Chapter 6
Chapter 6: Pasture Veterinarian
Everyone looked over to see Sangtu holding up the scale, beaming: “Changqing, you were right on the mark!”
“Eh? Let me see…”
Quite a few people gathered around to look, all clicking their tongues in amazement.
[Reputation +1]
[Reputation +1…]
Xie Changqing understood—sure enough, reputation depended on everyone’s trust in him.
The more they felt he was reliable, the higher his reputation would be.
He just didn’t know what reputation was for, and these points…
Could it be they equaled the number of livestock he’d treated?
Thinking this, he smiled slightly and took the three wild scallion stems Haierte had found: “Mm, my estimates are usually pretty accurate.”
“Will these work?” Haierte was a bit nervous.
“They’ll work.” Xie Changqing gently rotated one and nodded: “I’ll use this thinner one first…”
After all, this little lamb was too frail.
He had just finished cleaning the wild scallion stem when Nuomin came in carrying the medicine.
The wooden bowl swayed gently, the dark brown medicinal liquid swirling in amber-colored eddies.
Xie Changqing took the medicine bowl and used the scallion stem to draw up the medicinal soup.
Then he blocked one end and coated the tail end with butter.
“Hold it down.” Xie Changqing looked up and gestured.
The trembling lamb bleated weakly in Sangtu and Qiaoba’s hands, listless.
When the cool tube touched the pink anus, the little sheep suddenly struggled violently, its hind hooves scraping two shallow marks on the ground.
“Eternal Blue Sky…” Sangtu’s wife made gestures across her chest, praying.
Xie Changqing held his breath, his fingertips slowly pushing forward along the direction of the intestinal tract.
The moment the medicinal liquid was injected, the lamb let out a weak cry.
The tube slid smoothly into the intestinal tract. The medicinal fragrance filled the air, and the little sheep’s wailing gradually became weak whimpers.
Every drop of the medicinal liquid was administered.
“Is… is that it?” Nuomin asked curiously.
“We need to see if it can defecate normally.” Xie Changqing thought for a moment and added: “We need to observe more. I’ll go give the ewe an injection first.”
He now had one point, just enough to exchange for another ampicillin.
Regardless of how this little lamb turned out, he should save all three ewes first.
“Alright, alright.” Qiaoba and the others moved aside, then asked in confusion: “What about the other two little lambs?”
Xie Changqing washed the wild scallion stem while saying calmly: “How many doses of medicine were brewed?”
“Two doses were brewed.” Nuomin’s eyes were bright, staring at him excitedly: “The second dose should be ready soon. Should I go get it now?”
“That would be good.” Xie Changqing thought for a moment and added: “Brew another dose too. Give all the lambs enemas—it’ll heal faster than just drinking sheep’s milk.”
As for the remaining three doses, he’d keep them for tomorrow to see the results.
Hearing this, Sangtu let out a long breath of relief.
Now he was truly at ease.
As long as these few sheep could be saved, the other sheep would all be fine.
What pastoralists feared most was epidemic disease.
That could really kill sheep by the hundreds.
He’d heard elders say that when sheep died, the grassland would be covered in white—some people even thought it was snowing.
Taking advantage of their conversation, Xie Changqing discreetly clicked to exchange for ampicillin.
Reaching inside, sure enough, there was an additional vial of medicine.
After injecting the remaining medicine into the two ewes, Nuomin timely brought over the herbal liquid.
From start to finish, Xie Changqing never showed a trace of doubt.
His movements were clean and decisive, gentle yet unflinching when giving the little sheep enemas.
At first glance, he actually seemed much more skilled than Xie Yu.
Qiaoba, who had been watching everything, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
When Xie Changqing finished his work, Sangtu’s wife immediately brought over warm water and a towel: “Here, wash up. I’ve boiled sheep’s milk—let’s all have a cup together.”
This was truly a rare moment of lightness, with everyone’s faces showing smiles.
They seemed to have completely forgotten that they were actually outcasts.
Xie Changqing was indeed hungry. He actually couldn’t handle the gamey smell of sheep, but there was nothing else to eat right now, so he could only frown slightly and take a sip.
He’d expected the sheep’s milk to have a gamey taste, but surprisingly, it had none at all.
Fresh sheep’s milk, after boiling, had an obvious natural milk fat aroma, similar to the rich feeling of butter or cheese, but more delicate than cow’s milk.
What was even more remarkable was the subtle sweetness he could taste on his tongue.
Given Xie Changqing’s family’s conditions, they really hadn’t eaten anything good lately.
His eyes lit up as he drank, and after one sip, he couldn’t help taking another.
“Everyone saw today,” Qiaoba said while drinking his milk, “Changqing’s skills are quite excellent!”
“Yes, yes…”
“Really quite impressive.”
Sangtu was even more excited, ladling sheep’s milk for everyone while saying: “That enema was much better than the veterinarian’s! Haha! Before, when I was holding down the lamb, he accidentally stuck the syringe in my hand!”
Xie Yu had used too much force when flicking off medicinal liquid mixed with sheep dung, splattering Sangtu all over.
That smell was really strong.
Everyone burst into laughter, all making fun of him.
Qiaoba also laughed, but after laughing, he said directly: “In that case, our pasture’s veterinarian from now on will be Changqing!”
He looked at Xie Changqing approvingly: “Come, Changqing, don’t be nervous. Stand up straight and let everyone see! Our Changqing has made something of himself!”
Xie Changqing stood up, his eyes carrying confidence and composure: “Thank you, Uncle Qiaoba. Thank you, everyone. I’ll definitely work hard to do well.”
“Good!” The tent erupted in cheers.
As long as they had a veterinarian, they weren’t afraid of anything!
Xie Changqing sat back down. Though his bowl had been empty, it was full again.
He’d already drunk three bowls… Xie Changqing felt the sheep’s milk sloshing in his stomach and was already full: “I don’t need any more…”
“No problem, no problem, just keep drinking!” Sangtu showed him the bucket: “There’s plenty!”
Someone drinking milk asked loudly: “So Qiaoba, when do we leave for Aoter?”
With the north wind rising and winter approaching, they needed to set out while the weather was still good these next few days!
Qiaoba put down his wooden bowl and pondered for a moment before saying definitively: “I think we should leave tomorrow!”
They’d been fully prepared for a while, just waiting for the right timing.
Chaolu and his group, once they left, probably wouldn’t be coming back.
“The sixth pasture has many people and moves slowly. We have fewer people but can move faster—we might even get ahead of them and grab a good spot at the winter pasture!”
“Exactly! That’ll make them mad!”
“Even if Chaolu and them regret it this time, we won’t take them back!”
“That old veterinarian at the sixth pasture has a completely white beard—he definitely can’t compare to our Changqing in the future!”
“That’s right, we’re not afraid of them at all!”
As everyone talked, they became more and more excited.
Thinking of that distant future, everyone was filled with anticipation and energy.
Though they had quite a few old, weak, sick, and disabled among them, those who had good relationships with Qiaoba and Sangtu hadn’t left, even knowing the pasture’s bleak future without a veterinarian.
Qiaoba’s nose began to sting, and he hid it by taking a final sip of milk.
Steadying himself, he put down his bowl and stood up: “Good! We leave tomorrow! Changqing, your family will come with us.”
“That won’t do!” Sangtu didn’t even bother with his bucket, turning around urgently: “Changqing’s family doesn’t have horses, so they definitely need to come with us—we have lots of horses!”
“Our horses are the strongest!”
Everyone actually started competing again, all expressing their willingness to take Xie Changqing’s family along.
Finally, Qiaoba waved his hand: “Enough. Sangtu’s family still needs to watch over the lambs, so Changqing’s family will go with Sangtu first.”
After all, Xie Changqing belonged to their pasture—no need for anyone to fight over him.
When they left Sangtu’s house, the sun had just come up.
Standing on the hillside, Xie Changqing watched the herders’ silhouettes gilded by the morning light and suddenly remembered a saying: “Life on the grassland always survives by supporting each other.”
“Brother Changqing, shall we go?” Haierte sat excitedly on horseback, holding a wooden bucket in one hand and waving the reins with the other: “You ride that horse—that horse is gentle!”