chapter 21 Poor people don’t get sick ===
Words : 1875
Updated : Nov 27th, 2024
"Fan Yu, you came at the right time. Let your wife go home. Come back when you have the money. The hospital isn't a charity."
Fan Yu urgently said, "Olina Li, please think of a solution. I'll quickly gather the money, but Patty's illness can't be delayed any longer. Don't drive her away. I'll pay the full amount in the afternoon."
"Give it up, Fan Yu. You've been dealing with hospitals for years, from your father to your wife. You've drained your family's finances."
Olina Li disdainfully said, "If you ask me, poor people shouldn't get sick. Once they do, they can only wait to die. Whose fault is that?"
Thorpe Chen was angry, "Olina Li, how can you talk like that? We're all classmates. Now that Fan Yu is in trouble, if you don't want to help, that's one thing, but why are you here discouraging him?"
"Oh, are you Thorpe Chen?" Olina Li took a moment to recognize him, then laughed, "I guess only a weirdo like you would still be in touch with Fan Yu."
"He's borrowed a lot of money over the years, even from loan sharks. As for you? You just drink, gamble, and beat your wife, ha!"
Thorpe Chen was stunned, "The last time I borrowed money from Fan Yu was a year ago. It was 10,000. How did he manage to gather that much for me?"
On the way, he learned about Fan Yu's situation. After graduating, his father was diagnosed with cancer, which drained all their savings. Last year his father passed away. Now, his wife has a rare heart disease, and he's been juggling multiple jobs, never daring to take a break.
"Olina Li, I'm really begging you," Fan Yu was on the verge of tears.
Patty, trying to stand up, said to her husband, "Honey, let's go home." She held him and cried, "Let's go home. I don't want treatment anymore."
"If you want to cry, go outside. This is a hospital. What's with the crying? It's unseemly!" At that moment, a doctor approached and scolded them, "There are leaders coming for an inspection soon. Olina Li, do you still want your promotion?"
Olina Li, seeing the man, immediately put on a smile, "Director Zhang, I'll chase them away right now. Please look after my promotion."
Director Zhang nonchalantly replied, "Don't worry about that. I have friends in the department. I'll invite them out for a meal later."
He then looked at Fan Yu and Patty, "Did Olina Li tell you? The hospital rule is a minimum deposit of 10,000 for admission."
"Don't bother coming with just a few hundred or a thousand. Come back when you have enough. Also, this rare heart disease your wife has? If you want surgery, you'll need to book in advance with a specialist..."
Thorpe Chen coldly interjected, "Hospitals are supposed to save lives. Have they become places for people like you to profit from?"
Director Zhang pointed outside, "Who are you? What right do you have to criticize us? The hospital isn't a charity. If you don't have money, you can go left outside to the place selling urns. They're only a few hundred."
"Alright, you're the department head, right?" Thorpe Chen asked coldly.
"Yes, I am. My name is Lei Zhang. If you want to file a complaint, go to the second floor of the main hall," Lei Zhang replied, looking unbothered.
Thorpe Chen was furious and was about to make a call when Patty suddenly clutched her chest, her face twisted in pain.
"Honey, what's wrong?!" Fan Yu exclaimed in panic.
Thorpe Chen approached, placing his hand on Patty's, "Qi and blood are both injured, causing a blood stasis in the heart. Is this a Qi-induced heart disease?"
"Yes, yes, it's a rare heart disease. It can only be managed, and the chances of a successful surgery are slim," Fan Yu replied with teary eyes.
"It's alright. It's not a big issue. I can treat it," Thorpe Chen reassured him, taking out a portable needle case.
After treating Mr. Lin, Thorpe Chen had prepared a set of needles for emergencies.
Olina Li was shocked, "Thorpe Chen, what are you doing? You're going to treat her?"
"Why? Can't I?" Thorpe Chen shot her a glance.
Olina Li laughed, "A college graduate from a medical school, who's been doing nothing on the streets, treating someone? That's hilarious."
Director Zhang warned, "What are you doing? I'll tell you now, she's been discharged. If something happens because of what you're doing, don't blame our hospital."
"You can rest assured, I definitely won't cause trouble for your hospital." Thorpe Chen gave Lei Zhang a cold glance, then asked, "Fan Yu, did you trust me?"
"I..." Fan Yu didn't know how to respond. Although he hadn't seen Thorpe Chen for a long time, he knew how degenerate Thorpe had been in the past. He didn't really believe that Thorpe could cure illnesses.
"I genuinely could treat your younger sister's illness. I never knew you faced such difficulties in the past and still lent me money. We are good brothers; I wouldn't joke about your sister's life," Thorpe Chen said earnestly.
"Alright, I trust you, Thorpe Chen. Please take care of Patty Liu's illness." Fan Yu gritted his teeth; he felt he had no other option. Over the past few years, his wife's illness had drained all his resources. If something truly happened to Patty Liu, he was ready to join his wife.
"Young lady, take a nap, and you'll feel better when you wake up," Thorpe Chen said.
"Thorpe Chen, I trust you too," Patty Liu gasped for breath, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. In reality, she just hoped that Thorpe Chen might end her suffering, so she wouldn't burden her husband any longer.
Thorpe Chen pressed a spot on her neck, and she fell asleep. He gently laid her on a recliner and began the acupuncture.
"Heh, your name is Thorpe Chen? Do you know what her illness is?" Lei Zhang sneered.
"Heart disease," Thorpe Chen replied indifferently.
"Do you even know the specific type of heart disease she has? I am the director of the internal medicine department. For her rare heart condition, our hospital's experts have found no solution. The best method is drug control, and if it's severe, intensive hospital treatment. Even with the top experts in internal medicine, the success rate of surgery is less than 30%. Do you think, being a thug from the bottom of society, you're more capable than our top experts?"
"Pardon my frankness," Thorpe Chen, while carefully inserting needles, said, "In my eyes, these so-called elite experts of yours are worthless."
"What did you say?" Lei Zhang was furious.
"Do you want to die, Mr. Chen? Do you know who you are speaking to? Director Zhang graduated from a top medical school and has published articles in major medical forums and journals. He's a leading figure in Fengling City's medical field."
"What qualifications do you have to speak with Director Zhang? A gambler like you, worthy?" Olina Li exclaimed in anger.
"Before I finish inserting these needles, it's best you stay silent," Thorpe Chen shot Olina Li a cold, sharp look. Olina Li felt a chill and kept silent.
"Heh, I want to see if this arrogant person like you will end up killing her," Lei Zhang scoffed.
How could he possibly believe Thorpe Chen could cure Patty Liu's illness when their hospital's top experts couldn't?
Thorpe Chen remained silent. The pathology of her heart disease, caused by damage to both Qi and Yuan, was complex and required Qi-guided acupuncture. At the time, he had not yet fully grasped the first level of the Tai Xuan Holy Scripture, and could barely muster a trace of Qi. Thus, his acupuncture procedure was extremely challenging. After a few needles, sweat appeared on his forehead. But fortunately, he managed to persist. Twenty minutes later, with a lift of his right hand, he completed the acupuncture.
When he removed the needles, Patty Liu slowly woke up. Although drenched in sweat, her pale face had a hint of rosiness.
"How are you feeling, dear?" Fan Yu asked anxiously.
"I feel great, very relaxed, and my heart isn't causing any pain. I feel like a normal person now," Patty Liu said excitedly.
"Thorpe Chen, is Patty really alright now?" Fan Yu asked urgently.
"I'll prescribe some medicine. Take it on time, and after a few more acupuncture sessions, she'll be fine," Thorpe Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead. He thought he needed to fully comprehend the Tai Xuan Holy Scripture. Once he reached the first level, his acupuncture wouldn't be this strenuous, and he could cure in just one session.
"Thorpe Chen, you are our benefactor," Fan Yu said with a trembling voice, full of emotion.
"Don't be a stranger by saying that. I won't forget the favor you did for me," Thorpe Chen gripped his hand tightly.
"You just got lucky, right?" Lei Zhang, looking puzzled at Patty Liu, observed her. Now, her face was glowing, she spoke with full vigour and didn't look sick at all.