Emergency surgery

Sensing Xu Xi's surprise, Qingcheng composed herself. She noticed something was off about Xu Xi's expression, so she asked him with concern if he felt unwell.

"It's nothing!" Xu Xi explained that he was so excited to see the two of them that he got a stitch in his side. He clutched his stomach uncomfortably, clearly lying.

“If you have a stitch, twist it in the opposite direction, but you don’t seem to have a stitch.” Gao Junxiao said as he opened the floral cloth on the vegetable basket, inside which were several thermos cups.

“Of course it’s not a stitch, it’s just his old stomach ailment acting up. We’re all family, don’t be shy. Where did you put your medicine? I’ll go get it for you.” Qingcheng cut to the chase and made her request—she wanted to see Wang Renyong.

"Uh, you guys figured it out. The medicine is on the coat rack to the left of my bedroom, in the biggest brown briefcase." Xu Xi glanced meaningfully at the kitchen. "Qingcheng, you have a sharp eye. You introduced me to such a good caregiver. She knows traditional Chinese medicine and can cook. I ate too much without even realizing it."

It turned out that the new caregiver was the problem, and was even using her own name. Qingcheng smiled calmly, said "It's a small matter," and then lifted her skirt to go upstairs to find Lao Wang.

After carefully observing the direction the hour hand was pointing, Qingcheng gave herself seven minutes for the conversation. Whether it was her fiancé or the Guangdong caregiver whose allegiance was unclear, speaking for too long would arouse suspicion.

After carefully locking the bedroom door, Qingcheng pushed open the clothes rack. Just one day later, Lao Wang's condition had deteriorated significantly. He lay listlessly on the makeshift bed. Hearing the noise, he half-opened his eyelids and managed a weak smile, but this time he didn't show his teeth.

He checked the temperature with his hand and found that the old man still had a fever. Qingcheng felt a lump in his throat. Old Wang's persistent high fever was not a good sign. For a common inflammation, a penicillin injection should at least bring down the fever.

"Have you eaten?" Wang Renyong asked in a typical Chinese greeting. On the cabinet next to him, there was a half-full bowl of congee and a plate of dried-up pickled cucumbers.

The second hand has already gone around one and a half times. What kind of time is this to be talking nonsense? Qingcheng told him to take care of himself first. He's not even eating properly; how can he have the strength to fight this illness? Xu Xi said on the phone that he refuses amputation. What is he thinking?

"The thought of amputation makes me lose my appetite." Wang Renyong struggled to sit up, still refusing to budge. "Please persuade Comrade Muller for me. I want conservative treatment; I don't want amputation."

No patient would persuade a doctor to change a treatment plan, but seeing Wang Renyong's insistence, Qingcheng softened and agreed to discuss feasible surgical options after seeing Muller.

The most pressing issue is how to arrange care for the Guangdong caregiver downstairs. The man is using my name, but he clearly doesn't recognize me, and I don't recognize him either.

"Okay, you really don't know her. I thought Ms. Xia introduced her to you." Wang Renyong showed a hint of helplessness.

Old Wang didn't recommend replacing the caregiver. He knew that once the caregiver from Guangdong left, Xu Qiao would immediately send in spies. His intuition told him that the caregiver wasn't a big problem.

Compared to spies with clear objectives, we can be wary of a quack doctor; perhaps he's just after money.

After a moment's thought, Qingcheng agreed to the idea of ​​holding back. The caregiver hadn't shown any aggression yet, but that didn't mean she wouldn't in the future. She would go back and investigate how one of the three caregivers she had hired from Guangci Hospital could have been replaced.

Old Wang told Qingcheng not to overthink it. During this time, he would ask Xu Xi to do more security work and try not to let her go upstairs alone, especially not alone in the bedroom.

If she discovers that the quack doctor is indeed problematic, she should dismiss him immediately to prevent the news from leaking out.

The second hand spun seven times, and the conversation just ended. Qingcheng looked up and saw Lao Wang pick up the cold porridge and shovel down a couple of mouthfuls. The next second, Qingcheng snatched the bowl away. She was burning up and couldn't eat anything cold, or her stomach would feel uncomfortable.

Have Xu Xicheng bring out a bowl of chicken soup later. Gao Junxiao's cooking skills are excellent. Don't miss it if you pass by. It's made by a master chef from Beijing, who simmers the chicken over a low flame for three hours to extract its essence. Then, he adds seasonal mountain delicacies. The broth is so delicious it'll make your eyebrows fall off.

In response to Qingcheng's proud sales pitch, Wang Renyong narrowed his eyes and teased, "Wow~ so amazing! Did you come to see me or to annoy me? Don't you know I'm sick and have no wife to keep me company? My heart is about to turn cold."

"Then I'll have to say more so your temperature can come down as quickly as possible." Kiyosumi grinned mischievously.

Midway through the conversation, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly approached from outside the door. Startled, Qingcheng quickly walked to the window and secretly peeked through a crack.

Good heavens, Xu Qiao is here again!

They came yesterday, and they're here again today. Why are these spies so annoying? Qingcheng informed Wang Renyong and then went downstairs to help.

But as soon as he stood up, Old Wang pulled him back down. Xu Qiao was Xu Xi's older brother; he came every day without any problems. There was no need to worry about Xu Xi; he would handle it himself. Qingcheng going down there would only be handing a knife to the spies, giving them an opportunity to spread rumors about the two of them.

“I’m not worried about Xu Xi. My fiancé is still downstairs. I’m not comfortable with him fighting Xu Qiao alone.” Qingcheng ignored Lao Wang’s objections and turned to leave the dressing room.

As she reached the stairwell, she heard Xu Qiao confront Gao Junxiao: "Counselor Gao, you seem to have a lot of free time, coming to my younger brother's house to cook."

The bright white light outlined Gao Junxiao's sleek figure as he retorted neither humbly nor arrogantly, "When it comes to leisure, we certainly can't compare to Manager Xu. All the work has been assigned, but the bonuses haven't been distributed yet. Should we have Director Yan or Section Chief Li distribute some more files to your CC department?"

"Counselor Gao is meddling in other people's business. When did the Military Law Department and the Propaganda Section become yours? Does Commander Xiong know?" Xu Qiao's tricky question made Qingcheng indignant. These dog spies are really inexplicable. They came to visit the sick after get off work, and as a family member, they not only didn't offer a cup of hot tea, but also made sarcastic remarks, trying to cause trouble. Is there any justice in this world?

"Hehe, we're all from the Party and the State. Why distinguish between 'you' and 'me' and 'internal' in office matters? If Manager Xu is unwilling to share the workload with his colleagues, fine. But if CC gives me the file, I'll definitely take it." Gao Junxiao was a master at putting people down. Qingcheng couldn't get the better of him verbally, so she breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Qiao, feeling embarrassed, no longer held back his words: "Counselor Gao, you're too kind. You should stay in the kitchen and do some women's work."

What? A thunderbolt struck her mind. The dog spy used a contemptuous attitude towards women as a rhetoric to belittle her fiancé.

Having her red lines crossed twice is intolerable! Qingcheng deliberately stomped her feet on the floor, exuding an aura as heavy as Mount Tai, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

As she passed Xuqiao, her sharp eyes swept over the enemy: "Being able to work is better than some useless people who are capable of doing anything but basic self-care, yet they're still so smug about it."

Adjusting his glasses, Xu Qiao pointed at Qingcheng incredulously: "Ha! This is the upbringing of your Gao family? Women can just interrupt whenever they want."

"Manager Xu must have gotten his head stuck in a door. My wife's surname is He." Gao Junxiao pressed down Xu Qiao's finger and said with a half-smile, "Perhaps what she said wasn't quite accurate and caused a misunderstanding. Let me explain again. In our northern region, only those with physical disabilities are called 'useless.' Those with all four limbs and five senses... are all called 'idiots.'"

Qingcheng chuckled. It was the first time she'd ever heard him curse like that. She smiled and squeezed the man's hand, casually remarking, "It sounds kind of cute, doesn't it?"

"Cute, right? Of course someone who's brainless is cute. I'll take you to the zoo next time; they're all pretty much the same anyway." Gao Junxiao casually flicked Qingcheng's nose.

“Okay, I love watching small animals the most.” Qingcheng leaned her head on Gao Junxiao’s shoulder and looked at Xu Qiao provocatively.

Xu Qiao's face was ashen, and his cold gaze swept over the two of them before coiling around his younger brother, Xu Xi, like a venomous snake.

Xu Xi, sitting at the dining table, remained silent throughout. Qingcheng understood his predicament; after all, they were brothers, blood was thicker than water. However, their views were worlds apart, and pretending to be stupid was the greatest respect one could show to one's elder brother.

Perhaps not wanting to make a fool of himself any further, Xu Qiao tossed down a thermos and said, "Let's heat this soup up before we drink it. Your sister Lulu has been stewing it for a long time."

"Get out! Don't send me any more soup, I'm not drinking it!" Xu Xi suddenly roared, his eyes showing no emotion, only blaming anger.

Wow, we've stepped on their tails! Gao and He exchanged a puzzled look. At that moment, Xu Xi, who had been frowning, turned to Qingcheng and the others with a smile, inviting them to sit down and ignoring the other people.

"Xu Xi, you're actually siding with outsiders! Don't forget you're also surnamed Xu," Xu Qiao said sternly.

“I’ve always sided with the inside, brother, sister-in-law, the food’s getting cold. Do you want to drink? I’ll have Liu Hui get it.” Xu Xi knew how to provoke people. He took out three crystal-clear wine glasses from the drawer under the table, without even glancing at Xu Qiao.

Bang--

After the loud slam of the door, Xu Xi, forcing a smile, put down his wine glass, a thin layer of sadness seeping from his eyes. Gao Junxiao gently patted his back to soothe him.

"It's alright, it's alright. Humph, a bully who uses despicable means to forcibly take another man's wife, don't spoil everyone's fun. He doesn't deserve it." Xu Xi clenched his fists, seemingly explaining, or perhaps comforting himself.

Ah, every family has its own troubles, and Qingcheng certainly wasn't foolish enough to pry. Instead, she proactively poured drinks for everyone to ease the tension. Fortunately, with delicious food in front of them, Xu Xi quickly recovered and happily enjoyed Gao Junxiao's cooking.

During the meal, Xu Xi casually mentioned that Dr. Muller would come to give him sleep therapy around 9:30 pm. He said the doctor was very professional and he could help contact anyone who needed his help.

Upon receiving Lao Wang's surgery schedule, Qingcheng smiled knowingly. Not long after finishing her meal, Qingcheng urged Gao Junxiao to go home. As for the remaining soup, she told Xu Xi to handle it himself, as she was certain he wouldn't waste it.

Before leaving, Liu Hui came out of the kitchen and opened the door. He gave Qingcheng a strange look. When Qingcheng realized he was looking back, he immediately lowered his head and bowed to see him off.

In the alleyway at dusk, insects rustled, their sounds heard but their forms unseen; the crisp chirping of insects complemented the rare good weather during the plum rain season.

The wind blew in from the other side, along with Gao Junxiao's sigh. Qingcheng turned to look at him, a strange tension holding her tongue. She tugged at the man's sleeve and shook it gently instead of asking a question.

"You haven't finished your visit yet, why don't you go back now?" Gao Junxiao took Qingcheng's hand.

I almost forgot about that excuse. It's not a big deal. Qingcheng stopped and calmly replied, "Forget it, he's not in good shape today. Let's talk about work in a few days and let him get some rest."

"You're quite perceptive. But do you know that while you may have felt good swearing just now, your safety is at risk?" Gao Junxiao cupped both of her hands in his palms and stared intently into her eyes.

Their eyes met, but they fell into a silent debate. Qingcheng blinked and retorted, "Didn't you curse too?" Gao Junxiao clicked his tongue in disdain, "He can't touch me."

The deepest emotions in her heart were conveyed to the other person through her eyes. Sensing her fiancé's deep worry, Qingcheng stepped forward and hugged the man, patting his back like she was comforting a child.

Gao Junxiao froze for a moment, then opened his arms and pulled her into his embrace: "How about I pick you up from get off work every day from now on?"

The warmth in his arms was very comfortable. Qingcheng shook her head and refused the man's suggestion, reasoning that an overprotective attitude would only incite Xu Qiao's violent desires.

The best course of action right now is for Gao Junxiao to pretend to be indifferent, continue to sow discord between the two agents, and create more trouble for Xu Qiao so that he has no time to deal with personal grudges.

Or we could secretly take a detour and cut off Xu Qiao's retreat. Qingcheng heard that Zhang Chong had a very high opinion of her fiancé, and Gao Junxiao also had a slight liking for Zhang Chong. It wouldn't be difficult to become his brother. In the end, we'll find a way to make him our eyes and ears.

After all, it's common knowledge that in the old-style military and political system, people valued classmates, fellow townsmen, and sworn brothers. Regardless of their stance, they were all brothers. Fighting on the battlefield or arguing in court, they couldn't afford to break ties. In crucial moments, information "accidentally" leaked by a brother could be a lifesaver!

"Thank you so much, you really know a lot. I'd like to be your brother." Gao Junxiao put one arm around her and ruffled her hair with the other.

"Hehe, no." Qingcheng buried her blushing face in the man's chest with a playful laugh. She didn't dare to say the last part aloud; she didn't want to live a life of widowhood.

"Hey, what are you grinning about?" He raised his eyebrows and gave Qingcheng a slightly disdainful look.

"You can't just sit back and do nothing, or I'll never dare to go out again." Qingcheng raised her face and smiled even more brightly.

"Tch, I wouldn't dare. I can't think of anything you wouldn't dare to do right now." Gao Junxiao suddenly laughed, the laughter coming out with a gurgling sound from his throat. "Don't worry, I'll handle it."

Since her fiancé had given her such a stern guarantee, Qingcheng would definitely give him her full support. However, Lao Wang's surgery was an urgent matter that was hanging over her head.

As the clock struck nine, Qingcheng tiptoed to the end of the corridor and slowly climbed down the water pipe next to the public balcony. She dared not risk going through the main entrance, in case she woke Gao Junxiao.

But whether it was just her imagination or not, Kiyosumi always felt like there was a pair of eyes watching her from behind. She rode her bicycle around in circles several times before that feeling disappeared.

When Kiyosumi arrived at Xu Xi's door, panting, she saw that Dr. Muller's car was already parked steadily in the front garden. Oh my god, would she miss it?

Before she could knock, Xu Xi, leaning on his cane, opened the door for her. After confirming that no one was following her, he immediately closed the door.

After entering the house, Qingcheng didn't see the Guangdong nurse. Xu Xi explained in a low voice that he had sent Liu Hui out to buy something, and he wouldn't be back for three or four hours. This tactic really works, Qingcheng thought to herself, lamenting the terrible class divide.

Upstairs, Dr. Muller had changed into his blue surgical gown. His male assistant, who looked Chinese, was wiping metal instruments with alcohol swabs in the living room.

“Miss He, you’ve come at the right time. Go and disinfect yourself. Could you also hold up a flashlight for me later? It’ll have to do with a surgical lamp. Sigh, the conditions here are too basic,” Dr. Muller complained, spreading his hands.

"Okay, Dr. Muller, do you still want to perform the amputation?" Kiyosumi asked directly.

Muller nodded: "Yes, Comrade Wang tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus. If the bacteria spread throughout his body and destroy his immune system, he will die."

The bad feeling in her heart became a reality. Qingcheng did not expect that Lao Wang was infected with the most troublesome Gram-positive cocci. Would he really have to have his leg amputated?

Knowledge flashed through her mind, and then several documents came to mind—cutting-edge academic materials she had just helped her cousin translate during the Chinese New Year.

Qingcheng practically jumped in front of Mr. Muller: "Wait, Mr. Muller, have you done any bacterial culture? I'd like to know which generation Comrade Wang's golden staphylococcus is?"

“Time is of the essence, there’s simply no time to culture it, but his high fever persisted even after the penicillin injection, which means the bacteria have developed drug resistance and are definitely not the first generation,” Dr. Mueller replied somewhat impatiently.

"No, no, Comrade Wang has never been infected with this type of virus before. According to the research in the 72nd issue of Natural Science, pathogens of three generations or more undergo iteration within the human body. Has the pathogen in Comrade Wang's body exhibited the phenomenon of expelling nuclei?"

The male assistant, who was focused on narrating, suddenly spoke up: "No, but there are phenomena such as dummy nucleoproteins and thickened cell walls, which make it impossible for penicillin to effectively identify them. I've also read that article. Theoretically, the patient is infected with second-generation cocci. There is also research in The Lancet. Although second-generation cocci have developed drug resistance, penicillin's inhibition rate can still reach 70%."

Receiving affirmation, Qingcheng became even bolder: "Comrade Wang's persistent high fever is most likely proof that his immune system is working, trying to kill the remaining 30% of the pathogens. Why can't we give his immune system more time? Amputation can indeed solve the problem temporarily, but what about the risk of secondary infection after surgery? What about his prognosis?"

The male assistant was somewhat moved and stood up to persuade him, "Teacher, the conditions here are not as good as in the operating room. We can't disinfect thoroughly, and the patient's biological indicators are not good. We should reduce the amount of wounds that can be reduced. I think penicillin is still effective. Before leaving, I specifically looked at the microscope, and the concentration of bacteria in his blood was decreasing. How about we change it to a debridement surgery?"

“Yes, Mr. Muller, a doctor has a compassionate heart. He is a living, breathing person. If this case can be successful, wouldn’t it save more patients?” Kiyosumi promptly praised the doctor.

Dr. Mueller glanced at his assistant and then at Qingcheng, tapping his palm with his stethoscope before finally relenting: "I didn't bring enough anesthesia. If it goes over time, you'll just have to grit your teeth and bear it."

“Sigh, he has to endure it even if he can’t help it.” Qingcheng smiled and nodded to the male assistant who was helping her, then turned to Xu Xi to prepare a towel.

A makeshift bed was placed on the open floor of the bedroom, and the air was filled with the smell of formaldehyde. Old Wang clutched the corner of the blanket, staring blankly at the sky, until Qingcheng and the others, who had changed into their surgical gowns, came in, and he stiffly turned his head.

Dr. Muller opened the metal briefcase, which was full of metal tools such as saws and chisels, making it look like a carpenter's. When Wang Renyong saw it, his eyes rolled back and his mouth gaped open, like a fish out of water.

Qingcheng, suppressing a laugh, directed Lao Wang: "Hey, stop pretending to be dead, quickly take off your clothes, we're going to do the final cleaning."

"Don't scare him, senior brother. We're not going to amputate. We'll just clean the wound. The only problem is that the anesthetic might not be enough. You can bite on this towel." Xu Xi gently handed him the towel.

"No, no, I am the Guan Yu of our time! If I utter a sound, I'm not human!" Old Wang instantly came to his senses and took the opportunity to play the hero.

However, Lao Wang's injury was particularly complicated. Not only were his tibia and fibula broken, but the nerves in his kneecap and the ligaments in his posterior fossa were also completely severed. After cleaning the wound, the next step, suturing the nerves, was the delicate work.

Xu Xi and Qingcheng each held a flashlight on one side, using two different directions to illuminate the surgical field. Dr. Muller carefully removed the growths and infected pustules, sweat pouring down his face. His assistant hurriedly wiped away the sweat and handed him a pair of hemostatic forceps.

"By the way, have you received any replies to the missing person notice you published in the newspaper?" Wang Renyong's face turned pale, and he stopped looking at the doctor, instead shifting his attention to himself.

"No, could it be that Wu Hao and the others have also gotten into trouble?" Qingcheng asked with great concern.

“No news in the newspapers means everything is fine. You don’t need to worry too much about them. Wu Hao’s secrecy is always very strict. Maybe things are getting tense. Give them some more time. I’m more worried about Secretary Yu, who is fighting alone!” Wang Renyong’s tongue was a little unresponsive, and the veins on his neck were bulging, as if he was enduring great pain.

“Secretary Yu will have someone protecting him. He can’t contact outsiders during the investigation, right?” Kiyosumi said innocently.

"What I'm afraid of is... there are bad people... on the review team." Gradually, Wang Renyong's voice began to tremble. "Bai Xi, give me a towel—"

Old Wang bit the towel in his mouth. His face was deathly pale from excessive bleeding, and his expression was so ferocious that he was unrecognizable.

"Hold him down and don't let him move," Dr. Mueller said coldly.

The two men took the lead, pinning Old Wang down. Any stubbornness he displayed vanished once the anesthesia wore off. Qingcheng turned her face away, unable to bear watching any longer.

Snap!

What was that sound? Qingcheng looked towards the door and saw that the bedroom door, which had been tightly closed, was slightly ajar. Oh no! Qingcheng grabbed a scalpel and ran out.