Chapter 171: Chapter 171: A Place of Refuge
Zhang Aihua and his people immediately acted on Jiang Si and Qin Shen’s instructions, placing Lao Er on a surgical table and wheeling him into an inner cave partition.
Qin Shen grabbed the surgical equipment while Jiang Si set up a portable screen and a light. In just a moment, they had cordoned themselves off from the others.
Surgery required a quiet, undisturbed environment.
Fearing the children might make noise, Zhang Aihua had them go somewhere else to wait.
The cave entrance was sealed once more, just in case the Vultures decided to strike again.
This wasn’t the first time Qin Shen had treated someone’s wounds, but it was the first time Jiang Si had ever seen him hold a scalpel.
They say a man is most handsome when he’s focused.
And since Qin Shen was already handsome to begin with, he was now utterly captivating.
But as Qin Shen operated, she had to do more than just manage the light; she also had to pass him instruments to ensure the procedure went as smoothly as possible.
Though Lao Er’s shoulder blade had been pierced and the amount of blood was terrifying, the wound had, by a razor-thin margin, missed his heart. The surgery wasn’t complex and didn’t take very long.
After a little over an hour, Qin Shen had finished cleaning and suturing the wound.
He looked at Jiang Si. "It’s done."
Jiang Si gave him a thumbs-up. They packed up the equipment and took down the screen together.
Zhang Aihua asked excitedly, "Mr. Qin, how is he?"
Lao Er had followed him for a long time and was a friend and subordinate who would lay down his life for him. He really couldn’t bear the thought of him dying.
Qin Shen nodded calmly. "He’s out of danger. He should wake up once the anesthesia wears off. I’ve written down the instructions for his medication on a piece of paper for you."
’At first, I thought Mr. Qin was just some untouchable big shot who never got his hands dirty.’
’I never expected that, while he’s definitely a big shot, he’s also an expert in medicine.’
’No wonder everyone on that ship follows his orders.’
’Having someone like him around is like having an extra life.’
He still hadn’t figured out just how many people were on the Icebreaker.
Zhang Aihua took the note and looked at the list of required medications. It mentioned an IV drip and anti-inflammatory injections.
They didn’t have any of those things.
Just as he was starting to worry, Jiang Si spoke up. "We’ll send the medicine over in a little while."
Zhang Aihua was overjoyed. "Thank you! Thank you! I thank you on behalf of Lao Er for saving his life. When he wakes up, we’ll have him thank you personally for your kindness."
Just like that, Qin Shen had saved the dying Lao Er, and they were even providing medicine for his aftercare.
Any last shred of wariness the group had toward Qin Shen and Jiang Si dissolved, replaced by pure joy and a desire to get on their good side.
’If one of us gets into trouble, maybe Qin Shen and Jiang Si would lend a hand.’
Worried that his people’s fawning would annoy Qin Shen and Jiang Si, Zhang Aihua changed the subject. "Mr. Qin, the Vultures can’t find anything to eat, which makes traveling extremely dangerous. Please be careful on your way back."
Brother Qiu added, "Don’t worry, we’ll cover you while you get to your vehicle!"
Jiang Si wasn’t particularly worried about the Vultures. When food became scarce, they would simply move to a more plentiful area. And even if they did attack, it wasn’t as if she and Qin Shen were helpless.
Song Yufang brought over some hot seaweed soup for Jiang Si and Qin Shen to regain some strength, adding, "I think it tastes all right. There’s no fishy smell, and it’ll warm you up. Please have a little before you go."
Jiang Si picked up a bowl and took a sip, smiling. "It’s delicious."
Her approachable attitude only made the others more eager. One after another, they offered to show off their signature dishes: snake egg layered rolls, hand-shredded salt-baked snake, wood-fired salt fish, abalone in oyster sauce...
These were all recipes they had racked their brains to create. They had even managed to sprout some precious soybeans and chives, and were planning to make a couple of rare vegetable dishes for Jiang Si and Qin Shen.
Jiang Si was suddenly reminded of something. She turned, left the cave for a moment, and returned carrying a large wooden crate down from their vehicle.
Qin Shen took it from her and set it on the ground. Everyone immediately crowded around, their curiosity piqued.
Jiang Si opened it. "Here are some vegetables. They’re for you."
Inside were not only radishes and tomatoes, but also peppers, cucumbers, bok choy, water spinach, cabbage...
Although it was only one crate, likely not even enough for one meal for their entire group, the sight of fresh vegetables after so long made everyone’s eyes well up with tears.
Zhang Aihua said emotionally, "This is too precious. We have nothing to give you in return."
Jiang Si wasn’t expecting anything in return. As she and Qin Shen prepared to leave, she found herself noticing that the conditions inside the cave were actually quite decent.
The cave might seem small, but Zhang Aihua had led his people in planning it out meticulously. The sewage disposal, bathing area, and dining hall were all communal for efficient management.
The sleeping quarters, however, were subdivided, with each person managing their own private space.
There were also separate chambers for food and general supplies.
This way, if supplies ran low, it was immediately obvious to everyone, and they could quickly go fishing to replenish their stores.
The most remarkable thing was that the temperature inside was naturally constant, hovering around seventy-something degrees.
This was another testament to Zhang Aihua’s ingenuity.
Several hot springs fed into the cave, keeping it warm. If it ever got too hot, Zhang Aihua would block one of the spring openings with a stone slab to lower the temperature.
The only real downside was the high humidity inside the cave.
Still, it was far better than freezing to death outside.
As Jiang Si continued to stare intently at their cave, the group suddenly grew alarmed.
’She can’t be thinking that our cave is nice and wants to take it for herself, can she?’
’It makes sense, though. Life on a ship... if the power fails, it’s like living in a giant icebox. Forget about having fresh fruits and vegetables like these.’
Jiang Si noticed their nervous expressions but offered no explanation. She simply took Qin Shen’s hand, and they boarded the transport vehicle to head back.
The moment they left, the cave buzzed with activity again.
Everyone gathered around the fruits and vegetables, full of excitement and reverence. "Let’s scoop out the seeds from the tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, and peppers. We can try to plant them here in the cave."
Zhang Aihua shook his head. "There’s no light in the cave. How could they possibly grow? We’re not planting mushrooms."
Suddenly, a jolt of inspiration hit him.
’That’s right! Our cave should be perfect for growing mushrooms.’
Zhang Aihua eagerly rummaged through the crate, pulling out all sorts of vegetables and a large pumpkin. At last, he found what he was looking for: a bag of shiitake and enoki mushrooms.
This was perfect!
Zhang Aihua excitedly showed them to Zhang Yiwen and Song Yufang. "We can figure out how to grow mushrooms now!"
But Song Yufang was worried. "Do you think they’ve set their sights on our cave?"
Zhang Yiwen, however, blurted out, "Daddy, I want tomatoes! I want corn! And I want green beans with meat!"
Song Yufang had voiced the worry on everyone’s mind: that Qin Shen and Jiang Si had only helped save Lao Er as a pretense to scout out their cave.
It wasn’t that they were ungrateful—they were just terrified of losing their sanctuary all over again.
