Chapter 22 Shop Assistant
"So disgusting..." Qiao Jiajin frowned, staring at the filthy substance on the ground. "This pungent smell... could it be excrement?"
Excrement? Qi Xia suddenly turned his head to look at Qiao Jiajin.
This was a very intriguing perspective.
In other words, besides the nine of them and the animal-masked figures, there could be other people here.
Or... other {beings}.
It was evident that this person or {being} had resided here for quite some time; otherwise, the excrement would not have been scattered across the floor.
Despite their thorough search, they couldn't find any needles, thread, or gauze. There didn’t appear to be a pharmacy or clinic near the convenience store. Venturing out aimlessly could be perilous, and Han Yimo might not survive the delay.
"What should we do..." Police Officer Li placed his hands on his hips, looking at Doctor Zhao with a helpless expression, as if seeking his guidance.
The nine individuals turned pale with fright and immediately retreated a few steps, their eyes fixed warily on the slowly opening door.
A gaunt figure emerged from behind the door. Upon closer inspection, they realized the figure was a female, so emaciated that she barely appeared human. Her age was indeterminate, masked by her skeletal appearance. Her cheeks were deeply sunken, and her eyes bulged outward, giving her face a fleshless look.
She pursed her cracked lips, eyeing them with a curious gaze. After a brief moment of daze, she seemed to come to her senses. Hastily tidying her dirty, worn clothes, she rasped out in a hoarse voice, "Welcome..."
Police Officer Li carefully parsed the meaning of the word and seemed to grasp it. "Are... you the shop assistant?"
The female nodded. "Yes."
No one said anything more, as the situation was inexplicable. Beyond the mystery of why there were other humans here, if she truly was a {shop assistant}, why would she be working in such a decrepit convenience store?
Seeing that no one was moving, the shop assistant tentatively offered, "Please feel free to peruse around."
Though these words were typically used in a store setting, what was there to {peruse} here? There were scarcely any products left on the shelves, and those that remained were decayed and coated in grime.
The shop assistant's eyes were dull and lifeless as she continued to stare fixedly at the group. Her gaze unsettled the women among them.
"Do you have any needles and thread?" Qi Xia asked the shop assistant calmly, his expression unchanged.
"Needle... and thread?" The shop assistant's lifeless eyes shifted slightly as she mimicked the action of threading a needle with her hand. "You mean... that kind of needle and thread?"
It was only then that everyone noticed the dried black bloodstains on her hands, which appeared rather unsettling.
Qi Xia took another step forward and asked calmly, "Yes, that type of needle and thread. Do you have any available for sale?"
"Swindler, you..." Before this ordeal, he considered himself fearless, yet now he couldn't summon the courage to engage with this woman. Qiao Jiajin hesitated, his voice betraying his nervousness, "Qi Xia, this woman... she's not normal. Can't you see that?"
"So what?" Qi Xia said calmly. "Our situation can't worsen any more than it already has."
The female shop assistant hesitated for a moment, then abruptly pushed open the partition at the front desk and rushed out.
It was only then that everyone could see her clearly. Her dirty and baggy white blouse that hung off her like clothes on a hanger. Smudges of what appeared to be oil or blood marred the fabric, making its original color almost indistinguishable. The blouse extended nearly to her knees, leaving her lower half seemingly devoid of clothing, her thighs grimy with dried blood.
Qi Xia frowned slightly and considered stepping back, but the female shop assistant's grip on his wrist was firm. Her grasp felt like that of old, withered tree roots—twisted and painfully tight. "I have them here!!" The female shop assistant exclaimed, revealing yellowed teeth. "There are needles and thread here! Come with me!"
She gestured emphatically towards the staff room, urging Qi Xia to follow her inside.
Everyone was genuinely unnerved by her demeanor. Given her unsettling behavior, going into the staff room with her seemed like a risky proposition.
"Forget it... We're not buying anything!" Qiao Jiajin intervened, attempting to pry the woman's hand away. "Let go."
But the female shop assistant appeared oblivious to his words. She persisted in pulling Qi Xia along, her smile widening with enthusiasm. "There are {needle and thread} in this room! Come with me!" She possessed more strength than both Qiao Jiajin and Qi Xia combined.
"Hey!! Help me out here!" Qiao Jiajin shouted, turning to Police Officer Li and Doctor Zhao.
Both snapped out of their daze and hurried to assist.
The female shop assistant quickened her pace in response.
Qi Xia felt an immense force pulling him, and he struggled to break free to no avail.
They were near the staff room, and after six or seven steps, they entered inside.
Doctor Zhao and Police Officer Li continued their efforts to pull Qi Xia away, but unexpectedly, the female shop assistant suddenly released her grip.
"Ah!" With a startled cry, they nearly stumbled.
Regaining their balance and standing upright, they watched as the female shop assistant ignored them completely. Instead, she turned around and began searching the room meticulously for the items.
The four men looked around the room in shocked dismay.Compared to the outside, it was slightly cleaner. A folding bed occupied one corner, its bedding now yellowed and stained. A large pool of relatively fresh blood marred the sheets. In another corner, a rusty and stained iron cooking pot sat atop a simple stove, emitting a faint aroma of cooking.
Despite the familiar sights, the female shop assistant paid them no mind, busy rummaging through an old-fashioned trunk. "Where is it... needle and thread..." She continued to empty the contents of the trunk, which held easy-open cans, old magazines, pots, pans, and various other kitchen utensils.
Qiao Jiajin rubbed his nose, eyeing the iron cooking pot. "Come to think of it, I'm pretty hungry," Qiao Jiajin whispered to Qi Xia. "If she wasn't crazy, I'd ask her if she'd let me freeload a meal."
Qi Xia glanced at the iron pot, noticing something white cooking inside.
He also felt a bit hungry.
"You dare to eat something from here?" Police Officer Li asked, raising an eyebrow. "Who knows how dirty that thing is..."
"But it smells pretty good."
Qiao Jiajin was right. The aroma from the iron pot filled the room, masking the foul stench.
"What are you cooking?" Qiao Jiajin asked, summoning his courage. Despite the bizarre circumstances, he seemed genuinely tempted to try whatever was in the pot.
"A little piglet," the female shop assistant replied.
Qiao Jiajin's interest was piqued, and he started toward the iron cooking pot to take a closer look.
Suddenly, the female shop assistant exclaimed, "Ah! Found it!" She turned around, clutching something in both hands, her face alight with joy and anticipation. "Look! Needle and thread!" she announced triumphantly.
Police Officer Li stepped forward to inspect, and his expression immediately turned discomfited. This was not {needle and thread}, but rather a rusty fish hook and a small bundle of tangled fishing line. He turned and looked at Doctor Zhao, signaling him with a meaningful glance.
Doctor Zhao deliberated briefly, fixing his gaze upon the fish hook and tangled fishing line, before inquiring, "Miss, do you have any other forms of needles and thread?" he inquired.
"No," the female shop assistant replied, shaking her head. "It’s just this. Do you want to buy it?"