Chapter 4

Zhou Lei was puzzled by Song Haowen’s actions at his desk, convinced that gaining entry into the technical secondary school through the entrance exam would be a stroke of luck. He dismissed the importance of passing the foreign language exam (English).

Song Haowen, however, remained unfazed, charting his own course. In reality, his current CET 8 foundation meant that even without reviewing, he could effortlessly achieve full marks in the exam. His high level of English comprehension, evident in the long-time subscription to the English version of “China Daily” by his family in his previous life, surpassed the current level of English textbooks in his possession.

Currently, Song Haowen dedicated himself to reviewing books, not only to refresh his memory after three or four decades but also to project an image of hard work. This precaution aimed to counter potential accusations of cheating, especially if the college entrance exam incorporated satellite monitoring.

On the last day of June, the school hosted a graduation ceremony for the second year of senior high school. Linshan County adhered to a nine-year consistent system, comprising five years of primary school, two years of junior high school, and two years of senior high school.

After the morning graduation ceremony and receiving their certificates, new graduates would pack up and head home. Those registered for the early July college entrance exam would spend the week before studying at home. On the day before the exam, candidates would report to Hongqi Middle School, with accommodations centrally arranged by the homeroom teacher for those in need.

Admission cards, stored uniformly at the school, would only be issued upon entering the examination room. After each exam, the cards would be collected and redistributed before the next one. Song Haowen, appreciating the meticulous care from his alma mater in his previous life, felt a sense of familial belonging.

At noon, the school cafeteria provided additional meals for boarding students leaving in the afternoon. For seven cents, students could enjoy pickled vegetables and braised salmon, followed by the first-time introduction of steamed white flour buns—hot, large, white, and irresistibly appetizing. Despite having a full lunch, Song Haowen couldn’t resist indulging in two more steamed buns.

After settling the remaining meal tickets, Song Haowen packed his luggage and planned to walk home with his classmates. Meanwhile, Zhu Yuanyuan, fearing Song Haowen’s potential report, had taken three days off, later returning under parental pressure. However, he avoided any interaction with Song Haowen, treating him as a stranger and maintaining a distance.

After the graduation ceremony, Song Haowen, overlooking the past conflict, quickly packed up and left without having lunch at school. He viewed the younger generation’s conflicts as inconsequential, hoping that through the incident, they would learn valuable lessons.

“Haowen, when are you leaving?” Zhou Lei asked, laden with luggage on his back. “I must go first.”

When Song Haowen hurried into the men’s room, only one cubicle was available. A step later, and he would have faced the prospect of queuing up. Classmates followed behind him, creating a steady stream of people entering the restroom. As he swiftly squatted down and began to undress, a sudden burst of water and a series of sounds echoed through the toilet.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.”

The restroom was instantly chaotic. After relieving himself, Song Haowen’s pain somewhat eased, but within minutes, weakness overcame him, his vision blurred, and he struggled to lie down on his bed.

Zhou Lei observed as all his dormitory classmates rushed out, pants in hand, but initially didn’t grasp the situation. Just as he was about to prepare for a trip, nausea hit him suddenly, accompanied by stomach spasms. Pressure built up inside him, and involuntarily, a stream of fluid sprayed from his mouth and nose. The entire dormitory seemed to be in turmoil, with students either vomiting or experiencing diarrhea.

Being well-informed due to his past life experiences, Song Haowen quickly realized that the widespread trouble was a result of food poisoning. He promptly reported the situation to the monitor, emphasizing the urgent need for medical attention.

Upon receiving the news, the monitoring personnel acted swiftly, and a teacher rushed to the teacher’s dormitory to convey the gravity of the situation. Teacher Dong Xing, upon hearing about the poisoning, turned pale with fear.

As the news spread, chaos enveloped the entire campus, with teachers and staff hurrying to the student dormitory area. President Li, upon arriving at the scene, felt overwhelmed by the chaotic situation.

Amidst the confusion, teachers who were shouting to send patients to the hospital suddenly collapsed. President Li, after regaining composure, dispatched the Vice President and Chief of the Security Section to the Commune Health Center for immediate medical assistance. Simultaneously, he reported the incident to the commune leader.

The preliminary assessment indicated that 38 boys and 32 girls at school, along with 8 teaching and administrative staff, showed poisoning symptoms. Among them, 35 individuals, including Song Haowen, were particularly ill and urgently required detoxification and infusion treatment.

The suspected cause of the food poisoning was traced back to the steamed bread provided in the school canteen. Authorities began investigating whether the contamination was accidental or intentional, involving both public security and food regulatory authorities. A doctor and nurse from the Zhaosheng Commune Health Center arrived to assess the situation.

Feeling overwhelmed, they sought help from the county people’s hospital, and the commune leaders also arrived on the scene. A decision was made to seek further assistance from Emergency No.120 and report the incident to the county government office, health bureau, and education bureau.

Relevant county departments responded promptly, dispatching four 120-foot vehicles to transport the patients. Due to limited beds in the county’s first hospital, those with milder conditions were directed to seek treatment in the county’s traditional Chinese medicine hospital.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the county party committee and government organized a working group comprising education, health, public security, and food and drug regulatory departments to manage patient treatment, pacify parents, investigate and handle cases, and address the aftermath. With the national college entrance examination just a week away, the impact on nearly half of the poisoned students was deemed unimaginable consequences.

The escalating crisis at Zhaosheng Middle School in Linshan County had captured the attention of national, provincial, and municipal media, momentarily thrusting the school into the spotlight. In an effort to ensure effective treatment, experts from the esteemed Hubin Hospital were urgently invited to provide consultations and devise the best treatment plan. The primary objectives were to achieve zero fatalities, ensure a rapid recovery, and minimize the impact on the candidates.

Following three days of intensive emergency rescue efforts, all students had successfully recovered, with those in milder conditions already reunited with their parents. Even the critically ill, receiving treatment in the ICU, were given the means to review their studies while hanging from the ceiling.

After three days in a coma, Song Haowen finally regained consciousness. The removal of catheters marked his transition to a general ward, though leaving the hospital was still some time away. The prospect of enjoying even a simple steamed bun without the fear of poisoning seemed like a distant goal.

Reflecting on the absence of food poisoning incidents during his previous middle school life, Song Haowen pondered whether his presence had triggered changes and disruptions in time and space. He contemplated the potential impact of these alterations on the future—whether it would improve or worsen—and the role he might play in it.

In the same ward, Zhou Lei, Song Haowen’s tablemate, had a milder condition and had awakened a day earlier. He kept himself occupied by memorizing political information and noticed Song Haowen staring at the ceiling.

Concerned, Zhou Lei asked, “Feeling better?”

Song Haowen turned to him with a thoughtful question, “Zhou Lei, do you think this poisoning was accidental or deliberate?”

“I don’t know,” responded Zhou Lei. “The police haven’t reached a conclusion yet.”

“If it was intentional, it’s a serious matter,” remarked Song Haowen. “But it seems unlikely. Who would be so foolish to harm themselves with nothing to gain?”

“I think so too,” agreed Zhou Lei.

Curious about the type of poison, Song Haowen inquired, “Do you know what kind of poison we were exposed to?”

Zhou Lei shared the information, “It’s been preliminarily determined that the flour was mixed with corn flour.”

“Laxatives?” exclaimed Song Haowen. “No wonder the nausea and jerky symptoms.”

Expressing his anger, Song Haowen questioned the morality of such an act. Zhou Lei sighed, expressing his worry about the impending college entrance exam just four days away.

“I’m worried to death,” Zhou Lei added, contemplating the potential consequences of failing not only this year but also the next. The uncertainty left Song Haowen momentarily speechless.