The Scent of Sulfur

When Song Zhuyu arrived at the vicinity, the first thing he heard was Tan Jiahu's heart-wrenching cries coming from within the house. Not even stopping to catch his breath, he rushed toward the front door and pounded on it, calling out urgently, "Mrs. Ma! Is everything alright? Please open the door, this is Song Zhuyu!"

It did not take long for the door to swing open, and Tan Jiahu staggered out, clutching onto Song Zhuyu in near mad desperation. "Please… please save my son! I beg you… please save him!" she pleaded, her voice hoarse and frantic, tears streaming down her wild, bloodshot eyes. She did not seem to care now that she was asking for Song Zhuyu's help, of all people. Or perhaps at a time like this, an outsider turned out to provide her more comfort than any fellow villagers whom she had been living with for the past few decades.