The old wooden bed had a pungent musty smell, and the mottled paint was worn black. The young man knelt in front of the bed and shouted to the adults, his facial features twisted into a ball due to nervousness. I sat up on my elbows, my throat so dry that it was smoking: Who did you call the county magistrate? He was stunned for a moment, then rushed forward and grabbed my sleeves: Sir, have you forgotten? The day before yesterday, you were ambushed by bandits on your way to your new post. You were shot in the head and are in coma to this day. The defense of the county town is empty, and Tuanzong Zhao has led his men to occupy the county government office. I lowered my head and glanced at the blood-soaked tunic suit I was wearing. Two buttons were missing. The sound of neat footsteps came from outside the window, coming from far to near from the direction of the alley. He loosened my cuffs. I also loosened my grip on the edge of the old wooden bed. The footsteps were approaching the room.
