However, as we know, to realize our dream is not as easy as in imagination. As mentioned before, he had no material support, let alone moral support. He must spend a day just to fulfill his basic needs.
That wish, seemingly would only be a mere wish, without any chance to become reality.
Moreover, an unexpected incident occurred.
"Youdun! Get the water! We still need more to apply cold compress!"
"Nayin, have you boiled the concoction? The patient can't bear the pain!"
The noisy sound of hurried steps came into Zhu Su's ear. Zhu Youdun held a container full of water. His steps were shaky since the container he held was so heavy, and when he put it on the ground, he was no longer able to withstand the heavyweight, thus the sound of hard slamming echoed in the room.
"I've already taken a full bucket, it's not enough, then!" Zhu Youdun was busy adjusting his breath.
"You see by yourself, we have so many patients here." Zhu Su did not even turn around as he had to totally focus on treating a man who did not stop moaning in pain.
"Why does the amount of patients increase drastically in sudden? We only got few patients in the previous day, even three people in one day have been so much for us."
"And their problems are all the same."
Zhu Youdun nodded. "Traumatic injury."
"On the head, neck, legs, hands, abdomen... their wounds are spread everywhere, overlapping, but the cause is the same. Stabbed by sharp kinds of stuff, or punched by heavy tools."
"Is there a war around here?"
"But, our surrounding is still calm and peaceful..."
"I want to ask Mr. Man. He must know something."
Just after Zhu Su finished handling a patient, three more people had been waiting to be treated. The three of them were screaming in pain, a patient could not even prevent his tears from falling down his cheeks because of unbearable pain. Zhu Youdun even had to give help.
"Hey, don't just keep busy in treating! You must write the medical record!" Gao Qing shouted from the other side of the room.
"Lots of people must be treated, I don't have time!" Zhu Su replied.
"That is medical requirements that cannot be violated, no excuses!"
"Alright... alright!..." Reluctantly, Zhu Su released the patient's broken hand which was full of blood, was about to take the paper.
Gao Qing himself, now opened the door, and went out of from the hut.
"Let me take the notes, Dad. Just keep focusing on handling the patient. I'm not so good at medicine, so let me do this," Zhu Youdun said.
"Thanks, Youdun," Zhu Su handed his book. "I do agree with Mr. Gao, but can't he empathize with their miserable conditions? It'll be so tormenting for them if they don't get appropriate treatment immediately."
They had finished treating the three new patients. And at the time when the patients came out, four more people appeared from behind the door.
And it went on. Went on all that way.
"This is endless." Hu Nayin looked at the sun outside that was getting higher and higher. "Where is Mr. Gao? He leaves us when we get busy like this..."
Zhu Su stood up. "I want to go for a while. I want to ask Mr. Man, what is actually happening here."
"But, if Dad goes away, then Ms. Nayin is the only physician here to do all tiring treatment!..."
"I just leave for a while." Thus, ignoring Zhu Youdun's calling, Zhu Su immediately went out of the hut.
He was so astonished as finding so many people were queuing to enter their hut. The strong people were standing while queueing, but the other who could not bear the pain were sitting on the rocks and bushes. They had to queued outside since the hut was too small to accommodate them all.
I have to meet Mr. Man as soon as possible and figure out what actually is going on here! Zhu Su soon stepped down the bending path along the river towards Man's house. But he had not yet walked halfway, he had been meeting with Man.
Man appeared to be explaining at length to a group of injured people who just arrived. He quickly noticed Zhu Su's arrival. "Ah, Mr. Zhu!" He greeted, his face showed excitement and worry at the same time.
Zhu Su quickly asked. "What's going on, Mr. Man? Why on earth is so crowded here?"
"Suddenly there is an attack from the neighboring country! An impromptu military has been prepared to fight, however, because the recruitment is carried out carelessly, the troops soon suffer defeat and many people are injured!" Man explained in an anxious manner. "Moreover, we lack competent physicians here. But, from the very few physicians, fortunately, we still have all of you to help us!"
"Attack from the neighboring country?" Then... can it be?!... "Is our area in danger?"
"If you ask me, hmm, it's quite dangerous! It all depends on regional defense!"
"So, if the enemy manages to enter our boundaries, then we will be in danger..."
"Hey! Why are you so leisurely, even have time to chat around here?!"
Zhu Su turned his head. Gao Qing was standing behind him, looking at him with a sullen face.
"I'm asking Mr. Man why so many people get hurt of a sudden. And I just find out that our area is in a very vulnerable situation. If the neighboring country manages to break down the defense of this area then we will be finished."
Gao Qing's pupils went round, it was clear that he got startled.
"Our area... is attacked by the enemy..." His voice was hoarse.
"And you, Sir, why don't you help us and go away instead?"
"Our herbs supply has run out. I have to go to the forest to pick it up again."
"What?! How can it run out so fast?! Didn't we just take medicinal plants two days ago?"
"It's inadequate. You've looked on your own that so many injured people coming here. And now, there are no more herbs left." Gao Qing glanced at the empty basket he was carrying.
"Really?! My Heaven, we are in trouble!..."
"Not at all." Ignoring the worried expression on Zhu Su's face, Gao Qing entered the hut.
Zhu Su winked. Just now Gao Qing looked very disappointed as he could not get the medicinal plants, why did he suddenly look calm and just entered the hut so leisurely right now? He frowned, thus in great curiosity, he stepped inwards.
He found that Gao Qing was taking several thin needles from the cupboard. After that, he approached the patients, and cleaned the area around the patient's wound.
Then, with agility, he inserted the thin needles through the skin on the patient's body.
Finishing to insert a needle, Gao Qing took another needle. He inserted every needle gracefully, and he was doing his activity in a very serious manner.
A few minutes later, he had finished inserting ten thin needles spread on the entire patient's body.
Zhu Su could no longer resist his urge to ask, "Are you doing acupuncture?"
"Exactly," answered Gao Qing.
"Is acupuncture effective for traumatic injury? Especially for those with severe cases like them?"
Gao Qing moved. He then inserted the acupuncture needles into another patient's body parts. "Do you know the indication of acupuncture?"
"Eh?"
"Or, you don't know?"
"Uh... oh... Sorry, I don't really understand it..." Zhu Su answered with a half-smile.
"So what does the medical book you write concern with?"
"It's merely talking about herbal concoction... all of them are very simple and in the form of ordinary generic medicine, not such kinds of professional concoctions for medical experts..."
"Oh, no wonder you don't understand acupuncture." Gao Qing finished treating his second patient, and headed for the third patient. "I will explain it to you. Just wait until I finish taking care of all patients here, okay?"