Chapter 5 Section 5

  Cheng Zhou followed the police to the hospital for a check-up. He didn't expect Wang Da Gang and his wife to compensate him for his medical expenses; that couple looked like they were up to no good, trying to get money from them was like waiting for pies to fall from the sky. He was genuinely worried about his body and afraid of internal injuries.

  While having a check-up in the hospital, Cheng Zhou took the opportunity to ask the old woman who was following them... perhaps she should be called Ah Ru?

  A'zhu told Chengzhou that because the two families had never been in contact before, her granddaughter Xiaomei did not know at first that Wang Xindong was the son of Wang Dagang and his wife. They met by chance, fell in love, but after a long time, Xiaomei found out that Wang Xindong was not sincere with her, so they quarreled several times. Later, when she discovered he was Wang Dagang's son, she decided to break up with him.

  But Wang Xindong did not want to break up with Xiaomei, and repeatedly came to pester her, making vows and promises that he loved her so much that he could not live without her, and that their feelings should not be affected by the grudges of their parents. Wang Xindong also promised Xiaomei that they would live separately from their parents in the future.

  Xiaomei, on the other hand, felt disgusted because he was Wang Dage's son, but at the same time couldn't let go of his feelings for Wang Xindong. After Wang Xindong made a vow, Xiaomei began to hesitate and have second thoughts.

  Then Wang Xindong proposed to take Xiaomei to the Cave of True Words, saying that in the cave, it can be verified whether what he said was true or false. Xiaomei came back and told me about this, I listened to the location of the Cave of True Words and told Xiaomei that Wang Xindong was cheating her, there is no such thing as the Cave of True Words. But Xiaomei said she had checked online and said that there really is a Cave of True Words, so she blamed me for not wanting her and Wang Xindong to break up and lying about it. Azhu felt very sad, the train conductor put his arm around her shoulder.

  "Where is Zhenyuan Cave?" Chengzhou asked.

  "It's right behind our village!" As soon as Ah Ru said this, the train conductor looked at her in surprise, "How is that possible? There's no such thing as a True Words Cave where we are."

  "I also told Xiaomei this, but she didn't believe me."

  The train conductor furrowed his brow, "Could that True Words Cave be the lava cave behind our village? If it is, then Master Cheng won't have to run back and forth, and my dead body will also be there."

  Cheng Zhou asked the train conductor: "Didn't you find anything unusual there?"

  The train conductor shook his head, "I haven't been back for a long time, it's just a dark and deep pit there, I stayed there for ten years and that was enough, in those ten years, I couldn't leave the vicinity of my tomb too far, every day... at least on the train there is some human presence."

  Chengzhou thought of the train being cooped up in that small space for ten years and couldn't help but shudder, "Don't people from your village usually go there?"

  The train conductor shook his head again, "Occasionally, some people go there for a secret date, and some kids run to test their courage, but generally, no one goes there. The cave is damp, gloomy, with many hidden passages and puddles inside, it's easy to get trapped if you're not careful. The village elders won't let the kids go there. There are legends in the village that say the place is haunted or has strange creatures, but I've never heard of anyone verifying whether these stories are true or false."

  Chengzhou hesitated for a moment, "It seems that no matter what, we'll have to go to the lava cave. Do you have a direct train there?"

  "No." The train conductor replied, "Our village is quite remote. To get to our village, you have to take the train to Z City first, then take a large bus from Z City to the town, and finally transfer to a public transportation to get to the village."

  Chengzhou thought for a moment, took out his ID card and wallet, and asked Sutu to go to the train station first to buy tickets to Z City. In order not to delay work on Monday, he planned to take an overnight train to rush to Z City.

  Situ left, and Hongye was not by his side either - that little devil had let go of his hand as soon as they entered the hospital, saying he wanted to get some food, and still hadn't returned until now. Chengzhou could only wait alone at the examination room door for the results of the injury examination.

  Someone sat down beside Cheng Zhou.

  Because there were police accompanying him, special cases were handled specially, and Chengzhou's injury report came out quickly.

  It's basically just flesh wounds, nothing that has damaged bones or internal organs. Cheng Zhou felt a wave of relief wash over him once he had confirmed this.

  But when he saw the photos taken by the doctor, Cheng Zhou was still startled. He didn't feel it himself, but looking at the photos, there were bruises and scratches on his face and neck, and blood stains from being scratched, which looked like serious injuries.

  Suddenly, Chengzhou felt that there was something extra in his pocket. He reached in and touched two train tickets and his wallet.

  Situ is back.

  The person sitting next to Cheng Zhou stood up and pushed open the door to enter the examination room opposite.

  When the police asked him if he wanted to sue Wang Dagang and his wife, Cheng Zhou hesitated for a moment. He was afraid of trouble, going to court would take time, and he had to run around, all for some medical expenses, which he truly felt wasn't worth it.

  But Sze-toh directly grabbed his hand and handed the medical examination report over to the police.

  "No matter what the outcome is, what's important is the attitude. If everyone thinks that going to court is a hassle, then those who are at a disadvantage will always be at a disadvantage, and those who act recklessly will become even more unscrupulous. I've seen many people like Wang Dagang and his wife - they look tough, but once the police really come knocking on their door, they'll soften up faster than anyone else."

  After listening to Si Tu's words, Cheng Zhou felt that they made sense. So when he handed over the medical examination report to the police, he said with justice and righteousness: "I don't expect Wang Da Gang and his wife to compensate me for my medical expenses, I'm not interested in that. But I hope they can learn a lesson from this and know that this is a country ruled by law, not one where they can do whatever they want."

  The police nodded and patted his shoulder, asking him to leave a detailed contact information, saying that they would notify him of the processing result.

  It's finally over with this matter.

  "Where's Hongye? He said he was going to find something to eat, how come he hasn't returned yet?" Chengzhou knew that his son was different from ordinary children, but he couldn't help feeling worried.

  Xīng Xīng smiled, materialized, and was about to speak to reassure him when he suddenly paused, changed his mind, and said: "I'll go take a look. You wait here, don't run around, we'll be back soon."

  Cheng Zhou had no choice but to sit down on a chair in the hospital corridor.

  He started yawning after sitting down for a while.

  A young doctor in a white coat came out of the examination room opposite, locked the door with a key and walked past Cheng Zhou.

  Chengzhou felt something was off, thought for a moment, and then it clicked - he had seen a patient go in earlier, but that person didn't seem to have come out?

  But perhaps he came out when he was talking to the police and didn't notice.

  Cheng Zhou no longer put this matter in his heart, and lazily turned around with his hands on his shoulders.

  This is the third floor of the hospital building, and the orthopedic department is on this floor. Normally at this time, the orthopedic department would not be open, and patients with injuries are usually treated in the emergency room on the first floor. Because he needed to take a film, he was taken up to the third floor.

  Cheng Zhou looked at the quiet and deserted corridor, suddenly starting to regret that he should have told Si Tu to go to the first floor hall to wait, there was no one here, sitting alone in the middle of the night was undoubtedly a test of courage.

  The drowsiness that had emerged due to fatigue also disappeared without a trace because of the hospital's unique chill at midnight.

  "Ka da." The door of the examination room opposite suddenly made a noise, as if someone was vigorously twisting the doorknob behind it.

  Cheng Chou looked at the opposite side.

  "Cough." Another one.

  Then, the door of the examination room quietly opened halfway.

  Inside is pitch black.

  No one came out of the door.

  Ke Chengzhou always felt that there was a person standing between the light and darkness, that person stood at the edge of the open door, perhaps half of his body was still hidden behind the door.

  "Ah-choo." A noise also came from a door next to the examination room.

  Chengzhou gazed at that door.

  The door also opened silently.

  Cheng Zhou suddenly got up, he thought it was better for him to go downstairs and wait.

  But just as he stood up, the door of the consulting room next to him also made a "creak" and slowly opened.

  Chengzhou clenched his fists tightly, the stairs were just in front of him, and it would take less than ten seconds to run over.

  "Ka-chunk." Another door opened.

  Chengzhou didn't look around and immediately ran towards the stairs.

  "Clang, clang." One door after another opened as he ran past.

  We're here! The staircase is right in front of us!

  Chengzhou sped up.

  "Dad!"

  Chengzhou abruptly stopped in his tracks, almost colliding with Hongye who was walking up from the stairs.

  Cheng Chou saw his son and immediately felt at ease, then loudly called out: "Hong Ye!"

  "Red Leaf looked up at him, 'What's wrong?'"

  "Those doors..." Cheng Zhou turned his head back, but was choked with voice when he saw the situation in the corridor. In his line of sight, all the doors looked closed just fine.

  Arzu and Locomotive stood in the corridor, looking at him with a very strange gaze.

  Cheng Chou exhaled and rubbed his forehead. What's going on? Was it an illusion? Or was someone intentionally scaring him?

  "Red Leaf grasped his hand, 'Come with me.'"

  "Where are you going? Have you seen Situ? He's looking for you." Chengzhou followed Hongye downstairs.

  "I didn't see him, I found a place that's quite interesting, and I think you might like it." Hong Ye tilted her head and smiled at him.

  "Listen up, there's nothing interesting in the hospital, I'm warning you, don't scare your old man, or else... watch out for your butt!"

  Hong Ye didn't say anything and just pulled him down.

  Cheng Zhou grasped Hong Ye's small hand, "Why is your hand so cold? Are you chilly?"

  Maple leaves shake their heads.

  Cheng Zhou felt a strange and unusual sensation in his heart, but he didn't take it to heart. Hong Ye was by his side, what did he have to be afraid of?

  The staircase was very long, and Cheng Zhou felt that he had walked up more than three floors of stairs, but when he looked carefully, they had just passed the second floor.

  "Red Leaf, where exactly are you taking me?"

  "You'll know when you go, hehe."

  "......You laugh so ridiculously, like a rooster's crow." Cheng Zhou scolded his son.

  He cast her a sidelong glance.

  Cheng Zhou inadvertently saw his son's white eyes and his heart was startled.

  Chengzhou suddenly raised his hand and shouted at the small spirit plate on his sleeve: "Situ, Hongye is back, you should hurry back too."

  Chengzhou's voice fell, and he felt his palm tighten, as Hongye grasped his hand firmly.

  Chengzhou's sense of unease grew stronger, he felt that Hongye seemed to have quickened her pace, but they still hadn't reached the first floor!

  "By the way, Hong Ye, how many gold coins are left from what I gave you?" Cheng Zhou asked casually.

  Hong Ye was taken aback for a moment, then furrowed her brow and asked in return: "What's the point of asking this?"

  "I want to buy a car, but I don't have enough money on hand, so I'd like to exchange two more gold coins."

  "Oh, then wait till I get back to you." Hong Ye pulled him into the boat and urged him: "Hurry up, we're almost there."

  Cheng Zhou stood still and forced a smile, saying: "Ah, I remember now. The doctor just told me to go to the emergency room on the first floor to get my injury report. Why don't we go there first?"

  "Not good!" Hong Ye turned her head and stared into Cheng Zhou's eyes, "You've already handed over the injury report to the police, what other report do you want to take?"

  Chengzhou really wanted to ask him, "How did you know I've already handed in the medical report to the police? Did you see it?"

  But in the end he didn't say anything.

  The stairs extended down floor by floor, and after walking for a long time, they finally saw the sign of the first floor.

  The red leaves drifted with the current and turned to the right.

  Chengzhou didn't give up and wanted to try his best. He said, "Hongye, I want to go to the restroom for a moment, can you wait for me?"

  "Okay, there's a restroom just ahead, follow me."

  "No, I think there's something on the left..." Cheng Zhou's words were cut off as Hong Ye pulled him towards the right corridor.

  Chengzhou laughed dryly, "Hongye, you're really strong."

  "Ahah, we've arrived at the restroom, you go in." Hongye indeed brought him to a restroom door.

  Cheng Zhou looked at the dimly lit bathroom and hesitated, standing at the door and smiling awkwardly, "Uh, I don't think I want to go in anymore."

  Hong Ye turned her head to look at him.

  Cheng Zhou avoided his gaze, and for the first time, he found that Hong Ye's eyes could be described as terrifying, even though they were clearly of the same shape...

  "Let's go, we're almost there," said Hong Ye, not getting angry, and pulled Cheng Zhou to continue walking forward.

  Cheng Chou wanted to pull back his right hand which was tightly grasped by Hong Ye, but she held on too tightly and he couldn't pull it out no matter how hard he tried.

  Soon, Hong Ye stopped him at the door of a treatment room.

  Chengzhou glanced at the sign hanging on the door of the clinic, which read "Internal Medicine 3".

  Hong Ye grasped the door handle and pushed open the door.

  This is a seemingly normal clinic.

  Hong Ye pushed him in with a smile, and the author has something to say: Thank you 5isoga, Han Cha Zi, Jie Ming, Jie Ming's family for the landmine aa.