Chapter 2804: line with translation of chapter title

Three days later, Zheng Ren Shuhou sat in Xiao Shitou's ward, the afternoon sunlight shining in from behind him, warm and cozy.

"Brother, I'm much better now; when can I leave the hospital?" Xiao Shitou asked, sitting on the hospital bed, with Zheng Ren's newly brought mobile phone placed beside him.

"In two or three days, I'll take you to Germany." Zheng Ren smiled and said: "A company that makes custom targeted drugs has obtained the pathology results and genetic test results, and is now producing the relevant drug. It's estimated you'll need to stay in Germany for a while; they need to adjust the drug's targeting point at any time."

"Will you accompany me in Germany?" Xiao Shitou asked.

"I'll send you there, but I probably can't stay too long there. I don't understand the specific drug research; just listen to them." Zheng Ren said.

"Got it." Xiao Shitou sat cross-legged on the bed, earnestly looking at Zheng Ren.

Post-operatively, recovery was quite fast; Xiao Shitou's voice was no longer as hoarse as before, and after the tumor compressing the trachea and esophagus was removed, the local area improved. However, it was only local; there were still large numbers of primary and metastatic tumors in the lungs and abdomen.

Fortunately, Xiao Shitou's brain had no metastasis.

Zheng Ren sat in a chair, silently looking at Xiao Shitou without saying much. Xiao Shitou seemed a bit tired, propping his chin to look at Zheng Ren, and suddenly asked: "Brother, do you think this series of treatments will cost a lot of money?"

"It has nothing to do with money." Zheng Ren said, "You agree, your mother agrees; this counts as an experiment."

"Hey, I'm your little lab rat. I heard Yun Ge'er say his little lab rat chewed through the cage and ran away. Brother, you gotta work hard; when can I also chew through the cage and run out?" Xiao Shitou said nonchalantly.

"Wait and see; you don't need to worry about money." Zheng Ren chuckled and said: "The labs we've been in touch with are all top-tier, the latest technology—not something you can just buy with money. I don't like the metaphor of the lab rat; how to put it……

Xiao Shitou's eyes flickered as he looked at Zheng Ren, also curious about what he would say.

Using the lab rat as a metaphor is indeed depressing, but Xiao Shitou couldn't find a better metaphor.

"Let's put it this way: who is humanity's greatest enemy?" Zheng Ren asked.

"emmm……

"It's not geological disasters, not earthquakes, not volcanic eruptions, not landslides or tsunamis; perhaps one day an asteroid hitting Earth could be possible. But over the years, thousands of years have passed, and humanity's greatest enemy has always been disease."

"I know, the medieval plague."

"Hmm, that's part of it. Tens of thousands just died like that, and later there are new ones, such as former tuberculosis, such as AIDS, such as cancer." Zheng Ren said, "Doctors are warriors, fighters battling disease and protecting ordinary people."

"I've talked with Yun Ge'er about this; long ago they still used bloodletting, barbers treating illnesses. Back then average life expectancy was just over forty, and here, people reaching seventy Gu have been rare since ancient times—that's the reasoning.

"Nowadays, the average lifespan for men in our country is 73.64 years, and for women it's 79.43 years. The average lifespan has already surpassed that of past emperors and generals……

"The emperor's average lifespan isn't high either; that's a high-risk profession." Xiao Shitou said.

Zheng Ren noticed he was a bit like Su Yun, popular with girls and fond of arguing. I wonder if, if he studied medicine in the future, he'd wear three layers of masks during surgery.

But Xiao Shitou clearly expressed his unwillingness to study medicine; probably there's no chance to confirm this guess.

"That's exactly what I mean. Doctors, in their battle against disease, gain one victory after another. Although they will ultimately fail, the extension of life has positive significance.

"I know!" Xiao Shitou happily said: "For example, you—if you could normally live to 80, you'd still have fifty years. The first thirty years are mostly about accumulating Knowledge, and only later does the explosion happen. Emmm, except for geniuses; looking at you, you don't seem like a genius. Geniuses are born knowing everything; don't try to counter me with that.

"Hehe, that's about it. Geniuses also need to survive, for example, you." Zheng Ren laughed and said: "If you wholeheartedly devote yourself to living, by the time you're twenty or thirty, who knows what you could accomplish.

"I understand your meaning; in general, extending lifespan, technological Progress, overcoming more difficulties—this is a positive feedback." Xiao Shitou laughed.

"Hmm." Zheng Ren smiled and nodded. Talking with Xiao Shitou is really reassuring.

"However, the big breakthrough in technological level doesn't seem to depend on this. Either it's war, with all human, material, and financial resources unafraid of waste being poured into a certain technological research, quickly yielding a breakthrough; or it's geniuses bursting forth like flowers suddenly blooming all over the mountain.

Xiao Shitou's latter remark made Zheng Ren feel that even the sunlight had grown dim.

Truly argumentative, how come he's just like Su Yun?!

"What needs to be done still needs to be done." Zheng Ren said lightly: "Getting back to the point, the battle continues forever; although the outcome is destined, I sometimes think that's the current outcome. The spirit of optimism must still be held; letting humanity become spiritual beings, eternal and undying, is left to you.

Originally Zheng Ren wanted to say more, but whether talking with Su Yun or Xiao Shitou, one must summon twelve‑percent spirit; otherwise, just arguing for an afternoon would pass.

This is also one of the reasons Zheng Ren, after meeting Su Yun, has always been lazy to talk; that guy is just a chatterbox.

"Brother, your EQ is really high." Xiao Shitou looked at Zheng Ren with a smile and said.

Few people praise Zheng Ren's EQ being high, and he doesn't think Xiao Shitou's comment is anything good.

"With that metaphor, you've changed me from a lab rat's position to a comrade‑in‑arms fighting disease in a trench, and I immediately feel much better emotionally." Xiao Shitou said.

"That's exactly what I meant; from ancient Gu to now it hasn't changed." Zheng Ren said, "So then, we're fighting side by side; I'll work hard, and you also need to work hard

"Don't worry, I'll definitely work harder than you imagine." Xiao Shitou said, "Look at how fast my recovery from this Shou Bing is! Normally, for someone like me undergoing this Shou Bing, it's not even certain whether one can leave the ICU

Saying this, Xiao Shitou raised his right arm to shoulder level, making a flex of the biceps.

"Me, three days!"

Zheng Ren laughed, looking at Xiao Shitou: "Hmm, you're very hardworking and cooperative. Post‑operatively, your tolerance is high; keep it up going forward

"Don't worry, definitely better than you imagine!" Xiao Shitou laughed: "Your level isn't bad either; the Nobel Prize isn't bought.

Zheng Ren's hand touched Xiao Shitou's head, affectionately messing up his little hair.