Bai Lu brought out two iron bucket stoves and two large iron pots. Together with the existing one, this made a total of three large pots, which would significantly increase their cooking efficiency.
Next, she placed an order for one thousand catties of broken rice from the “Myriad Realms Mall.” In the mall, some items were cheap while others were expensive; this broken rice actually cost two mall coins per catty—essentially two yuan per catty!
Two yuan could usually buy high-quality rice, but Bai Lu was afraid that premium rice might be resold by others. She chose the less aesthetically pleasing broken rice for a reason. Furthermore, Jin Qiu would be arranging for colleagues to supervise the area. Soldiers had a very keen sense of smell; if a batch of high-quality rice suddenly appeared in the middle of the night, how could they not be suspicious?
Next, Bai Lu ordered two thousand catties of white radishes. Two thousand catties only cost her one thousand mall coins, showing just how cheap the radishes were.
Realizing she was preparing to cook broken rice porridge or rice for everyone, she wondered how they would eat without utensils. Aside from the doctors and nurses who had brought lunch boxes and chopsticks when packing their luggage, no one else had anything to eat with. She placed another order for the kind of transparent disposable bowls often used at banquets in the South. These bowls were inexpensive—ten thousand pieces for only seven hundred mall coins.
Despite being cheap, they were practical. They could hold both cold and hot food, and they could be either thrown away or washed and reused. In the future, as living conditions improved, people would simply toss them after one use. After all, no one was so short on cash that they couldn’t afford a few dozen yuan!
“Who’s there?”
Just as Bai Lu finished buying the disposable chopsticks and set them out, she heard a sharp shout from inside a tent. She immediately held her breath, retreated quickly, and ran off.
Hearing the cries of surprise behind her, Bai Lu couldn’t help but smile. She was happy to be able to contribute and help everyone.
On her way back, Bai Lu placed a box of medical supplies in front of every tent. They were short on everything here, but medical supplies were the most critical. If they waited for official deliveries, there was no telling when they would arrive. Since she was able to provide them, bringing them out earlier meant easing people’s pain and illness sooner.
Returning to the tent, Bai Lu took over so Wen Nuan could go out for some fresh air to clear her head. Because Bai Lu had previously put out some painkillers, Gao Chen had administered them to the more seriously injured patients. This helped alleviate their pain, allowing them to finally fall into a deep sleep.
Those with minor injuries were not in as much pain and could sleep normally. Consequently, most of the injured were asleep, and the family members accompanying them were also dozing off, sitting or leaning against the makeshift beds.
When Wen Nuan returned, the two planned to lean against each other for a brief rest. Suddenly, four members of the rescue team rushed in, carrying a stretcher.
Bai Lu looked up and saw a pregnant woman. Judging by her cries, she was about to give birth. Bai Lu patted Wen Nuan’s shoulder and urged, “Wen Nuan, go to the other tents quickly and ask if there’s an OB-GYN. If not, ask if anyone knows how to deliver a baby.”
Bai Lu then went to wake Gao Chen, asking him to check the woman for external injuries. When the pregnant woman saw a male doctor, she immediately refused, insisting she didn’t want a man examining her.
Bai Lu quickly explained, “Comrade, don’t worry. The doctor is only checking your external injuries; he isn’t here to deliver the baby. We’ve already sent someone to find an OB-GYN.”
Bai Lu understood her. Even in the future, few women were comfortable with a male doctor delivering their babies. Even if the women could accept it, their husbands often wouldn’t. Having worked in a hospital for years, she had seen it all.
Hearing that it was just an examination, the woman’s emotions finally steadied. Gao Chen performed the check-up and found only superficial injuries, which wasn’t a major issue.
A moment later, Wen Nuan ran back, breathless. “I asked everywhere. There isn’t a single OB-GYN, and no one knows how to deliver a baby.”
“Then I’ll have to do it.” While organizing the necessary supplies for the delivery, Bai Lu gave out instructions. “Dr. Gao, please go to the cooking area and tell them to boil a pot of water immediately for sterilization. You rescue team members, please form a human wall to ensure privacy. Wen Nuan, go to my suitcase and bring back a piece of pure cotton clothing.”
She then added in a lower voice, “Bring a piece of walnut cake as well so the mother can regain some strength.”
Bai Lu arranged everything in an orderly fashion. She then put on medical gloves and prepared to deliver the baby.
Bai Lu was a nurse, not an OB-GYN. It was natural for everyone to be worried and nervous about her performing the delivery. Bai Lu crouched down and spoke seriously into the mother’s ear: “I may not be an OB-GYN, but I’ve trained in the delivery room. I know more about delivery than a traditional midwife. I believe in myself, and I hope you believe in yourself too. We will definitely bring this child into the world safely and smoothly.”
A traditional midwife didn’t even have formal qualifications; in an emergency, it often resulted in the loss of both mother and child. She was a professional nurse—wasn’t she more reliable than a midwife?
A nurse is like a brick; you move her wherever she is needed.
In her previous life, whenever the hospital was short-staffed, Bai Lu had provided support in every department. Having been a nurse her whole life, was there anything she couldn’t do, other than surgery?
Forty to fifty minutes later, under the anxious and tense eyes of everyone present, the mother finally gave birth to a healthy baby. Heartening smiles broke out on everyone’s faces. This newborn represented a new hope.
Bai Lu cleaned the baby, wrapped it in her cotton clothes, and placed it beside the mother.
The conditions were crude, so this was the best she could do for now. Bai Lu couldn’t very well buy baby clothes directly from the “Myriad Realms Mall” in front of everyone. Even if she wanted to buy clothes, she had to find the right timing.
At two o’clock in the morning, the nurses from the county hospital woke up to swap shifts with Bai Lu and Wen Nuan. They didn’t have a proper place to sleep either; they had simply cleared a small area in the corner of the tent using medical supply boxes, huddling together to rest.
As for lying down to sleep, no one was truly that bold. This tent housed men, women, young, and old alike. Some people were opportunistic… if one were targeted while sleeping, it would be a disaster. Even while resting, everyone maintained a high state of alertness.
Wen Nuan covered her mouth and yawned, her eyes watering from exhaustion. “I’m exhausted and starving. Finally, we can get some rest.”
“You go ahead and rest first. I’m going to wash the bloodstains off my nursing uniform.” During the delivery, her uniform had been stained with blood. She needed to wash it quickly so it could air-dry overnight.
Wen Nuan nodded. “Be careful out there.”
“I will.” Bai Lu took a flashlight and a pear from her bag and headed out.
It was now past 2:00 AM. The world outside was pitch black and silent. Bai Lu walked slowly forward, guided only by the beam of her flashlight.