Chapter 6: Quarantine

16 June, 18:00 to 23:00

16:15

The sun set and total darkness approached.

Qian Yun Kai was lying on the observation bed, unnaturally silent, with no response at all.

A group of doctors surrounded him, performing all kinds of examination.

Qian Yun Kai’s parents were stationed outside the door, pacing relentlessly, as if a they could bore a hole through the floor if they persisted.

Wang Cheng and the other five other Interpol officers were also going through various checks.

Six of them only had mild symptoms, except the oldest one, he had headache.

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“Mlyx Nlyela Eydt, ol osd’v ekl aktbv?” Dkys Swk qsanle bkxplzq vs pxkzl.

“Ebyv dsdpldpl!” Eydt Ubldt pxynjle bkp blye, “Psd’v vbkdj vss xwnb, ol byhl dsv ulv blyae sq rlsrzl eukdt. R’x pwal vblu okzz qkde y nywpl yde ol okzz yzz cl qkdl; yald’v ol yzz pvkzz yzkhl yde jknjkdt aktbv dso.”

“Ohld kq ol esd’v ekl, kv’p yzps hlau pnyau vs vaydpqsax vs psxlvbkdt pkxkzya vs vbl Nkw nswrzl- ol xktbv yp olzz ekl…” vbl xsal Dkys Swk vyzjle, vbl xsal osaakle bl clnyxl.

“Usxayel Twydt Swk, nyzx esod qkapv!”

Twydt Swk ytkvyvlezu pvsse wr, bkp qynl rykdvle nakxpsd, yde oyp ycswv vs bszzla cynj yv Eydt Ubldt.

“Mlyx Nlyela Eydt, xu blye bwavp y zsv! R nyd’v vyjl kv yduxsal!” Mbl lzelpv Rdvlarsz sqqknla pweeldzu nszzyrple sd vbl qzssa, clqsal aszzkdt yaswde yde bsozkdt kd rykd.

Eydt Ubldt vwadle ryzl, bl pbswvle qsa vbl esnvsa. Tl jdlo, yp Rdvlarsz sqqknlap, wdzlpp vbl rykd oyp plakswpzu wdclyayczl, dsv y pkdtzl sdl sq vblx oswze pbswv zkjl vbyv.

Eydt Swk pbwv bkp xswvb, vbl osaep vbyv eke dsv nsxl swv oyp poyzzsole cynj kdvs bkp pvsxynb. Ebyv oyp bl vbkdjkdt fwpv dso? Ebu eke bl oydv vs bwxkzkyvl Mlyx Nlyela Eydt, yde lhld bkv bkx? Eyp bl tskdt kdpydl?

The changes happening to the Interpol officers made the doctor even more clueless. What exactly is this virus, why is it so fierce? They were extremely helpless against this virus; they couldn’t even help to reduce the pain of the patient at this moment!

18:25

“We cannot continue like this; it is meaningless to hide.” Father Qian looked at his son who was still motionless, and stomped his leg. “We have past experience; we must not make the same mistake twice.”

Mummy Qian looked at her husband, her eyes red and swollen.

“No matter what, I will expose it- even if I lose my position.” Father Qian continued.

“Are you mad? Didn’t we not report the case to the upper management already?”

“Reporting is one thing, but if the upper management doesn’t look into it, and the city overlooks it, then there will not be enough medical resources to research and get rid of this new virus. Before the virus becomes even more wide spread, we must research for something that can control it!” Father Qian barked back with a burst of irritation.

“Please, calm down…”

“How can I calm down when our son, our Yun Kai, is still lying there? You see all those doctors, who could solve the problem? I cannot sit here and just wait for my son to lie there and die slowly; I have to think of something! I have to push for more doctors to work on this case. We must make it into a big issue, such that the upper management will have no choice but to face it!” Father Qian angrily bellowed.

Mummy Qian gave a cry, their only son, the son they were so proud of, their Yun Kai, who was so good in every aspect, had become like this. Even her husband, who was always cold and calm, had become this aggressive.

Just what was happening to this world?

Father Qian did not want to consider anymore and immediately whipped out his phone to start making arrangements.

18:30, Shan Nan Jia Wan

“So, this is your house?” Xue Li Hong changed into the indoor slippers and ran around the house, looking around curiously.

Xiao Mo let him venture.

In regards to the house design as well as the home decorations, he was quite proud of it.

This was a penthouse; hence the floor space was a little small Above the two-meter floor area, only fifty-two square meter was usable. Outside, the nineteen square meter huge balcony had a picturesque view- this was one of the main reasons why Xiao Mo was so willing to buy this penthouse.

Although the official space advertised was only a small fifty-two square meters, the actual floor area was around eighty-two square meters. Furthermore, after adding in the wide balcony, it summed up to an abundant one hundred square meters.

Xiao Mo had asked his friend who was working as an interior designer to reconstruct the whole place. He decided to utilize all possible space by removing both the main hall and the dining hall, keeping only the essential kitchen and toilet, hence freeing out plenty of space for two and a halve rooms.

Two and a halve rooms meant one big master bedroom and another small bedroom, plus another small room that was connected to the balcony. Once the balcony was enclosed and merged in with the small room, the half room plus the balcony became the living room and the study room.

The other side of the enclosed balcony even gave way for a laundry area. Behind the fifteen square meters was a retractable roof that was connected to the half room.

“Hm, the space utilisation is adequate, you can’t feel the smallness of the house at all.” The kid commented like an adult.

Xiao Mo smiled. The house was a little small, but he was alone; such space was sufficient for him. Even if he had a partner in the future, or even a child, it was still enough.

“You will stay in this room.” Xiao Mo pushed open the north- facing door; it was the small bedroom.

The was a sloping roof and a wide window. Xue Li Hong ran over and found out that he could open the window.

“You prepared this room for your child?” Xue Li Hong asked.

The room was very well equipped. It had a single bed, a wardrobe completed with a writing desk. Below the slanted roof, there was a row of ceiling to floor cabinet door; it was about one meter and there was flooring on it, so you could store things in it.

Xiao Mo chuckled, “I have a nephew, he comes over occasionally. This room was prepared for him.”

“If I stay here, then where will he stay?”

“Don’t worry, he only comes over once or twice a year, mostly around New Years or the school holidays. If he comes over, he can sleep with me. My bedroom is bigger so I can place another mattress on the floor for him.”

Xue Li Hong was very satisfied with this room. Even though it was a little childish, it respected his privacy. There was plenty of space too, especially since he was a child, there was much more space than an adult.

“Ah, I forgot something very important.” Xiao Mo smacked his head.

Xue Li Hong turned his head to face him.

“I forgot to buy clothes for you to change. My nephew didn’t leave any clothes here. Don’t tell me after you bathe you will wear the same dirty clothes. Let’s go downstairs to the supermarket to get you some underwear and pyjamas.”

Xue Li Hong didn’t object, he went downstairs along with Xiao Mo. The man treated him very well now, so he would work hard to repay his kindness later on, it was a win-win situation for the both of them.

Inside Xiao Mo’s heart, he was still very cautious of the kid, so he did not buy a lot. He only purchased two sets of clothes for him, one for washing and one for change, just nice.

“You really don’t want to consider stocking up more food?” Xue Li Hong reminded Xiao Mo again.

Xiao Mo hesitated, but still silently paid for the clothes. They walked out of the supermarket. Just as they were about to reach his home, he did not go up, but instead turned around and walked towards the carpark.

Xue Li Hong followed behind him step by step.

“I noticed that there wasn’t much vehicles on the road as we walked back.” Xiao Mo started.

“Oh.”

“And the hospital was full of patients… anyway, I intend to drive out to have a look. How about you, do you want to tag along?”

“Yes, sure.” Xue Li Hong climbed up onto the passenger seat swiftly.

Xiao Mo had planned for him to sit at the back seats, but seeing the kid consciously fasten his seat belt, he let him be.

But… Xiao Mo took a look at the kid. The kid sure knew how to fasten the seat belt. He was very skilful too. This must mean that he must have rode on a car very often.

When the car was about to reach the main gate of the area, the security guard ran out and stopped him.

“Is this brother Xiao? Sorry, the police have informed us not to let anyone drive out. If you really need to go out, you can head to the police post to send a request.” The security guard recognized Xiao Mo’s car and his car plate number, so he kindly walked over to explain.

“I’m not going somewhere far, only to the supermarket to buy some stuff and I can’t bring them by hand. You see, I have a kid with me now, so I need to stock up some food and drinks.”

“Then you must not go somewhere far.” Warned the security guard. When the police officer came over to inform the security guard, he only mumbled to him unclearly. Hence, the security guard, not knowing the gravity of the situation, let Xiao Mo off after a mere warning.

Xiao Mo drove out and turned the car around, heading to Ning Gu Avenue.

As expected, along the way, the street lights were very bright, but there were only but a few cars, and those cars were all coming back from nearby.

That was until he was around ten kilometres away, he saw a bright spotlight far away at the opposite of the road. There were a few car lights too, as well as the irritating noise of impatient honking from the drivers.

Even before reaching the cordon line, there was a traffic police signalling to Xiao Mo, asking him to stop.

Xiao Mo slowly pulled the car to a stop.

A traffic police officer stood outside the car and saluted to him, before asking him to slide down the car window.

Xiao Mo adjusted the car window, “Hello officer, how are you? What is happening in front? Why are we not allowed to go forward?”

“I am sorry, within this area, all residents will need to cooperate and get a medical examination done. Meanwhile, you are not allowed to leave your residential area.”

“What medical examination is it? Why are we not able to leave?” Xiao Mo started to panic.

“My apologies, for the details, you can consult with the police or the residential community members around your area, they can give you a clearer picture. Can you please turn back and return to your area of residence? Or else, I will have to invite you to the temporary shelter to stay until the mass medical check is completed.”

“What nonsense!” Xiao Mo did not believe the mass health check excuse at all. Something very serious must have had happened somehow, or else, why was there an isolation belt in a zone of almost ten meters?

Glancing at the opposite road, there were a lot of cars stuck on the road, unable to move forward at all and refusing to leave. Some drivers even came down from their car and started negotiating with the police officers, hoping to go home soon.

Xiao Mo even heard some conflict and scolding as some people started pushing and shuffling around.

“My house is at the center of the city, if you ask me to turn back, where do I turn back to? I also have a child with me here, are you asking us to sleep in the car?” Xiao Mo tried to reason with the officer.

“I am very sorry, if there is a need, you can stay in the temporary shelters provided by the government.” It was as if the officer had repeated this line an ample number of times. Even if he saw the kid in the car, his expression did not change a single bit.

“And if I refuse?”

“Then we will have to apply force to execute the order.” Two more police officers appeared behind the traffic police officer.

Xiao Mo had achieved his objective of gathering more information, so he promptly closed the window and drove off.

The police officer stared at the car that drove off. He then took out his walkie talkie and reported the car plate to the other closure stations.

Xiao Mo did not go home. Instead, he changed his course and turned on another highway which led to the central city.

This time, not more than ten meters, he was stopped at the entrance to the expressway.

Xiao Mo did not continue to try the rest of the roads leading out. Instead, he sped his car towards the nearest ‘Lian Gou Le’ supermarket.

On the way there, he dialled his family.

“Sister-in-law, it’s me. My area is currently closed and under quarantine, how’s your side?”

“Quarantine? Our side is alright, and there are no problems. Xiao Mo, why is there a quarantine? Is there something wrong?” His sister-in-law, Deng An Jie sounded worried.

Xiao Mo consoled her, “Don’t worry, nothing is wrong, they just said that it’s a mass health check. It’ll last for a few days; everything should be ok by then.”

“Are you able to buy things conveniently? Tomorrow I will send some food and other essential items for you.”

Xiao Mo chuckled. “Sister-in-law, don’t bother. The supermarkets are still operating, I don’t lack food. Even if you tried to enter, they won’t let you cross.”

“That serious? Are they trying to catch a criminal again? Just like last year?”

“Perhaps.” Seemed like his sister-in-law had the same thought.

“Then you have to be more careful, don’t go out for nothing. If you go out, you must make sure you look around and be careful, ok?”

“Don’t worry, I will stay at home and not go out until the quarantine ends.”

“Good.” Deng An Jie sighed in relief, before continuing, “If you need any help, you have to let us know.”

“Ok, I know, sister-in-law.” Xiao Mo respected his sister-in-law very much. Such a benevolent personality was very rare these days. Even is she had married his elder brother, she still treated everyone like her own family members- a good woman that protected the family like her own.

There was an old saying, that an elder sister-in-law was like a mother. In their home, it was neither mother nor father, not even elder brother, that had the final say. Most of the time, it was sister-in-law that decided on most matters. Even the two younger ones were cared for by sister-in-law.

Ever since his own mother passed away, Deng An Jie had become someone like his mother, even though she was only four years older than Xiao Mo.

That was why the Xiao family was considered to have a very weird dynamic. In the family, the two younger brothers were closer to their sister-in-law, even closer than their own elder brother. If the couple ever quarrelled, the two younger brothers would unquestioningly stand on the side of their sister-in-law.

Before hanging up the call, Xiao Mo reminded her: “Sis, remember to stock up more food and water. Prepare as much as possible, especially those with long shelf lives, like crackers, canned food, instant noodles. As for Xiao Dou, don’t let him go out if there’s nothing pressing.”

Deng An Jie became apprehensive, she asked Xiao Mo, but he was unable to explain. He just pleaded her to prepare, better to be safe than sorry.

Deng An Jie was still doubtful, her stomach full of unanswered questions, but she still agreed nevertheless.

Xiao Mo also called his younger brother, telling him to stock up more food and drinkable water. When his younger brother asked him what had happened and for what, he told him that he suspected that there was a massive spread of an infectious disease.

Compared to Deng An Jie who was daintier, his younger brother was very callous and insensitive. If you did not sound serious, he would never have taken you seriously.

“Remember, don’t take my words so casually!”

“Okay, bro, you are so naggy! I am attacking the castle with my teammates right now ah! Who is this xxx! He dares sneak attack me from behind? Let me hit you back with my shadowless leg! Brother, let’s hang up now!”

Xiao Mo glared at his phone and stayed motionless for three seconds. This younger brother of his, already thirty but still so naïve.

“You and your family have such a close relationship.” Xue Li Hong’s face was hidden behind the shadow; his voice sounded a little erratic.

“Yes, we are indeed very tight knitted, all three brothers in this family.” Xiao Mo put down his phone. Because they had a very good relationship, that was why he could not…

 Thinking of Deng An Jie, Xiao Mo’s heart felt a little constricted. He knew her first, yet, she became his elder brother’s wife, becoming his sister-in-law.

“Are your father and mother still around?”

Xiao Mo hesitated, before replying, “My mother passed away two years ago. My father is still around, and they used to stay with me. But now my father is staying in the same area as my brother.”

“Do you have a girlfriend right now?”

Xiao Mo snickered, “Little kids shouldn’t ask this kind of questions.”

Xue Li Hong shrugged.

When the two of them finally reached the supermarket, Xiao Mo realised that the supermarket was more crowded than usual.

It seemed like those who were stuck in the jam had called their family and friends. Even if the reason was still unknown, once it involved a quarantine, everyone panicked and thought of stocking up consumables. It was human instinct to do so.

It also looked like the supermarket received some news. It was obvious that there had been a rise in the price of food items like rice and oil.

Even so, while the customers complained and criticized the supermarket for being unscrupulous, their hands were not slow at all. Without hesitation, they swept the overpriced rice and oil into their carts.

As the sky became darker, the customers in the supermarket did not decrease. Instead, it became more cramped.

Xiao Mo sped up his motions and managed to grapple a fifty kilo bag of rice, three bags of twenty kilo flour, as well as other essential spices and cooking oil.

“Water, crackers, canned food. Take more of the food that are easy to store, it’s best if you can take more yellow beans and green beans- if there’s a lack of vegetables, we can use them to grow bean sprouts. I’ll help you guard this trolley; you go grab another trolley.” Xue Li Hong reminded him.

Xiao Mo reasoned, these items wouldn’t go bad so easily, hence he went ahead with Xue Li Hong’s idea and seized another shopping cart.

Along the way, he got several bags of green and yellow beans as advised. He also fought for some biscuits, waffles, eight-grained porridges, dried beef, pork floss, canned fish, Chinese sausages, milk powder, chocolate, milk candies and several packs of mineral water. He even managed to snatch two cartons of instant noodles. All of these food items, he would usually only consume once in a blue moon, were now extremely precious to him.

When they were queuing to foot the bill, the supermarket was already jam-packed with people.

It was already 19:40 at night by then.

The two queued for a long time before they managed to finish settling the payment. As they walked out, Xiao Mo witnessed more people rushing towards the supermarket.

Seeing that it was already quite late, and Xiao Mo was too lazy to cook, they proceeded to the first level of the mall. They had a fried chicken fast food chain, so they packed a lot of fried chicken, hamburgers, and French fries. He even bought a milkshake for the boy, seeing that it was his favourite.

While driving back to Shan Nan Jia Wan, they passed by the guard post. The security there stopped them and praised him with gratitude.

“Brother Xiao, you really are the one with foresight. Just a while ago, my colleague called from the supermarket, it was totally jam-packed. Most of the stock were gone, especially food like rice and instant noodles- all were sold out. Luckily you reminded me, so I went there to buy some during my rest period. Or else there wouldn’t have been anything left for me.”

Xiao Mo lifted the corners of his mouth. He wondered if he should ask him more about the quarantine and isolation status, but as soon as the words formed in his mouth, he swallowed it back in. If even the local police were unsure of the situation, it need not be said that the security guard had any clue on it.

By the time Xiao Mo managed to move everything upstairs, it was pass eight.

He urged the kid to wash up and prepare for bed and taught him how to use the showering functions. Just as he asked if the kid needed any help bathing, but the kid immediately chased him out of the room.

Xiao Mo unconsciously smirked. He went out and turned on the air conditioning before laying out the feast they bought from before, patiently waiting for him to come out and have dinner together.

Outside the quarantine belt.

There was a crowd just outside, wanting to go home and refusing to stay at the temporary shelters erected. They gathered around the outskirts of the quarantine zone, getting bigger and bigger by the minute.

The police kept asking for re-enforcement, in order to have more officers on hand to control the situation.

“Just what exactly is happening?”

“Yeah! Don’t try to lie to us. What kind of mass health examination requires a quarantine? Tell us the truth! My child is currently alone at home!” the man anxiously shouted; he was so worried that his eyes had turned bloodshot.

“Are you trying to catch an escaped criminal? Or is there an outbreak of an infectious disease? We want an answer!” the public clogged outside the zone became even more distressed.

“Silence please! Everyone please keep quiet!” someone held up a loudspeaker. “I am Doctor Wang from the Institute for Infectious Diseases, and I will now tell you the truth. Currently, there is a new type of flu virus which is very infectious and had broken out at Xin Xin Jia Wan. In order to prevent the spread of this virus, as well as for the health and safety of the public, we have to temporarily quarantine this region! Please understand and cooperate with us.”

All the shouting and yelling suddenly ceased; everyone went silent from the shock.

Doctor Wang continued, shouting into the loudspeaker, “We are not stopping you from going home. But this is for everyone’s sake. If you go back, there is a high chance that you will be infected with the virus.”

“Will you die from getting this new flu virus?”

“Right! There have been all kinds of flu virus before, but never have such a large quarantine been done!”

Doctor Wang started to feeling fidgety and uneasy, he could not seem to suppress his anxiety no matter what he tried.

“Whether his virus will cause deaths or not, it is too soon to conclude. So far, the only known symptom is fainting, as well as uncontrollable coughing of blood. Other suspected symptoms include diarrhea, heart cramps and headache. Shit! If you don’t wish to die, just stay far away from the quarantine area!”

Doctor Wang’s sudden burst of vulgarity stunned everyone at the scene.

His speech seemed have some effect in the crowd. The people who were previously yelling to go back home or trying to drive through this route, slowly backed off. No matter what, their lives were still the number one priority.

Only a spare few of them who had children or elderly at home were unwilling to leave. They had to sign a guarantee stating that they would be responsible of their own consequence. Only then, were they given permission to enter the quarantine zone.

All eleven entrances into the quarantined areas had doctors from the Institute of Infectious Diseases informing the public of the news of the new strain of virus.

Whether the news was spread by force or voluntarily, everyone in the city became aware of it.

Zhong Shan City was infected by a new strain of flu virus, and the city’s Institute of Infectious Diseases was forced to cordon off a ten-meter isolation belt between the city and the rest of the world. When the first person uploaded the news onto the internet, it spread through uncontrollably throughout the country, just like a wild fire.

By Nine ‘o’clock that very night, the Chong Shan City local news reported on the virus. Doctor Qian, the leader of the Institute of Infectious Diseases showed up and personally gave a detailed report on how harmful and unpredictable the virus was. They had no choice, but to quarantine everything within the ten-meter radius from the center of the epidemic. She also called for all the doctors and researchers in the country, to hurry to Chong Shan City. To use the whole country’s power and resources, at the fastest possible pace to come up with an antidote that can fight against this virus or ways of treating it.

Both Xiao Mo and Xue Li Hong saw the news report.

Unlike Xiao Mo who was visibly distressed, Xue Li Hong seemed to be deep in thought.

As Xiao Mo continued watching the television, he had a feeling that he seemed to have forgotten something very important. However, no matter how much he thought, he just seemed to recall it.