Summer in the mountains wasn't as unbearable as one might imagine, especially at night. At noon, however, it was just like anywhere else—bustling. Not with people, but with cicadas.
The midday sun in Paigou Village beat down like a venomous snake. The villagers were either napping or eating watermelon in their air-conditioned rooms; it was difficult to find anyone outside.
The village committee, which had been bustling in the morning, returned to its initial emptiness after the free clinic ended. The shelters and benches had already been packed away.
However, the door to the clinic room was locked tight, with a sign posted on it that read, "In Treatment, Do Not Disturb."
The air conditioner unit hummed, pumping hot air outside. It should have been comfortable inside, yet faint, sharp gasps could be heard from the doorway. In reality, Wang Jian had set the temperature to a perfectly comfortable and cool level, certainly not cold enough to make someone gasp.
