Chapter 3: The Journey to Jiangbei and an Unexpected Encounter

Since Lin Duo was only fourteen this year, he lacked an ID card and thus couldn’t purchase train tickets. He opted instead to take a public bus directly to the long-distance bus station.

As it was a weekday morning, the queue in front of the ticket counter was not long.

“Auntie, please give me a ticket for the next bus to Jiangbei City.”

The ticket seller eyed Lin Duo suspiciously. “Going by yourself? Where are your parents?”

“I… I have an aunt there. She’ll pick me up at the station,” Lin Duo lied subtly.

The ticket seller didn’t question him further. “You’re just a child traveling alone, so be careful, especially of strangers who try to talk to you. Here, the 8:15 AM bus, 34 yuan.”

Lin Duo sat on a chair in the waiting hall, placing his backpack on the empty seat beside him. The wound on his back simply couldn’t withstand too much friction.

Jiangbei City was the provincial capital of Lin Duo’s province. Only from there could he catch a long-distance bus heading south.

The bus seats were mostly full, largely occupied by migrant workers. The person next to Lin Duo, one such worker, proactively greeted him. “Little sister, going to see relatives?”

Being mistaken for a girl by a stranger again made Lin Duo feel a little gleeful inside. However, he hadn’t let down his guard against strangers, so he merely nodded slightly.

The migrant worker big brother didn’t have much interest in chatting either. He leaned his head back and was soon snoring.

Soon, the bus started, gradually departing from the familiar city where Lin Duo had lived for fourteen years.

Throughout the journey, Lin Duo kept his eyes fixed on the window, filled with wonder. In his fourteen years, he had never once left his hometown city.

His furthest trip had been a school autumn outing to a wildlife park in the distant suburbs. Now, leaving his familiar city for the first time, Lin Duo felt a touch of apprehension.

Yet, this feeling was overshadowed by excitement. Children his age were always eager for adventure and new experiences.

About three hours later, the bus arrived at its destination. Lin Duo followed the stream of people out of the station.

He was startled by the sheer bustle of the station square. Everywhere his gaze fell, people teemed, and a cacophony of sounds echoed ceaselessly.

The streets were heavily congested, with impatient drivers blaring their horns. Nearby, several women brandished signs, eagerly touting for business. “Accommodation! Cheap rooms! Hey, little girl, looking for a place to stay?”

“No, no need!” Lin Duo waved his hands frantically, attempting to bypass the overly enthusiastic women. However, a surging crowd behind him abruptly bumped into him, sending him tumbling painfully to the ground.

“Hey, little sister, are you alright?” A warm, large hand pulled him up from the ground. Lin Duo looked up to see it was the migrant worker big brother who had sat next to him on the bus earlier.

The migrant worker big brother led him to a less crowded spot and sat him down. A bright smile spread across his tanned face. “Just sit here and wait; the person picking you up should be here soon. Don’t run around, there are many bad people here!”

How long had it been since someone had genuinely cared for him like this? Lin Duo’s eyes reddened slightly as he tugged at the corner of the migrant worker big brother’s shirt, just as he was about to stand. “Uncle, could you do me a favor? I’m looking for an inexpensive clinic.”

“A clinic? Where are you hurt?” The migrant worker big brother quickly sat back down, asking with concern.

Lin Duo hesitated for a long time before revealing part of the truth. “It’s my back; it’s both painful and itchy.”

The migrant worker big brother thought seriously for a moment. “A clinic, huh? I know one, run by someone from my hometown. They won’t scam you. If you trust me, come with me; if not, that’s fine too.”

Lin Duo had a premonition that leaving the wound on his back untreated would lead to problems. Moreover, given his circumstances, he couldn’t go to a regular hospital. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded.

So, the migrant worker big brother led the way, with Lin Duo following behind. He meticulously memorized the route, wary of being led to an isolated place.

Unexpectedly, the clinic was remarkably close. It was located in a residential building directly opposite the long-distance bus station.

A simple signboard hung by the building’s entrance. “Miracle Healer, A Modern Hua Tuo. Upstairs, turn left to Room 301.”

Inside the room sat a short-haired man in his early forties, looking quite energetic. When he saw the migrant worker big brother, he stood up in surprise. “Ergou, what brings you here? Looking for a card game?”

“Heh heh, no, I’m bringing you a patient. This little sister seems to have a back injury, can you take a look at her first?” After speaking, he turned to Lin Duo. “You can just call him Doctor Chen. He’s from my hometown, very reliable. Oh, and little sister, what’s your name?”

“My name is Lin Duo. Lin, like the character for ‘forest,’ and Duo, like the character for ‘many.'”

“Lin Duo… Lin Duo…” The migrant worker big brother repeated the name a few times. “Alright, I still need to report to my boss. Old Chen, make sure you give her a good look!”

The migrant worker big brother left, leaving Lin Duo and Doctor Chen sitting in the small living room. Doctor Chen noticed Lin Duo’s unease and chuckled. “Relax, little sister, my daughter back in the village is about your age. Go ahead and take off your shirt; let me see what’s going on.”

Lin Duo crossed his arms over his chest, a wary expression on his face.

Doctor Chen sighed. “How am I supposed to treat you like that? Don’t worry, I’m a doctor. Even though I don’t have a license, I’ve treated plenty of women. What intentions could I possibly have toward a young, undeveloped child like you?”

Lin Duo instinctively sensed that the other party harbored no ill will. He slowly lowered his guard and turned his back to Doctor Chen, taking off his shirt.

“My goodness, that’s a brutal beating!” Doctor Chen gasped, drawing a sharp breath. “No wonder you ran away from home; if I had parents like that, I’d leave too!”

Lin Duo had never mentioned his background, but the other man, a seasoned veteran of life, had seen through him at a glance.

“Girl, lie down first, and I’ll apply the ointment. It’s a good thing you came early, otherwise, it would most likely scar. For such a pretty girl to have several large, centipede-like scars on her back, what a pity that would be!”

Lin Duo had always been very particular about his body, often using his mother’s skincare products. At this moment, he couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. “Doctor, what… what can be done about this?”

“Heh heh, don’t worry. I have my special local remedy here; it works wonders for stopping bleeding and preventing scars!” Doctor Chen wasted no time, evenly applying the suspicious black solid-liquid mixture to Lin Duo’s back. “Make sure you don’t touch this ointment. Tomorrow, I’ll wash it off and reapply it for you. Three applications should be enough.”

“Then how will I put on my clothes?” Lin Duo asked, feeling a bit awkward, still maintaining his arms-crossed posture.

Doctor Chen pointed to the small bedroom nearby. “You’ll stay in this patient room for the next two days; don’t go out. I’ll prepare food for you. There’s a TV in the room, you can use it to pass the time.”

Thus, Lin Duo entered the bedroom, his upper body bare. The bedroom was not particularly clean, and a lingering tobacco smell permeated the air, but he had no other option. Fortunately, the curtains were drawn, which meant he wouldn’t have to constantly cover his chest with his hands.

Although Lin Duo had brought his phone, it remained in airplane mode, its SIM card long since discarded in a trash can at the bus station. He wanted to read a book, but the room was too dim, and the lightbulb flickered unsteadily. Consequently, he had no choice but to turn on the television and watch various dramas and news programs to pass the time.