Chapter 168: 168, The Effect of the Medicine Chapter 168: 168, The Effect of the Medicine “Fragrant!” Zhang Heizi nodded, took a deep breath through his nose, and forcefully held back his tears. He couldn’t stomach anything at the moment.
He turned to look at the porcelain bottle Liu Caixia had just placed on the table, “What’s inside that?”
“It’s medicine. A little girl on the train gave it to me. She said her grandfather was a doctor. I think she was just trying to sell the medicine, so I have no clue what’s actually inside. Take a bite of this scallion pancake,” Liu Caixia said, offering the scallion pancake to Zhang Heizi’s mouth. She planned to have her husband eat the pancake before going to see the doctor to sign the surgery consent form. But would the money she brought this time be enough to cover the medical expenses?
Zhang Heizi shook his head, “I’m a bit thirsty.”
“I’ll pour you some water,” Liu Caixia placed the scallion pancake on a cabinet and picked up the thermos only to find that it was empty, “Where can I get more hot water?”
“Out of the ward and down to the end, there is a water room,” Zhang Heizi said.
“Okay,” Liu Caixia nodded, took the thermos, and walked out of the ward.
As she left the ward, Liu Caixia couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. Seeing Heizi like this, her heart ached as if it was being cut with a knife. She really wished she could take on the pain for Heizi.
Once Liu Caixia had left, Zhang Heizi looked at the porcelain bottle on top of the cabinet, hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took it.
Taking a deep breath, Zhang Heizi opened the bottle and swallowed the medicine inside in one gulp. He didn’t know what the medicine was, but he was sure it couldn’t be anything good. He hoped the medicine would bring him relief; he really didn’t want to be a burden to Caixia. Without him, she would have a better life.
As soon as the medicine entered his mouth, it immediately dissolved into a liquid that flowed down Zhang Heizi’s throat. Then he felt a cool sensation slowly spreading throughout his body, bringing him an unexpectedly comfortable feeling, especially in his injured leg. The burning, knife-like pain was gradually diminishing.
“What’s happening?” Zhang Heizi opened his eyes in shock, filled with disbelief. Ever since he got injured, the pain in his leg had kept him awake at night, driving him to the brink of seeking death countless times.
Liu Caixia, carrying the thermos, walked into the ward and saw Zhang Heizi holding the porcelain bottle and staring blankly, sitting on the bed. Her expression changed, and she quickly rushed over, snatched the bottle from his hand, and saw that it was empty. Anxiously looking at Zhang Heizi, she asked, “Heizi, did you take the medicine inside?”
Zhang Heizi nodded, “Put down the thermos first.” He felt very comfortable now, coolness where he was injured and no pain at all.
Liu Caixia placed the thermos on the cabinet and lifted the blanket covering Zhang Heizi’s legs, looking at the bandaged leg, “How do you feel now? Does it hurt a lot?”
Zhang Heizi shook his head, “I’m not feeling any discomfort, I’m not in pain at all, don’t worry.”
“I’ll go call the doctor,” said Liu Caixia, as she was already dashing out of the ward. If the medicine had side effects, what would they do? If something happened to Heizi, she would never forgive herself. In hindsight, she should have thrown away that bottle of medicine.
The doctor, hearing from Liu Caixia that Zhang Heizi had taken some unknown medicine, was both angry and anxious as he hurried towards the ward, “Are you out of your minds? Do you think you can just take medicine willy-nilly? That could cost a life.”
“I…I never expected him to take that medicine,” Liu Caixia truly hated herself at this point. If she hadn’t brought the medicine to the hospital, Heizi would not have taken that bottle. Now, all she could hope for was that Heizi would be unharmed.
The doctor rushed into the ward and, seeing that Zhang Heizi showed no unusual symptoms and that his facial expression was much more relaxed than before, asked, “How do you feel now?”
“My leg doesn’t hurt at all,” Zhang Heizi found himself surprised. Just moments ago he had been in excruciating pain, but after taking that medicine, he couldn’t feel any pain. Although he knew his leg was still doomed, feeling less pain for a while was surely better than constant agony.
Hearing this, the doctor was astonished and instructed the nurse following him, “Help him remove the gauze; I want to inspect his wound.” Zhang Heizi had not been given a painkiller injection; logically, he should still be in pain.
“Alright.” The nurse ran to get the medicine box, then quickly returned and began to gently unwrap the gauze from Zhang Heizi’s leg. She was also curious to see what Zhang Heizi’s wound had become.
As the gauze was unwound, the fierce wound appeared before everyone’s eyes.
“How is this possible?” The doctor examined the wound, shaking his head in disbelief. He had never encountered such a situation before.
“Doctor, how is my husband now?” Liu Caixia asked anxiously. What she most wanted to know was whether her husband’s life was at risk after taking that medicine. She was relieved she had not brought that little girl to the hospital; if she had helped market the little girl’s medicines, she would have really harmed others. She now deeply regretted it and hoped Heizi would be alright.
“His wound has improved a lot since before; I need to conduct further examinations to make a final assessment. By the way, what was the medicine he took earlier?” The doctor was certain that Zhang Heizi’s wound was not as serious as before, and he was very curious about what medicine could make Zhang Heizi’s wound heal so quickly.
Liu Caixia pulled a porcelain bottle out of her pocket and handed it to the doctor, “The medicine is all gone; only this porcelain bottle is left.” She knew the doctor would ask, so she hadn’t thrown away the bottle.
The doctor took the porcelain bottle and smelled it; a fragrant aroma reached his nostrils, “Where did this medicine come from?”
Liu Caixia quickly recounted how she came to possess the medicine.
“Do you have contact information for that little girl?” the doctor had heard from Liu Caixia that Zhang Heizi had taken some medicine of unknown origin and had been sure it would be serious. But now, it seemed the medicine indeed had some effect.
Liu Caixia shook her head, “I don’t.”
The doctor felt somewhat disappointed and shook the porcelain bottle, “Can you give me this bottle?” He planned to take the bottle to his teacher; maybe the teacher could determine the composition of the medicine.
Liu Caixia nodded, “Doctor, please examine my husband right away to see if his life is in danger.” Now, all she wanted to know was her husband’s state.
The doctor nodded, put the porcelain bottle in his coat pocket, and looked again at Zhang Heizi’s wound.
When he saw the state of Zhang Heizi’s wound, he stood rooted to the spot in a daze. How is this possible?