167: Chapter 167 Better to be prepared and not need it

Zhao Yang stood up, his voice brook no doubt.

“Governor, this is about taking precautions.”

Zhao Yang wasn't surprised that Sun Zhendong had such thoughts.

The epidemic was spreading in Nanyue Province, but things were calm here in Jianghan, so most people still felt it was far away from them.

“Do you really think it will spread to our area?”

Zhao Yang said, “Our government should have the people in its heart. If we don't prepare in advance, once the epidemic breaks out, the money spent will be ten or a hundred times more.”

“Moreover, no amount of money can buy back the lives and health of the people.”

Sun Zhendong glanced at him and didn't speak.

Zhao Yang knew that Sun Zhendong wasn't the kind of person who could be easily frightened, nor was he someone who would jump to conclusions lightly.

All he could do was present the situation and offer suggestions.

As for how to make the decision, that was the Governor's business.

“Xiao Zhao, immediately organize the plan you just mentioned into a written document and report it to me.”

Sun Zhendong's face was heavy, as if he had made a very difficult decision.

“In addition, notify the directors of the Health Department and the Department of Finance to come over for a special meeting.”

“Yes.” Zhao Yang turned and went out, feeling a slight sense of relief in his heart.

The special meeting lasted for a full two hours.

Yang Qingshan, the Director of the Health Department, was the first to state his position:

“I completely agree with the Governor's judgment. In the face of an epidemic, it's better to overestimate the difficulties than to take them lightly.”

Zou Wanli, the Director of the Department of Finance, frowned as he calculated the costs:

“According to this plan, the provincial treasury will have to spend nearly twenty million just on stockpiling supplies.”

“Plus personnel training, equipment procurement, setting up isolation points... the total expenditure will be at least fifty million.”

He looked up at Sun Zhendong:

“Governor, you know our financial situation; if this money is squeezed out, other projects will have to be cut.”

Sun Zhendong didn't hesitate, his voice steady:

“Director Zou, if this money is spent, so be it. If the epidemic doesn't come, it's equivalent to a live-action drill for the whole province. If the epidemic does come...”

He paused, his tone becoming more forceful: “This money will save many people's lives.”

Zou Wanli stopped speaking.

When the meeting ended, it was already seven in the evening.

Zhao Yang returned to his office, organized the meeting minutes, and, according to Sun Zhendong's request, drafted the 'Jianghan Province Atypical Pneumonia Prevention and Control Work Plan'.

After writing the last word, he checked his watch—8:20.

He picked up the phone and called Jiang Nan: “Wife, I'll wait for you at the Provincial Government gate. Let's go to your mom's place to eat together.”

Jiang Nan gave an 'en', her voice sounding a bit tired: “I'll be there soon.”

When the two arrived at Jiangbin Garden, Lin Xuecen was sitting in the living room flipping through documents, while Jiang Yunheng was watching the news.

“Mom, still busy this late?” Zhao Yang changed his shoes and sat down on the sofa.

Lin Xuecen closed the document and sighed: “There's a real estate project in Yanjing that needs to be negotiated the day after tomorrow. I'm taking a flight tomorrow morning.”

Zhao Yang frowned: “Mom, you're going to Yanjing?”

“What's wrong?” Lin Xuecen was puzzled, “There's no epidemic in Yanjing, what's there to fear?”

Zhao Yang sat up straight, his tone becoming serious:

“Mom, not being discovered doesn't mean it's not there. Yanjing and Nanyue have frequent exchanges. I estimate there are already cases there, they just haven't been reported yet.”

“At a time like this, it's best not to leave Jianghan.”

Lin Xuecen smiled: “You child, are you being too nervous? I've been in business for so many years, what kind of storms haven't I seen?”

“Mom,” Jiang Nan also spoke up, “Zhao Yang is right. It's about your health, you can't joke about it.”

Lin Xuecen waved her hand: “That project is crucial. Whether we can get the land depends on this negotiation.”

Jiang Yunheng put down the remote control and looked at his wife:

“Zhao Yang is right. You can never finish earning money; there's no rush for this one moment.”

Lin Xuecen looked at her husband and then at her son-in-law, hesitating for a moment.

“Alright, alright, I'll think about it some more.”

Zhao Yang knew that when Lin Xuecen said she'd “think about it some more”, she was actually already wavering.

The fact that she didn't flatly refuse meant she had listened.

Half a month later, Yanjing reported its first imported case of sars.

When Lin Xuecen saw the news, a chill ran down her spine.

She picked up the phone and called Zhao Yang: “Yangyang, it's a good thing you stopped me. Otherwise, I'd be running off to Yanjing right now.”

Zhao Yang smiled: “Mom, safety first. As for the project, we'll talk about it after the epidemic passes.”

Lin Xuecen agreed repeatedly and hung up the phone.

In mid-March, the World Health Organization issued a global warning.

sars officially became the enemy of the entire world.

Because Jianghan Province had deployed its measures properly, it had maintained a record of zero cases.

Fever clinics were established in all cities across the province, body temperature checkpoints were set up at stations and airports, schools suspended large-scale activities, and public places were disinfected regularly.

Every day, Zhao Yang had to summarize the prevention and control data for the entire province and write it into a briefing for Sun Zhendong.

Although the workload had increased several times over, he felt at ease.

At least, Jianghan Province was prepared.

In late March, the sars epidemic spread throughout the country.

Jianghan Province still couldn't maintain its zero-case record.

A migrant worker returning from Nanyue had already shown fever symptoms on the train and was diagnosed after returning to his hometown.

The nerves of the entire province were instantly stretched to the limit.

Sun Zhendong was in meetings almost every day.

Prevention and Control Headquarters, Governor's office meetings, special coordination meetings... one after another.

Zhao Yang also worked non-stop alongside him.

During the day, he recorded meetings, drafted documents, and coordinated with various departments; at night, he summarized data, organized briefings, and prepared materials for the next day.

Sometimes he was busy until two or three in the morning and would just nap for a while on the sofa in his office.

Jiang Nan was also extremely busy at the Provincial Department.

The DNA database project was temporarily put on hold, and she led the people from the technical center to support the prevention and control work, processing a large amount of data every day.

The two could only talk on the phone once every few days, and each time it was just a few hurried sentences.

In April, the epidemic reached its peak.

The number of imported cases in Jianghan Province increased to five, but all were effectively controlled, and no secondary transmission occurred.

This number was the lowest among all eastern and central provinces in the country.

Zhao Yang practically lived at the Provincial Government.

His desk was piled high with documents, and the epidemic data for all cities in the province was posted on the wall.

Every day he woke up to read reports, write materials, and attend meetings.

One late night, after a meeting, Zhao Yang escorted Sun Zhendong back to his office.

The corridor was empty, with only the echo of their footsteps.

Sun Zhendong suddenly stopped and turned to look at Zhao Yang.

“Xiao Zhao, how did you think to prepare for these things in advance?”

“Governor, when I was a reporter, I interviewed people about several public health emergencies.”

Zhao Yang's voice wasn't loud, but it was very steady.

“Experience told me that in such matters, it's better to be prepared and not need it than to need it and not be prepared.”

After a long silence, Sun Zhendong nodded.

“You've considered things very thoroughly.”

Zhao Yang noticed that the look Sun Zhendong gave him was full of trust.

Returning to his office, Zhao Yang set up his camp bed. Just as he was about to lie down, his phone rang.

He picked it up and saw it was Jiang Nan calling.

This late, there must be something important.

Zhao Yang quickly answered, and Jiang Nan's tired voice came from the other end:

“Zhao Yang, I'm pregnant.”