Chapter 99: Pay First, Then Surgery

He hung up the phone and dialed 120 once more, reporting the incident location. The 120 command center responded that the ambulance would take at least twenty minutes to reach the scene.

"I will have my friend drive him to the hospital. Could you check whether the town hospital is equipped for this kind of surgery? A triangular blade stabbed the abdomen, roughly six or seven centimeters deep. Blood loss appears to exceed two hundred milliliters. I don't know if any other organs have been injured. The victim is still conscious and his temperature has not risen noticeably."

The 120 service personnel remained courteous. "I'm sorry, town-level hospitals generally lack surgical facilities. I strongly recommend the patient be taken directly to the county hospital."

Hospitals in our country are typically graded into three tiers, with three highest and one lowest, and each tier further divided into A, B, and C categories. Tertiary A sits above a special class, bringing the total to ten levels. The town hospital in Dongfeng Town does not even qualify as a primary C and is essentially unaccredited.

"Could you notify the county hospital to prepare for receiving the injured party? We have plasma and other surgical supplies. We may arrive in half an hour, and the victim continues to bleed..."

"Understood. I will contact them immediately."

He ended the call. Professor Dai's BOYUE had arrived as well. The elderly man stepped out and frowned, quickly assisting in lifting Lv Qi onto the seat. Lv Qi was drenched in sweat from the pain yet remained conscious, and fortunately had not lost consciousness. Otherwise, his more than two hundred jin would have been difficult to manage.

The door closed. Professor Dai wasted no words, flooring the accelerator. The vehicle surged forward.

"County hospital. I've already arranged it."

The old man nodded and lowered the medicine kit from the passenger seat. "Inside are gauze pads, hemostatic cotton, and other sterilized supplies. See if you can staunch the bleeding."

The old man was surprisingly thoughtful. Xiao Cheng and Ding Si Na knew nothing of medical care, yet gauze and cotton proved far more effective than bare hands. Though the bleeding could not be completely stopped, it slowed considerably. Lv Qi's face had turned deathly pale, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. He tried to close his eyes, but Xiao Cheng delivered a sharp slap. "Stay awake! Keep your mind clear!"

Fainting now would be disastrous.

"I... I get carsick..."

Seeing that the young man still possessed some awareness, Xiao Cheng's anxiety eased by half. He wiped his hands and dialed 110.

Such violent assaults usually prompt a swift police response. The 110 dispatch center immediately alerted nearby patrol units to monitor the movement of the three motorcycles and dispatched the county criminal investigation team from the local police station to the scene. The reporting details were now complete: Xiao Cheng had provided comprehensive information, including the assailants' heights, weights, clothing, facial features, Lei Yang's name, and the Sanliang motorcycle brand. Most crucially, Ding Si Na knew Lei Yang's family address.

Informing the police that the victim had been transported to the county hospital concluded the preliminary report. Those matters could wait; the priority was now to buy every second.

Although the BOYUE lacked impressive power, it still raced through the streets like the wind. Professor Dai's right foot barely lifted from the accelerator. The drive from town to county seat normally took at least twenty minutes and was even more treacherous in town. With both hazard lights flashing and the horn blaring, Xiao Cheng watched the fuel gauge needle creep into the red zone, fearing they would not reach the hospital in time. Yet this SUV proved capable, and they arrived.

The injured man was rushed into the operating room, and the group finally exhaled. From the moment of the attack until arrival, no time had been lost. The hospital staff had prepared plasma and necessary tests in advance. When Lv Qi entered the OR, he remained conscious, yet the prognosis was grim. A triangular stab wound differed sharply from a slash or chop; its fatality rate was the highest.

Even the helpful front-desk triage nurse praised Xiao Cheng warmly. "Young man, well done. You remained calm under pressure and kept your composure, securing precious minutes for the injured. Truly thoughtful."

Xiao Cheng leaned against the bench, rubbing his temples in thought: he had panicked, overlooking many details. He still did not know how to contact Lv Qi's family, and he had forgotten the most urgent issue.

"Professor Dai, did you bring any money?"

The worst fears came to pass. The operating room door opened, and a doctor in his forties emerged. "Which of you is the victim's family?"

The three men froze. Xiao Cheng stood first. "The incident happened so suddenly the family hasn't been notified yet. I'm his classmate."

"We performed an exploratory laparotomy. The patient's condition is currently stable. The anterior stomach wall has a laceration approximately three centimeters long. No other organs were injured, but repair surgery is necessary. Which one of you will pay the deposit first?"

"How much..."

"First two ten thousand. It will definitely not be enough. Pay the surgical fees first. Then bring this receipt back so I can begin the operation. After payment, go to the door and press this button..."

Xiao Cheng was stunned. As the doctor turned to re-enter, he lunged forward and seized his arm. "Can we proceed with surgery first? We will not lack money! Do not delay the treatment! We have no money on us, and contacting family will take time. His home is in Dongfeng Town. Round trip will take an hour!"

The doctor frowned. "We already performed the exploratory laparotomy, which means the hospital has advanced the surgical fee. We are not heartless, but medical debts are rampant, especially from patients in small towns. Once the patient recovers, families often disappear. Our hospital has rules. I won't waste your time. Hurry and raise the money. The patient's vital signs remain stable for now, so there is no immediate threat to life, but I cannot guarantee how long that will last."

The doctor turned and disappeared back into the operating room. Xiao Cheng stood there, mouth opening and closing silently. He glanced back at the others. Ding Si Na's tears had not yet dried; she looked bewildered. Professor Dai was equally stunned, yet the old man proved surprisingly loyal. "I'll drive back to fetch the money and advance it."

The old man had never met Lv Qi, and with Xiao Cheng he shared only a few games of chess, yet he had spoken so readily. Now was not the time for politeness, but Professor Dai could not simply stay behind.

"Your car had no fuel left when it arrived. It barely made it to the gas station. It may not reach the road if you abandon it. Think of another way."

Blooming Star Education? Principal Ding's two ten thousand would present no difficulty to Xiao Cheng, yet time was critical. The drive from the city would take an hour. Every minute counted.

Xiao Cheng's entire body trembled. Two ten thousand was not a large sum, yet at this moment it could decide life or death.

Who had money? Who had money? Damn it! The first person who came to mind when money was mentioned was Zhang Peiyue's family.

This had nothing to do with him. Could he really send money?

Paying upfront before surgery had never been abolished. Should the patient's life take precedence over the hospital's financial rights? Saving lives and healing the wounded had become a business. Human feelings had grown cold; the world had grown harsh. The sight stirred endless sighs, yet it was comforting that such hospitals were becoming rarer under the media's gaze.

Today was Double Twelve, a day of sales and frantic shopping. Who remembered that it also marked the eightieth anniversary of the Xi'an Incident? Fewer people knew what it was. Xiao Cheng stared at his empty wallet and let his thoughts drift back eighty years.

I am such a literary youth, begging for rewards. Can you understand?