Chapter 27: Genuine Connection
Yu Han exited his hut and followed the crowd. Li Yao and the rest took Xiao Zhuzi to his hut and laid him down on the kang bed. Yu Han watched from outside the door.
“Flip him over!” Li Yao said. They did.
Xiao Zhuzi’s back had five deep bruises, oozing with blood. It was as though he had been whipped with a serrated steel wire.
“I-It’s fine, Brother Li. T-This much is nothing,” Xiao Zhuzi said through gritted teeth.
Yu Han took in a breath. If it was him, he’d have either passed out or died from the pain. He did not have much pain tolerance.
“You shut up,” Li Yao said. He took out a clay vial and uncapped it, smearing a thick, green concoction on Xiao Zhuzi’s back. “Hold him down!”
Four others held down Xiao Zhuzi’s limbs. The tall kid cried out.
“Can handle flogging, but can’t handle a little sting?” Li Yao said, then smeared the green medicine on the next bruise. More screams followed.
“Brother Li, the bandages.” A recruit Yu Han didn’t know brought some gauze.