Strange Neighbor

After work, I ran into the elderly woman from the neighborhood who sells herbal remedies. Just as I was about to greet her, I noticed something alarming. From the small cart she was pushing, a red liquid dripped steadily onto the ground, leaving dark streaks behind. She picked up a cloth and, with deliberate care, began wiping away the traces. The metallic tang of blood hit me immediately—it was unmistakable! That was definitely not from any kind of bird!