When Zhao Youtian entered the city, he found it desolate; the vast city was deserted and there was hardly anyone in sight.
Zhao Youtian's heart sank deeper and deeper.
Upon arriving at the clinic, we saw two large pots boiling herbs at the entrance. A young apprentice was busy distributing the herbs to everyone, indicating that people had come here!
Zhao Youtian quickly went up and asked, "Is this the medicine to cure this illness?"
"No, it can only give healthy people a resistance level. So far, no effective medicine has been developed. But don't worry, all the doctors in the city are gathered at the government office researching it," the apprentice doctor replied habitually.
Many people have asked him this question recently, and this is how he answers.
Zhao Youtian asked anxiously, "Are there any doctors left in the city? We want to go into the city, but the guards at the gate won't let us in. They only told us to ask a doctor to come out of the city to see the child."
"There aren't any right now. All the doctors in the city have been summoned to the yamen by the officials, who said they won't be allowed to return until an effective medicine is developed. Besides, even if they were sent out to see the patients, it wouldn't be of any use; this is an epidemic." The young apprentice medicine boy answered honestly.
Zhao Youtian was very anxious: "What should we do? There are still several children at the city gate."
The young apprentice scratched his head and said, "How about this, I'll ask my grandfather to take a look at you?"
"Was your grandfather also a doctor?" Zhao Youtian's hope was rekindled.
"Yes, but he's old and stays home now; he's no longer a doctor," the apprentice doctor said.
"Okay, okay, okay, thank you for your help." Zhao Youtian nodded quickly.
The young apprentice led Zhao Youtian to a small courtyard. When they opened the door and went inside, Zhao Youtian's heart sank. The old doctor had a full head of white hair and walked with a trembling gait.
I'm afraid they'll collapse from exhaustion before they even get out of the city gates!
The apprentice doctor explained the situation to the old doctor and noticed that although the doctor was old, he was still sharp of hearing and sight.
The old doctor sighed, "Alas, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. I'll go with you."
He originally intended to retire peacefully after passing the clinic on to his son, as his health was failing. However, he encountered this situation unexpectedly. As a doctor with a compassionate heart, he was eager to help.
Zhao Youtian gratefully squatted down and said, "How about I carry you across? That way we can get there faster."
The old doctor nodded, and the apprentice followed with his medicine box. Zhao Youtian ran quickly out of the city.
"All the doctors have been invited to the county government office. I finally managed to get this old man here. Please don't rush, let the old doctor examine each of you one by one," Zhao Youtian explained.
Logically speaking, Gouwa was the most seriously ill and should be seen first, but at this moment Zhao Dahuaxue rushed over: "Let me see you first, I feel so uncomfortable."
"How can you, an adult, compete with a child? It's not that we don't want you to see it, but can't you just wait a little while?" someone said unhappily.
"How would I understand? How could I compete with a child? She's pregnant too, so naturally she's a bit weaker." Zhao Dahua blurted out.
Perhaps it was because Zhao Hulu had been constantly talking about it in his ear lately, but she sometimes felt that she really was pregnant.
She has been feeling nauseous about everything she eats lately, and she even vomited today. She also seems to have a fever.
Someone spoke up again, after all, Zhao Hulu also looked anxious. Gouwa's mother didn't argue; rather than wasting time arguing here, it was better to get the doctor to examine Zhao Dahua quickly so she could see Gouwa.
"You don't have any major problems. You just have an upset stomach," the old doctor said.
"I wonder how the child is? Has he been affected?" Zhao Hulu asked hurriedly.
The old doctor frowned, about to speak, when Zhao Dahua quickly said, "I'm fine, so naturally the baby in my belly is fine too. Dad, don't ask any more questions. There are so many babies waiting in line. Let's go sit over there for a while; I want to rest."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Hulu stopped asking questions and helped Da Hua to rest aside.
The old doctor had just taken the woman's pulse and knew perfectly well that she wasn't pregnant, but given his age and experience, he chose not to say anything to avoid trouble.
He then took the pulses of each of the other children in the village.
Indeed, Gouwa was the most seriously ill, and there were no good medications available. The medicine prescribed by the old doctor could only provide temporary relief.
To put it bluntly, it all comes down to fate.
Li Rouniang was also anxious, taking the children to queue for a doctor's appointment. Fortunately, Da Ni and Er Ni only had very mild symptoms; perhaps the water from their spatial dimension had taken effect, and it wasn't too serious. After taking the medicine given to them by the old doctor that evening, their fevers miraculously subsided.
Only the little grass, though occasionally waking up and calling for its mother, remained mostly drowsy.
Xiuer's heart sank to the bottom. She feared that if Xiaocao were to die, she wouldn't survive either.
Li Rouniang was also anxious, but there was nothing she could do.
"Yes, it was those few people, it was their group of children who all got the plague."
At this moment, the gatekeeper led a group of people over, pointed at them, and said to the leader.
"Sir, what business do you have with us?" Zhao Youtian hurriedly stepped forward and asked.
"The lord has ordered that all those who have contracted the plague be locked up and treated in a unified manner," the head constable said. "Pack your things and come with me."
Zhao Youtian glanced at the dozen or so constables, all of whom were carrying knives, swallowed hard, and could only pack his things.
A group of people entered the city and followed the yamen runner to a large courtyard.
The faint sound of children crying could be heard coming from inside, suggesting that quite a few people had already gone in.
"Can those who aren't sick stay out?" Li Rouniang asked tentatively.
Her children have all recovered, and she doesn't want to bring them in and risk infecting them again.
"No, the magistrate said that you've been together for a long time, and some of you just haven't developed symptoms yet, not that you're not sick," the constable said coldly.
Li Rou Niang lowered her head and stopped talking, while Old Man Mo hugged Xiao Shan tightly.
If they go in there, it's hard to avoid getting sick.
"I won't go in! I won't go in! I'm not sick, why should I go in?" Zhao Dahua started making a scene.
Zhao Hulu didn't want Da Hua to go in either, since everyone inside was sick, and Zhao Da Hua was pregnant, so she might get infected.
"Yes, yes, why should those who aren't sick go in?" There were also those who weren't sick. Naturally, they would resist, especially those with children. Even if not for themselves, for their children, they wanted to resist.
"That's not up to you!" The constable suddenly drew his dagger.
The crowd fell silent. What else was there to say? Going in might lead to infection, but if they didn't go in now, they would die on the spot.
Li Rouniang was helpless. She wrapped a handkerchief around each child and told them to take it off. She had moistened the handkerchief with the spiritual spring water, hoping it would have some effect.
The group entered the courtyard but didn't rush into the house, knowing that every room was occupied. They squatted by the door, looking pitiful in the cold wind.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
