Chapter 366: Chapter 366: Treatment Chapter 366: Chapter 366: Treatment “Divine Doctor, Divine Doctor! Please save us; in our village the young and old suffer. Many are ill with no place for treatment; many just endure their conditions. Please, take a look at them; I beg you. If you don’t agree, we will not stand up.” Several aged elders, looking to be over sixty with gray hair and deeply lined faces, were actually kneeling at the front of the line.
Doctor Wei urgently asked everyone, “What should we do now?”
The four of them exchanged glances; clearly, they couldn’t leave just yet.
“Why don’t we ask for instructions from the leadership and offer to treat the villagers? Many of them have severe injuries on their limbs, and who knows what unseen illnesses they have. This village is near the border, and the terrain is difficult, making travel difficult. It’s simply impossible for them to go to hospitals where treatments are available,” Bai Xiao suggested.
They couldn’t leave now; trying to leave might incite the villagers’ anger. Besides, since they were already here, it was better just to treat the people. There likely were no major illnesses—mostly minor problems that could be handled simply enough.
Doctor Wei had no better solution.
So, he turned around and said to the villagers, “Folks, we are doctors, and we definitely won’t ignore your needs. However, we need to report back to our superiors. Please don’t crowd around here; disperse for now. We will send a comrade back to ask for instructions and then come back to treat everyone. Is that alright?”
The gathered crowd nodded. They dispersed, but they still squatted around their houses from afar; they were clearly not giving up hope.
Doctor Wei arranged for one of their comrades to protect them while going back to report to their leadership, also to seek permission, leaving another to ensure their safety here.
One hour later, the comrade responsible for their protection had returned; the leadership had agreed for them to treat the villagers here, ensuring that every villager’s ailments were addressed. They had even brought many medications and antiseptic gauze.
Consequently, Bai Xiao and her three comrades had villagers move two tables from their houses to start treating the villagers officially.
That consultation went on for five hours! Finally, they had attended to everyone.
The five of them were exhausted and drenched in sweat. Bai Xiao removed the needles from two elderly people and helped them off the examination tables, allowing everyone a moment to breathe.
Seeing that it was about to get dark, they seized the moment to descend the mountain. After all, they couldn’t linger here, and it was uncertain how busy the Health Team was now. There were only ten people in the Health Team, and since five of them were here, the remaining five must have been extremely busy themselves.
After all, the Health Team had numerous injured members.
They gathered their belongings and were finally able to leave.
Just as they stepped out of the building, they saw masses of torches brightening the entire night sky, eliminting any trace of darkness.
The leader of the group was clearly the village chief, who approached and firmly grasped the doctors’ hands, “Thank you, doctors, thank you. This is our token of appreciation; you must take it.”
With a wave of his hand, immediately several villagers carrying eggs, cured meats, various unknown wild fruits, dried sweet potatoes, and the like crammed them into the backpacks of two comrades, who had no choice but to accept them.
Bai Xiao and the others quickly intervened, “Elder, we are the people’s doctors, bound by discipline; we cannot take even a thread or a needle from the populace. It would be wrong for us to accept this.” Giving a signal, the two comrades hurriedly set their backpacks on the ground, and the six of them hastily left under cover of night.
The urgency made several of the villagers stomp their feet in frustration.
The simple-hearted folks felt it was improper not to pay for medical services rendered.