Read Novel Full Chapter 544: Hurry Back, Maybe There’s Still Time
Chapter 544: Hurry Back, Maybe There’s Still Time
Jiang Ning followed the direction he pointed and faintly saw a patrol boat moving across the sea.
The people on board seemed to be wearing military uniforms from the Southern Base.
It was true that the offshore outpost had patrols, but this location was still more than ten nautical miles from the dock. With the base’s fuel supply so tight, they normally wouldn’t extend their patrol range this far.
Had something happened?
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Gunshots rang out, and several crew members collapsed in pools of blood.
One of them, holding a sharp screwdriver, was charging toward Jiang Ning’s back, aiming to stab her…
Huo Yishen fired the shot.
Jiang Ning turned around, quickly drew her weapon, and killed the crew members trying to escape to the bridge.
These people were so predictable—did they really think she wouldn’t know what they were up to?
She was just giving them a chance.
The captain was so frightened that he kept retreating, desperately trying to explain something.
Jiang Ning raised her gun and sent him to meet his maker.
The patrol boat from the outpost was making rounds. If it kept moving forward, it would soon spot the cargo ship.
Without hesitation, Huo Yishen took charge of stopping the ship while Jiang Ning rushed to the lower deck, unloading all the packed glass and setting up some camouflage.
Then, she went up to the third floor to scatter other supplies—old stockpiled steel plates, a few hundred pounds of aged grain and wheat, and some medical supplies.
This was a scavenger pirate ship, so having random things on board wouldn’t seem suspicious.
Once everything was set, she swiftly slid down the rope, lowered the fishing boat into the sea, and with great effort, hooked the two ships together using the large iron hook from the cargo ship.
By the time she climbed back up, the patrol boat had gotten closer and had slowed down.
The patrol soldiers picked up their binoculars and began to observe.
About ten minutes later, the patrol boat moved toward the cargo ship, and a loudspeaker began calling out.
“Attention, passengers on the vessel, you have entered the sea area of Fengcheng Base. If you are not survivors from China, please leave immediately.”
Jiang Ning ignored their announcements and set up the scene to make it look like she and Huo Yishen had narrowly defeated pirates in a fierce battle. Then, she walked to the bow and waved the red flag in her hand. “We’re on your side, don’t shoot.”
As the patrol boat approached, the two of them were surprised to see Rong Sanshao among the crew.
When Rong Sanshao saw who was on the ship, he excitedly waved his hand. “Sister, Brother-in-law!”
There were five patrol soldiers in total. As Rong Sanshao struggled to climb up, he worriedly asked, “How did you end up with a cargo ship?”
“Don’t ask,” Jiang Ning replied, wiping the sweat off her forehead with a bloodstained sleeve. “Your brother-in-law and I came out hoping for some luck, maybe find some supplies, but we ended up running into pirates. We nearly lost our lives.”
Hearing about the pirates, the others instinctively pulled out their guns. “Are you all okay?”
“We fought them the night before last. Took down over half their men before we were captured. But they turned on each other, and we seized the chance to fight back and take them out.”
The group climbed aboard and saw the signs of gasoline burns and bullet holes on the deck, making it obvious there had been a fierce battle.
Just as they were about to ask more, Rong Sanshao pulled Jiang Ning aside and whispered urgently, “Sister, something happened to the Chief. I specifically joined this patrol to find you two. You and brother-in-law need to hurry back. There might still be time.”
Jiang Ning’s heart sank. “What happened to him?”
“He’s sick. A severe lung infection. He’s been unconscious for two days.”
Rong Sanshao’s voice was urgent. “Aunt Shu hasn’t announced it yet to prevent panic, but the hospital doesn’t have the medicine he needs. If this drags on, it’ll only get worse.”
Jiang Ning’s head was ringing, and she nearly stumbled. Huo Yishen hurriedly reached out to steady her.
Rong Sanshao patted his chest. “You two head back right away. I’ll take care of the ship.”
As long as it wasn’t a fire-seed container, the base wouldn’t confiscate the scavenged supplies.
Jiang Ning snapped back to reality and hurriedly jumped onto the patrol boat.
Rong Sanshao instructed his soldiers to send them back and bring a few more who could operate cargo ships.
Charging forward at full speed, the rushing wind lashed against Jiang Ning’s face, causing the strands of hair on her forehead to flutter.
She sat with her back straight, her lips tightly pressed together.
When they left, Gu Tinglin didn’t seem to have any serious problems, so why had he suddenly fallen into a coma due to a lung infection?
Lung infections could vary in severity, but causing a coma was definitely not a good sign.
Huo Yishen held her hand but noticed it was cold.
After about forty minutes and several nautical miles, they finally reached the shore.
As they disembarked, if it hadn’t been for Huo Yishen’s quick reflexes, Jiang Ning might have fallen.
A car was waiting at the dock. Huo Yishen retrieved it and pulled up beside her. “Anning, don’t worry too much. There will be a way.”
Jiang Ning’s mind was a mess, and she quietly leaned against the car window without saying a word.
The car sped quickly, and it wasn’t long before they arrived.
Jiang Ning rushed into the yard.
Shu Xueqing and the hospital director were there, discussing Gu Tinglin’s condition.
When she saw Jiang Ning come back, Shu Xueqing, with dark circles under her eyes, got teary-eyed. “Anning, your father…”
Jiang Ning’s lips parted slightly. “What happened to him?”
“He’s been holding on, waiting for you.”
Gu Tinglin’s condition was very poor, and the hospital didn’t have the right medication. The antibiotics Jiang Ning had left weren’t helping.
The director said it was a miracle that he had lasted this long.
And even with the right medication, it might already be too late.
Shu Xueqing had been keeping watch for days, both physically and mentally exhausted. Seeing Jiang Ning, she couldn’t hold back her tears anymore.
Jiang Ning didn’t say anything. With a serious expression, she walked into the room.
The others instinctively tried to follow, but Huo Yishen quickly stepped ahead and stood by the door. “Anning wants to spend some time alone with her father.”
Gu Tinglin was still unconscious, his face pale and lifeless, and he had lost a lot of weight.
As a doctor, Jiang Ning could tell from his breathing that things were not looking good.
Without hesitation, she brought Gu Tinglin into the space.
Since CT machines emitted radiation, Jiang Ning had installed one inside a shipping container in the Black Soil Garden for emergency scans.
When she saw the results, she couldn’t help but gasp.
White lung!
Jiang Ning reminded herself to stay calm; it wasn’t the worst-case scenario yet.
First, she put him on a ventilator for oxygen and hooked him up to a heart-lung monitor.
Regular antibiotics weren’t working, so she quickly prepared the right medication and started an IV drip.
She administered steroids along with other treatments, setting up four or five bags.
Jiang Ning stayed by his side without moving, watching the medication slowly flow into his body through the IV line.
Only when the monitor’s readings improved did she finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
She remembered how, when he stood, his features were sharp, his posture straight like a pine tree.
Yet, in all the times their eyes had met, she had never truly observed him.
Now, lying unconscious, the sharpness had faded, leaving his features softer. A fragile feeling washed over her.
She then realized that even mountains could fall.
Now, he seemed no different from an ordinary person, and his fate was uncertain.
Jiang Ning clasped his large, calloused hand and pressed it to her forehead. It was wide and rough, yet no longer held the warmth it once did.
She wanted to speak, but no words came out.