Chapter 1604: 1553 Wild (Alliance Leader Dongming--Xingye United Bonus 5)

Su Yun... Zheng Ren's hoarse voice grew worse; he managed to say two words, then stopped.

Huh?

You... ask Director Pan what illness he has recently. Zheng Ren lowered his voice.

Although not far away, Su Yun had to strain to hear what Zheng Ren was saying.

Any suspicions? Su Yun asked, surprised.

Zheng Ren made a weak gesture.

Su Yun felt Zheng Ren was like a trapped beast, wanting to fight an unnamed opponent.

But the outcome was already decided; no matter how hard he tried, he would lose his armor and be defeated. The more effort, the more injury.

Su Yun shook his head slightly.

Even in Nanchuan Town, Su Yun did not sense this despair from Zheng Ren.

I'll ask. Chang Yue said.

Su Yun nodded, then leaned his head against the window, watching the trees outside rush by, gradually drifting off.

Struggling was useless; he began simulating the surgery.

Should we remove a lobe or a segment? That's what needs to be considered now.

If there weren't those two suspected metastatic spots, we could do a segmentectomy, preserving the left lower lobe post‑op.

After surgery, lung function loss would be only about 15‑20%, and if the operation were even more precise, more lung function could be preserved.

But the existence of those two suspected metastatic lesions changed the surgical plan.

Su Yun found it hard to be certain, but to be safe, at least a lobe must be removed.

What would Zheng Ren think? This guy might want to try radiofrequency ablation.

Being near the edge, that would be more suitable. Post‑op he'd need targeted drugs and genetic testing.

Su Yun felt his head was about to explode.

The phone kept buzzing, and the images kept coming in one after another.

Chief Zheng, they said Director Pan's health hasn't been good since returning from earthquake relief. But nobody noticed then, attributing it to long‑term fatigue, thinking a half‑month or month of rest would fix it. After all, he's old, so recovery takes a while.

Zheng Ren listened silently; Chang Yue tried to say more to ease the atmosphere.

After returning, Director Pan caught cold twice. The first exam found pneumonia; oral meds didn't help, so we wanted to give IV ceftriaxone. But a skin test showed allergy, and Director Pan's stubborn nature made us drop it.

Allergy?

Yeah.

How was it determined? Director Pan shouldn't have an allergy history. Zheng Ren said.

He recalled that during a meal, when they discussed how alcohol affects IV antibiotics, Director Pan had mentioned this.

I'll ask. Chang Yue said.

Soon she said: "At the time, many rashes appeared, and then..."

Rash? Necrotic papules? Central necrosis, like a volcanic… cough cough cough. Zheng Ren spoke urgently; his voice grew hoarse and vanished, his airway spasmed, then he coughed violently.

Zheng Ren recalled seeing the "pimple" on Director Pan's forehead last night, and hope flared in his heart.

Necrotic papules? Su Yun stared.

As a cardiothoracic surgeon, he didn't need to be told every detail of lung cancer treatments, but there was nothing vague about it.

Could it not be lung cancer?

Impossible; although Su Yun didn't want to believe it, the imaging showed exactly that, leaving no room for doubt.

Zheng Ren is a coward! Su Yun thought.

He was avoiding, mulling over other diseases so he wouldn't have to face it.

Just like after hearing the news, he zoned out, similar to many patients' families, his face paling in a brief amnesia.

This guy… Su Yun sighed.

They said they don't know. Chang Yue replied after asking twice on WeChat.

Send someone to find the director and check right away… mainly… on the chest, whether there are necrotic… papules. Zheng Ren said haltingly.

Oh. Chang Yue went to inquire without asking why.

That's the quality a junior doctor should have: act first, diagnose later, then offer opinions once calm returns.

The Volvo XC60 drove silently on the highway.

The farther north they went, the fewer cars there were, and their speed hovered at the edge of the speed limit.

Chief Zheng! There! Chang Yue suddenly said.

Let me look at the photo. Zheng Ren said.

…… Chang Yue immediately conveyed Zheng Ren's meaning to the other side.

At that moment, nobody cared whether Director Pan was happy; even if Zheng Ren wanted a tiger's whiskers, they'd pull out two.

Soon the photo was sent over.

Chang Yue handed the phone to Zheng Ren.

Indeed, Director Pan's forehead and chest showed multiple papules; some had not yet become necrotic, others resembled what Zheng Ren described, showing "volcanic signs."

Su Yun wondered, astonished, whether Zheng Ren had truly guessed the truth.

Not lung cancer? Impossible; the imaging features were blatantly obvious.

Boss, what disease is it? Su Yun asked tentatively.

We initially suspect it was due to excessive fatigue during earthquake relief… Chang Yue, ask Director Pan whether he was with southerners during the relief, and what special food he ate!

This time Chang Yue called Director Pan directly, no longer feeling the usual subordinate hesitation, but like querying a patient, anxious and with a poor attitude.

If it were communicating with patients' families instead, both sides would probably be unhappy at this point.

But this method is the most direct.

Sure enough, Zheng Ren's guess was correct again!

Director Pan, during the earthquake relief work, met the Tian Nan Sheng Emergency Rescue Service team and worked together for 4 days.

At the final parting, Director Pan treated them to a meal of rat.

"Chief Zheng, is it rat… can that be eaten?" Chang Yue felt a bit nauseous.

"Ask, is it a wild Chinese bamboo rat?"

The answer is affirmative.

"Su Yun, who in thoracic surgery is capable enough? How is Cao Guozhen's level?" Zheng Ren asked directly, but before Su Yun could answer, he muttered to himself: "No rush, no rush, we'll talk later when we go back."

His voice grew softer and softer, as if he were consoling himself.

If it weren't for those previous actions, Su Yun would surely think Zheng Ren was hysterical, all imagined illness.

But this guy must have guessed something.

Chinese bamboo rat?

Also known as bamboo rat, also called bamboo root rat, bamboo root pig, bamboo civet, awn civet, bamboo weasel, thatch root rat, and thatch grass rat.

Many places have already been artificially farmed, treating it as a delicacy.

The meat of the bamboo rat is delicious, low in fat, high in protein, and contains various vitamins and the iron and zinc nutrients needed by the human body.

But…… Su Yun began searching his mind for related information.

But after searching around, he ultimately found no connection between the Chinese bamboo rat and lung cancer.

Is it that his knowledge is insufficient?

For the first time, Su Yun felt a sense of powerlessness that penetrated to the bone.