The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 67 Something big happened
"You'll only know if it's real or fake after you try it," Lao Luo said. "Hey, brother, let me wipe it for you."

"How can I let you wipe it for me? I'll have my old woman do it."

"It's alright, it's alright. Between us brothers, you've always treated me like an older brother. I still remember when I first started working at the dock, I didn't know the rules and suffered a lot of losses. It was you who gave me a lot of advice and taught me the skills. You didn't mind that I was weak and you even pulled me on the same rope. Brother, I remember all the good things you've done for me. Come on, let me apply the medicine."

"It hurts, doesn't it? I'll wipe it gently."

"I'm not afraid of pain, I don't care even if it hurts to death," Old Chen said. "What I fear most is being half-dead and paralyzed on this bed."

"Don't worry, things will get better slowly."

Uncle Luo remembered Chunnuan's instructions and tentatively asked where it hurt.

"Yes, yes, right there, it hurts when you press it."

"Sister-in-law, please make me a hot towel to apply to my skin first." Old Luo said, "After the hot compress, you can apply the medicated wine."

"Old Luo, brother, you've made me feel embarrassed."

Seeing Lao Luo carefully applying the ointment and rubbing it with medicated wine, I felt very embarrassed.

"What's wrong? I already told you, I treat you like my own brother." Old Luo said, "Sister-in-law, come and watch me apply it. I'll teach you. You can apply it to your brother once in the morning, noon and night. Be sure to keep applying it and see the effect after a few days."

"Okay, okay, I'll learn." Sister-in-law Chen was delighted to hear that this was effective: "Uncle Luo, where did you find this medicinal wine? How much is a bottle? I'll pay you."

"Sister-in-law, don't talk about money. It's not worth much. Let's see how the medicine goes. If it works, I'll beg that expert to prescribe two more doses for my brother."

"That's daring."

Sister-in-law Chen was extremely grateful.

"Hey bro, why do I feel a little hot?"

After rubbing for a while, Old Chen felt a sensation.

"It's going to feel hot, bro. It'll itch later, like all the pores in your body are open, which is really nice. These are normal reactions and a sign of the treatment. You just have to bear with it."

"Okay, I'll hold back."

The two brothers were discussing the pain and the effects of the medication when suddenly a bolt of lightning illuminated the entire room.

"It's going to be a thunderstorm again."

"Yes, this is like a child's face, it changes in an instant." Old Luo said, "The weather is about to change, I should go back, otherwise I might not be able to leave later."

"Let's have lunch here." Sister-in-law Chen said hurriedly, "You're so thoughtful to bring your brother Chen medicinal wine, you should stay for a meal. Thunderstorms only come in bursts, and the weather will clear up after a couple of showers, so it won't delay your return."

“Yes, stay for lunch.” Old Chen quickly added, “You haven’t been to the dock to pull the boats these past few days and haven’t had anything else to do, so just keep me company and chat. I haven’t been out for days, I almost don’t know what it’s like outside…”

"This……"

Before the words were even finished, another clap of thunder sounded, followed by a downpour of raindrops the size of beans.

"This rain is really fierce." Sister-in-law Chen ran outside to collect the clothes that were drying, but came back soaked to the bone. "The river is probably going to flood again."

"The current is heavy and fast; the brothers who pull the boats in the river will probably suffer a bit."

"Absolutely." Old Luo also sighed, "People in our line of work also have to rely on God for their livelihood."

"Look, even the heavens are trying to keep you here." Old Chen looked at the water pouring down from the eaves and said, "Let's have a good chat, brother."

"Then I'll shamelessly freeload a meal here."

"Don't talk about rubbing it in. We've been brothers for so many years, and you've never even stayed for a meal at my house." Old Chen said, "You went out of your way to find me this medicinal wine... and let me tell you, it really is itchy now, so itchy that it feels like all my pores are open."

"Then it will work, brother. Listen to me, remember to apply the medicated wine three times a day. After a few days, it will definitely get better."

"Then I'll take your good wishes. I won't even mention going down to the river to pull the boat, I'd be happy if I could just walk on the ground."

"Yes, definitely."

The two brothers chatted about things at the docks.

Old Luo invited Old Chen to stay for dinner. It was just a simple home-cooked meal; everyone was poor and didn't have many formalities. The rain was still falling after the meal.

"At this time, we don't know if there are any boats on the river."

"I estimate it will be quite a lot."

"If this were pulling a ship along the whirlpool, it would be a disaster."

"..."

Old Chen was speechless for a long time.

The two brothers never imagined that their words would come true.

Around 3 PM, the rain subsided considerably, and Lao Luo prepared to say goodbye and go home.

"Uncle, it's still raining. Let's rest a bit longer, have dinner later, and then we'll leave before it gets dark."

"Hehe, thank you so much, sister-in-law. I can't eat anymore, I need to take advantage of the rain now..."

Suddenly, someone ran into the house.

"Sister-in-law, is my eldest brother out at the dock pulling boats?"

“It’s his third uncle. Your eldest brother’s leg has been hurting for several days. He can’t even get out of bed and can’t go to the dock to pull the boat.”

"You didn't go? You really didn't go?"

"I didn't go. I'm in the inner room chatting with Brother Luo. What's up?"

"It's so good that you didn't go, it's so good that you didn't go." Old Chen was so excited that tears streamed down his face: "Sister-in-law, you don't know, something happened at the dock, something terrible happened."

"What happened?"

Old Luo helped Old Chen out of the inner room and they asked in unison.

"When the rain was pouring down, a large ship was at the mouth of a whirlpool. Suddenly, the rain and wind intensified, and it became so dark that they couldn't see the road and more than a dozen boatmen fell into the whirlpool."

"what?"

"It takes over a hundred people to pull a large boat ashore. More than ten of those people fell into the whirlpool. What about the others?"

"The person was swept away, disappeared without a trace." Chen Laosan said, "I ran here as soon as I heard about it. My heart was in my throat the whole way here. Brother, thank goodness you're alright!"

"I'm fine, but what about those brothers..."

"Let's go check out the dock."

"Alright, let's go check out the dock."

Ignoring the light rain, Old Chen, supported by Old Luo and his own brothers, went to the dock.

The docks were packed with people, crying and wailing.

"Shut up, shut up, all of you!"

Sixth Master Xiao shouted at the top of his lungs, "What are you crying for? Do you think crying will bring people back? Listen to me, all of you! Now, send someone to tell me how many boatmen were on this ship? And who were they?"

How many people went? How many are missing? We don't know.

Old Chen and Old Luo saw several familiar faces and quickly went up to ask them.

"Old Ma, which ones haven't come up yet?"

"Brother Chen, my mind is completely blank right now, I can't remember, I can't remember!" Old Ma suddenly burst into tears, clutching his head in his hands: "The current was too strong to go ashore, the boat spun sideways, and then..."

He watched helplessly as his brothers were taken away one by one. He tried to stop the brothers in front of him, but failed. A rogue came and several more brothers disappeared.

If you ask him which ones didn't make it to shore now, he really can't remember!

(End of this chapter)