Night.
Nan Shan District First Hospital.
The autumn wind blew across the debris, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Orthopedic ward.
Everyone left the ward. Dong Xuebing struggled to push himself up and walked to the window. He looked at the rescuers working hard outside. He wished he could remove his bandages and join the rescue efforts. He can’t wait to return to Guang Ming Subdistrict to save his residents. He is someone who can’t stay still. Furthermore, the city is facing the worst disaster in one hundred years.
Suddenly, the door opened.
“Director Dong, why are you not resting?” A nurse entered.
“I can’t sleep.” Dong Xuebing did not turn back. His eyes were glued to the rescuers outside.
“No.” The nurse gave Dong Xuebing a stare. “The doctor instructed you to rest. You must lie down, or my director will scold me.”
Dong Xuebing replied. “He won’t scold you. Tell me if he scolds you.”
“Director Dong!” The nurse replied. “You must lie down. Mayor Geng had ordered me to monitor your every movement closely before she left.”
Monitor my movements?! Am I a criminal?!
Dong Xuebing felt frustrated and walked back to his bed. “Alright. Come over and help me back onto the bed.”
“That’s more like it.” The nurse giggled and helped him onto the bed.
“Oh….” Dong Xuebing felt his chest itching and asked. “Do you have any cigarettes? Give me a cigarette.”
The nurse stared at Dong Xuebing with wide eyes. “How can you smoke in this condition?!”
Dong Xuebing has an urge to smoke. “Hurry…. Please give me one cigarette. Just one will do. Give it to me secretly.”
The nurse shook her head furiously. “No! I will be dead if anyone finds out.”
“Who will know?” Dong Xuebing pleaded. “Don’t worry. I will not let anyone know about this.”
“Err…. No.”
“You cannot do this to me.”
“Smoking is not allowed in the hospital. I cannot break the rules.”
Dong Xuebing pleaded with the nurse, but she refused to give me. He knows it must be Geng Yuehua’s instructions to the hospital. He can’t do anything or go anywhere now. He asked the nurse. “Then can you give me a radio? I want to know about the situation in Yan Tai County and the surrounding areas. Bring me a small radio.” He is worried about Xie Huilan.
The nurse replied. “The phone lines are up now.”
“When was that?”
“The phone line is resumed this afternoon. I am not sure if they have repaired the equipment or they are using satellite signals. But you can make calls now.”
“Ok. Bring me my phone.”
“Huh? Where is your phone?”
“My clothes! Where are my clothes? My phone should be in my pockets. Where have you all taken my clothes to?”
“Oh, wait here. I will get it for you.”
The nurse returns with Dong Xuebing’s iPhone 4 after a while. “I found it. Here.”
Dong Xuebing can’t move his hands. “Open the phonebook and call Huilan.”
The nurse nodded and dialed the number. “It’s engaged. Wait a minute. I will try calling again. It’s through!” She immediately holds the phone by Dong Xuebing’s ear.
Ring… ring… ring….
The phone rang for a while before Xie Huilan answered. “Xiao Bing.”
Dong Xuebing anxiously asked. “Sister Xie, are you hurt? Where are you now?”
“I am fine. Wait.” Xie Huilan’s background is very noisy, and she is shouting at someone. “Move it away and ask the rescue team to hurry up….” The signal is not very good, and the line was cut before Dong Xuebing could say anything.
Dong Xuebing asked the nurse to call again, but it did not get through.
Since Xie Huilan is fine, Dong Xuebing is not worried. He knows she should be swamped now and did not call her again.
After that, Dong Xuebing called his mother.
The nurse tried five times before the call got through. “Son! Where have you been? Your phone has been engaged the whole day!”
“The signal tower had collapsed. I am fine.”
“Good to hear that. I was so worried.”
“Tell Sister Yu and the rest not to worry about me. Oh, how is Uncle Yang doing?”
“He just called me to tell me he is safe.”
“How’s the situation in Beijing?”
“We felt the tremors, but it’s not that bad.”
Dong Xuebing is relieved after making a few calls. All his family members are safe.
When Dong Xuebing was about to ask the nurse to keep his phone, his phone rang.
Dong Xuebing asked the nurse. “Please answer it.”
The nursed pressed answer and held it up for him.
The caller is Qu Yunxuan’s mother. “Xiao Bing, did an earthquake happen at your location?”
Dong Xuebing replied. “Yes. It’s an earthquake.”
“Are you alright?”
“I am fine. I am organizing the search and rescue efforts now.”
Qu Yunxuan’s mother is relieved. “If you are fine, come back to Beijing now.”
Dong Xuebing is surprised. “I cannot leave now. I still have work to do here. Mum, what happened?” Why did Qu Yunxuan’s mother ask him to go back suddenly?
Qu Yunxuan’s mother replied. “Yunxuan is going to give birth. We are at the hospital now.”
Dong Xuebing got shocked. “I thought the due date is on first October?”
“Yunxuan panicked during the earthquake, and she went into labor.”
Qu Yunxuan’s father shouted. “You can’t even say it clearly. Give me the phone.” One second later, he said. “Xiao Bing, you don’t need to come. We will take care of Yunxuan. I know about the situation at your location, and the people there need you all. You must not leave your position. Just do your best and save the people. Leave everything else to me. Do you understand?”
“Thank you, Dad.”
“Don’t worry about Yunxuan. She will be fine, and I will call you again once she gives birth. Watch out for your safety. She is worried about you and was asking about you before she enters the operating room.”
Dong Xuebing is very excited after hanging up the call.
Aunt Xuan is going to give birth now.
I am going to be a father!
