Chapter 83: Vitality
When the doctor arrived, the Cheng family was also with him. Even Mi Hong, who rarely went out, had come along. Mi Yang’s small single room was packed with people. Bai Luochuan stood closest to the doctor, holding the old Mrs. Cheng’s hand. The old lady nervously watched the doctor treat her grandson, whispering to him not to be afraid.
The doctor looked for a while and said, “It’s fine. It might be a fever caused by fright. It’s not a problem now, but to be on the safe side, let’s observe him for another day. If his condition is good, he can be discharged tomorrow.”
The old Mrs. Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, touched Mi Yang’s little face, and forced a smile. “I knew our Yangyang would be fine. What do you want to eat? Grandma will go and make it for you.”
Cheng Ru also said, “That’s right. Our house is close by. Third Aunt came by car. I can bring it to you in a bit.”
The doctor finished his examination and wrote a prescription for some simple anti-inflammatory drugs.
Cheng Ru said to the old lady, “Mom, you stay here and talk to Yangyang. I’ll go and get the medicine and then take it to the nurse’s station. Yangyang still has to get an IV drip in a bit.”
The old lady agreed, her eyes filled with heartache as she looked at her grandson.
Bai Luochuan also went out with the doctor. Mi Yang’s veins were relatively thin, and the ordinary needles would always dislodge. He wanted to ask if there were any thinner ones for children, or soft needles.
Mi Hong looked at his grandson for a while. Seeing that he was being taken care of, he silently went out.
After a while, he returned to the hospital room, left some money for Mi Yang, and said, “I’ve already paid the hospital fees. You don’t have to worry about anything. Just get well and then you can come out. You don’t have to come and see me during this time. It’s not too late to learn the craft after you’ve recovered at your grandma’s.”
The old man had probably not interacted with people for a long time, and his tone was a little stiff. It was only when he was talking to Mi Yang that he could soften it a little, but he was not a man of many words. After he finished speaking, he put down the money and left.
The old Mrs. Cheng didn’t refuse. She chuckled at the money on the small cabinet next to her and stroked Mi Yang’s hair. “Your grandpa dotes on you.”
Mi Yang also smiled and nodded. “Mm, I know. You’re also good to me.”
The old Mrs. Cheng tapped his nose, her heart aching. “I was so scared yesterday. You wouldn’t wake up. I was thinking, if anything happened, how could I explain it to your mom!”
Mi Yang said, “Grandma, did you tell my mom?”
The old Mrs. Cheng said, “I wanted to last night, but I was afraid she would be anxious and come over in the middle of the night. Your third aunt said to wait until the doctor had seen you this morning before calling. The doctor also kept comforting us, saying that you were just tired… It was only just now that I told your mom. She’s also very anxious. She’ll be here in a couple of days!”
As the old lady was speaking, she also listed a few dishes and insisted that Mi Yang choose. Mi Yang thought for a moment. “Grandma, I want to eat white congee, and a little bit of spicy pickles.”
The old Mrs. Cheng said, “Little Good Boy, white congee is fine, but the doctor said you can’t eat anything too stimulating right now. How about Grandma makes you some preserved vegetables? The sweet kind.”
Mi Yang said, “Okay.”
After getting his confirmation, the old Mrs. Cheng also became happy. After Cheng Ru came back, she went back with her in her car to cook.
Bai Luochuan didn’t leave and stayed in the hospital room to be with him. “I saw Grandpa go and pay the hospital fees just now. I already paid yesterday. He paid so much, we won’t be able to use it all. I asked the doctor. We can go back tonight. I’ll help you get a refund then.”
Mi Yang nodded. He would say “okay” to whatever Bai Luochuan said, so well-behaved and trusting of him.
Bai Luochuan took an apple and sat to the side, peeling it for him. He glanced at him and saw Mi Yang’s eyes following him like a fledgling waiting to be fed. Wherever he went, the child’s gaze on the hospital bed would follow.
Bai Luochuan cut a piece of apple and fed it to his mouth. Mi Yang chewed it slowly and ate it. He would still eat when he was fed again. He had been fed more than half an apple, and when Bai Luochuan reached out to touch his little belly, he was so obedient that he didn’t resist at all, unbelievably well-behaved.
Bai Luochuan sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him thoughtfully. He flicked the child’s forehead. “You’re scared now?”
Mi Yang reached out and hugged him. “I’m scared.”
Bai Luochuan’s heart had already softened by half, but he still said in a hard voice, “Will you dare to do it again next time? It was ridiculous. I told you to blow the whistle on the bank, but you still dared to go into the water. The water level was even higher than you!”
The little head in his arms shook gently, and he whispered, “I won’t dare to do it again.”
Bai Luochuan pulled him out, held his chin, and stared at him. Mi Yang had probably just woken up, and his hair was still a little messy. He tried his best to think of the right answer and added, “There won’t be a next time, really.”
Bai Luochuan was slightly more satisfied and let go of him. “I’ll go and get you a glass of water.”
Mi Yang was a little flustered now that he couldn’t see him and sat up. “No, I don’t want to drink water.”
Bai Luochuan said, “Then what do you want?”
Mi Yang held the corner of the quilt. “Can you stay with me for a while?”
Bai Luochuan lifted the quilt and lay down next to him, half-lying there. He suddenly chuckled and held him in his arms. “Are you so afraid of me leaving? I’m not leaving. I’ll stay here with you, for the whole day. When the doctor says it’s fine tonight, I’ll take you home… to my house, okay? Grandpa has a doctor over there. I’m really not at ease. Let’s observe for another two days, hmm?”
Mi Yang lay next to him and thought for a moment. “I have to tell my grandma.”
Bai Luochuan smiled. “Okay, I’ll go and tell your grandma.”
Mi Yang lay on his shoulder and closed his eyes. His mind was still on the thrilling events of his dream. His heart was beating so fast that he seemed a little slow. When Bai Luochuan was talking to him, he would have to think for a long while before he could understand and slowly respond to him.
Bai Luochuan saw that he had no energy after he woke up. He held his hand and spoke to him in a low voice, “Did you know? The girl you and Zhao Haisheng pulled up is fine. Fu Qisheng was also saved.”
Mi Yang moved slightly. “Are they all safe? Are they also in this hospital?”
Bai Luochuan said, “Yes, they’re out of danger. The girl has two broken arms, and Fu Qisheng is a little more serious, but he was also rescued yesterday. He has a strong will to live, and his family is also with him. He will definitely be fine.” Perhaps to comfort Mi Yang, he said a little more, “I had Grandpa give Auntie Zhao a few more days off to take care of Fu Qisheng. Don’t you worry.”
Mi Yang thought for a moment before he understood. Bai Luochuan was talking about the auntie he had met at the Bai family’s old residence who was cleaning the courtyard, Fu Qisheng’s mother. At that time, the auntie had even asked him to help bring some White Rabbit creamy candies to the town.
Mi Yang nodded. “Okay.”
Bai Luochuan held him, his hand gently patting his back as he talked to him, “The city is taking this matter very seriously this time. They’ve specially arranged for people to come and see you and to present you, Zhao Haisheng, and Fu Qisheng with a banner. There should also be some prize money or something. Anyway, just take it when they give it to you. The city’s plan to build a tourist attraction has already been set. They want to get a 5A rating. If something had really happened this time, there would be nothing. So, you’ve really helped a lot.”
Mi Yang was taken aback. “A tourist attraction…?”
Bai Luochuan knew more. “Yes, I heard that the area in the town is also going to be re-planned and constructed. There might be demolitions. In a few days, someone will come to measure the area of the houses.”
Mi Yang’s hand, which was holding his clothes, tightened, and his Adam’s apple also rolled. He thought of the accident in his dream again, of the rolling giant rocks… With that kind of force, if the Bai family’s old residence, which was close to the foot of the mountain, had been covered first, the whole of Shanhai Town would probably have been destroyed.
Since he had woken up, he had not yet recovered from the shock, and for a moment, he couldn’t think of many things clearly, but the fear was still there.
Bai Luochuan’s words of “demolition” gave him a glimmer of hope in this fear, and it grew bit by bit, like a ray of light breaking through the dark clouds, a single strand that soon illuminated the ground and dispelled the gloom.
Mi Yang said in a daze, “The whole town is going to be demolished? And moved to another place?”
Bai Luochuan said, “I heard from Grandpa that the city is planning to do that. Because my family’s old residence covers a large area, and there are also two small mountains behind it, they came to talk to Grandpa first.”
Mi Yang breathed a sigh of relief. If the Bai family took the lead, it would not be difficult.
If a scenic area was built, then there would be special personnel to maintain it, which could prevent all sources of tragedy. And with the town being demolished, all misfortunes could be avoided… Thinking of this, a heavy weight was lifted from Mi Yang’s heart, and his eyes regained their light. Now, he also felt hungry. He touched his stomach. “Bai Luochuan, I’m hungry.”
The young master Bai reached out and touched it. “You should be. You’ve only eaten half an apple since noon yesterday. What do you want to eat?”
Mi Yang said, “I want to eat a chicken leg!”
Bai Luochuan nodded and went out. After a while, he came back with a portion of congee and a plate of pastries. He still had to eat light patient food now, and there was no chicken leg for him. But even so, Mi Yang ate with great relish.
Bai Luochuan watched him eat with big mouthfuls and said with dissatisfaction, “You look quite normal when you’re eating. How can you be so heartless? You were so scared just now, and now you’re fine?”
Mi Yang swallowed the pastry in his mouth and smiled. “I just feel that doing good deeds is rewarded. I’m very happy.”
Bai Luochuan sneered. “What good reward? A stupid banner?”
Mi Yang pursed his lips and smiled, his eyes curving. “Do you believe in karma?”
Bai Luochuan looked at him for a while, then sighed. “I believe. If you believe, how can I not? I’ll be a good person with you in the future, do good deeds, alright? If you have the ability, then you can manage me for the rest of my life. Don’t get sick, and don’t get into trouble again.”
Mi Yang nodded. He didn’t know what he was thinking of, but he smiled again.
After a while, there was a knock on the door. Bai Luochuan got up to open it and saw two half-grown boys standing outside. One was supporting the other, whose injured leg was bandaged. Now, with the leg of his patient gown rolled up, he was hopping over on a crutch, supported by the other’s shoulder. When he saw Bai Luochuan and Mi Yang, his eyes lit up, and he grinned. “I, I’m here to see, you! It’s good that you’re awake!”
Mi Yang recognized him and beckoned for them to come in and sit. “Wang Bing, why did you bring Zhao Haisheng over? Come and sit down quickly. Don’t get hurt again.”
Bai Luochuan gave them the chairs to sit on and sat on the edge of the bed next to Mi Yang, still coaxing him to finish the remaining half of the pastry.
Mi Yang took a bite from his hand and chewed it. He saw the two who were sitting on the chairs opposite him, not saying a word, and was a little curious. “What’s wrong? Is there something you’ve come for?”
Zhao Haisheng’s mouth was not good, but his face was full of gratitude. You could see his sincerity without him saying a word. Wang Bing was a little embarrassed to see Bai Luochuan. He had been a little biased against this young master of the Bai family before, but the other had not held a grudge and had helped them in every way, even saving Fu Qisheng’s life. He felt very uneasy in his heart and spoke first, “We’re here to say thank you. Really, Mi Yang, we owe you and Bai Luochuan a lot this time. If it weren’t for you, let alone Qisheng, even Haisheng might not have been saved. We’re really, really grateful to you!”
Zhao Haisheng was much more direct than him. He sat there and said, “My little brother’s and my lives were, were saved by you. If you need anything, just say the word. We won’t say a word.”
Mi Yang chuckled and didn’t take it to heart. On the contrary, Bai Luochuan, beside him, looked up at him, re-examined this person, and was silent for a while, lost in thought.
Mi Yang asked again, “What about Qisheng? I heard he’s out of danger. Is he awake now?”
Wang Bing said, “He’s awake. He woke up a little earlier than you. He opened his eyes at a little after six this morning. The first thing he said was that he was hungry. Hey, you don’t know Qisheng’s little body, right? He looks weak and thin, but he’s very strong and can eat a lot. As long as he can open his eyes and eat, he’ll be fine. He usually eats as much as three of me, hehe!”
Zhao Haisheng smiled. “My little brother is, is tough.”
