After breakfast, Gao Mingcheng planned to go to the town hospital again to see if Grandma Tan had woken up.
Originally, he planned to ask Aunt Hao to help look after the children, just like yesterday. However, Hongfei and Hongyu refused, each holding onto one side of Gao Mingcheng's clothes and following closely behind, insisting on going with him. Even Xiao Hongling's two chubby little arms were tightly wrapped around Gao Mingcheng's neck, unwilling to be separated from him. If he dared to leave her behind, she would cry in front of him.
With no other option, Gao Mingcheng had to drag all three children onto the tractor, which was still driven by Gao Dahan.
When we arrived at the hospital, we happened to meet a nurse coming out of Mrs. Tan's ward.
Having just seen him yesterday, the nurse recognized Gao Mingcheng at a glance: "It's you? You've come to see that old lady Tan?"
Gao Mingcheng nodded and asked, "Is she awake? Is she available to see people?"
The nurse looked troubled.
Gao Mingcheng's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately became tense, asking, "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
The nurse took Gao Mingcheng directly to the doctor.
The doctor looked at Gao Mingcheng with a grave expression and said, "You learned about the old lady's condition yesterday. Her wound was severely infected, so we performed a debridement procedure and administered antibiotics. However, we just discovered that, perhaps because our antibiotics were not effective, the infection has not been effectively controlled..."
Gao Mingcheng's heart sank: "Then what should we do?"
"It would be best to switch to imported antibiotics. However, as you should know, our country is under blockade. Imported antibiotics are scarce nationwide, and they are simply unavailable in our small town. Given the old lady's current condition, she may only last three to five days at most. You'd better be prepared," the doctor said with a heavy expression.
Gao Mingcheng's face was extremely ugly.
Hongfei and Hongyu, who were standing beside him, also understood what the doctor meant. Their little faces turned pale with fright, and they looked at Gao Mingcheng in a panic: "Dad..." Mom hasn't come back yet. If that old woman dies, they may never know what happened to Mom over there.
Gao Mingcheng took the two little ones' hands and squeezed them reassuringly: "It's okay, Daddy's here."
After saying that, he looked at the doctor seriously and said, "I understand, I will think of a solution as soon as possible."
After leaving the hospital, Gao Mingcheng took the child and went straight to Dacheng Street without delay, knocking on the door of the old principal's house.
When Grandma Qin saw Gao Mingcheng suddenly arrive with the child, she was both surprised and delighted: "Mingcheng? What brings you here today?"
Not seeing Xing Zhaozhao, she curiously peeked out and asked, "Where's Zhaozhao? Why didn't she come with you?"
"Has something happened to Zhao Zhao?" Gao Mingcheng said in a deep voice.
Grandma Qin was startled. Only then did she notice that Gao Mingcheng and the three children did not look well. In particular, Xiao Hongling, who was always full of energy when she went out, looked listless at this moment.
"What happened to Zhaozhao?" Old Mrs. Qin asked worriedly.
“She went to the gate yesterday and hasn’t come back,” Gao Mingcheng said.
"What?" Old Mrs. Qin exclaimed in surprise.
"What?" The old headmaster, who had just come out of the house upon hearing the noise, was greatly alarmed.
Xiao Qin was the only one who was kept in the dark. He didn't know anything and kept looking at this and that, completely bewildered, with no idea what they were talking about.
Grandma Qin hurriedly grabbed Gao Mingcheng and asked, "What exactly happened? Could something have delayed you?"
"I don't know. When she left yesterday, she said she would come back before dinner. However, another person came from the other side of the door and recognized Zhaozhao..." Gao Mingcheng told them about Grandma Tan.
Grandma Qin's face darkened, and she said, "If something really happened to Zhao Zhao, I reckon it's definitely related to her. Why didn't she come back earlier or later, but only when Zhao Zhao had an accident?"
The old principal nodded in agreement.
"Didn't you ask that old woman about Zhao Zhao?" Old Mrs. Qin asked.
Gao Mingcheng explained Grandma Tan's current condition: "...The doctor said she needs imported antibiotics, otherwise she might only have three to five days left."
"Where are we supposed to find imported antibiotics at this time?" Old Mrs. Qin looked helpless and couldn't help wiping away her tears. "If she dies, what will happen to our Zhaozhao?"
"We can't let her die," the old principal said, looking at Gao Mingcheng with a solemn expression.
Gao Mingcheng nodded: "I know."
"But where are we going to find imported antibiotics?" Mrs. Qin asked anxiously.
The old principal thought for a moment and said, "I'll contact some of my old friends in Beijing; they should be able to help."
“But if we’re going to the capital, it would take three to five days to get there and back,” Gao Mingcheng said, his brows furrowed.
"Then let them help contact anyone nearby who might be able to help," the old principal said, looking at Gao Mingcheng. "The military should be able to find them too."
Gao Mingcheng nodded in agreement: "That was my plan before too."
“Alright, let’s split up and find it as soon as possible, the closer the better,” the old principal said.
"Okay." After Gao Mingcheng finished speaking, he handed the little red jade pendant in his hand to Grandma Qin and prepared to go out with the old principal.
Unexpectedly, before Grandma Qin could even take it, the little girl let out a sharp scream and burst into tears, looking as if she was afraid of being abandoned.
Gao Mingcheng looked at the little girl clinging to him, feeling helpless and completely at a loss for what to do.
Just then, there was another knock on the door.
"Who?" Old Mrs. Qin asked warily first.
“It’s me, Grandma Qin.” Fu Lan’s voice came from outside.
Grandma Qin immediately went over and opened the door.
As soon as Fu Lan entered the room, she asked, "I think I just heard Xiao Hongling crying..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Hongling, who had been particularly resistant to Grandma Qin, saw Fu Lan and, as if she had seen her mother, burst into tears and opened her arms to her.
Fu Lan quickly went over and picked up the little girl, saying, "I told you I heard Xiao Hongling crying."
Old Mrs. Qin said sourly, "She even looked down on me just now, how could she want you?"
Fu Lan chuckled and said, "I guess it's because I've been staying with Sister Xing for a long time, so she's quite familiar with me."
"Then I'll have to trouble you with Xiao Hongling, Xiao Lan." Gao Mingcheng explained the situation to Fu Lan.
Fu Lan's expression hardened upon hearing this, and she nodded, saying, "Brother-in-law, don't worry, I will take care of Xiao Hongling and the other two little ones."
Gao Mingcheng didn't linger any longer and soon left with the old principal.
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