Chapter 23: Mary Hospital (1)

The next day, all those who had been scratched emerged from the apartment building. None of them had turned into zombies, confirming that the government’s announcement was true—only a bite from a zombie carried the risk of infection. The wounded breathed a sigh of relief, although everyone wore an uneasy expression when they looked at Jiang Qian.

Li Fengyi and Li Qiang double-checked the map, memorizing every street and alley. They concluded that Courtyard No. 5 and the supermarket had indeed formed a relatively safe, enclosed area the day before. As long as they avoided attracting hordes of zombies and kept quiet, there should be no major problems.

The two of them split into teams and moved out, crouching low. Li Fengyi led the 2nd Company, Li Qiang the 1st. The training platoon was divided into three groups: Li Fengyi took the 1st Squad, Li Qiang the 2nd, while the 3rd Squad and logistics platoon remained on guard. Given Jiang Qian’s unsavory reputation, two people were specifically assigned to watch him with orders to kill at the first sign of danger.

In front of Mary Maternity Hospital, the two teams split up. Li Fengyi led the 2nd Company carefully through the pile of cars blocking the hospital entrance, dispatching a few zombies along the way. It was said that having a baby in this hospital cost two hundred thousand yuan, something that had always irked Wang Shujuan. She’d had two children for just three or four thousand each.

The east side of the main hospital building adjoined the wall of Courtyard No. 5, while a road on the west led to the military retirement home behind. “6th Platoon, cover the rear; 4th Platoon, guard the road; 5th Platoon, push cars to build a barricade,” Li Fengyi issued orders with practiced ease.

In less than half an hour, the western road beside the hospital was blocked by a double row of cars. The 4th and 6th Platoons had killed no fewer than thirty zombies.

“Clear the building!” Li Fengyi led the team, swiftly purging the hospital’s front yard—less than three hundred square meters—of zombies. “4th Platoon guards the lobby, 5th to the left, 6th to the right! Be careful not to damage medical equipment or supplies.”

Li Fengyi remained with the 4th Platoon as zombies began pouring down the stairs. He noticed that these zombies now climbed stairs as nimbly as living people. Watching the teams work in pairs to clear them, he couldn’t quell his anxiety. What would happen next? Would the zombies keep evolving?

Soon, doctors in white coats, pregnant women in hospital gowns, their families, and a couple of security guards were escorted to the lobby. By now, after several days of apocalypse, there was some water left in the workplace dispensers, but little to eat except a few snacks. Everyone was weak with hunger.

Li Fengyi had them all wait behind the 4th Platoon’s defensive line and ordered his men to share some of their own rations to stave off starvation.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the 5th Platoon. “Quick! Out of the way!” Two men from the 1st Squad rushed forward, supporting two others. “Report, Company Commander! One bitten, one scratched!”

Li Fengyi looked at the man who’d been bitten, whose eyes were full of despair. Overcome, Li Fengyi closed his own eyes in anguish.

“Brother, is there anything you want to say?” After a long pause, Li Fengyi asked, his voice trembling.

“My name’s Guo Feng,” the man replied, accepting his fate. “I’m from Yuncheng, Shanxi. If you get the chance, please find my family and tell them I died fighting.”

“Don’t worry, brother. From now on, your family’s my family too. If I find them, I’ll look after them,” Li Fengyi promised, recording Guo Feng’s address.

“My mother’s not well. If you can, tell her I always thought of her,” Guo Feng said, tears streaming down his face.

“Give me a quick end,” Guo Feng murmured, closing his eyes.

“I’ll see you off,” Li Fengyi whispered, gripping a steel pipe, ready to act.

“Wait,” Guo Feng’s eyes flew open. “Kick Jiang Qian for me, that bastard got my best friend killed in the alley yesterday.”

He clenched his teeth in hatred. “Why wasn’t it him who got bitten?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he gets what’s coming to him,” Li Fengyi replied, equally furious.

“Commander Li,” Guo Feng opened his eyes again.

“What is it?” Li Fengyi, pipe poised, was frustrated by the repeated interruptions—he almost got a cramp waiting. He looked at Guo Feng, whose nose had started to bleed black.

“You stepped on my hand…”

The onlookers fell silent.

Guo Feng’s journey ended. Li Fengyi detailed two from the training platoon to reinforce the 5th Platoon, and the search and rescue continued.

“Commander Li?” A man in a white coat wolfed down a steamed bun, craning his neck to swallow the last bite, and tentatively called out.

“Yes?” Li Fengyi looked at the bespectacled middle-aged man. “What is it?”

He noticed the man didn’t ask for more food, unlike the other survivors, though his eyes clung to the bun as if gazing at a loved one. The training platoon, of course, wouldn’t give them much, just enough to keep them going.

Li Fengyi felt heavy-hearted, having just sent Guo Feng on his way. He’d rescued the man from Courtyard No. 5—a fine arts editor. Before the housing reforms, the courtyard had housed Writer’s Association families. Just yesterday, Guo Feng had suggested making a survivor’s flag to show their spirit and help the government spot them. Now, he was gone.

“My name’s Ou Fuchun. I graduated with a master’s from Beijing Medical University and have worked as a doctor for fifteen years. Do we have a medical team?” the doctor asked. “I’d like to help—offer medical care and treat the wounded.”

“We will,” Li Fengyi realized how rudimentary their group still was. They’d only been reacting to emergencies as they arose, never really organizing their resources. The apocalypse had only just begun, and everyone was still reeling. But who knew how long it would last? They needed a comprehensive plan; otherwise, they might be wiped out before the government even came to the rescue.

“For now, assist the training platoon. Help treat any wounded or sick. If you have suggestions, talk to the logistics chief—we’ll make arrangements,” Li Fengyi instructed.

The doctor was called over to perform checkups on the rescued survivors.

Li Fengyi realized it was time to plan for the future. Their numbers were growing, and as they reclaimed more territory, chaos would only invite disaster.

He walked behind the front desk, pulled a stack of A4 paper from the printer, and sat down to write out his plan. The two orderlies, Xie Guangcai and Sun Delong, stood on either side behind him, steel pipes in hand.

“First, we need a name,” Li Fengyi mused, influenced by his corporate background. “This is our brand now. As for organization, we need combat, civil, medical, and mechanical divisions. When we get electricity back, we’ll need an energy department too.”