In China exists a dangerous virus, which has crown-like spikes on its surface. It is highly contagious and fatal for people and animals. During every outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lock people inside their homes in the name of the emperor’s executive order. Physicians capable of hunting down the virus are recruited nationwide.

Jiang’s family has been in this occupation for three generations. ‘My grandparents died of the virus. My parents died of the virus. Having been in this occupation for fourteen years by now, I almost died on several occasions.’ he told me with a doleful face.

Lamenting him, I proposed, ‘Do you hold a grudge against this occupation? Would you like me to ask the administration to change your occupation and leave you safe at home?’

Scared, he responded with tears in his eyes, ‘Do you really want me to live? Or do you want me to die? My misfortune of being in this occupation is no match for the one of being locked at home. If it hadn’t been for this occupation, I would have been in misery for long.’

‘My family has been living here for more than seventy years, and we witnessed the agony of our neighbours.’ he continued.

‘When a lockdown is in place, people cannot go to work and thus have no income.’

‘In the meantime, they still have to pay off the mortgage and bills.’

‘The shutdown of the transportation results in food shortage in local markets, and the prices skyrocket.’

‘Because of the shutdown of pharmacies and hospitals, many people died of acute or chronic diseases.’

‘Many people started to have psychological diseases due to the lockdown, and some even committed suicide.’

According to Jiang, less than half of his usual neighbours remain here today. This number drops to a quarter for the families once living with his parents and to less than 10% for his grandparents. Most of them either died or moved abroad.

Jiang also described the screening, ‘Brutal officials stormed into the neighbourhood, disturbing people with loudspeakers.’

‘They dragged people out of their homes and forced them into a queue.’

‘When a positive case was detected, that person would be transferred to a concentration camp with poor hygiene.’

‘If he had pets, such as dogs and cats, they would be mercilessly killed.’

‘Every time there was a session of screening, I rose up and nervously checked up on my physician license.’

‘If it was still there, I could then ease myself and go back to my business.’

‘With the privilege of physicians, I can even wander about in the city and buy things that I need.’

‘So, I only have to risk my life once or twice a month and can enjoy the rest of the month, unlike my neighbours, who live in panic every day.’

‘Even if I died today, I still live longer than most of my neighbours. Why should I hold a grudge against my occupation?’

Jiang’s story left me gloomy. Confucius once said, ‘Ruthless governance is even more threatening than a tiger.’ I once doubted it, but no more after the encounter with Jiang.

Ah! Who would know that screening and lockdown are even more dangerous than the virus? I thus jotted down this story, awaiting those inspectors to see it.