Chapter Two: Lifesaving Medicine at the Honest Price

By the time Dr. Su Wan reached the southern depot, three layers of people surrounded its steel gate. Behind it sat stacks of medicine. In front stood a new sign: GOLD, FUEL, OR ANTIBIOTICS ONLY. A man called Brother Bao sat on a forklift while followers with metal pipes kept order. “Rapid insulin. Twenty grams of gold per box,” he said. “Wait for the banks if you think it’s expensive.” Before the collapse, each box had cost ¥260. The seven patients needed at least ten. Lin Mo faced the gate. “Who owns the warehouse?” A bespectacled manager raised a hand. “Dongji Pharmaceuticals. Bao claims he is protecting our stock, but we haven’t received anything.” “Then Dongji sells ten boxes to me for ¥2,600.”