After I explained why I was going to Shanghai, Lu Jia looked at me with a complicated expression. After a long while, she replied with a deep sense of disappointment, "What else can I say? ... I respect your idea, but our boss will not refuse for the time being, in case anything unexpected happens over there."
I replied apologetically, "You owe your boss a huge favor, don't you?"
“I owe my boss a favor, which I can pay back slowly while working. But I’m afraid my boss owes the hospital a favor, which is hard to repay… You know how tight the beds are at the cancer hospital right now. He’s already arranged it for us. I really don’t know how to tell him I can’t go.”
I was aware of everything Lu Jia said, which is why I felt guilty.
After a long silence, I replied, "How about this, after we get back to Dali, we'll explain the pros and cons to my dad, and he can decide for himself whether to go to Shanghai or Chengdu for treatment..."
“Let’s go to Shanghai… Shanghai has a higher level of medical care, which is obvious to everyone. Although I feel wronged, my uncle’s health is the most important thing… Now is not the time to be emotional.”
I remain silent.
Lu Jia forced a smile and said, "I booked a flight for 2:30 pm. Time is tight, let's go to the airport now."
"Um."
...
After a two-hour flight, Lu Jia and I returned to Dali. Dali and Chengdu are like two different worlds; one is unbearably hot and humid, while the other has a cool breeze... But even so, my mood didn't improve because of the comfortable environment. I didn't know how to tell Lao Mi the truth and then have him go for treatment.
In fact, even if we are his closest relatives, we cannot share even a fraction of his physical pain. He is the one who truly has to face the threat of death. Such a blow is truly devastating for someone who always thought he was very healthy!
...
The person who picked me and Lu Jia up at the airport was Chen Jin. The first thing he asked me after we met was the result of my re-examination in Chengdu.
When I told him that the result hadn't changed, he was depressed for a long time.
With these feelings in mind, no one spoke to each other on the way to the hospital, so the whole journey was somber. I was also worried the whole way, wondering how to tell Lao Mi in a way that could alleviate some of his pain.
I rolled down the car window, lit a cigarette, and then stared blankly at the distant Erhai Lake... I really wished that all of this was just a nightmare.
...
When I was almost at the hospital, I received a call from Jian Zihan. Because I was concerned, I answered very quickly. Before she could speak, I asked, "Have you already found out for me?"
"Yes, I had lunch with Yezi's aunt today, and then I told her about your situation... She took it very seriously. After making some arrangements at the hospital, she just called me and said that there would be a bed available as early as the 5th of next month."
"That means we have to wait another two weeks."
"It's already very fast... and we need to wait for a comprehensive examination before we can determine the treatment plan, which will take about a week... In reality, the actual waiting time is only a little over a week... I hope you can understand, after all, it's one of the top cancer hospitals in the country, and countless patients come here every day because of its reputation. There are so many patients who have been waiting in line outside the hospital for months!"
Jian Zihan's patience in explaining things to me shows that she was genuinely trying to help me, and I am very grateful.
I replied, "It's not that I think the waiting time is too long... There are two options regarding where to go for treatment, so what I just said was actually my own internal weighing... If I go to Chengdu, I might not have to wait."
“What’s there to weigh? ... Besides, it’s not like Uncle has to wait a month or two... Come to Shanghai, the treatment level here is definitely not comparable to that in Chengdu.”
“I’ve made up my mind. I’ll tell my dad the pros and cons of Shanghai and Chengdu, and let him choose for himself…” After a short pause, I continued, “The medical level in Chengdu is definitely a little worse than in Shanghai… but not by much. After all, it’s a new first-tier city. If the medical level doesn’t keep up, how can we protect the health of so many people in the city?”
Jian Zihan was a little puzzled. She asked, "I feel like your thinking has changed... You were clearly more inclined to receive treatment in Shanghai before."
"On the way back to Dali from Chengdu, I thought a lot... I felt that my dad might be more emotionally accepting of treatment in Chengdu, after all, it's his own city... Going to Shanghai would feel like leaving home, and that feeling would definitely affect his mindset when accepting treatment."
Jian Zihan was silent for a moment, then replied in a low voice, "Yes, the patient's own mindset is indeed a very important factor in the treatment process... I won't try to persuade you any further. You should communicate with your uncle about this as soon as possible so I can give your aunt an answer quickly... If you're sure you're not coming to Shanghai, then give the bed to someone else who needs it. We can't just keep occupying it like this!"
"Yes, I understand."
Jian Zihan hung up the phone after that, but I felt anxious because of her words "as soon as possible". How should I bring it up with Lao Mi?
...
The car pulled into the hospital parking lot, and we got out one after another.
I walked into the hospital with the results of the retest in my hand. Chen Jin was behind me, and Lu Jia was beside me. After walking for a while, she asked me, "Was the person who called you just now Ye Zhi's friend?"
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