Chapter 64 If I could travel back...

Chapter 64 If I could travel back...

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned, and their expressions immediately turned serious.

Cheng Lanzhou analyzed in a low voice: "The Black Hawk Gang members we encountered before were very well hidden and cautious. Given how chaotic the well water was being fought over, they probably wouldn't have joined in the frenzy."

If the Black Hawk Gang members haven't drunk the well water and haven't contracted cholera, then they are now a hidden danger within the group. If they were to strike while everyone is weakened, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“Whether they’ve had a drink or not, we have to be careful.” Jiang Shengan’s voice was low and hoarse. “As we continue our journey, we need to pay even more attention to our surroundings, especially when we’re resting at night. We must not let our guard down.”

They could only pray that the Black Hawk Gang wouldn't make a move at this critical juncture, but the dangers ahead were far greater than that.

After walking for a short while, a violent retching sound suddenly came from ahead. Someone collapsed heavily on the roadside, struggling but unable to stand up again.

The old doctor quickly stepped forward, squatted down to take the pulse and examine the eye sockets. After a moment, he stood up helplessly and shook his head slightly at the yamen runner.

The meaning behind that head shake couldn't be clearer.

It's hopeless.

The constable remained expressionless, simply waving his hand to direct the procession forward without pausing for even a moment.

The abandoned refugees lay on the ground, retching as they stretched out their hands toward the group, their voices as faint as a candle flickering in the wind.

"Save me... I can still live... Please..."

At this moment, everyone is preoccupied with their own problems, everyone is doing their best to keep moving forward, no one has any extra strength, and no one dares to stop.

As the Jiang family passed by, Jiang Yutang subconsciously turned her head to the side, pretending not to see the outstretched hand, and quickened her pace.

But just then, a cold, withered hand suddenly grabbed her ankle! She froze in fright and looked down sharply to see the refugee lying on the ground.

His eyes were sunken, his cheekbones prominent, and vomit still clung to the corners of his mouth. He gripped her ankles tightly, as if grasping at a last straw, repeatedly muttering, "Young lady... female doctor... I know you know medicine... please save me..."

The words "female doctor" were like a blunt knife, stabbing deeply into Jiang Yutang's heart.

Her heart felt as if it were being squeezed and tormented repeatedly, a lump stuck in her throat, unable to rise or fall, her whole body stiff and unable to move.

She glanced quickly at the man's vomit, which contained dark red blood. According to modern medical knowledge, this was already a symptom of late-stage cholera. Even with a specific drug, it might not be able to save him, let alone with only a few herbs available.

She couldn't save him.

Jiang Yutang closed her eyes tightly, and when she opened them again, all that remained in her eyes was a deep sense of helplessness.

She turned her head to the side, unable to bear looking into the man's pleading eyes, her voice trembling uncontrollably: "I'm sorry... I can't save you."

These words seemed to drain the last bit of strength from him. He slowly loosened his grip on her ankle and began to cry silently, tears mingling with grime from the corners of his mouth, filled with resentment and despair.

Jiang Yutang took the opportunity to walk away quickly, not daring to look back, as if some raging beast was chasing her.

After the group had walked a distance, she finally couldn't resist and quietly looked back.

Under the blue sky, the man lay alone on the empty yellow dirt road, his figure growing smaller and smaller until he became a blurry black dot, quietly awaiting death.

The man suddenly struggled to his feet, but just as he managed to stand up, he fell heavily back to the ground, his face turned in the direction they had left. His mouth opened and closed as if he were saying something, probably a plea for help.

Unfortunately, no one will ever hear it again.

Instantly, tears welled up uncontrollably and streamed down my face.

Jiang Yutang raised her hand to cover her mouth to stop herself from crying out loud, but her shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

She thought of her expired time-travel book and the dazzling array of medicines on the shelves of modern pharmacies, and her heart was filled with regret and helplessness.

At first, she only thought about protecting her family. As for what happened to others, that was their fate, and she had no right to get involved in the cause and effect.

But what just happened shattered her last shred of reason.

If the time-travel book were still usable, if she could go back, she would definitely buy enough medicine to save these people. But now, she can do nothing and can only watch helplessly as lives slip away before her eyes.

Don't look.

A steady voice suddenly sounded beside her, like a handful of warm water, gently extinguishing the bitterness surging in her heart, or like a thick palm, gently stroking the top of her head, dispelling some of the despair.

Jiang Yutang glanced to the side and realized that Cheng Lanzhou had slowed down at some point and was walking alongside her at the end of the group.

She hurriedly lowered her head, forcefully wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, and didn't say anything, but silently quickened her pace.

The sound of light footsteps came from behind. Cheng Daier helped Lin Shi catch up. Looking at her reddened eyes, she said in a tone that was not gentle: "Life and death are predestined. That person's death has nothing to do with you. You don't need to blame yourself for not being able to save him."

The words, meant to comfort her, came out with a coldness that seemed to mock her sentimentality.

Jiang Yutang was unsure how to react, but nodded gently with red eyes.

She knew the other person meant no harm; perhaps she was just a girl from a noble family who was used to the unpredictability of life and death and didn't know how to express her concern gently.

As they walked, Jiang Yutang gradually noticed that since the cholera outbreak, Cheng Lanzhou's family had always maintained a detached attitude towards the life and death of others, showing no pity or extra emotions, as if they had long since become accustomed to it.

Then, considering that they were originally from a military family, and had dealt with the battlefield year-round, and were used to the clash of swords and the pain of life and death, their calmness seemed reasonable.

Her gaze unconsciously shifted and landed on Cheng Lanzhou's left hand beside him.

It was a large, thick hand, unlike the slender hand of a weak scholar. The fingers were distinct and had a slightly blunt feel. The veins on the back of the hand were slightly protruding, as if it contained inexhaustible strength.

Just by looking at this hand, you can imagine what he looked like on the battlefield.

Grasping his longsword, he fought bravely against the enemy, his comrades falling around him, and the roars of the enemy before his eyes.

How many times must Cheng Lanzhou have experienced the life-and-death separation of his comrades-in-arms, and witnessed countless lives slip away before his eyes, to cultivate such a calm and composed demeanor in the face of adversity?

Jiang Yutang suddenly felt a surge of admiration mixed with a barely perceptible pity.

As the sun completely set, night began to fall.

The people in the group were too exhausted to continue. Their steps were unsteady, and even the yamen runners were too weak to shout. They could only order the group to find a flat place to rest.

A campfire was lit, and its faint light illuminated everyone's tired faces.

Those with an appetite took out their remaining dry rations and nibbled on them. Those without an appetite simply lay down on the straw mats that had been laid out, closed their eyes to rest, and didn't even have the strength to speak.

Jiang Yutang sat on a rock not far from her family, looking melancholy, and reached into her clothes to touch the book. After a moment, nothing happened, she withdrew her hand, tilted her head back, and sighed.

Looking around, she noticed that weeds were gradually appearing, indicating that they were gradually moving away from the arid area.

Will I be able to reach the county town smoothly tomorrow?