Chapter 153: Chapter 151: This Is Also My Duty

Su Tang turned and looked toward the sound.

A commotion had broken out in a nearby crowd. A frantic woman was holding a man who had collapsed, crying out for a doctor.

Outside the shelter, a torrential downpour raged. The dense raindrops hammered against the roof, threatening to crush the temporary structure.

The sound of Mr. and Mrs. Lu coughing made it impossible for Su Tang to stay calm.

’It was like a nightmare from her past life, happening all over again.’

’But she didn’t remember anything like this happening in the book.’

’Could her presence here have changed something?’

There was no time to dwell on it. Su Tang looked at Mr. and Mrs. Lu, then turned to Wang Xinxin.

“Mom, Dad, you two get some rest. Don’t take off your masks; keep your mouths and noses covered.”

“Xinxin, keep a close eye on your aunt and uncle. Give them some water. There’s spare fever medication in the box. If they develop a fever, give them the dose I told you about.”

Her voice was calm and composed. At a time like this, she couldn’t afford to panic.

’She was a doctor; she understood the situation better than anyone else here.’

As soon as she finished speaking, Su Tang stood up, pushed through the people in front of her, and strode toward the cries for help.

Watching her go, Wang Xinxin anxiously called out, “Be careful, Su Tang!” But Su Tang’s figure had already disappeared into the crowd.

“Make way! I’m a doctor!”

At her loud cry,

the crowd instinctively parted, creating a narrow path for her.

Su Tang squeezed through to the front. A man of about fifty lay on the ground.

His body was convulsing violently. He was foaming at the mouth, his jaw was clenched tight, and his eyes had rolled back in his head.

His wife knelt beside him, her face streaked with tears, her hands trying in vain to hold him still.

Su Tang made an instant diagnosis. It looked like an epileptic seizure.

’The multiple stressors must have triggered a latent seizure.’

’The situation was critical. A prolonged seizure could lead to suffocation, a bitten tongue, or even brain damage.’

“Does he have a history of seizures?”

Su Tang tried to squat, but the position was too uncomfortable for her, so she knelt directly on the ground. She questioned the woman, her words coming out in a rush.

The woman answered through her sobs, “Yes… yes… but he hasn’t had one in a long time.”

“He said he was dizzy a moment ago, and then suddenly… this happened.”

Su Tang nodded. She carefully turned the man onto his side to prevent him from choking on vomit or other secretions.

Then, she reached out to pry open his jaw and keep him from biting his tongue.

But the man’s jaw was clenched shut, and the force of the muscle spasms was staggering.

“I need a towel or a clean handkerchief to put in his mouth!”

Su Tang looked up and shouted, her eyes scanning the crowd.

The onlookers exchanged panicked glances, momentarily flustered.

Just then, a hand extended, offering a relatively clean handkerchief. It was Chen Zhengnian.

She didn’t know when he had arrived. His brow was furrowed with worry, but he acted without hesitation.

“Su Tang, you…”

Chen Zhengnian’s gaze fell on her, pregnant and kneeling on the ground, and he couldn’t help but start, “Your condition…”

“I’m fine. Saving him is what’s important. This is my duty.”

Without looking up, Su Tang snatched the handkerchief and immediately went back to work, trying to pry open the man’s jaw.

’Lu Xiao and Chen Zhengnian were soldiers. Their duty was to protect the country.’

’As a doctor, her responsibility was to save lives and heal the wounded.’

’When disaster struck, they rushed to the front lines. It was only natural that she handle the medical care in the rear.’

’Most of the people here were from the military family compound.’

’They were all neighbors who used to see each other every day.’

’Su Tang didn’t want to see anyone come to harm.’

She was completely focused, her eyes only on the patient.

“Doctor Su, get up. I’ll send someone to find another doctor.”

Chen Zhengnian saw her fingers trembling with the effort.

’The conditions here were too chaotic. What if she got hurt by the thrashing patient?’

’He would never be able to answer to Lu Xiao.’

“Chen Zhengnian!”

Su Tang looked up at him and said, enunciating every word, “I am a doctor! I’m the only one here! He needs me right now!”

“Please, respect my profession. I am capable of protecting myself.”

The determination in her eyes silenced Chen Zhengnian.

Finally, he took a deep breath and barked at a few dazed young men standing nearby, “What are you gawking at?! Follow Doctor Su’s orders! Hold down his shoulders and legs.”

As if waking from a dream, the young men hurried forward. They carefully held down the patient’s convulsing limbs, trying to give Su Tang space while also shielding her from being bumped.

With their help, Su Tang finally managed to wedge a corner of the handkerchief between the man’s clenched teeth, preventing a more serious injury to his tongue.

Kneeling on the ground, she gave directions in a steady voice.

The seconds ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity.

After what felt like an age, the man’s convulsions gradually subsided. His breathing evened out, and though he was still unconscious, the spasms had stopped.

Su Tang let out a long breath, finally able to relax.

She accepted help from a young woman beside her to get to her feet, then turned to the man’s wife to give instructions.

“He’s stable for now. Let him rest quietly, and keep him on his side. Make sure he stays warm, but don’t cover him too tightly. When he wakes up, give him some warm water.”

“I looked at his medication. It’s a little damp, but not too bad. You can dissolve it in water and give it to him.”

“Keep the air circulating around him. For the rest of the night, don’t sleep. You need to watch over your husband.”

The woman was moved to tears, thanking her profusely and incoherently.

The onlookers also gazed at Su Tang with expressions of admiration and gratitude.

Su Tang walked slowly back to her spot. Chen Zhengnian escorted her to Mr. and Mrs. Lu’s side and was about to leave when she spoke.

“I have a bad feeling. This rain is too heavy. It’s highly likely to be followed by a major disease outbreak.”

“You need to find professional medical staff and form an assessment team as soon as possible.”

Chen Zhengnian stopped in his tracks and turned back to look at Su Tang.

“An outbreak?”

He repeated the two words, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. His voice was tight. “You mean…”

“The storm has been going on for so long. The standing water will breed bacteria. Add to that the crowded conditions and poor ventilation here… it’s a perfect storm for an outbreak of intestinal or respiratory infections.”

“Normally, you’d only see outbreaks like this after a torrential downpour in a southern city. But this storm is the kind you see once a century, so I’m worried it could happen here.”

Su Tang sat down, and after catching her breath, she continued softly.

“That patient’s seizure just now was likely triggered by the damp, stuffy air combined with anxiety. If we don’t take preventive measures now, more people could start collapsing.”

After hearing what Su Tang had to say, Chen Zhengnian didn’t need any more convincing.

He nodded and turned to leave.

’They had considered the possibility, but Su Tang’s analysis was clearly more expert.’

’As a doctor, she had a natural sensitivity to disease.’

Su Tang leaned back, catching her breath.

’She wracked her brain, trying to remember the contents of the book, but she still couldn’t figure out where things had gone off script.’

“Sis-in-law, you should get some rest. I can look after Aunt and Uncle.”

Hearing Wang Xinxin, Su Tang shook her head. “I can’t sleep. I wonder how your cousin is doing.”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure my cousin is fine.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep