Task 3
"How did you find this place?" Lan was surprised by Shi Youchen's appearance, but he just said casually, "I was just wandering around. I didn't expect the mirror in this elevator to be a door."
After Lan's somewhat helpless explanation, the assistant and the old woman finally felt relieved and allowed this "companion" into the lab. "This is..." Aside from the girl's body, the other instruments hadn't been cleared away yet, leaving the operating table in a state of disarray, which caught Shi Youchen's attention.
"It's a testing instrument. I just finished an experiment." Shi Youchen looked at the blue-gray cube and found that it had no external interface to power it. "Do you mind if I take a look?" Lan took the freshly printed data file on the side and said as he looked down at it, "Please."
Shi Youchen then moved closer, examining it carefully. The machine's lines were neat and smooth. Besides the display screen at the top, the upper half featured two grooves, revealing probes of varying sizes. On either side were retractable scanners, connected to the various cutting tools in the lower half.
Since there are both scanners and scanning probes, it means that the coverage accuracy is different. One should be generally used for the surface, while the other should be specialized in the internal structure.
He touched the instrument's body with his fingertips and could actually feel energy flowing within it. Suddenly, there was a beep, and the screen lit up. This small movement startled both female experts present.
"Leave quickly!" Lan loosened her hands and the papers scattered all over the floor, but she didn't care at all. Instead, she nervously pulled Shi Youchen back a few steps.
"Let me do it. Setting up this instrument requires permission from here," the old woman beside her stepped forward and said. Lan nodded at her, "Thank you for your hard work." Turning to explain to Shi Youchen, she said, "This was created using the special abilities of a psychic. It's a product of psychic power itself, automatically absorbing and recording any kind of energy. But according to regulations, it can only be used on experimental subjects... those who have lost vital signs."
"So I have to delete your information."
No wonder it doesn't need external power... Shi Youchen nodded in understanding and apologized, "Sorry." He then squatted down to help Lan pick up the papers that had fallen on the ground. When he picked up a personal information form, he hesitated for a moment, "Is this... the experimental subject sent by Aiha Village?"
Lan picked up the other half of the paper and stacked it in order, then quickly examined it before responding to Shi Youchen's question: "Yes, what? Do you know him?" She had been teasing, hoping to put him at ease, but she was surprised to hear Shi Youchen's serious response: "Not really, it's just that name... I saw it this morning."
Now it was Lan who was nervous, "Have you seen this little girl?" "My mission location this morning was Aiha Village. She was on the original mission target list, but I didn't have the chance to meet her. I heard that she had passed away." Shi Youchen dusted off the stack of papers in his hand and handed it to Lan, who seemed to be lost in thought.
"Oh... She was indeed sent here temporarily this morning. So your mission is also related to that?" Lan murmured in a low voice, not even bothering to check the completeness of the stack of information handed over by Shi Youchen.
Shi Youchen only caught the word "mission" and assumed she was asking about his mission. After some deliberation, he decided it was okay to be honest with her, so he explained, "My mission is to assist in the rescue efforts in the affected areas... although it seems I'm acting alone at the moment."
The old woman seemed to have finished setting up the equipment. She turned around and glanced at Shi Youchen. "Don't be surprised. This is the Association's way of protecting those who come to us on missions, given the disappearances of those with special abilities in the past few months."
"Missing?!" the assistant and Lan exclaimed simultaneously, and Shi Youchen was also a little surprised. Although he had only done basic research before coming here, he had also carefully read through all the relevant announcements from the past six months, and there were no reports of missing people with special abilities.
The old woman shook her head slowly: "No wonder you are so surprised, I only know a rough idea. It is said that a team was on a mission, and when they came back, they found that one person was missing. The strange thing is that there was no alarm of abnormal vital signs, nor was there any news of positioning or contact." In this way, it is impossible to determine his survival status, nor can the death be announced hastily.
"Although we don't know the details, whether it's true or not, since then, the Association has generally adopted confidentiality protection measures for those with special abilities who come to Area 5 for missions, and have tried their best to keep their whereabouts as low as possible."
Shi Youchen finally understood why Xiaowei had become so lively and active upon returning to the base, yet so cautious in her words and actions outside. "Well, I have something to do and need to leave now. I'll see you later, Dr. Lan. Goodbye, sir," the old woman said, shaking hands with Lan and then saying goodbye to Youchen.
The assistant went out to see someone off, leaving only two people from outside the area in the laboratory.
"Did you encounter anything strange during your mission this morning?" Lan asked preemptively.
"Although the four patients I've treated have different symptoms, they're most likely infected with the same pathogen. However, the duration of their illness varies and is unpredictable. We can't deduce the cause until they all wake up." Shi Youchen gently stroked the joint of his left index finger with the tip of his right thumb. "As for strange things, I haven't encountered any so far."
Lan rolled the stack of papers into a barrel and tapped them twice on her palm. "Alright, alright. If you find anything, feel free to contact me... Just have that girl talk to my contact." Shi Youchen realized she was talking about Xiaowei and smiled faintly. "Alright, I'll be leaving now."
The moment he stepped out of the door, Lan suddenly seemed to remember something and said to him, "If you need any auxiliary tools or injections, you can also apply to the equipment department here, but you have to go in person."
Shortly after Shi Youchen left the lab, the assistant returned: "Doctor, you've been busy all morning and haven't eaten yet. Why don't you go and rest for a while?" Lan was lying on the operating table, recalling the entire process of the experiment. Suddenly, he jumped up, rushed to the door, and pulled the assistant with him: "Follow me!"
...
Shi Youchen sensed something was amiss. From the moment the modified mission vehicle drove into Tuya Town, he'd felt like he was being watched with clingy gazes. This unpleasant and uncomfortable feeling reached its peak when he opened the door to the town's infirmary.
There were about ten people crowded inside, standing or sitting.
The moment the door opened from the outside, they all stood up and cast eager eyes towards the door, all focused on Shi Youchen. Xiao Wei immediately took a step forward, trying to block Shi Youchen, but unfortunately her height could not block people's sight.
Shi Youchen was stunned for only about two seconds, then he reached out and supported Xiaowei's shoulders from behind, pushed her aside, and whispered, "It's okay, I'll handle it." After that, he walked straight to the table in the room and sat down. Xiaowei had no choice but to follow him in with a worried look on her face.
The infirmary in this town is much more spacious and better equipped than the small room in Aiha Village.
"Excuse me, are you the doctor sent from above?" The leader of the group was surprisingly a young man with tanned skin, small eyes, and thick lips. He looked honest and simple. Shi Youchen adjusted his headphones and nodded at him. The man was immediately overjoyed and visibly excited.
He first spoke a lot of words to the group of people behind him at a very fast speed, then turned to Shi Youchen, smiled shyly and said, "Doctor, don't mind. We are all residents of this town. We heard that there were medical experts coming today, so we dared to come and try our luck." Shi Youchen didn't say anything, but just nodded for him to continue.
Then the man seemed relieved and continued: "It's like this. Our town has previously gathered a group of epidemic patients to receive free diagnosis and treatment, but the condition is that they are under 16 years old... Several of us here have relatives who are infected with the disease and do not meet the conditions, and we can't bear to watch them suffer, so we want to come to you and ask if you can help us. We can pay, as long as you are willing to spend any money, we will do our best to raise it!" His tone was very sincere, and his eyes were full of pleading.
Shi Youchen called Xiaowei and asked her, "Are the conditions he mentioned true?" Xiaowei took out the list that Tuya Town had submitted earlier, handed it to him hesitantly and said, "It's true." Shi Youchen took the list and unfolded it. Sure enough, more than a dozen patients waiting for treatment were under the age of 16.
"So it's the same in Aiha Village?"
"...Yes."
"Why?"
"...Because here, 16 years old is considered an adult, and adults no longer enjoy these protections." Xiaowei whispered.
Shi Youchen pondered for a moment, then patted Xiaowei's hand, which was tightly clutching the edge of her clothes, reassuringly. "Make arrangements. Stay in Tuya Town tonight. Also, have these people submit the information of their sick family members. Those who can move should be sent here, and those who can't move should wait at home." Finally, he added, "Don't let the news leak out. I trust you."
Xiaowei felt a lump in her throat and replied "OK" with red eyes, then began to arrange the work.
The group of townspeople didn't understand what was going on at first, but when Xiaowei recounted the story clearly, a smile appeared on everyone's face. The leading man in particular was overjoyed. He excitedly stepped forward to shake Shi Youchen's hand, but he didn't get annoyed when he cleverly avoided his hand.
"Thank you, doctor! Thank you! Then we will go back and prepare!" After the joy, the man did not forget the business and called a group of townspeople out of the infirmary.
After Xiaowei came back, she wiped the tears from her eyes and complained to Shi Youchen, "You are too kind. The only one who will suffer like this is you, sir." The kind-hearted gentleman fiddled with the hourglass on the table and said nonchalantly, "Who said that? You are still working hard with me, aren't you?"
He looked at the girl seriously and appreciatively and said, "You've done a great job. Let's work hard together."
Shi Youchen didn't leave the treatment room the entire afternoon, and Xiaowei stayed by his side the entire time, verifying information, helping him find materials and medications, contacting patients' relatives, and discussing specific situations. Only after nightfall, when the last patient was taken to the observation room, did the two of them relax and sit down to rest.
"Sir, I've asked them to prepare dinner, and it will be delivered soon." Xiaowei said with a pout, knocking her sore calves with her fists. She hadn't stood for such a long time in a long time, and her legs and shoulders were very uncomfortable.
A hand reached out and covered her knees, and a warm current slowly filled her legs, and she immediately felt much more comfortable. "Thank you for your hard work. Is this any better?" Shi Youchen withdrew his hand and half-knelt to look at her.
Such a level, concerned look... Xiaowei couldn't help but recall the cold stare she received when she went to arrange accommodations for tonight that afternoon. "What? Isn't that what you do? One room is enough?" "You're so picky and difficult to please. You really think you're some noble lady..." "That's right, look at her frivolous look."
Xiaowei, worried about others, chose to find a clean and comfortable place on her own. She had heard the gossip behind the innkeeper and his wife's backs, but she simply bit her lip, lowered her head, and walked away pretending not to care.
"Xiao Wei? What's wrong?" Shi Youchen's voice brought her back from her wandering thoughts. "Ah... nothing! Sir, what are our plans after dinner?" She quickly changed the subject.
Shi Youchen thought for a while and said, "There are a few patients who are not convenient to move. I want to see a few of them tonight and finish seeing the others tomorrow. This way it won't delay the subsequent tasks." "Okay, then I'll go see if dinner is ready!" Xiaowei smiled at Shi Youchen and trotted out the door.
In the bathroom, the girl stared at the mirror with red eyes. She lifted the sleeve of her linen shirt, revealing a circle of dark marks on her exposed upper arm. She scooped up a handful of water and rubbed the skin vigorously, but even when the surrounding area turned red, the black mark still stubbornly glared.
That was proof that he had been sold as a slave by his biological parents.
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