The morning sun, which should have been warm and full of hope, seemed so powerless at this moment. Its faint light struggled to pierce the thick, dark gloom that shrouded the village, unable to dispel the fear that clung to the villagers like a demon. In the isolation ward at the west end of the village, Lin Yue stood like a weary statue. She hadn't slept all night; her eyes were bloodshot, their once bright gaze now filled with deep anxiety and endless exhaustion. She had just carefully examined each patient once more, each examination like a sharp knife piercing her heart. The speed at which their conditions were deteriorating was like a runaway horse, far exceeding her expectations.
Chen Yu tiptoed into the ward, carrying a bowl of steaming porridge. The porridge, with its faint aroma of rice, seemed somewhat out of place in the sickly atmosphere of the room. His steps were light, as if afraid to disturb the patients struggling with their illnesses, and even more afraid to disturb Lin Yue, who was lost in thought. "Yue'er, you need to eat something. You haven't eaten in a long time. Your body will break down if this continues." His voice carried a gentle tone that left no room for refusal, his eyes filled with heartache for Lin Yue, as if looking at an incredibly precious yet fragile treasure. Lin Yue shook her head slightly. Her lips were chapped, and her voice was hoarse as she said, "I can't eat. My condition is too bad right now. How can I have the appetite?" But under Chen Yu's concerned and persistent gaze, she reluctantly took the bowl and drank a few mouthfuls of porridge. The warm liquid flowed slowly down her throat, but it couldn't warm her heart, which was frozen by fear and worry. She found the porridge tasteless.
“I need to find Captain Li. We must act immediately, prepare epidemic prevention supplies, and demarcate isolation areas. Every second of delay could put more people in danger. We can't let the disease spread so uncontrollably any longer.” Lin Yue put down her bowl, a resolute glint in her eyes, her tone firm and unwavering, as if she had found a ray of light guiding her in this darkest hour. Chen Yu looked at her and nodded silently. He knew the situation was urgent, and every second was as precious as gold.
Lin Yue hurried towards the open space in the center of the village. Along the way, she saw fear and unease etched on the faces of the villagers. The original simplicity and warmth in their eyes were now obscured by a gloomy atmosphere, leaving only bewilderment and terror. A large number of villagers had already gathered in the open space, whispering amongst themselves, their voices filled with panic. Captain Li was struggling to maintain order in the crowd. Beads of sweat covered his broad forehead, his brow furrowed. Seeing Lin Yue arrive, he immediately pushed his way through the crowd to greet her. "Lin Yue, how is she? Has the patient improved?" His voice was hoarse, filled with deep worry, his gaze fixed on Lin Yue, as if waiting for an answer that would offer him some reassurance.
Lin Yue shook her head gravely: "The situation is very bad. The number of patients is not decreasing, but increasing, and their conditions are worsening very quickly. We must prepare for the worst. The most urgent task is epidemic prevention preparations, but we lack everything right now. The first problem is supplies and quarantine areas, which requires everyone's joint efforts." Captain Li frowned even more upon hearing this, rubbing his hands vigorously: "Our village is already poor and has very few supplies. This is really difficult." A hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination. He knew that as the captain, he could not show weakness at this time.
Lin Yue took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She began to make arrangements methodically: "Let's first consolidate the existing resources. Everyone go back and see how much fabric you have at home, whether it's old bed sheets or torn clothes, collect it all. It will be good to make some simple masks. Also, collect all the lime in the village, whether it's from the warehouse or any leftover lime from any household. This can be used for disinfection." Her voice echoed in the open space, every word clearly reaching the villagers' ears, as if issuing a battle order.
Upon hearing the news, the educated youth rushed to the scene. While fear lingered in their eyes, a strong sense of responsibility prevailed. One educated youth stepped forward, his gaze resolute, his voice booming: "We have some spare bed sheets and clothes we don't wear often in our dormitory. We can donate them to make masks. These things are more important to us than anything else right now." The other educated youth responded enthusiastically, and everyone immediately sprang into action, running towards the dormitory. In an instant, the crowd in the open space began to disperse; some ran home, others towards the warehouse. The entire village, like a giant machine being started, began to function, albeit slowly.
Lin Yue then said to Captain Li, "We need to divide the village into isolation zones as soon as possible; this is of utmost importance. We need to divide the village into several parts: patients in one area, suspected patients in another, and healthy villagers in yet another. Each area must maintain sufficient distance to minimize the movement of people, thus controlling the spread of the virus to the greatest extent possible." Captain Li nodded, then turned and shouted to several young and strong villagers, "You guys, come with me. Let's go around the village and see how best to divide the areas." With that, he led the villagers out of the village.
While the villagers were busy, Lin Yue went to the village warehouse. The warehouse was dark and damp, filled with a musty, rotten smell that was almost nauseating, like a disease. She searched carefully, her eyes shining brightly and intently like stars in the night sky in the dim light. Suddenly, she spotted some old wooden barrels in a corner, and a gleam of surprise flashed in her eyes. "These barrels can be used to store disinfectant, this is wonderful," she murmured to herself, as if she had found a rare treasure.
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