21: The Dissatisfied Chairman

"Useless! You're all useless!"

Ma Jieli, the Director-General of the French Concession's Board of Directors, slammed the table, berating them with immense fury.

"Look at this! Last night, two gangs openly engaged in a gunfight in the heart of the Concession."

Four people died—two from Japan, one Hans, and one of them was even one of our own Frances."

Something this big has happened, and yet there hasn't been a single bit of progress until now."

Do you have any idea? The phone in my office has been ringing off the hook."

I suspect that before tomorrow comes, the public security of the Concession will become the laughingstock of all Shanghai."

The Gatling-like output of verbal fire did not diminish Ma Jieli's anger in the slightest.

At the height of his rage, he grabbed a folder from the desk and hurled it at the Police Chief and Deputy Chief standing before him.

With his blonde hair practically standing on end, Ma Jieli issued an ultimatum: "One day! I'm giving you exactly one day."

If you don't catch the criminals before tomorrow's newspapers hit the stands, you're all going for a swim in the Huangpu River."

Ring, ring, ring—"

Just as his subordinates left, Ma Jieli pressed his temples, trying his best to calm himself down, when the phone on the desk rang at an inopportune moment.

"Hello—who is it?"

The irritable Ma Jieli asked in an ill-tempered tone.

Before the person on the other end could reply, the sound of a woman sobbing came through: "Husband, Evelyn isn't going to make it—"

"What? What happened to Evelyn? Speak clearly."

Hearing that something had happened to his favorite youngest daughter, Ma Jieli instantly panicked.

"Director Champel of the Mercy Hospital has confirmed that Evelyn has scarlet fever, and she's developed drug resistance—"

The voice on the other end was already choked with sobs by the time she finished.

Upon hearing it was scarlet fever, Ma Jieli's heart sank halfway.

This was a disease with a considerably high mortality rate; even in France, the death rate was no less than 30%.

Not to mention in this Far East region where medical conditions were backward and medicine was scarce.

Even more fatal was that severe sequelae were common after treatment for this disease.

When Ma Jieli heard the word "drug resistance," his mind turned into a chaotic mess.

Because once drug resistance appeared, there was no hope for treatment; it was practically a death sentence.

"Husband, come back quickly to see Evelyn. She's been murmuring your name in her coma."

The crying on the phone grew more desperate, urging him anxiously.

At this moment, Ma Jieli was completely distraught, his mind filled only with seeing his daughter for the last time.

He hurriedly grabbed his coat, but in his dazed state, he only caught a corner of it, unable to even hold the garment steady.

The coat fell to the floor, and a business card slid out of the pocket.

"Howard Florey Reister"

The moment he saw the name, Ma Jieli's dim eyes lit up with light once again.

At a welcome banquet in the International Settlement two days ago, while he was chatting with this man, the other party had mentioned a new medicine.

He hadn't listened closely at the time; after all, every profession has its specialty, and he didn't understand much about medical matters.

He only vaguely knew that this medicine mainly served to fight bacteria.

Now that his daughter's life was hanging by a thread, whether it was a saving straw or not, he had to grab it first.

He would treat a dead horse as if it were alive.

Thinking of this, Ma Jieli immediately grabbed the phone and began to dial.

At a quarter past nine, Lu Fan, who had napped for two hours, leaned against the headboard and lit a cigarette contentedly.

Before he could take two puffs, there was a knock on the door: "Viscount Louis, it's Howard."

Lu Fan got up to open the door. Seeing Howard's anxious face, he instinctively asked, "Did you find all the syphilis cases?"

"No—no!" Howard said, catching his breath. "Director-General Ma's daughter has scarlet fever, and her life is hanging by a thread."

The day before yesterday at the banquet, I happened to mention penicillin, and now he's asking if this medicine can save his daughter."

"scarlet fever?" Lu Fan murmured, frowning.

Seeing Lu Fan's confusion, Howard hurried to explain: "scarlet fever is also known as 'Dan Sha'."

When the disease strikes, the rash is as bright red as cinnabar and distributed as densely as grains of sand."

With that explanation, Lu Fan understood instantly.

He was familiar with this disease; he had suffered from it when he was a child.

It only took a few simple injections of penicillin to take effect, and he was better in just over a week.

Curing this disease was like Zhang Fei eating bean sprouts—a piece of cake!

"Viscount Louis, please say something! Director-General Ma Jieli and the others are already on their way."

Howard looked at Lu Fan, who was frowning one moment and then showing a mysterious smile of realization the next, his heart practically leaping into his throat with anxiety.

Although Ma Jieli was a France and didn't get along well with British aristocrats like them,

for the sake of fame and success, that didn't matter at all.

Gallic aristocrats were famously promiscuous, and syphilis patients were relatively numerous among them; they were potential loyal users of penicillin.

Befriending Ma Jieli would help him develop the Gallic market.

Lu Fan replied calmly, "There's absolutely no problem. You can treat her with confidence!"

It will take effect in 24 hours, and the rash will start to recede after 48 hours."

Continuous treatment can prevent sequelae."

Hearing the sound of an ambulance outside the window, Howard requested, "Viscount Louis,"

could you come with me and help us keep an eye on things?"

"Wait a moment, let me grab some things!"

Lu Fan turned back, pretending to grab items, but actually quickly took out some sterile gloves and N95 masks from his space.

Since he had chosen to dump goods on the market, he certainly couldn't let these consumables go to waste.

He had studied it during his three days back; consumables like masks were inconspicuous but definitely highly profitable.

Soon the two arrived at the ICU, and Lu Fan had the doctors and nurses present put on N95s.

With this simple change of gear, the eyes of the doctors and nurses were filled with deep admiration.

Compared to cotton masks that were heavy and had poor breathability, the N95 was a total upgrade in every way.

Lightweight, breathable, easy to wear, and providing all-around protection—how could such a super comfortable wearing experience not be shocking?

Lu Fan confirmed the patient's diagnosis and clinical manifestations, then spoke with a solemn face: "Prepare for a penicillin skin test."

Ten minutes later, the skin test results came out; the lack of an allergic reaction made him heave a sigh of relief.

If this little girl were allergic to penicillin, he would truly be at his wit's end.

"Administer the drug according to body weight, 25,000 units per kilogram via intravenous drip."

Administer once every 12 hours. It will definitely take effect within 24 hours."

After giving the medical orders, Lu Fan simply left, brushing the dust from his clothes.

Staying in the ward for even a moment longer would be a desecration of the miracle drug that was penicillin.

This scene invisibly displayed the demeanor of a world-class famous doctor to the fullest, instantly filling the atmosphere.

Giving a treatment plan so decisively, providing the dosage so precisely, and making a treatment prediction so confidently.

While stunning everyone, it constantly challenged the worldviews of the medical staff present.

One by one, their eyes were filled with disbelief.

But out of professional duty, the group quickly began treating the little girl according to the medical orders.

Outside the door, the anxiously waiting Ma Jieli and his wife saw the doctors come out; their faces turned ashen, their eyes full of disappointment.

They had only stayed in the ICU for less than twenty minutes total; what could they have done?

This was clearly a case beyond saving.

Madame Ma Jieli instantly collapsed, her tears flowing freely.

Ma Jieli forced himself to withstand the blow and asked unwillingly, "Doctor, how is my daughter? Is there still hope for her?"