Chapter 96 - Zhejiang is hit
He reunited with Feng long and Yu Lexuan, after saying goodbye to Meng Zhang and Xie Yun.
While Feng Long and his subordinates were making their way back home, Zhang Yi was under pressure. The admissions in the hospital increased dramatically, and his new test didn't work as he expected, giving results that were not reliable. The cumulative death toll of the entire empire has doubled in just two days.
Zhang Yi shut off the door of his lab and started to make different test batches to see which one would perform best, using his old test as a benchmark:
-There should be a way to keep the readings reliable... I think a new dose of medicine will be needed for everyone too, but we will run out of raw material too soon... What can I do!!!???
Later, he moves to the hospital, carrying the tests using a cart. A physician welcomes him:
-Greetings to your excellency.
-Please, we need to test all these batches fast. We are running into big trouble.
-As your excellency wants, please, follow me.
The staff helps him get the samples out of the patients, and he then compares the results in the different batches. Some batches seem to have reacted better, but they required a larger concentration of reagents, which seemed very odd for him.
The staff in the hospital was also trying to save some patients by administering a second dose of medicine. Zhang Yi worked out that the medicine should be gotten before the infection with the new pathogen occurs, as the procedure in the hospital was getting poor results.
Without Feng Long or anyone to help him, he later moved to the open square in the front of the palace, wearing a face covering. He brought the last flask of medicine ready for use and distributed it to as many people as possible. He also left some medicine for Feng Long and his colleagues when they got back home.
Zhang Yi was feeling terrible. The epidemic has surged suddenly and he does not have enough influence to implement the health protocols, like closing the borders or asking for businesses to close, or greatly reduce the number of people in enclosed places.
When the night arrived, the staff in the hospital finished testing all batches and sent him the results. A new formulae were established for the tests and adopted. They also sent him that a further 14 people had died just in the afternoon, which was unreal for him:
-This is a disgrace... 14 people died in only 6 hours. Many more will die if we do nothing... I should try something. I could stay crying here, but I have to take action now...
Zhang Yi walks down the main street of Jinhua, asking venues to close. Naturally, he receives a lot of criticism from the owners:
-Closing again??? Why??? The epidemic is over!
-We can't do that, sorry!
-This will never end. We should learn to live with it!
Getting to the city gate, Zhang Yi shows his imperial seal to the gatekeepers, bowing to them:
-Please, hear me... A dangerous disease is spreading through our city! We must close the city gate until we can test everyone.
The gatekeepers are speechless:
-But we cannot do it on our own... We need a direct order from Feng Long.
-I beg you... Close the city gates now! We cannot allow more people in.
-We're sorry, but we can't do that without a formal order from Feng Long. This is what the regulations say.
Suddenly, a crowd forms and starts throwing fruits and other objects at Zhang Yi, he is forced to retreat to the palace. Some people understood what Zhang Yi said and they were trying to dissipate the rioters:
-Please, stop! Mr. Zhang Yi saved us numerous times! We should hear what he said!
-Damn it, I almost lost my business for nothing! No one died from the disease!
-That's false! I heard that almost 20 people died today in the hospital.
-Not our problem! Will you pay my expenses after I close my business again?
-How come you all got so uneducated overnight? We live in a land of peace. Stop that!
-Don't keep our businesses closed!
Zhang Yi then moves to his bedroom and lie down, crying:
-There's... There's nothing I can do... What will Feng Long think about it??? Aahh Feng Long, have mercy!!!
The rioters protest for hours until it gets so late that they have to sleep. The staff at the hospital get to know what happened and start to discuss ways of reducing mortality by using known techniques, like relocating patients to another area.
Comments
Post a Comment
Comments are encouraged, but, please, be respectful