Xu Yi was very pleased with their assurances. Smiling, he said, "In that case, I'll leave the specific arrangements to you two. You may draw on any resources within the entire Anlu City God's Mansion. I only want results."
"Understood!"
Tu Min and Xie Hua replied solemnly.
On the westernmost edge of Xiaolin Town, in a side room of a crowded courtyard on the outskirts of Anlu, sixteen-year-old Li Xiaohua was lighting the stove by the faint light of dawn. Before long, bitter, fishy smoke came clawing through the kitchen, quickly taking it over, then rushed toward the inner room, where violent coughing rang out without pause.
"Mother, the medicine will be ready soon. Just hang on a little longer."
With his little face deathly pale, Li Xiaohua rubbed his reddened eyes and called hoarsely into the inner room.
"I... am fine... cough, cough..."
The woman in the inner room had barely managed to force out three words before her coughing turned heart-wrenching. Li Xiaohua hurried in and clumsily tried to give her water and pat her back, but the violent coughing would not stop. He was so anxious he was about to burst into tears.
Just then, someone pounded on the old front door, the noise deafening. "Huazi! Huazi! Come out, quick! Auntie can be saved! Auntie can be saved..."
Li Xiaohua flung open the door. His childhood friend, Liu Lin, stood outside. "All right, Linzi, I know you're worried for me. If you really want to help, hurry and bring your busted cart over. My mother's illness can't wait. Even if it costs me my life, I'm going to find a renowned doctor in the city to treat her."
Liu Lin, whose face was honest and plain, spoke excitedly. "I came to take Auntie into the city!