Sludge suction system

Bai Pingping and Xia Mu saw the old man leaning against the big tree and hurried over. Bai Pingping first carefully poured some water from her water bag, gently helped the old man up, let him lean against her arm, and slowly fed him the water. The old man's chapped lips touched the water and he swallowed eagerly. After a few sips, he seemed to regain some of his strength.

Then, Bai Pingping began to examine the old man. She first carefully examined his complexion, her keen gaze sweeping over his sallow, ashen, and bloodless face. She noticed the slight sunken temples, his unfocused and weak eyes, and the dry, cracked lips with a faint bluish tinge around them. Next, she leaned forward slightly, bringing her ear close to the old man's mouth and nose, carefully listening to the sound and rhythm of his breathing, while simultaneously sniffing his exhaled breath, catching any unusual odor. She detected a putrid smell mixed in with his breath, and his breathing was weak and rapid, intermittent, occasionally punctuated by a few muffled coughs.

Then, Bai Pingping asked the old man softly yet clearly, "Grandpa, how long have you been sick? Do you have symptoms of chills and fever? Are your appetite and bowel movements normal?" As she asked, she focused intently on the old man's expression and reactions, not missing any subtle movements that might reveal his condition. The old man opened his mouth with difficulty and answered in a hoarse and weak voice, "Young lady, I think I've been sick for about seven or eight days. At first, I just felt weak all over, but these past few days I've become increasingly sensitive to cold. The fever isn't very noticeable, I have no appetite, my stomach feels bloated, and my bowel movements... are not very smooth." Bai Pingping listened attentively, nodding occasionally, memorizing these key pieces of information.

Finally, Bai Pingping extended her right hand, placing three fingers on the old man's thin, bony wrist with prominent veins, gently pressing and focusing on the pulse. Her fingers subtly adjusted the pressure and position according to the rise and fall of the pulse, sensing the minute changes in its rate, rhythm, strength, and flow. Her expression was focused, her brow furrowing and relaxing intermittently. After a moment, she slowly withdrew her fingers, having already formed a relatively clear diagnosis of the epidemic disease the old man was suffering from.

After a moment's thought, Bai Pingping took out a Baixiao Pill, which she had carefully prepared earlier, from her bosom. This Baixiao Pill was made from a variety of precious medicinal herbs, including Bai Niao Cao, through a complex process, and had the effect of detoxifying and dispelling evil. She gently fed the Baixiao Pill into the old man's mouth, watching him swallow it, hoping that this pill could stabilize the old man's condition and buy time and opportunities for subsequent treatment.

After taking the Hundred Elimination Pill, the old man first closed his eyes tightly, his face showing a painful expression. His chapped lips trembled slightly, and he made a few low gagging sounds in his throat, as if his body was instinctively resisting the effects of the pill.

But not long after, his complexion began to change subtly. A faint blush appeared on his previously sallow and ashen face, like a ray of light shining through the gloom. His breathing also gradually became more even; the previously rapid and weak panting was no longer so frequent and heavy, and the rise and fall of his chest also slowed down.

A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes. The previous cloudiness and unfocus in his gaze seemed to have faded somewhat, showing signs of clarity. His eyes revealed a hint of surprise at the changes in his body and gratitude for his savior. The trembling in his body also lessened, as if he had temporarily escaped from extreme weakness and gained a moment of peace. Although he was still weak, his spirit and energy had improved somewhat, and he was no longer the desperate figure completely consumed by illness.

"Thank you both for your kindness. I thought I was going to die soon, so I left home and came to this deep mountain forest. I didn't want to be a burden to my family. Thank you both for saving my life. Please accept my bow!" With that, the old man got up, knelt down, and kowtowed heavily.

"This is absolutely unacceptable, Grandpa! We were just doing a small favor, we can't accept such a generous gift!" Bai Pingping quickly helped the old man up.

"I just heard you say that you ran away from home and that you have an epidemic disease that is contagious. Does that mean that there are other people in your village who have the same disease as you?" Bai Pingping asked curiously.

"That's right. In our village, a plague suddenly broke out, and many people died because of it. I still have children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren at home. In order not to be a burden to them, I had no choice but to come to this desolate mountain wilderness alone, intending to die quietly. Who knew that I would meet you two kind people who saved my life? I am so grateful to you!" The old man's eyes were moist, and his voice was choked with emotion.

"Can you take me to your village? We're both doctors, maybe we can save the people in your village," Bai Pingping asked.

"That's wonderful! Our village is saved! Saved!" the old man exclaimed excitedly.

"Then quickly take us to your village!" Xia Mu chimed in.

Under the influence of the Bai Xiao Dan, the old man managed to stand up and, with a mix of anxiety and anticipation, led Bai Pingping and Xia Mu in a hurried rush toward the village.

As the village approached, an ominous, deathly atmosphere grew increasingly intense. The old locust tree at the village entrance, once lush and verdant, a symbol of the village's vitality and hope, now stood withered and bare, its dry branches stretching out as if silently recounting the village's suffering. The ground was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves and debris, left unswept, rustling in the breeze like a sigh of despair.

Stepping into the village, a pungent, putrid stench, mingled with a faint smell of blood and herbs, filled the air, making one want to vomit. The once orderly houses now appeared dilapidated, many doors half-open or ajar, some even teetering on the verge of collapse. Dark green moss and unknown vines crawled all over the walls, growing wildly in the deathly atmosphere, adding to the eeriness.

Walking along the narrow streets, one sees poultry and livestock lying dead everywhere, their bodies already rotting and emitting a foul stench, attracting swarms of buzzing flies, as if the messengers of death were having a party. Occasionally, a few stray dogs linger in the corners, their eyes gleaming with hunger and fear, their barks having lost their former vibrancy, becoming low and mournful.

Entering a room, the atmosphere was dark and damp, filled with the heavy smell of medicine and the stench of illness. Worn-out quilts and straw mats covered the earthen bed and the floor, where villagers lay or sat lifelessly. An old woman lay with her eyes tightly shut, her lips cracked and bleeding, her face etched with painful wrinkles. Her hands hung limply at her sides, her fingers slightly bent, as if grasping at the last vestige of hope, yet cruelly imprisoned by illness. Not far away, a young man huddled in a corner, his body trembling incessantly, his teeth chattering, cold sweat soaking his clothes. He would occasionally let out a weak groan, then fall into a deathly silence, his condition rapidly deteriorating, the light of life gradually fading. On the nearby table lay half-empty bowls of herbal medicine and some used herbal dregs, clearly the villagers' last struggle in their throes of illness.

In another house, the once vibrant vegetable garden was now overgrown with weeds, a few withered vegetables swaying in the wind. Inside, a child lay emaciated on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, eyes sunken, face pale, breathing so weak it was almost imperceptible. The child's mother lay motionless beside the bed, one hand still tightly holding the child's small hand, never letting go until death, as if trying to hold onto the child's fragile life with that last bit of warmth.

The entire village seemed to be completely shrouded in the shadow of death. The laughter and joy of the past were gone, leaving only this devastated and terminally ill state, waiting for Bai Pingping and Xia Mu to explore the cause of the disease, find a way to survive, and save these villagers who were struggling on the edge of life and death.