Chapter 33: The Benefactor in Trouble

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Fang Zhiyan drank his porridge in silence.

Sweet potato porridge had been prepared that evening. It was sweet and delicious, and Fang Zhiyan enjoyed it very much.

Besides, now that his mother was divorced and free, the whole family was in high spirits.

Yet as Jiang Xu laughed, her gaze eventually settled on her son.

“Zhiyan, you know, I think that Teacher Xu is a very nice person. She probably has some feelings for you, too.”

“Why don’t you give it some thought? Perhaps it’s time for you to start a family.”

“Cough, cough, cough!”

Fang Zhiyan had not swallowed his mouthful of porridge. He began coughing violently, his entire body straining with the effort.

“Mom, what are you talking about?”

“I’m not even that familiar with Teacher Xu.”

“Second Brother!” Fang Zhixia, who was eating beside them, immediately spoke up.

“Teacher Xu is very familiar with you. She asks me about you every day.”

“She said she wanted to thank you, and asked when you get off work and when you’re free.”

At that, Fang Zhiyan rolled his eyes.

No wonder he had always found it strange that Xu Qiushuang happened to run into him every time he finished work.

So it was all because he had a little spy named Fang Zhixia.

“Oh? You told her your entire work schedule?” Fang Zhiyan asked.

Zhixia stuck out her tongue, a mischievous look on her face.

“Teacher Xu is a really nice person, anyway.”

“Really?” Fang Zhiyan narrowed his eyes. “She’s a teacher—and your homeroom teacher. Do you want to see your homeroom teacher every day?”

“Once school ends, all the other children can go out and play, while you’ll have to stay with your homeroom teacher and do your homework. Would you like that?”

At those words, Fang Zhixia’s pretty face went pale.

Her fear of homework instantly sent her into a panic.

“No! Second Brother, don’t! I won’t say anything anymore.”

Fang Zhiyan smiled.

Jiang Xu, sitting beside him, slapped him irritably.

“All you know how to do is frighten Zhixia.”

“Teacher Xu is such a good person. Why would she do that?”

“Anyway, I’m quite fond of her. You’re not getting any younger. It’s time for you to start a family.”

“The next time I see Teacher Xu, I’ll talk to her and find out more about her family.”

Fang Zhiyan did not reply.

He did have some favorable feelings toward Xu Qiushuang.

She was beautiful, and her personality was decent as well.

But matters between two people could not be decided by the two of them alone.

So Fang Zhiyan did not object.

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After dinner, Fang Zhiyan tidied up, washed, and prepared for bed.

He still had to go to work early the next morning.

Work in the emergency department was demanding and urgent, and every shift left him exhausted.

Still, payday was approaching. If he received his salary, life would become considerably easier for the whole family.

Early the next morning, Fang Zhiyan hurried out of bed and walked to the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

As soon as he entered, he saw Zhu Zixiao waiting nearby.

“Old Fang, what took you so long? There’s a difficult patient. Come take a look.”

Zhu Zixiao waved him over, then eagerly pulled him into the office.

Fang Zhiyan was completely bewildered. He genuinely could not understand why Zhu Zixiao was being so enthusiastic that day.

Examination reports were spread across the desk.

There were X-rays and CT scans.

Fang Zhiyan glanced at Zhu Zixiao in surprise before asking, “What makes this case so difficult?”

“Isn’t this a lumbar disc herniation?”

“Look here. On the lateral view, there’s calcification behind the intervertebral disc, along with calcification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and narrowing of the corresponding intervertebral space.”

“Isn’t this a very typical case of a herniated disc?”

Zhu Zixiao nodded and gave Fang Zhiyan a thumbs-up.

But then he added, “Director He said the same thing at first. However, the patient’s legs are paralyzed, and this isn’t a simple case of disc herniation.”

Fang Zhiyan frowned and once again focused intently on the images before him.

A moment later, he turned his head and asked, “What’s really going on? Stop keeping me in suspense and tell me.”

“Ha!”

Zhu Zixiao laughed.

“There’s another cause behind the patient’s lumbar disc problem. He has a history of spinal trauma.”

“He was in an accident years ago and fractured two cervical vertebrae.”

“But Director He still hasn’t determined the exact cause. They’re conducting further examinations now.”

Fang Zhiyan nodded and studied the images before him again.

After a moment, he slowly explained, “The scan was taken too low. It should have been positioned a little higher to include the entire cervical spine.”

“If I’m not mistaken, the reason the patient is paralyzed in both legs is very likely related to several of the cervical vertebrae above.”

Zhu Zixiao gave him another thumbs-up.

“You said exactly the same thing as Director He. The patient is having the scans redone now, and the results should be out soon.”

By that point, Zhu Zixiao had truly lost any ability to feel unconvinced by Fang Zhiyan.

That kid had joined later than him, yet had already performed surgery independently.

And to make matters worse, the surgery had been completed to near perfection, leaving Zhu Zixiao more than a little envious.

Just then, He Dongfang hurried in through the door with the scans in hand, his expression unusually grave.

“Director He!” several people called out as they quickly moved aside.

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He Dongfang pulled out the scans and examined them. Frowning, he said, “The injured portions of the patient’s fourth and sixth cervical vertebrae have already healed.”

“But there’s a tumor here. Treating it will be extremely difficult.”

“Moreover, the patient will probably have to be transferred to spinal surgery or neurosurgery. There’s no way our emergency department can handle this.”

Fang Zhiyan pressed his lips together.

In truth, he wanted to say that he could do it.

But He Dongfang was the department director. There was no need for him to show off here.

Just then, Fang Zhiyan suddenly noticed that his phone was ringing.

He frowned when he looked at the screen. He was about to reject the call, but then saw that it was his mother.

Under normal circumstances, his mother would never call him while he was at work.

Unless something urgent had happened.

After hesitating for a moment, Fang Zhiyan stepped back and moved to the side before cautiously answering the phone.

“Mom, what’s wrong?”

“I’m busy right now.”

“Zhiyan, your Uncle Lu went to the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. They said he has a tumor on his spine.”

“Could you see if you can help him and look after him?”

Jiang Xu hurriedly explained the situation.

When she finished, Fang Zhiyan froze.

A tumor on the spine?

Could it be the patient in front of him?

As for Uncle Lu—

Fang Zhiyan’s expression turned solemn, and a serious look appeared in his eyes.

When Fang Zhiyan had managed to attend medical school, his family had not contributed a single cent.

It had mainly been his mother and his maternal grandfather who had supported him.

Besides them, his high school teacher and one of his neighbors had also provided financial assistance.

That neighbor was the Uncle Lu his mother had mentioned—Lu Hongchang.

He had once served in the military, but after being injured and discharged, he had remained at home.

When he learned that Fang Zhiyan could not afford to continue his education, he had not hesitated for a moment. He had taken five thousand yuan from his own savings and given it to him.

At that time, five thousand yuan had been more than enough to allow Fang Zhiyan to complete his studies.

Thus, Lu Hongchang had repaid Fang Zhiyan with a kindness as profound as giving him a second life.

And now, his benefactor was in trouble.

“Mom, don’t worry. I understand. I’ll go take a look at the situation right away.”

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