After leaving Small White Poplar Gully, Li Long returned to the Wooden Cabin and began another day of the same busy routine.
By almost noon, the dozens of kilograms of fritillaria he had bought throughout the morning had been washed clean and laid out to dry. Li Long took a piece of meat that was nearly fully air-dried off the rope, ready to make lunch.
A man carrying a sack on his back approached from the southeast.
Li Long narrowed his eyes, a little surprised.
It was Qiu Bingyi. The last time he had come, he and his younger cousin had carried his cousin's son here in a panic, then ridden the tractor all the way to Qingshui River and finally to the County Seat.
Was it all over already?
When Qiu Bingyi reached him, Li Long asked:
"When did you get back? How's that nephew of yours? He's alive, right?"
"He's alive." Qiu Bingyi nodded. "The doctors treated him and amputated his lower leg. Luckily, they saved his life."
Li Long felt some regret, but there was nothing to be done. His snakebite medicine could, at most, help prevent problems in the early stages. By the time the two men had brought the young man here, his leg had already swollen up. Saving his life was already all they could have done.
"My cousin's watching him at the hospital. He's doing all right now. His leg's gone, but being alive is a good thing." Qiu Bingyi was fairly optimistic and had accepted reality. "I came back to pack up. We have to head home. This fritillaria is to repay the money you gave us to save his life. We really owe you."
"Forget it. He's alive, but you'll still need money later. I only said that at the time."