Sludge suction system

"When did this plague begin, sir? Could you tell me in detail?" Bai Pingping asked the old man impatiently, looking at the tragic state of the village, how exactly the plague had started.

The old man began to recount the course of the plague to Bai Pingping and Xia Mu.

Several months ago, a merchant arrived in this quiet village with a shipment of exotic spices and novel goods. The villagers enthusiastically gathered around, and during the transaction, their hands touched the goods, their breaths mingling, completely unaware that danger was lurking beneath the surface.

Initially, Old Zhang, a hunter from the west end of the village, was the first to show symptoms. He had returned from hunting in the mountains and had a brief conversation with the merchant and handled his goods along the way. A few days later, Old Zhang felt weak and thought it was just from exhaustion, but soon he developed a low-grade fever and chills, followed by a splitting headache, body aches, and his muscles felt like they were being stabbed by countless steel needles, causing him immense pain.

Old Zhang's family initially mistook it for ordinary typhoid fever and treated it with herbal remedies, but his condition worsened. While his family was caring for him, the virus spread through droplets and close contact. Old Zhang's wife and children subsequently contracted the disease and became bedridden due to weakness.

The village doctor arrived, but was helpless against the strange illness. As the number of patients increased, panic spread rapidly. The village chief realized the seriousness of the situation and began to organize the villagers to take some preventative measures. He arranged for a roadblock to be set up at the village entrance to prevent outsiders from entering. Although it was just a simple roadblock made of wood and rope, it served as a line of defense. The villagers covered their mouths and noses with cloths; although they were just ordinary coarse cloths, it was better than nothing. Everyone also tried to avoid gatherings, and carefully maintained social distance when fetching water. The once bustling well was now only frequented by a few people, who came and went in a hurry, fearing that even a moment's stay would be enough to catch the disease.

Children were confined to their homes, unable to play in the streets as before, and schools were closed. The market became deserted, goods scattered across the stalls, and vendors, preoccupied with worry for their own safety and that of their families, lost interest in business. However, these limited preventative measures proved insignificant in the face of the raging plague. More and more villagers fell ill, the shadow of death loomed over the entire village, and the former peace was replaced by despair. The source of the plague had long since vanished without a trace, leaving only this village, ravaged by disease, awaiting an unknown fate.

Witnessing the tragic scenes unfolding in the village, Bai Pingping knew in her heart that this plague was fierce and not to be underestimated. With a resolute determination in her eyes, she quickly began organizing epidemic prevention measures, leading everyone to fight against this merciless disease.

First, she arranged for the villagers to make a batch of simple masks using the available fabric. Although crude and rudimentary, these masks could still prevent droplet transmission to some extent. She personally demonstrated how to wear the masks correctly, ensuring that everyone knew how, and especially instructed those caring for patients to wear them at all times and not to neglect them.

Next, Bai Pingping divided the village into several areas, concentrating healthy villagers in a relatively safe upwind area, while sick villagers were placed in several empty houses downwind for isolation and treatment to avoid cross-infection. Each area was assigned a dedicated person to handle daily affairs and hygiene supervision, ensuring that villagers strictly adhered to epidemic prevention regulations.

In terms of disinfection, she directed the villagers to collect large quantities of mugwort and atractylodes, which were then burned in every corner of the village and inside and outside houses. The smoke from the burning herbs was used to purify the air and disperse germs. At the same time, she also led everyone to thoroughly disinfect houses, streets, wells, and other public areas with lime water, leaving no corner untouched that could harbor germs.

To ensure the villagers' food safety and nutritional needs, Bai Pingping organized strict management and purification of food and water sources. Food was uniformly cooked at high temperatures before being distributed, while drinking water was boiled and disinfected with appropriate amounts of herbs to enhance the villagers' immunity.

In addition, Bai Pingping set up a temporary "medical clinic" in the village, sorting and organizing the medicinal herbs she brought and those collected from the surrounding area. She prepared medicines according to the symptoms of different patients, treated sick villagers, and taught some capable villagers basic nursing skills so they could assist in caring for the sick and jointly fight against this terrible plague. Under her leadership, the villagers gradually recovered from their initial panic and despair, and worked together to fight this difficult epidemic, igniting a glimmer of hope for the village's revival.

Thanks to Bai Pingping and Xia Mu's tireless efforts in treating the disease day and night, the epidemic in the village was gradually brought under control. Those villagers who had been ravaged by the disease were now gradually recovering their vitality.

The villagers, after his recovery, were filled with gratitude towards him. Whenever Bai Pingping and Xia Mu walked through the streets, the villagers would put down their work and rush forward to greet them. Some elderly women, holding his hands, their eyes filled with tears, their lips trembling slightly, said in voices full of age yet brimming with respect, "Dr. Bai, we are so grateful to you! If it weren't for you, we would have been long gone. You are a living Bodhisattva sent by God to save us!" They then took out eggs they had saved for a long time and insisted on putting them in Dr. Bai's hands.

The strong young men stood aside, scratching their heads with shame and gratitude, and said, "Dr. Bai, we were afraid of this epidemic before and didn't dare to come forward to help, but you risked your life to save our whole village. If there's anything you need us to do in the future, just tell us, we'll do anything, even go through fire and water!" Their eyes were filled with determination and sincerity, as if they were making a vow to Bai Pingping.

The children gathered around Bai Pingping, no longer filled with fear and timidity as before. They looked at him with bright, curious, and respectful eyes, their little hands clutching his clothes tightly, saying in their childish voices, "Uncle, you're the most amazing person! When we grow up, we want to be like you, healing and saving lives." Their innocent words, like the warm spring sun, warmed Dr. Bai's heart.

Some villagers spontaneously brought their best food and finest fabrics to Doctor Bai's residence. Although these things were insignificant to wealthy families, they were filled with the villagers' most simple and sincere gratitude and respect. Thanks to Bai Pingping and Xia Mu's efforts, the entire village not only regained its former peace but was also filled with deep warmth and gratitude. His name took deep root in the villagers' hearts, becoming a symbol of protection and hope.

After a long day, Bai Pingping lay on the bed and excitedly called out to Xiao Zha, "Xiao Zha, I've saved so many people this time, how many points have I accumulated?"

"Host, you saved a village this time, achieving the feat of saving the plague village and successfully earning 40 points. That's really impressive!" Little Zha answered, jumping up and down beside him.

"That's wonderful! I've accumulated 40 points in one go, which means the day I can exchange for the peerless divine skill won't be far off, hahaha..." Bai Pingping said excitedly.

"Xia Mu and I have been exhausted these past few days. My poor little brother Xia Mu has been running around helping me. Without him, I wouldn't have been able to finish this task so quickly." Bai Pingping silently expressed her gratitude to Xia Mu in her heart.

"I wonder who I'll have to save next?" Bai Pingping was exhausted and drifted off to sleep.