Thirteen prisons

Chapter 48 Missing
It was five days later that Zhou Yuan discovered a fact in astonishment: Lao Hu was missing.

During these days, the connection between everyone has dropped to the lowest point, everyone is doing their own things, and there is little communication.Lu Ming could still see at least every day, but Lao Hu didn't come back for several days.

Two days ago, Zhou Yuan thought he was living in the town, so he didn't take it seriously.But I couldn't get through the phone call. Lao Hu's cell phone gave a beeping busy tone when calling, either the SIM card was pulled out, or there was no signal.If the SIM card is pulled out, it is likely that the phone is lost.If there is no signal, maybe he has gone into the mountains, and there is no mobile phone signal in the mountains.

What was really wrong was when Zhou Yuan went to the town and learned from the clerk in the shop that Lao Hu hadn't been here for several days.After inquiring in detail, he learned that it was not because of business matters, such as buying goods from other places, not having enough raw materials, and needing to go to the mountains to collect herbs.

On the fifth day, Zhou Yuan went to the town again, but after learning that Lao Hu hadn’t been there, he had to face up to a possibility:
Hu left.

Lao Hu was not the kind of person who would leave without saying goodbye, but Zhou Yuan couldn't think of any other reason.The emotions in his heart are very complicated, Hu Dongdong can be with him all the time, insisting on leaving until this time, he is considered a brother enough.

This idea kept circling in his mind, until he saw the outline of the small building in the distance, Zhou Yuan suddenly realized that his thoughts were too negative.

He cheered up a little, so that he would no longer be affected by such negative emotions, and began to think rationally.First of all, Lao Hu is a very loyal person. He has been with him since he got sick.If it was said that he was afraid of trouble or death, he had too many opportunities to find excuses and leave.Secondly, with his behavior style, he must be investigating something during this period of time, and he will definitely not tell himself before there is a result.

Thinking of this, Zhou Yuan couldn't help but worry about Lao Hu, wondering what he was doing recently, did he encounter any accidents?
Pushing open the door of the room, Zhou Yuan unexpectedly saw a person sitting on the bed, smoking a cigarette with his head bowed.

Hu Dongdong!
In Zhou Yuan's heart, he had the self-blame that he had secretly guessed about him, the unhappiness that he had disappeared inexplicably, and the comfort that he finally saw him.In short, many feelings came to my heart at the same time, I didn't know what to say, in the end I just rushed over and punched him excitedly: "Where have you been these few days? Don't say a word!"

Lao Hu didn't dodge, received a punch on the shoulder, and lay down on the bed.Only then did Zhou Yuan realize that his eyes were dull and indifferent.

Zhou Yuan was very surprised by his abnormal expression, he didn't know what bothered him.

But since Lao Hu didn't take the initiative to say it, Zhou Yuan didn't rush to ask him where he had been these two days. He sat by the bed and lit a cigarette.It wasn't until I had smoked halfway that I said softly, "I'm worried that you won't be here for the past few days. It's good to be back."

Hu Dongdong sat up slowly, and without answering, he took another cigarette from the bedside and smoked.

The two sat silently facing each other and smoked, but Zhou Yuan found that the dullness in Hu Dongdong's eyes gradually faded away, and the expression on his face was no longer so cold and indifferent.

"Zhou Yuan, I have a question to ask you." Lao Hu's voice was a little erratic.

"Hmm." For some reason, Zhou Yuan was a little nervous.

"Since you got sick, what do you feel different from normal people?"

Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment, never expecting this to be the first sentence he spoke.But Zhou Yuan still thought about it seriously, although the illness has only lasted for dozens of days, he felt as if it had been a long time.

After careful recollection and confirmation, Zhou Yuan said: "Actually, I don't feel anything special. Although my body temperature has been high, if I don't pay attention, it's the same as usual. You were there on the day I was infected. Except for the rash on the stomach, Then the body temperature rises, and sometimes you will suddenly faint, but other places are no different from normal people.”

After thinking about it, he added with a wry smile: "The biggest difference may be the psychological torment. It is impossible for normal people to understand this kind of mood."

Hu Dongdong nodded, his face was shrouded in the smoke of cigarettes, and his expression could not be seen clearly.He continued to ask: "Tell me more in detail. When you find something is wrong, what are the symptoms?"

Zhou Yuan thought about it carefully: "The most obvious thing is that the body temperature will rise."

"Is it because I don't feel it, unlike having a fever, the breath I exhale is hot. I don't feel it at all, but I feel very hot when it touches my skin?"

Zhou Yuan nodded quickly: "That's right, that's it."

As soon as he finished saying this, he suddenly realized that something was wrong.Why did Hu Dongdong become interested in this all of a sudden, and how did he explain his condition after the illness so clearly?
"Zhou Yuan, I'm sick!" Hu Dongdong's words sounded calm.

This sentence was like a thunderbolt from the blue sky blasted in Zhou Yuan's mind, and he shouted in disbelief: "Brother, you, you, you..." But he didn't know what to say, only you and you kept going.

Lao Hu was very calm, and seemed to have accepted this fact.

But Zhou Yuan couldn't accept it!

He only felt waves of powerlessness hit him.He said incoherently: "Don't think too much... Is it because you have been too tired for a while? Your body fever may be a cold. I will ask Lu Ming to check it for you..."

"Zhou Yuan." Hu Dongdong interrupted him calmly: "We also said these words when we comforted you. There is no need to say any more, I have confirmed it."

After speaking, he lifted his clothes.Zhou Yuan saw that there were three or four palm-sized red rashes on his chest and back. The color was bright red, which looked a little shocking.Zhou Yuan was really impressed by this. At that time, it was Lao Hu who discovered the rash on his body and brought the next thing to the hospital.Unexpectedly, it was like fate repeating itself, but the positions of the two sides were exchanged at this moment.

Zhou Yuan sat down slumped.Although I don't know what Lao Hu did in the past few days when he was inexplicably missing, and why he suddenly fell ill.But these are not important, Lao Hu's appearance is definitely not a joke.Zhou Yuan was full of self-blame and guilt, but because his best brother also contracted this strange disease, he went to a dead end.Never had he hated himself as much as he did now.

"Hu Dongdong, I'm sorry." Zhou Yuan himself felt powerless with these words, but he didn't know how to express his apology.

Lao Hu waved his hand: "Zhou Yuan, don't say these things."

Zhou Yuan nodded, but his head couldn't help but lowered.He didn't dare to look at Lao Hu's peaceful face anymore, for fear that he would cry out.

"Zhou Yuan, I have thought a lot these two days. After Yan Lao died, did we all ignore a question that should have been considered first?"

"What's the problem?" Zhou Yuan raised his head, a little dazed.

Old Hu looked at him straightly: "Did Yan Yi really die from a disease attack?"

"What do you mean? He didn't seem to be sick, did he commit suicide?" Zhou Yuan's heart sank.In fact, he understood what Hu Dongdong wanted to say.Although Lao Hu didn't say it directly, he was obviously suspicious of Lu Ming!

His idea is a bit extreme, but Zhou Yuan can understand it.When Zhou Yuan first knew that he had this damned disease, he would unconsciously think in some out-of-control directions.When people face a result that they are unable to resist, their first reaction is usually to find an excuse and shift the responsibility to other people or things. This is an instinctive psychological defense mechanism.

Although the root cause of Hu Dongdong's illness was Zhou Yuan, he didn't get angry with Zhou Yuan. It seemed that he wanted to get angry at Lu Ming.After all, Lu Ming's rational and even cold-blooded approach can easily become an outlet for Hu Dongdong's resentment.

Zhou Yuan patted Hu Dongdong on the shoulder and said: "The most important thing for you now is to adjust your emotions. I have also experienced this stage of yours. Don't think too much. Also, you are not a professional doctor after all. I will ask Lu Ming to give it to you tomorrow." Check it out, maybe it was just a false alarm? After all, you have no reason to get sick, and the disease is not so simple and easy to spread."

"Okay." Hu Dongdong calmly agreed without mentioning the topic just now.

After Lu Ming heard the news, he didn't have an overly surprised expression, but raised his brows.

When Zhou Yuan first contracted the disease, other than the fever, the only physical symptoms were the strange rash. In order to verify what kind of disease he had, he used various methods.It wasn't until the last drop of blood burned on the toilet paper that it was finally determined that this was a strange symptom that had never been seen before.

In the past few days, although there is still no way to cure this strange disease, Lu Ming has made a lot of progress in its research.At least there is a scientific way to determine the condition, and there is no need to bleed and burn paper like before.

An hour later, Lu Ming came out of the laboratory.

Zhou Yuan, Lin Jing and Lao Hu were all sitting in the hall downstairs. Seeing Lu Ming come down, Zhou Yuan immediately stood up and asked, "How is it?"

Lu Ming held a test form in his hand, put it on the table, and said calmly: "According to the blood sample analysis, it is confirmed that it has been infected."

Zhou Yuan couldn't help but roared and asked: "It hasn't been contagious for so long, why is it contagious again now? After a long time of treatment, it turned out like this? What's going on?"

Lu Ming remained expressionless, as he always did.But at this time, such a performance seemed very annoying: "The virus is constantly mutating, and any disease is the same, let alone this... living blood."

Zhou Yuan was irritated by Lu Ming's calmness, and shouted at him: "Damn it, Hu Dongdong got sick. Are you not sad at all?"

"Sad?" Lu Ming sneered.He took out another watch in his arms and said, "I don't have time!"

Looking at the inspection form that was almost the same as Hu Dongdong's, Zhou Yuan was completely stunned, his mouth was wide open, but he couldn't make any sound.

On the header of the form, in the name column, it says: Lu Ming.

Lu Ming nodded and said, "That's right. I'm the same as Hu Dongdong. Now the four of us are all infected with this disease."

"What?" Hu Dongdong and Lin Jing cried out in shock when they heard this.

"The development of this blood disease is getting faster every day, and the speed of infection is beyond our expectations. How can I have time to be sad? Do you want to see, is this town ruined because of us?" Lu Ming dropped these words, turned around went upstairs.

Zhou Yuan slumped on the chair, feeling intense despair.

Is this the end result?That's ridiculous.

Zhou Yuan, you are too ridiculous.He said to himself in his heart, he knew it would be good to find a quiet place to fend for himself, but now?Involve everyone in getting sick together, and wait for death with yourself together!

Zhou Yuan sat on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

After a while, his hand was held, it was Lin Jing.She didn't speak, but feeling the temperature of her hands, Zhou Yuan felt a little better.

At this time, Lu Ming said calmly: "From now on, everyone should try to reduce going out as much as possible. This small building, from now on, it is best to isolate it from the outside world."

No one objected.Now that the matter has come to this point, Lu Ming's worry is correct, and they don't want to go out and infect others.

At this time, a doorbell suddenly sounded at the door.

There is usually no one visiting here, not to mention that Lu Minggang suggested that everyone try not to contact outsiders, so everyone did not move for a while.

The bell rang continuously. Fortunately, when Yan Yi built this place, it was equipped with video and dialogue devices.Lao Hu frowned, walked to the door, and saw a dark-faced young man standing at the door from the surveillance camera, who was one of the shop assistants.

Hu Dongdong pressed the intercom: "Xiao Wang, what's the matter."

The guy was followed by two people, who were carrying big bags and small cans. They didn't know what they were. He was very excited when he heard Lao Hu's voice, and said into the communicator: "Boss, it's not the beginning of the month. Last time you said you wanted to hire a few more guys, I already hired them all. I couldn’t find you two days ago, so after thinking about it, I decided to come home, except to bring last month’s bills and money. In addition, the money I earned in the past half month is much more than I used to earn by digging medicine in the mountains, the old man at home asked me to bring you some food, you must accept these things!"

Hu Dongdong said thank you, and asked the guy to put the things at the door, and the money was not needed. It was considered a bonus for them, and then told him that he was going on a long trip, and he would not go to the store during this period, so let him work hard, do it Well give him shares.

When the guy heard this, he said "Hey" twice, and bowed happily to the monitor: "Boss, you are really a good person! I'm leaving, take care, the town has been smoggy recently, and it's not very peaceful. Be careful too."

The guy seemed very happy to hear what Lao Hu said, so he didn't ask any more questions.Just leave things at the door.When they were far away, Lao Hu opened the door and took those things back. When he opened it, he found that they were all cooked meals.

Crock-pot chicken is contained in a ceramic pot, and steaming hot boiled fish is filled in another large aluminum pot. In addition, there are twice-cooked pork and husband and wife lung slices, all of which are authentic Sichuan dishes. There are more than a dozen steaming steamed buns, which look like the ones that were steamed at home, and the aroma is overflowing.

"It's time for dinner." Hu Dongdong chuckled: "It's useless to worry."

Under Lin Jing's suggestion, everyone carried the food to the rooftop.Lu Ming didn't come, and took some food to eat in the laboratory by himself. In his opinion, this was a waste of time.

Regardless of whether Lao Hu's indifference was feigned or not, his free and easy manner made the atmosphere get rid of the previous depression.Now the relationship between the three people is really appropriate to describe the relationship between the three of them with the word sympathy.After eating, Lao Hu and Zhou Yuan sat on the edge of the roof and smoked. Lin Jing pinched a few wild flowers on the roof and sat quietly beside Zhou Yuan.

It was getting late, and the Milky Way starry sky overhead reflected the scattered lights in the town, making it peaceful and serene.

The last time Zhou Yuan sat here and looked at the stars with Lin Jing seemed to be a very distant thing. This period of time was actually not too long. Looking back now, it seems like a long dream.

"Old Hu, you have been a good policeman, why didn't you stop?" Zhou Yuan was always curious about this matter, and the atmosphere was rarely relaxed at this time, and everyone chatted casually, so they asked casually.

"Because I'm busy with something." Lao Hu usually seldom mentioned this matter, but today he probably started talking slowly after drinking.

The matter is actually very simple. The couple quarreled and made trouble to the Public Security Bureau.The man suffered from long-term domestic violence. His wife was beaten to the point of bleeding and fled to the police station. After the man chased him in, he still did not restrain himself. kill her.

Lao Hu is a criminal policeman, and he was not in charge of this kind of civil dispute, but Lao Hu's temper can't be seen, so he kicked the man unconscious at that time.

"This is killing harm for the people!" Lin Jing deeply felt that Lao Hu had done a good job: "And then?"

Zhou Yuan probably guessed eight or nine points, and said with a wry smile: "Then that woman sued you with her husband instead?"

The facts are indeed similar to what Zhou Yuan guessed.Hu's kick caused the man's two ribs to be fractured, but the man stayed in the hospital for three months and refused to leave.His wife also refused to admit to being domestically abused, and blocked the entrance of the police station every day, saying that the police beat people for no reason.The matter became very serious, and under pressure, the bureau gave Lao Hu a serious warning, but Lao Hu couldn't figure it out, so he simply resigned.

"Originally, after this incident, I vowed not to meddle in other people's business." Old Hu laughed, and patted Zhou Yuan on the shoulder: "In the end, I still couldn't help it, and got involved."

Zhou Yuan's heart felt hot.Although this happened several years ago, he still feels sorry for Lao Hu.But Lao Hu has such a heroic and loyal character, otherwise he wouldn't be caught in it because of helping himself.

"Zhou Yuan, what kind of person is Lu Ming?" Lin Jing asked suddenly.Lao Hu also looked at Zhou Yuan curiously, obviously interested.

Zhou Yuan thought for a while and said: "We have been classmates since middle school. His grades have always been very good. But his personality is very cold, and he has no special friends except me. He is very rational and rarely emotional. I always think he is like this. It's very suitable to be a doctor with a personality."

After hesitating for a while, Zhou Yuan continued: "But sometimes I feel that he is a little too indifferent, especially recently, this feeling is even stronger..."

Lin Jing and Lao Hu didn't speak, and they also felt the same way, but after all, Lu Ming was a good friend of Zhou Yuan, so it was difficult to comment behind his back.

At this time, Lao Hu suddenly touched Zhou Yuan with his elbow.

Zhou Yuan raised his head in puzzlement, and Lao Hu pouted downward angrily. Zhou Yuan followed the direction he pointed, and saw a figure walking down the hillside. The direction he looked was coming out of the small building.

"It's so late, Lu Ming is going to town again?" There are only four people here, three of them are on the rooftop, this black shadow must be Lu Ming.Zhou Yuan didn't pay much attention, he probably went to the temporary laboratory in the cellar of the rented house in the town.

But Zhou Yuan was still a little upset: "Didn't he tell us not to go out? He ran out by himself." He picked up a small stone beside him and threw it over, trying to scare Lu Ming.

The stone fell several meters away from the figure, and he didn't respond at all, continuing to walk forward.

Soon, he approached the streetlight below, and at this moment, he heard Lin Jing exclaim loudly, and then his whole body began to tremble, pointing at the figure with his finger, his mouth was wide open and he was unable to speak.

Following the direction of her finger, Zhou Yuan saw that black figure became clear under the illumination of the street lamp, and suddenly a chill rushed from his feet to the top of his head.

That's not Lu Ming.It's Yan Yi!

Yan Yi is dead!
(End of this chapter)