33 – Winter Festival (2)
“I can’t stop eating here!”
Once people get caught up in competition, they become fools!
Cotton glared at Peter.
Even though his face was swollen, Peter reluctantly shoved meat into his mouth.
“I can’t lose!”
Cotton tried to force the meat down to his stomach.
But Cotton couldn’t control his body as he wanted.
The stuck meat blocked his throat, making it difficult to breathe.
As oxygen decreased in his brain, Cotton felt dizzy.
“Snap!”
Trembling, Cotton collapsed.
The onlookers finally realized that something went wrong.
Cotton fainted while competing in the eating contest!
* * * *
Since there was no set schedule for the festival, people were free to come and go, including the campfire.
“Oh, I’m so full.”
The villagers kept giving me food, and now my stomach is full.
It’s so stuffed!
Indeed, the reason for going to the festival is to eat.
When I was in Korea, I ate all kinds of meat I hadn’t tried before, like venison and rabbit.
After eating, all that remained in my mouth was grease, making me feel like I was going to die.
The villagers, knowing I suffered at the clinic, especially those who had been treated by me, showed me kindness.
“Oh, Mr. Cheolsu. How about trying sausage made from venison?”
“Oh my, I appreciate the thought. I’m too full!”
“Well, that’s a shame. Take it with you and enjoy it at Yeongjuseong!”
“Oh, you don’t have to bother. Haha.”
I accepted the sausage Margaret Mrs. offered, although honestly, it smelled terribly.
Sausages in this era were made using pig intestines, not properly cleaned, so the smell of excrement pierced my nose sharply.
I felt sorry for Margaret Mrs., but that kind of food should be given to livestock.
Even though I used to be a former excrement treatment officer, Kim Cheolsu, I couldn’t bring myself to eat excrement.
“Hmm, I should teach them how to clean intestines.”
I miss Spam!
“Ha, quite a strong smell, isn’t it?”
Miss Catherine chuckled, pointing at the sausage.
“Well, uh… it’s the thought that counts.”
“You don’t have to eat it. I’m not a fan of sausages either.”
Seems like people in this era also dislike sausages due to the smell!
Of course, I go crazy for modern sausages and Spam.
“Shall we walk a bit?”
“Yes.”
At Miss Catherine’s suggestion, I agreed to walk to help with my digestion.
Miss Catherine linked her arm with mine.
To an outsider, it might look like a couple! I could feel the gentle Miss Catherine’s body pressed against my side.
“Oh, Miss?”
“We’re always together at the clinic, so it’s okay to link arms.”
“Let’s not stumble over our words.”
Blushing, Miss Catherine lightly held onto my arm.
Her embarrassed demeanor was so endearing that I wanted to pat her head, but I refrained, feeling it would be inappropriate.
I used Miss Catherine’s warm body as a hand warmer during our walk.
As we strolled around the festival grounds, people seemed to glance at us with approval.
Is it really okay for the noble Miss Catherine to be so close to me?
Well, it feels good, so it’s fine.
“Oh my, please save my husband!”
“I-I’m infusing him with divine power. Ugh!”
As we walked through the festival grounds, people were screaming at the concession stands.
Mr. Cotton’s face had turned pale blue as he collapsed.
Seeing him in that state, Mr. Malboy was sweating profusely as he infused divine power into him!
It was evident from Mr. Cotton’s eyes that he was in a critical condition.
“Miss Catherine!”
“Yes!”
Catherine and I became serious, released our arms, and ran to Mr. Cotton.
“What happened!?”
“M-Mr. Chulsoo! Oh my, our husband, Mr. Peter, got into a fierce eating competition and choked!”
It seemed like Mr. Cotton had a lot of food stuck in his airway.
After listening to Mrs. Cotton’s earnest explanation, I disinfected my hands with holy water and opened Mr. Cotton’s mouth.
Sure enough, there was food stuck in his throat.
“Mr. Cotton! Are you conscious!?”
Mr. Cotton nodded slightly with a dazed look.
Thankfully, he was conscious.
“We need to administer emergency treatment quickly.”
Airway obstruction is a simple accident, but as simple as it is, it’s dangerous!
If left untreated, Mr. Cotton could die from lack of oxygen within a few minutes!
“Please help me!”
With the help of Catherine and Mr. Malboi, I lifted Mr. Cotton and moved behind him.
I hugged Mr. Cotton from behind, placed my right fist between his sternum and navel, and held the right fist with my left hand.
“I need to directly compress the stomach.”
Just hitting the back is not enough.
I have to make Mr. Cotton vomit the food he ate.
I pressed Mr. Cotton’s abdomen with my fist. Then, I lifted the fist upward!
Pressing the fist from the stomach to the sternum.
At first, Mr. Cotton, who had no reaction, began to retch at the third compression.
“Bring something for him to vomit into!”
“Got it, Mr. Chulsoo!”
Mrs. Cotton brought a basin, and Mr. Cotton vomited into it.
“Ugh, ugh… blegh!”
* * * *
The person who had airway obstruction was not only Mr. Cotton but also Mr. Peter.
Both of them had their stomachs compressed to induce vomiting.
It’s called the Heimlich maneuver!
It’s the method of compressing the stomach with a fist that I did.
After receiving the Heimlich maneuver, both of them felt only mild anemia symptoms after vomiting and their breathing returned.
“Phew, phew… I’m alive.”
“Are you okay?”
“Thank you, Mr. Chulsoo. I can breathe now.”
“Thank goodness! Mrs. Cotton, Mrs. Peter, please make sure both of them rest in bed.”
After explaining to the wives, I also explained to Mr. Cotton and Mr. Peter.
“Do you both know what caused this? It’s good to have a competition. But don’t overdo it! Don’t force yourself to eat meat.”
“…I have no face left.”
“I’m sorry.”
Peter and Cotton, each supported by their wives, listened to my sermon and returned home.
“There’s never a quiet day, is there?”
Something always seems to happen.
I wish it could just be peaceful!
One of the characteristics of nurses is that they like quiet.
If there are no special patients, there is no work!
“One thing’s resolved, Kim Chul-Soo.”
“Cough, it ended up like that unintentionally.”
“Shall we go enjoy the festival again?”
“But first, let’s take care of the Malboi brothers.”
Malboi trembled, consumed by fear.
The fact that he couldn’t save Cotton was shocking to him.
“If Kim Chul-Soo hadn’t come, I…”
“Malboi brothers.”
“I, I’m useless.”
“Malboi brothers!”
“Uh, yes. Yes?”
“It’s possible, because you’re inexperienced! I’ll teach you the method I used on Cotton, so please watch and learn if anyone else gets choked in the future.”
“Are you going to teach me Kim Chul-Soo’s technique?”
“Yes! We’re colleagues in the same medical team.”
Malboi’s complexion improved slightly at my words.
It’s a lot of work for him.
But still, those who don’t run away when Cotton is in crisis are truly admirable!
I educated Malboi on the Heimlich maneuver.
After receiving my education, Malboi was finally able to relax.
* * * *
The final flower of the Winter Festival, the Campfire.
The pile of firewood stacked in front of Yeongju Castle’s courtyard was set ablaze as evening fell.
Whoosh!
Flames soaring as if piercing through the sky!
The people of Rolang Viscount’s territory gathered around a large bonfire, forming a wide circle.
Viscount Rolang delivered a prayer and a speech from the podium.
This time, even the comrades-in-arms participated in the campfire, and Daisy, leaning on crutches, looked surprised when she saw me, then her expression hardened when she saw Catherine.
It was because Catherine had her arms crossed.
Is there still a problem with the etiquette?
From Noble mtl dot com
“…Kim Chul-Soo.”
“Daisy, come on in! Hehe, you’re diligently doing rehabilitation with the crutches I gave you.”
“Cough, I’m doing my best because you mentioned it, Kim Chul-Soo.”
“You’ll be able to leave the hospital soon, right?”
“That’s not it.”
“Yes?”
Daisy turned her gaze for some reason and blushed as she spoke.
“…Unless Mr. Kim helps with the rehabilitation exercise.”
“Ah, exercise support. That’s certainly possible! When would you like to do it?”
“Well.. would you dance with me at the winter campfire?”
“Dance?”
“Yes. As part of the rehabilitation exercise.”
If dancing is part of the rehabilitation, then isn’t it beyond the stage of rehabilitation..?
Wham! Catherine’s arm suddenly tightened!
“Miss?”
Catherine’s expression was stern!
Catherine was glaring at Daisy.
“I’m sorry, Sir. I have a prior engagement.”
She said to Daisy.
“…Is that so?”
Daisy’s complexion suddenly turned pale.
Hmm, maybe she’s been in bed for so long that she wanted to dance.
I secretly whispered to Daisy, feeling sorry for her reaction, while Catherine wasn’t looking.
“Let’s dance with Catherine quickly, and then you can join us.”
“Are you going to dance with two women?”
“Yes. Oh, is that not appropriate? I’m not familiar because I’m a foreigner. Haha.”
“…No, let’s do that.”
Daisy’s complexion seemed odd, but quickly returned to normal.
Rather, it felt reassuring?
As the evening deepened, the embers of the campfire spread across the sky, creating a beautiful scene.
I danced with Catherine there.
The dance itself wasn’t anything special. Just linking arms with a partner and spinning around.
Catherine was smiling lightly.
Her smile, illuminated by the beautiful crimson flames, was beautiful.
“You know about the winter festival campfire?”
“What do you mean, Catherine?”
“They say that people who dance together at the Winter Festival campfire become lovers.”
“…!!”
I understood the meaning of the campfire dance.