The big yellow dog forcefully pushed off with its hind legs, its front paws leaping forward to deftly avoid the whip.
It immediately tackled Zhao's father to the ground. Thrown off guard, Zhao's father closed his eyes tightly.
Without hesitation, the yellow dog bit down on his nose, tearing it from his face with a fierce pull.
Zhao's father let out a heart-wrenching scream, flailing his hands and pounding on the yellow dog's back.
The dog swiped a claw viciously at his eye. Zhao's father instinctively covered his eye, trying to roll over but unable to escape.
This was a one-sided massacre. The dog blinded him, then tore a chunk of flesh from his lower right leg before it was over.
Zhao's father lay on the ground, immobile, his groans ceasing. Hearing the cessation of struggle, Zhao's mother cautiously stood up.
Seeing Zhao's father's bloody and mangled face, she nearly lost her footing. Clinging to a wooden plank, she shakily dismounted the ox cart.
"Wuwuwu, my dear, are you alright? Don't scare me. How will I live without you?"
Zhao's father, blinded, couldn't open his eyes. He could only lift his hand with great effort to signal he was still alive.
"Quickly..."
"Wuwuwu, I know. Save your strength. I'll take you and your son to the hospital now."
With that, she bent down, lifted Zhao's father, and with great effort, placed him on the ox cart.
The unconscious Zhao Shixiao also slowly woke up. His face contorted, and he said nothing, tears and snot streaming down his face.
Zhao's father moaned in pain. Before being tackled, he hadn't known exactly where Zhao Shixiao was injured, and now he only worried about himself.
Upon arriving at the town hospital, the doctor shook his head upon seeing the situation.
"This is too severe; we dare not admit them. Madam, please take them to the county hospital."
"Doctor, you can't do this. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Their condition cannot be delayed any further."
"Madam, please be rational. Every minute wasted now will cause your family more suffering. I will give them some medicine to stop the bleeding. Hurry and take them to the county hospital."
Zhao's mother was at a loss. She could only nod blankly. She no longer dared to argue, knowing that following the doctor's advice was the right thing to do.
"Thank you, doctor, thank you. How much is this medicine? I don't have any money."
She cried out in distress. The doctor, seeing her pitiable state and the severe injuries of the two on the cart,
waved his hand and said, "I'll cover the cost of this medicine. Please hurry and take them to the county hospital."
"Thank you, thank you. You are truly a good person, a living Bodhisattva reborn."
As she spoke, she repeatedly bowed. The doctor waved his hands and turned to leave. Zhao's mother grabbed his wrist, looking directly into the doctor's eyes with a serious expression and asked:
"Doctor, can my son's... thing be reattached?"
The doctor looked at her, not knowing what to say, shook his head, and left.
Zhao's mother was stunned. She didn't even know when she had let go of the doctor's hand.
"How could this happen? How could this happen? The lineage of the Old Zhao family cannot be broken here! What will I tell the ancestors of the Zhao family when I pass on? Wuwuwu~"
Crying, she ran to the front of the cart, got on, and vigorously whipped the ox, rushing towards the county hospital.
She kept comforting herself, thinking the town doctor knew too little. There must be a way; he was just not skilled enough.
The big hospital would have a solution; her son couldn't become a eunuch. Otherwise, how would he find a wife, and what would he do with the rest of his life!
Upon reaching the county hospital, the two were immediately rushed into the emergency room. Zhao's mother couldn't see the doctors.
She could only pace restlessly outside, her heart troubled by questions that no one could answer.
A young nurse came to ask her to pay. Zhao's mother cried out in alarm,
"They haven't even been treated, and you want money already? I truly have no money. I'm from the Tomato Brigade, and my husband is the captain. Can we arrange to owe you the money? Please."
Several other family members nearby were drawn by the voice and came to watch the spectacle.
"Little girl, don't make it difficult for her. I see this madam truly has no money. Aren't you nurses the kindest?"
"It's not a matter of kindness; it's hospital policy. I'm just doing my job according to the rules. Madam, please don't make it difficult for me."
"Are you refusing to treat me just because I have no money? This is a matter of life and death! How can your heart be so black?"
As she spoke, she lunged towards the young nurse, intending to hit her.
The nurse skillfully dodged, her face cold. "This is a hospital, not a place for you to act unruly. Go back and raise the money quickly. The fees must be paid by tonight."
With that, she left, ignoring Zhao's mother and the onlookers.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. That iron rice bowl sure gives them authority. Sister, I advise you to go home and raise money quickly. Hospitals deal with money."
"The young lady isn't wrong; she's just following the rules. Sister, don't cry anymore; crying won't bring money. You should hurry home and see if you can borrow some."
Everyone chimed in, and Zhao's mother felt her head buzzing. With weak legs, she walked outside.
Seeing the bloody mass on the ox cart, Zhao's mother felt as if the sky had fallen.
She grabbed the thing and ran desperately towards the operating room, then frantically pounded on the operating room door.
"Open the door, open the door quickly! There's still something very important that needs to be taken in. Let me in!"
Security personnel immediately came to restrain her. "Don't cause a scene here. The doctors are doing important work inside. Your actions will affect them. Whose family member is this? Is there anyone accompanying her?"
"How can someone be so unreasonable? If something truly goes wrong, they'll blame the doctors. Can't they get a sensible family member? They're really causing trouble."
Zhao's mother paid no attention to the pointing and whispering of the people nearby. She only wanted to send her son's future in.
"Don't hold me back, don't hold me back. Let me in, or I'll smash my head against this door."
"Sister, what exactly is this important item you need to send in? Why don't you find a doctor and see if they can make an exception for you? Making a scene like this won't achieve anything. It would be bad if they threw you out later."
"Yes, yes, tell us quickly."
Just as Zhao's mother was about to speak, she hesitated. Her intellect suddenly kicked in. If she said it here, would the matter get out? If it couldn't be reattached, how would her son live in the future?
Seeing her silence, everyone thought she was being unreasonable.
"I cannot say, but you must let me in. I want to see your director. This matter cannot be delayed further. Without this item, the work inside cannot be done."
The security personnel elegantly rolled their eyes. "Madam, whatever is needed inside the operating room, the attending doctor will say. Someone will come out to find it. It's not your place to worry. I know you're anxious, but this is a hospital, and you can't just cause a fuss. Your actions are affecting other patients and their families. Please stop causing trouble, or we will not be polite."
"Oh, I can't live anymore! You dare to threaten me? I've lived more than half my life and seen all sorts of people. This door must be opened for me today. Otherwise, otherwise, I won't leave."
With that, she sat down on the ground. The man did not indulge her and dragged her out directly.
Afterwards, he stood by the door, preventing Zhao's mother from entering again.