Chen Lan dared not look at Wei Dang's festering wound. It hurt just to see it, yet Wei Dang seemed unfazed. Though he was drenched in sweat from the pain, he devoured the steamed buns and slurped the bone soup from his bowl.
Even Chen Lan couldn't help but admire Wei Dang's willpower. It seemed he must have suffered greatly in the past, a testament to his immense fortitude.
When Wei Dang finished two large steamed buns and a large bowl of bone soup, Jia Yao had also finished dressing his wound and administered the anti-inflammatory medication.
While Wei Dang was on an IV drip, the mother and sons quickly sat down to grab a few bites to eat themselves.
As soon as Wei Dang's IV drip was finished, Chen Lan instructed her sons Jia Yao and Jia Xing to help Wei Dang to the bathroom to get cleaned up and change into fresh clothes.
Wei Dang emerged in clean, tidy clothes, looking much more spirited. His face was no longer flushed, though it was somewhat pale, likely due to the anti-inflammatory medication taking effect.
Chen Lan gave some instructions to Jia He and Jia Hui, then, shouldering a cloth bag, she, along with her sons Jia Yao and Jia Xing, set off on three bicycles with Wei Dang and their bedding and luggage. Baozi and Shanmao had wanted to accompany them to the hospital, but there wasn't enough room on the bicycles for so many people with the luggage. They were left at home to await news.
Watching his mother and two older brothers cycle away, Jia He saw his fourth sister, Jia Hui, tidying up alone in the kitchen.
He grinned and called out, "Uncle Mao, Uncle Xiangqian, let's rest for a while and then go take a bath! My mother has already prepared clean clothes and socks for both uncles. The weather is so hot; a bath will be very refreshing."
Baozi and Shanmao heard Jia He say that everything was ready at home. Having known Xu Mingxuan for so many years, they were familiar with the generous nature of Xu Mingxuan and his wife. Moreover, after several days of travel and the sweltering heat, they were certainly ready for a good wash.
So, without any further hesitation or politeness, they readily agreed and followed Jia He to the home's bathroom.
Jia He busied himself seeing to it that Xu Mingxuan's two comrades were comfortably bathing at home.
Meanwhile, Chen Lan and her group, cycling with Wei Dang, arrived at the Harbin Railway Central Hospital, located on Yiyuan Street in the Nangang District. The hospital was comprised of a group of buildings designed in the style of medieval castles, a classic example of Gothic eclectic architecture constructed from brick and wood. Its overall rosy-purple hue was both imposing and warm.
The pointed arch windows, reminiscent of romanticism, were set within the thick red brick foundation of the outer walls. High, slender Gothic spires rose from the rooftops.
The decorative patterns on the walls were ancient and mysterious, and the Middle East Railway emblem on the battlements bore witness to the passage of history.
The group had no time to linger and admire the hospital's exterior. They quickly locked their bicycles. Jia Yao bent down and carried Wei Dang on his back. Chen Lan and Jia Xing carried the bedding, luggage, basin, and thermos. They hurried into the first-floor lobby. To the left of the entrance was a spiral staircase, and to the right were the outpatient rooms.
Chen Lan placed the bedding, luggage, basin, and thermos on the long bench in the hospital corridor, instructing Jia Xing to watch them. She then followed Jia Yao, who was carrying Wei Dang, into the outpatient room.
The doctor in charge of the outpatient room was a woman in her forties. Chen Lan guessed she was around her own age. She wore the distinctive ear-length bob of the era and a white lab coat, exuding an air of efficiency. However, upon seeing Chen Lan and her sons enter, her face was stern.
Jia Yao helped Wei Dang sit on a stool in the outpatient room and handed the registration slip and employer's certificate to the female doctor with both hands. Chen Lan noticed her expression was rather displeased, but she still picked up the certificate provided by the unit and examined it.
Chen Lan quickly checked the system time with her mind. It was almost six o'clock, and she surmised that it was nearing the doctor's dismissal time, which likely accounted for the doctor's apparent impatience.
Chen Lan felt a pang of guilt, realizing she had arrived late and was inconveniencing the doctor. So, she took out a piece of dark blue wool fabric from the cloth bag she carried, which was also her system's inventory, a piece she had received years ago. She extended it towards the doctor.
She said softly, "We apologize for the inconvenience, Doctor. My nephew just arrived by train, and we came straight here. I know we're late and will surely delay your departure! We are truly sorry! Please accept this small token of our apology."
The female doctor was initially startled by Chen Lan's gesture, but upon seeing the fabric, her demeanor softened considerably. However, she neither reached out to take it nor verbally refused.
Chen Lan did not force it upon her, instead placing the fabric on the desk.
At this point, the female doctor finally spoke, asking, "What happened to this young man's leg?"
Chen Lan quickly replied, "He broke his leg when a landslide occurred during reservoir construction and was hit by rocks. He's been treated in his county town, but the wound hasn't healed. I heard that your railway hospital has excellent medical skills, so I had my nephew take a train here. Please examine him thoroughly!"
The female doctor hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "Sister, to be frank, I can arrange for your nephew to be admitted to the hospital now. However, his condition requires immediate surgery. If we wait too long, the bone may heal improperly, and it will be too late for surgery then!"
Before she could finish, Chen Lan anxiously replied, "Then we'll trouble you, Doctor, to help us."
To her surprise, the female doctor waved her hands repeatedly and said quietly, "I'm not an orthopedic doctor. However, I can introduce you to someone. His surname is Huang, and he is the best orthopedic doctor in our hospital. He is also the deputy director of our orthopedic department. With him performing the surgery, your nephew will recover as good as new! But it's not easy to see him recently. His mother has been ill, and he is known for his filial piety, so he has taken leave to care for her and hasn't been at the hospital for several days."
Chen Lan pushed the fabric a little closer to the female doctor and asked without hesitation, "Sister, if you can find a way to get Director Huang to operate on my nephew, please tell me. I will not forget your great help."
The female doctor thought for a moment, then said quietly to Jia Yao, "Young man, please close the door."
Seeing that Jia Yao had closed the door, the female doctor reached out, touched the dark blue wool fabric on the desk, and then placed it into a drawer of her desk.