Chapter 5: Saving People (2)

"Big brother, he’s not dead, he can be saved. Any later and it would be… too late." Tong Annian spoke in a soft, milky voice. Even though it was quiet, many people heard her, and everyone turned to look at Tong Annian.

Only then did they notice that the sickly little granddaughter of the Tong family had actually come out.

"What would a sickly little girl like you know? He’s already drowned, how could he be saved?"

"Exactly. If he could be saved like this, then so many people wouldn't have drowned in the past, would they?"

"If you really knew these things, why don't you find a way to cure your own illness first? It’s truly laughable."

Tong Annian acted as if she hadn't heard any of these skeptical remarks. She simply looked at Tong Anqi with a firm gaze, and Tong Anqi actually felt as if the boy really could be saved.

However, the things these people were saying were truly excessive. He was worried that Tong Annian would take it to heart, but seeing that her expression hadn't changed in the slightest, Tong Anqi breathed a sigh of relief.

"Little sister, how do we save him? Do you know?" He gripped Tong Annian’s hand tightly, looking at her with determination. Tong Annian couldn't help but feel relieved; fortunately, Tong Anqi believed in her.

"Lay him flat, clear out the… mud and sand… from his mouth and nose, then let him lie face down… with his head over… your lap." Ignoring the protests of the others, Tong Anqi brought Tong Annian and pushed through the crowd.

Tong Annian stepped forward and used her fingers to scoop out all the sand from the child's mouth. Then, Tong Anqi flipped the child over and let him lie face down across his lap with his head hanging low.

"What are you doing? Give Shitou back to me! You sickly brat, you’re nearly dead yourself, yet you still want to mess with my Shitou!" Seeing Tong Anqi snatch her son, Shitou’s mother rushed over like a madwoman, but Tong Anxiang and the others hurriedly stepped forward to stop her.

"Auntie Wang, my big brother and the others are trying to save Shitou," Tong Anhe said, sounding somewhat angry.

"What skills do they have to save my Shitou? Get out of the way and give me back my son!"

Tong Anxin and the others looked at Shitou’s mother’s frantic state and really wanted to drag Tong Annian and the others away, but seeing Tong Annian’s serious expression, they could only hold Shitou’s mother back to prevent her from interfering.

"You children, stop messing around. Shitou is already gone, why are you still tormenting him like this?"

"Hurry up and put Shitou down!"

"Anqi, hurry and take your younger siblings home. Don't cause trouble here."

Tong Annian acted as if she didn't hear those words. She raised her thin, weak hands and began to push continuously on the child's back, patting him rhythmically. The onlookers pointed and whispered at Tong Annian; no one believed that someone who had drowned could still be saved.

"Cough, cough… Waaah…" After the child spat out several mouthfuls of river water, he suddenly began to cry.

"He’s alive, he’s alive, he’s really alive!"

"My god, he really is alive! I thought for sure he was a goner."

Tong Anqi placed the child on the ground. Seeing that the child’s complexion had improved, he turned to look at the pale-faced Tong Annian. His eyes were filled with excitement; his little sister had actually saved someone.

Tong Annian wiped the sweat from her face and pulled back her hands.

"Thank you, thank you! Shitou, it’s okay now, Mommy is here." Shitou’s mother knelt on the ground in excitement, hugging Shitou and thanking Tong Annian and the others.

Tong Annian hurriedly moved away; she had no desire to be knelt to! Especially since she was just a child now.

"Little sister, are you tired? Big brother will take you home." Seeing Tong Annian’s exhaustion, Tong Anqi picked her up.

"Mm." Tong Annian leaned weakly against Tong Anqi’s shoulder. She was truly exhausted; both of her wrists were aching.

She hadn't expected this body to be so weak. Just moving her hands to save someone had left her this drained.

"Congratulations to the host for successfully saving a life. You have gained 1,000 merit points."

"1,000 merit points? What can I exchange that for?" Tong Annian hadn't expected that just by saving one child, she would receive 1,000 merit points.

(End of chapter)