readytorunbook Chapter 116 Donating Materials
Chapter 116 Donating Materials
Zhou Rong donated items under his real name, also hoping to be recognized.
In her reply, Zhou Gui told Zhou Rong about the conductor sending her a silk banner and how Zhou Jiawan was proud of her and her father. Only then did Zhou Rong realize that people of this generation believed in such honors.
She had no background in the city, and in that special period, it was difficult for her to keep herself and her family safe.
With the government commendation in hand, it would be like having an extra talisman, which would be beneficial to her and her three children in their future schooling and employment.
Zhou Rong smiled and said, "It is my honor to do my bit for the country and the people. I still have some old clothes and rice at home. The rent for the boat outside is quite expensive. If Sister Tao can lend me a boat, I can also collect some medicine, food and clothes."
Tao Fen: "That's great! Our neighborhood committee has a rowing boat, you can just use it. Do you need us to row for you?"
Zhou Rong: "No, rowing doesn't look difficult. I should be able to learn it after some practice. You and other cadres are dedicated to the people and sacrifice your own families for the sake of the public. You are busy every day and don't even have time to take a nap. I respect you very much. I won't bother you with this little thing."
These words made the committee members present feel particularly comfortable. Being recognized by the masses made all their hard work worthwhile.
When the flood recedes, I must apply for a big commendation for Comrade Xiao Zhou...
A member of the staff taught Zhou Rong the tricks of rowing, and she quickly learned it.
After rowing the boat to a deserted place, Zhou Rong put rice, flour, herbs and clothes into the empty basket.
Zhou Rong made ten trips back and forth, donating 500 kilograms of rice, 100 kilograms of noodles, 300 kilograms of herbs such as honeysuckle and houttuynia cordata, 400 kilograms of old clothes, and 20 boxes of "Aspirin" to the neighborhood committee.
Supplies are in short supply now, especially drugs like "Aspirin", which may not be available even at a high price. Zhou Rong was afraid that if she donated too much, it would arouse the suspicion of Tao Fen and others, and she would end up shooting herself in the foot.
Zhou Rong said that part of the donated items were stockpiled by her family, and part were bought from vendors with her savings.
After Tao Fen and the others learned about this, they looked at Zhou Rong, who was sweating profusely, and praised her again.
Tao Fen said: "We have registered all the materials you donated. When the flood recedes, we will report your situation to our superiors and apply for a commendation for you."
Zhou Rong: "Thank you, Sister Tao. If you don't have enough manpower and need my help in making medicine, delivering supplies, etc., I'd be happy to help you."
Tao Fen held Zhou Rong's hand and said happily, "We couldn't ask for more! Many people have been infected with typhoid fever recently, and we need to boil a lot of herbs such as honeysuckle and plantain.
We need to go to each household to confirm the situation. Those infected need to be gathered at the health center for treatment to prevent the disease from spreading to other people. We were worried that no one would make medicine, and you helped us a lot."
Zhou Rong: "I'll go back and say hello to my family first, then I'll come and make medicine for everyone."
Taofen: "Okay."
Zhou Rong was afraid that after coming into contact with the patient, she would carry the virus home and infect her children. So when she got home, she packed some clothes and told the children that she was going to the neighborhood committee to help make medicine and would not be going home for the time being.
Zhou Gui said, "Sister, let me go with you to help. I also want to contribute to everyone."
Zhou Cai also wanted to go, but she knew that she couldn't leave her family without someone, so she said, "You all go. I'll take good care of Da Wa and the others. If anything happens, I'll go to the neighborhood committee to find you."
Zhou Rong: "Okay, thank you for your hard work. I'll make a bowl of herbal medicine for everyone to drink every day. If you have a fever, come to me or take some Analgin."
Zhou Cai: "Yes, I remember them all."
In late August, the water level began to gradually recede, and by the end of the month, it had dropped below the knees, but more and more people were infected with the disease.
Some people got the disease because they drank unclean water, while others were infected by others.
Zhou Rong and Zhou Gui stayed in the kitchen temporarily built by the neighborhood committee for more than ten days. They boiled herbs in pot after pot every day and delivered them to the health center after they were done.
Although they were very tired, they both felt that the journey was extremely fulfilling and meaningful.
Zhou Rong would take time out every day to row his boat to the downstairs of his house to ask about the situation at Zhou Cai's home. Today, he wanted to go home during lunch time to check on her, but he didn't expect Zhou Jiaguang to come wading through the water.
"Sister, Erwa and Nini are sick, and the medicine doesn't work. You should go home and take a look!"
Zhou Rong was startled, and quickly dropped the tongs in his hand and said to Zhou Gui: "You watch over here, I'll go home."
Zhou Gui: “Okay!”
After the water level dropped, the wooden boat could no longer be rowed, but the door of the house could be opened. Zhou Rong rode his bicycle to the neighborhood committee for easier travel.
The water on the ground was filthy and it was easy to itch when it touched the skin. Besides, walking in the water was too slow. Zhou Rong asked Zhou Jiaguang to sit on the back seat of the bicycle while she pedaled hard to hurry home...
When Zhou Cai saw Zhou Rong, she cried, "Sister, Erwa had a fever last night, I gave him some medicine and applied a cold towel to his forehead.
At first the temperature went down, but in the second half of the night, the fever came back and he vomited. It hasn't gotten better yet. Nini also started having fever and vomiting this morning. The medicine didn't work. I didn't take good care of them. I'm sorry."
Zhou Rong looked at Zhou Cai's bruised eyes and knew that she hadn't slept all night. He comforted her, "This is not your problem. It's normal for children to have some illnesses. Let's send them to the hospital."
Erwa was already delirious due to the fever and couldn't sit on the front bar of the bicycle by himself. Zhou Rong had no choice but to tie Nini behind Zhou Cai with a cloth, and then she held Erwa and sat on the back seat of the bicycle.
Zhou Rong said to Zhou Jiaguang, "The water on the ground is very dirty. Wash your feet clean and apply some calamine water I brought back to prevent your feet from getting rotten."
Zhou Jiaguang: "I understand, big sister. Da Wa and I will take good care of the house and wait for you to come back."
The nearby clinic was already full of patients infected with the epidemic, and the environment there was poor, and there might not be medicine to cure Erwa, so Zhou Rong rode his bike directly to the municipal hospital.
The city hospital was also crowded with people, most of whom had fever and cough.
After examining Erwa and Nini, the doctor said that both of them were infected with meningitis, but the hospital had no medicine at the moment, so they could only take some heat-clearing and detoxifying soups to see if they could get better.
Zhou Rong said: "We have tried giving herbal medicine at home, but it didn't work. Doctor, can you think of a solution? The child is so young, if he gets sick, his life will be ruined."
The doctor sighed and said, "I want to cure the two children, but there is no medicine. There is nothing I can do! Unless you can get penicillin, this medicine is very effective for meningitis."
Zhou Rong: "Do you know where I can get this medicine?"
Doctor: "Penicillin is an imported controlled drug and is in short supply. It is usually only available in military hospitals. However, the flood has closed the city for more than a month, and so many people have been injured. I'm not sure if there is any medicine now. If you have acquaintances in the army, you can ask them to ask."
Zhou Rong frowned. How could she have any acquaintances in the army?
I can only go to Yang Jinlin to find a solution...