CHAPTER 298: CHAPTER 296: IMPROVEMENT OF HOSPITAL CONDITIONS

In the hospital, Hong Rui rubbed her aching lower back and sighed with relief that today she could finally finish work and rest.

In recent days, the number of patients visiting the hospital remained high, but it was noticeably less than the previous days, mostly decreasing among those from the city police department, the Polytechnic College, and the power plant.

From what she had heard, Hong Rui knew this was because the heating boilers in these three shelters had been upgraded, the interior temperature had risen, and naturally, fewer people suffered from hypothermia and frostbite.

This made Hong Rui quite envious, envying those in the shelters who had heating to warm themselves, not feeling so cold.

Although the hospital is a prioritized facility, its heating specifications are the same as other shelters, just that the measures are relatively better, with electric heating in key wards.

Aside from feeling envious, Hong Rui was also happy for the patients’ reduction, as the hospital shifts had shortened from sixteen hours to twelve hours after the heating at the three shelters improved, and the hospital corridors were no longer crowded with waiting patients.

This also made Hong Rui hope that if the hospital’s heating could be improved, too, then many patients with hypothermia and frostbite could receive more effective treatment and recover faster.

Thinking like this, Hong Rui walked towards her office. With long hours of overtime lately, her dark circles were pronounced, and her face was severely puffy, almost unrecognizable.

Before the disaster, for this kind of situation, Hong Rui would have tried all sorts of methods to reduce swelling and dark circles, applying thick makeup on her face to cover it up. But now, she was just heading to her office, eager to get a good sleep.

However, as Hong Rui walked toward her office, she ran into Chen Xin leading a group of people in that direction.

"Are you... Dr. Hong Rui?" Chen Xin froze for a moment before recognizing her, hurriedly greeting her, "Are you just off work? You look really tired!"

"It’s nothing, the hospital has just been busier lately. Mr. Chen, where are you heading?" Hong Rui responded to Chen Xin but shifted her gaze to notice among Chen Xin’s companions were the hospital’s deputy director and a city government official she had met once.

This made Hong Rui wonder why Chen Xin was walking with these important figures and even appeared to be leading them.

"Oh, the city government plans to upgrade the hospital’s heating boilers, and I’m in charge of the renovations," Chen Xin explained briefly to Hong Rui and said, "I’ll go ahead first and talk to you later, Dr. Hong Rui."

Seeing this, Hong Rui didn’t delay Chen Xin’s matters, realizing only afterward as they walked away that Chen Xin was referring to the boiler upgrade.

This left Hong Rui surprised; she never expected Chen Xin, whom she’d met a few times, had such capability. From observing those around him, Hong Rui could discern that Chen Xin was not just an ordinary person; he must hold a more significant position, otherwise the highest-ranked person in that group should have been the city official.

Yet Hong Rui only felt curious and didn’t dwell on the matter; more than being concerned about such things, she wanted a good sleep.

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Hong Rui woke up from sleep sweating in her office.

Feeling the rising temperature in the office and the warmth enveloping her, Hong Rui rubbed her forehead, clearing her mind before glancing at the thermometer hung in front of her desk, displaying 3°C.

"The boiler temperature has risen?" Hong Rui felt a bit surprised; previously, even the hospital’s heating wasn’t as good, with temperatures only reaching -7°C.

It was quite remarkable for the temperature to jump ten degrees, no wonder she was awakened by the heat.

Though she wasn’t sweating or anything intense, the warmth was clearly felt by Hong Rui and made a noticeable difference.

At least she didn’t have to sleep in her office, wearing sweaters, with quilts, blankets, and coats piled on top of her, compressing her until she couldn’t breathe just to keep a little warmth.

Taking off the heavy coat and blanket, Hong Rui got up, rubbed her face, and checking the time realized she had only slept for two hours, but it was almost meal break.

This left Hong Rui hesitating, unsure if she should go to eat or return to the finally warm bed and continue sleeping.

Ultimately, appetite won over sleepiness, and after rinsing her face at the office sink to wake herself up, Hong Rui walked heavily toward the cafeteria.

These days of back-to-back overtime, even as a psychologist, being redirected to help in the emergency department had kept her on her feet, leading to swollen feet unable to fit in her beloved high heels. Due to the cold, she switched to oversized flat snow boots.

In the snow boots, Hong Rui trotted to the cafeteria, looked at the queue at the service window and headed to the doctors’ window with some expectation.

The hospital’s meals have always been guaranteed, even when food quality at other shelters declined, the hospital here still had solid meals, considering the staff needed good nutrition.

And after the city government utilized emergency reserves, the hospital’s meals became even more enticing and mouth-watering.

Considering the past few days, if she couldn’t enjoy the hot and delicious nutritious meals post-work, Hong Rui doubted she could handle those consecutive long-hour shifts.

Thankfully, the hospital’s boiler renovation was complete; Hong Rui believed her workload ahead should lighten a bit.

As Hong Rui contemplated this, her turn to get meals finally arrived. Ordering her favorite dishes from the master chef at the window, she carried the meals intending to find a spot to eat.

"Dr. Hong Rui, come sit with us!" As Hong Rui looked around for a seat, Chen Xin’s voice suddenly rang out, directing her gaze.

She saw Chen Xin, along with the deputy director she’d met earlier and the city official, seated together for a meal, with an empty seat beside them.

Seeing this, Hong Rui hesitated slightly before walking over and sitting in the empty spot.