Chapter 476: A Single Penny Stumps a Hero

"Family Member..." Director Zou hesitated, his mouth twitched, and he sucked back the saliva that was about to flow out.

"What?" Director Li frowned. "They don't agree to the 'tossing'?"

It looked like this short, stout man and Director Li were not working together for the first time, and Ji Xiang was certain he was the Gastrointestinal Surgery doctor that Director Li said could be trusted.

Otherwise, Director Li wouldn't have agreed so readily and asked such a question in such a familiar way.

As for whether performing surgery counts as "tossing" or not, it depends on the person.

After all, the Patient is over seventy years old, with intestinal bleeding and in a state of Hemorrhagic Shock; even if the surgery is successful, no one can be sure if an Old Man of such advanced age, compounded by negative buffs, can pull through.

"You're not joking, are you?" Director Li said unhappily. "You called me over in such a rush, and it turns out the Family Member doesn't even know if they agree or not. How are you handling things?"

"Sigh." Director Zou sighed, habitually made a slurping sound, and then said, "The Patient's family is poor. Your surgery costs over ten thousand, plus our intestinal resection surgery, plus the Blood Transfusion—at least 3000ml is needed—and the post-operative intravenous high nutrition; all of this added together..."

Money is a big problem, and it is a big problem unrelated to technique, and also a problem that Director Li Ming cannot solve.

"I'll go take a look." Director Li had experienced countless similar situations; he sighed.

"Doctor, when I donated blood, they said that if I donated a certain amount, my family could use it for free," a sturdy man stood at the door and said cautiously when he saw Director Zou walk out.

His legs were habitually straightened, and his waist was stiff and upright; even when assuming a cautious posture, he still couldn't hide the habits he had kept for many years.

Director Li glanced at him and didn't speak.

This kind of problem has become more and more serious and severe in recent years.

Director Zou whispered an explanation to the Family Member, and Ji Xiang pricked up his ears to listen, vaguely hearing things like "we can't solve it either, you need to contact the blood station; the matter is urgent, you need to find someone with the same blood type to donate," and so on.

Ji Xiang didn't know much about this.

He had encountered a similar case requiring a Blood Transfusion before, and it seemed like Bai Chuzhang had solved it.

Ji Xiang had always held a high assessment of Bai Chuzhang's abilities, but after encountering the problem, especially seeing the troubled expressions on the faces of Director Li and the drooling Director Zou, he still felt his assessment of Bai Chuzhang was a bit too low.

Bai Chuzhang was much more capable than he had imagined.

After accompanying Director Li to look at the Patient and then looking at the last stool of blood from the Patient, Director Li's expression became even gloomier.

"I have already contacted my comrades-in-arms; the blood should be mostly gathered. That... Doctor, how much will the surgery... cost?" the middle-aged man asked cautiously.

"30,000 to 50,000." Director Zou gave a number. "We will try our best to save costs."

As he spoke, he looked at Director Li Ming.

"Don't worry, we won't charge for anything we don't have to," Director Li replied with a frown.

"That will still be 30,000, right?"

"At least. After all, it requires two surgeries plus post-operative intravenous high nutrition. The post-operative nutrition cannot be saved on; no one can do anything about that."

The middle-aged man was in a bind.

The scene of a hero being stumped by a single penny is played out every day; this is not strange.

Ji Xiang thought of the "assignment" the System NPC arranged for him when he first entered the System Operating Room.

Later, Director Liu made a phone call to Bai Chuzhang and solved the problem with "zero difficulty."

The method Director Liu used to solve the problem didn't seem applicable to the current scene, so Ji Xiang quickly racked his brains. Although this was not a System Task, Ji Xiang treated it as one and racked his brains.

"Look, the surgery can be done first, but if there is no intravenous high nutrition after the surgery... to be honest, it's better not to do it. Making the Old Man endure a knife, not to mention the suffering, it would be useless," Director Zou said in a deep voice.

"I... will think of another way," the middle-aged man replied in a low voice.

With no money, what way could there be?

Seeing Director Li and Director Zou walking out, Ji Xiang stayed in the ward. The Monitoring Instrument was constantly beeping, reminding everyone that the Patient's condition was not optimistic.

"What is your surname?" Ji Xiang asked politely.

"Surname She," the middle-aged man replied in a low voice.

He was in low spirits, and his eyes were slightly red. No money meant no money; he couldn't conjure it up.

"I'll go borrow some," the middle-aged man ignored the young Doctor Ji Xiang; he looked at the old man lying on the hospital bed, gritted his teeth, and said in a deep voice.

"I have a way, see if it works," Ji Xiang said.

The middle-aged man was startled, looking at Ji Xiang with suspicion mixed with wariness, as if looking at a swindler.

"It's like this."

Ji Xiang briefly introduced his purpose for coming to the Affiliated Hospital.

"It involves some of the Patient's privacy, but I don't think it's a big deal. You can watch it once before editing; if you think it's okay, we'll proceed."

"..." The middle-aged man didn't understand; he stared blankly at Ji Xiang.

"That's roughly the idea; I'll take you to talk to Fan Dao."

The middle-aged man was a bit dazed, following Ji Xiang out of the ward area.

"Fan Dao."

After Ji Xiang briefly explained the Patient's situation, he asked, "Does the film crew have a budget?"

Fan Dao's eyes lit up; Ji Xiang really was a lucky charm. Director Li had shut him out like a scumbag, and Ji Xiang immediately brought the Family Member out.

"Yes, but the amount is limited." Fan Dao's assistant already had Muscle Memory; he sighed while replying, "About how much money is needed? We'll try our best."

"30,000 to 50,000..." the middle-aged man said with difficulty.

"Twenty or thirty thousand is fine, but if..." Fan Dao's assistant said.

"Fan Dao," Ji Xiang said sternly, "Give me a straight answer. This is saving a life, not negotiating a business deal."

Fan Dao and his assistant were both startled. Fan Dao saw Ji Xiang's serious expression and immediately smiled, "It's just a surgery; it won't cost much. Is 100,000 enough?"

"Spend it first." Ji Xiang gave Fan Dao a smile and turned back to look at the middle-aged man, "Do you think this is okay?"

"..." The middle-aged man was at a loss; he couldn't distinguish between truth and falsehood.

"I'll go tell Director Li. If you have no problem on your end, Director Li will start the surgery," Ji Xiang said, then turned and walked away.

However, his footsteps paused, "Mr. She, we will sign a contract, but don't worry, we won't cheat you. If you are really worried, I will have the two directors stand by; that should be fine, right?"

Seeing the middle-aged man's suspicion slightly reduced, Ji Xiang walked quickly back to the Doctor's Office.

"Do it first," Li Zhuren said, "then submit an application."

"What if the Medical Affairs Department doesn't approve it?" Zou Zhuren said. "I've already submitted three applications this year, and two were rejected."

"If they don't approve it..." Li Zhuren looked troubled.

"Li Zhuren, I've found the money."

(End of chapter)