Shangguan Qing took a deep breath, turned around, and strode towards the temporary ward in the south of the city.
…
Let's turn back time to yesterday's dusk.
As dusk settled, the dozen or so large mansions in the southern suburbs of Beijing that had been temporarily requisitioned were brightly lit.
This place was taken over by the barren mountain and used as a temporary ward for isolating and treating plague patients.
The air was filled with the strong smell of herbs and disinfectant lime water...
Inside and outside the courtyard, people dressed in uniform indigo clothing and with white cloth covering their faces could be seen busily moving about.
Some were simmering medicinal soup, the huge pots bubbling and steaming.
Some were moving supplies, with bundles of clean bedding and medicine being delivered to various rooms.
Some were quietly comforting the patients' families and explaining the precautions.
Everything seemed orderly and efficient, busy but not chaotic.
Just then, a young man with a delicate face, wearing a slightly worn blue shirt, squeezed into the busy area.
This person was Mu Ye. He tried to put on a friendly smile, but his eyes were subtly scanning everything around him.
"Tsk, it really does look convincing."
Mu muttered to himself, but on the surface he appeared to be a kind-hearted person.
He saw someone distributing herbal medicine and went up to ask if he needed any help.
Seeing someone sweeping the ground, they pretended to offer to help.
His eyes darted around, searching for a breakthrough.
Soon, his gaze settled on a small figure in the corner of the yard.
It was a young medicine boy, about five or six years old, sitting on a small wooden stool with a pile of clean white cloth and thin rope in front of him.
The young apprentice bowed his head, his small hands deftly threading a needle, as if he were sewing something.
He also wore a white cloth of the same style on his face.
"Children are simple-minded and easy to trick into revealing information!"
Mu Ye's heart stirred, and he immediately walked towards the little medicine boy.
He slowed his pace, squatted down beside the young medicine boy, and tried to make his voice sound more kind and approachable.
"Little friend," Mu said with a smile.
"What are you doing here all by yourself? You're working so hard."
The young medicine boy seemed startled, raised his head, and revealed a pair of large, clear, dark eyes.
Upon seeing who it was, he wasn't afraid; he simply replied in a childish voice, "I'm making face masks."
"Mask?" Mu Ye's face showed just the right amount of confusion.
"Yes!"
The young apprentice held up a half-finished white cloth cover and explained earnestly.
"This is it. Look, it's sewn together with clean cloth, and several layers of gauze are sandwiched inside."
He pointed to the materials next to him with his little finger.
"It's done, just like the one I'm wearing on my face."
The young medicine boy pointed to the mask on his face.
"Several of my older sisters said that there are many viruses outside now, and if you inhale them, you will get sick."
"Wearing this mask and covering your mouth and nose will block out viruses, protect you, and prevent you from getting sick!"
The young medicine boy spoke with a serious expression, even nodding as if he were an adult.
"Everyone here has to wear a mask! Brother, you should wear one too!"
As he spoke, the young medicine boy handed Mu Ye a mask and taught him how to wear it.
Mu followed the little medicine boy's actions and put it on, secretly delighted! He had found a breakthrough so quickly!
We must find out today why these people spent so many materials to make masks!
"By the way, what is that virus you just mentioned?"
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