After Reincarnating as the Dragon King, I Made a Fortune with Seafood – CH18

Chapter 18: Sending Them to the Hospital

After receiving the instruction, Lin Gongshang did not dare delay and immediately went downstairs to check.

Lu Ao thought for a moment, then went out, started his tricycle, and rushed toward Lin Gongshang’s house.

The sick guests were named Shi Chen and Liu Qiming. Both were in their forties or fifties, slightly overweight, with rather obvious beer bellies.

Perhaps because they were bosses, both had rather forceful personalities. After arriving, they had often ordered Lin Gongshang around to do this and that.

Logically speaking, these two were not the kind of people who would lie in bed for an entire day. Yet they had happened to lie in bed all day.

The more Lin Gongshang thought about it, the more panicked he became. Sweat had already appeared on his forehead.

He went downstairs and first knocked on Shi Chen’s door across from the stairway.

Knock, knock.

The sound of knocking was especially abrupt in the dark night.

Shi Chen did not wake up. Instead, Yan Zhengning, who was staying next door, opened his door with a creak and poked his head out, asking suspiciously, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I came to take a look.” Lin Gongshang received no response and stopped knocking. He quickly twisted the door lock open and pushed the door in.

The room was very quiet and pitch-dark. Only the air conditioner light was blinking faintly.

Shi Chen was such a fat man, yet he was not even snoring.

An ominous feeling rose in Lin Gongshang’s heart. In that instant, he even worried that Shi Chen and the others might die in his house.

With a snap, Lin Gongshang reached out and turned on the wall light, raising his voice as he called, “Mr. Shi?”

Shi Chen did not respond.

Lin Gongshang walked over in a few steps and lifted the mosquito net. He saw that Shi Chen’s face was burning red, his lips were gray, and his complexion was sallow. Even though Lin Gongshang knew nothing about medicine, he could clearly tell that Shi Chen was seriously ill.

Lin Gongshang reached out to push him and called in fear, “Mr. Shi?”

Shi Chen still did not respond.

Lin Gongshang no longer cared. He directly lifted Shi Chen’s blanket and examined his legs.

Shi Chen was wearing large shorts. On his hairy legs, it was difficult to see any swelling or ulceration, but there were several red marks, like mosquito bites.

Yan Zhengning, who had followed behind him, saw this series of movements and felt his heart drop. “What exactly is going on?”

Lin Gongshang’s face changed. He hurriedly said, “They may have been infected by marine bacteria. I’m going to check on Mr. Liu.”

He had no time to explain and ran directly to Liu Xiangming’s room next door.

Liu Xiangming’s condition was similar to Shi Chen’s. He was also running a fever and could not be woken.

Yan Zhengning followed behind, his eyes full of shock and uncertainty.

While Lin Gongshang was checking on the two men, Lu Ao had already arrived on his tricycle.

Mother Lin opened the door. Lu Ao nodded in greeting and ran upstairs.

The moment Lin Gongshang saw Lu Ao, he turned to him in a panic and said, “Lu Ao, I checked them. They really seem to have been infected by marine bacteria!”

Lu Ao ran over carrying the cool, faint scent of body wash. “Let me see first.”

He hurried into the room.

A moment later, he confirmed, “It should indeed be Vibrio vulnificus.”

The mortality rate of Vibrio vulnificus infection was as high as fifty percent.

“Then what do we do now?” Lin Gongshang’s voice became unstable, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. “Should I call an ambulance?”

“An ambulance may not make it in time.”

They were too far from the county town. It would take two or three hours for an ambulance to arrive.

Yan Zhengning heard this from the side and could not help cutting in. “If an ambulance won’t make it in time, then what do we do? Take them to the hospital ourselves?”

Lu Ao said quickly, “That probably won’t work either. The medical level in a small county is average, and the medicine may not be complete. Vibrio vulnificus infection is a rare condition. They may not have seen it before, let alone know how to treat it.”

The worry and anger Yan Zhengning had been building since the afternoon exploded at once. “This won’t work, that won’t work. We came here perfectly fine as guests, and now we’re supposed to go back lying down?!”

Lin Gongshang shrank his neck and did not dare speak. In his heart, he deeply regretted accepting this job.

“Mr. Yan, don’t panic yet.” Lu Ao’s expression was still calm. After thinking for a moment, he turned and asked Lin Gongshang, “Is there anything on your grain-drying ground?”

Linwu Village had a large grain-drying ground, three or four thousand square meters when connected together, very flat and spacious.

Lin Gongshang said in a panic, “There shouldn’t be, right? It’s not rice-harvesting season yet, so nothing’s being dried.”

Lu Ao made a prompt decision. “Then I’ll call a medical helicopter to come and take them straight to the provincial capital. It hasn’t reached the most dangerous stage yet, so there shouldn’t be a major problem.”

Hearing him give a solution, Lin Gongshang’s heart settled somewhat, and he nodded like a chick pecking grain. “Okay.”

Lu Ao directly called the helicopter center and asked about sending a helicopter over.

After the other side asked about the situation, they gave a definite answer. “We can send people over. We should be able to arrive in about an hour. However, our fees are relatively high. If we go to your location to pick up patients, it will cost about twenty thousand per patient, with medical fees calculated separately.”

Lu Ao did not hesitate. “No problem. Please send the doctors and helicopter over as soon as possible.”

The two sides briefly signed an electronic contract. Lu Ao paid the fee in advance and sent over the location.

After the other side filed the flight report, they immediately dispatched the doctors and helicopter, telling them to wait at the grain-drying ground and saying they would arrive within an hour.

Lin Gongshang’s parents, elder brother, and sister-in-law all heard the commotion and came out.

After hearing that the patients had to be sent to the provincial capital, the whole family noisily helped Liu Qiming and Shi Chen put on clothes and helped them to the living room.

Lin Gongshang’s elder brother wiped away his sweat and volunteered. “I’ll go to the grain-drying ground to guide the helicopter.”

Lu Ao nodded. “If there are lights over there, turn them all on. Bring a clearly visible piece of red or white cloth. We’ll come over shortly.”

Lin Gongshang’s elder brother hurriedly agreed, ran into the room, grabbed a bedsheet, and rushed out.

Beside them, Yan Zhengning had already contacted his private doctor, then contacted Shi Chen and Liu Qiming’s families, briefly explaining the situation.

When he came back and saw that Lu Ao was orderly and had truly called a helicopter over, he could not describe what he felt, but he finally felt somewhat reassured and was no longer as angry.

When Lu Ao saw him, he asked, “Mr. Yan, we’ll send Mr. Shi and Mr. Liu to the provincial capital soon. Do you have a hospital you usually go to?”

“No. Any of the major hospitals in the provincial capital will do.”

Lu Ao nodded. As he typed information into WeChat, he said, “Then I’ll have them sent to the First Affiliated Hospital. They’re the most familiar with this kind of bacterial infection.”

After saying that, he asked Yan Zhengning again, “Mr. Yan, is it convenient for you to contact Mr. Shi and Mr. Liu’s families? It would be best if they can get to the First Affiliated Hospital in advance. When the time comes, they can sign the treatment consent forms.”

Yan Zhengning quickly nodded. “All right. I’ll contact them now.”

The Provincial First Affiliated Hospital was a famous major hospital in their province. Yan Zhengning immediately contacted the two men’s families.

When the two families heard the news, they were shocked and promised to rush to the hospital immediately.

A moment later, Yan Zhengning returned. “What do we need to do now?”

Lin Gongshang also looked at Lu Ao eagerly, waiting for his instructions.

Lu Ao said, “Use chairs to carry them to the grain-drying ground first. When the helicopter arrives later, they can board immediately.”

Their side was noisy and chaotic. Neighbors on both sides thought something had happened and hurried over to help.

Hearing that the patients had to be carried to the grain-drying ground, one neighbor immediately said, “I have rattan chairs at home. Use my rattan chairs.”

Lu Ao nodded. “That’s fine. Carry them over first, and remember to cover them with a quilt.”

Everyone quickly agreed and went to call more people. Men from half the village came over to help.

Before long, Shi Chen and Liu Qiming were carried to the grain-drying ground.

The helicopter had not yet arrived, so everyone waited there.

Lu Ao remained calm the entire time. He looked very assured, and just standing there was enough to steady people’s hearts.

Very soon, the helicopter arrived, wrapped in the roar of wind.

The huge helicopter landed on the grain-drying ground. Many people from Linwu Village stared open-mouthed at the massive machine before them.

The accompanying medical staff hurried down and checked Shi Chen and Liu Qiming’s conditions. Then they said to them, “Their conditions are still relatively stable. There should be no problem sending them to the First Affiliated Hospital now.”

“All right. Sorry to trouble you.”

The accompanying medical staff quickly carried the two men onto the helicopter with stretchers.

After settling them in, they said, “We need one person in charge to come along. Who will it be?”

Lu Ao said, “I’ll go.”

As Lu Ao spoke, he took out the keys on him and handed them to Lin Gongshang, saying in a low voice, “I just started raising geese at home. Help me feed them these two days.”

“Ah! Sorry to trouble you.” Lin Gongshang hurriedly took the keys, then took out a bank card and stuffed it into his hand. His eyes were red as he said, “I’ll give you money first. If money is needed later, just use the money in this card. I’ll send the password to your phone. Use however much you need. As long as they live.”

Lu Ao did not refuse. “All right.”

Yan Zhengning squeezed forward and shouted loudly over the roar of the helicopter, “I’m going too! I’m their friend!”

Lu Ao looked at the person in charge on the helicopter. “Is there still room?”

The other side said, “Yes, but you’ll need to pay for an extra family seat.”

Yan Zhengning climbed onto the helicopter with a bag on his back. “No problem. I’ll transfer the money to you right now.”

The helicopter came and then left again.

The people of Linwu Village looked at the small black dot disappearing into the sky, all deeply shaken.

Lin Gongshang still had not quite come back to himself and stood frozen in place.

Lin Manzhang came over, patted his shoulder, and said, “Don’t worry. Didn’t Lu Ao say it shouldn’t be a big problem? Go back and wait for news first.”

“Ah, okay.” Lin Gongshang wiped his face hard and placed his hand over his chest, his face pale. “Tonight really scared me to death. Thank goodness for Lu Ao.”

Lin Manzhang patted him again.

With such a big commotion today, losing money was definitely unavoidable. Fortunately, no one had died.

After Shi Chen and Liu Qiming were sent to the First Affiliated Hospital, emergency doctors took over and sent them for treatment.

Their conditions were not too severe yet, and the doctors at the First Affiliated Hospital were experienced. Their conditions soon stabilized.

By then, the two men’s families had arrived, sweating heavily. Their eyes were red, and they had no time to ask too many questions before hurriedly going to the emergency doctors to sign the rescue documents.

After all the fuss continued until the latter half of the night, the emergency doctor finally came out to speak, saying that the two patients’ conditions had temporarily stabilized.

Only then did the two families breathe a sigh of relief and ask about the whole story.

This accident had begun because the two men had been reckless. Ignoring Lin Gongshang’s reminder, they had grabbed the black sea bream barehanded, been pierced by its dorsal spines, and then developed infections.

Ordinary people would not easily become infected from being pierced, but because both of them had some liver problems from drinking and socializing, they had ended up in the hospital together.

This matter truly could not really be blamed on Lin Gongshang.

After hearing Lu Ao’s account, the two families were fairly reasonable and had no intention of pursuing responsibility.

Lu Ao also did not want to get too involved. He said, “Lin Gongshang will take a bus over as soon as it’s daylight. You can hand things over to him then. I’ll go back first.”

“All right, all right. Be careful on the road.”

The two families were busy worrying about their sick relatives and had no time to entertain him. After thanking him again, they let him go.

Yan Zhengning also had some free time now. He walked out with Lu Ao and asked, “Did you bring your ID and everything? How are you going back?”

After being busy with them for half the night, Lu Ao only now remembered that he had come in such a rush that, apart from his phone and bank card, he had brought nothing.

The moment Yan Zhengning saw his expression, he knew he had not brought them. He hurriedly said, “I have property in the provincial capital. Why don’t you stay at my place tonight, and tomorrow I’ll have a driver take you back?”

Lu Ao said, “No need. I’ll just call a rideshare or taxi back directly.”

“Hey, after being busy for so long, aren’t you going to sleep first?”

Lu Ao waved his hand. “No need. The villagers are probably waiting for news too. I’ll go back and tell them.”

Yan Zhengning could not find a reason to keep him. Watching Lu Ao’s back disappear outside the hospital, he felt an inexplicable sense of regret.

Perhaps this young man’s presence was simply too reassuring. Once he left, Yan Zhengning felt empty inside, and a little panicked.

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