Building 2, Unit 1, Apartment 202.
When Qin Ziwen followed Zhao Pu across the threshold, two people were conversing inside the room.
One of them looked somewhat unfamiliar, while the other he had met once before.
It was precisely the old doctor from Renhe Hall.
Their conversation halted.
Doctor Sun leaned back against a faded wooden chair, his fingers stroking the tip of his goatee. His gaze swept over Qin Ziwen first before settling back on Zhao Pu, giving only a slight nod.
It was Zou Jianghe beside him who moved, standing up from his stool. His eyes circled the two of them before he strode forward quickly, his right hand already extended in front of Zhao Pu. "Doctor Zhao, welcome!"
After releasing the handshake, Zou Jianghe then looked at Qin Ziwen, teasing, "It really is difficult to get a chance to see Brother Qin."
Qin Ziwen's tone was modest. "I was a bit busy those couple of days, truly didn't have time to spare."
"Haha, understood." Zou Jianghe laughed heartily. "In this damned place, just staying alive is hard enough. Everyone's busy."
He said this while stepping aside, gesturing towards an empty sofa. "Sit. You actually came at just the right time. Doctor Sun and I were just discussing how to deal with this infectious disease."
Qin Ziwen and Zhao Pu sat down accordingly. "President Zou, what caused this infectious disease?"
Mentioning this, the smile faded from Zou Jianghe's face. "It should be related to those dead animals washed ashore after the flood. Initially, quite a few people went to Doctor Sun for treatment, with somewhat similar symptoms. After inquiry, it was found they had basically all eaten meat from dead animals.
Frankly, it's also a problem caused by the food shortage. If there were more food, who would be willing to touch that stuff?"
Qin Ziwen's brow furrowed slightly. He hadn't expected the source to be that.
But he remembered this disease seemed to be contagious, right? Doctor Sun had treated so many patients...
Zou Jianghe said with admiration, "Doctor Sun was also infected at the very beginning. Later, he used his own body for experiments and managed to cure this illness."
Zhao Pu looked at Doctor Sun in surprise. This was a true master.
Doctor Sun slowly shook his head. "This illness belongs to pulmonary inflammation, likely a bacterial infection of the lungs. The external symptoms during the incubation period are similar to those of a common cold. Boiling honeysuckle and dandelion to make a decoction to drink can have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, alleviating the symptoms. Then, licorice and mint can relieve coughs and protect the trachea. But to cure it completely still relies on one's own immunity. I regularly practice the Eight-Section Brocade exercises, so my body's immunity is passable, which is how I pulled through.
For people with poor immunity, like the elderly, children, and those with weak immune systems, if they contract the disease, I'm afraid it will be very difficult for them to pull through."
Zhao Pu frowned. "Doctor Sun, after transmigrating, many people haven't had a full meal, their mental state is poor, and they engage in high-intensity labor during the day. Even a healthy adult, staying in this environment for long, their immunity won't be great either. Looking at it this way... if the bacteria spread, it would be quite precarious."
Zou Jianghe sighed. "Exactly. That's why Doctor Sun and I are discussing how to handle it. Currently, the method we're thinking of is to select a person in charge for each building unit. Firstly, to be responsible for registering the residents' situations. Secondly, to gather people with symptoms into empty rooms within the unit building, to avoid infecting their family members.
If we were to move all patients into a single building, not only would it be troublesome, but people would also be hard to manage. If we use each building unit as a unit, it's not too far from home. I believe most people should be able to accept it.
Currently, we have already selected persons in charge for seven units. But for the persons in charge of other units, we are still hesitating. My Alliance Mutual Aid Society has just been established, its foundation is insufficient. If we rashly select people, we also lack authority."
As Zou Jianghe spoke, his gaze fell on Zhao Pu. "Doctor Zhao, you are a doctor yourself. If you step forward now, you will definitely gain everyone's trust. Moreover, isn't there Brother Qin? With the two of you working together, how about entrusting Building 8 to you?"
Zhao Pu was stunned. Me, be the person in charge?
He felt that even if a person in charge were to be selected, it should be Mr. Qin.
Zou Jianghe then looked at Qin Ziwen. "Brother Qin, what do you think about Doctor Zhao being the person in charge?"
Qin Ziwen looked somewhat surprised as Zou Jianghe stared right at him.
Qin Ziwen nodded. "I support Doctor Zhao being the person in charge."
Seeing this, Zou Jianghe was very pleased. "Haha, with everyone united as one, our residential complex can get better and better. Doctor Zhao, Brother Qin, once you've finished the statistics over there, report the situation. Then, I will cooperate with Doctor Sun here. I will send some people specifically to gather medicinal herbs. Besides herbs, I also have some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory tablets here. Let's work together with one heart to get through this hurdle!"
After leaving Zou Jianghe's home, Qin Ziwen and Zhao Pu walked side by side.
Zhao Pu lowered his voice, whispering, "Mr. Qin, I absolutely have no other intentions. I think you should be the person in charge of our unit."
Qin Ziwen said, "It's fine. Honestly, it doesn't matter who holds this position of person in charge."
He truly didn't care. Not to mention what use a unit person in charge had, this position was also appointed by Zou Jianghe. In his view, titles like person in charge, president, they were all empty, external positions useful in peaceful times because there was order. But in a place like this, only force was the foundation of one's own strength.
Rather than spending effort fighting for power and profit, it was better to recruit a few more subordinates, forge a few more weapons, and craft a few more sets of armor.
Zou Jianghe's face surfaced in his mind. His impression of him was neither good nor bad.
Because currently, there was no conflict of interest between them. Without conflict, there was no contradiction.
Moreover, regarding this matter, regardless of Zou Jianghe's purpose, at least in substance, he was doing something beneficial for the residents of the complex.
Seeing that Qin Ziwen genuinely didn't mind, Zhao Pu then let out a slight sigh of relief. He had been worried that Qin Ziwen might be alienated by Zou Jianghe's attempts to drive a wedge between them.
He wasn't a fool. How could he not see that Zou Jianghe wanted to win him over? First shaking his hand upon entering.
Then making him the person in charge for Building 8, Unit 1.
But in Zhao Pu's view, this was all false. Even if he joined the Alliance Society, he would at most just be an ordinary doctor.
But if he stayed with Mr. Qin, he had a chance to obtain cards!
With so many people in the Alliance Society, even if there were cards, they wouldn't reach him.
Right now, Zhao Pu just wanted to cling tightly to Mr. Qin's thigh. He must not misunderstand him.
Qin Ziwen instructed Zhao Pu, "Doctor Zhao, after you return, fulfill your responsibility as the building head. First, take a census of the number of people, including those who have fallen ill and those showing symptoms. If someone hides it, it doesn't matter. Pay attention to your own safety, and absolutely do not get infected. I need to go out for a while."
"Alright." Receiving Qin Ziwen's concern warmed Zhao Pu's heart.
Returning home, Qin Ziwen packed his things, preparing to go up the mountain.
Since matters within the complex regarding this issue had preliminarily gotten on track, he shouldn't waste today's time.
He didn't know how many people would die from this infectious disease. With more deaths, the base population would decrease, and the proportion of those awakening their Homes would naturally rise accordingly.
He could sense that the time they could stay in this forest might not be too long.