At this moment, Chen Yu also arrived at the warehouse, carrying a large bundle of mugwort in his arms, his face beaming with excitement: "Yue'er, I found some mugwort. This stuff can be used to fumigate houses; it has a certain bactericidal effect. We can distribute it to the villagers so they can fumigate their houses. Maybe it can reduce the spread of germs." Lin Yue happily walked over, took the mugwort, and looked at it: "This is really good news. Now, every bit of help could be the key to our victory over the disease."
The two carried the wooden buckets and mugwort out of the warehouse and back to the open space in the center of the village. By this time, the villagers had gradually returned, having collected a considerable amount of cloth and lime. Several skillful women sat nearby, beginning to sew masks. Their eyes were so focused that everything around them seemed to disappear; their fingers flew swiftly between the fabrics, each stitch filled with their love for their families and village. Although their faces also bore the fear of the disease, at this moment, they transformed that fear into strength, contributing their efforts to the epidemic prevention work.
Lin Yue picked up a piece of fabric, walked among the women, and said to them, "Masks should be made as tightly as possible to better block germs. Look, cut it like this, then sew the edges well, making sure there are no gaps." As she spoke, she demonstrated, and the women stopped what they were doing, watched her movements attentively, and then followed along.
On the other side, led by Captain Li, the male villagers began to draw the boundary lines of the isolation zone on the ground with lime. They scattered lime on the ground, the white powder shimmering in the sunlight, forming white lines, as if drawing a protective line of hope for the village. The male villagers worked enthusiastically; some used shovels to spread the lime evenly, while others used twigs to draw clear lines on the ground.
"Attention everyone, the passageways between the quarantine zones must be kept narrow, and guards must be stationed there to prevent unauthorized personnel from entering or leaving at will. This is our lifeline, and we must protect it!" Captain Li shouted loudly, his voice echoing through the empty village, full of authority and determination.
A young villager asked with some worry, "Captain, will this really stop the disease? I've heard it's very serious. What if it doesn't work?" Captain Li walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and looked at him with firm eyes: "We have to try. Lin Yue is working hard, and we're all working hard. We can't just sit here and wait to die. This is the best we can think of right now. We have to believe in ourselves." The young villager nodded and continued to work.
As time went by, a portion of the makeshift masks were completed. Lin Yue picked up a mask and demonstrated it to the villagers: "Look, everyone, this is how you wear a mask—covering your mouth and nose completely, without any gaps. Although these masks are very simple, they're better than nothing in this situation. Everyone should wear them to protect themselves and those around them." The villagers picked up the masks and put them on. Their masked faces looked somewhat comical, but in this grim situation, they were filled with a tragic sense of solemnity, as if they were soldiers about to go to battle, and the masks were their armor.
Meanwhile, the lime disinfectant solution was prepared in wooden buckets. Lin Yue directed the villagers to carry the buckets of disinfectant to various areas, beginning a comprehensive disinfection of the village. The pungent smell of lime filled the air, a choking odor that was somewhat unpleasant, but everyone felt it was the smell of hope, because they knew it was the smell of fighting against disease. The villagers, armed with homemade brushes, sprayed the disinfectant on the walls of houses, the ground in courtyards, and every corner, leaving no place where germs might lurk untouched.
Some difficulties were encountered during the process of delineating the quarantine areas. Some villagers were unwilling to have their homes designated as areas for suspected cases and argued agitatedly with Captain Li.
"Captain, no one in our family is sick. Why are we being assigned to this area? Isn't this a curse? We can't accept it!" A villager's face flushed with anger, his eyes wide with fury and resentment.
Captain Li patiently explained, "This is just a precaution. We can't be sure if there are any latent pathogens. This division is to protect other villagers and also to protect yourselves. Once we're sure there are no problems, we'll adjust it naturally. These are special times, and everyone needs to understand."
Lin Yue also came over to persuade them: "Everyone must understand that we are now fighting a life-or-death battle against the disease. Every decision we make is for the good of the whole village. We cannot let our personal thoughts lead the whole village into a desperate situation. We must unite." Her eyes were full of pleading and anxiety. She knew that if she could not get the villagers to understand and cooperate, all her efforts might be in vain.
After much patient persuasion, the villagers gradually understood, and the demarcation of the quarantine area could continue. Although some villagers still complained quietly, they knew there was no better way and could only accept it helplessly.
After a busy day, the epidemic prevention supplies were almost ready, and the quarantine areas were basically demarcated. As the sun set, the blood-red afterglow fell on the village, bringing a somber end to this tense and busy day. The magnificent sunset, which would normally be so beautiful, now looked as if it had been stained with blood, adding a touch of desolation to the entire village.
Standing in the center of the village, Lin Yue looked at the exhausted but still busy villagers, her heart filled with emotion. Her eyes welled up with tears. These simple villagers, though fearful and hesitant in the face of disaster, ultimately chose unity and courage. She knew this was only the first step in epidemic prevention; many more challenges awaited them, and the battle had only just begun. But now, seeing everyone working together, she was filled with confidence again, as if she could see the dawn of victory over the disease.
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