Chapter 35: Even in urgent illness, one should not hastily seek medical treatment.

  A business van was speeding on Linping Highway.

  Zhang Shidong was very unhappy, puffing on his cigarette: "Old mom, you're too immoral. I'm still working, and an hour is worth tens of dollars. It's not something that can be delayed."

  Zhao Ya smiled slyly and pretended to be a dog, stretching out her body to massage him: "Alright, I'll reimburse you if necessary."

  Sitting in the front row, President Zhou Tongren of the Central Hospital smiled and said: "Little Zhang, why don't you come to our hospital? I'll give you a visiting professor's treatment. How about it?"

  Kong Mei glared at her son: "Director, don't mind him. It's all because of Xiaoya spoiling him. Look at him now, he can't even sit or stand properly. And that job, don't think I don't know about your little tricks. That place is just a haven for idle people, and the company leaders probably hope you two never go to work again, so they won't bother asking if you're taking leave or not."

  Zhang Shidong lay slumped on Zhao Ya's leg, his feet propped up against the car roof, extinguishing his cigarette: "Forget it, forget it. I have a few pounds and ounces that only I know about. Don't get your hopes up too high, I'm just going along to take a look."

  Even the prestigious and renowned Dr. Zhou had to personally attend to it, gathering famous doctors from all over the province to convene at Linhu for a consultation. After several days of treatment with no results, Dr. Zhou thought of that miraculous acupuncture technique and specially sought out Kong Mei on his way, who told him it was that old man. Without another word, Kong Mei had the car stop in front of the Hua Zhan Building, where "Bound" Zhang Shidong rushed to Linhu.

  "My brain, I'm not sure about it, forget it, just consider it a trip to the provincial city." Muttering to himself, Zhang Shidong turned over, closed his eyes, and enjoyed Zhao Ya's increasingly professional massage.

  "Xiao Ya, you're spoiling him too much. Look at him now, what has he become." Kong Mei said with her mouth, but in her heart, she was overjoyed. Which mother wouldn't hope that their future daughter-in-law would be completely obedient to their son?

  Zhao Ya raised her head, smiled slightly, and seemed unconvinced. Her entire demeanor became even more aloof and detached. Outsiders only saw this side of her, but Kong Mei could see that she had two sides when Zhang Shidong was around. As for Zhang Shidong, he saw a weak and fragile girl who was completely dominated by men in the spiritual world of love.

  Inside the conference room of Linhu City People's Hospital, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular experts from Yanjing gathered together, flipping through the materials in their hands, looking at the electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram on the slides on the wall, frowning without saying a word. Professor Cao Tianfang, the most authoritative expert in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in China, sat in the position closest to the slide, leaning back his head, with deep furrows between his eyebrows, and a hint of fatigue that could not be concealed at the corners of his eyes.

  "What does everyone think? Let's discuss."

  Cao Tianfang has a national character face, thick eyebrows and big eyes. He is over 60 years old but still has a deep voice. Five years ago, he was still the famous Cao Yidao at home and abroad. With the growth of age and severe loss of energy in his youth, his hands are no longer as stable as before. He had to bid farewell to the operating table and do some academic research. As his skills recovered, his wish to perform one operation every one or two months was still achieved. This also made Cao Tianfang's reputation even greater. Many dignitaries spared no expense to ask Professor Cao to take charge of surgery. The person who can make him come out of Yanjing and almost sleepless for three days researching treatment and surgical plans has an energy that is difficult to estimate.

  There are many opinions, but none of them are effective. Everyone expresses their own views, but in the end, they all fall silent. The success rate of craniotomy is less than 20%. If we don't perform surgery and opt for conservative treatment instead, although the condition of facial paralysis and hemiplegia will worsen over time, at least it can guarantee a life extension of half a year to one year.

  When Zhou Tongren led Kong Mei and others to the intensive care unit of the People's Hospital, the patient's family members gathered in the corridor, with more than a dozen men, women, old and young people, each with a worried look on their faces. The first one, an old man wearing a general's uniform, saw Zhou Tongren and squeezed out a smile, taking big strides to walk over: "Old Zhou, you're still making this trip."

  It was clear that Zhou Tongren and the people present were very familiar with each other, and after a few words of comfort, they began to ask about his condition. It wasn't until then that Zhang Shidong realized who was lying inside.

  Zhou Tongren, a teacher from decades ago, former Minister of Education, the only one who has served as president of Yenching University, Wuda University and Mingzhu University, a true giant in the education sector, an academic mastermind, vice minister for many years, president for many years. The phrase "his students are all over the world" is not an exaggeration when describing him. Every Chinese New Year, the threshold of Mr. Xue's home is absolutely the one with the least utilitarianism and the most visitors with the highest quality. The old man has dedicated his life to education, still teaching students while serving as president, for decades, if his students were to make a list, they wouldn't dare boast, at least 10% of China's top elites directly or indirectly call him "teacher".

  Zhang Shidong was initially hesitant to come, but when he learned that the other party was Xue Guoxun, his eyes rose with deep respect. He is an old man who has dedicated his life to this country and nation, a lifetime of integrity and never giving his children any special treatment. In his old age, he abandoned the comfortable life in Yanjing and chose to return to his hometown Beihai, enjoying a simple farmer's life, living on the outskirts of the city, farming, planting vegetables, and tending to a small courtyard, content with his simple life.

  An old man like him, who had never bowed his head even in the turbulent times, now had to thoroughly lower his head in front of illness. Zhang Shidong secretly decided that if he was needed and could really help, he would do so without hesitation, not for anything else, but just for the chalk dust the old man had inhaled all his life.

  Cao Tianfang gave the final result, craniotomy is very risky, not doing it can maintain life for a period of time. Please ask the eldest son of the old master, General Zhang Jianjun, who shook hands with Zhou Tongren before, to discuss with his family and make a decision as soon as possible. The old master's condition is very bad.

  Jianjun looked at his younger siblings and juniors, his face didn't look good. As children, they should do their best to make the old man live up to 100 years, but if this is going to be at the cost of the old man's half-paralysis, incontinence, skewed mouth and eyes, and declining memory, they really want to try for that less than 20% success rate.

  Zhou Tongren knew that Zhang Shidong was too young to convince the crowd, so he quietly pulled Jian Jun aside and whispered a few words.

  "What, just him? I won't joke with Dad's life. This little kid can save our dad? I don't believe it." Xue Jianjun was discussing with his siblings when his older sister Xue Cuiyu, who works at the State Grid North Sea Electric Power Company, suddenly blew up. As the only child living with her father, Xue Cuiyu has been watching him suffer until he is now bedridden. She cannot allow anyone to increase her father's suffering without any guarantee."

  The second son, Jianzhu, who was the vice president of Yanjing University, also shook his head, thinking that it was ridiculous to let a young and inexperienced person use acupuncture to treat Professor Cao's cerebral vascular disease, which even he couldn't do anything about.

  Xue Cuirong, the youngest daughter who works at a military research institute, also disagrees. All four siblings inherited their father's facial features, and when placed together, they look like a family with round faces and big foreheads. This feature has been preserved until the third generation. Xuelin, the son of Zhang Shijun, stared at Zhang Shidong, unable to believe that this young man, who is younger than himself, could save his grandfather.

  Cao Tianfang also knew Zhou Tongren, although he too felt that things were a bit absurd. However, based on his understanding of Zhou Tongren, this was not someone who would make unfounded accusations. Without 70-80% certainty, he wouldn't have brought him here. Quietly, he arranged for the People's Hospital to call in several traditional Chinese medicine doctors, especially those skilled in acupuncture, to carefully examine this young man. Cao Tianfang was very familiar with Old Xue's illness, having previously sought out famous doctors. For this condition that Western medicine had no solution for, traditional Chinese medicine had also been put on the table, but over the years there had been no significant effect. Acupuncture might be useful in relieving nerve tremors and bodily sensations, but it was absolutely not as effective as Western medicine's surgical treatment.

  Soon, Cao Tianfang's idea was verified. Several traditional Chinese medicine doctors only asked a few questions and let Zhou Tong's so-called famous doctor reveal his true form, completely not a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, and even mentioned using acupuncture to save the old man.

  Xue Cuiru's words became unpleasant: "Director Zhou, the old man always said you were a straightforward person who did things in a straightforward way. Our family doesn't go to any doctor when we're ill, humph!"

  As the captain of the main reconnaissance battalion, Xue Lin was also hot-tempered. Seeing Zhang Shidong unable to answer his questions, he burst into flames and rushed forward, wanting to grab his collar and throw this swindler out: "You dare to come here and deceive us, believe it or not, I'll shoot you with one bullet."

  Crack! Zhang Shidong grabbed Xue Lin's wrist and said coldly: "I don't believe it."

  PS: Thanks for the straw man's reward!