyuan, after finishing his meal, still looked energetic: “I’m fine now.”

“Okay,” Ren Xiaosu nodded: “If you’re fine, go to school.”

“Oh……”

…

Anniversary update—I’m taking my wife out today, updating early.