Everyone stared at the "doctor" who was clearly the youngest person there, and for a moment, the air seemed to freeze.
Song Ning paid it no mind. Although she had said she would try, she showed not the slightest hesitation.
After putting on a mask and gloves, she stepped forward and took the forceps from Doctor Feng. Picking up another alcohol-soaked cotton ball, she began cleaning the blood around the patient's wound while telling the doctor assisting beside her, "Sorry for the trouble, but please prepare two more ampoules of lidocaine."
The doctor snapped out of his daze and glanced at Doctor Feng. Only after Doctor Feng nodded did he hurry off to prepare them.
The surrounding doctors and the soldiers standing nearby involuntarily held their breath, their eyes fixed on Song Ning's hands.
As the cotton ball wiped away the blood around the wound, Song Ning deftly and delicately inserted silver needles into the major acupuncture points on the patient's leg before fresh blood could well up.
She placed needles not only in his leg, but also in the back of his hand and even the sole of his foot.
Stopping bleeding through traditional Chinese medicine involved regulating blood circulation throughout the body.
There were practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine present as well. They understood the technique, yet still marveled silently at how boldly and decisively she placed her needles.
When the blood was cleaned from the wound again, everyone was astonished to find that the wound, which had been bleeding nonstop moments earlier, was slowly beginning to clot.
"It's working! The bleeding is starting to stop!"
Only then did Song Ning address the company commander reclining before her. "Comrade, we have to clean your wound thoroughly before stitching it. It's very deep, and the anesthetic can only do so much, so you'll still feel some pain. But I promise it'll be within what you can bear this time."
The company commander was pale, his hair soaked. Droplets slid down his temples, though it was hard to tell whether they were rainwater or sweat from the pain.
Song Ning stood beneath the light, her white coat half-soaked and spattered with mud. Her mask covered most of her face, but it was still obvious how young she was. Her eyes, however, were calm and confident.
He gave her a weak nod.
Song Ning then gestured to the doctor from earlier, pointing at the patient's leg. "Please inject the anesthetic here and here."
The doctor nodded and raised a sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead, looking a little nervous.
"I'll do it! Let me!" Doctor Feng stepped forward, took the syringe, and administered the anesthetic at the locations Song Ning indicated.
While they waited for the anesthetic to take effect, Song Ning picked up a small roll of clean gauze and held it to the company commander's mouth. "Bite down on this," she said softly.
The company commander turned his head slightly, apparently feeling it was unnecessary.
Without giving him a chance to object, Song Ning pushed the gauze into his mouth.
When she began cleaning the wound, the tearing sensation of flesh being scraped was indeed gone. But when the cotton ball touched the exposed flesh, he still couldn't help tensing all over and clenching his teeth around the gauze.
Just as she had said-it hurt, but it was pain he could bear.
He couldn't help feeling grateful to this young doctor. That small gesture had spared him from letting out another unbearable howl in front of his men.
She cleaned the fine sand and dirt from the wound, then stitched it closed.
Next, she set the bone, applied a splint, and wrapped it in bandages.
Song Ning handled everything herself in one seamless sequence, every movement precise and efficient.
"All done. Rest and let it heal, and you'll make a full recovery!"
Only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
Several soldiers carried the stretcher aside so the patient could receive an IV infusion.
Doctor Feng clasped Song Ning's hand and shook it excitedly, over and over. "Excellent! Just excellent! The younger generation is truly formidable! Now we've got someone on this team who can shoulder the responsibility!"
The doctor beside him remarked admiringly, "Traditional Chinese medicine really is profound! Song Ning, I didn't quite understand some of those acupuncture points you used on his hand..."
Several others gathered around at that, and Song Ning was about to explain when a few people hurried in through the door, interrupting her.
Leading them was Director Sun, who was responsible for coordinating the resettlement of disaster victims in Gao Ping.
He had also received the medical team upon their arrival and assigned them their duties.
Two men in military uniform followed behind him.
Spotting Doctor Feng, Director Sun called out before he had even reached him. "Doctor Feng! Thank you all for your hard work! We have an emergency and need your support!"
As he spoke, he turned to the soldier beside him. "Battalion Commander Zhao, please explain."
Battalion Commander Zhao first saluted everyone in the room, then began, "Here's the situation. Rockhorn Village, which originally suffered the least damage, was suddenly hit by a mudslide in the early hours of this morning. The roads have been washed out, so we can't evacuate the residents for now. But the injured urgently need treatment, and we need your medical team's support."
Director Sun added, "The First Medical Team is at the Geping Resettlement Site, and the medical team sent by the military district has been split up and deployed directly to the hardest-hit villages. You're the only ones who can cover Rockhorn Village now."
Doctor Feng quickly replied, "Understood, understood! If we're needed, we'll do everything we can to help!"
Battalion Commander Zhao continued, "With the roads cut off, reaching Rockhorn Village will mean several miles on mountain trails. Some stretches will require climbing over mountains or scaling rock faces with ropes. So please select the doctors with the best physical stamina. Two or three will be enough to handle the immediate emergency. Have them bring plenty of medicine. Our soldiers delivering supplies will take them along to Rockhorn Village."
Doctor Feng froze at that. He looked back at his motley crew, hastily assembled over just a day or two... To be honest, he still couldn't put names to some of their faces.
He hesitated only briefly before saying, "You all heard him. There's an emergency, and we need to step up. Leaving aside the team members who haven't returned yet, those of us here should volunteer!"
Although he was the team leader, he didn't know each member's circumstances well enough to make that decision for them rashly.
Then Doctor Feng turned to Director Sun. "Director Sun, put my name down first. My stamina is decent, and my medical skills... aren't bad either!"
But Battalion Commander Zhao immediately stopped him. "Forgive me for being blunt! These are exceptional circumstances, so our older comrades shouldn't go! Physical stamina takes priority over medical skill. Each of our soldiers will be carrying dozens of kilograms, and when the time comes... they may not have any strength left to help you!"
"Let me go!" Song Ning stepped forward. "I'm the youngest person here, and I've been climbing mountains since I was little. Stamina won't be a problem!"
"Then-then I'll go too!"
Someone stepped out from behind Song Ning and raised his hand. "Apart from Song Ning, I should be the youngest here."
Song Ning turned and saw Zheng Chang'an, who had been assigned to her group, wink at her, his face full of eagerness.
There was little debate. In the end, Song Ning, Zheng Chang'an, and a young man surnamed Wu were chosen to go.
The one thing all three had in common was their youth.
Battalion Commander Zhao checked his watch and instructed them to assemble at the designated location in twenty minutes.
Before leaving, he made a point of visiting the injured company commander. Patting him on the shoulder, he said, "Well done! Focus on recovering! I'll put you in for a commendation when we get back!"
Before you continue