Chapter 111: Induced Vomiting, Burning Charcoal

She noticed that her husband’s body carried no trace of alcohol; instead, there was a faint scent of blood. Under the dim light, she saw blood beginning to trickle from the corner of his mouth, which terrified her beyond measure.

“Husband, what’s wrong with you? Don’t scare me like this,” she called out almost in a scream, her voice tearing with distress.

Zhang Dagang seemed to regain some clarity. He forced a smile and stammered, “Wife, I’m sorry to you, to our son, and to our daughter. From now on, you must take good care of yourself. Our children have their own destinies; you needn’t worry too much about them.”

“Husband!”

Her torn voice reached the nearby villagers, who soon hurried over. At the same time, Wei Chunlan was already waiting at the village entrance for a vehicle, with two educated youths helping carry her belongings for her departure. Han Li, as usual, was about to leave for work when the bell rang.

However, before reaching the grain-drying yard, he saw many villagers running toward Zhang Dagang’s home.

“What’s going on?”

“No idea, but with that sound, something must be wrong.”

“Quick, quick! It’s early morning, so it must be serious. Let’s hurry and see if we can help.”

Han Li ran along with the villagers. Upon arrival, the scene was chaotic. Someone was already giving Zhang Dagang an emetic solution.

“Why would Zhang Dagang suddenly take rat poison?” one asked.

“Who knows? He was working in the field yesterday, and today he’s taken rat poison. Could there be a connection?”

Hearing that, Han Li noticed buckets full of emetic solution inside the house. Someone was using a ladle to pour it down Zhang’s throat, spilling a large amount on the floor, filling the room with a foul stench.

Despite the large quantity administered, Zhang Dagang barely managed to vomit.

“This won’t do. Keep pouring. We need him to vomit forcefully,” Han Li said, recalling what his master once taught him about stimulating vomiting to incapacitate someone.

It wasn’t the right time for forceful blows, which might leave marks. But using a needle to stimulate pressure points was acceptable.

Ignoring the mess on the floor, Han Li pushed through the crowd and knelt beside Zhang Dagang, shouting loudly, “Everyone, step back! Quickly get some strong soapy water and bring me a sewing needle!”

“Han, this is a matter of life and death. Don’t joke around now.”

“How could I joke at a time like this? While you’re giving him the emetic, I want to use the needle to stimulate a pressure point to help him vomit more thoroughly. Also, get a cart ready to take him to the hospital. Inducing vomiting alone isn’t enough; hospital treatment is essential.”

“I have soap at home. I’ll prepare soapy water right away.”

“Han, you know acupuncture?”

“No, I don’t practice acupuncture. I only know how to stimulate vomiting points.”

“In such a serious situation, who cares about that? Everyone, clear the way. Don’t just cry here—get that needle out quickly.”

“My house is close; I’ll bring the soap.”

“Hurry up, stop dawdling.”

“The one from Zhang’s family is already getting it. She won’t hear you now anyway.”

Han Li didn’t wait idly for the needle. He bent his index finger slightly and pressed it firmly on Zhang Dagang’s Zhongwan and Tiantu points.

The Tiantu point near the Adam’s apple was lightly stimulated; the focus was mainly on the Zhongwan point.

The Zhongwan point lies on the upper abdomen’s midline and can be manipulated to speed up vomiting.

Gagging began. The emetic solution already inside, combined with Han Li’s continuous stimulation, finally caused Zhang Dagang to vomit forcefully.

The room’s stench worsened, a blend of emetic and stomach acids, rivaling the worst biochemical weapons.

“He’s vomiting! There’s hope now.”

“Yeah, once he vomits, there’s hope.”

“The soapy water is ready—a big basin full.”

Han Li instructed, “Two people, pour the soapy water into him. The more, the better. Bring me the needle quickly.”

Village Chief Zhao and Captain Liang arrived, surprised Zhang Dagang had reached this stage.

Han Li grabbed Zhang’s hand while others poured soapy water into his mouth. Afterward, Han Li gently inserted the needle into the Neiguan point on Zhang’s forearm.

(Notably, these pressure points to induce vomiting are purely fictional and should not be taken literally.)

Soon, Zhang Dagang began vomiting again. By then, the village cart had arrived.

“The cart is here.”

“Then don’t wait—carry Zhang Dagang onto it immediately,” said Chief Zhao.

“Han, how about you come along?” Captain Liang asked.

Han Li shook his head. “I only have these few skills. I won’t be much help.”

Chief Zhao said, “You should come anyway. Maybe he’ll vomit more on the way.”

With both leaders insisting, Han Li reluctantly accompanied the cart to the county hospital.

The jolting ride, whipped along by the driver’s cracking whip, caused everyone to bounce repeatedly.

Along the way, when other carts approached, people stepped aside immediately, allowing this urgent carriage to pass—no road rage in this era.

On one of the carts was Wei Chunlan, who lowered her head upon seeing the scene.

No one on Han Li’s cart noticed her. They were all Zhang Dagang’s acquaintances, anxious about the situation, with no time to observe others.

Han Li half-squatted, placing one of Zhang’s hands on his knee, using the jolting to stimulate further vomiting.

They bounced all the way to the county hospital.

Several people carried Zhang inside as he ran, shouting for the doctors to save him.

When someone drinks poison, the first hospital procedure is gastric lavage.

A tube is inserted through the nose into the stomach, and prepared water is poured in directly.

During lavage, intravenous fluids are also administered.

The process is painful; studies show those who undergo gastric lavage thereafter never attempt poisoning themselves again due to the unbearable suffering.

After lavage, Zhang Dagang was moved to a ward. Han Li’s role was essentially over.

His wife wept inconsolably by his side, accompanied by a relative.

A nephew went to inform Zhang’s children—three in total, the eldest a daughter with two younger brothers.

They all studied in the county and only returned home on Sundays to carry food and salted vegetables.

Han Li had been in Shanghe village some time but had never seen Zhang Dagang’s children, as he was usually at work or in the mountains.

None of this concerned Han Li now. He just wanted to go home to change and wash away the smell of the emetic solution.

In his rush to save Zhang, he hadn’t noticed the foul odor, but now it was overwhelming.

He resembled a walking biochemical weapon; even the nurses at the hospital found the smell unbearable. A stroll through the county town was out of the question.

Han Li consulted with the driver, and after greeting the ward, they left.

Just outside the hospital, Chief Zhao and Captain Liang arrived on a bicycle.

Chief Zhao skillfully braked and stopped beside the cart.

Captain Liang jumped off, asking, “How is Zhang Dagang now?”

Han Li replied, “He’s been rescued but needs to stay under observation.”

Chief Zhao said, “It’s good he’s alive. Thanks to Han Li. Take a rest today; you’ll get credited work points.”

Han Li thanked them and boarded the cart home, the first thing on his mind to wash thoroughly.

His skin reddened from scrubbing, and only then did the smell fade from his senses.

He didn’t have to work today but didn’t want to waste time.

He decided to use the opportunity to make charcoal. Once he had charcoal, he could finally enjoy hot baths.

This time, Han Li brought all five of his wolf hounds along to roam outside.

By the river, he found a patch with more soil than rocks and began setting up his charcoal kiln.

The process was simple, and with decomposition assistance, it was soon ready.

He lit the fire and sealed the kiln, leaving it to burn overnight.

Tomorrow, he’d break it open to check the charcoal quality.

Stealing? Nonsense. No one would steal two baskets of charcoal—not even the children would bother.

Han Li, with his packs of wolf hounds, planned to head home, intending to spend some quiet time studying the barefoot doctor’s manual.

Not far along the riverbank, he saw Tiedan and a group of children digging in the mud.

“Ergou, Tiedan, what are you all doing?”

“Brother Han, we’re digging for loaches.”

They weren’t really digging but using their hands like shovels, sifting through the mud.

Loaches burrow in such muddy places. Han Li found their barefoot mud-digging amusing.

He took off his shoes, rolled up his pants, and prepared to join them.

Tiedan said, “Brother Han, if you want loaches, I can dig some for you. You don’t need to get in the mud.”

“I can’t always take advantage of you. I just find it interesting and want to try.”

Meanwhile, back at the county hospital, Zhang Dagang had regained consciousness.

Doctors warned his body had suffered serious damage and that he could only do light work from now on.

Zhang asked his wife to leave first and began a private conversation with Chief Zhao and Captain Liang in the ward.

His pleas and their admonishments occasionally echoed outside.

Grateful for the support: Reward from Chasing Wind: 200 points.

(The chapter ends here.)