Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Chapter 171 Surgery

At the same time, Xu Bei went to the attending physician's office.

He addressed the doctor, who was hunched over his desk writing something, first introducing himself as Xu Dashan's family member, and then asked, "Doctor, when can the surgery be performed? What are the risks? What kind of post-operative care is needed?"

The doctor in the white coat glanced at Xu Bei with surprise, seemingly taken aback by the young man's composure.

After all, I've seen too many scenes of children crying and feeling helpless when their parents are sick.

The other person opened the medical record book and pointed to the messy handwriting on it to explain.

"The surgery is scheduled for after 1:30 PM. As for the risks, any open surgery carries the risk of anesthesia complications, intraoperative bleeding, or postoperative intestinal adhesions. However, given your father's current condition, the consequences of not having surgery are far more serious than the surgery itself."

She paused, then added, "You'll definitely need to stay in bed for the first two days after surgery and can't get up. Your family should prepare a bedpan and closely monitor the situation. If you develop a fever or if there's abnormal drainage from the wound, call the nurse immediately."

"Okay, I understand."

Xu Bei nodded heavily and didn't ask any more questions.

At this critical juncture, he could only trust the doctor in front of him who seemed decent, hoping that his father's surgery would go smoothly.

When Xu Bei returned to the ward, Zhu Wenliang had already returned with water.

Zhao Fengying was washing towels in an enamel basin, and Xu Dashan was clearly in much better condition than before.

"Son, what did the doctor say? When is your dad's surgery?"

"They said the surgery would be at 1:30 PM."

After Xu Bei finished speaking, he glanced at the time on his watch. "Xiao Juan should be getting out of school soon. You guys stay at the hospital for now. I'll go back and tell her, and I'll also buy you some food."

"Okay, go ahead then. Your brother-in-law and I can handle things here." Zhao Fengying wrung out a towel while adding, "Also, don't buy too much. Your dad can't eat anything, and he won't drink any water. We can't eat much either."

Zhu Wenliang chimed in, "Yes, yes, just buy a little less, brother."

Looking at his son, who had become more mature and steady, exuding competence, Xu Dashan felt both gratified and complicated. He said, "Don't rush, ride slowly."

Xu Bei glanced at Xu Dashan lying on the hospital bed. "I know."

Then, he quickly took the bicycle keys from Zhu Wenliang and left the ward.

When Xu Bei rode his bicycle from the hospital to the vicinity of the No. 1 Middle School, it was just the time for school to let out, and groups of male and female students were walking out of the school gate.

He quickly increased his cycling speed.

Xu Juan, who is unaware of the situation yet, has become much more confident and lively because she moved to live near the school and her family's financial situation has improved. She also has a lot of pocket money now, and she even walks with her head held high.

Suddenly, she saw a familiar figure riding towards her. Xu Juan rubbed her eyes, afraid she was seeing things, and after confirming it, she jumped up and down excitedly and asked with a smile.

"Brother! When did you get back?"

Xu Bei was also happy to see his younger sister, who was no longer as sensible and pitiful as before. "This morning. Come on, sit down, I'll take you to buy lunch."

"Huh? I remember Mom specially stewed extra sauerkraut this morning and left it in the big pot. Is it all gone?"

Although Xu Juan said she was puzzled, she quickly helped her brother, who was supporting himself on one leg, sit on the back of the car.

After Xu Bei made sure his sister was seated securely, he started pedaling his bicycle and told her about Xu Dashan's hospitalization for acute appendicitis and the need for surgery.

Xu Juan was initially shocked, and then she started wiping away tears.

"Will I be completely cured after the surgery? Is there any danger to my life? How could I have gotten such a disease?! Waaah!"

Xu Bei felt a pang of sadness as his sister cried. "It will definitely get better. The appendix is ​​an extra piece, and it's not needed now that we've evolved. It got inflamed, so it's been removed and everything will be fine. Stop crying, or your eyes will swell up."

"Okay, I won't cry anymore. Brother, I want to go to the hospital to see Dad too."

Xu Juan said she had stopped crying, but her voice was still choked with sobs, and she eventually covered her mouth.

"Okay, I'll take you there after we buy food."

Xu Bei knew that his sister hadn't experienced as much as he had in his past and present lives, so it was normal for her to be eager to see him in this situation.

Afterwards, the brother and sister went to a small, privately-run snack bar and bought steamed buns and porridge to take away.

When they arrived at the hospital ward, Xu Dashan saw his daughter, whom he hadn't seen for a while, and she looked like she had been crying. He felt even more unworthy of being a husband and father.

If I had been more discerning and taken better care of my family before, and hadn't sided with my family back home when things went wrong, preventing them from suffering so much injustice, I certainly wouldn't be in this situation now.

Because Xu Juan had to go to school in the afternoon, Xu Bei and the others didn't let her stay at the hospital. Instead, they sent her away before 1 p.m.

Xu Juan herself knew that she couldn't help if she stayed, so she had no choice but to obediently follow along.

After undergoing a series of procedures, including preoperative skin preparation, Xu Dashan was quickly wheeled into the operating room.

Outside the operating room.

Zhao Fengying sat on the long wooden bench, anxiously fidgeting with her fingers.

Xu Bei was leaning against the wall of the corridor with his arms crossed, while Zhu Wenliang was pacing back and forth.

The sound of shoes rubbing against the ground was particularly noticeable in the hallway.

Xu Bei felt a little annoyed and said, "Brother-in-law, why don't you sit down for a while?"

Zhu Wenliang waved his hand and said helplessly, "I'll stand here for a while. Luckily, your sister isn't here, or she'd be panicking too."

Xu Beishen agreed, saying, "Yes, my sister is definitely more anxious, especially since she's pregnant. When you talk to her tonight, be careful what you say."

Zhu Wenliang quickly replied, "Don't worry. You'll have to work hard tonight, brother. I'll relieve you tomorrow."

Xu Bei would rather do it himself than let his mother suffer in the hospital, so they had already discussed who would take care of her for the first night after the surgery.

"Let's see how things go tomorrow."

Zhao Fengying felt sorry for her son who had just returned from outside, and discussed it again, saying, "Actually, Mom can take care of things at night too."

Xu Bei insisted firmly, "Mom, just listen to me. Unless you soften your heart and want to reconcile because of Dad's illness."

Zhao Fengying was genuinely worried about Xu Dashan, but she wasn't acting rashly. "Mom isn't that stupid. Besides, if I did that, I'd be letting you down for standing up for me and fighting those people! I'd still be stuck with that bastard!"

With his mother's words, Xu Bei felt a little relieved.

Otherwise, he really wasn't sure what kind of chain reaction would result from Xu Dashan's surgery and hospitalization.

The waiting time was undoubtedly agonizing, but thankfully time kept ticking away, and finally, there was movement from inside the operating room.