Chapter 245: Anti-epidemic and the Xu family's wishful thinking
1963 1 Month 20 Day.

Sunday.

We just celebrated the Little New Year the day before yesterday, and now there are only a few days left until the Spring Festival.

evening.

It was already dark when Wang Mengde returned to Nanluoguxiang, taking one step at a time.

When they got home, Ran Xiaomei asked with concern: "Meng De, why did you come back so late?"

Early this morning, she asked her son to take New Year's goods back to Tiangezhuang.

According to past experience, we would be back in the afternoon.

Unexpectedly, it was so late this time. It was already dark. She just looked at her watch and found that it was almost eight o'clock.

"Have you eaten? There's food warming up on the stove for you."

"Mom, I've already eaten. No need to bother."

Wang Mengde entered the house, put down the package in his hand, and explained:
“Today I arrived at my grandfather’s house, originally planning to come back after lunch.

Who knew that in Shahe Commune, many children were infected with meningitis, and even in Tiangezhuang, two were infected.

I had no choice but to stay there and treat these infected children until around six o'clock, when the treatment was temporarily over."

In the morning, when he arrived at Tiangezhuang, the production team leader came to his door.

After prescribing medicine for the two patients in the village and treating them with acupuncture and massage.

Soon after, the leaders of the commune also came to Lao Wang's home and persuaded him to go to the commune's health center to guide local doctors in treating influenza.

Unable to refuse such a kind invitation, Wang Mengde had no choice but to go to the health center.

When he arrived at the hospital, he was surrounded by medical staff.

Throughout the whole day, he treated meningitis patients while explaining things to everyone.

If it wasn't already late and there were no patients in the hospital, no one would have wanted him to come back.

"What's the situation over there? Didn't they say that the vaccine has been developed and has started to be administered to children?"

Ran Xiaomei asked in confusion.

More than a month ago, under the guidance of Wang Mengde, the Beijing Institute of Genetics finally developed a meningococcal vaccine.

At that time, the epidemic of meningococcal meningitis was extremely urgent. It not only spread to the capital, but also to some surrounding cities, where cases were gradually discovered.

It even spread to Shandong Province.

The vaccine has been developed, but because there has been no time for clinical trials, we don’t know whether it is effective or has side effects.

Therefore, all employees of the Beijing Gene Research Institute, under the leadership of the institute's leaders, took the lead in vaccinating their own children.

Using one's own children for experiments is a common phenomenon in this day and age.

Of course, among these people, only Wang Mengde knew that this vaccine had withstood decades of tests in previous lives and was a very safe vaccine.

Otherwise, he would not have made up his mind to vaccinate his own children first.

After dozens of children were vaccinated, no abnormalities were found, and the superiors decisively issued orders to start producing vaccines.

Then, large-scale production was carried out using gene editing technology.

“Mom, the vaccine has been developed, but it takes time to produce, and there are so many people who need to be vaccinated, it can’t be completed in a day or two.

The situation in Shahe Commune was relatively good. Their health center and the clinics of each production team had received manuals on the prevention and treatment of meningococcal meningitis.

If a case is found, just follow the above instructions for treatment and handling. "

Wang Mengde said patiently.

Not to mention the whole country, even Beijing has a population of four to five million. It will take time to vaccinate all of these people.

Fortunately, people in rural areas don’t travel very frequently these days. In many villages, there may not be one person traveling far away for several days.

This also facilitates the implementation of prevention and control measures.

Otherwise, if the population movement is frequent like in the previous life, it would be troublesome.

"For meningococcal disease, prevention and treatment are the main focus at present. Vaccines are a long-term measure, but they also have some effect in the short term."

On the side, Wang Hao said:
"By the way, Meng De, the manual on the prevention and treatment of meningococcal meningitis published by your institute, the Children's Hospital, and the Health and Epidemic Prevention Station is really a good thing.

Our hospital has also received it. The content on the prevention and treatment of meningococcal meningitis is very comprehensive and effective.

In particular, some of the syndrome differentiation and treatment theories in it completely cover all stages of the development of meningococcal disease and also provide detailed drug treatment plans.

Not only that, there are even acupuncture, acupoint application therapy, moxibustion, and massage as auxiliary treatments. "

Although this manual on the prevention and treatment of meningococcal disease has been published for several days, Wang Hao couldn't help but praise it when he mentioned it.

The content inside is really too comprehensive.

Basically all developments of meningococcal disease are included.

Medical staff who know a little bit can treat patients according to the above content.

Of course, the relevant prevention knowledge is only mentioned briefly, because medical staff already have this knowledge.

"Dad, acupuncture, massage and acupoint plastering are all for patients with serious illnesses who will have sequelae in the later stages. These methods can relax muscles and tendons, activate collaterals, and promote qi circulation and resolve stagnation."

Wang Mengde gave a brief explanation.

In fact, the auxiliary treatment methods such as acupuncture mentioned above were basically proposed by him.

At the beginning, everyone was a little confused, but after conducting experiments in several well-known hospitals such as Guang'anmen Hospital, Children's Hospital, and Union Hospital, they were confused.

It was found that the effect of auxiliary treatment is very good and can greatly reduce the occurrence of sequelae.

Then, these methods were recognized and written into the document.

"It is true. Many patients in our hospital have felt that the effect is much better after using acupuncture and massage than without acupuncture."

Wang Hao nodded and said in agreement.

After a brief chat, they went back to their rooms to rest.

Bed.

He Shengnan lay down next to him and whispered:
"Meng De, how long do you think it will take for this epidemic of meningococcal meningitis to end?"

Over the past two months, all aspects of Beijing have been greatly affected due to prevention and control measures.

In life, not only is travel restricted from time to time, but even supplies are occasionally in severe shortage.

Fortunately, we can still buy food every month.

As for other daily necessities and supplementary foods, it all depends on luck.

Sometimes, I can’t go to buy groceries for several days.

"It's hard to say. It depends on the vaccination process. If everything goes well, it will be almost done in two or three months."

Wang Mengde said in a low voice.

As long as a portion of the population in Beijing, especially most children, are vaccinated, the epidemic of meningococcal meningitis will basically not be contagious.

By then, we only need to isolate and treat the patients we find. Without the source of infection, the epidemic will naturally end.

“It’s going to take so long!

I am worried that if the epidemic does not end, we will not be able to buy food.

Yesterday, I heard from Aunt Ma in the alley that the grain in the grain station was almost gone, and now grain from other places could not be transferred in.

Next month, we may not be able to buy much food, and I don’t know whether what she said is true or not.”

He Shengnan said with some worry.

She doesn't care about anything else now, she only cares about whether there is enough food at home every month, whether the children can get enough nutrition, and whether the whole family can have enough to eat.

“Don’t listen to Aunt Ma’s nonsense.

There is definitely enough food in Beijing, and it is no longer the difficult period of the past few years. Besides, the epidemic of meningococcal meningitis has little to do with the transfer of food, so you don't have to worry about the food problem.

By the way, if you encounter this kind of rumor spreading in the future, don’t believe it and don’t tell others about it.”

Wang Mengde comforted.

He knew best whether there was enough food in the capital.

Except for one or two food crises around the 1960s, as a capital city, there was no food shortage at other times.

"Well, then I'm relieved."

He Shengnan squeezed into his arms, then let out a long sigh and said.

What my man said must be right.

Now that she can buy food in the future, she will feel more at ease.

It’s enough to fill my stomach. As for supplementary food and other daily necessities, with Wang Mengde around, there will definitely be no shortage at home.

a few days later.

Thursday is New Year’s Eve.

When Wang Mengde got home, all kinds of fragrance were wafting from every household.

"Meng De, I'll pour you some hot water. Wash your face quickly. We'll have dinner soon."

Seeing that he came back so late, He Shengnan put down the spatula and quickly poured some hot water into the washbasin.

Today, she came back early in the afternoon and was busy preparing the New Year's Eve dinner with Ran Xiaomei.

Wang Mengde and Wang Hao were busy in the hospital and didn't come back until five or six o'clock.

"Whoo~~~"

After washing his face with hot water, Wang Mengde breathed a sigh of relief.

There was a heavy snowfall a few days ago, and there was still a lot of snow outside that had not melted, making the weather even colder.

Even though he was physically strong, had practiced martial arts for many years, had been outside for a long time, and had ridden a bicycle against the wind, he was still very cold even though he was wearing a thick cotton jacket.

I took a break and drank a cup of hot water, and the meal was ready.

There were eight dishes and a soup on the dinner table, with chicken, fish, meat and eggs all available, and the staple food was all white flour buns.

Only Wang Mengde's family, Lao Xu's family, and Sha Zhu's family have the conditions to provide this meal.

As for other residents, it would be considered good if there were two or three kinds of meat dishes on the table.

After all, the most difficult period has only passed for a year, and it will take at least another two or three years for the supplies on the market to return to the level of 57.

The whole family had a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner together.

After eating, the children couldn’t stand being idle and didn’t mind the cold, so they put on their thick cotton-padded jackets and ran out.

While others started making dumplings.

"Lou Xiao'e, she went straight back to her parents' home in the afternoon."

While rolling out the dumpling wrappers, Ran Xiaomei was chatting about gossip in the yard.

"Ah, she's not at her husband's house for the New Year, why is she back at her parents' house today?"

He Shengnan asked curiously without stopping her hands.

Nowadays, it is rare for a married girl to return to her parents' home during the Chinese New Year.

"She had a quarrel with Xu Damao. The two of them had a fierce quarrel today, and Xu Damao even hit her."

Speaking of Xu Damao, Ran Xiaomei said with some disdain.

"The two of them are probably because of the child!"

Wang Hao said on the side.

"Well, it was because of the child. In the morning, Sha Zhu met Xu Damao and boasted to him that he would soon have a son.

They also called him an old rooster that doesn't lay eggs, and he is doomed to be extinct in the future.

The two quarreled for a while, and then Xu Damao was so angry that he went home and began to blame Lou Xiao'e for not being able to have children. "

Ran Xiaomei angrily recounted what happened:

"In my opinion, Lou Xiao'e doesn't look like someone who can't have children. It's Xu Damao who has been unwilling to go for a check-up.

I think it’s probably his own fault, but he is blaming others for his mistakes.”

There were many people in this courtyard who had the same idea as her and were talking about her behind her back.

pity.

Even a fair judge cannot judge family affairs, and no outsider can interfere in such matters.

The old residence of the Xu family.

Aunt Xu was wrapping dumplings while she said angrily:
"Da Mao, whose daughter-in-law is this, going back to her parents' home on New Year's Eve?

It's obvious that she doesn't want to live with you anymore. I think it's better to get a divorce. Given our family conditions, it won't be difficult to find someone new.

After so many years of marriage, there is no sign of pregnancy and the temper is still so bad. This is like inviting an ancestor back to the family."

Xu Damao did not agree, but turned to look at Xu Fugui.

In this family, the final decision still needs Lao Xu's approval.

"What does a woman know? This marriage cannot be divorced for the time being."

Xu Fugui shook his head and said directly:

“Our Damao married the girl from the Lou family because he was attracted by the Lou family’s financial resources and connections.

After being married for several years, Damao was not promoted to a leader in the steel rolling mill, nor did he get any of the Lou family's property.

If we divorce now, all our efforts will be wasted.”

"Then what do you think we should do?
Our Da Mao is not young anymore, and Wang Mengde is only two years older than Da Mao. He already has three children, and Sha Zhu will also have a son in a few months."

Aunt Xu said anxiously.

But Damao is the only child in their family, and the continuation of the Xu family depends entirely on him.

She is already 26 or 27 years old, has been married for several years, and still has no children.

The neighbors said all kinds of things about her behind her back, and those harsh words made her very angry.

"Don't worry, I have been making inquiries recently. According to the former servants of the Lou family, there are signs that the Lou family has recently transferred their assets.

So, Damao, go back and coax the girl from the Lou family, ask her to go back to her parents’ home and transfer some of her property here.”

Xu Fugui said with confidence.

"Dad, I'll listen to you."

After hearing what Lao Xu said, Xu Damao's face was full of excitement.

The Lou family was a wealthy family before liberation, and after the public-private partnership, they received a large dividend every year.

If even a little bit of it leaked out, it would be enough to cover his lifetime expenses.

When the time comes and I get the money, I will divorce him, find a pretty girl again, have a few sons, and make Sha Zhu mad.

After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Chinese New Year is over.

This afternoon.

A strange beautiful girl appeared at the entrance of the alley.

After asking people on the street for a few words, she walked straight to Courtyard 95.

(End of this chapter)