The attending physician, surnamed Guo, was also troubled. The child was so ill that penicillin was the best treatment. However, penicillin was in short supply and was allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Of course, there was a possibility of prioritizing the most seriously ill patients. But the patients currently receiving penicillin were all quite ill, and he couldn't stop their medication and use it on Wei An!

Song Yan looked very young, and the fact that she had to take care of a sick child made her stand out among the patients' families. Moreover, the patients' families often chatted together. In Sister-in-law Cheng's heart, Song Yan was the best of everyone. It only took one day. Everyone knew that Wei An was quite pitiful; she had no parents, her uncle had joined the army, and now she relied entirely on her aunt who cared for her.

People in this era were more simple and honest, and there was less indifference between them. Fellow patients would frequently come to check on Wei An by her bedside. Dr. Guo, in particular, paid special attention to this child patient.

The nurses showed extra care for this obedient child. When a nurse came to give her an injection, she comforted her, telling her not to worry and that she wouldn't cry. Even when the first attempt to puncture failed, Wei An continued to comfort the nurse, saying, "It's okay, I won't cry." This charmed the nurses immensely, and their maternal instincts were completely awakened…

Wei An is now suffering from recurring fevers and is even somewhat delirious, which is heartbreaking to see.

Song Yan went to the surgery department to see Dr. Li, who surprisingly recognized Song Yan.

Dr. Li: "Oh, isn't this Wei Ping's aunt?"

Dr. Li's words drew the attention of the nurses and doctors who had heard the commotion. Wei Ping was obedient and sensible, his aunt who cared for him was very young, and the basket of exceptionally sweet melons made them memorable to everyone in the surgery department.

Song Yan didn't need to deliberately cultivate her emotions; her eyes reddened as soon as she described Wei An's condition. It wasn't that Song Yan thought surgeons could help her find penicillin, but rather that she wanted to find everyone she knew to help her.

But penicillin is really scarce. Everyone wants to help, but there's just no one available...

And Han Yu—Song Yan would ask her about anything possible. Maybe they could get their hands on penicillin?

Song Yan handed the child over to Sister-in-law Cheng and went to find Han Yu... but what she got in return... Song Yan told herself, don't be discouraged, keep trying!

In this era, all resources are so scarce!

Song Yan was enveloped in an unprecedented fatigue. She barely had the strength to step into the pediatric ward; she was afraid to see Wei An looking so haggard and sickly.

"Hurry! Bed 8, Wei An, is in anaphylactic shock!"... Doctors and nurses alike, all dressed in white coats, rushed into Wei An's ward...

…Wei An…is in shock! Song Yan thought he must be hallucinating…

…In the ward, the doctor was performing CPR on Wei An. Song Yan could no longer hear what the doctor was saying; he only saw the nurses continuously drawing IV fluids and pushing them into the unresponsive body…

The author explains that this was based on a personal experience of one of his relatives. Around 1978, in rural clinics, there was only enough penicillin for four or five people a day. Patients who wanted penicillin had to queue up early in the morning. If they arrived late, they wouldn't get any. My relative, as a parent, would sit on the bench in front of the clinic before dawn to queue up.

Nowadays, whether it's a hospital or a pharmacy, there are countless medicines on display. So I can hardly imagine what it was like back then.