Adenovirus pneumonia isn’t as widely contagious as the flu. While the flu attacks people of all ages—elderly, adults, and children—adenovirus pneumonia primarily targets young children. Though the number of cases wasn’t as high, the sheer population size combined with a shortage of doctors quickly overwhelmed medical facilities.

Clinics soon became chaotic, as many of these pediatric cases rapidly progressed to critical conditions. Thankfully, the Zhangzhuang Clinic and the county hospital took the initiative to accept severely ill children, easing the pressure on other clinics.

However, both facilities were soon inundated, with staff barely able to catch their breath.

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“Oh my, this rain!” Li Shengli exclaimed as he walked into the clinic, carefully setting down an iron canister before removing his raincoat and straw cape. He shook them, splattering rainwater across the floor.

Wiping his face with his hand, he grabbed a towel and haphazardly dried his hair and face.

“Did you bring the kerosene?” Miao Ran asked.

“Yes, yes,” Li Shengli replied, holding up the kerosene and heading inside.

Miao Ran stopped him, saying, “Dry yourself off first, and mop up the water on the floor. Hygiene is critical here. Drink some hot water to ward off the cold—this place is full of critically ill children, and we can’t risk you bringing in any germs.”

Li Shengli nodded repeatedly. “Got it, got it. How are the kids doing?”

“Dr. Gao just came by and updated their prescriptions. Miss He Yu is in the back brewing medicine. If you’re free, you can help her,” Miao Ran suggested.

“I’m a doctor! How can you say I should just help out in the back? Am I just here to do odd jobs now?” Li Shengli grumbled.

“Well,” Miao Ran retorted confidently, “you’re not skilled in patient care, and Dr. Gao handles all the diagnoses and prescriptions. What else is there for you to do?”

“Hey!” Li Shengli protested.

“Where’s Dr. Gao? I want him to settle this!” Li Shengli demanded, increasingly treating Gao Yuan as an authority figure, even for settling disputes.

Miao Ran pointed outside. “Dr. Gao left after taking a suction pump.”

“What?” Li Shengli looked toward the door in surprise. “In this downpour, at this hour? What could he possibly be doing?”

“Who knows,” Miao Ran said, picking up the kerosene canister. “If you’re not busy, go check for leaks in the building.”

“I’m not just sitting idle!” Li Shengli protested, his annoyance evident.

But Miao Ran ignored him.

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Meanwhile, in Zixiang Village, another stormy night unfolded.

“Xiaohui, Xiaohui! Are you awake? Get up! Come quick!”

“What’s wrong?” Wen Hui woke with a start, hearing her mother knocking frantically on her door.

Her mother’s anxious voice came through: “Come out, quick! Xiaoyezi suddenly fainted and won’t wake up!”

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“What?” Wen Hui leapt out of bed, hurriedly putting on her clothes and rushing out.

Outside, the lamps were already lit. Her older brother and sister-in-law held their child, their faces filled with worry.

“What happened to Xiaoyezi?” Wen Hui asked as she approached.

Her sister-in-law, almost in tears, explained, “Xiaoyezi took her medicine earlier today but still felt awful, coughing non-stop. I stayed awake all night to keep an eye on her. Around midnight, I noticed her breathing sounded laboured, like she was gasping for air. I told your brother to light the lamp, and when we checked, she had gone limp. She’s barely breathing and won’t respond no matter how much we call her. Earlier, she could still answer when spoken to, but now—now she’s completely unresponsive!”

Her brother stood helplessly by, looking to Wen Hui for guidance.

Wen Hui quickly examined Xiaoyezi and called her name, but there was no response. She grimly said, “She’s lost consciousness. We can’t keep her at home anymore—we need to get her to the clinic immediately.”

“But it’s pouring rain outside!” her mother said, glancing nervously toward the door. “What if she catches a chill?”

“She’s already unconscious! Forget about catching a chill!” Wen Hui snapped. “Wrap her up tightly, and the adults can shield her from the rain as best we can while we get her to the clinic.”

Seeing Wen Hui’s determination, her brother and sister-in-law nodded hurriedly.

“Dad,” Wen Hui instructed, “go borrow a lantern from the village head’s house, fill it with kerosene, and get a couple more rain hats and straw capes.”

“I’ll go right away,” her father replied.

“Sister-in-law, find a blanket to wrap Xiaoyezi. Mom, you stay home—you’ve only just recovered and shouldn’t be out in this weather. We’ll handle it.”

After organizing everything, Wen Hui quickly changed into sturdier clothes and shoes.

When her father returned with the supplies, the Wen family set out into the storm, braving the rain as they rushed toward the Huichun Clinic.

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Given the severity of the adenovirus pneumonia outbreak, the clinic was staffed even at night. The director, Tan Yun, had not dared to leave, knowing patients might arrive at any moment.

He had been hoping for a quiet night, assuming the heavy rain would deter people from traveling. Just as he drifted off into a light sleep, loud knocking jolted him awake.

The sound nearly sent him tumbling off the bed. He scrambled up, knowing that anyone braving the storm must be in dire need.

“Coming, coming!” he called out, hurrying to open the door.

The Wen family rushed in.

“I’m sorry to trouble you so late, Dr. Tan,” Wen Hui said urgently. “But Xiaoyezi’s condition has worsened. Please take a look!”

“Quick, bring the child in. I’ll light the lamp,” Tan Yun said.

Under the flickering lamplight, Tan Yun examined the child. His expression darkened—Xiaoyezi was in deep critical condition, her breathing shallow, her limbs cold, and her body temperature dropping.

“This is bad,” he muttered to himself. The child was on the brink of respiratory failure, and death was imminent without immediate intervention.

“How is she?” Wen Hui asked anxiously.

Tan Yun hesitated before replying honestly, “Her condition is too severe. I can’t treat her here. The only options are the county hospital or Zhangzhuang Clinic.”

“Zhangzhuang?” the Wen family echoed.

“Yes, Dr. Gao Yuan’s clinic,” Tan Yun explained. “They specialize in integrated Chinese and Western medicine. During this outbreak, all critical cases have been sent to either the county hospital or Zhangzhuang Clinic. I’ve already transferred six patients there.”

The family glanced outside. The pitch-black night was punctuated only by torrential rain and the occasional crash of thunder. The lightning briefly illuminated the muddy mountain paths they would need to traverse. Even in good weather, it would take half a day to reach Zhangzhuang. How could they possibly get there in this storm?

“Dr. Tan, isn’t there anything you can do here?” Wen Hui’s brother pleaded.

Tan Yun sighed. “I’ve tried for five days, but her condition has worsened. I don’t have the expertise of Dr. Gao. There’s nothing more I can do.”

Despair filled the room. As Xiaoyezi’s breathing grew weaker, her mother wept uncontrollably, calling her name.

Wen Hui, biting her lip, grabbed a straw cape. “I’ll go to Zhangzhuang and bring Dr. Gao back!”

“You can’t!” her father protested. “It’s pouring rain, with thunder and lightning. How can you even get there? And why would Dr. Gao come all this way for strangers?”

Her brother and sister-in-law slumped in defeat. Even relatives might balk at such a dangerous request, let alone a doctor who owed them nothing.

But Wen Hui was resolute. She flung the clinic door open, revealing the storm raging outside. Thunder roared, and a flash of lightning illuminated the figure of a man standing in the downpour.

For a brief moment, the lightning lit up his face.

It was Gao Yuan!