A Hospital in Another World?

Chapter 42

"Henry!"

The old man frowned. While scolding, he couldn't help but shift his gaze, covertly sizing up Garrett.

Garrett's hand paused while undoing the wallet strap. It seemed the old man was suspicious of him...

It wasn't surprising, considering his attireneither noble nor servant-like, not quite fitting any known role. It seemed like he was spending his own money for himself. The mismatch between his status and income would naturally raise eyebrows anywhere.

Though he could withstand scrutiny, there was no need to invite unnecessary trouble.

Garrett stayed silent, continuing to dig coins from his wallet. One gold coin, two gold coins... The old man's eyes widened, immediately trying to dissuade him:

"Sir, you're joking. A small business like mine, selling so cheap might mean running at a loss... If it's inconvenient for you, how about buying two small bottles first?"

He picked up a gold coin, inspecting it left and right, blowing on it and even biting it. Garrett was surprised: Even at this age, still biting coins! Aren't you afraid of damaging your teeth?

Moreover, these coins were buried in a box underground for so many years. After touching them, I wouldn't dare handle food without washing my hands, and here you are putting it straight into your mouth!

Intestinal infections, diarrhea, vomiting, fever...

Garrett's mind raced, staring at the coins with increasing incredulity. The old man's expression also turned peculiar, body leaning forward, arms spread out, unconsciously assuming a defensive stance.

In the midst of this tension, with a sudden exertion, and inexplicably gasping for air, the entire coin went down his throat!

The old man's face contorted instantly. He gasped, grabbing his throat, his eyes bulging like a frog.

Stuck?

The coin got stuck?

Choking?!

Garrett was shocked. The young assistant beside him froze, flustered, rushing to pat the old man's back:

"Sir! Mr. Hogan!"

The patting was ineffective. The plump old man rocked back and forth, bent forward, coughed a few times, quickly turning purple. The young assistant held onto him, attempting to open his mouth, clearing his throat. Meanwhile, he shouted outside:

"Quick! Get the apothecary!"

"Understood!" Outside the shop door, the boy replied, darting off. Normally, when someone fell ill or got hurt, they should summon a priest, but... wasn't the apothecary next door?

When unable to afford a priest or when the priest was too busy, they'd manage by calling the apothecary. The treatment might be slower, involving administering medicine or something similar...

The young assistant yelled and continued trying to save the old man. Unexpectedly, Garrett leapt over the counter!

"What are you doing?" The young assistant shouted. He wanted to help the old man but also wanted to drive Garrett away, causing chaos. He couldn't free up his hands, only shouting loudly:

"What are you doing! Get out! Get out!"

Ignoring him, Garrett rushed forward, shoving the young assistant aside, enveloping the old man from behind.

At least he was a first-level warrior. Compared to knights, picking on shop staff was his strong suit. Thrown by him, the young assistant slammed into the cabinet behind, curled up, shouting:

"Thief! Someone's stealing!"

"Who?!"

Footsteps echoed. A middle-aged man stormed in, a glass bottle in one hand, a wooden spoon in the otherGarrett presumed he was the apothecary. Right after, the boy rushed in, searching for sticks on the floor, simultaneously yelling at Garrett:

"What are you doing! Release Mr. Hogan!"

Garrett didn't pay them any mind. With one leg in front and the other behind, he locked his hands around the plump old man, exerting a sudden downward force. The plump body slid, directly sitting on Garrett's right thigh, pressed forward.

"What are you doing!" The apothecary yelled. He wasn't young and couldn't leap over the counter like Garrett. He could only rush, desperately trying to feed the old man. Running and panting, he shouted, "Let go of him! Why are you squeezing his waist when he's choking!"

As Garrett was making preparations, the coin slipped! It's the worst dealing with overweight people! Needing an extra person to lift them off a bed, it's difficult to perform chest compressions, and during abdominal surgery, when others make an incision, they'd see organs, but with him, it's just layers of fat! Even for anesthesia, the dosage needs a complete reassessment, an anesthetist has to be extra careful!

Look at this now, the Heimlich maneuver just slipped off!

The store clerk and apothecary continued shouting. Garrett, frustrated, roared, "Shut up!"

"You, come out!"

The boy glanced around, finally grabbing a door latch, ducking under the counter barrier. Garrett shouted, "I'm saving him!" His left fist moved up, the right hand following suit, pressing against the plump man's sternum. Taking a deep breath, he exerted force again!

Once!

Twice!

Bang!

The door latch hit hard. Garrett couldn't dodge in time, so he slightly leaned his head aside, taking the hit on his left shoulder. In pain, his arms suddenly surged with strength, fiercely thrusting the old man's chestthird time!

"Cough!... Cough cough cough!"

The old man suddenly started coughing violently. A thunderous bout of coughs, then suddenly, he opened his mouth and spat something out. With a clang, it landed on the table, spinning under the lamp's light, sparkling gold.

Garrett relaxed all over. Releasing his arms, he raised his right hand to massage his left shoulder, simultaneously glowering at the boy. The second stick wielded by the boy froze halfway, his right hand held high, stunned.

"Can it work like this?!" The apothecary froze in place. Dropping the glass bottle, it shattered with a crack.

"Cough cough cough... Huff, huff, huff..."

The old man coughed for a while, finally catching his breath, turning his head. As he glanced over, seeing the frozen boy holding the stick and Garrett massaging his shoulder, his gaze froze on the spot. The apothecary disregarded everything:

"Why did this work? When someone's choking, can you save them by hugging their chest? Please, tell me! I'll pay you! I'll give you everything!"

He began frantically searching his pockets. Money pouches, gold chains, even trying to tear off buttons from his coatbut one pull and nothing budged. Garrett sweated. Busy with casting a healing spell on his left shoulder, he could only stretch his left hand, trying to pull the apothecary:

"You don't have to... It's just a small technique, very simple..."

Damn it! I pressed the diaphragm, who told you to hug the chest! This isn't clear, it's harmful!

The pain in his shoulder finally subsided. Garrett freed up his hand, starting to explain to the apothecary. Under

the lamp, he watched as the middle-aged apothecary nodded repeatedly, bending from a five-degree lean to ten degrees, then gradually to fifteen.

The plump old man opened his mouth. Sweat beaded on his chubby forehead.

Why did he doubt the other's money earlier? Why suspect the origin of that coin? Now, he had offended a legitimate healer! Even the neighboring apothecary would listen respectfully to their lessons!

Now, the other party, not even sparing a glance at him, was busy chatting with the apothecary...

The old man reacted quickly. As Garrett paused in his explanation, he immediately bowed deeply, showing respect. The fat on his belly creased deeply:

"Respected healer! Thank you for saving my life, and please forgive the rudeness of my little shop..."

Garrett quickly stopped teaching to assist. The old man followed his lead, rising with his support, hand on his waist, loudly commanding the young shop assistant:

"Roger! Bring what the healer needs! Frank! Get a dozen of the finest paper, no, make it two! And fetch ten quill pens, two large bottles of ink! Hurry!"

A doorkeeper and a shop assistant, shouted by him, rushed back and forth, not touching the ground. This time, the one causing chaos by blocking was Garrett:

"No need... I can't afford these..."

"How can I let you pay!" The old man laughed heartily, thumping his chest, making a "bang bang" sound. "Respected healer, you're my savior, how can I not pay for your treatment fees?"

"But..." For applying the Heimlich maneuver, the treatment fee... Well, in such cases, it doesn't take much, maybe a few dozen coins at most for such a simple operation?

"No buts! This shop is mine. If I owe this old man's life, isn't it worth a few pieces of paper?"

"At least exchange it for normal paper... Magic paper is too expensive..."

"Then add two more batches of normal paper! Roger! Pack everything and deliver it to the healer's home!"

One doorkeeper and one shop assistant, directed by him, ran back and forth, as Garrett sighed:

"Please don't trouble yourself... It's just a simple technique..."