As she spoke, the girl began to choke up again.
"How long have you been inside?"
"We have been in here for three days," said the girl.
Which means they hadn’t been here for very long.
No wonder the three of them had neither been infected nor shown any symptoms.
"I heard from father that once you entered here, you can never leave," the little girl sobbed quietly, "No one can save us."
"I can save you," Ye Qichi comforted, "just like I saved your mother."
"Really?" The little girl’s eyes brimmed with hope.
"Really, I am not lying to you!" Ye Qichi said, "You just stay here with your father, and I will go and find the official, then try to find a way to cure you all."
"Okay," the girl obediently nodded.
Ye Qichi stood up and approached the two officials who had just finished moving all the corpses away, and said, "Mr. Pang said that I could ask you for any assistance I may need."
"Alright," the officials nodded, speaking with a hint of impatience, "but no one who enters here comes out alive, Miss, be mentally prepared."
"I am naturally prepared," Ye Qichi didn’t elaborate, she simply stated, "I need your help to clear out a small space, just enough for five people will do."
"Fine," the officials obliged, albeit reluctantly, and followed the order.
They quickly found a corner, shooing a few people away, and cleared out a spot.
Ye Qichi walked over.
The officials turned to leave.
"Wait a moment," Ye Qichi called out to them.
"Is there anything else you need?"
"Could you please check for me, which people here do not show symptoms of the plague," Ye Qichi requested, "I would like to give them a personal examination."
"Are you a doctor?" the officials guessed.
"You didn’t come here specifically to treat people, did you?" the officials were evidently surprised.
"You are really not afraid of death," the officials commented, but inwardly they began to feel a measure of respect, "Do you know that the doctors who came before all fell ill and even died? Aren’t you just asking for trouble by coming here?!"
"Let’s try first, maybe we’ll succeed in curing them."
"You must have been forced to come here," the officials speculated.
Ye Qichi did not refute the claim.
After all, it wasn’t very important.
The officials sighed, thinking of their own situation.
Of course, they were not here voluntarily; they too were compelled to man this post.
This place had already changed staff three times.
The people before them had all succumbed to the disease and died.
They too did not know how long before they would be stricken by the illness.
"Wait here, I’ll go count the people for you," they said.
"Thank you, sir," Ye Qichi expressed her thanks.
After knowing Ye Qichi’s identity, the officials became noticeably more proactive.
The officials brought over a good number of people.
Ye Qichi asked the officials to maintain some order, and she began to carry out personal examinations for each one.
She took every person’s pulse very seriously.
Those who were confirmed symptom-free were placed to one side.
For those with minor symptoms, she took note of them in writing.
Her actions certainly drew the attention of many people.
Everyone watched her and guessed her profession was that of a doctor, but they dared not harbor any hope, so there was no stir caused.
Ye Qichi examined for two whole hours, screening 89 people and identifying 32 people who were truly symptom-free.
She rose and addressed the officials, "It seems there’s another yard behind the temple."
"There is, but there are also people living there, and the yard is in disrepair, with the roof tiles broken, so it doesn’t provide much shelter from wind and rain," they replied.
"No matter," Ye Qichi stated, "it’s better than the risk of infection. Plus, good ventilation is beneficial."
The officials were puzzled.
"Have the people in the back yard come out now, then lead these people into the back yard to settle down," she instructed.
"Why?" the officials didn’t understand.
"Just follow my instructions," she directed.
"Alright," the officials consented without further question.
It wasn’t anything too troublesome, after all.
Soon, the officials had the people from the back yard come to the front hall, letting the 32 individuals move in.
Ye Qichi urged the officials, "Apart from these 32 people, no one else is allowed in, nor to get close. When you deliver meals to the entrance each day, just ask about the situation inside. If someone shows symptoms, let them come out, understand?"
"Understood," the officials agreed.
"Now I will begin to conduct a personal examination for everyone," Ye Qichi said, "There are too many people and it may take a long time, so I must ask the official to maintain order for me. This place is already cramped, and if there is any disturbance, it could easily lead to disaster."