The rain outside grew louder and louder, accompanied by constant flashes of lightning and thunder.
"We need to get it there quickly, otherwise the temperature will definitely rise again once the medicine wears off," the old doctor sighed.
What he didn't say was that far too many children become mentally disabled because treatment was delayed...
Lin Ziyan pursed her lips tightly. At this time, with wind and rain raging, the buses to the county town had long since stopped running.
"Dr. Chen..."
A familiar male voice rang out.
Lu Yunshen bent down and walked into the clinic.
He was already tall, and when he entered the small tile-roofed house, the space instantly felt cramped.
"Lin Ziyan?" He was stunned for a few seconds when he saw the two pale-faced people.
Lin Ziyan snapped out of her daze. "Lu Yunshen, did you drive back?"
"By the way, could you do me a favor and take Jiaojiao to the county's maternal and child health center?" the old doctor said immediately.
Jiaojiao trembled in Lin Ziyan's arms, her brows furrowed.
"The car is outside, let's go now!" Lu Yunshen picked up Jiaojiao.
Lin Ziyan quickly set up the IV drip and left.
The old doctor hurriedly said loudly, "I'll go and talk to your grandmother in a bit."
A deafening clap of thunder drowned out his voice.
Lin Ziyan didn't hear clearly; her mind was entirely on Jiaojiao.
Jiaojiao rested her head on Lu Yunshen, her face pale and devoid of any energy.
Lu Yunshen was still holding the umbrella, and the two walked side by side.
The car was parked near the clinic, and we arrived quickly.
"Take her temperature in a bit."
Lu Yunshen handed her a thermometer from the trunk, then placed the first-aid kit on the back seat.
Lin Ziyan said, "Thank you."
Jiaojiao was still on an IV drip and lay flat in the back seat, occasionally startled.
The rain outside gradually subsided, and the areas not illuminated by the car headlights were pitch black.
Lu Yunshen stepped on the gas, and the car sped off. The windshield wipers kept sliding, and rainwater splashed onto the glass, obscuring the road ahead.
The two remained silent the entire way, and it was unclear how long it took before the car finally stopped in front of the hospital.
Inside the hospital, a few people sat scattered in the dimly lit emergency room corridor.
Lu Yunshen carried Jiaojiao into the emergency room, where doctors quickly surrounded them.
He first listened to his heart and lungs with a stethoscope, his brow furrowed.
"We suspect it's childhood pneumonia. This medicine is only available in the city right now, but we can use antipyretics to lower her fever first."
Lin Ziyan, "We got a fever-reducing injection at the clinic..."
"There's no conflict, but that fever reducer is imported and very expensive." The doctor hesitated.
The hospital has this fever reducer because there have been too many children with high fevers recently, many of whom have pneumonia, so they imported it from the city at a high price.
This medicine wasn't available here last month.
But this fever reducer is very expensive; a few milliliters cost thirty yuan, which many people cannot afford.
"Please administer the medication immediately, doctor. I'll go pay the bill," Lin Ziyan said urgently.
She hurriedly took the money out of her bag.
When she carried Jiaojiao out, she grabbed her bag and left without thinking about finding money.
Now it's come in handy; otherwise, I would have had to borrow it from Lu Yunshen first.
"Okay, you go pay first, and I'll have the pharmacy prepare the medicine."
"However, I suggest you take her to the city hospital for hospitalization as soon as possible, because that's where they have the medicine to treat childhood pneumonia." The doctor said and then walked away.
Jiaojiao then burst into tears, crying out, "Sister, I want my sister..."
A little while later, she called for her mother again.
"I'm going to pay the money. You stay here with her." Lu Yunshen got up, handed Jiaojiao to Lin Ziyan, and walked out.
Lin Ziyan watched his retreating figure, her eyes flickering slightly. She sighed inwardly, realizing she owed him another favor.
The doctor arrived quickly and gave Jiaojiao fever-reducing medication immediately.
When Lu Yun Shen returned with the report, he overheard the doctor saying,
"As parents, you need to pay more attention in the future, especially when your child catches a cold..."
He stopped in his tracks, his face instantly turning red.
Lin Ziyan looked at him, about to explain.
The doctor continued, "The child's father also needs to pay more attention to the child; it's inevitable for young couples to argue..."
Lu Yunshen, "..."
When did they argue? They just arrived without saying a word...
"Young people these days, when they argue, they just stop talking..." The doctor took the forms and left, leaving the two stunned people behind.
Lin Ziyan was so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into a hole.
...
When the two arrived at the city hospital, it was almost dawn.
The doctor immediately drew blood for testing and arranged for many other examinations. The final result was acute pneumonia.
Jiaojiao was wheeled into the ward at daybreak.
"The patient will be hospitalized for a few days. The family will go and pay the deposit in a bit..." The attending physician said a few words and then left.
Lin Ziyan looked exhausted and kept nodding, her head buzzing.
Lu Yunshen said, "I'm going to pay the bill and make a phone call back to the village while I'm at it."
"Thank you." Lin Ziyan looked at Jiaojiao on the hospital bed, her voice choked with emotion.
His gaze fell on her thin back, and a pang of sadness welled up in his heart. He turned and walked out of the ward.
At this moment, Jiaojiao must miss her mother the most, right?
Her eyes welled up with tears, and she struggled to hold them back as her vision gradually blurred.
In her daze, Jiaojiao murmured, "Sister."
Lin Ziyan gripped her hand tightly, without saying a word.
She waited for a long time, but the doctor didn't bring the medicine, and Jiaojiao's temperature rose again.
The nurse entered the ward. "Family member of bed number 2, the doctor will be here shortly to administer medication..."
She had barely finished speaking when the ward door was suddenly pushed open.
Lin Ziyan frowned as she looked at the newcomer.
"Young lady, could you please let my grandson take his medicine first? I beg you..." The old man, his hair white, knelt down.
There are only two pediatric wards, and she was just in the one next door.
"Family member of bed number 6, your grandson's fever has subsided. Please wait a little longer; the medicine is on its way..." the nurse advised.
Lin Ziyan looked at the old man without saying a word.
"I can give you money, double, no, triple the cost of the medicine," the old man said urgently, his clothes looking expensive.
A dark glint flashed in Lin Ziyan's eyes. "Sorry, I don't need your money."
Before she could dodge, the old man grabbed her wrist.
"Young lady, you're still young. Even if... even if this little girl is gone, you can have more children..."
"Shut up!" Lin Ziyan suddenly shouted sharply, forcefully shaking her off.
Just then, the doctor walked into the ward with the medicine and saw the old man kneeling on the ground. He frowned slightly.
The old man snapped out of his daze, stood up, and said coldly, "You'd better give the medicine to my grandson, or I'll kick you all out of the hospital!"
Lin Ziyan was so angry she laughed. She turned around and said, "Doctor, please give my sister the medicine."
The old man glared at her, grabbed a pair of scissors from the table, and held them to his neck.
"If you give the medicine to this little girl, I'll..."
Blood was already flowing from her neck, and a dark light flashed in her eyes.
She knew that prolonged pneumonia could be life-threatening, which is why she swallowed her pride and begged the people in the next room.
They paid a little too late; otherwise, they wouldn't have had to wait for the next batch of medicine.
"Doctor, administer the medication," Lin Ziyan said coldly without even glancing at the old man.
The others in the ward remained silent, too terrified to utter a sound.
"You dare!" the old man shouted.
The smell of blood permeated the ward.
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