Chapter 105: Playing Semantic Games Is Futile; Once Trust Is Gone, I Will Not Be Forgiving

Bai Weishuang soon learned what it felt like to be sharply rebuked by Kuang Kuang after trying to evoke others’ sympathy. Since she was currently the only one skilled in medicine, no one had dared to speak too harshly.

She also knew that Jiang Huan had already sensed her intentions, so in the following days, she kept a low profile and often helped others with their work. Perhaps the dual advantage of being both vulnerable and the sole doctor made people speak less about Bai Weishuang. Just when she thought the matter would gradually fade away, Jiang Huan arrived leading a family of four.

The four of them appeared in good spirits—at least compared to ordinary survivors, though they couldn’t quite match those sheltered in the air-raid bunker.

“Who are these people?” someone asked.

Jiang Huan smiled as he introduced, “This is Mr. Wang, Mrs. Wang, their elder, Grandma Wang, and their child, Wang Xinyi. Mr. Wang is a surgeon; Mrs. Wang was about to be promoted to associate chief orthopedic physician before the apocalypse. Although their child is only thirteen, she already has extensive practical experience in medical work. As for Grandma Wang, she comes from a family with a heritage in midwifery. It took me quite some effort to find such a complete medical family. From now on, they will join us and become part of our group.”

“Wow, she looks no older than forty, and she’s a female doctor who could become associate chief physician. She was truly an exceptional talent before the apocalypse, and her husband is a surgeon as well. Together, they could have built a prosperous family clinic,” someone remarked.

“And their child looks barely ten, yet already has experience in this field,” another added.

Grandma Wang chuckled, “My girl said when she was eleven that she wanted to write and learn from experienced seniors. She started with historical periods, but then the reference book—the Barefoot Doctor’s Manual—caught her interest. She became more and more absorbed, even voluntarily studying other common cases and treatments. Every holiday, we took her to volunteer clinics. Her skills now rival those of specialized nurses.”

Someone chimed in, “I also write about historical periods—the trilogy and even the militia manual. Luckily, the young lady didn’t develop an interest in that first, or else she’d be making weapons and training troops by now.”

Laughter filled the group warmly; the atmosphere was far from tense.

Only Bai Weishuang, standing in the corner, felt utterly panicked.

The four newcomers were assigned two rooms—quite a generous arrangement. This left only one spare room vacant. Upon learning this, the four thanked Jiang Huan sincerely.

Although the child, Monkey, had vouched for them and Jiang Huan had demonstrated his strength in front of them, the genuine offer of comfortable living conditions deserved gratitude.

After all, before entering, they had already received three backpacks of supplies from Jiang Huan.

Indeed, aside from the bedding and meager daily necessities they carried, the rest were benefits Jiang Huan had prepared in advance, successfully securing the entry of the family of four.

With their arrival, the bunker’s doctors were on duty almost all day, now rotating shifts among five people, including night shifts. Everyone could clearly feel the strength of an associate chief physician and a surgical specialist. People became more diligent in seeking medical care.

Bai Weishuang, having lost her unique halo, saw her already precarious credibility vanish completely.

Jiang Huan did not speak of expelling her, but Bai Weishuang could no longer bear it.

She approached Jiang Huan, insisting that her actions were for the safety of more people and that she had done nothing wrong—merely sharing others’ life experiences.

“Don’t make traitorous acts sound so righteous. I’ve never donated supplies to the base or supported it. Have I recklessly endangered lives or harmed survivors to deserve this treatment? Do you think our bunker lives in luxury? You’ve worked alongside us; don’t you know how we painstakingly gathered every single item?” she argued.

Jiang Huan coldly exposed her, “Regardless of what benefits you think you gain from this, or if you seek some spiritual satisfaction, I don’t like it and won’t allow you to exploit the people around me. If you leave now, you might still leave a decent impression; at worst, people will say you’re just overly kind. But if you stay to cause trouble, I guarantee you won’t succeed. Why bother?”

Bai Weishuang took a deep breath, then another.

But Jiang Huan’s words were so straightforward and thorough that no excuse or reason could counter them.

Resigned, she adjusted her mindset and said she would pack up and leave. “You’re not going to control what I take with me, are you?”

“Of course,” Jiang Huan replied firmly. “Since trust is gone, why would I be generous and let you take whatever you want from the base? You may take your clothes and some food, but nothing else.”

Bai Weishuang choked.

She had hoped to take the walkie-talkie Jiang Xi had dismantled and assembled, along with some medicines—anything to prove her worth for failing her tasks.

She never expected Jiang Huan to be so stingy.

Bai Weishuang left with the supplies permitted by Jiang Huan, many standing at the doorway watching her depart. She glanced back several times but found herself unable to read their expressions or faces clearly.

Her departure brought no negative impact to the bunker; instead, the incitement and agitation diminished, allowing everyone to live peacefully and steadily.

Finally, after harvesting all the mature crops, a change began.

About two hours after everyone had fallen asleep, someone suddenly cried out in alarm, followed by a scream.

Jiang Huan opened his eyes to see a daylight-bright flash outside the door. He grabbed his goggles and put them on his brother’s eyes as well. Hearing footsteps outside, he rushed out.

The two on duty that night lay on the ground, and the white light outside the entrance had yet to dissipate.

“Quick, help! Where’s Doctor Wang? Come save them! Their eyes are bleeding!” someone shouted.

The Wang family sprang into action, diligently treating the two patients lying on the ground.

“The strong light stimulus—at this level, simply put, it would take staring at the sun for five minutes to cause this,” Jiang Huan explained. It was a difficult case; full recovery was impossible.

Before the apocalypse, there had been one expert skilled in such surgeries, but he had been betrayed by a treacherous scoundrel.

Moreover, setting aside technical skill, the current medical conditions could not support eye surgery.

“Do your best to treat them. Whatever you need, we can find, borrow, or trade for. Give it your all. At the very least, they must be able to see and care for themselves. I’ll pay the treatment costs since the incident happened while on duty outside,” Jiang Huan said, showing a willingness to spare no expense.

The two injured lying on the ground howled less frantically than before.

Jiang Huan was not one to speak in empty official terms or make hollow promises; when he said he would take responsibility, he meant it.

After the two patients with eye injuries were moved to temporary beds, everyone finally asked what had happened.

(End of chapter)