Chapter 7 Second Night

  Old Zhang Qihua's home is in the suburbs, and the hospital is just one of the two parallel suburban points surrounding Shenyang City. Every day after work, Old Zhang Qihua has to walk for several hours from the hospital to get back to his own home. However, by this time, a whole night had already passed, but Old Zhang hadn't arrived home yet, which made me feel extremely puzzled.

  Looking at the old man's character, he is a very upright person. Even if there are things that can't be stayed at home, he will return home to report a message. At this time, the old man didn't come back home, which seems a bit strange. If according to what Da Zhuang said, it would be even more impossible.

  I and Da Zhuang returned by the original road, walking for nearly two hours before returning to the vicinity of home. "Cough ~ I said Comrade Xiao Ke, we have not eaten for over ten hours, shall we go solve the problem of food and clothing first? The leader has said that we should let the people live a prosperous life, if we don't eat regularly it's not good, saying little is that we haven't eaten, saying more is that we are arguing with the leader." Before Da Zhuang could finish speaking, I immediately interrupted his momentum to continue talking, if I let him continue speaking, who knows what he would say, this kid can talk from Wu Zetian's ascension to the throne to the present.

  I discussed with Da Zhuang and decided to go to the most popular store on the street to eat some buns. Old Zhang's buns can be said to be a unique feature of our place. Da Zhuang and I ordered eight meat buns, and before we even ate them, we could smell the aroma of the meat emanating from them.

  The shop assistant had just brought the buns, and Da Zhuang immediately pounced on them like a starving tiger, not even using chopsticks, eating with his hands. Looking at Da Zhuang's wolfish appearance, I suddenly remembered that I had eaten at home last night before going to the hospital, while Da Zhuang was alone at home. At dinner time in the hospital, the food looked unappetizing, and it wasn't until now that he finally ate.

  "Slow down and eat, there's more if you want." As I said that, I picked up a bun and took a bite.

  We also had four leek-filled buns, and Da Zhuang and I were finally full. "This bun is too awesome, foreigners definitely can't make our kind of buns. I've eaten their food with friends before, but the taste is unbearable. There are so many people eating it, a plate of noodles costs a fortune. In my opinion, Chinese people are all about following the crowd, wherever there are more people, they'll squeeze in, without any consideration for themselves. They think that if they're with a big crowd, they can get a good deal, even if they don't, at least they have company, so they won't be at a loss. I think this way of thinking is wrong." Da Zhuang pulled out a small wooden pick from who-knows-where and started picking his teeth again as he continued his speech.

  "It's a pity you didn't go to college, I think if you had gone to college, now you would be giving speeches somewhere. Listening to Da Zhuang's words, I also feel very reasonable, but this idea has been settled for many years, and it is unrealistic to change suddenly."

  Listening to my words, Da Zhuang snorted and said, "That bird university didn't offer me a free ride back then, what a loss for them." When Da Zhuang and I took the college entrance exam together, his score was already very high. However, he had set his sights on one of the most prestigious universities in the country. Unfortunately, his score wasn't enough to get into that university. If only he had the money, the university would have definitely accepted him for further study. But Da Zhuang's family didn't have the means, so he ended up dropping out.

  "With a progressive thinker like you, it's indeed the university's loss for not admitting you. Let's set off in a while," I suggested.

  After hearing what I said, Da Zhuang fell silent for a moment "Ah, okay, if we're going, we should prepare some stuff too?"

  Seeing Da Zhuang's silent expression, I knew that this kid was somewhat resistant to continuing his shift at the hospital tonight. After all, what happened last night was shocking and terrifying for Da Zhuang, an atheist who never believed in ghosts. As for me, I wasn't resistant to such supernatural things because my grandfather had been instilling them in me since childhood.

  "Da Zhuang, I know you don't want to go back to that hospital again. Why don't you just head home?" I didn't want to make things difficult for him, and besides, Da Zhuang is a good friend of mine. As for going on duty at the hospital tonight and running into that female ghost again, what happened was beyond my expectations. I don't understand this kind of supernatural thing, all I know is what my grandfather told me when I was little. I don't know about deeper things. Besides, I had no idea what would happen tonight. If something really did happen, my conscience wouldn't be at peace either.

  After hearing my words, Da Zhuang fell silent for a moment, then said "Damn it, am I Li Donghai that kind of coward? I'm actually curious about that thing too, tonight I'll definitely go." He even put on a brave face.

  Looking at Da Zhuang's comical appearance, I couldn't help but chuckle. "You're right on the money, I don't guarantee safety."

  "Cough... I told you so, but let's prepare some stuff for today just in case." Da Zhuang patted my shoulder and said.

  Then, I and Da Zhuang went to his home and got two defensive objects. Da Zhuang took a dagger and repeatedly sharpened it on the stone windowsill. "I said, Comrade Xiao Ke, you're a swordsman, what's with the iron rod? Why not take your sword instead?"

  I have admired my grandfather since I was a child. Before my grandfather joined the warlord, he could be said to be strong and agile, proficient in some fighting skills, and very skilled in swordsmanship. So at the age of 13, I started learning swordsmanship with an old friend of my grandfather's, and I learned for seven years. After my grandfather's old friend passed away, I practiced swordsmanship by myself.

  "Alright, this will do. If I go back to get my sword, my parents will definitely think I'm going out to find someone to settle a score with and they'll stop me for sure at this late hour." As I said that, I took the iron rod that was as long as my arm and swung it a couple of times, feeling quite comfortable with it.

  After bustling about for a while, Da Zhuang and I picked up the things we were going to bring and wrapped them in black cloth, preparing to set off for the hospital.

  This time, the mindset of going to the hospital is completely different from the first time. The first time I went to the hospital was with a working attitude, but this time it's completely different, as the saying goes "Knowing there are tigers in the mountain, yet still heading towards the tiger mountain"

  In the past, it was like listening to my grandfather telling stories about his life experiences and encounters. This couldn't help but evoke a sense of comparison in me. I remember my grandfather saying that everyone will encounter ghosts, but some people see them while others don't. If a ghost wants someone to see it, they will; if not, even the most perceptive person will only feel like something is off or different, and they won't actually see the ghost.

  We hadn't walked far before we arrived at the hospital.