Chapter 8: Old Man Huang Saved, A Sister-Obsessed Brother at Home

"Uncle Youcai, Uncle Youcai! Quick, you have to take a look—can you save him?"

Su Yu and Huzi had rushed down from the mountain, sprinting all the way to the home of Li Youcai in the village. Li Youcai was the healer of Sanshui Bay, and despite not sharing the surname Su, he was the village's go-to doctor.

"Save someone? Save who? And you, kid—don't tell me you’re the one who beat him up?"

"Oh, Uncle Youcai, stop joking! This is a matter of life and death. There really is someone who needs your help."

Li Youcai strode over and took a look at the middle-aged man lying on the ground.

"Hey, isn't this Old Man Huang from Huang Family Village? What happened to him?"

"We found him in the mountains. He was mauled by a wild boar. Please, see if he can be saved," Huzi interjected before Su Yu could speak.

Li Youcai didn't hesitate. He knelt, checked the man’s pulse, and his brow furrowed deeply.

"Carry him inside, gently. He’s lost too much blood. Whether he lives or dies is up to fate now. I’ll stop the bleeding first, then stitch the wounds."

Although Li Youcai was a practitioner of traditional medicine, he was quite skilled in Western techniques as well. Whenever the villagers needed their livestock castrated or stitched up, they came to him. It wasn't that he was a veterinarian—there simply wasn't one in the village—but he couldn't refuse his neighbors. While a city doctor might find it insulting, the villagers weren't so picky; they appreciated the help, and Li Youcai would often accept the discarded animal parts as payment for his dinner. Consequently, he had a well-stocked supply of surgical needles, thread, disinfectant, and alcohol.

Li Youcai wasted no time. He pulled out silver needles and quickly tapped a few points on the man's body; the bleeding from the abdomen stopped instantly.

"Damn, that's magic! Uncle Youcai, you’re amazing!"

Hearing Huzi’s praise, Li Youcai beamed with pride. "Of course! My ancestors served as imperial physicians. You think my reputation is just for show?"

Li Youcai always claimed his ancestors were imperial doctors, but no one in the village believed him. After all, his family had been rooted in the village since his grandfather's generation, and no one had heard of any such history. Most assumed he was bragging, but Su Yu found himself starting to believe it. This skill was truly extraordinary—stopping blood flow with just a few needles was something even professors of traditional medicine in the 20th century might not be able to pull off.

"Alright, you two kids, stop getting in the way. Scram and get to Huang Family Village to notify his family, before they start worrying."

Su Yu and Huzi nodded repeatedly. In their panic, they had completely forgotten to alert the man's family. If he died without them seeing him one last time, it would be a disaster, and they wouldn't be able to explain themselves.

"Ah... right, right! We’re going!"

"Come back!"

Just as they were about to bolt, Li Youcai called them back.

"Uncle Youcai, what now?" Huzi looked exasperated. Huang Family Village was at least ten miles away. A round trip would take until dark, and he was terrified of getting a beating for returning late.

"Young and rash, aren't you? You two don't even know the old man's name. How are you going to ask for his family once you get there?"

"What do you mean? Isn't his name Old Man Huang...?"

As he said it, Huzi realized it sounded like an insult. He finally understood that "Old Man Huang" was just a nickname Li Youcai used, like how peers might refer to one another by a crude moniker. Su Yu realized it too; if they went to Huang Family Village asking for "Old Man Huang," they’d likely be chased out by the villagers.

"Old Man" was a derogatory term. Li Youcai knew the man well—as the most skilled healer for miles around, he knew everyone—but for two young men to use that term in the village would be seen as a provocation. It would be like going to a village of people named Hou and asking for "Old Monkey."

"Heh, remember: this old man is named Huang Hongsheng. He lives at the west end of Huang Family Village. Just ask around once you get there."

"Got it."

The two nodded. Li Youcai was definitely doing this on purpose. He was a man with no airs who loved to joke, and he enjoyed teasing the younger generation. They had almost been set up.

The two shared a smile and sprinted out of the village, heading toward Huang Family Village.

"Brother Yu, look, those dogs are leading the way. They’re so smart!"

Su Yu looked back. Indeed, the dogs that had followed them from the mountain were still there. They had brought the man to Sanshui Bay out of necessity, not knowing who he was, and the dogs had followed them from a distance. The big black dog that had stood its ground against the boar was among them. It meant only four dogs remained; the other two were too badly wounded to be saved, and they had prioritized the man’s life.

"Yeah, they’re incredibly smart. They probably realized we were trying to save their master, but they were too worried to leave. Once they saw us heading toward Huang Family Village, they took the lead."

Su Yu didn't mention that the dogs might also be confirming where their master was being taken so they could lead the family back to him. They were truly loyal, almost human in their understanding.

The dogs moved at a steady pace, occasionally looking back and barking to urge the pair on. Huzi and Su Yu were exhausted from their earlier trek in the mountains, but they struggled to keep up.

By the time the sky turned dark, they finally arrived at Huang Family Village. After asking a villager for Huang Hongsheng, they found his home. The dogs had already arrived and were waiting.

"Brother Yu, listen—the dogs are barking. They’re trying to call someone, but the family doesn't understand."

"Enough, let's just call them out. I'm dead tired."

They knocked on the door. Soon, a girl with braided hair opened it.

"Huh... who are you looking for?"

She had expected her father to return; the dogs had come back, so she assumed her father was just walking slowly with his game. She was surprised to see two strangers.

"Hello, are you Huang Hongsheng's family?"

The two of them began to explain the situation as best they could. Upon hearing that her father was injured and his life hung in the balance, the girl burst into tears.

"Big brother! Second brother! Come out quick, something’s happened to Dad!"

Her cries brought two young men to the door. They looked to be in their twenties, both broad-shouldered and as tall as Su Yu—quintessential northern men.

"Little sister, don't cry. What happened? Dad? What happened to him? And who are these two kids?"

Faced with the menacing glares of the two brothers, Su Yu and Huzi instinctively took a step back. Su Yu recognized that look—the classic glare of protective older brothers.