Chapter 111: Chapter 111 - 0109: Returning to Nanqiao Hospital

Yang Ping struggled to prop herself up and crawl.

Her hand ached fiercely, bloody, mixed with dirt, it hurt even more.

She’s alive!

Xiao Su lunged at her, tightly embracing Yang Ping, crying on her shoulder.

Yang Ping used her wrist to stroke her hair: “It’s okay now, don’t be afraid.”

“Mago and the liaison officer!”

Yang Ping immediately remembered that there were two more people.

Xiao Su immediately let her go: “Rescue them quickly!”

“Help, there’s been a collapse!” Yang Ping and Xiao Su took turns yelling.

“Mago!” Xiao Su cried out.

Yang Ping wanted to call out to the liaison officer, but discovered she didn’t know his name.

“Liaison Officer!”

Yang Ping called out.

There was no response, he must be buried inside.

She could only rescue one at a time, Yang Ping remembered their positions.

First, rescue Mago, then the liaison officer.

The dirt on Mago’s side was very firm. On the liaison officer’s side, it was much looser. The looser it was, the more residual air trapped inside, and the longer the victims could hold on.

Despite the pain, Yang Ping started digging again based on the position she remembered, rescuing Mago.

In the distance, a group of people arrived, several dozens of them.

When the village chief and everyone heard the shouts, they rushed over. The distance was too far, so they only arrived now.

Everyone brought their farming tools, hoes, and rakes, but none of them were useful as they could hurt the people buried inside.

Village Chief Fang led everyone to dig with their hands. The people were divided into two groups, one group digging to save Mago and the other the liaison officer.

Yang Ping saw someone with a small metal spade. An idea struck her. She asked someone wearing a thick coat to take off their coat, wrap the spade, tie it tightly, and then continue digging. Although it wasn’t as useful as the bare metal spade, it was much faster than hands and wouldn’t injure the people buried inside.

Another group of people rushed over, with gaps of a few minutes, it was the old, women and children. Mago’s grandmother was also following them.

Everyone started working together, and there was strength in numbers.

Mago was soon dug out, the spade then moved on to where the liaison officer was buried.

Yang Ping checked Mago’s nose and carotid artery. She was still breathing and had a pulse. Pressed for just a short while, Yang Ping cleared the dirt from her nose and mouth, opened the airway, let fresh air in, and Mago gradually woke up and opened her eyes.

“Where are the two doctors?” The first thing she said when she woke up.

“We’re here, we’re okay!” Village Chief Fang said.

Soon, the liaison officer was also dug out, Yang Ping immediately went over to check him. Thank God, he was still breathing and his heartbeat was normal. Yang Ping also helped clear the dirt from his mouth and nose.

His face gradually turned rosy. He coughed a few times and muttered something weakly.

Yang Ping leaned in to hear: “Camera, camera!”

“His camera!” Yang Ping understood.

Village Chief Fang removed the garment from the spade, continued to dig at where the liaison officer was buried, and dug out his camera, which was completely covered in dirt. He handed the camera back to him, who held onto his camera tightly with both hands.

“Send them to the hospital!” Yang Ping said to Village Chief Fang.

The village chief had the same idea, he quickly called to report to the township government and asked for a vehicle.

While they were digging out Mago, Village Chief Fang had sent people to find wooden planks. Two young men, each carrying a wooden plank, ran from a distance. Those were door panels taken from the door.

Xiao Su picked up the two bags scattered on the ground, carried one and held another, she also supported Yang Ping. She insisted Yang Ping not carry any more bags.

People carried Mago and the liaison officer on the door panels and sprinted along the mountain road. Yang Ping and Xiao Su were a little behind.

After passing the cliff road, going through the dense forest, down the stone steps, they arrived at the concrete road.

The driver was leaning on the front of the van smoking a cigarette. Seeing this scene, he rushed up and asked: “What happened?”

“There was a collapse near the reservoir. They were buried, we dug them out, they’re conscious, they can speak.”

Village Chief Fang said, “The township government’s vehicle is on its way, it should be here soon.”

Yang Ping surprisingly understood what the Village Chief Fang said, “Go to Nanqiao People’s Hospital!”

This small van obviously wouldn’t be able to complete the transportation task. They could only wait for the vehicle from the township government.

Yang Ping wanted to take out her phone to make a call, but her hand hurt so much. It was inconvenient. Xiao Su immediately said, “I’ll do it, where’s your phone?”

“Right trouser pocket.”

Xiao Su helped to take out her phone: “Dialing Director Tian?”

“Hmm!”

“Password?”

“No password.”

Xiao Su helped dial Director Tian’s number, put it on speaker, and put it in near Yang Ping’s mouth.

Yang Ping reported the situation just now to Director Tian and asked him to contact Nanqiao Hospital to prepare to receive the patients.

While giving the report, she actually forgot to mention herself and Xiao Su, only mentioned that Mago and the liaison officer were buried.

“Leave the phone with me. Receive and make calls. I’ll hold it for you.” Xiao Su put the phone on herself.

Xiao Su put down the bag, remembered there was a box of mineral water in the van, took out three bottles, “Bear with it! I’ll help rinse your wound.”

It was only then that Yang Ping thought of it. Both her hands were bloody, covered in dirt, she needed to rinse them.

Yang Ping extended her hand. The pain was there anyway, she decided to just grit her teeth.

Xiao Su poured the mineral water, Yang Ping washed her hands under the stream. Tears welled up in Xiao Su’s eyes as she watched in pain, “Gentle, be gentle!”

Gentle or heavy, it was still painful. She might as well just have a deep cleanse.

It was a piercing pain, but it was unavoidable. After three bottles of mineral water, her hands were washed clean. After she finished washing, Yang Ping shivered.

“There’s no gauze, ordinary bandages will stick, let’s expose it first and bandage it when we get back.” Xiao Su lightly dabbed Yang Ping’s hands dry with a tissue.

Yang Ping instructed Xiao Su to check the injuries of the two victims. Thankfully, they didn’t seem too serious. There was only dirt at the time of the collapse, no stones.

Village Chief Fang was as restless as an ant on a hot pot, unsure what to do, he kept looking towards the road.

The vehicle sent by the township government arrived, they sent a small four-wheeled truck. Everyone together lifted the people onto the truck’s cargo deck. The township chief got out of the car anxiously and asked, “Where did the collapse happen? Are the people okay?”

“At the fish station worksite, two people were injured, but they’re awake.” Village Chief Fang reported.

They’re awake, that’s good. The township chief felt slightly relieved.

The van driver said, “You all ride in this van.”

“I should go up there too, it’ll put me at ease,” Yang Ping said.

Xiao Su supported Yang Ping as they both climbed onto the truck, with the villagers loading their luggage onto the vehicle.

“Drive slowly!” The village chief instructed the driver.

The truck headed towards South Bridge People’s Hospital.

Director Tian received the call, immediately reported it to Dean Pan and prepared for the injured.

Yang Ping was trembling slightly, probably due to exhaustion, pain, or excessive sweating.

Xiao Su took off her coat and draped it over him.

Yang Ping refused: “No, the wind is strong in the car, don’t catch a cold, put it back on!”

“It’s okay! I won’t catch a cold that easily; I exercise regularly.” Xiao Su wrapped the coat around him and hugged him.

Yang Ping’s hand could not touch anything, so he constantly held it in front of his chest, like how surgeons did after washing their hands in an operating room.

Xiao Su carefully rested his forearm on her lap, allowing his hand to hang freely. This provided support, otherwise it would have been tiring to constantly hold it up.

“Bear with it a bit longer, when we get back, I’ll disinfect and bandage your wound,” Xiao Su said, visibly distressed.

Mago wanted to speak, Xiao Su leaned in to listen.

“Are Doctor Yang and Nurse Su alright?”

This was the second time she asked.

“We’re fine, we’re good,” Xiao Su said.

Mago appeared relieved.

The liaison officer clung tightly to the camera. Several people offered to keep it safe for him, but he did not let go.

When they arrived at South Bridge People’s Hospital, Director Tian and a few others were already there, waiting at the emergency room entrance.

The two injured were immediately handed over to the emergency room doctors as soon as they were taken off the truck.

Seeing Yang Ping and Xiao Su covered in mud, and Yang Ping’s hand heavily injured.

Director Tian asked with concern: “What happened to you two?”

“It’s nothing! The injury on my hand is from digging in the dirt,” Yang Ping said.

Uninterested in discussing the accident, Xiao Su saw Yang Ping’s reluctance to talk, and kept quiet too. He was okay, after all, and probably didn’t want to trouble everyone.

Song Zimo, Zhang Lin, and Little Five surrounded them: “Are you okay? Quick, go to the Orthopedics ward to clean your wound and change the dressing.”

A representative of the health bureau apologized, and Zhang Lin said: “How are you doing your job? He’s this badly injured! I’m telling you, if there’s any problem with these hands, I won’t let it go!”

Director Tian quickly pulled Zhang Lin away. The representative of the health bureau was beet red from being scolded and kept apologizing.

Several people accompanied Yang Ping and Xiao Su to the Orthopedics ward. Zhang Lin took the luggage, Little Five ran to prepare the stuff.

Song Zimo and Director Tian stayed with them. Upon reaching the Orthopedics ward, Director Zeng also got news and came to see them: “Why are you so injured? Quick, clean the wounds!”

In the dressing room, they prepared to clean and disinfect the wounds, Xiao Su assisted with the handling.

“Do you want anesthesia? A wrist nerve block?” Song Zimo prepared to start cleaning.

Yang Ping shook his head: “No need, my hand is completely numb.”

“Well, bear with it a bit, Little Five, saline water.” Song Zimo started to work.

Little Five opened the bottle, saline water for rinsing, Song Zimo used a hemostat to hold a wet cotton ball for cleaning, his movements were fast and light.

After few rinses, the flipped skin was then trimmed with ophthalmic scissors. It was all epidermal damage, shouldn’t be a big issue. After trimming, more rinses were done, vaseline gauze used to cover the wound, and then bandaged.

Liang Fatty, bumbling and oblivious, entered the room: “Brother Yang, what happened? Such a big incident happened and nobody informed me!”

Zhou Can also came in: “Xiao Su! Are you okay?”

“Go to the office for awhile, do a tetanus skin test, and get a tetanus shot,” Song Zimo stood up.

Everybody crowded around, with Xiao Su assisting, they entered the Director’s office.

“Quick! Help him in, hang a few bottles of anti-inflammatory solution,” Director Zeng had cleared the office.

“There’s no need for antibiotics,” Yang Ping said.

“How is Xiao Xu’s bacterial culture going?” Yang Ping, remembering, asked.

Director Zeng adjusted the chair: “Why are you still worrying about this? Coagulase-negative staphylococci was cultured from the exposed part of the bone, other parts haven’t cultured any bacteria for now.”

According to his judgement, there shouldn’t be any problems at the moment, but he definitely can’t perform the surgery; Song Zimo would have to sub in.

“I’ll do the surgery when the time comes,” Song Zimo said.

After a negative tetanus skin test, a tetanus antiserum shot was given.

Both Yang Ping and Xiao Su were covered in mud.

“Go back to the dormitory, change into clean clothes,” Zhang Lin said.

Zhou Can accompanied Xiao Su, and Song Zimo and the others went with Yang Ping back to the dormitory.

With the help of Zhang Lin and Little Five, Yang Ping was able to take a clean shower, making sure his hands didn’t get wet.

After changing into clean clothes, his brothers escorted him back to the dormitory.

“Leave the clothes here for now. I’ll help you to wash them tonight,” Little Five put the bucket of clothes in a corner of the dormitory.

Director Tian also rushed to the dormitory: “The two injured are fine, the liaison officer has three broken ribs, Mago has a bruised scalp, and a soft-tissue contusion on her calf, but it’s nothing serious.”

Yang Ping finally relaxed.

Zhang Lin mixed a cup of cereal porridge for Yang Ping to drink. His hands couldn’t use a spoon, so Zhang Lin tried to feed him, but he insisted on drinking directly from the cup, lifting it using his wrist.

A few of them were discussing how Yang Ping would eat over the next few days. Song Zimo, Little Five, and Zhang Lin would take turns to assist.

“Can I come in?” Xiao Su asked from outside.

“Xiao Su is here!” Song Zimo announced at the door.

“Yes! Of course!” Zhang Lin shouted.

Xiao Su, having changed clothes, walked in with a foldable reusable bag. Seeing Yang Ping drinking cereal porridge, she set down the bag and immediately asked, “Do you have a spoon?”

“Yeah!” Zhang Lin, startled, quickly passed her the spoon.

Xiao Su held the cereal porridge, scooped a small spoonful, tested the temperature herself, and then spoon-fed Yang Ping bite by bite.

“Where are your clothes? Pack everything, I’ll take it with me, wash, air-dry, and bring them back,” Xiao Su said while feeding him.

Everyone was dumbstruck.

Who spreads love this blatantly and arrogantly?

It seemed, no need to worry anymore about meals or clothes washing; Xiao Su had it covered.

“Your clothes are here!” Little Five picked up the reusable bag.

They stuffed the bucket containing Yang Ping’s clothes into it.