Chapter 44
Chapter 44: Tari Asu
Xie Changqing thought he was already ruthless enough, but hearing this, he couldn’t help but feel ashamed.
However, in Alatan and the others’ view, this was quite normal.
If it was a hopeless situation, it was better to save the medicine—it might save someone else later.
“Of course, that’s easy to say, but when it really happens, we can’t be that rational.” Alatan sighed helplessly.
Xie Changqing nodded—that was indeed true.
“It’s getting light.” Qiaoba looked up toward the distance.
The sky was like a huge lead plate, heavy and oppressive, but was inadvertently lit by a touch of pale blue.
This blue spread from the distant horizon, and the clouds at the sky’s edge were no longer pitch black but outlined by this weak light.
The rolling grass waves were visible in the dim light, announcing daybreak.
Sangtu mounted his horse—they were preparing to return.
After hanging the medical kit properly, Xie Changqing also mounted his horse.
But just as he turned around, he heard someone call him: “Doc-Doctor Xie.”
The voice was timid, with a hint of hesitation and uncertainty.
“Mm?” Xie Changqing turned around, somewhat puzzled.
He saw the girl who had been carrying the medical kit behind Zhuo Lige earlier, looking around anxiously, then nervously at him: “I, I have something to tell you. Can you, can you come down for a moment?”
Xie Changqing looked at her with surprise, then at the others.
Unexpectedly, all the people from the Tenth Pasture acted as if they couldn’t see her, even silently moving away from here.
Even Alatan avoided his gaze.
He dismounted and walked to her somewhat puzzled: “What is it?”
“I, I’m called Qiqige… I can carry the medical kit, I know many herbs, I can help you make medicine…”
When she spoke, she unconsciously trembled.
Getting closer, Xie Changqing discovered that even her fingertips were frozen red.
Although she wore a Mongolian robe, her clothing was actually very thin. Unlike others’ thick clothing, hers was quite form-fitting, and in this cruel cold, it still tightly wrapped her entire body, outlining her slender figure.
Even though she tried hard to wrap the clothes around herself, her graceful figure was still eye-catching.
Not to mention that with such a wide collar, and her being much shorter than Xie Changqing, from this position he could vaguely see the curves beneath her collar…
Xie Changqing turned his head slightly, looking elsewhere: “I can make medicine myself… I’m young, I can carry the medical kit myself.”
Moreover, with Zhuo Lige’s pettiness, even a reminder could make him hold a grudge, let alone taking away his assistant.
That would probably create a deadly feud…
Their Ninth Pasture had already lost many people and was now in a period of recovery. They really couldn’t afford any risk.
Qiqige’s eyes reddened, and she bit her lip: “Tari asu… please.”
Tari asu meant “save me.” Xie Changqing listened somewhat bewildered: “Huh? Why? A veterinarian already has relatively high status in the pasture. Being a veterinarian’s assistant should be easier than herding sheep, right?”
“Zhuo Lige… he’s a python!” Qiqige turned to look, as if very afraid of being discovered.
Then she threw herself into Xie Changqing’s arms.
The moment she threw herself over, she loosened her belt.
Warm fragrant softness filled his embrace, but Xie Changqing felt no trace of romantic feelings.
He was startled and instinctively wanted to step back.
But she desperately clutched his clothes. In his arms, she looked up tearfully: “Tari asu, Doctor Xie, please save me…”
Under her wide Mongolian robe, she wore only a white gauze garment.
Yes, it was gauze—the kind used for bandaging people.
No wonder she was so frozen!
Although it was layered, what warmth could this thing provide?
But even more shocking was that the gauze faintly showed traces of blood.
Qiqige cried, pleading with him: “He whips me every day. I sleep in the sheep pen every day, eating the same food as the sheep… Doctor Xie, I can herd sheep and cattle, I can do anything. Please, save me!”
She wasn’t his assistant at all—she was clearly just a tool for him to vent his emotions.
Every day, whenever he used medicine and got angry, or someone defied him and he got angry, the beatings would be heavier.
If he wasn’t angry on a given day, then Qiqige was in even worse trouble, because when he was happy, he would add barbs to the whip.
Even though she’d only been with him for half a year, Qiqige’s body already had no unmarked flesh.
If this continued, she would die.
Just like Zhuo Lige’s previous assistants, dying in the wilderness to be eaten by vultures.
Hearing that she was only fifteen, Xie Changqing felt all the blood rush to his head.
This was inhuman behavior!?
He helped her pull her clothes together and angrily looked at Alatan: “You don’t care about this?”
“She’s from the Sixth Pasture.” Alatan sighed and shook his head: “We can’t interfere. Her father sold her to Zhuo Lige…”
Xie Changqing frowned tightly, not understanding: “Sold her to Zhuo Lige?”
“Yes, ten cattle, plus free treatment for an epidemic.” Alatan looked at Qiqige, also feeling some pity: “If you want to take her away, go ahead. I’ll cover for you—just say she died, and give me her outer robe.”
Saying this, Xie Changqing felt somewhat bewildered: “Ah? This… is it okay?”
“Not much trouble—he’s used to it.” Alatan raised his head, pointing to the distance: “Look, there’s another one over there, also sold by the Sixth Pasture recently, just waiting to replace Qiqige. It’s good for her to go with you—as long as Zhuo Lige never sees her again, it’ll be fine.”
So after that girl came, Zhuo Lige had been even more brutal to Qiqige.
After all, with a replacement, he didn’t care anymore.
Xie Changqing bit his lip and looked at Qiaoba.
If he didn’t know, that would be one thing, but since he knew…
Seeing him like this, Qiaoba knew Xie Changqing wanted to save Qiqige.
Of course, they wouldn’t refuse Xie Changqing.
“Take her back.” Qiaoba looked at Qiqige with some pity—this little girl was even smaller than Nomin: “We don’t lack one more mouth to feed.”
After all, their pasture was quite short-handed now. Although Qiqige was rather frail, they could take good care of her.
It just so happened that she knew some medicine—maybe she could help care for patients, like Suhe and Hailte who were still bedridden.
Xie Changqing nodded and looked at Qiqige: “Alright, then come with us.”
“Bayarlaga!” Qiqige threw herself to the ground, crying and kowtowing in thanks: “Bayarlaga!”
“Alright, alright, let’s go quickly.” Alatan had already taken a Mongolian robe in his hands and gave it to her directly: “Put this on and go with them. Don’t let Zhuo Lige discover.”
They’d known all along—it wasn’t that they didn’t want to save her; they simply couldn’t.
Now that Xie Changqing and his group were willing to lend a hand, Alatan was naturally willing to do this favor.
Qiqige nervously fumbled to change clothes.
Since Xie Changqing’s horse carried the medical kit, he had Qiqige ride Harile’s horse.
Harile and Sangtu shared one mount, preparing to leave before anyone noticed.
But just after they’d gone a short way, they heard a fierce shout from behind: “Who are you!? Where did you come from? Don’t run!”