Chapter 40: This Is the Conduct of Robbers and Brigands

“Fortunately, the injuries are mostly superficial. There may be some minor internal bleeding, but it shouldn’t be life-threatening… we’ll need to keep observing once he returns.”

The doctor, a man past his fifties, had once been young and fiery himself. He could understand the occasional scuffle among the village youth.

But this time, the injuries were severe, and seeing the large crowd gathered outside the clinic, he couldn’t help but say a few more words.

“It’s the dead of winter, most people wouldn’t even want to step outside. Where did they get into trouble this time?”

“This time, no bones were broken, but these wounds won’t heal quickly. At least several days of bed rest are necessary before he can get up.”

“Farmers rely on their hands and feet to make a living; their bodies are their greatest asset.”

“If the beating had been worse, they might not have been able to work at all come spring. That would delay so much of the year’s essential work!”

Zhang Haiquan stood with his hands behind his back, his face dark.

He saw that the man who had been beaten had eyes swollen as big as walnuts. It was clear he had been crying for quite some time.

“Tell me, what exactly happened last night?”

The man lying on the bed spoke hoarsely, his nose seeming stuffed with cotton, his voice a dull buzz.

“Captain! You have to see justice done for me!”

“That wolf was clearly hunted by me and Zhang Si’s family! But then the people from Wulipu came running up with guns, claiming they were the ones who shot it!”

“They fired two shots and killed the wolf… then refused to share any of the meat with us! Listen, we were the ones who surrounded the wolf, so we deserve a share… but they said they’d kill me if I spoke up, to shut me up forever!”

Zhang Haiquan felt his heart pounding fiercely.

Murder and robbery!

What on earth was this turning into?

Were these not simple, honest farmers anymore?

This was outright banditry!

Zhang Haiquan was already nine-tenths certain about the truth of the matter.

Nevertheless, he insisted on following through with the investigation, determined to question the last family involved.

Before leaving the clinic, Zhang Haiquan paid the medical expenses for the injured man.

“Doctor, please look after him well. I’m going to deal with some disciplinary issues within the brigade!”

The doctor sighed, “Go ahead, go ahead. Your job is never easy…”

Zhang Haiquan’s face was ashen as he stepped out of the clinic.

Facing the crowd outside, he unleashed a barrage of scolding: “The doctor said that luckily he’s young and healthy, or else he would have been beaten to death!”

The people from Wulipu remained silent.

Zhang Haiquan then turned his gaze toward Zhang Yang.

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Zhang Yang’s face was expressionless and stern. “We were indeed late arriving! By the time we got there, they had already been beaten! If we hadn’t overheard some people threatening to kill to keep mouths shut… we wouldn’t have been so reckless, charging forward knowing there were guns!”

As he spoke, he absentmindedly scratched the large swollen bump on his temple.

Zhang Haiquan’s chest ached with anger.

“I don’t want to hear a single word from any of you right now!”

“Next, you’re all coming with me to question the last family!”

“If anyone speaks without my order, I will confiscate a gun from their village!”

“I want to see how many guns you have left to take!”

The warning sealed everyone’s lips tightly.

The group quickly arrived at the other household where the beating had taken place.

The family was busy in their yard.

Before they even entered, the sound of chopping wood was heard.

Inside, they saw a lanky eleven or twelve-year-old boy chopping wood.

He was thin and gaunt, despite wearing several layers of clothing. His gaunt face gave an impression of someone who could be swept away by the wind at any moment.

Zhang Haiquan addressed the boy, “Wumao, where’s your brother Simao?”

The boy called Wumao put down his hatchet and sluggishly glanced toward the inner room.

“He’s probably still asleep. He went out on patrol last night; we don’t know when he came back.”

Zhang Haiquan nudged Wumao, “You made so much noise chopping wood and didn’t wake him? Doesn’t that seem odd? Go check on him quickly!”

Still sluggish, Wumao entered and shook his brother gently.

But Simao lay limp, unresponsive.

Zhang Yang had followed along because it was he who carried Simao back last night.

At the time, Gao Wen had examined Simao and said he had merely fainted and should be fine.

But now… it seemed there were no signs of life at all?!

“Simao!” Zhang Yang shouted.

A dark-mole-faced man from Wulipu snickered.

He pointed to his mouth and then made a gun shape with his hand in the air, implying Zhang Yang had broken discipline by speaking, so their group was short one gun now!

But Zhang Yang paid no mind to that petty gloating.

His only concern was whether Simao was still alive.

Zhang Haiquan also saw that Simao’s condition was dire.

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Who sleeps like a puddle of mud?

Everyone hurriedly shook Simao.

Gao Wen, experienced, pinched hard at Simao’s philtrum and checked for breathing.

“He’s still alive, but probably won’t wake up anytime soon. I’m not sure if he suffered a brain injury.”

“Did it come to this last night?” Zhang Haiquan questioned Zhang Yang and the others sharply.

Zhao Dong answered, “Yes, Captain! When we rescued him, he was already unconscious! I thought he’d just faint for a bit, so we carried him home. Who knew he still wouldn’t wake up now…”

“Get him to the clinic immediately!”

Early that morning, two people were carried from Zhangji Tun to the clinic one after another.

Inside and outside the clinic, all the medical staff were curious: what on earth had happened?

After the doctor examined Simao’s injuries, the atmosphere within the clinic grew even heavier.

“He’s likely suffered brain trauma, affecting the nerves! There are two swelling lumps at the back of his head, probably blood clots.”

Wumao, who had come along from home, saw the seriousness and immediately lost his composure.

His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, nearly fainting.

“Look at the mess your two militia squads have caused!” Zhang Haiquan roared furiously.

But now, scolding was useless.

The doctor removed his mask and spoke earnestly to Zhang Haiquan:

“This is a matter of life and death. You have to get him to the county hospital immediately! To know the exact condition of his brain, they’ll need instruments to examine him properly.”

Sitting on the ground, Wumao suddenly snapped awake.

“I must save my brother! Even if I have to sell myself, I have to save my brother! That’s how my father died—I can’t let my brother die like that too!”

The small, thin boy, like a burning stick, cried out with a voice that was half sob, half laugh.

Everyone present fell silent.

Going to the county hospital was no easy journey.

Once there, the cost of any examination using instruments would be enormous!

If the diagnosis proved complicated, the expenses would far exceed anything they had imagined…