Chapter 713: People, They Have All Rotted Away

Facing the System Operating Room NPC, Ji Xiang recalled the process of this Empathy, which felt like having had a dream.

"Doctor Xiao Ji, you understand now, right?" the System Operating Room NPC asked.

"Uh..." Ji Xiang thought for a moment and asked, "Teacher, I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"The last time I experienced Empathy for a patient with a Mental Illness—that Lao Zhuren who took exams every morning, radiated black Qi, and would kill people—was named Wang Chengfa. This time, Lao Wangtou is also named Wang Chengfa. Why?"

The System Operating Room NPC was uncharacteristically stunned for a moment.

Even as a System Operating Room NPC, he hadn't expected that the first question Ji Xiang would ask after returning from Empathy would be about Wang Chengfa.

He gave a wry smile. "Director Wang was Zhou Congwen's old director back in the day; he suppressed him at every turn, and he was also a hurdle in Zhou Congwen's heart."

"Won't you try to persuade him?" Ji Xiang asked.

Ji Xiang was broad-minded by nature; perhaps because nothing had yet become a deep-seated grievance in his heart, he couldn't understand Zhou Jiaoshou's approach.

"Take Zhao Zhe, for example," the System Operating Room NPC said. "A long-time Attending Physician whose skill level is actually quite good. At the very least, without a teacher to guide him, he could figure out a New Surgical Technique on his own. No matter how you look at it, he is a person of above-average caliber."

Ji Xiang recalled the difficulties Zhao Zhe encountered when transferring jobs, and thought that if he hadn't stepped in, Zhao Zhe might have been bullied in Yuanliao City for the rest of his life, and he understood a little bit of that mindset.

"Back then, I was invited by an old Patient to travel by train for a Flying Knife surgery, and I didn't expect to see Zhou Congwen as soon as I got off the train. The feeling he gave me was that we were alike," the System Operating Room NPC remarked with emotion.

Ji Xiang listened quietly as the System Operating Room NPC told him about the past.

"Some things can't be persuaded; Zhou Congwen is just like that."

Ji Xiang also hadn't expected that the sunny and bright Zhou Jiaoshou he saw during Empathy could have such a vindictive side.

But the System Operating Room NPC only said that much before changing the subject. "You've understood everything from the Empathy just now, right?"

"The human heart is hard to fathom," Ji Xiang said.

"Right, and also not quite," the System Operating Room NPC smiled at Ji Xiang. "It's hard for you to encounter similar Patients now, but I saw plenty back in my day. To put it mildly, many Family Members throw their elders into the intensive care unit for the sake of their retirement pensions. Many develop bedsores; from another perspective, the people have already rotted away."

People,

have all rotted away.

Ji Xiang felt regretful at the System Operating Room NPC's description and expression.

But thinking about it carefully, it seemed that was truly the case.

The relatives outside didn't care about the fact that the Patient lying in the ICU still had vital signs, but was already slowly rotting.

To them, the retirement pension was the most important thing.

As long as their relative lying in the ICU lived one more day, they could collect one more day of the retirement pension.

The red, crisp banknotes were the most real thing.

Ji Xiang was also speechless about this kind of thing.

"You won't see a shortage of similar things in the hospital," the System Operating Room NPC said. "Keep a level head."

Ji Xiang nodded.

"As for more than that, I won't say much; you can feel it for yourself."

"More?" Ji Xiang raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

Seeing that the System Operating Room NPC really wouldn't tell him more, Ji Xiang didn't press, but suddenly remembered something. "Teacher, is Shen Lang, Lang Ge, a doctor under Zhou Jiaoshou?"

"Mm, I like that kid; he's got a very tough life!"

"I heard he once had Rabies and actually survived?"

"That is indeed true. There are very few successful cases of Helsinki Therapy, but he was cured, so he has a tough life," the System Operating Room NPC said leisurely. "Let me tell you a secret."

Ji Xiang had spent a long time with Shen Lang; as soon as he heard the word 'secret', his eyes lit up and his ears perked up.

"Back then, to avoid rotting in bed, I discussed it with my spouse and we decided that whoever among us contracted a fatal illness could decide for themselves whether or not to continue treatment."

Ji Xiang remembered the System Operating Room NPC had mentioned this once before.

"Later, I gave up treatment, injected myself with milk, and prepared to pump in Insulin to just go like that. After a lifetime of exhaustion, I could finally get some good rest. But that kid Zhou Congwen, the moment I fell asleep, turned off the Insulin Pump and took me to the operating table."

"Was the... surgery successful?"

After asking, Ji Xiang mocked himself internally.

"Later, I felt that kid Zhou Congwen was a bit paranoid, so I told Shen Lang, if that day really comes, you come and help me."

"!!!"

Listening to the System Operating Room NPC's account, Ji Xiang suddenly thought of that—brick.

Shen Lang seemed to be held firmly in the palm of Zhou Jiaoshou's hand.

But Ji Xiang vaguely felt that the System Operating Room NPC hadn't misjudged the person; Shen Lang could actually do it.

"Since ancient times, the only difficulty is death," the System Operating Room NPC sighed. "Until you reach that step, who knows?"

Ji Xiang thought of people who still had vital signs but were slowly rotting in hospital beds—this wasn't a literary description, but a plain depiction—and he felt a chill run through him.

"The problem you are facing, I guess, is probably like this: the Family Members outside also know the Patient is likely done for. But letting the Patient go peacefully means losing a large monthly retirement pension. Besides, the treatment costs nothing; with the daily cost of ten or twenty thousand in the ICU not coming out of their own pockets, why not do it?"

The logic was simple, but after experiencing all that, Ji Xiang's mind was filled with the bizarre image of Wang Quan pushing Lao Wangtou around the residential compound, with Lao Wangtou wearing a red Tang suit and holding an umbrella.

It was truly a dance of demons.

"Teacher, I roughly understand. I will ponder carefully on the things you cannot elaborate on when I go back."

"Alright, go," the System Operating Room NPC said, hands behind his back and hunched over, nodding. "As for the consultation you encountered, don't meddle; just watch quietly."

Ji Xiang didn't speak.

"Some things are beyond your ability to solve; why add trouble to your own life?" the System Operating Room NPC said. "Wouldn't it be better to write two papers with that time?"

Ji Xiang replied, "Understood, Teacher."

Emerging from the System Operating Room, Ji Xiang heard the beep-beep-beep of the alarm; the Patient was already connected to the Anesthesia Machine.

The way the many directors and Experts feigned ignorance while knowing the truth had seemed extremely mysterious to Ji Xiang a second ago, but now, he saw it all clearly.

He felt bored and sighed softly.

"Xiao Ji, why are you sighing?"

Bai Chuzhang's voice came from right beside him.

Ji Xiang was startled; he remembered entering the System Operating Room right in front of Bai Chuzhang, and it seemed Bai Chuzhang had noticed something, causing his heart to tighten instantly.

"Bai Chuzhang, I feel there is no need to resuscitate the Patient, and I don't know why the teachers are still holding a hospital-wide consultation. He is old, not sick; I think the family should understand this logic."

Ji Xiang pretended to be an ignorant little white rabbit, asking a question from before.

He covered it up extremely well, and Bai Chuzhang did not grow suspicious.

Bai Chuzhang shook his head and did not explain it to Ji Xiang, but as he turned his head, he sighed deeply with a look of distress on his face.

"Bai Chuzhang, what is wrong?" Ji Xiang asked in return.

(End of this chapter)