195: Water pollution

“My stomach hurts…”

Dao Rong’s weak voice came from outside the door.

Jiang Fei immediately went to open the door.

Dao Rong, leaning against the door, collapsed into her arms.

Her small face was pale, with a small amount of vomit remaining on her lips and clothes, and both hands were tightly clutching her stomach.

Dao Rong was thin and light, so Jiang Fei carried her to the bed.

Then, she went to the table to pour water.

She secretly replaced it with the Supermarket’s spring water, then carefully fed it to Dao Rong.

Feeling the discomfort in her stomach greatly reduced, Dao Rong rubbed her face against Jiang Fei’s hand, whimpering.

“Mother Jiang… I’m nauseous… I keep throwing up… and I can’t stop running to the toilet…”

That was vomiting and diarrhea.

It was usually symptoms like acute gastroenteritis, gastrointestinal flu, or indigestion.

The new special medicine could treat it.

Using her pocket as cover, Jiang Fei took out medicine from the Supermarket warehouse and gave Dao Rong two pills.

To be safe, she contacted Ling Zhaorui on the walkie-talkie.

“Are there any doctors at the Base?”

“Xiao Rong is vomiting and has diarrhea, stomach pain, and fatigue. I gave her the new special medicine, but I’m not sure if it’s working.”

Ling Zhaorui: “The Base has a small Hospital, and doctors are treating other people.”

“It’s not just Xiao Rong; half the people have these symptoms, some mild, some severe.”

“The teachers and doctors initially suspect food poisoning, but the possibility is low.”

“We all eat at the cafeteria; the food is the same. If there was a problem, it should be mass poisoning.”

Jiang Fei: “When the test results come out, remember to tell me.”

Turning off the walkie-talkie, Jiang Fei carefully recalled the disasters of her previous life.

After the virus came hail, then earthquakes, but no further diseases.

Was it a new natural disaster, or was someone like Shang Guangwang retaliating against the Planting Base?

Her teammates were too far away to contact by walkie-talkie, and Dao Rong was unwell, so Jiang Fei couldn't leave. She had to take care of the child first.

After taking the medicine, Dao Rong didn't vomit again, and her stomach pain lessened, but running to the toilet repeatedly had made her legs weak.

Fearing Dao Rong would dehydrate, Jiang Fei gave her anti-diarrhea medicine and a cup of electrolyte water.

“Mother Jiang, my butt hurts so much… I need a kiss…”

Jiang Fei: “...”

You’re dreaming!

Jiang Fei chose to feed Dao Rong a fruit candy and scared her: “The more you talk, the more times you’ll run to the toilet.”

Dao Rong pursed her lips in fear.

Creak—the door was pushed open.

It was Ling Zhaorui, holding two strips of medicine in one hand and a bag of bottled water in the other.

“Sister Jiang, you and Xiao Rong must not drink the water from the Base again.”

“We received a notice from above that locusts contaminated the water source, and many people have bacterial infections.”

“Those who weren’t infected have strong resistance.”

“These are antibiotics; one dose for you and one for Xiao Rong. Taking the new special medicine can also alleviate it.”

“We still don’t know what bacteria it is. You two drink bottled water, not tap water.”

With that, Ling Zhaorui left in a hurry to help at the Base’s small Hospital.

Jiang Fei gave Dao Rong antibiotics.

After nearly a whole night of tossing and turning, Dao Rong fell asleep exhausted, but Jiang Fei felt no sleepiness.

She and Ling Zhaorui had been drinking tap water at the Base all along. The reason they weren't infected might be related to their improved physique.

Those with mild symptoms were probably also regular customers of Ping An’s two stores.

After all, regularly eating fruits and vegetables from the Supermarket was good for the body.

It’s just… the food crisis hasn’t been completely resolved, and now there’s a water problem.

Humans, animals, and plants all need water.

Can the Safety Shelter still hold on?

She didn't know how her teammates were doing... As soon as dawn broke, Jiang Fei couldn't stay put. She entrusted Dao Rong to other staff and drove her pickup back to the Safety Shelter’s residential area.

People were seen everywhere, lying on the streets, vomiting non-stop.

Ambulances once again drove through the streets, one after another. Jiang Fei felt an inexplicable panic listening to the sound and called Lu Yu on the walkie-talkie.

After confirming that he was safe, she drove to West Street.

Su Liuyuan and the others were all on the second floor of the branch store.

Jiang Zhengkang, Jiang Xiaoshi, Yao Jin, and Niu Er were all infected with bacteria; Su Liuyuan and Han Yang were fine.

Han Yang couldn’t manage alone, so Su Liuyuan stayed and slept at the store last night.

Jiang Zhengkang and Jiang Xiaoshi had mild symptoms and recovered after taking medicine.

Niu Er and Yao Jin’s conditions were slightly more severe than theirs.

When Jiang Fei arrived, Niu Er was trapped in the toilet on the first floor.

Yao Jin lay on a single bed, his face as pale as paper, raising his hand and groaning.

“I want Papa… Niu Er… quickly find my dad…”

Jiang Zhengkang forcibly tucked Yao Jin’s hand into the quilt, a rare hint of impatience in his voice:

“Niu Er is still in the toilet. I’ll ask A Meng to pick up your dad later.”

Jiang Fei asked curiously: “Why is Yao Jin’s condition so serious?”

Su Liuyuan, standing nearby, couldn’t help but complain: “Serious my ass, he and Niu Er are pretty much the same. He just misses his dad and is whining here, he’s been nagging at least a hundred times this morning.”

“It’s like when a child is sick and uncomfortable, they like to look for their mother.”

Jiang Fei: “...”

No wonder Uncle had such an attitude towards patients.

Seeing Yao Jin raise his hand again, about to continue nagging, Jiang Fei chopped him unconscious with a hand strike.

The store fell silent.

Su Liuyuan and the others couldn’t bring themselves to do it, but she could!

Although she was heavy-handed, Jiang Fei contacted A Meng on the walkie-talkie and first inquired about the situation there.

Crippled Wang and the others had mild symptoms, nothing serious, and had already taken medicine. Jiang Fei asked A Meng to tell Yao Damang to come over.

In less than half an hour, Yao Damang arrived by car.

He hadn’t even gone upstairs, but his voice carried up.

“My son—!”

Yao Damang ran up, pattering, and almost fell to the ground when he saw Yao Jin lying on the bed with his eyes closed.

“Xiao Jin… why didn’t you wait one more minute for your dad?!”

“I didn’t even get to see you one last time…”

“He’s not dead, just unconscious.” Jiang Fei promptly interrupted Yao Damang’s wailing.

Yao Damang immediately breathed a sigh of relief, haphazardly wiped away his tears, ran to the bedside, and tenderly stroked Yao Jin’s pale face.

“Boss Jiang, does the store sell rice?”

“I want to buy some and rent the branch’s kitchen to cook some porridge for Xiao Jin.”

Jiang Fei generously said: “No need to pay, use it as you please.”

They were partners after all; she wouldn't try to swindle him over such a small matter.

Yao Damang went downstairs and got a small bag of rice, a bucket of bottled water, a bundle of greens, three sausages, and a carton of eggs.

He prepared to cook vegetable and sausage porridge, fry eggs, and even brought out portions for Jiang Fei and the others as breakfast.

Niu Er was feeling much better and helped him.

After the porridge was cooked, Yao Jin also woke up.

Jiang Fei and Su Liuyuan went to a nearby table to eat, while Yao Damang sat by the bed, feeding Yao Jin.

Seeing his father, Yao Jin complained aggrievedly: “Dad… Jiang Fei knocked me out…”

“You must have been disobedient then.”

Yao Jin was so angry he wanted to faint again on the spot.

“Alright, drink your porridge. I even fried eggs for you.”

Yao Damang coaxed Yao Jin to drink the porridge.

Normally quick-tempered and prone to hitting Yao Jin with a belt, he now displayed the tenderness of a father.

Su Liuyuan watched enviously: “Actually, Uncle Yao is quite good to Yao Jin.”

“Auntie Yao passed away early, and Uncle Yao raised Yao Jin alone, being both father and mother; it wasn’t easy.”

“It’s a pity I’ve never experienced being cared for by family like that.”

The others looked up curiously.

Han Yang: “Speaking of which, I’ve never heard you mention your family, Brother Su.”

Han Yang’s parents had died in the rat plague.

Hearing this, Su Liuyuan smiled lightly: “I’m an orphan; I don’t have a family.”

“Lu Yu and I are both orphans. We became mercenaries by chance.”

At this, Han Yang wanted to slap himself.

Why did he ask such a thing!

Jiang Xiaoshi suddenly scooped up some porridge with a spoon, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to Su Liuyuan’s mouth, like coaxing a child:

“Ah—eat your food.”

Su Liuyuan: “...”

Jiang Fei and the others: “...”

Not understanding why everyone was looking at him, Jiang Xiaoshi blinked: “When I was sick, Papa fed me like this.”

Jiang Zhengkang silently nodded in acknowledgment.

But son, Liu Yuan isn’t your baby!

Not knowing how to explain, Su Liuyuan ate the porridge Jiang Xiaoshi fed him and said with a smile:

“I’m also someone who’s been cared for by family now!”

Jiang Xiaoshi smiled innocently: “Handsome big brother, hug!”

Su Liuyuan picked up Jiang Xiaoshi and let him sit on his lap to eat.

After the meal, Jiang Fei drove her pickup back to 0-02.

Dahuang, the chicks, and the geese were fine; she had always fed them the Supermarket’s spring water.

After refilling their water and food, Jiang Fei was about to load a truckload of drinking water to take back to the Planting Base when the walkie-talkie rang.

Lu Yu: “Su Liuyuan said you’re home. I’m driving over to pick you up now.”

“Director Ning informed us to go to Director Zheng’s place for a meeting.”