Room for Survival

The room was filled with stillness after Suyin's attempt to diagnose the child's symptoms. The trees howled with the sun setting up high in the sky, leaving its light through the open window in the room. The mother and Suyin observed as the child gradually drift off to sleep while they sat next to each other.

"I apologize, but what was your name?"

Suyin didn't mean to just barge into their room. The mother gave her a small smile.

"My name is Xu Meifeng. My son's name is Xu Yahui." Meifeng responded.

Suyin sprang up from the bed and bowed, "My name is Han Suyin." Now all the introductions had been placed, Suyin could start asking more questions then. Specifically, something that had been bothering her for a couple of minutes ago.

"Do you know anything about the bugs here?" Suyin questioned, looking around for the mosquito that was there a second ago.

Meifeng shook her head. "I apologize, but I don't think I can give you an answer to that."

Suyin bit her upper lips, thinking about what she should do next. Now that she at least knew someone from the village, it was a good start.

"Do you think that there is anyone who knows about the village the best?" She stuttered, placing her hands up before Meifeng could speak. "B-Besides Shi Zhang! (Of course)" Suyin uttered.

She knew that Shi Zhang had the upper hand in this "trial" since he has the Prince and Weizhe in the grip of his hands.

"Ah.." Meifeng quietly thought about what Suyin said. "If it isn't the Shi Zhang..." She turned around to Suyin, covering her mouth with her right hand. "I think there is possibly one person that can kind of help us," Meifeng commented.

***************

Meifeng and Suyin traveled to her older brother's home, but upon arriving there, he was nowhere to be found. His neighbor suggested going up to the woods since he often gets wood at the forest nearby. The two marched off to find Meifeng's brother, who somehow knows how the illness started.

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Meifeng's brother could be seen from afar in the woods, assembling the chopped wood and neatly piling it on top of each other on a frame backpack. The woods were as dry as the area-- opposite of the agriculture in their village. Tall, shriveled trees mostly fell from the wind and weather, and it was the best place to collect wood. Endless rows of trees were fallen with not a single leaf in sight in any of the branches, and a couple of people were scattered all over to scout for wood for their own homes.

Suyin and Meifeng had just arrived at the woods and had been searching for Meifeng's dear brother. After noticing a familiar figure from afar, Meifeng had the biggest smile in her face- something Suyin hasn't seen from the woman.

"Brother!" Meifeng yelled out his name, flapping her hands at him. After hearing his name being announced, he turned to see Meifeng's hands waving in the air with an excited expression on her face.

"My dear sister!" He called out, greeting back to her with a smile on his face. He carried the backpack now filled with chopped wood on his back and went towards the duo, who waited for him at the bottom of the hill.

"How are you doing?" He said, turning to Suyin who gave him a small grin.

"Who is this?" His facial expression shifted due to an unexpected surprise. He recognized that Suyin wasn't someone from the village, and it was strange for his older sister to be hanging out with someone out of town.

"This is Han Suyin." Meifeng turned to Suyin and shifted her attention back to her brother. "She is helping us with the disease that's been spreading around." Meifeng had a lively and hopeful appearance on her face, opposite of her brother who had nothing but skepticism about the woman.

"Suyin, this is my brother, Huang Wen," Meifeng revealed. Suyin slightly bent her knees and clasped her hands to bow to her brother.

"It is nice to meet you, Huang Wen."

Huang Wen's eyes were narrowed the whole time, suspecting her.

"What's the point of finding someone out of our village to cure the disease?" Huang Wen blurted out to Meifeng.

Suyin was caught off guard, shocked at his response to her. Were they all always this obstinate and arrogant?!

"Brother, you have to understand that no one has found a cure to the disease yet, and if we don't take the chance of having her help us, we would just let all of the other people die from this disease... including my son." Her voice began to tremble, holding back her tears.

Huang Wen began to loosen up, letting out a big sigh.

"My dear older sister, you do know that I only know that the possible thing that I have found so far is that it isn't any illness that we may have confronted before." He shook his head and turned to Suyin. "I apologize about the doubts, but there is only one thing that I know for sure has a reason behind all of this."

Huang Wen, Meifeng, and Suyin headed to his house to put away the firewood. As they walked down the trail to head to Huang's Wen home, little did they know that someone was secretly following them behind...

*************************

Upon arriving at Huang Wen's little house, he dumped his backpack filled with chopped wood at the back of his home. A little wooden fence surrounded the home to keep away wild stray animals to ruin his little home and garden at the back of the yard.

Suyin and Meifeng volunteered to carry some wood by hand so they wouldn't feel burdened to have him carry all of the wood and followed Huang Wen's actions, dropping the wood at the designated area.

They headed inside the home, with Huang Wen brewing up some tea while the two girls sat down on a little round table.

"What do you think the illness could be?" Huang Wen addressed to break the utter silence. He placed the cup down, sliding it to Suyin and Meifeng, and poured the tea into the cup.

"There is a possibility that the illness that is spreading around is chicken pox..." Suyin bowed her head, to thank the man for giving her the cup of tea. "On the other hand, I need to understand how this disease was spreading in the first place."

Suyin's mind wandered off, staring into space while Meifeng and Huang Wen listened. Suyin wanted to know how this all started and why? Suyin could only sigh, blowing on her tea to cool it off and took a full gulp, finishing the cup of tea.

Meifeng and Huang Wen's eyes widened, surprised by the way how she drank the tea. Usually, tea is often enjoyed by taking a small sip, one at a time. But Suyin finished it like it was a cup of alcohol, causing her to drink more in stress as she poured more.

The room was steeped in a profound stillness, the kind that settled like a heavy quilt over the inhabitants after Suyin's earnest attempt to diagnose the child's symptoms.

Outside, the trees seemed to lament, their branches swaying softly in the fading light of the setting sun. Golden rays filtered through the open window, casting a warm glow that danced upon the walls.

In this tranquil ambiance, the mother and Suyin sat in quiet vigil, their eyes fixed on the child who, gradually succumbing to exhaustion, began to drift into slumber. "I apologize, but what was your name?" Suyin's voice pierced the hush, breaking the silence that enveloped the room.

The mother, Xu Meifeng, responded with a gentle smile, her features softened by the tenderness of maternal concern. "My name is Xu Meifeng. My son's name is Xu Yahui," she replied with a quiet dignity, her words carrying a weight of maternal responsibility and love.

Suyin, suddenly aware of her abrupt intrusion, rose from the bedside and inclined her head in a respectful bow. "My name is Han Suyin," she offered, her tone apologetic as she sought to rectify the breach of etiquette.

With introductions exchanged, Suyin felt emboldened to delve deeper into her inquiries, a pressing concern weighing on her mind. "Do you know anything about the bugs here?"

Suyin's gaze darted around the room, searching for any lingering trace of the mosquito that had momentarily disrupted their conversation. Meifeng shook her head, her expression apologetic as she offered a regretful response. "I apologize, but I don't think I can give you an answer to that," she murmured softly, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and uncertainty.

Undeterred, Suyin chewed nervously on her upper lip, her mind racing with the urgency of her mission. Yet, amidst the frustration, a glimmer of hope emerged as she realized that she had forged a connection with someone from the village—a crucial first step in her quest for answers. "Do you think that there is anyone who knows about the village the best?"

Suyin's words stumbled out in a rush, her hands fluttering nervously as she sought to convey her question with urgency.

"B-Besides Shi Zhang!" she added hastily, her voice tinged with a hint of apprehension.

She was acutely aware of Shi Zhang's formidable influence, his sway over the fate of the village casting a shadow over her efforts. "Ah..." Meifeng's response was tinged with thoughtful consideration, her brow furrowing as she pondered Suyin's query.

"If it isn't Shi Zhang..." she began, her voice trailing off momentarily before she lowered her hand, revealing a glimmer of insight in her eyes.

"I think there is possibly one person that can kind of help us," Meifeng ventured, her words laden with cautious optimism.

------------------

Meifeng and Suyin traversed the winding path that led to Meifeng's older brother's home, anticipation humming in the air like a silent melody.

Yet, upon reaching the threshold of his home, they were met with an unsettling emptiness—Meifeng's brother was conspicuously absent.

It was as though the very fabric of time had swallowed him whole, leaving behind nothing but a lingering sense of absence. Undeterred by this setback, they sought counsel from his neighbor, whose weathered face held the wisdom of years spent in quiet contemplation.

With a gesture as understated as the flutter of a leaf in the wind, the neighbor suggested they venture into the woods, where Meifeng's brother often sought solace amidst the towering sentinels of nature. ------------------------------ As they ventured deeper into the heart of the woods, a stark contrast emerged between the desolate landscape and the verdant vitality of their village.

The air hung heavy with the scent of dry earth and withered foliage, a testament to the unforgiving embrace of nature's cycle. Trees, once proud and resplendent, now stood as dry, their gnarled branches reaching towards the heavens in silent supplication. Amidst this desolation, Meifeng's brother came into view, his form a solitary figure amidst the vast expanse of the forest.

With practiced precision, he gathered the fallen remnants of once-grand trees, his movements fluid and purposeful as he stacked the wood upon a sturdy frame backpack.

Around him, fellow villagers echoed his movements, their presence a testament to the communal spirit that thrived even in the face of adversity. Suyin watched in awe as Meifeng's face lit up with unrestrained joy, her smile a beacon of warmth amidst the desolate landscape.

"Brother!" she called out, her voice carrying across the stillness of the woods like a melody on the breeze.

With a wave of her hand, she beckoned him closer, her excitement palpable in the air. At the sound of his name, Meifeng's brother turned, his weathered features softening at the sight of his sister's exuberance.

"My dear sister!" Huang Wen's voice rang out through the crisp air, a mixture of warmth and curiosity laced within his words. His lips curled upward into a welcoming smile as he approached the duo waiting for him at the bottom of the hill. The weight of the backpack, now laden with freshly chopped wood, pressed against his back as he made his way toward them, each step accompanied by the soft crunch of gravel underfoot. "How are you doing?" Huang Wen's gaze shifted to Suyin, his sister's companion, who returned his inquiry with a small, yet genuine grin.

The lines of worry etched on his sister's face seemed to soften in the presence of this new acquaintance. But as his eyes fell upon Suyin, a subtle shift occurred within Huang Wen.

The smile faltered, replaced by a flicker of surprise that danced across his features like a shadow passing over the sun.

Suyin was not a face familiar to him, and the presence of an outsider amidst the familiarity of their village stirred a cautious skepticism within him. "This is Han Suyin," Meifeng introduced, her voice carrying a note of optimism that seemed to elude her brother. She spoke with a vibrancy that contrasted sharply with Huang Wen's growing uncertainty.

"She is helping us with the disease that's been spreading around." As Meifeng's words hung in the air, Huang Wen's skepticism deepened, casting a shadow over his countenance. The furrow of his brow betrayed his doubts, his gaze lingering upon Suyin with scrutiny born of distrust. "Suyin, this is my brother, Huang Wen," Meifeng continued, her tone laced with an attempt to bridge the gap between her brother's apprehension and her own hopeful anticipation.

Suyin, ever graceful, offered a polite bow, a gesture of respect tinged with the weight of Huang Wen's unwavering gaze. "It is nice to meet you, Huang Wen," Suyin spoke, her words soft but brimming with sincerity, a gentle attempt to assuage the tension that hung between them like a heavy fog. Yet, Huang Wen remained unmoved, his eyes narrowed as he voiced the question that had been gnawing at the edges of his mind since Suyin's arrival. "What's the point of finding someone out of our village to cure the disease?" His words cut through the air, sharp and pointed, a reflection of the skepticism that had taken root within him. Caught off guard by his brother's blunt inquiry, Suyin felt a surge of shock ripple through her. The weight of his suspicion bore down upon her, leaving her momentarily speechless in the face of his obstinance and arrogance. Were they all always this resistant to the possibility of change, she wondered, a flicker of frustration dancing behind her eyes.

"Brother, you have to understand that no one has found a cure to the disease yet, and if we don't take the chance of having her help us, we will just let all of the other people die from this disease... including my son." Meifeng's voice quivered with emotion, her words hanging heavy in the air as she fought to contain the tears that threatened to spill over. Huang Wen felt the weight of her plea settle upon him, his initial skepticism beginning to soften in the face of her heartfelt plea. With a heavy sigh, he released the tension that had coiled within him, a sense of resignation settling over his features. "My dear older sister, you do know that I only know that the possible thing that I have found so far is that it isn't any illness that we may have confronted before." Huang Wen's voice carried a note of frustration tinged with resignation as he shook his head, his gaze shifting to meet Suyin's. "I apologize about the doubts, but there is only one thing that I know for sure has a reason behind all of this." His words hung in the air, a tentative bridge spanning the divide between doubt and hope, a silent acknowledgment of the uncertainty that lay ahead. With a collective understanding, the trio continued their journey, the weight of unspoken fears and hopes mingling in the air around them like a shroud.

As they made their way toward Huang Wen's home, the trail ahead seemed to stretch out endlessly, each step a testament to the uncertainty of the path they now tread. Unbeknownst to them, a shadow lurked in the periphery, a silent observer trailing their every move with a watchful eye. In the dappled light of the forest, unseen and unnoticed, their secret watcher followed, a harbinger of mysteries yet to unfold.

-------------------

Upon reaching Huang Wen's modest abode, he unburdened himself of the weighty backpack, its contents a testament to his diligence in providing for his household. The wood, neatly chopped and stacked, would serve as both warmth and sustenance in the chilly evenings to come.

A quaint wooden fence encircled the perimeter of his home, a humble barrier erected to ward off the encroachment of wild creatures that might seek to ravage his carefully tended garden. Suyin and Meifeng, their hearts filled with gratitude and a desire to share in the labor, offered to assist in carrying the remaining wood by hand.

With synchronized movements born of camaraderie, they followed Huang Wen's lead, depositing the logs in the designated area with practiced efficiency. As they crossed the threshold into the cozy interior of Huang Wen's home, a sense of tranquility enveloped them like a comforting embrace. The gentle aroma of brewing tea filled the air, mingling with the warmth emanating from the hearth. "What do you think the illness could be?" Huang Wen's voice broke the serene silence, his words carrying the weight of uncertainty that hung heavy in the air.

With a practiced hand, he poured steaming cups of tea, sliding them across the table to Suyin and Meifeng, a silent invitation to partake in both the warmth of the brew and the exchange of ideas. Suyin, her brow furrowed in thought, accepted the cup with a gracious nod of thanks before turning her attention inward.

"There is a possibility that the illness that is spreading around is chicken pox," she began, her voice tinged with a note of contemplation. "But on the other hand, I need to understand how this disease was spreading in the first place." Lost in the labyrinth of her own thoughts, Suyin's gaze drifted into the distance, her mind a whirlwind of questions and conjectures. How had this all begun, and why? The weight of uncertainty pressed upon her, a silent burden she bore with quiet dignity. Meanwhile, Meifeng and Huang Wen watched in quiet astonishment as Suyin drained her cup of tea in a single gulp, a stark departure from the customary ritual of leisurely sipping.

Their eyes widened in surprise, exchanged glances betraying their mutual bemusement at her unorthodox behavior.

"Um... Miss Suyin," Meifeng's voice broke through the thick veil of Suyin's thoughts, drawing her back to the present moment.

Suyin turned to face her, momentarily forgetting the presence of the siblings as she registered Meifeng's concerned gaze. "Ah! I-I apologize, I was thinking about the possibilities of diseases that could be spread here," Suyin stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she realized her lapse in etiquette.

The weight of her responsibilities as a Doctor pressed upon her, a constant reminder of the urgency of their situation. The memory of Qin Fuhua and Weizhe flickered to life in Suyin's mind, their faces etched with worry and fear.

The desperation in Qin Fuhua's eyes as he had pleaded for help before departing haunted her, driving her to action.

This town, these people, they needed her now more than ever. It was for them, for Qin Fuhua, that she had dedicated herself to the practice of medicine, and she knew that their lives hung in the balance. "I'm sorry but, I don't think you will belong here," Huang Wen's voice cut through the air like a knife, his words laced with a chilling finality that sent a shiver down Suyin's spine.

She turned to him, her eyes widening in confusion and alarm. "What do you mean?" Meifeng's voice trembled with uncertainty as she glanced between her brother and Suyin, a sense of foreboding settling over her like a heavy shroud. Suyin's vision blurred as the room seemed to spin around her, her senses reeling from the sudden onslaught of dizziness. She shook her head, trying to dispel the disorientation that threatened to overwhelm her, but it was futile. "What did you do?!" Meifeng's voice rose to a panicked crescendo, her body beginning to falter as the effects of the tea took hold. "I am sorry sister, I'm doing this for my survival. This is nothing but just a sleeping powder," Huang Wen's voice was tinged with regret as he sought to justify his actions, but his words offered little comfort to the two women now grappling with the darkness that encroached upon their consciousness. Meifeng collapsed to the ground, her limbs betraying her as she succumbed to the potent effects of the drug.

Suyin, her mind clouded with fear and desperation, scrambled to her feet, the sound of the cup shattering against the ground echoing in the silence of the room. With a strength born of sheer determination, Suyin made her way to the door, her trembling fingers fumbling with the latch as she fought to escape the confines of Huang Wen's treacherous trap.

With a final, desperate effort, she managed to unlock the door before her legs gave way beneath her, sending her crashing to the ground in a heap. As the door swung open, a figure loomed in the entrance. "Suyin..." The voice called out to her, a lifeline in the swirling sea of unconsciousness that threatened to pull her under. And then, with a final, fleeting glimpse of consciousness, everything faded to black, leaving Suyin to drift into the depths of unconsciousness, her fate hanging in the balance.