Chapter 617 Sweetie's Suicide, Shengges Crisis
As dusk settled, people outside the courtyard set up grills. The day's harvest was abundant, and they needed to eat their fill before the meat spoiled.
Some people found a clean stone slab to grill thin slices of meat, a different method. Ye Shengges rested in the room for a while before going out to watch everyone busy themselves, at least to distract from unhappy thoughts.
"Wrap the beggar's chicken in mud and put it on the grill first."
"Madam said to grill some vegetables too."
Ye Shengges smiled, took the basin of vegetables, and threaded them onto skewers, arranging them neatly. With everything ready, it seemed they had prepared for this day. They were all people who loved to have fun.
"Come, I'll help too. We can only do simple tasks now."
Elder Fan sat opposite his apprentice, and the two of them were responsible for one dish. His hand holding the skewer trembled severely. Ye Shengges lowered her eyelids upon seeing this, her heart aching. No one could escape old age.
"Master, let's see who skewers more neatly."
"Hmph, you only have this much skill to compete with me."
"Not much skill, but enough to get by."
"You're getting more shameless as you get older. Little Mi learned from you."
Ye Shengges looked shocked.
"Didn't you say before that Zi Yisheng corrupted the child? Why are you blaming me now?"
"We all share the responsibility. Raising a child isn't just one person's job."
Ye Shengges lowered her head. Yes, everyone shared responsibility, including Sweetie's situation.
"Shengges, just do your best."
"Okay, I understand."
"You don't understand. If you truly did, your lips wouldn't be turning purple."
Ye Shengges chuckled timidly, licking her lips, trying to make them appear redder.
"Master is old and won't be with you much longer. Take good care of yourself and don't worry me."
"I'll return your words, Master. Just do your best."
"You brat."
Ye Shengges took a few deep breaths. What was wrong today? Her heart felt inexplicably heavy.
Xi Rusheng brought over a plate of freshly grilled meat slices.
"Quick, try my handiwork. This is my first time grilling meat."
Ye Shengges quickly put down the vegetables and took the plate, not letting her master taste it first. She really didn't trust her senior brother's cooking.
Indeed, after one bite, her entire face contorted. Elder Fan, however, laughed heartily without reservation.
"Only you would believe your senior brother. How could a lonely old bachelor have good cooking skills?"
"Senior brother, don't you know the meat slices were marinated beforehand? How much salt did you add?"
"Ah~~ No one reminded me. Gu Miao, you were right next to me, why didn't you say anything?"
Gu Miao scratched his head. He was grilling rabbit and didn't see it!
"Alright, I'll take it to feed the chickens."
"It's over. The chickens Uncle Zhang finally raised to lay eggs will be doomed."
Xi Rusheng angrily took the plate and left. He wasn't destined to do manual labor, but he still had to wait for food.
After Sweetie was brought back, she stayed in her room. No one knew what she was doing, but she was quiet.
Min Xing was also unusually quiet. At this time, he would usually be howling in his room. Now, he didn't even remember the grilled meat or good wine.
Elder Fan grinned, his broken teeth showing, and clinked glasses with everyone. He secretly glanced at his young apprentice, taking a large gulp, and then smacked his lips contentedly.
"Hmph, drink as you please, but there's only one cup for you. If you drink quickly, you won't have wine to go with your meat later."
Ye Shengges knew her master's little trick. She took the rabbit leg grilled by Gu Miao and bit into it forcefully.
"Overbearing and dictatorial, very unlikeable."
"Say whatever you want. I feel great about myself anyway. Someone send some grilled meat to Sweetie and Min Xing, we can't let them starve."
Uncle Zhang quickly stood up, grabbed two plates, and went to get meat. He also grabbed a few skewers of grilled vegetables, thinking he could eat vegetables like this from now on.
It was a rare opportunity for everyone to have a barbecue together, and they clinked glasses without restraint. Elder Fan watched enviously.
"Someone, quick, someone, Sweetie has committed suicide!"
Uncle Zhang's shout made Ye Shengges drop the plate she was holding in shock. The pain in her chest was so intense she couldn't breathe.
"Quick, quick, save her."
Xi Rusheng, with greasy hands, ran into the house. Elder Fan, however, quickly held back his young apprentice who was trying to get up.
"Quick, go get my silver needles, quickly!"
Asen ran extremely fast to get the medicine box. Gu Miao squatted nearby, supporting the person.
Ye Shengges' hand, which had been clutching her chest in pain, slowly relaxed. Soon, she knew nothing more.
Gu Miao was about to pick her up and take her inside for treatment.
"Don't move her, lay her flat on the ground. You, hold the light, make it brighter."
"Shengges, hold on, Master will save you soon."
Asen grabbed the medicine box and rushed out. He passed Sweetie's room without even glancing at it.
"The medicine box is here."
Elder Fan's hand trembled as he drew out a needle. But his already shaky hand trembled even more. He fiercely struck his right hand and firmly grasped his right wrist.
"Don't shake, please don't shake."
Elder Fan's eyes were flooded with tears in his haste. This needle still couldn't be inserted.
"Quick, pull Rusheng over. We must save Shengges first."
"Yes."
Asen ran to Sweetie's room and, without doing anything else, carried Xi Rusheng away. Min Xing, who had already come over holding his waist, blocked them.
"What are you doing? Sweetie's bleeding hasn't stopped."
"Get out of the way. We must save Madam first now. Anyone who blocks will die!"
"She's not in life-threatening danger. I can treat her later."
As Xi Rusheng spoke, Asen forcefully pushed Min Xing aside and rushed out. Min Xing, enduring the pain, looked at the person on the bed and then glanced outside a few more times.
"Wrap it tightly with gauze first."
Min Xing was going crazy. How had it come to this? Looking at the person on the bed, he felt like slapping her a few times.
"Help me outside to take a look."
Xi Rusheng landed and immediately knelt on the ground, snatching the silver needle from his master's hand with quick, precise movements. He also took her pulse with one hand.
Elder Fan saw this and collapsed onto the ground, his trembling hand also pressing on his young apprentice's other wrist.
"Change the plan! Try what I suggested."
Elder Fan hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded heavily. His young apprentice's condition was truly dire. All previous efforts were in vain, and she had sustained further injury.
"All of you, turn around. Keep the light on."
As everyone turned away, Xi Rusheng withdrew the needle and helped the person sit up. He tore open Ye Shengges' top and tied it below her chest, making her lean into her master's embrace. He then began to insert needles from behind.
"Young Master Min, please return for now. Madam is undergoing treatment."
"How is Shengges?"
"Very bad."
Asen's cold voice made Min Xing's feet freeze in place.
"I'll stay here."
Asen knew he shouldn't blame Min Xing, as Sweetie wasn't solely his responsibility.
"Master, hold the side steady. I need to insert needles in the front."
"Okay, okay. Be careful. Is the light bright enough?"
Xi Rusheng didn't answer. Sweat was already dripping into his eyes. He rubbed his head against his master's shoulder a few times.
Elder Fan watched as needles were inserted into extremely dangerous locations, his heart trembling. His cloudy eyes were fixed on the increasing number of silver needles on his young apprentice.
"Don't insert needles so quickly. Check Shengges' condition."
Xi Rusheng continued to take her pulse with one hand while his other hand did not stop. He quickly withdrew a needle and inserted it into an acupoint.