The Spoiled Young Lady Who Married a Military Officer-Chapter 155 - 153: We Fight Side by Side
Chen Zhengnian’s refusal was firm and absolute, but he couldn’t hide the worry in his eyes.
If anything happened to Su Tang, Lu Xiao wouldn’t be the only one in trouble. The Lu Family would be, and... so would he.
Su Tang’s grip on the warm congee tightened. "I’m not going there to cause trouble."
Her voice was soft, yet firm.
"I specialized in infectious diseases at a British Medical College, and I’ve participated in three major epidemic control efforts."
Chen Zhengnian was stunned. He knew Su Tang was a doctor, but he never expected her to have this kind of experience.
The daylight outside the tent grew a little brighter, illuminating the clear eyes above her mask. There wasn’t a trace of fear in them.
People always exude confidence when dealing with matters in their own field of expertise.
"But you’re pregnant."
"Before Lu Xiao left, he warned me again and again that I couldn’t let you get into any danger, no matter what."
"It’s precisely because I’m pregnant that I understand the importance of epidemic prevention even more."
Su Tang’s voice was slightly muffled by her mask.
"With the flooding these past few days, wound infections and intestinal infectious diseases are the most likely to break out. The quarantine zone was just set up; they’re definitely short on experienced personnel."
She tilted her head, listening to the coughs in the distance, her brow furrowing even more. "That child’s symptoms earlier didn’t sound like a common cold. Is your testing equipment adequate? Have you taken any throat swabs?"
The string of technical terms left Chen Zhengnian completely floored.
He opened his mouth, then suddenly recalled Lu Xiao saying that Su Tang always managed to pull off something amazing at critical moments. Only now did he truly understand what that meant.
"A batch of equipment just arrived yesterday, but we’re definitely short on manpower."
He sighed, glancing toward the quarantine zone.
"The person in charge of epidemic control is Director Zhang from the municipal CDC. But he was cut while handling a case last night and is currently getting it disinfected."
An idea sparked in Su Tang’s mind. "Where is he? I’ll go see him."
"You..."
"Chen Lü."
She cut him off, her gaze turning sharp.
"This isn’t the time for laying down conditions. One more person means a better chance of winning. Are you just going to stand by and watch more people fall ill?"
Chen Zhengnian looked at the cordon pulled across the entrance of Tent Three in the distance, then back at the determination filling Su Tang’s eyes. He finally gritted his teeth.
"Come with me. But you have to wear two masks and a hazmat suit the entire time. And you can only provide guidance from the periphery—absolutely no contact with patients."
Just as Su Tang was about to agree, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Mrs. Lu had approached at some point. "Tangtang, take care of yourself. You must take care of yourself."
"My son is risking his life on the front lines, and my daughter-in-law is saving lives behind them. Both are doing important work."
She turned to Su Tang, gently patting the back of her hand. "Be safe. Mom will be here waiting for you all to come back."
A lump formed in Su Tang’s throat. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Wang Xinxin running over.
"You’re going to the quarantine zone?"
"I just got this from the warehouse. It’s brand new. Let me help you put it on."
Chen Zhengnian watched the commotion, shook his head helplessly, and turned to lead the way.
Su Tang followed him through the noisy crowd. The smell of disinfectant grew stronger and stronger until, by the entrance to the quarantine zone, it was so pungent one could barely open their eyes.
A middle-aged man in a hazmat suit was leaning against a tent pole, gasping for breath. The cuff of his suit was stained with a dark red substance.
Chen Lü called out, "Director Zhang." The man straightened up and took off his goggles.
"This is Doctor Su. She..."
"I know who you are."
Director Zhang cut in, smiling. "Lu Xiao mentioned you last night. Said you predicted the risk of an epidemic."
He looked Su Tang up and down, his gaze pausing on her belly.
"You want to join?"
"Yes."
Su Tang straightened her back. "I can handle the triage and medication guidance for mild cases, and I can also help establish disinfection protocols."
Director Zhang was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly shifted aside. "There’s a pregnant woman with a fever inside. None of us dare to prescribe anything. You go take a look."
Su Tang’s heart tightened, and she immediately followed him inside.
As soon as she lifted the quarantine flap, she heard faint sobs.
A young woman was curled up on a pile of straw, clutching her stomach tightly. The cold sweat on her forehead had soaked her hair.
"Let me take a look."
Su Tang approached with light steps. Just as she was about to reach out to take the woman’s temperature, the woman suddenly grabbed her wrist, her eyes filled with fear.
"Doctor, will my baby be okay?"
Su Tang’s heart clenched. She thought of the baby moving in her own womb and soothed her gently, "Don’t worry. I’m pregnant too. We’ll get through this together, okay?"
The woman froze, staring at Su Tang’s belly with tear-filled eyes.
Su Tang took the opportunity to feel her forehead and listen to the fetal heartbeat. Her own brow gradually relaxed.
"It’s a fever from a cold. Not serious,"
she said, turning back to Director Zhang, who had followed her in.
"Use physical methods to lower her temperature, and prescribe some acetaminophen. Administer the lowest possible dose, and monitor her temperature and the fetal heartbeat every four hours."
Director Zhang’s eyes lit up. "Are you sure? We don’t dare make decisions on our own about medication for pregnant women."
"I’ve handled similar cases in pregnant patients."
Su Tang’s tone was confident. "Also, the quarantine zone needs to be divided into three areas. Mild, severe, and suspected cases must be separated. Medical equipment must also be strictly separated and sterilized. I’ll write up a protocol chart right now."
As she turned to look for a pen and paper, she suddenly heard arguing outside.
Chen Zhengnian ran in hurriedly. "Doctor Su, Lu Xiao’s back! He heard you were here and is arguing with Director Zhang."
The hand Su Tang was holding the pen with paused, then she resumed writing. "Let him argue. I’ll talk to him after I finish this protocol chart."
The quarantine flap was flung open. Lu Xiao stood in the entrance, silent.
Su Tang glanced up at him, then handed the finished protocol chart to Director Zhang. "The key points are all marked. Follow this."
Only then did she slowly rise and walk toward Lu Xiao.
"Hear me out first,"
she said calmly, speaking before he could explode.
"There’s a pregnant woman in here, and I’m the only one who can handle her case. The quarantine zone is just getting started. I can help a lot of people by staying."
Lu Xiao’s chest heaved, his fists clenched. "I don’t care about any of that! All I know is that I’m worried about my wife."
"You’re saving people on the front lines, and I’m saving people here. We’re just fighting side by side in different places."
She stood on her toes and whispered in his ear, "Don’t forget, I’m not just your wife. I’m also a doctor."
Her words seemed to extinguish most of his anger. He stared at her, stunned, a complex mix of emotions in his eyes.
Finally, Lu Xiao took a deep breath.
"I knew it. Once you’ve made up your mind, ten bulls couldn’t drag you away. So stubborn."
"Don’t worry. You’re out there, calm in the face of danger, holding the front line. Back here, I’m the one who knows what needs to be done, so of course I had to come."
She was just like the people who went against the tide during that other epidemic.
She had experienced it firsthand, had been a part of it. She knew she could do this.
Only by resolving these things could they truly be safe and sound.
"Okay, now go. Get back to work."
Su Tang gave him a light push, trying to get him to leave, but Lu Xiao pulled her into a tight hug instead. "Protect yourself. Do you hear me?"
