Rebirth 08: Equipment God

Chapter 394 Longevity Lock

After a day and a night, Mr. Qian, who had regained consciousness, had been transferred to a regular ward.

Considering that he had just recovered from a serious illness, all the usual visiting procedures were turned away, and only family members were allowed to come in, including Zhai Da.

In a familiar spot, in a familiar posture, Mr. Qian sat half-sitting and half-lying on the hospital bed, while Zhai Da peeled an apple beside him.

But it seems like a long time has passed.

A long strip of apple peel hung down, the fruit knife moving quickly and steadily.

"I heard from Xiaolei that you were sick a few days ago too?"

Zhai Da smiled and said, "It's no big deal. I just got back from the United States, so I'm probably just too tired."

He could clearly sense the changes in his teacher. His tone was no longer the trembling, relaxed vocal cords of the past; his gaze was no longer the slow, weary look; and even his movements were much lighter and more agile.

Although his appearance hadn't changed, his energy and spirit were astonishing to anyone who knew him.

If it weren't for his chronic femoral head problem, he would look more like an elderly person who can walk normally.

Yes, the teacher is still an elderly person, but not as old as before. The difference is hard to quantify.

According to the hospital, the functions of all organs are much stronger than before hospitalization, and the indicators of chronic diseases have decreased significantly.

It's as if you've survived a life-or-death ordeal and your body has regained its vitality!
If a rationalization is needed, the expert team believes it is a complex chain reaction that has re-strengthened the body's compensatory and metabolic mechanisms.
If we don't seek rationalization, we can describe it in one word: a medical miracle.

Cases that can be hailed as medical miracles are common worldwide, each with its own counterintuitive aspects and none that can be replicated. But when it happened to this giant, it can only be described as luck.

It is a stroke of luck for many people.

Even the highest levels of government sent congratulatory telegrams.

The actual creator of this miracle, however, handled the situation properly and kept it well hidden.
Throughout the entire process, Zhai Daming's actions were limited to only one thing: on the fourth day, through Qian Lei's suggestion, he proposed that the old man wear a small item from the Qian family from a hundred years ago, hoping for good luck.

That's it.

In fact, everyone tried many methods to help the elderly man wake up as soon as possible, such as playing his lover's songs in his ear or making his favorite foods (although they were ultimately fed through a broken nasal tube).

He was just one of them.

But even Zhai Da, the instigator, couldn't explain the specific changes in his teacher; he only knew that his teacher had become far more different than before.
More vibrant!
Even their thinking and reactions have become much more agile.

Old Qian raised the "Five Generations Longevity Lock" on his arm. He used to find this movement difficult, but now it was done with ease: "Did you put this on me?"

Originally on the ankle, it has now moved to the hand. Zhai Da smiled and said, "It's for good luck. Now everyone is happy, which means it may indeed be useful. You must carry it with you at all times, and don't take it off even when you take a shower."

Old Qian smiled and nodded, not objecting to it. But after looking at the handwriting on the back, he said seriously, "Tell me how this came to be in your hands."

Zhai Da recounted the story verbatim, including the remains found in the dark room in Los Angeles.

With the help of the embassy, ​​the remains were later converted into ashes that could be taken on an airplane and have already returned to China in the past ten days.

A look of reminiscence appeared in Qian Lao's eyes.

After a long while, the old man propped himself up, a movement he would never have been able to do before, and said, "Perhaps... I know who it belongs to."

"Qian Weijun, my cousin."

Zhai Da paused, then asked, "Could you tell me his story?"

"Actually, I only had a suspicion. He was my peer, but more than ten years older than me. I had heard his story since I was a child. It is said that he had already finished his secondary school studies by the age of 10 and entered university at the age of 14. He was a well-known genius. My family often used his name to encourage me to study and also praised me for being as smart as him. But as far back as I can remember, he was already studying in Shanghai, so I rarely saw him."

“When I was nine years old, I heard that he was going to study in the United States. It happened to be his coming-of-age ceremony. According to the custom at that time, the longevity lock should be removed when one comes of age. But my father mentioned that my cousin had an old item that had been passed down for many years, and he specially asked him to wear it for good luck.”

"In the years that followed, I vaguely heard that my cousin had obtained his doctorate, which seemed to be in the field of physics. Later, when the country was in turmoil, my uncle wrote to him urging him to return to China to serve the country. He also felt that it was time to carry on the family line. But the letter was never returned and I never heard from him again."

Old Qian's tone was somewhat distant: "In the early years, everyone said he was living a good life in America and wouldn't come back. When I left, my uncle even asked me to find his only son, but in reality, I had no news of him for many years in California. It was as if he had suddenly disappeared from school."

"I never imagined I'd be buried in a foreign land."

Zhai Da sighed with regret. Judging from the equipment description, that person wanted to return to China, but died before boarding the ship.
A genius and a man of great ambition fell silently into obscurity.

He could have returned to his homeland, dedicated his knowledge to the great cause of national rejuvenation and the rebuilding of China, and thus made a name for himself in history.

But he could only carry his lofty ambitions with him to his eternal rest in a dark room in a foreign land, like an insignificant ripple in the long river of history.

"This person's ashes have been sent back to China and are temporarily stored in a cemetery in northern Beijing. We didn't have high hopes, but things turned out differently."

Mr. Qian nodded: "I always felt that we were able to get through this because of my cousin's hopes. Perhaps in his spirit, he wanted me to take him to see more of our motherland."

As he stroked the longevity lock on his hand, the old man recalled many things.

The blurred patterns, the ancient style, every bend and every sharp corner captivated him.
Approaching his nineties and having faced death, his views on life and death are far different from those of ordinary people, and his thoughts are beyond the comprehension of young people. "Xiao Zhai, how many years do you think I have left? Three years, five years? Or, as you joked, I might live to 119."

Zhai Da laughed and said, "119 is over. Let me give you a new number, how about 128? Living another 30 years isn't too much to ask, is it?"

Old Qian held the longevity lock up to the sunlight streaming through the window, his gaze somewhat distant.

"It doesn't really matter how many years you have left; what matters is how you live them. Three years or thirty years, it doesn't matter."

"What difference would it make if I were still lying in this hospital bed?"

Zhai Da was speechless for a moment, but he knew that his teacher had been bedridden for many, many years, and even if his health was miraculous, he seemed unable to escape this condition.

The Five Generations Longevity Lock can give teachers a surprisingly good health and a potentially long lifespan.

But ultimately, it's not about turning back the clock or regenerating the body.

After a while, the giant seemed to come to his senses and said to Zhai Da, "You shouldn't waste your time in Beijing anymore. You know my physical condition. Not only am I fine, but I'm much better than before. The doctors all say that I've survived a near-death experience and my body is like that of a 6 or 70-year-old."

"Including your trip abroad, you've been away from school for almost a month. Don't let your studies suffer. Go back."

Seeing the topic change, Zhai Da breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, saying, "Now that you're better, I really should go back. You need to cooperate well with the doctor while you're here."

After giving his teacher a few instructions, Zhai Da prepared to leave, intending to have the research institute book a flight for him that day.

Just before closing the door, the teacher said something completely strange:
"If you hear any more news about my health, stop running around and focus on your work. I'll be waiting for your good news about silicon carbide motors."

Zhai Da was taken aback, then smiled and said solemnly, "Don't worry, I will hear it, and it will be very soon."

During his absence, the geniuses at the research institute did not give up their efforts.

When he returns as head coach, it's estimated that he won't be far from hatching.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

A few hours later, after Zhai Da had boarded the flight back to Harbin, Qian Lao's ward welcomed its last round of the day.

Although this person seems to be counterintuitive in terms of any data, we still need to make all the necessary observations.

Mr. Qian cooperated very well, describing how he felt and listening to the doctor's many instructions.

Only when the doctor was about to leave did Old Qian ask, "Xiao Wang, how is my current physical condition?"

The doctor, referred to as Xiao Wang, is actually almost 60 years old. He said with a smile, "Dr. Qian, you are doing exceptionally well, it's nothing short of a miracle. Some of your indicators even surpass those of me, a 'young man'."

If it weren't for Qian Xuesen's special status, he would probably already be appearing in medical papers.
Old Qian nodded and asked, "Young Wang, how does the current treatment technology compare to that of 30 years ago?"

Hearing this, he asked in confusion, "30 years ago? Of course, that was a period of rapid development, and it's completely different now."

"And what about the surgical technique?"

Academician Wang thought the old man wanted to learn about the country's development, and smiled:
"Our surgical skills are among the best in the world, at least in China. During your retirement, we haven't stood still. Not only in medicine, but in all industries, we have made great strides compared to 30 years ago."

The old man nodded, and after a long pause, he said firmly and earnestly, "I want to have the surgery."

Academician Wang was taken aback: "What kind of surgery?"

The old man patted the outside of his thigh: "Femoral head? It should be an artificial joint replacement? I don't know the specific procedure either."

"This is impossible!"

Before the elderly man could finish speaking, Academician Wang immediately refused, his voice rising several decibels: "Hip head artificial joint surgery is a major operation! You're already 98!"

This kind of surgery will deplete the vital energy of even young people.

Even though Mr. Qian's health indicators are currently abnormally good, he hasn't gone mad yet!
The old man wasn't surprised by the reaction, and simply said slowly, "My request isn't high. I don't expect to be able to walk again. Using a cane or a wheelchair is fine. If a minor surgery can achieve the desired result naturally, that would be best. I just hope I don't have to be confined to a hospital bed forever."

"Xiao Wang, I've been lying down for almost 30 years. This is like being reborn. I don't want to lie down for another ten years or even longer."

"This is my request and my first wish as a patient, and I hope you, as a doctor, can understand."

Academician Wang felt sweat pouring down his forehead. How could he dare to make such a decision? "Professor Qian, why are you doing this?"

Old Qian smiled and said, "Whether one is alive or dead is secondary."

Stroking the longevity lock in his palm, the old man said gently:
"How you live is more important."

The first step down the mountain is getting out of bed.

(End of this chapter)