Only after the courtyard gate closed did Song Ning heft the old hen and head toward the hospital.
There was only one hospital in town. Once she got there, she could simply ask for Zhang Fen.
The nurse glanced at the old hen in her hand and nodded knowingly.
She warmly pointed Song Ning in the right direction.
Zhang Fen was the only patient assigned to a three-bed ward.
That was about the best treatment the town hospital could offer.
When Song Ning reached the ward door, she heard voices inside...
"Qianjin! Cough, cough... Once I'm discharged this time, I still want to go up the mountain and pray! Our family's luck has been awful this year!"
"What good does believing in that stuff do, woman? It's all feudal superstition!"
"How can I not believe it? Cough, cough... Tell me, why would Erniu set the house on fire out of nowhere? People say those who aren't right in the head have something uncanny about them. They don't do things for no reason! You'd better believe it!"
"Are you sure Erniu started the fire?"
"How many times have I told you? Cough, cough... I saw Erniu playing with fire, and then that stick rolled under the sofa. I thought the flame had gone out. Who knew the fire would later start from the sofa!"
Zhang Fen sighed. "Come to think of it, if that young girl hadn't come along at the end, Erniu and I would have died in the fire! Too bad she did a good deed without leaving her name..."
"Hmph! I, Yao Qianjin, have never believed in that nonsense! I suspect there's more to this than meets the eye..."
"Oh-Mayor Yao is right inside this ward! Miss, why aren't you going in?"
Song Ning had just heard that