Chapter 685: 675 What Is Intervention?

The sky was gradually darkening.

After the rain, those hateful little bugs flew out.

I don't know why there are so many mosquitoes and tiny bugs. Not only do they buzz annoyingly, but they've left countless bites on any exposed skin.

Zheng Ren and his group, having crossed mountains and ridges, were completely exhausted.

Saying it's easy to carry a stretcher up the mountain, but the path is extremely rugged and steep, plus slippery as hell; basically you need seven or eight people to barely manage to lift someone up.

To make it out of the mountains safely and reach the plains was already a great fortune.

A platoon of Liberation Army soldiers were exhausted to the point of collapse; Su Yun didn't utter a word, her face deathly pale. Even Zheng Ren, this good-for-nothing, was utterly worn out, just wanting to find a spot to rest properly.

During an aftershock on the way, Zheng Ren, to protect the stretcher, struck his chest against a rock and fractured his left fifth rib. Well, he diagnosed it himself, but he told nobody. As for the bruises all over his face and swollen eye corners, those were minor.

He just wanted to sleep, to get a good rest. But for now, it's not possible.

The patient on the stretcher, though not critical enough for a helicopter evacuation, would still be classified as an S‑level critical emergency if taken to Haicheng First Hospital Emergency Department.

For example, the patient who underwent Zheng Ren's embolization for a severe pelvic fracture—though the retroperitoneal bleeding had eased, they were still in hemorrhagic shock, and Zheng Ren had no way to fix it. The only thing to do was rush the patient to Pengxi Township for further treatment.

After descending the mountain, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but there was no time to rest; they hurried toward Pengxi Township.

Usually talkative Su Yun remained silent, gripping the stretcher silently, panting, pressing forward all the way.

Shortly after coming down the mountain, sentinels spotted people returning from ahead.

Several ambulances pulled up; checking the plates, they came from all over the country.

After loading the patient onto the ambulance, Zheng Ren finally let out a breath.

The ambulance lacked equipment to test blood types; that simple setup can't determine Rh factor, so it's useless anyway. If really needed, O‑type blood could be given, but the amount would be limited and could provoke a serious reaction.

Up ahead is Pengxi Township, where, it's said, plasma is available in whatever quantity needed.

After the patient was placed in the ambulance, Zheng Ren and Su Yun performed a deep venous puncture on them. Watching the steady flow of liquid enter, they felt much more at ease.

Su Yun clenched her grip on her clothes to keep from trembling noticeably, lest Zheng Ren notice.

"I'm dead tired," Su Yun said. "I'd rather do ten days of surgery than carry people up a mountain."

"Sure," Zheng Ren replied, closing his eyes and beginning to rest his spirit.

"Boss, now that you're in Pengxi Township, are you really planning to do only interventional surgery?" Su Yun asked.

"Mm," Zheng Ren said. "There are too many casualties; I can't possibly do every kind of surgery. Interventional surgery is what I'm best at, so I'll stick with what I know."

"I really wish I could take over all the surgeries and drop everyone's jaws," Su Yun said with a hint of regret.

"Cut the chatter—this is disaster relief, not a demonstration‑surgery show‑off."

"Don't even say that, Boss," Su Yun muttered. She wasn't the type to not know her limits; she was just speaking harshly.

Hearing Zheng Ren say that, he suddenly recalled something, laughed, and said: "Back in the capital, when there were tremors, didn't we swap positions and you went full speed with your hands?"

"Mm, and then?"

"I scared Director Kong silly—my hand speed was damn fast."

"Oh, is that so?" Zheng Ren replied indifferently, not feeling any particular thrill.

"Do we have to be this boring?" Su Yun blew out a breath; her damp black hair clung to her forehead, unmoved by the wind.

Even a handsome guy has times when he can't pull off being cool.

"If I really let my hand speed loose right now, you'd be stunned into disbelief—do you believe me?" Zheng Ren muttered with eyes closed, as if talking to himself.

"I… Boss, can you stop using me as an example? I'm your assistant!

"Let me tell you, with your temper you're the classic type who gets bullied outside then comes home to beat your wife and yell at your kids. I feel really sorry for Xiao Yi Ren's future."

"That won't happen," Zheng Ren said. "Isn't it just because your skill is higher than theirs? Compared to others, there's nothing special about it."

Those words made Su Yun a bit happy, yet she also felt something was off.

It's always that kind of conflicted pleasure.

This guy, he's just the best at playing this game, Su Yun muttered to herself.

"Brother, when did you guys enter the mountains?" The two paused their conversation as the doctor on the 120 ambulance suddenly asked.

"The day of the earthquake," Su Yun replied.

"Man, you're lucky. Where are you from?"

"We came straight from the capital, linked up with the troops, got off the plane and went straight into the mountains by vehicle."

The doctor on the 120 ambulance's eyes lit up, full of envy.

"We arrived late; after getting the notice, the hospital still had to coordinate arrangements, losing half a day. The whole county only has six ambulances, and to meet local emergency needs we can only allocate two. But luckily I'm healthy—I dragged out a coward who started crying as soon as he got on board, and we came speeding here." The doctor chuckled.

"What time did you get here?"

"It was evening the next day; the roads were rough and there were especially many big trucks."

"Oh, everything's on the way?" Su Yun wasn't stupid enough to ask if the outbound traffic was heavier. By being in the mountains, he'd already formed a judgment about the outside situation.

Ordinarily a disorganized mob, the Chinese people, in the internet age, can unleash unparalleled power when a sudden major event occurs.

To call it sincere unity is no exaggeration.

"Lots of people reacted really fast—I ran into a convoy, and later heard they'd emptied a Carrefour warehouse. The guy leading it, the very first moment, brought the convoy in with the supplies."

"The response was pretty quick."

"When they met us on the road, the convoy pulled over to let the ambulances pass, honking in tribute. You'd never guess—hearing those big trucks honk, the little nurses started crying."

"You cried too! Don't think I didn't see." The little nurse who had been sneaking glances at Su Yun, upset, shot back sharply.

"If it weren't for having to act ladylike in front of Su Yun,

"if it weren't for the patient in the ambulance,

"I'd have slapped her already."

The doctor on the 120 rescue ambulance chuckled and said, "You two, how's it looking in there? Need more hands?"

Su Yun briefly described the situation to him, and the little nurse burst into tears again.

It's not that I have a low tear point; even when Su Yun, who is narrating, recalls it now, I still feel as if sand has gotten into my eyes.

Those who have experienced it themselves, when they look back, will feel this way; let alone those waiting outside who can't get in no matter what.

"How are the medical facilities in Pengxi Xiang?" Zheng Ren suddenly asked.

All that could be had is basically there; there are 10 operating rooms; sterile packs are piled up like a small mountain; they've just been pulled from the factory, disinfected and sent to Pengxi Xiang. Touch them, they're still warm.

"Is there an interventional surgery operating room?"

"What is interventional?"