Chapter 117: Father Chi in Critical Condition

This story is purely fictional.

"The approximate cost will be between eighty and one hundred thousand," the doctor replied.

"Could we discuss this among our family and then decide?" Chi Zhaoming asked.

"No problem. Once you have discussed it, let us know when you plan to transfer, and we will process the transfer procedures for you as soon as possible," the doctor said.

After finishing their conversation with the doctor, Chi Zhaoming and the others returned to the ward. Chi Qian's headache was flaring up again, but seeing his children present, he endured the excruciating pain, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Chi Zhaoming understood his father's state of mind; in those eyes, he read a desperate yearning to be treated. "After we return to Dahe and coordinate the surgery with the Dahe hospital, we will come to pick you up for treatment."

Upon hearing this, Chi Qian seemed to see a glimmer of hope for survival, and his eyes brightened significantly.

After settling matters in Xiaohe, Mingyue called to inquire about their father’s condition. Chi Zhaoming explained the situation at the Xiaohe hospital in detail. "Tomorrow morning, Minghe will arrange for an ambulance from the Xiaohe hospital to take Father to the hospital in Dahe. Wu Zhengzhe and I will be waiting for them at the surgical building of the Dahe hospital. If you have time, just go directly to the surgical building."

When Minghe arrived at the Dahe hospital with their father, Chi Zhaoming, Wu Zhengzhe, and Mingyue were already waiting at the entrance of the surgical building.

Seeing their father’s haggard face, Mingyue’s eyes filled with tears. She wiped them away as she watched the medical staff lift him onto a gurney and followed the bed into the elevator.

Because they were waiting for a bed to be cleared in the ward, the gurney was parked in a drafty corner of the corridor.

Qu Wenkai had also arrived. After hearing Chi Zhaoming’s account and seeing the CT scan from the Xiaohe hospital, he had a bad premonition.

Noticing Qu Wenkai’s grave expression, Chi Zhaoming asked, "Your face and expression look a bit strange. Is there something wrong? Please, just tell me."

"I don't think it's as simple as the doctors at the Xiaohe hospital said—that just a brain surgery will solve it. Of course, this is just my judgment and speculation. We won't know for sure until our expert, Dr. Li, performs further examinations," Qu Wenkai explained.

"You mean... my father has other problems?" Chi Zhaoming’s heart began to race.

"You could say that, but we need the expert's further assessment to confirm if my theory is accurate," Qu Wenkai replied.

Chi Zhaoming glanced at Wu Zhengzhe, Mingyue, and Minghe standing by the bedside. Fearing they might overhear, he whispered, "Lower your voice. The old man has a very strong will to live right now. If he hears what you’re saying, I don’t know how devastating it would be for him."

A nurse approached and asked, "Are you the family of Chi Qian? The bed in the ward is ready. You can take the patient to the room now. A nurse will come by shortly to organize the admission file. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going. Professor Qu, carry on!"

"Alright, thank you!" Qu Wenkai nodded at the nurse.

After getting settled in the ward, Mingyue went to the hospital’s convenience store to buy some daily necessities for her father, placing them on the shelf under the bed.

The ward conditions were quite good; it was a single room. Though small, it spared them the many inconveniences of a shared space. When Wu Zhengzhe, Chi Zhaoming, and Minghe were all inside, it felt a bit crowded. Mingyue fetched a basin of hot water to wipe the dust and sweat from Chi Qian’s body.

While hospitalized in Xiaohe, his father had spent too long lying in bed, and his back had become red and swollen—signs that bedsores might be forming. Mingyue’s heart ached as if it were being squeezed.

After cleaning him, Mingyue sat by the bed and massaged his lower limbs to relieve the numbness in his nerves.

Chi Qian felt a bit hungry and said to Chi Zhaoming, "I’m craving rice noodles. Go buy me some stir-fried rice noodles." His voice was low, but Chi Zhaoming heard him clearly.

"Come with me, let's go buy them. Wu Zhengzhe and Mingyue, you stay here. Mingyue, keep massaging the old man. We’ll be back as soon as we buy them," Chi Zhaoming said.

"Alright, be safe, and come back quickly!" Mingyue replied.

Chi Zhaoming and Minghe went out to the shops near the hospital, but after asking at several restaurants, none had them.

Chi Zhaoming thought of the food street across the road, which was full of small shops. "Let’s go check the shops across the street. Father wants stir-fried noodles, so we have to get them. We’ll scour all of Dahe if we have to."

"True. The old man hasn't eaten anything for days. His sudden appetite today really caught me off guard," Minghe said, looking at his older brother.

The two brothers walked through the streets across from the hospital until they finally found a small shop that sold them. Their joy was indescribable. "Great, this is truly great. If we couldn't even manage to get him some noodles when he finally wanted to eat, who knows how upset he would have been," Minghe said.

"That's true. And who knows how many more meals he’ll be able to eat," Chi Zhaoming said with a hint of sorrow.

"What do you mean? Did Professor Qu say something to you? Is the old man’s illness incurable?" Minghe asked.

"Oh... well, Mingyue isn't around, so I don't need to hide it from you. Professor Qu told me that Father’s illness is likely not just a simple brain tumor. In other words, the tumor might not be the primary site; it could have metastasized to the brain from somewhere else," Chi Zhaoming said, looking at Minghe.

"So you mean it’s already spread? Late-stage cancer—is that what you’re saying?" Minghe asked.

"That’s about the gist of it. Don't mention this when you go back. If Mingyue finds out, she won’t have a moment of peace," Chi Zhaoming cautioned.

Minghe nodded in understanding and took the stir-fried noodles from the shopkeeper.

Carrying the food, the two returned to the hospital.

"Why were you gone so long? You just run off without knowing when to come back. Don’t you know the patient is hungry?" Mingyue scolded them for being slow.

"We checked so many restaurants and none had them. We had no choice but to go to an alley next to the food court across the street. Sorry, we’re back late. Are you hungry?" Chi Zhaoming asked.

"I'm fine. Mingyue was just worried about your safety, keep muttering about how there are too many cars and people outside," Chi Qian whispered.

Mingyue opened the packaging; the noodles were still steaming. She took a pair of chopsticks, picked up a mouthful, and blew on it, terrified of burning her father.

The old man held the noodles in his mouth, chewing slowly for a long time before swallowing.

Perhaps because he lacked a true appetite, after less than three bites, Chi Qian shook his head to indicate he was done.

"Alright, whenever you feel like eating again, just tell us, and we’ll buy it for you," Mingyue said.

Chi Qian nodded, then stared blankly as if lost in thought.

Perhaps because his head didn't ache as much as before, he felt slightly more at ease. Before long, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

"It’s getting late, you guys should go back and rest," Minghe said to Chi Zhaoming.

"Right. I’ll check in at work tomorrow, and if there’s nothing urgent, I’ll come straight to the hospital," Chi Zhaoming replied. He turned to Wu Zhengzhe and said, "You have to work tomorrow too, so go back as well. It’s no good for us all to be cramped in here. Get some rest."

"Everyone go back and rest. Mingyue, you go too. I’ll take responsibility for looking after Father tonight," Minghe said.

With that, they all went home to rest. In the ward, Minghe stayed behind to tidy up. The dim light illuminated his face, and everything was silent.

In the ward, Minghe would periodically rise to tuck the quilt around his father or fetch the urinal for Chi Qian...

~~~~~~

After Fan Wei’s goal, the atmosphere at the Dahe Club was incredibly strange. A victory earned through a goal, yet there was no joy, no celebration—everyone seemed as if they had been dealt a devastating blow.

Hao Benshan was enjoying the moment alone, but soon, he sensed the eerie atmosphere.

Hao Benshan asked the General Manager, "The team just secured the first victory since I took over. It wasn't easy to achieve, so why does everyone look so unhappy?"

The General Manager replied, "A victory isn't something to be so dramatic about!" Hao Benshan asked the Deputy General Manager, who replied, "I don't know. It’s not worth celebrating!"

Hao Benshan called Star, a celebrity in H-City. Star was full of resentment toward him. "I haven't even looked for you yet, and you have the nerve to call me? Don't you know what kind of disgraceful thing you’ve done?"

"Me? What disgraceful thing? I, Hao Benshan, have lived an upright life. I have never done anything disgraceful; things that go against my conscience never touch me. We’ve been friends for decades; talking to me like this is hardly being a good brother. It truly hurts my heart!" Hao Benshan said, feeling deeply aggrieved.

"You know we've been friends for decades, but have you ever treated us like it? You took charge of the Dahe team, and we were happy and proud of you. We even went to Dahe personally to cheer you on," Zhao Beijing said, nearly hysterical.

"But you? You didn't tell us the good news. I had to hear such news from outsiders. Even if you didn't tell us brothers, there was no need to sabotage us like that! You deliberately released false information, then cut off our escape route, causing us to suffer the most miserable losses since we started betting. Because of your match, each of us lost fifty million. That’s over one hundred million in total, do you realize that, brother?" Zhao Beijing shouted in a rage.

(To be continued)