Chapter 462 - 253: Jiang Guoqiang in Grave Danger! Lu Fan Acts Swiftly

Chapter 462: Chapter 253: Jiang Guoqiang in Grave Danger! Lu Fan Acts Swiftly

Lu Fan dialed another number. It was for the "man on the ground" he had arranged for in Qingshan County.

Ever since Pan Lanfang’s incident last time, he had kept people stationed in both Qingshan Town and Qingshan County, just in case.

"Old Zhao, take some men to Qingshan County People’s Hospital immediately. There’s a patient named Jiang Guoqiang who was bitten by a snake. Once you get there, keep an eye on things. Handle whatever’s needed right away. Money is no object."

"Also, have someone find the snake in the fields quickly. It’ll help the doctors with their diagnosis."

"Understood, President Lu."

After hanging up, Lu Fan stood and paced around the room a couple of times, but he still felt uneasy.

「County Hospital Emergency Room.」

When Jiang Guoqiang was wheeled in, his right ankle was already swollen and purple. His lower leg had also swollen up, and while he was a bit dazed, he was still conscious.

The doctor took one look and said immediately, "A classic snakebite. There’s significant swelling and bruising. I suspect it’s venomous. Draw blood to check coagulation function now, and prepare the antivenom."

A nurse wheeled him off for tests, while Old Liu’s son ran back and forth, helping with the paperwork.

By the time Pan Lanfang arrived, Jiang Guoqiang was already lying in the emergency observation room. He was on an IV drip, and his face was sallow.

"Old man! Old man, how are you?" Pan Lanfang rushed over, grabbing Jiang Guoqiang’s hand as tears streamed down her face.

Jiang Guoqiang opened his eyes, glanced at her, and said in a weak voice, "What are you crying for? It’s not like I’m dying."

"Still acting tough when you’re in this state!" Pan Lanfang said, wiping her tears. "What were you even doing in the fields so early in the morning? Are we short on food at home or something?"

Jiang Guoqiang didn’t answer. He closed his eyes, his brow furrowed.

Jiang Ming was the second to arrive, breathless as he ran into the emergency room.

"Mom, how’s Dad?"

"We don’t know yet. The doctor said we have to wait for the test results." Pan Lanfang gripped her son’s hand as if he were her pillar of support.

Jiang Ming looked at Jiang Guoqiang’s ankle and sucked in a sharp breath.

"Where’s the doctor? I’ll go ask him."

Just as Jiang Ming was about to leave, the door to the emergency room was pushed open again.

A middle-aged man in a white coat walked in, followed by two nurses.

He glanced at Jiang Guoqiang’s medical chart and said to Jiang Ming, "Are you the patient’s family?"

"I’m his son."

"Regarding your father’s condition, our preliminary diagnosis is a bamboo pit viper bite. We’ve administered the antivenom, but he still needs to be monitored. His coagulation function is currently abnormal, so he may require further treatment."

"Rest assured, our hospital has already coordinated the best possible resources. Please let us know if you need anything."

Jiang Ming was taken aback for a moment. The doctor’s attitude was unusually solicitous.

"Thank you, Doctor. We appreciate it."

"It’s our duty. President Lu already made a call. You can relax." After speaking, the doctor gave a few more instructions to the nurses and left in a hurry.

Jiang Ming turned to Pan Lanfang. "Mom, did you call President Lu?"

Pan Lanfang lowered her head, wringing her hands. "I didn’t... Yixia must have called him, right?"

The words had barely left her mouth when Jiang Yixia pushed the door open and came in.

She was covered in sweat from running, and tear tracks still stained her face.

"Dad!" She rushed to the bedside. Seeing Jiang Guoqiang’s sallow face and his swollen, purple ankle, her tears began to flow again.

Jiang Guoqiang opened his eyes and looked at his daughter. The corners of his mouth twitched. "You’re here? It’s nothing serious. Don’t cry."

Jiang Yixia wiped her tears, took Jiang Guoqiang’s hand, and said nothing.

Jiang Ming walked over and asked quietly, "Sis, did you call President Lu?"

Jiang Yixia nodded.

Jiang Ming said no more, simply patting her on the shoulder.

Pan Lanfang stood to the side, looking from her daughter to her son. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing at all.

A short while later, the emergency room door was pushed open again.

A middle-aged man in a jacket walked in, carrying a fruit basket and a case of milk.

He walked to Jiang Guoqiang’s bedside, bent down to take a look, then said to Pan Lanfang, "Ma’am, President Lu sent me. You can just call me Old Zhao. President Lu is on his way; he asked me to come ahead and keep an eye on things. If you need anything, please tell me directly."

Pan Lanfang was taken aback for a second, then nodded repeatedly. "Thank you, thank you so much."

Old Zhao waved his hand dismissively and turned to find the doctor.

Jiang Guoqiang lay on the bed with his eyes closed, either asleep or unwilling to talk.

Jiang Yixia sat by the bed, holding her father’s hand, her eyes red.

Jiang Ming stood by the window, gazing outside, lost in thought.

Pan Lanfang sat in a corner, her hands pressed together, muttering prayers under her breath.

「Sometime after three in the afternoon, Lu Fan arrived.」

When he pushed the door open, the hospital room was quiet.

Jiang Guoqiang was asleep, the IV fluid falling drop by drop.

Pan Lanfang was dozing in a chair, Jiang Ming was scrolling through his phone by the bed, and Jiang Yixia had fallen asleep as well, slumped over the side of the bed.

Lu Fan walked in quietly, glanced at Jiang Yixia, then took off his jacket and draped it over her.

Jiang Ming looked up and saw Lu Fan. He froze for a second, then stood up and called out softly, "President Lu."

Lu Fan nodded, looked over at Jiang Guoqiang, and asked, "How is he?"

"The doctor said they’ve used the antivenom and his condition has stabilized, but he still needs to be observed," Jiang Ming replied.

Lu Fan nodded again, sat down next to Jiang Ming, and didn’t say anything more.

After ten or so minutes, Jiang Yixia woke up.

She shifted her shoulders, felt the jacket draped over them, and looked up to see Lu Fan sitting beside her.

She took off the jacket and handed it to him, her voice a little hoarse. "You’re here."

"Have you eaten?" Lu Fan asked softly, taking it from her and looking at her.

Jiang Yixia shook her head.

Lu Fan stood up and said to Jiang Ming, "You watch your dad. I’m taking your sister to get something to eat."