Li Weidong's words drew everyone's attention in the ward.
There were other patients in the ward, and many of their family members were sitting there. They all turned to look at Wang Dahua.
Wang Dahua was immediately embarrassed and quickly explained, "Seeing a doctor costs money. What's wrong with me asking how much it costs?"
"If it costs money, then we have to raise it. Ask what's going on first. I'm your elder, after all. How can you put such a big label on me like that? Is this how a nephew should act?!"
Finally, he wiped his eyes, looking extremely aggrieved.
Li Weidong couldn't stand it anymore and was about to say something more, but he was stopped.
Zhao Xiulian pulled him aside and said to Zhao Baojia, "Third Brother, why don't you go and call the doctor over to ask about the situation?"
"Okay, I'm going right now!"
Zhao Baojia turned and walked away.
The crowd fell silent, and no one dared to speak.
The atmosphere in the ward became somewhat tense for a moment.
Li Xiaoli leaned closer to Li Weidong and tugged at his sleeve: "Brother, will Grandpa be alright...?"
When she was little, her favorite thing to do was visit her maternal grandparents' house. Now, seeing her grandfather lying in bed with no color in his face, she was terrified.
Zhao Xiulian's face was also full of worry.
Li Weidong looked at the old man on the hospital bed, let out a long breath, and said firmly, "He'll definitely be alright!"
The doctors said that Grandpa can have the surgery at a big hospital, and he will definitely be fine!
Wang Dahua muttered, "At her age, a fall might not even heal her properly!"
Zhao Baoguo glared at her, but eventually shut up.
Soon, Uncle Zhao Baojia brought the doctor over.
"Doctor, how much would the surgery cost for my father-in-law's condition?"
"Doctor, if my dad has surgery, are there many risks?"
Wang Dahua and Zhao Xiulian spoke in unison.
The others also looked tense.
The doctor glanced at Wang Dahua before explaining, "The patient is elderly, and there are bound to be risks associated with such a major surgery. I estimate that even if the surgery is successful, she will need to stay in the hospital for at least ten days to two weeks."
"What about the surgery fee?"
Aunt Zhao Xiufen came over.
She married poorly; her husband is lazy and good-for-nothing, and the family is struggling financially. Right now, she's probably concerned about money.
The doctor frowned and calculated for a moment: "It's hard to say about the surgery fee, but judging from his condition, the surgery fee plus the subsequent hospitalization and recuperation will be at least several thousand."
Everyone gasped in shock.
Even Li Weidong was taken aback.
These days, even people with ten thousand yuan are rare. My grandfather's surgery cost several thousand yuan!
There's no medical insurance to reimburse you now; the amount they say you'll pay is the exact amount, with no room for discounts.
That's an astronomical price.
The others looked at each other in bewilderment.
Wang Dahua, in particular, didn't bother to hide her reluctance. However, she still had some sense. Despite her unwillingness, she refused to say that the treatment was ineffective.
After all, whoever makes this exception will be branded as unfilial and unable to shake off the label.
If word gets out, his spine will be broken!
Zhao Xiulian had originally made up her mind to get treatment, but upon hearing about the amount of money involved, she began to hesitate.
The doctor, who had seen this kind of scene many times, didn't say much, only saying, "The patient's condition can't be delayed, your family needs to make a decision as soon as possible."
No one was willing to speak.
Wang Dahua desperately tried to signal to Zhao Baoguo with her eyes.
Li Weidong couldn't stand it anymore and was about to speak when he was interrupted.
"Doctor, you just said that my father's surgery would have risks..."
Zhao Baoguo hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is the risk high? What will happen if the surgery fails?"
Everyone turned to look at the doctor.
The doctor carefully chose his words: "Regarding the risks, as I just mentioned, the patient is elderly, so the risks of surgery are inherently higher than for the average person."
"As for the consequences of a failed surgery, I can't say for sure, but it will most likely result in paralysis."
After saying that, he quickly added, "Of course, the city hospital has better doctors and equipment than ours, so the chances of the surgery being successful are quite high. You should transfer there and let the doctors there diagnose and take a look!"
As a doctor, I've seen too many children struggling with the dilemma of their elderly parents' illnesses.
Those with many children, in particular, push even harder.
As for treatment, the money spent is a bottomless pit.
But if it's left untreated, word will spread and the whole family will be condemned, so no one dares to bring it up.
The most common approach is to pass the buck, with everyone passing the buck and no one saying whether or not to treat the patient. They just wait until the patient is beyond treatment, making everyone feel at ease.
The doctor glanced at the crowd before him and sighed inwardly.
This family is probably like that too, but it's the sick person who suffers so much, dying so young and not getting a peaceful end...
"It's hard to say about Dad's condition!"
As the eldest son, Zhao Baoguo knew he couldn't refuse, so he had to speak up: "But you all heard what the doctor said. Putting aside the cost of the surgery, the patient will suffer!"
“He’s so old. If he could be cured, I’d sell everything I own to pay for it. But the risks are huge. What if he gets paralyzed and all the money is wasted?”
The eldest and second aunts nodded in agreement.
Third Uncle Zhao Baojia was somewhat displeased: "That doctor said the doctors at the city hospital are skilled and can cure our father! Why are you saying you won't treat him anymore, eldest brother?"
"When did I say I wouldn't get treatment?"
Zhao Baoguo glared at him: "Am I just stating what the doctor said so that everyone can decide whether or not to treat him?"
With tears welling up in her eyes, Zhao Xiulian said, "Treat him! Just like Third Brother said, the doctor said the chances of the surgery being successful are not small. Our mother is already gone, are we going to abandon Father too?"
"What's the point of treatment!"
Wang Dahua immediately became anxious: "Can't you understand human language or what? The surgery costs so much money, and there's no guarantee of recovery. What if the person becomes paralyzed? Are you going to support them?"
Zhao Xiulian retorted, "I'll raise him! My father gave birth to me and raised me. Now that he's old, I'm happy to take care of him!"
Zhao Baojia chimed in, "I'm willing to raise him too. Eldest brother, eldest sister, second sister, let's transfer Dad to another hospital!"
"Where's the money?"
Aunt Zhao Xiujuan rolled her eyes: "Transferring to another hospital sounds nice, but it's free, isn't it? I've already said that Dad is old enough, why should he suffer like this?"
Zhao Xiufen nodded in agreement: "That's right, our dad is almost eighty years old this year. Such a long life is unprecedented in our village. Even if he really passes away, it will be a happy funeral!"
"You insisted on transferring to another hospital for surgery. What if something goes wrong? We won't even be able to get home in time. You want to watch our father die out there, unable to even come home?!"
According to the village's rules, if a person dies outside the village, the body cannot be brought into the village; the mourning hall must be set up outside the village.
It would be better to take the person back before they die!
It can also save some money on medicine.
Zhao Xiulian got angry and started arguing with them, turning the entire ward into a chaotic mess, like a vegetable market.
Li Weidong, unable to contain himself any longer, roared, "My grandfather isn't dead yet!"
"Several thousand is expensive, but if six families pool their money together, each contributing a little over a thousand, wouldn't that be enough?"
"My grandfather raised you all, and you're not even willing to contribute this little bit of money?!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
