Hospital 444
Chapter 284 - 20: The New Patrol Captain

Chapter 284: Chapter 20: The New Patrol Captain

As he pondered these matters, suddenly, Dai Wei looked toward the door.

He discovered...

A crack had suddenly appeared in the door.

What was going on?

"Just now, the door should have been closed, right?"

Who opened the door?

Dai Wei started to feel nervous.

He walked step by step to the door and, through the crack, took a look outside.

But...

There was absolutely no one outside.

"Can it be? Isn’t there someone outside keeping watch over us?"

And the door wasn’t locked either?

Dai Wei vaguely felt that something wasn’t quite right.

He began to feel uneasy.

After all, he was well aware of the strange changes that had occurred in the village after Uncle Lei San’s incident.

He gently opened the door.

The corridor outside was so quiet at this moment that the sound of a needle falling to the floor could be heard clearly.

Beads of sweat gradually formed on Dai Wei’s forehead.

This...

For a moment, he was caught between whether to go forward or retreat, uncertain of what to do.

In the end, he didn’t dare to go out and just retreated, gently closing the door behind him.

This time, he secured the door and began to think.

He was the only one who had seen Lin Tai, a fact that was bound to make him the center of attention among the nine people. Under the threat of death, it was unlikely that the villagers could calmly think things through. If one had to be sacrificed, both he and Su Wenqing would become prime candidates.

"No, no... absolutely not..."

Dai Wei started to feel terrified. He had just celebrated his nineteenth birthday, he...

Under the grip of fear, he slowly walked to the bed, intending to wrap himself up tightly in the blanket.

After reaching his right hand into the blanket, he instead... grabbed hold of an icy cold hand!

...

When He Yun woke up, he noticed that the snowfall outside the window had gotten heavier.

He hated winter.

He always had, from the past to the present.

Yet another "unknown entity" had appeared in the village.

This situation was really disastrous.

"If only there was a way to contact the hospital..."

But evidently, that was unrealistic.

In this village sealed off by the mist, there was simply no way to get in touch with 666 Hospital.

He Yun put on his clothes and stepped out of the house, noticing that Su Wenxin was already awake.

Five years ago, she had cut ties with her family and moved into this derelict cottage near White Mist, living with him an actual married life. Of course, they had agreed not to have children, not to bring a child into this kind of environment.

"I’m still a bit worried about Wen Qing", said Su Wenxin at this time, "I must ask the village chief personally."

"You don’t have to worry too much. At Wen Qing’s age, even if he caught a viral cold, he would recover quickly," He Yun reassured her. "We’ll probably be drawn for patrol these next few days. After all, suddenly nine people are unable to participate in the draw, which greatly increases our chances of being selected."

"Hmm, that’s good, after all, only by participating in the patrols can we bring food back home."

Neither He Yun nor Su Wenxin were adept at farming, and the fields around them were barren. Therefore, the best way to obtain food was through patrols, asking for it from the temple.

Of course, it wasn’t that you could get as much food as you wrote down the day before. If the number written was too exaggerated, the actual amount received could be less than a tenth of that. The smaller the number, the closer the actual amount received would be to the requested number.

He Yun looked at his wife in front of him, his heart actually filled with guilt. After all, it was because of him that she had completely broken with her own family.

"These years have been hard on you, Wen Xin."

"As long as I’m with you, I don’t feel it’s hard."

Su Wenxin’s gaze was very determined: "Whatever I believe I should do, no matter the cost, I will do it, and I will never regret it."

In the ten years since, Su Wenxin’s character had never changed, not even a little, remaining exactly as when He Yun first met her.

Just as she said, she never regretted her decisions.

He Yun then said, "Don’t worry about Wen Qing’s affairs, let’s head to the square later. The morning lottery ritual is about to begin."

He Yun was actually very worried that either he or his wife would be selected. But there was no denying that the probability was really high.

Now, White Mist was likely already starting to spread into the village. Of course, this spreading was very slow, probably imperceptible to the naked eye on the first day, but as time passed, it would eventually be discovered. During this process, the risk of patrolling might be even greater than before.

Regardless, they needed to find a way to identify that extra "person" before it was too late.

Early in the morning, the square where the lottery ritual was held had already gathered quite a crowd. However, with the snow getting heavier, the crowd was obviously much smaller.

Everyone was very concerned about who would be chosen that evening.

Most people still did not wish to be selected. Although the overall risk of death from patrolling was small, it still existed.

Old Zhao was also wearing a thick fur coat, walking out. The coat was something his son had asked for from the temple after finishing his patrol.

He Yun and Su Wenqing, wearing masks, arrived at the square, and the villagers’ glances toward them were obviously cold, with some whispering to each other.

At that moment, He Yun suddenly saw Ge Niancheng.

Everyone knew these two were sworn enemies.

Ge Niancheng quickly approached He Yun and Su Wenxin.

In his eyes, the two were like Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian, and he only hated that he could not be like Wu Song to enact a bloody scene at Lion House Pavilion.

"I’m asking you," Ge Niancheng said coldly, "weren’t you supposed to be in home quarantine? What, you’re out and about already?"

He Yun had actually wanted to stay in too, to properly play the part of being quarantined, but he was afraid his wife would go looking for Su Wenqing, as Su Wenqing was very likely to be that "person." He did not want his wife to go anywhere near him, and had to use the excuse or attending the lottery ritual to take her out.

"I was just following the wishes of the village chief..."

"Don’t bring up my dad to pressure me!" Ge Niancheng raised his hand, pointing at He Yun’s face: "You’re alive today because my dad has been protecting you. You think just because you’re a doctor, our village can’t go on without you? I’m telling you, in my eyes, you’re a murderer! Li Sheng, he... died at the hands of trash like you!"

After that, his gaze shifted to Su Wenxin.

"The same goes for you. I thought, I, Li Sheng, and you, the three of us growing up together, I thought I understood you, but it turns out I never really saw through you."

"Ge Niancheng!" He Yun raised his voice, "You can say whatever you want about me, but you’re not allowed to speak about Wen Xin like that in front of me!"

"Did I speak wrongly? You’ve always been a disaster. The day after you came to our village ten years ago, our village was engulfed by this fog! You..."

Just then, Old Zhao’s voice spread out.

"Everyone, the lottery ritual is starting! Since Team Captain Li Jun is quarantined, today I have to draw for nine patrol members, including the captain. Once the members are selected, if they are not present, please inform them as soon as possible, and they should go to the temple in the afternoon to collect their bamboo poles and porcelain dolls and to write down the food and supplies they wish to ask for from the temple. Good, now I’m going to draw the first one. I hope everyone gives me some face and remains quiet during the drawing so as not to affect everyone listening to the results."

The lottery ritual began, and everyone held their breath in anticipation.

Ge Niancheng knew that Old Zhao’s words were meant for him.

He cast a resentful glance at He Yun and Su Wenxin, and moved to the side. Old Zhao was highly respected in the village, and even his own father acted as a junior in his presence. Old Zhao’s face was not an easy one to dismiss.

He Yun breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat grateful for Old Zhao’s intervention.

Thus, Old Zhao began the lottery process.

"First up is the captain... The captain is..."

The captain and team members were in two different lottery boxes, all of them experienced members.

Old Zhao took out a piece of paper from the lottery box, unfolded it, and announced, "For captain, Ge Niancheng!"