Jiang Fuyue: “Why?”
The person on the other end didn’t hide it: “After Schwanko in F-continent, a new virus has been discovered. You or Xie Dingyuan must go there.”
Xie Dingyuan chose to go to F-continent, so Jiang Fuyue had no choice but to go to the island alone.
She gritted her teeth: “F-continent… is it serious?”
The other side was silent for a few seconds: “…Not optimistic.”
That’s right, if it were easy, he wouldn’t have made the decision to take that mission without even discussing it with her.
Jiang Fuyue’s heart sank. “Tell him for me to pay attention to protection, and don’t forget he still owes me a wedding.”
A sigh from the old man came from the other end.
She no longer indulged in frustration and ended the call.
Now, what she and Xie Dingyuan could do was to complete the mission at all costs! That was the best answer to the country and to each other.
Believe in him!
Standing at the bow, Jiang Fuyue gave the order: “Full speed ahead.”
When the nation calls, we answer; when we fight, we win!
……
Duofu was an isolated island formed by volcanic eruption, only discovered thirty years ago. It lies too far from the mainland, remote and backward.
Although it falls under Min Province, due to the islanders’ strong xenophobia over the years, transportation development has stagnated.
At present, the only way to reach the island is by sea, from the Yellow Sea to the East China Sea, then through the Zhizhou Strait, with a voyage time of about six days.
When the five cargo ships reached Min Province, Jiang Fuyue went ashore once, mainly to meet the medical team that had previously been driven off the island.
From their descriptions, Jiang Fuyue gained a deeper understanding of the disease.
“At first, we suspected malaria, because patients showed periodic episodes of chills, fever, and sweating. After repeated attacks over a long period, it can cause anemia and splenomegaly.”
Jiang Fuyue: “But other infectious diseases also have similar symptoms. For example, schistosomiasis presents fever and enlargement of the liver and spleen, accompanied by diarrhea and bloody mucus stools. Amoebic liver abscess also shows irregular fever, obvious liver enlargement, and tenderness. Sepsis, too, chills, high fever, hepatosplenomegaly…”
“Yes, you’ve considered it very thoroughly. So to further determine the disease, we must conduct more examinations. But the island’s conditions are extremely poor, not to mention a proper hospital, there isn’t even the most basic medical equipment. In addition, the residents generally believe in superstition and refuse scientific treatment, so…”
At this point, the team leader who had been in charge couldn’t help but shake his head.
It was hard to imagine that in the 21st century, there was still a place like Duofu in China, so backward and closed off.
He and his colleagues had thought they had traveled back to ancient times when they saw the islanders rushing forward with sticks and shovels.
Jiang Fuyue: “You’ve worked hard.”
“Professor Jiang, you… are going to the island?!”
At the end of last year, after winning the Nobel Prize, Jiang Fuyue had been exceptionally appointed as a professor at Ming University, becoming the first student in history to be both an undergraduate and a professor at the same time.
Initially, the higher-ups had reservations.
Back when she won the Lasker Award, Xiao Shan had already planned this and even submitted an application, but it was considered too high-profile and might attract criticism, so it was delayed.
Later, no one expected Jiang Fuyue to win the Nobel outright. After that, no one could argue, even if they tried, a simple “Why don’t you win a Nobel first?” would silence them.
Higher authorities: “Approve! Approve immediately!”
Once approved, the news spread quickly. Q University and B University both extended invitations for her to serve as an honorary professor.
No need to teach classes or supervise graduate students, just occasionally give lectures and select a few promising students to join her research projects.
Jiang Fuyue did not refuse.
As Xie Dingyuan put it, when navigating the world, a prominent title can avoid many unnecessary troubles.
So now everyone addressed her as “Professor Jiang,” sometimes even unconsciously using honorifics.
Back to the present.
“Mm,” Jiang Fuyue nodded. “I’m leading the team.”
Hearing this, the man’s eyes lit up. He stood straight, feet together, body tense: “My name is Liu Weihua. Before retiring from the military, I was a military doctor. Now I’m an attending surgeon at Kecheng District People’s Hospital in Min Province. May I apply to join the team?”
Jiang Fuyue: “Are you sure?”
During their conversation, she could clearly sense that he wasn’t satisfied with the island’s conditions.
“If you need people, I’ll go. If you don’t, or if it’s not approved, I won’t go…”
He didn’t want to make things difficult for her.
“Alright. Pack up. Board the ship in five hours. I’ll report to higher authorities.”
“Yes!” The man saluted excitedly.
With Liu Weihua, Jiang Fuyue gained a clearer understanding of the island’s current situation.
For example, living standards, medical conditions, and customs.
Compared to the Duofu in Jiang Fuyue’s memory from twenty years ago, the island was still poor and backward, but at least self-sufficient. Surplus grain or livestock would be collected at fixed times and transported out by passing ships to be sold, in exchange for basic necessities.
Commerce had not developed at all. Most transactions were still in the primitive barter stage.
In terms of healthcare, islanders generally trusted witch doctors and traditional medicine, showing little interest in Western medicine.
As for education, most children had no schooling. Boys worked once they were old enough; girls were married off at a certain age.
Someone like Fan Ye, who could read, write, and even leave the island for competitions, relied entirely on having a father like Fan Sheng.
The three major clans did send some children outside for formal education, but only direct-line boys received such treatment.
Collateral branches and girls had no chance at all.
Liu Weihua: “…That’s about it. I didn’t stay long, so I only grasped the surface of many things.”
Jiang Fuyue: “You did well.”
Liu Weihua grinned: “Glad I could help!”
……
Before passing through the Zhizhou Strait, Jiang Fuyue ordered the ships to dock again and took over fifty people ashore.
Liu Weihua: “Professor Jiang, what is this for?”
“Not sure, but leaders always have their reasons. Better not guess.”
Liu Weihua thought about it. With nothing to do, he followed along to see if he could help.
To his surprise, Jiang Fuyue led dozens of people straight into… a shopping mall?!
Relying on its shipping advantages, the Zhizhou Strait area had recently been designated a free trade zone, enjoying tariff reductions. It was also called “China’s shopping paradise.”
Liu Weihua was stunned by Jiang Fuyue’s actions.
But he wasn’t foolish enough to think she was indulging in shopping before heading to the island.
A Nobel laureate, China’s youngest professor, a top expert in biomedicine, could her awareness be the same as an ordinary woman?
Even if she wanted to shop, she wouldn’t choose such a critical moment.
However, reality proved otherwise, she really was shopping.
Two hours later, fifty people carried boxes of goods out of the mall and transported them onto the ships.
The mall even arranged trucks to deliver goods directly to the dock and hired cranes for loading.
Liu Weihua was dumbfounded. He casually asked how much it cost.
The manager escorting the goods held up eight fingers.
“Eighty thousand?”
The manager turned away, unwilling to talk: “…Brother, just look at these goods. One box alone costs more than that!”
“Then… eight hundred thousand?”
“Add more.”
“N-no way… eight million?!”
The manager sighed: “Forget it, I’ll just tell you. Eight doesn’t mean the number, it means digits. Eight digits. Got it?”
Liu Weihua silently counted zeros on his fingers. Suddenly, his eyes widened.
Eight digits, over ten million?!
What did Professor Jiang even buy?
The manager shook his head: “Too much to list, basically everything.”
Liu Weihua muttered: “Did the government allocate that much funding?”
“Funding? What funding? That would go through official accounts, such a large amount is hard to process. Our mall usually doesn’t support that.”
“Then how was it paid?”
“From her personal account.”
Liu Weihua: “!”
Later he learned that among the five cargo ships, two had been empty, just for these supplies.
……
After nearly nine days of sailing (including two days docked), on the morning of January 13th, Jiang Fuyue and the team finally saw Duofu’s dock in the distance.
Fan Sheng had already received the news and was waiting with people at the dock.
Fan Ye craned her neck, pacing anxiously: “Dad, are you sure the maritime bureau said today?”
Fan Sheng glanced at her, amused: “Do you think the bureau got it wrong, or that I misheard?”
Fan Ye muttered: “They said seven, but it’s been almost an hour…”
“Be patient. There are many factors at sea. Delays of a few hours are normal.”
She quieted down, but soon started muttering again: “Why isn’t Sister Yue here yet?”
Fan Sheng shook his head.
Suddenly…
“Look! A ship!”
The man’s expression sharpened.
Fan Ye looked too…
At that moment, Jiang Fuyue stood in the main ship’s cockpit, holding a walkie-talkie. Her firm voice broadcast across all five ships,
“In five minutes, we will land. Carry your belongings and wear protective masks. If conflict occurs, protect yourselves first!”
At the dock, Fan Ye’s eyes lit up: “They’re here! About to dock! Uncle Cang, take people to receive them!”
“Got it!”
Fan Sheng stood in the wind, watching the ships approach, as if seeing faith and light descend once more.
Just like twenty years ago, when a woman named Lou Mingyue arrived without warning, bringing the seeds of civilization and changing his destiny.
He wondered, what should he say when he saw her?
Welcome back?
You finally came?
Or… I missed you?
Or ask why she never came back?
Yet when they truly faced each other…
Fan Sheng smiled: “Long time no see, Agata.”
Jiang Fuyue paused, then smiled.
“Long time no see, Little Sheng.”
After brief greetings, Jiang Fuyue organized the unloading.
But despite precautions, conflict still broke out.
Islanders armed with iron tools surrounded them.
“Who allowed you here?!”
“Leave the goods and go!”
“No outsiders allowed!”
The leader, a burly man, glared fiercely.
The team stopped, looking to Jiang Fuyue.
The man stared at her: “You’re the leader?”
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