The nearest hospital was the township health clinic.

It wasn’t too far from the dock, just over ten kilometers away.

Ten kilometers was manageable during the day, but it was treacherous in the middle of the night. Still, they had to get him to the hospital. Xia Xiaolan had the owner find a waterproof tarp to make a makeshift raincoat, covering Tang Hong’en while Wang and Li Dongliang took turns carrying him to the hospital.

“Xiaolan, what about us…”

“We’re going too!”

Xia Xiaolan felt it was better to go to the hospital than leave two women alone in an unfamiliar restaurant.

While the tarp wrapped around Tang Hong’en, the others traveled in the rain. Xia Xiaolan paid for their lodging and bought the owner’s only broken umbrella.

She gave the umbrella to Liu Fen while she jogged alongside them. Driver Wang was panting as he carried Tang Hong’en, either from urgency or exhaustion.

If not for Li Dongliang helping to take turns, it would have taken Wang forever to get Tang Hong’en to the hospital. Heaven took pity on them – the wind died down and the rain lightened. Liu Fen hadn’t expected their seaside trip to turn out like this, but she was naturally patient and kind-hearted – how else could she have handled Grandmother Yu’s temperament?

When traveling, one shouldn’t refuse to help even a stranger in need, let alone someone they know!

They jogged through the rain to the township clinic.

Tang Hong’en’s condition was serious – the doctor said his high fever was caused by acute pneumonia.

The fever was secondary; they needed to treat the pneumonia first.

Wang didn’t trust the small clinic and wanted to call for help, but the strong winds had damaged the phone lines.

“First get his fever down!”

It wasn’t even dawn yet – they had no choice but to treat Tang Hong’en at the small clinic for now.

Wang couldn’t abandon his leader. Xia Xiaolan asked Li Dongliang to help: “Brother Wang, who do you need to contact?”

Wang gave two phone numbers – one for the work unit and one for Tang Hong’en’s home.

“It’s fine if we can notify Uncle Tang’s family.”

“The leader doesn’t live with his family – there’s only a housekeeper who cooks.”

Who should they notify? Tang Hong’en’s secretary? No one at the work unit knew about this trip except Wang, and if Tang Hong’en were conscious, he probably wouldn’t want everyone to know. Xia Xiaolan sent Li Dongliang to find a working phone – if that failed, they’d need to find a car and personally seek help.

“But Miss Xia…”

Li Dongliang hesitated. Xia Xiaolan knew what he was thinking.

“This is a hospital – I won’t wander off. There’s no safety concern.”

Wang vouched for himself too, noting his presence. It was an unwritten rule that leaders’ drivers were skilled fighters. Wang didn’t look capable of fighting, but he couldn’t back down now.

Li Dongliang left to seek help.

After the hospital treated Tang Hong’en, they brought a heating stove for Xia Xiaolan’s group.

The patient hadn’t recovered, and these three had been in the rain – what if they fell ill too? Tang Hong’en had received an antipyretic injection and was on an IV drip, sleeping fitfully. He’d need food when he woke. Young Wang could barely take care of himself, let alone a patient.

Xia Xiaolan stood up, “I’ll borrow a pot from the clinic to make some porridge on the stove.”

Liu Fen went with her.

By daybreak, they wouldn’t need to worry – the township would have food vendors they could make do with.

Millet porridge was most nourishing, but Shenzhen didn’t commonly eat millet. The clinic usually prepared Chinese medicine decoctions. Xia Xiaolan bought a new clay pot and some rice. Wang watched the mother and daughter busying themselves, overwhelmed with gratitude.

Adversity reveals true friendship. With the leader suddenly ill, if they hadn’t met Xia Xiaolan, Wang would probably have had to beg for help when Tang Hong’en developed a fever at midnight.

Reveal Tang Hong’en’s identity?

The restaurant owner wouldn’t have believed them anyway. His cowardly behavior left Wang with a terrible impression.

The three gathered around the stove for warmth, with the clay pot simmering above.

The water boiled, bubbling away.

Tang Hong’en awoke to the fragrance of rice porridge.

He’d been semi-conscious, vaguely aware of his fever, his body burning uncomfortably, unable to open his mouth or eyelids that felt like lead weights. Even the strongest willpower couldn’t overcome physical reactions – he could only let them frantically take him to the hospital.

At such times, even the highest-ranking leader couldn’t control their situation.

Tang Hong’en knew Wang and Xia Xiaolan’s “bodyguard” had carried him to the hospital.

After the antipyretic injection and IV, Tang Hong’en felt slightly better and fell into a deep sleep. Though brief, his rest was comfortable. The porridge’s aroma wafted into his nose, making him reluctant to open his eyes.

The ward smelled of disinfectant, and the blanket was damp, but Tang Hong’en didn’t mind.

He’d experienced hardship before – he wasn’t that particular.

A figure approached, placing a bowl of porridge on the bedside table.

Tang Hong’en’s broken glasses and poor eyesight left everything blurry.

He knew it wasn’t Wang – the build was different.

Xia Xiaolan? No, she wasn’t this quiet or tall.

This person moved gently, carefully, small and thin – it was Xia Xiaolan’s mother.

“Elder Sister…”

Tang Hong’en hesitated – he usually called people “Comrade,” but seemed too formal when someone was tending his sickbed.

His sudden voice startled Liu Fen, who nearly spilled the porridge.

She was nervous around strangers, even more so with a high-ranking official!

Fortunately, working at Blue Phoenix for several months had improved her social skills. Besides, she couldn’t embarrass Xiaolan. Liu Fen tried to be gracious:

“Mr. Tang, Wang, and the others went to find a phone. Now that you’re awake, I’ll get the doctor.”

Liu Fen wasn’t sure how to address him, but “Mister” was always safe in the south – Xiaolan had taught her that. She thought she’d done well, but to Tang Hong’en she seemed awkward. At least among people he knew, no one would state their intentions and rush off without waiting for a response. Liu Fen ran to get the doctor before he could answer, though Tang Hong’en felt quite right.

He didn’t want to see the doctor now – he wanted to drink the perfect temperature porridge.

By the time Liu Fen returned with the doctor, Tang Hong’en’s patient sentimentality had vanished. Though his vision was blurry and he felt weak, he showed no panic.

The doctor said his fever would recur until the lung inflammation subsided.

Tang Hong’en didn’t look down on the small township clinic – he listened attentively. The doctor said he could eat something bland, like rice porridge:

“Comrade, your family is quite patient, carrying you to the hospital in the midnight rain, then buying a pot and borrowing rice to make porridge.”

After the doctor left, Tang Hong’en spoke toward where Liu Fen stood:

“Elder Sister, could you help me sit up and hand me the porridge bowl?”