The Greatest Village Doctor In The World

Chapter 885: The Town

"Although we planned to set off immediately, the preparations took some time, and by the time the car left Guo City, it was almost noon."

"Leaving the city behind, we headed west, gradually entering the dense expanse of the Primitive Forest."

"As we drove, we occasionally passed through small towns. Because it was still within the borders of Mianluo Country, Ling Feng couldn’t help but ask Liya more questions."

"He learned that the people here weren’t particularly wealthy. Mostly, they depended on exporting fruit to Huaxia to earn some income."

"But this wasn’t the way of life for all the citizens of Mianluo. In the deeper and remote mountains, many villages hadn’t escaped the state of hunger."

"This was also the reason why so many people in the Golden Triangle abandoned farming crops and instead turned to cultivating drugs."

"Liya was profoundly troubled by these issues, feeling that she hadn’t done well as a Princess and hadn’t brought welfare to the people."

"Ling Feng didn’t know how to comfort her, but Li Fei’er made a perceptive comment: it wasn’t just her fault. The social conflicts in Mianluo Country had compounded over decades and weren’t something that could easily be resolved!"

"Liya wasn’t pretentious, so the conversation during the journey was rather pleasant. By evening, they reached a town on the periphery of the Golden Triangle."

"With almost a hundred kilometers still to go, they could only stay the night here and continue their journey the next day."

"The small town wasn’t large, just one street with a dozen or so shops on either side, selling agricultural products, fruits, vegetables, and other necessities."

"’Security isn’t good around here; there are often sporadic attacks from armed individuals, so the tourism industry can’t develop, and the living standards of the people are just average,’" Liya explained, noticing Ling Feng surveying the surroundings after getting out of the car."

"’The environment is pretty good; it reminds me of my own childhood, the village I grew up in was quite similar to this place,’" Ling Feng said with a smile."

"Huaxia had developed in just a few decades; Ling Feng wasn’t merely being polite – he indeed had experienced times of scarcity when he was young."

"The only place for accommodations in town was a small family-run inn, with only four plain rooms."

"The innkeeper didn’t know Liya’s identity, but noticing her extraordinary demeanor, he assumed she must be a big business trader and treated her with great respect."

"They took three rooms: one for Liya, one shared by Ling Feng and Li Fei’er, and another for the part-time driver and bodyguard, Lai Fu."

"Dinner was rather lavish. The innkeeper had gone out of his way to buy wild game from the town butchery, endeavoring to treat his guests well."

"While eating, Ling Feng noticed a little boy shyly peeking in from the doorway, and, smiling, beckoned, ’Do you want some meat? Come on over!’"

"The boy’s eyes were large, fixed on the table, yet his gaze was timid, and he hesitated to come forward."

"Seeing this, Liya smiled and repeated Ling Feng’s words in the local dialect. The boy then approached timidly, inching closer."

"The boy was thin and scrawny, but his large, bright eyes were filled with spirit, causing an involuntary sense of compassion in those who saw him."

"Ling Feng patted his head and, knowing they didn’t speak the same language, said to Liya, ’Can you ask him how old he is, what his name is, and if he’d like some meat?’"

"’Sure.’"

"Liya smiled, surprised that Ling Feng was so kindhearted and fond of children. She cheerfully helped by asking a couple of questions."

"After she’d inquired, Liya looked up and said, ’I was wrong, this child is a girl named Sasha, 8 years old!’"

"’What?’"

"Upon closer inspection, Ling Feng noticed the child’s large eyes and delicate features, indeed resembling a little girl."

It was simply because her hair was so short that he subconsciously mistook her for a boy.

Now that he knew she was a little girl, Ling Feng felt even more pity and quickly took a piece of meat from the table and handed it over, "Are you starving? Eat quickly!"

Sasha swallowed hard. She wanted to eat, but didn’t take the meat into her hands.

At that moment, the shop owner rushed in from outside, muttered something, and with an apologetic face, tried to pull the child away.

But before Ling Feng could say anything, Liya quickly stood up to stop him, and after saying a few words, the shop owner sheepishly left.

Afterward, Liya sat down with Sasha in her arms and handed her the food from the table.

The little girl felt reassured and began to eat hungrily with her head bowed.

Seeing this scene, Ling Feng’s heart ached. He turned to look at Li Fei’er, "Seeing her reminds me of our two children at home!"

"It’s so pitiful, why is she so thin? Is it because she doesn’t have enough to eat?" Li Fei’er sat next to Liya, staring at Sasha as she asked.

"Probably!"

Liya sighed, "Technically, it should not be the case. After all, her family is in business. I don’t understand how they can’t even provide food for their child!"

"Yeah, with such a big house, the shop owner should have some money, right?" Ling Feng was also puzzled.

No one felt like eating anymore; they all watched Sasha wolf down her food. But a child’s appetite is limited, and after eating one piece of meat, she was full!

Then the child joined her hands in prayer, politely bowing to everyone, before getting off the ground and running out.

Ling Feng chuckled bitterly and said to Liya, "How about we go talk to the shop owner, see what’s actually going on here?"

"Oh, sure!"

Liya was a bit surprised. She thought they were just passing through and there was no need to inquire about the lives of the local people, but she hadn’t expected that Ling Feng would be concerned about this matter!

So, she couldn’t help but take another look at Ling Feng, a flicker of admiration flashing through her eyes.

When they went down to the lobby at the entrance, they saw the shop owner couple also eating, with some black food in their bowls, who knew what it was after being cooked; anyway, Ling Feng had never seen it before.

Seeing him coming down with Liya, the shop owner quickly got up and cautiously asked something.

It was only through Liya’s translation that Ling Feng understood he thought the food was bad or not fresh, and Ling Feng had come to settle scores with him!

After clearing up the misunderstanding, Liya inquired about the situation in this little town.

After the conversation, she didn’t translate for Ling Feng; instead, she just frowned, her eyes filled with anger!

"What’s wrong?" Ling Feng asked.

"The reason they are living so difficultly is because of a private armed force nearby. Those people, relying on their numbers and having weapons, are actually coercing the townspeople into paying them taxes!" Liya said with a cold voice.

"Damn, isn’t that bullying?" Ling Feng’s eyes widened in realization.

"It’s all my fault, all my fault!" Liya said, full of self-reproach.

Ling Feng looked at her, "You can’t blame yourself, the local authorities are the ones who should be responsible. Since those thugs are so brazen, they should send someone to deal with them!"