110 Give and Take, a Lasting Relationship (1/2)
”It's alright, please help me lead the goat down the hill,” the old man said while getting down from the motorbike. His body swayed and he had to hold on to the wall for support.
”Don't go into the house. Quick, let me take you to the hospital!” the young man swiftly said, having recalled Wang Yao's words earlier.
”I'll just go home and sit down. There's no need to go to the hospital!” the old man exclaimed.
His son allowed no explanation and dragged the old man back up onto the motorbike and drove straight to the hospital.
”Quietly stay here and graze on the grass, don't wander anywhere else,” Wang Yao sat by the road and muttered to the three goats.
Before long, a middle-aged woman hurried up the hill towards his direction.
”Hello Ma'am.”
”Hey, Yao, sorry to trouble you,” the woman said.
”It's alright. Where did that older gentleman go?” Wang Yao asked.
”His son took him to the hospital.”
”Yes, better to do a check-up to get a peace of mind.”
”You are right.”
They chatted for a bit and the woman brought the goats down the hill.
Wang Yao headed up the hill, stood at the herbal field and looked into the distance, pondering.
For some unknown reason, the goat had managed to barge past the barrier and into the herbal field. If not for San Xian, the herbs would have been destroyed. There was no telling when something like this would happen again.
”I have to find a way to resolve this.”
Nanshan hill originally had no road, especially in the area where Wang Yao was at. Some areas had narrow winding trails as they were frequently trodden upon. People who brought their goats to graze or passers-by would sometimes use these trails. These trails were not too far off from Wang Yao's herbal field; the only obstacle between them was the woods and the newly planted trees.
By right, in this area, the presence of people was few and far between. In the initial two years that Wang Yao had been on the hill, during the busier farming season, there were occasional villagers who would come to this place to ask for some water to quench their thirst.
”At most, I should seal these paths.”
Having come up the hill, Wang Yao walked around and had a broad idea of a plan. A barrier needed to be set up, but it should not be rushed. A compromise could be considered. Some things could be set up first. After some time, if they prove to be a hindrance, they could be shifted away.
Wang Yao walked around some more and chose a few locations, using rocks as markers. By that time, it had gotten dark outside.
He went home and noticed his mother looking at him strangely.
”Just now, Chunrong came and brought some stuff as a token of his gratitude. What's going on?”
”Chunrong?” Wang Yao was taken by surprise. He immediately realized who it was.
It was the young man from earlier in the day, the son of the old man who was unwell up at the hill.
”Thank me?”
”Yes, he said that fortunately it was discovered in time, otherwise it would have been disastrous.”
”Oh, this afternoon, his father was on the hill with his goats. I was at the herbal field nearby and noticed that he looked like he was unwell. So I took his pulse and diagnosed that his body did indeed have problems and I asked him to call his family. Was he sent to the hospital?”
”Yes, the county hospital.” While mother and son were talking, a person walked into the courtyard after knocking at the door. It was the young man riding the motorbike earlier. Seeing Wang Yao, he went up to the front.
”Thank you so much, thank you!” he thanked Wang Yao profusely.
”Is your father feeling better?”
”He's been hospitalized.”
”Come into the house,” Wang Yao gestured to the young man, not much older than himself, into the house. This young man's name was Wang Chunrong and he was of the same generation as Wang Yao. They did not interact much, only exchanging an occasional greeting.
Having sat down, Chunrong gave his account. After coming down the hill, he originally had no intention of sending his father to the hospital. However, after his father got down from the motorbike, his body was unstable and e almost fell. This shocked Chunrong tremendously and he made the decision to drive him to the hospital in town. They met an acquaintance in town that drove them both straight to the county hospital where it was found that the old man had a blood clot. He was arranged to be hospitalized immediately to receive thrombolysis therapy.
According to the attendant doctor, if it had been later, the likelihood of clearing the blood clot would be very low. The treatment of blood clots was time sensitive; if one were to delay the treatment time, even if it were only an hour, it could result in paralysis. Currently, his father's symptoms were evident; the left side of his arm and elbows were uncontrollable and could only make small movements.
”I never knew that you had medical skills!” Wang Chunrong smiled.
Wang Yao smiled upon hearing him. ”With rigorous treatment at the hospital and appropriate physiotherapy, with his arms and legs still being able to move, it should not be a problem.”
”Yes, the doctor said as much. I have to go to the hospital. I will thank you properly next time!”
”There's no need,” Wang Yao declined, smiling.
He got up and sent Wang Chunrong off. Returning home, he saw his mother beaming and humming a tune. Dinner that night was particularly sumptuous.
”Eh, do we have a guest tonight?” returning home, a puzzled Wang Fenghua asked, seeing the feast on the table.
”No, it's for ourselves,” Zhang Xiuying smiled while pouring him a drink.
”How wasteful,” Wang Fenghua murmured.