Chapter 19 Health Center
Xiufeng Mountain is at a high altitude. As December arrives, the weather gradually becomes colder and the chill is overwhelming.
The road was covered with thin ice, and it was slippery with every step. The soil became hard and difficult to dig. The road construction team members overcame the difficulties and moved forward with difficulty.
The deeper they went into the tunnel, the more rocks there were. The team members used hammers to knock, axes to split, and pickaxes to smash. The dirt and rocks they shoveled out were collected in dustpans and sent to carts. Many people had their shoulders worn out and their knuckles cracked and bleeding. Their palms were already covered with scars and wrapped with thick strips of cloth that were soaked with blood.
Even so, no one complained or felt tired. They held their breath and were determined to open the tunnel and connect the north and south slopes before the snow fell.
When I woke up this morning and opened the wooden door, a cold wind blew towards me. Tao Nanfeng clearly felt a chill and solemn atmosphere in the air.
The newly built brick and tile houses at the educated youth site have thick walls and good thermal insulation performance, and the benefits can be felt when the weather gets cold. Although the breath outside was foggy, it was warm and dry inside.
Tao Nanfeng wore a thin cotton-padded jacket with a red lining and green flowers, and a dark green corduroy jacket on the outside. Although the clothes were simple in style and a bit bulky, they cast a layer of warmth on the cold Tao Nanfeng, making her look gentle and kind.
Tao Nanfeng rubbed her frozen hands and shrank her neck. Her ears were so cold that they hurt. She turned back to the house, took out a beige wool scarf from the wicker box, and wrapped her head, ears, and cheeks tightly.
Li Huilan and Ye Qin got up, washed up, took out two steamed buns from the steamer in the kitchen and ate them, then said loudly, "Let's go to the pig farm."
The two left the educated youth site in the cold wind. After getting the hang of the work at the pig farm, Ye Qin and Li Huilan stopped complaining. Although the pig farm is dirty and smelly, I still feel a sense of accomplishment when I see the dozen or so pigs I raise are fat and strong. This is the New Year’s ration for the members, and everyone is looking forward to distributing the meat before the New Year.
Tao Nanfeng looked at Xiao Aiyun who was curled up quietly in the bed and said softly, "Xiao Aiyun, get up and go to work."
There was no response from under the quilt.
If it were any other day, Xiao Aiyun would have been chattering in the house. It was rare to see her sleeping in. Tao Nanfeng shook his head, came back from the kitchen to get breakfast, walked to the dormitory bed and gently pushed the quilt roll.
"Xiao Aiyun, Xiao Aiyun?"
Still no response.
Tao Nanfeng's heart tightened. He raised his hand and lifted a corner of the quilt. A stream of hot air rushed out, revealing a flushed face.
Xiao Aiyun's eyes were closed, his breathing was heavy, and his forehead was hot. Hearing Tao Nanfeng's call, he hummed a few times in a daze, but was still asleep.
Tao Nanfeng had been weak since childhood and had become a good doctor after years of illness. He knew at a glance that Xiao Aiyun had a high fever. She suppressed her rapidly beating heart and quickly took clothes from the bedside to help Xiao Aiyun put them on.
Qiao Yadong was shouting outside the window: "Tao Nanfeng, Xiao Aiyun, let's go~~"
Tao Nanfeng opened the door, carried Xiao Aiyun on his back, and walked out, holding her weak legs: "Xiao Aiyun has a fever, she needs to be taken to the hospital."
The educated youth lived, ate and worked together, and had long formed a deep friendship. When they heard that Xiao Aiyun was sick, they all gathered around her and offered advice.
"Oh, I must have caught a cold on the way home from work yesterday."
"I've been shouting for a long time but there's no response. We can't delay any longer."
"Send two people to the health center, and the rest of you can go to work as usual."
Xiao Aiyun hummed and pressed her head against Tao Nanfeng's neck, feeling the warmth and softness of the scarf, and refused to let go. Qiao Yadong originally wanted to take Xiao Aiyu from Tao Nanfeng, but when he saw that she refused, he had to give up. Everyone at the educated youth site knew that Tao Nanfeng was very strong, so it was not difficult for him to carry the thin Xiao Aiyu on his back.
Qiao Yadong accompanied Tao Nanfeng all the way and waved to Chen Zhilu and the others before leaving: "Don't worry, just go and repair the road."
The clinic is located in the northwest corner of the site, an isolated one-story building with a yard. The canopy at the gate is supported by two brick pillars, and the floors of the foyer and corridor are painted dark red. The corridor has poor lighting on both sides, and with the light green painted wall skirts and the big black word "静" on the wall, it looks dark and gloomy.
There are a total of six rooms, including the duty room, registration room, pharmacy, treatment room and ward. It is still early in the morning and there are few people around. It is deserted.
As soon as he entered the hallway, Qiao Yadong shouted loudly: "Doctor, doctor!"
The person who walked out from the duty room was a nurse with a graceful figure and beautiful appearance, Liu Lili.
Liu Lili wore a white nurse's uniform over her flowery cotton jacket, fine woolen trousers and black leather shoes underneath, and her hair was neatly tied up behind her head. She said in a cold tone, "Why are you shouting? The doctor's not here."
Xiufengshan Farm was not very big, with a total of six educated youth sites, two to three hundred people, plus farm staff and their families, totaling about a thousand people. During the busy farming season, everyone is busy and exhausted.
Because of its small size and remote location, although an independent clinic was built, no doctors or nurses were willing to come. The conditions are poor, with only two doctors, one in internal medicine and one in surgery, and two nurses. They take turns on duty and can only treat minor ailments such as headaches, fevers, knife wounds and athlete's foot. If there are serious symptoms, the patient has to be sent to the Quping Town Hospital at the foot of the mountain.
Liu Lili is beautiful and has an ambiguous relationship with Director Jiao Liang. She is a famous person on the farm. Qiao Yadong naturally recognized her and politely reported Xiao Aiyun's condition: "She couldn't get up this morning, has been unconscious, and has a high fever. Nurse Liu, please help take a look at her first."
Liu Lili looked at her watch and replied casually, "It's only half past eight, it's still early. Put the patient on the bed first and wait for Doctor Jiang to come to work before prescribing medicine."
Tao Nanfeng followed her into the treatment room and gently placed Xiao Aiyun on the bed. The temporary bed was only covered with a thin military mattress, and the snow-white sheets had faint yellow marks on them. It was unknown how long it had not been changed.
Tao Nanfeng frowned and looked around. In the treatment room, there was an iron bed, a long table and a wooden chair against the wall. The cold concrete floor and loose wooden window frames allowed wind to blow directly into the room.
Xiao Aiyun was dizzy with fever, her lips turned pale, and she held Tao Nanfeng's hand and murmured, "Mom, mom, I'm thirsty..."
Tao Nanfeng took Xiao Aiyun's hand away, stood up and tried to find a teacup to pour some water, but there was nothing on the table in the treatment room except a sanitary aluminum box containing a tongue depressor and cotton swabs.
She didn't dare to leave Xiao Aiyun, and walked out of the treatment room quickly, shouting towards the corridor: "Nurse, please pour some water."
Tao Nanfeng's voice echoed in the empty corridor, but there was no movement at all.
Qiao Yadong walked over from the duty room quickly. "There is only Nurse Liu in the clinic. The doctor on duty today is Doctor Jiang. I don't know why he hasn't come yet. Nurse Liu said she doesn't dare to treat us if the doctor doesn't come, so let's wait."
Even the most courageous person will naturally become obedient and respectful to the doctors and nurses once he arrives at the hospital. Liu Lili looked indifferent, which made Qiao Yadong dare not ask or say more.
Tao Nanfeng pursed her lips, took off the scarf from her neck and covered Xiao Aiyun's chest and abdomen with it, then turned sideways to block the cold wind coming in from the window.
The conditions on the farm are really tough, especially the medical conditions. I didn't feel it when I was in good health, but now that Xiao Aiyun has a high fever, I feel really anxious.
Qiao Yadong sensed the low pressure on her and comforted her softly, "Don't worry, I'll go get some water right away. The field office is not far from here."
Tao Nanfeng nodded, looked up at him, frowned slightly, and said, "Go get some water."
Sweat beads appeared on Xiao Aiyun's forehead, his breathing was rapid and heavy, and the breath he exhaled was as hot as fire. Tao Nanfeng suddenly remembered that his father had always been by his side every time he was sick. All the past events came to his mind and for some reason his eyes suddenly turned red.
Qiao Yadong saw tears in Tao Nanfeng's eyes and thought she was worried about Xiao Aiyun. He couldn't bear it and took off the cotton hat on his head and put it in her hand: "Don't panic, it's just a cold and fever, it will be fine after the fever subsides. It's cold here, put on your hat."
Qiao Yadong left in a hurry, and the army green cotton hat in Tao Nanfeng's hand still carried his body temperature. Tao Nanfeng gathered Xiao Aiyun's hands together and covered them with his hat.
Xiao Aiyun felt drowsy, his limbs were weak, his face was flushed, and he was mumbling something. When I put my mouth close to her lips, I could only make out some fragmented words.
"Cold...hot...thirsty, the sun is too hot...the wind is too cold...Mom, Dad! I want to go home..."
Hearing the last sentence "I want to go home", Tao Nanfeng leaned over and stretched out his arms to hug her gently, as if he wanted to transfer his strength into her body to help her get better quickly.
Home, what a beautiful word.
It has been more than three months since I left home in September. The farm is remote and difficult to reach, and sometimes the postman cannot go up the mountain for a week. I sent several letters home, but received no reply. I don’t know whether it’s because my father didn’t come back, or because the letter wasn’t sent home, or because my stepmother and Tao You deliberately didn’t reply?
Tao Nanfeng dreams of going home to Jiangcheng, where he has lived for seventeen years.
Although my stepmother and stepsister acted in one way in public and another behind other people's backs, my father was sincere to me and cultivated me with all his heart. What's more, there is the university campus where I grew up.
The campus of Jiangcheng Architecture University is quiet and beautiful. The tube-shaped building is full of fireworks. As soon as you go out, you will see beautiful camphor trees, dense sycamore trees, roses in the small flower beds, and wintersweets in the garden...
Suddenly, a man's arrogant voice rang out in the corridor: "Sister, I have no money left, please give me some money."
Liu Lili gritted her teeth and said, "Didn't I just give you ten yuan the day before yesterday? How come it's gone so quickly? My monthly salary is only thirty-two yuan, how can I afford you to spend it like this!"
When Tao Nanfeng heard this conversation, he straightened up unconsciously and walked to the door with some caution. Isn’t the man who called Liu Lili "sister" the former security chief Liu Bin who was dismissed and retained for observation?
Liu Bin spoke without restraint: "Sister, you know that I was kicked out of the security department by Wei Min. I have nothing to do, so I have to play dominoes with my brothers. The money you gave me was gone in one night."
He changed the subject: "Sister, if you have the ability, ask your brother-in-law for money if you don't have it."
Liu Lili was so angry that she was lying on her back. She raised her hand and slapped Liu Bin's arm hard: "It's okay if others say it, but you are my brother, how can you say such nonsense!"
Is it an honorable thing to be Director Jiao’s lover? Liu Bin actually said something like "brother-in-law" at her workplace...brother-in-law bullshit! Jiao Liang has a wife and children, but he lives in the provincial capital and refuses to come to the farm to suffer. If it weren't for this disappointing brother, and if it weren't for her desire to be transferred back to the county hospital, why would she bother to be so hypocritical with that middle-aged man?
Liu Bin stared at him with his big eyes like copper bells, looking very scary: "You won't suffer any loss anyway, so what are you afraid of?"
Liu Lili's face turned red and white, and she didn't know what to say. In this era where issues of conduct can rise to the political level, it is difficult for a woman to marry a good man if her reputation is ruined. My own younger brother has been living a life of luxury thanks to me, and now he says that he doesn’t suffer any loss?
"Bah! What do you know? Go away, I have patients today and I won't talk to you."
Hearing that his sister was going to drive him away without any mercy, Liu Bin's eyes bulged and he held Liu Lili tightly, refusing to let go: "Sister, my parents died early, and you are my only relative. You can't just stand by and watch me die. If you don't care about me, then I will stay with you, and you will be responsible for my life or death~"
When Liu Lili heard Liu Bin mention his parents, she felt soft-hearted for a moment, but her arm was hurt by his grip, which seemed to remind her of something. Thinking of what her brother had done, she hardened her heart and ignored him, walking quickly towards the treatment room: "Don't hold me back, I still have to take care of the patients."
The two of them came to the treatment room, and when Liu Bin looked up, his eyes met Tao Nanfeng's.
Liu Bin was stunned for half a second, and all the new and old hatreds surged into his heart. He shook off Liu Lili and smiled sinisterly: "Oh, it turned out to be Lady Tao. Are you sick? Let me help you cure it..."
Liu Bin was a man who only cared about eating and not being beaten. He stretched out his right hand and grabbed Tao Nanfeng's arm. Through the thick cotton-padded jacket, he was only half a foot away from Tao Nanfeng. He could smell her warm and fragrant breath. Liu Bin's heart was moved, but he still felt unsatisfied, so he reached out to touch her face with his left hand. He was talking dirty and looked extremely frivolous.
Tao Nanfeng was furious. A hot current surged out from his dantian and passed to the arm that was grabbed by Liu Bin. He raised his hand and swung it! Then aim at the area where the white lines on his left leg are most concentrated and kick him hard!
“Whoosh—pop!”
It happens suddenly and in a flash.
It all happened so fast that Liu Lili only saw a flash before her eyes. A black shadow flashed through the air, then hit the wall of the corridor and fell to the ground.
Liu Bin, with his fierce beard and strong as a calf, now looked like a defeated dog, lying on the cold concrete floor of the corridor with his face buried, looking miserable.
Liu Lili opened her mouth wide and didn't say anything for a long time.
Liu Bin suffered another loss at the hands of Tao Nanfeng, and only then did he realize that the legends of the farmers about her immense strength were not groundless. Liu Bin ignored the pain in his buttocks and back, and struggled to get up from the ground. He supported himself against the wall with one hand and pointed at Tao Nanfeng with the other, gasping for breath and saying, "You! You hit someone!"
Because he fell face down, Liu Bin's nose and face were swollen, his lips were swollen, and he spoke in a muffled voice, without any trace of his previous arrogance.
"Get out! If you dare to be rude again, I will beat you up every time I see you!" Perhaps it was the divine power that gave her the courage. Tao Nanfeng was no longer afraid of shameless people like Liu Bin. She slapped the sleeve he had grabbed in disgust, her eyes slightly narrowed, her expression stern and inviolable.
After all, she was her own relative. Liu Lili nervously checked Liu Bin's arms and legs. She heaved a sigh of relief only after confirming that there were no fractures. She turned her head and stared at Tao Nanfeng cautiously, as if she was evaluating what was so great about this little girl.
Under Tao Nanfeng's gaze, Liu Bin held his waist awkwardly and said self-deprecatingly: "If you are not allowed to touch me, then don't touch me. Why are you so fierce?" After that, he left in shame.
Looking at Liu Bin's limping back in the corridor, Liu Lili's eyes flashed with an inexplicable light.
Without waiting for Tao Nanfeng to speak, Liu Lili took the initiative to come over from the duty room with a kettle of boiling water: "Your friend caught a cold and has a high fever, right? Give her some water first. I'll get some alcohol for you to wipe her, and try physical cooling first."
When Qiao Yadong came back, he saw Liu Lili following him around, seemingly trying to please Tao Nanfeng. He found it strange and asked quietly, "Why is Nurse Liu so rude at first and respectful later?"
I beat Liu Lili's brother, but she didn't get angry but became polite and enthusiastic? Tao Nanfeng didn't know the reason and shook his head.
Liu Lili is a very purposeful person. People on the farm didn't have good opinions about her, calling her a "slut", "bad person", or "bad woman", but she turned a deaf ear to all of them. Anyway, as long as the goal is achieved, cursing a few times won’t lose anything. What bothered her was that her brother was walking more and more crookedly.
It was the first time he saw a little girl who could control his naughty and sickly brother. Looking at her fair and delicate face and her awe-inspiring righteousness, he suddenly felt something in his heart that he dared not speak out.
If...if this beautiful girl could become his sister-in-law, does it mean that Liu Bin could get on the right path?
Because of this thought, Liu Lili changed her previous negative and lax attitude towards work, and took care of Xiao Aiyun on the hospital bed enthusiastically, and did not forget to report in time.
"I took her temperature. It was 39.8 just now, but it has dropped to 39.2 now. Although it is still high, physical cooling is effective. This is a good thing. Tao Zhiqing, don't worry too much."
"I mixed some sugar and salt water and fed it to her. It's better than plain water."
Although Dr. Jiang did not come, Liu Lili took good care of Xiao Aiyun, and her complexion gradually returned to normal, her breathing became steady, and her condition was improving. Qiao Yadong and Tao Nanfeng finally felt relieved.
"Doctor, doctor——"
There were urgent calls from outside the clinic, the voices were shrill, mixed with the sound of disorderly footsteps. The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and Tao Nanfeng and Qiao Yadong stood up suddenly.
Oh no, something happened!
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