The Twelve Years: Song of the Unsung Friends

Early spring of 1918.

Morning fog filled the French Concession Wharf, and many barefoot stevedores crowded together. Waiting for dawn.

Shen Xi took four Chinese male doctors, three male nurses, and three female nurses, dressed in white overalls, masks and hats, and waited at the Bund Pier in Shiliubu.

This is the terminal set up by Shanghai's only company operating international routes. They are waiting for a cruise ship that will enter the port this morning.

Back then, she and Fu Dongwen got off the boat when they returned to China.

"Dr. Shen," a male doctor asked in Shen Xi's ear, "you are a woman, and someone will say something rude, or start a hand, remember to hide behind us."

"If you don't steal or snatch, why do you want to do it?" Shen Xi smiled dumbly. "You have to protect the three nurses. They are all female nurses I finally recruited. Don't be scared away."

Everyone laughs.

"Doctor Shen, we are not afraid." One of the female nurses expressed determination.

Shen Xi also smiled, although his smile was hidden under the white mask.

"I am worried that the few of us will not be able to stop so many passengers." A cruise ship crossed the ocean to Shanghai. Although there were passengers disembarking all the way, there were at least a few hundred people here.

There are only eleven of them.

"Always try. Besides, we are not going to detain them. We just want to ask if there are flu patients on the ship," Shen Xi said. "Also, we should focus on asking if anyone died of illness. Look at each of them, if Those who are particularly haggard, try to persuade them to check their temperature, and find one is one. Of course, I'd better have healthy people in this boat."

Shen Xi repeated these words more than a dozen times earlier, and everyone was familiar with it: "Remember, nosebleeds, hemoptysis, ear bleeding, and skin discoloration are later symptoms. If anyone has actually seen such death symptoms on board, come right away. tell me."

What happened after telling her?

"It's true, and we don't have the right to detain patients." said the male nurse.

Shen Xi thought for a while and said, "It's okay, you guys use the title of Deputy Dean Duan, it's really not good. I'll go to the mayor's office." She was giving everyone peace of mind.

She looked confident, but she was full of worries.

In the United States at the end of last year and Spain at the beginning of this year, influenza broke out in all cases. The symptoms of the deceased were terrible, with blood on their faces and discoloration of their skin.

The world war is at a critical juncture, and the governments of every country require the media not to mention the words "flu" and "plague" in their reports, so as not to affect the situation of the war and cause panic among the people. However, doctors in various countries have contacted each other privately, speculating that this flu will spread to the European continent and the hinterland of the United States...

Since Shen Xi and Chen Linguan resumed contact, the other party has always provided her with the latest medical information. Including this sudden outbreak of flu*. There was a telegram, followed by a thick letter.

"The research room performed an autopsy. The brain of the dead patient was significantly congested, the organs all over the body were diseased, and the lungs were all liquid...Shen Xi, everyone was frantically looking for a treatment plan, but we were helpless and we were desperate. Even me The professor also said: "Doctors know no more about the flu than the doctors in Florence in the 14th century about the Black Death."" Chen Linguan said in the letter.

He is an objective person, except for the only time he has seen Fu Dongwen lose his mind. He never exaggerates facts or alarms. So she expected that the plague would only be more serious than he said. After all, they were in Paris, France, and were not the hardest hit area.

Since Shen Xi, Shen Xi has applied to the municipal government many times to implement epidemic prevention measures at China's largest Shanghai and Guangzhou terminals, and the bureaucrats completely ignored them. It is also true that no one cares about the ways that the Prime Minister can change several times a year.

But how can politicians understand the dangers of a large-scale epidemic?

She can only try her best to find a way. Fortunately, there are not many cruise ships coming across the ocean...

"Come!" The youngest female nurse couldn't bear it, as if she was going to serve the country at any time, the blood surged.

Soon, this group of people separated in several directions according to the prior consultation.

The workers on the dock preparing to pick up and unload the goods looked at these doctors strangely. Shiliupu has always been the site of the Qing Gang. There are big changes and people are watching. These doctors come suddenly, they are cleanly dressed, and the eyes exposed from the white masks are also solemn. It is guessed that a certain sick politician is on this boat. I don't have the guts to bother.

Soon, the cruise ship began to disembark passengers.

Shen Xi took the lead and asked gentlemen in suits and leather shoes in proficient English whether there was a widespread flu on the ship? Is anyone critically ill due to fever or flu? In order to convince herself, she took off her mask and kept the friendliest smile. When the gentlemen saw that she was a lady, they would probably stop and answer her questions patiently.

As she asked, she urged the male doctor closest to her: "Quickly, get on the ship and ask the ship doctor about the situation."

In the rush, her white hat fell on the ground and it was too late to pick it up. In the end, a Chinese gentleman picked it up for her and gave her back: "Miss, your hat."

"Thank you," Shen Xi took the hat. "Sir, do you have flu symptoms? Or your passengers on the same floor and in the same cabin have a cold and fever, have you spread it to people around you?"

The gentleman smiled and asked her: "I'm from Ohio, USA. What you are talking about is a sudden outbreak of disease?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

This gentleman clearly knew the disease suppressed by the media: "As far as I know, there is no such patient on board."

"Thank you sir. If this is the case, we are all very lucky."

Shen Xi smiled gratefully, and stopped another person.

The gentleman carried the leather suitcase, took off his hat with a smile, and nodded slightly to Shen Xi's back, also "thank you" for her kindness. He put on his hat again and saw someone holding a blank sheet of paper with a surname and Ohio written on it.

He smiled and nodded to the responder: "Hello, I am him." He pointed to the paper.

Just as Shen Xi stopped an Englishman, he heard someone behind him say: "San Ye has been waiting for a long time, please, sir."

Her heart twitched vigorously and looked back.

The passengers rushed out of the pier like high tide water, the faces under the brim of their hats were all strange. Where did the Sanye come from, where did the servant come from? This is the Bund Wharf, the French Concession of Shanghai, not the Qianmen Railway Station in Beijing...

It was not until the Englishman in front of Shen Xi lost his patience and left in a hurry that Shen Xi returned to his soul.

She covered the mask half of her face again, and concealed her gaffe in the inquiring gaze of her colleague.

After the passengers at the wharf were gone, Shen Xi had a detailed discussion with the ship doctor for another ten minutes, and was relieved that he was convinced that there was no epidemic on the cruise ship.

Colleagues have to go back to the hospital to start work. She was a night shift last night and is off today. Everyone went for breakfast, and she called a rickshaw home.

When she got home, there was scallion noodles left on the table.

Unfortunately, the cook did not know that she left the hospital and did not go home. Instead, she went to the pier, which was three hours later than usual. The sauce-colored noodles became a lump, and she couldn't move it with chopsticks. She was discouraged, sat down on the sofa, and looked through the thick pile of "Ta Kung Pao" and "New Youth" on the round table.

Use chopsticks to insert the noodles, take a bite, and flip through a newspaper.

Suddenly, the phone rang.

Shen Xi put down the dishes, went to the desk, and picked up the receiver: "Hello."

"it's me."

She took a breath, touched the teacup, and poured the overnight tea: "Deputy Dean Duan, I'm looking for you."

"First, this is not a hospital, so you don't need to call me like that," Duan Menghe's voice was suddenly far and near, and the line was not smooth. "Second, I think you left me a message. Is there something important?"

"Yes, I made a lot of calls to the Shanghai government this week, wanting them to issue a public document that can pay attention to the large-scale influenza outbreak in the United States and Europe. This influenza will be very serious. All my classmates Give me feedback. But I'm just a little doctor. No one cares about me, so I can only be perfunctory. If I want to ignore it anymore, I really have to go to the city government to demonstrate, and I must pay attention to the international epidemic—"

Duan Menghe interrupted her: "But I am just the vice president of a hospital. Besides, you are not a little doctor."

"No, you are not just the deputy dean," Shen Xi put the phone receiver on the desk, ran to the table to look for the newspaper the day before, and then came back and took the receiver and read: "On March 22, Duan Qirui resumed his post. Prime Minister. Duan Menghe, that elder in your family is the Prime Minister again. Go and make a call and they will not ignore you."

She muttered again: "Besides, the elder in your family, whether he is prime minister or not, isn't he behind the scenes?"

"But I, an elder, hates people's unauthorized use of private power the most in my life." He laughed.

"This is working for the good of the people. I didn't let you be a criminal." She said righteously.

"You should call me the deputy dean," Duan Menghe reluctantly, "so at least I don't need to be threatened by you."

"I'm not intimidating you, I'm talking about serious things. I happen to be free today and can go to the dock to check passengers. What if I don't have time? What if a boat comes?"

"You can rest assured. There are very few ships from Europe. It took three months to come here today."

“It’s because of the small number of ships that gave us the opportunity to prepare. If there were frequent visits, we would be on the front line of the epidemic now.”

"...Okay, Dr. Shen, I will call," Duan Menghe could not argue with her, "I promise."

"Thank you." She said sincerely.

"Don't say thank you, this is not your personal business, nor is it my personal business."

Shen Xi said "Um", and reacted: "You won't be back until Monday? Three days in advance?"

The person over there was silent for a moment: "Did you remember my schedule?"

"I always remember your schedule," Shen Xi confessed, "because... I have to wait for you to come back to discuss the surgery plan."

There was silence on the other side of the phone.

"Come with me for lunch, I guess you have nothing to eat at home."

Shen Xi glanced at the sauce-colored noodles Tuo Tuo: "It's not very delicious, but I don't want to go out."

"Don't rush to refuse me, it's an official business. I need you to come to the hospital to see a special patient."

She wondered: "Special? Is it a special status? Or is it a special condition?"

"Both."

If you have a special status, you should be someone with a background; if you have a special condition, you should be a cancer patient.

Shen Xi had seen several tumor resection operations when he was studying in the United States. Later, he compiled information in Renji and looked at Renji’s past cases thoroughly. In the past two years, he was interested in going to this new hospital and Duan Menghe in surgery. Training in this area can be regarded as an expert in this hospital. In the hospital, the doctors who receive such patients are Duan Menghe except for her. Duan Menghe is the vice-president. Naturally, he cannot always receive patients, so most patients will arrange for her.

When it comes to the patient, Shen Xi's attitude is more calm: "...Well, I promised your proposal to eat, but I came to treat you, after all, I threatened you with a newspaper. I will change clothes and go out now."

Because he was too worried about the patient's condition, Shen Xi finally bought take-out noodles and sent them to Duan Menghe's office.

This is what she calls "a dinner party."

Duan Menghe was speechless, made tea in the office, and made up this lunch with Shen Xi: "The cost of buying me dinner is not as valuable as my tea."

Except for that mouthful of noodles, Shen Xi hadn't eaten for more than ten hours, so hungry that he didn't want to talk, he lowered his head and ate his own noodles.

In the past two years, she has been on night shifts and day shifts are busy. She has to look at the gynecology department. Her face is not as good as before, showing an unhealthy whiteness. Seeing her, Duan Menghe pushed the teacup toward her eyes: "If the patient can't run away, eat slowly."

"Forgot to say, congratulations." She had finished eating and put on chopsticks.

Duan Menghe was taken aback for a moment, shook his head and smiled: "You also said that the elder in my family is up and down, no need to congratulate, maybe he will resign soon."

In today's world, even the prime minister resigns today and will be reinstated tomorrow. What else is long-term stable? Shen Xi couldn't help but sighed: "Let's go see the patient." It is still clear that people can save one.

"I will go with you."

This is strange, since Duan Menghe was promoted to deputy dean, he had never had to accompany him to consult a doctor when he was in such a leisure time?

"What kind of patient is it? I can't handle it, or do I want you to greet you?"

Duan Menghe hesitated and told her: "It's Fu Dongwen's father."

*The 1918 Spanish flu is also a global plague of the century. It is conservatively estimated that 21 million people died worldwide. According to current scholars’ estimates, the flu killed about 40 million people or more. Some people also estimated that the death toll was as high as 100 million.

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The second volume opened more.

I just found out that Wedge had written Shen Xi's age incorrectly. It was 1904 in the 30th year of Guangxu, and she was only eleven years old. Hahaha, let me change it.

By the way, I have to protest, just 150,000 words, what do you mean by the end...Hahahahaha what do you mean? What do you mean? What do you mean...0.0 Hum Haw