Chapter 175: Wild Chicken and Bullfrog
At this moment.
The streetlights, already dim, were growing even fainter as dawn approached.
The streets, once empty, now had a few pedestrians, with some early risers heading to work, trying to save on bus fare, trudging along.
An old tricycle creaked and squeaked as it moved forward, with large blocks of ice stacked high like a small mountain, inside which were tightly sealed bullfrogs and huge wild chickens.
However, as the sky lightened, the ice blocks began to melt slowly.
The wheels of the tricycle continued to turn, passing through the city, through the streets, and now moving along the city’s edge.
The melting ice water dripped onto the ground, mimicking the uneasy heart of the tricycle driver.
Everything that needed to be said had been said, the deposit had been paid, but the final sentence was left hanging, and the person had disappeared without a trace.
By the time the driver finally arrived, out of breath, he saw the other party had already gotten into a jeep and was driving toward the city center.
So… will anyone actually pick this up when it arrives?
That’s the Rose Corridor, after all! He dared not linger there for too long. Even standing at the bus stop made him uneasy.
And the girl had said that if no one came, she would leave the items behind the sign at the bus stop — what if she didn’t come to pick it up? The ice would melt, the meat would spoil, or it could be eaten by ants or other bugs…
So, whose responsibility would that be?
And there was still the 25 points balance to pay! It would take four hours to ride there, and this money was hard-earned! Every penny counted.
This was the meat he had been waiting for!
When Huai Yu got it, she thought she would carry it back even if it meant carrying it on her back.
But who would have thought that she would encounter Chen Xing’s accident, and the meat was forgotten.
Now, she was starting to panic.
On the other hand, Uncle Zaozi was acting very calm.
How could he not be calm? After all, it was a high-variance item. Any convoy passing by the highway exit would pick something up at least two or three times out of ten.
Besides, it wasn’t something that could be eaten.
But… wait!
He frowned too: Wasn’t this meant to be delivered to the Rose Corridor? Was it a regular supply or something else?
What if it wasn’t delivered in time? Would they get angry and beat him up?
Uncle Zaozi’s face darkened, and Huai Yu noticed this. She quickly tried to comfort him:
“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. The balance is still unpaid, so they’ll definitely deliver it.”
She looked at her watch. “I’ll take the bus from the hospital at 7:00, and I should make it in time.”
She was thinking clearly, but she couldn’t bear to part with the meat, which was why she was so restless and anxious.
To ease Uncle Zaozi’s worry, she threw her basket on her back and urged him:
“Uncle Zaozi, you should go back now! I also need to check on my brother, and once I do that, I can head home.”
She remembered that handling the meat would take a lot of time, so she added, “In the afternoon… I may not make it back in time. Can you stay here for now, Uncle Zaozi?”
“Of course, no problem!”
From the Rose Corridor, it’s quite a hassle to come back!
Uncle Zaozi had already put in his effort, and he’d paid what he needed to. He wouldn’t stop halfway! He had to make sure Chen Xing’s favor was maximized — that’s what was worth it.
At that, he waved his hand nonchalantly: “Go ahead with what you’re doing! There are doctors and nurses here, no need to worry! I’ll come back in the afternoon to keep an eye on things.”
Uncle Zaozi may not be the most reliable when it comes to food, but at other times, he was trustworthy.
Huai Yu sighed with relief and then headed to Zhou Qian’s hospital room.
At this time, Zhou Qian had just woken up and was about to head to the canteen for breakfast. When he saw Huai Yu approach, looking exhausted and haggard, he couldn’t help but ask:
“What happened? Did you run into something at the highway exit yesterday?”
Huai Yu slumped her shoulders. “I’m fine, but… Chen Xing and the others got into an accident.”
She briefly described what had happened yesterday, and Zhou Qian fell silent.
After a long pause, he patted her on the shoulder:
“It’s alright. They escaped death; they’re lucky.”
“Besides, if you’re an adventurer, you’re always prepared. Meeting someone like you, who would spend so many points to save their lives, is their fortune. It’s fate.”
At that moment, he really knew how to comfort her.
Huai Yu nodded.
Zhou Qian saw how exhausted she was and quickly handed her a glass of water: “Take a rest. Want to sleep for a bit?”
Huai Yu took a sip of water and, looking at the cup, was reminded of the two big pots of ginseng tea left behind that day. She couldn’t help but ask:
“Zhou Qian, do you think the ginseng tea really had no effect?”
Zhou Qian lowered his gaze. “What happened?”
Huai Yu held the cup, hesitating.
After a while, she shook her head. “Nothing. I guess the ginseng must have mutated, and it’s lost its effect.”
After giving Fenda the ginseng tea, she clearly saw something moving in her stomach. Although she hadn’t yet looked at the medical records when they got to the hospital, the poster on the wall showing the ghost orchid bacteria had triggered something in her mind…
She thought about the mutated barnyard grass by the pond, and then about the big and little pigs, even the mutated ginseng, which she had cultivated and purified herself!
For a moment, Huai Yu couldn’t be sure whether the ginseng really had special effects…
But.
This matter was not just about the ginseng, but about herself. If it truly was a crime to possess such a thing…
It might be better to keep it to herself.
She understood this now, quickly finished the glass of water, and then said goodbye to Zhou Qian:
“Zhou Qian, I’ll head back now, I’ll come again tomorrow. You make sure you eat well today.”
Zhou Qian smiled wryly.
This girl, her visiting time was never fixed. Sometimes it was at noon, sometimes in the afternoon, and sometimes even before 9 a.m.
If he were to rely on her for meals, he’d be starving at least twice a day.
At this point, Zhou Qian waved his hand: “Go back quickly, I have peaches and sweet potatoes here, I won’t starve.”
It was only when Huai Yu’s figure disappeared down the corridor that Zhou Qian’s expression returned to its usual cold hardness. He then walked briskly toward the nurse’s station.
Now, his walking posture and firm steps no longer made him appear any different from a normal person.
“Can you check the situation of the four injured people who were brought in last night? They’re my friends.”
Having earned some merit in the past, Zhou Qian had been promoted. Even with retirement looming, his position remained unchanged. So when he asked, someone immediately replied:
“I know a little, but for more details, I’ll have to ask around. I’ll let you know when you come for the infusion later, okay?”
Zhou Qian smiled slightly, the scar on his face twitching.
He tried to keep his voice soft. “Thank you.”
Half an hour later, with a sharp needle piercing his vein, the nurse shared the information she had gathered.
He instinctively touched his broken leg and sank into deep thought —
“Ghost orchid bacteria, is it classified as a plant?”
