Chapter 262 The Ghost Fetus (Hydatidiform Mole)

At first, Li San Niang suspected that Ma Niangzi had a tumor in her abdomen or uterus, or that the fetus had died in the womb.

During the consultation, Li San Niang discovered that Ma Niang Zi had experienced morning sickness from the beginning, and according to Ma Niang Zi, her belly was growing bigger every day.

Based on the palpation and the symptoms described by Ma Niangzi, Li San Niang could basically conclude that it was a hydatidiform mole.

What is a hydatidiform mole?

In modern times, it is classified as a disease of placental villous trophoblastic cell proliferation.

Ma Niangzi met all the clinical symptoms, including morning sickness, and seemed to be a normal pregnant woman.

However, the presence of vaginal bleeding, a significantly larger and softer belly than expected for a normal pregnancy all indicate that this is not a normal pregnancy.

The most important point, which is why Dr. Cui was certain that Madam Ma was not pregnant, is that no other pulse could be heard when taking her pulse.

In other words, what Ma Niangzi was carrying wasn't a child, but a fleshy ball that would terrify people with trypophobia—a ball of flesh that looked like a densely packed stack of blood-red grapes!

However, judging from Madam Ma's behavior, she didn't want to believe it at all.

How should we say this to make it work?

Li San Niang looked at Doctor Gao standing behind her. Seeing that he didn't give any instructions, Li San Niang reached out and grasped Ma Niangzi's hand, which was on the table.

Li San Niang looked into Ma Niangzi's eyes and said, "Ma Niangzi, you know, you understand, let go."

Li San Niang's words struck Ma Niangzi like an electric shock. She immediately shook off Li San Niang's hand, stood up abruptly, and almost lost her balance and fell backward. Fortunately, the old woman who had been by Ma Niangzi's side stepped forward to support her.

Having regained her footing, Ma Niangzi ignored Li San Niang's hand, which had turned red from being thrown so quickly and landed on the inkstone beside her, and pointed at Li San Niang, who was still sitting, and said sternly, "Fine, I thought you and I were both women, so you should be a good one."

I never imagined you were afraid of these men!

They conspired with them to cheat me!

My baby is inside me, he's right there in my belly! I can feel it!

He is growing up every day; he is my child, my blood relative!

You're all talking nonsense!

Very well, I refuse to believe that there isn't a single doctor in Chang'an who tells the truth!

"Grandma Wen, let's go!"

After making those harsh words, Madam Ma was helped away from the clinic by the old woman named Granny Wen.

Li San Niang added a final sentence to the medical record: "The patient did not believe the doctor's diagnosis and left directly."

Doctor Gao watched Madam Ma walk away without saying anything, but said to Li San Niang, "Alright, since she's gone on her own, we can't interfere anymore."

Li San Niang asked, "Doctor Gao, shouldn't we inform this woman's family? Her condition is really bad."

Since Madam Ma called Li San Niang for a consultation, Doctor Cui, who hadn't spoken a word, also got up and came over, saying to Doctor Gao, "If she doesn't take medicine and receive treatment soon, her life is indeed in danger."

"After all, this person came from our clinic. We should inform the woman's family so that they can exonerate us if anything happens later."

Doctor Gao originally didn't want to deal with these people anymore, but since Doctor Cui had spoken up, Doctor Gao nodded and instructed the young apprentice beside him, "Go out and find out which family this Madam Ma, whose husband's surname is Liu, is from. Go to their house and tell them. That will be enough for us to do our part."

This family has both the husband's surname and the wife's surname. In addition, the wife's belly is very noticeable. They are from a family that can afford to hire a wife. If you ask a few young men on the street, you should be able to find them.

The young apprentice nodded and bowed, took a copper coin from the counter, and went out.

After sitting back down at the consultation table, Qiu Xiang whispered to Li San Niang, "San Niangzi, what's wrong with Ma Niangzi? She looks just like a pregnant woman, so why did you and Old Man Cui both say she's not pregnant?"

Li San Niang first raised her hand and gently patted Qiu Xiang's arm, then said in a low voice, "I've told you so many times, that's Doctor Cui, you can't call him old man."

Qiu Xiang remained noncommittal, but obediently nodded, waiting for Li San Niang to explain to her.

"...Because of this, and since I didn't hear another pulse, I confirmed, like Dr. Cui, that she was indeed not pregnant, but simply ill."

"Grapes? Is that the sweet and sour, bunch-like fruit we ate at the West Market?"

Seeing Li San Niang nod, Qiu Xiang's eyes widened: "That's really terrible! Having this thing growing in your belly, isn't that like a monster?"

"It's just an illness, how could it be a monster? You absolutely cannot say that."

Just as it was nearing the end of his shift, the young apprentice ran back, covered in sweat.

The young apprentice gave the street vendor a dozen or so coins, asked around for a while, and finally found the place.

It turned out to be a Liu family's house on the street just ahead.

The Liu family ran a paper money and incense shop. Because there were many devout Buddhists and Taoists in the Tang Dynasty at that time, the business of this incense shop was quite good.

Therefore, Ma Niangzi was able to have an older woman to serve her when she went out.

The young apprentice said, "I went into the shop, found the shopkeeper, and after asking him, I learned that he was Madam Ma's husband. So I told him about Madam Ma's visit to our clinic."

"Catch your breath first, take a break."

Doctor Gao had another apprentice serve tea to the young apprentice. After the young apprentice had taken a couple of sips of tea, he heard the young apprentice say, "But before I could finish speaking, Manager Liu impatiently raised his hand to dismiss me."

Manager Liu said, "She's gone mad, don't worry about her, just leave her be."

After hearing this, I finished relaying what the steward had said—that his family should take Madam Ma to see a doctor—before bowing and leaving.

"Didn't you ask the neighbors if they knew what happened?"

Tang Mingyue's words made the young apprentice straighten his back. The apprentice said confidently, "I actually went to ask. Guess what, Doctor Tang?"

"Oh, so you're teasing me now? Alright, how about I treat you two to mutton soup and flatbread later?"

The young apprentice bowed and said, "Thank you, Dr. Tang."

What I heard from the neighbors was that when Madam Ma first became pregnant, the Liu family was overjoyed, saying that they had been married for over a year before she became pregnant.

However, Madam Ma later felt unwell and went to see a doctor. The doctor said that Madam Ma was ill and not pregnant, but Madam Ma did not believe it. The Liu family kept urging Madam Ma to listen to the doctor and take medicine for treatment.

But Madam Ma was determined to believe that they were all going to harm her child and refused to take the medicine.

They said they had visited Jishitang and Yingchuntang in our neighborhood, in addition to Huichuntang.

The Liu family was beyond control and could only let Madam Ma do as she pleased.