Chapter 322

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Liver cancer, this thing, is the most silent and unheralded of cancers, because the liver has no pain-sensing nerves; even if you contract an acute illness you cannot feel it, and by the time you sense something is wrong, it is actually already too late.

This is also the reason why Liang Yuanchao was still able to work the fields during National Day, still full of vigor, yet now has suddenly been diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer.

"I'm not too clear on the situation either. I plan to ask for leave at the factory tomorrow, and go back to our hometown the day after. You go back together too."

Liang Xinghua's face was full of weathered weariness as he spoke thus.

"Okay..." Lan Menglian agreed, but her mind was on something else. She suddenly asked: "If the treatment costs a lot, what do we do?"

This is precisely the problem giving Liang Xinghua a headache and that is difficult to solve.

"What do you say we do?"

Liang Xinghua looked at Lan Menglian; he truly did not know what to do.

No matter what choice he made, his heart would certainly be tormented.

"We don't have social security. The child's various checkups, the child's delivery — none of it is reimbursed. Who knows how much money will be spent here. After the child is born, expenses will be even greater. And our current savings amount to just over seventy thousand..."

The meaning of Lan Menglian's words was very clear: that is to first consider their own child, and only then consider the old person's matter.

"Mm."

Liang Xinghua responded with an expressionless face.

He knew Lan Menglian was right.

But this kind of matter — how could he bring himself to speak of it to his own birth father?

He truly could not open his mouth!

That is the father who gave him life, raised him, gave him life, gave him education!

Liang Yuanchao had only this one son, and had always doted on him quite a bit. From childhood to adulthood he never beat him, and rarely even scolded him. When he wanted a toy as a child, the family didn't have much money, but Liang Yuanchao still gritted his teeth and bought it for him.

Faced with such a father who was so good to him, now stricken with a serious illness, how could he stand by and do nothing?

But, if he saves him, what about the child in the belly?

If he saves him, there might not even be enough money for the birth, let alone raising the child!

Could it be he has to abort the child in the belly?

This absolutely won't do. Not to mention he isn't willing, his father certainly wouldn't be willing either.

"When you go back the day after, just talk to your dad. He's a reasonable person. As long as you explain our situation clearly to him, I believe he will understand us."

Lan Menglian spoke thus.

"Mm."

Liang Xinghua sat dully on the chair, his gaze scattered and vacant.

His spirit seemed to have been sucked away.

Lan Menglian spoke again:

"I know it's hard for you to decide, but there's no choice. Who told us to happen to conceive at this time? Maybe it's a joke Heaven deliberately played on us. Sigh. If you really can't bring yourself to say it, why not just go abort the child? We can just conceive another one later..."

Lan Menglian knew her husband's difficulty.

She didn't want her husband to be in a bind, but the current situation simply has no way out.

As the saying goes: a poverty-stricken couple faces a hundred sorrows; without money you really cannot move an inch.

Especially in these major life events of birth, aging, sickness, and death.

Just encountering one alone can exhaust a poor family's entire financial resources.

Moreover, right now they've run into two at once.

"Let's wait until we get home the day after and see what Dad thinks."

Liang Xinghua let out a long sigh:

"It's not early. You go sleep first."

Lan Menglian knew her husband needed some time alone to calm down, so she didn't disturb him further and went back to the room to rest.

Liang Xinghua took out a cigarette, just about to light one for himself, but thinking of his pregnant wife, he had no choice but to put the cigarettes away.

He just sat quietly in the cramped living room.

Facing the pitch-black window ahead, his eyes dull and lifeless.

This whole night, Liang Xinghua did not sleep at all.

And Lan Menglian in the room didn't sleep much either.

When dawn broke, Liang Xinghua went to the factory for work as usual. During work, he explained the family situation to the Leader and submitted a leave application. Upon learning his situation, the Leader approved one day of leave for tomorrow.

After getting off work, Liang Xinghua went out and bought some things, then returned home and packed up their luggage in advance.

Early the next morning, he and his wife set off on the journey home.

They didn't have their own car. Returning to Shanggou Village from Shenzhen is the same as from Guangzhou — both require first taking a long-distance bus back to the county town bus station, then transferring from the county town to the town, then transferring from the town back to the village.

The toil of this journey left even Liang Xinghua feeling exhausted, let alone Lan Menglian, a pregnant woman.

Fortunately, Lan Menglian was not some spoiled woman. Like Liang Xinghua, she too was of rural origin, had eaten her fill of hardship from childhood to adulthood. This bit of travel fatigue, though she felt uncomfortable, she could still endure.

Not until past two in the afternoon did the couple finally return to Shanggou Village.

"Dad, Mom, we're back."

Liang Xinghua and Lan Menglian, the couple, returned carrying big bags and small bags.

"Back is back, why buy all these things?"

Seeing his son and daughter-in-law bring back so many things, Liang Yuanchao couldn't help but say a few more words.

Liang Xinghua took the things out:

"Dad, this is for nourishing the liver, this is for protecting the liver, and this one, the pharmacy people said, can treat liver disease, though I don't know if it's effective. You try eating it and see."

Zhou Aidi's face revealed a bitter smile:

"Xinghua, you have a kind heart."

Liang Xinghua's gaze turned toward Lan Menglian:

"The child in your belly, how many months along is it?"

Lan Menglian hurriedly said:

"Dad, it's already been four months."

Liang Yuanchao thought for a moment:

"That is to say, there's still half a year before the birth. Don't know if I can hold on until then……"

Zhou Aidi hurriedly said:

"Don't you go thinking wild thoughts. Put your mind at ease. Living another three to five years is definitely no problem."

At this moment Lan Menglian pinched Liang Xinghua's arm, gave him a look, urging him to express his attitude to Liang Yuanchao.

Liang Xinghua felt it hard to bring up, but in the end he still forced himself to speak.

"Dad, your illness, how about we don't go to the big city hospital for it? Let's try some traditional Chinese medicine folk remedies. Our ancestors' things are not only cheap, but might also be effective. You also know, Western medicine surgery for late-stage cancer generally can't cure it, and it costs a lot of money. What do you think?"

Hearing these words, Liang Yuanchao felt sadness well up in his heart.

He knew his son this was not planning to spend money on his treatment. The so-called seeing traditional Chinese medicine folk remedies was merely a tactful way of putting it.

He himself was also clear in his heart that his condition was basically beyond saving. Spending money wouldn't have much effect either.

His daughter-in-law was pregnant. The money had to be saved for the birth.

The choice his son made was correct.

But hearing these words come from his son's mouth, he still couldn't help feeling desolate.

"Mm-hmm, I'll listen to you in everything……"

Liang Yuanchao was just like a child, behaving very obediently, very compliant.