The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 2402: Chapter 2376: Stealing Blood

As dawn appeared on the horizon, Director Xiao gently patted Zhou Man’s shoulder and said, "The strong medicine in the kitchen is being kept warm. I’ve just asked Imperial Doctor Liu to fetch another dose and have it boiled in the kitchen. If necessary... administer it to them promptly."

This time, Manbao did not object and nodded.

Given that there had already been one death, Manbao changed her mind. Although the aftereffects of the strong medicine might be considerable, it could at least save a life.

Manbao lowered her eyelids in thought, replaying the symptoms of all the patients she had seen since the vaccinations in her mind, yet still she found no clue as to what went wrong.

Clearly, they were close to forming scabs and healing, how could there suddenly be a relapse?

Director Xiao also gazed at the increasingly vibrant glow in the sky, recalling the patients and data he had seen over this period. After a while, he said, "After breakfast, leave someone to watch over the two of them. The rest will revisit all the patients, reorganize their accommodations by similar conditions, and meticulously record their data."

Manbao agreed.

Director Xiao stood up and patted her shoulder again, saying, "Good child, don’t be sad. Smallpox is a millennium-old bane. It is not something we can just declare completely eradicated."

Manbao hung her head and said nothing.

Director Xiao turned and went into the ward to check on the two patients, leaving Manbao to her thoughts.

Manbao contemplated for a moment before getting up and heading to the next ward. Inside was only one person, No. 121, whose face had turned blue and whose entire body was cold.

The needles on his body had been removed, and he lay silently in bed. Once it was confirmed he died of smallpox, his body would be cremated and the ashes sent back to his family.

Manbao stepped forward, took his hand, and inspected it meticulously, then glanced outside. Keke thoughtfully said, "There’s no one outside."

Manbao retrieved a set of tools from her space, pricked his hand for two drops of blood, sealed them, and took two pustules from his body with a clip, sealed them together before storing them in the laboratory.

Manbao and Keke said, "Send an email to Teacher Mo, asking him to help test these two samples."

Keke complied, sending an email to Teacher Mo as Manbao instructed.

Manbao stepped back, carefully looked at No. 121, and finally drew the quilt up to cover his face.

She even tucked the quilt in reverently.

"What are you doing?"

Manbao was startled by the sudden voice. She looked up and saw a figure standing at the doorway, backlit. For a moment, she could only make out the silhouette, unable to discern the face clearly.

The person at the door stepped inside and, noticing she had covered the patient from head to toe, frowned and said, "The kitchen has prepared hot soup and rice. Director Xiao asked you to eat; there’s much to be done later."

Manbao then realized it was Imperial Doctor Lu.

She replied with an "oh," turned, and followed them out.

Today, none of the patients were allowed to go out; all were required to sit in their rooms and wait. Thus, the large open space only had a few of them and some soldiers standing by for instructions.

When Manbao went over, Imperial Doctor Liu motioned for her to wash her hands and change her outer clothes before eating.

Manbao turned to cleanse her hands, and by the time she returned, Director Xiao and the others were already sitting down to eat.

Manbao sat in an empty spot, scooped up a bowl of soup, took two sips, and asked, "Who’s staying behind?"

Director Xiao said, "Imperial Doctor Lu, it seems."

He continued, "Currently, neither patient’s condition is severe; they are relatively stable. Imperial Doctor Lu can rest for a while; the three of us will handle things for now, and we’ll reassess by noon."

Manbao nodded.

Both she and Imperial Doctor Lu had worked a day and a night on end. If the patients’ conditions didn’t deteriorate, she would take the next shift. If they did...

None of them would be able to rest.

Manbao finished the soup, feeling some warmth in her stomach and strength returning to her body. Only then did she start to eat a bun.

They had already examined all patients the previous night. Today, the checks would be conducted with the three of them together.

Director Xiao said, "One room for those whose blisters are scabbing over, another for those inoculated with the same batch of cowpox, another for those with signs of deterioration, and another for patients with similar conditions. Imperial Doctor Zhou, you write quickly, so handle the records, and make sure they are clear—we need to report on this."

Manbao agreed.

Thus, the three of them began inspecting room by room. Having checked once last night, they already had a good idea; today’s check was more about sifting through and confirming once more.

The initial 180 vaccinated, as Manbao had previously noted, generally developed between one to six pustules, with only a small portion exceeding that number, but no more than fifteen pustules at most.

After reviewing the records, Manbao said, "A total of twelve people."

The ratio wasn’t too high.

Director Xiao examined each patient individually; it was clearer and more direct during the day. Many patients’ blisters were nearly scabbed over. Director Xiao pressed them lightly and found them indeed healed. Back when they were in Xiazhou, such patients would have been sent home to recuperate.

Director Xiao described what he observed, while Imperial Doctor Liu and Manbao examined briefly and, upon confirming, Manbao recorded the details, reallocating these patients to the outermost rooms.

Director Xiao said, "You’re almost recovered. Those with signed slips, carry your bedding to the outer rooms and let those who are still breaking out stay in the inner rooms."

They had no objections and promptly carried their bedding outside. One even turned back to ask, "Sir, we’re cured of our pox, does that mean we’re safe now?"

Director Xiao did not promise them anything this time but said, "Move to the outer rooms first."

They left, a bit anxious.

At noon, Imperial Doctor Lu came over and told them, "Both of them have developed a high fever. I checked and blisters are appearing on their chests and backs, and starting to surface on their necks. It seems they are emerging on their faces too."

The three of them paused their rounds and rushed back.

The two patients were still conscious and relatively spirited, perhaps due to the fever—their eyes seemed bright, almost glowing.

Seeing so many doctors attending to them, they were a bit restless.

Director Xiao raised a hand to stop their attempts to sit up. He stepped forward to check their pulse, looked them both over, and then signaled to Imperial Doctor Liu and Zhou Man to conduct their examinations.

After they had all checked, Director Xiao examined their bodies again. He said to Manbao, "Administer acupuncture to them; we’ll change their prescription."

Manbao proceeded to give them acupuncture. Afterward, recalling the items in the laboratory, she was tempted to prick their fingers for some blood. She discreetly glanced at Director Xiao and the others.

The three were standing at the door, discussing the prescription around a table.