Chapter 45: Your Fingers Must Have Dug Through Filth Before

Ma Xuemei was startled; she took a step back and whispered, "No, thank you. I'll sit in the back."
The crew-cut man chuckled and said, "The back is bumpy, and there's a smell of gasoline. Come on, it's just me here, why don't you sit inside? It'll be fine."
"I won't. I'll... I'll sit in the front." Ma Xuemei's heart pounded wildly. She had often heard that her hometown was full of ruffians, but had never encountered them herself. Unexpectedly, on this trip home, she had run right into them.
Terrified, Ma Xuemei turned to walk toward the front, hoping the driver might offer her some safety.
No sooner had she turned than a young man with a scorpion tattoo on his neck stood up, blocking her path, grinning, "Sister, when my boss invites you to sit, just sit. Don't be so shy, alright? My boss is an educated man, he likes chatting with girls like you who study."
"That's right," the crew-cut added, "Come here, girl."
Ma Xuemei was on the verge of tears. She had never known that ruffians could be so brazen, and all the people around remained silent, obviously afraid.
Song Kai sighed. Such a pretty girl was being bullied, and no one dared stand up for her—a true lack of chivalry or heroic spirit.
Song Kai stood, gently tapped Ma Xuemei on the shoulder.
Ma Xuemei gasped, whipping her head around to look at him.
Song Kai smiled at her. "Don't be nervous. There's an empty seat next to me. Have a seat."
Ma Xuemei looked at Song Kai. His face was clean and fair, the look of a sunny youth.
She nodded quickly and sat beside him by the window.
Song Kai sat down as if nothing had happened.
Li Niusan was furious. Damn it, finally a gorgeous girl boarded the bus, and he just wanted to chat with her—yet some fool dared interfere?
In this train station, on his turf, someone had the audacity to challenge his authority! Was there no law, no justice?
Li Niusan strode over to Song Kai’s seat, reached down to touch Song Kai’s hair, and said, "Buddy, I’m in a good mood today, so I won’t beat you up. If you give me your seat, I’ll let it go. How about it?"
Song Kai looked up at Li Niusan. "Brother Niu, could you take your stinking hand away? Look, your fingernails are filthy, like you just dug out manure. Don’t put it on my hair."
Some passengers couldn’t help laughing, while others paled, worried for Song Kai.
Li Niusan’s face turned purple with rage. He hadn’t expected Song Kai to dare talk back—especially in front of Ma Xuemei.
This bastard could not be forgiven!
Li Niusan, always short-tempered, raised his foot and kicked toward Song Kai’s chest, cursing, "Damn it, I tried being nice and you got cocky!"
Ma Xuemei shrank against the window in fear.
Song Kai curled his lip and then kicked Li Niusan square in the groin. Though his kick came after Li Niusan’s, it landed first, hitting directly at his weak spot.
Li Niusan howled, collapsed in the aisle clutching himself.
The young man with yellow hair saw his boss was beaten and immediately pulled out a knife, advancing on Song Kai.
"You’re dead! How dare you mess with Brother Niu? I’ll bleed you dry today!" He wanted to impress Li Niusan and wouldn’t miss the opportunity.
But he was skinny and short, barely a hundred pounds.
Song Kai kicked him; the knife fell to the aisle with a clatter, and the young man rolled twice, crashing into Li Niusan.
Song Kai picked up the knife. "Get out!"
The yellow-haired youth gasped for air, trying to speak but his chest hurt too much.
Li Niusan glanced at Song Kai, pointed a finger, then turned and staggered off the bus, still clutching himself.
Seeing the commotion, the driver was terrified Li Niusan might return with reinforcements and smash the bus. As soon as Li Niusan got off, the driver started the engine and sped toward Donghu Town.
Song Kai put the knife in his bag and sat back down.
Ma Xuemei turned and looked at him, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thank you!"
Song Kai waved it off. "It was nothing. I didn’t expect these thugs to be so brazen."
Ma Xuemei patted her chest, still shaken. "Yes, thank goodness for you, otherwise I’d have died of fright. My name is Ma Xuemei—let’s add each other on WeChat! Oh, by the way, are you going to Donghu Town? Once we get there, let me treat you to our famous Enshi Tujia beef soup, okay?"
Suddenly, he found himself sharing a seat with a lovely girl. Song Kai felt pretty good about it.
They chatted for a while, and then Song Kai remembered his purpose. "Do you know a tea shop in the northeast corner of your town?"
Ma Xuemei smoothed her hair. "There are lots of tea shops in our town, all selling Jade Dew Tea."
"It’s one set up with a wooden shed," Song Kai said, emphasizing, hoping she would know.
Ma Xuemei shook her head. "You can ask my dad. He’s lived in the town for decades—he knows everything, even where the frogs croak."
"Good." Song Kai breathed a sigh of relief.
An hour later, the bus wound its way around a mountain, the scenery growing lush and majestic.
When they arrived at Donghu Town, the minibus stopped. Ma Xuemei, carrying her schoolbag, walked with Song Kai toward the town.
"There’s my house up ahead. Come on, anything you want to ask, just talk to my dad," Ma Xuemei said, pointing to a two-story villa.
Song Kai glanced over and laughed, "Wow, your family’s pretty well-off, living in a villa."
"We built it ourselves, it’s cheap. You couldn’t even buy a toilet in Beijing for that price," Ma Xuemei squinted and smiled, finding the chat with Song Kai pleasant.
Song Kai followed her into the yard.
"Mom! I’m home!" Ma Xuemei called out.
A slightly plump woman came out, hurried over to Ma Xuemei, saying, "I told you not to come home, why did you?"
"I wanted to see Dad. Didn’t you say he hurt his leg? How is he now?"
Hearing her daughter, Liang Shan’s eyes filled with tears.
Ma Xuemei was startled, "Mom, why are you crying? I just came home, you don’t have to be so moved! Hehe." She hadn’t realized something was wrong, still smiling.
Song Kai sensed trouble and tapped Ma Xuemei’s shoulder, signaling her to stop talking.
Ma Xuemei froze, then realized something was amiss. She hurriedly asked, "Mom, what happened? Did you lie to me about Dad? Where is he? Don’t tell me he’s already..."
"Don’t talk nonsense. Your father’s in the room, but... but he still can’t walk. We’ve tried several hospitals, but nothing helps," Liang Shan wiped her eyes.
Ma Xuemei ran into the house.
Inside, the air was thick with the smell of medicine.
A middle-aged man lay on the bed, his right leg bruised.
Ma Xuemei saw her father and rushed to him, tears streaming down her face, "Dad! You said your leg wasn’t serious, but it looks terrible! Why are there so many bruises—is it from being beaten?"
Ma Dong hadn’t expected his daughter to return. He managed a smile, "It’s fine, really. Just fell down—old bones are brittle, and after the fall, it just won’t heal."
"Dad! You’re still saying it’s fine. What did the doctor say? Tell me everything!" Ma Xuemei was anxious.
Song Kai went over, glanced at Ma Dong's leg, noting the obvious bruises. Not only his leg, but there were faint scars on his arms and body, only visible to a careful eye.
Song Kai understood at once. Clearly, he had been beaten.
Ma Dong said, "Really, it’s nothing. I fell a few days ago, but somehow, the leg just won’t get better, and the bruising keeps spreading. The doctors don’t know what’s wrong."
Song Kai examined the bruising and said, "Uncle, you can’t delay any longer. If you do, your leg will start to fester."
"Ah?" Ma Xuemei looked up at Song Kai, "Is it that serious?"
Ma Dong also looked at Song Kai in surprise. "Xuemei, who is this?"
"He’s my... my classmate, from the same school," Ma Xuemei lied casually. She looked at Song Kai, "Song Kai, what’s wrong with my dad’s leg?"
Song Kai nodded at Ma Dong. "Hello, Uncle Ma. I’ll be straight with you. Your leg’s been injured for half a month, right?"
Ma Dong nodded.
Song Kai continued, "You were hurt all over at first, right? But now, the bruises elsewhere have healed, except for your leg, which is getting worse—you can’t walk anymore, correct?"
"Yes, how did you know?" Ma Dong was astonished.
Song Kai smiled. "My family has practiced traditional medicine for generations. Uncle Ma, it’s lucky I came with Ma Xuemei today—otherwise, your leg would soon need amputation. This isn’t just a surface injury, it’s a problem with the meridians."
"Meridians? What does that mean?"
Song Kai explained, "It means the channels in your leg are damaged, so blood and energy can’t flow. Meridians are a concept in traditional medicine—modern medical equipment can’t detect this, so Western doctors don’t understand it."
"Can it be treated?" Liang Shan came over, gripping Song Kai’s arm desperately—she had nearly lost hope, believing her husband would be bedridden for life.
Song Kai nodded. "It can. We just need to clear the meridians. I’ll give Uncle Ma a massage first, and Auntie, please prepare two doses of herbs—I’ll write the prescription."
"Alright! Thank you so much, Song Kai," Liang Shan said, her hands trembling with excitement.
After writing a prescription to restore the meridians and invigorate the blood, Song Kai began to massage Ma Dong. The injury was on the Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian at the waist, and the meridians in the leg had shriveled from days of poor blood flow. Song Kai had to massage each one to restore circulation.
In traditional medicine, energy travels through the meridians, moving blood; blood carries energy, and both are essential. With the meridian damaged, energy couldn't flow, so blood was stagnant.
After an hour of massage, the herbal medicine had finished boiling. Ma Dong drank the decoction, sat up, and tentatively walked a few steps.
He looked at Song Kai in delight, "Amazing! Young man, you’re a miracle worker!"
"Father!" Ma Xuemei grumbled from the side, "Why are you calling him that? He’s my classmate..."
Ma Dong laughed sheepishly. "I got carried away. Song Kai, you two must be tired from the journey. Rest and get ready to eat. Wife, make something delicious."
Liang Shan kept wiping her tears, overjoyed that her husband had recovered—she’d thought his leg would be amputated, since the hospital couldn’t find the cause and he couldn’t walk, as if he were a cripple.
Liang Shan agreed, hurrying to cook.
Song Kai quickly said, "Uncle Ma, you’re too polite. Oh, right, Uncle, I want to ask you something: at the north end of town, is there a tea shop made of a wooden shed—do you know it..."