Chapter 27: Saving Lives Is Truly Exhausting

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Panting for breath, I carried Hua Jingjing back to the highway. I hesitated, wondering whether I should risk my life to drive her Ferrari, since I was utterly clueless about cars. Apart from distinguishing the brake from the accelerator, I knew nothing else; if I tried to drive, disaster was inevitable. Yet if I didn’t drive, carrying Hua Jingjing, it would take an eternity to reach the hospital.

Hua Jingjing was curled up in my arms, shivering uncontrollably, her body so feverish that I could feel the heat through her clothes. My anxiety was overwhelming; every moment wasted brought her closer to death.

Just then, I saw headlights flash in the distance—a car was approaching. Joy and relief surged through me, and I hurriedly stood with Hua Jingjing in the middle of the road to flag it down.

The car sped toward us, the headlights illuminating us only at the last moment. Unable to avoid us in time, the driver, clearly experienced, instinctively slammed the brakes and jerked the wheel. The car spun dramatically, barely missing the fields at the roadside.

As soon as the car stopped, the driver jumped out and shouted angrily, “Are you trying to get yourself killed? If you want to die, don’t drag me into it!”

I rushed forward, apologizing repeatedly. “I’m so sorry, I had no choice. Sir, my colleague is seriously ill—she’s burning up with fever and needs to be rushed to the hospital immediately. Please, I beg you, take us to the hospital. Thank you, thank you!”

The driver, a man in his forties, stepped out and glanced at Hua Jingjing in my arms under the car’s lights. He touched her forehead and exclaimed, “She’s burning hot!”

I pleaded again. “Sir, you seem like a good man. This girl’s life hangs by a thread. Surely you won’t turn away? There’s no one else on this road but us—you’re our only hope!”

My words, full of respect, soothed his anger, and he forgot his fright. He scratched his head and said, “But… I have to reach North Bell Mountain before dawn, that’s why I’m driving at night. If… ah, forget it! Nothing’s more important than a life. Young man, get in. If I didn’t take you to the hospital, my conscience would haunt me forever. I, Old Zhang, have never done anything wicked and don’t want to regret it later.”

Overjoyed, I thanked him profusely. “Thank you so much! Sir, you’re a truly good man…” He seemed straightforward, waved his hand, and said, “Enough chatter, get in.” He opened the rear door, and I climbed in with Hua Jingjing.

As he got in, he noticed the Ferrari parked at the roadside and asked, “Is that sports car yours?” I replied, “No, it’s hers. I can’t drive, otherwise I wouldn’t have flagged you down.”

He nodded, “She must be rich. That car’s worth several million.”

“She’s my boss at the company.”

“So young and already a boss? Tsk tsk! Life really isn’t fair.” With that, he started the engine and sped toward the highway.

I noticed Hua Jingjing shivering in my arms, her body tightly curled. I took off my coat and covered her, holding her close.

The driver glanced at us in the rearview mirror and remarked, “Young man, your boss is actually your girlfriend, isn’t she? Look how anxious you are.”

I replied, “No, I just don’t want anything bad to happen to her. Sir, could you go any faster? My boss has been unconscious all along.”

He said, “Faster? Sure! I’ve driven all my life but have never gone over 110 kph. For the sake of saving a life, I’ll risk it today. By the way, which hospital are you heading to?”

I asked, “Which is the nearest hospital?”

“The nearest? That would be Guangfu Hospital. Hold tight, young man, I’m about to fly!”

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The middle-aged man pushed his Santana to its limits, racing down the road. Half an hour later, we arrived at Guangfu Hospital.

I carried Hua Jingjing out of the car and thanked him again. The driver waved me off, saying, “Hurry up, no time to waste. I have things to do myself. Take care, and may your boss recover soon.”

Knowing further words were pointless, I bowed half-way to him while holding Hua Jingjing, then rushed toward the emergency room. The doctor took a quick look at her eyelids and measured her temperature by hand, then said, “The patient’s life is in danger. Prepare for resuscitation immediately! Are you the family member? Go pay five thousand yuan for emergency treatment first.”

Five thousand? Where was I supposed to get that kind of money in the middle of the night? I pleaded, “Doctor, we came in a hurry and didn’t bring much money. Could you treat her first? I’ll go get the money right away.”

“All right, but be quick.”

“Thank you! I’ll go immediately. Please, save her!” The doctor ignored me and several nurses hurriedly wheeled a stretcher into the emergency room.

I glanced at the glowing emergency light and ran out of the hospital. I knew my savings totaled about three thousand, still two thousand short. Only my mother could help. I took a taxi home, half an hour’s ride costing seventy-four yuan. Searching my pockets, I found only a few coins. I remembered that last night, after sending Manager Gu home, I’d given my last cash to the taxi driver.

I said to the driver, “Sorry, I have no cash. Could you wait a moment while I go inside and get it?”

The driver replied, “No way. What if you don’t come back?”

I thought for a moment and handed him my watch. “This is worth about a thousand yuan. Keep it as collateral. Wait for me a bit—I’ll need your ride back to the hospital. Is that okay?”

He examined the watch and agreed, “All right, I’ll wait.”

I dashed home and woke my mother. She groggily asked, “What are you doing? Either you don’t come home for two days and don’t call, or you show up in the middle of the night and wake me up. Can’t I get any sleep?”

Anxiously, I asked, “Mom, how much money do we have right now?”

She became alert, noticing my urgency. “What’s wrong? Is something happened?”

“No time to explain. I need money urgently. How much do you have?”

“You mean right now? There’s about five hundred at home, and more than four thousand in the passbook. Is that enough?”

“Is there an ATM card? Can I withdraw it at night?”

“No, only when the bank opens. Why do you need so much money?”

“Never mind, I’ll explain later. Give me the five hundred, I’ll figure out the rest.” I returned to my room, found my ICBC debit card, then went to the living room and dialed Zhao Yanjin’s home.

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Three minutes later, Zhao Yanjin’s sleepy voice came through the phone. “Hello? Who is it?”

“Zhao, it’s Tang Qian.”

“Tang? What’s up? Calling me at three in the morning.” He yawned loudly.

“Sorry, it’s urgent. Do you have two thousand yuan on you? I need it right away!”

“Two thousand? I think I do. What happened?”

“I’ll tell you later. I’m coming over now. Wait for me downstairs in ten minutes and lend me the money.”

“Okay, but are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Hanging up now, I’ll be there soon.” I put down the phone just as my mother handed me the money. My father and little sister, awakened by the commotion, came out to ask.

I took the money and said, “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I’m helping someone—I'll explain later. I have to go.” I waved, stepped to the door, remembered I was out of cigarettes, rushed back to my room for a pack, and hurried out.

Leaving the complex, I found the taxi driver had indeed waited for me. I got in and said, “Thanks, sir. First to Chaohua Community.” Ten minutes later, we arrived at Zhao Yanjin’s building. Sure enough, he stood shivering in his coat, waiting in the cold.

The car stopped in front of him. Zhao handed me a wad of cash and cursed, “Damn! I just treated you to dinner and now you’re getting back at me. I’m freezing to death out here.”

I rolled down the window, took the money, and said, “Thanks, Zhao!”

He laughed and scolded, “Get lost! We’re brothers—no need for thanks. If you’ve got business, go on. Don’t keep me from sleeping.” Knowing Zhao didn’t require formalities, I waved, then told the driver, “Find the nearest ICBC ATM—I need to withdraw some money.”

Over half an hour later, I returned to Guangfu Hospital. It was already four in the morning.

After paying the fare and about to get out, the driver called, “Hey! Your watch!”

I was so busy I’d forgotten. Thanking him, I retrieved it and rushed into the hospital. I paid the emergency fee, handed the receipt to the nurse, and hurried to the emergency room. Just as I arrived, the nurses were wheeling out Hua Jingjing, now on a drip.

I asked the doctor, “Doctor, how is she?”

He replied, “The fever is under control, now just over thirty-eight degrees. The patient suffered severe chills and is still unconscious, but fortunately hasn’t developed pneumonia. She’ll need hospitalization for a while—go handle the admission procedures.”

I said, “Thank you, doctor. One more thing—last night around seven, she accidentally took strong laxatives, which left her extremely weak and susceptible to the chill.”

The doctor said, “Ah, that explains the severe dehydration. I’ll prescribe more medicine. Go arrange her admission.”

Once everything was settled, I sat at Hua Jingjing’s bedside, utterly exhausted, both mentally and physically. Seeing her no longer flushed and trembling, and her life out of danger, I felt as if a huge stone had been lifted from my heart. Relief washed over me, and sleep became irresistible. Yawning deeply, I leaned against the bed and drifted into a deep sleep…