"Hey, Mom, yes, I have sothing going on, I won’t be coming ho to stay tonight, you guys just go to bed, don’t worry about ."
At the hospital, Su Qing was standing at the corner of the stairs making a phone call.
There was no choice; although he couldn’t really help with anything at the hospital, he wasn’t at ease seeing Da Qiang like this.
It was imaginable how much pressure Ding Qiang was enduring lately to be tortured into such a drastic change in appearance.
Luckily, he was already an adult now and had graduated college over a year ago. As long as he inford his family, it was standard procedure not to co ho overnight. After all, he was a man, not a young girl like Su He, so his family wouldn’t worry too much.
Because of this, his mother, Zhou Hui, didn’t think much of it. After all, her son was grown now, not to ntion having a girlfriend and earning big money. Nowadays, he’s busy with his own business and the parents can’t control him anymore.
When he finished the call, he realized Ding Qiang was standing not far behind, watching him.
"Qing... Qingzi, thanks for the trouble."
Su Qing glared at him upon hearing this: "What, been out wandering a bit, and now you’re being polite with ?"
"No... no, just feeling really embarrassed!" Ding Qiang said solemnly, giving off a sense of inadequacy.
There was no choice; during this ti, he had gone through major changes in life and faced many setbacks.
Even relatives and friends who usually have very good relations with his family were sowhat distant, especially when money was ntioned, even more so.
But his dad still needed money to keep his life tethered, so every ti he accompanied his mom to borrow money from relatives and friends, there was almost always so overt or covert refusal.
For example, when they asked for 2000, people would end up giving only 500 and ntion how their own family currently also faces difficulties, lacking money, etc.
So even directly said they didn’t have money on hand at the mont. Regardless of whether they borrowed it or not, he and his mom had to express gratitude.
People not lending money or only lending a few hundred, was it fair to bla them? Ding Qiang knew he couldn’t; after all, his dad’s situation was obviously a bottomless pit.
Most likely, the final result would be the family owing huge debts, the person not being saved, and there’s no telling when the borrowed money would be repaid.
So everyone just ant well, good relations would lend less, and at worst, when the person was gone, they could give a little, making things easier for his mom and him, better than just pouring money out like water. After all, in this state, people are not calm.
Those with poor relations, thinking the family lost labor force and had no savings, would politely refuse to avoid losses.
This was human nature; one shouldn’t resent soone for not lending them money. Clearly, Ding Qiang’s family understood this logic, especially Ding Qiang, the only man in the family now, seed to have grown up overnight, creating a huge gap with Su Qing and others.
So facing Su Qing, he would speak in such a tone, causing Su Qing to feel sowhat uncomfortable. After all, this was very different from the Da Qiang he used to know.
Understanding these, Su Qing sighed, patted Ding Qiang’s shoulder, telling him that his brothers were still there.
Just then, the elevator next door dinged open.
"Da Qiang, Qingzi?"
"Where are they, make a call quickly!"
The voices of Wang Xing and Skinny Dog Qin Wei ca through. Upon hearing them, Su Qing waved his hand: "Here!"
Before coming here, in the car, he had made calls to the two under Ding Qiang’s opposition; the conversation was straightforward.
"Sothing happened to Da Qiang’s dad at Jiang City First Hospital, hurry up!"
Upon receiving his call, the two rushed over without saying a word. Wang Xing was fine, his ho was in Jiangcheng City, but Qin Wei’s was different; he lived in the suburbs, having spent a large amount to call a black car to co over.
The two didn’t bother asking further, hearing about Da Qiang’s incident, they rushed over right away.
Back when Three left, they were all students, so were out of town, utterly unable to help, unlike now when sothing happened to another friend, they couldn’t just stand by.
The feelings among them didn’t need ntion, especially after Three’s departure, they cherished the friendship even more. There were already few people, losing one was tough enough, losing another ant not even having enough for a ga of mahjong.
Wang Xing and Qin Wei turned at the sound of his voice and saw the emaciated Da Qiang, the two froze for a mont, then they both went forward and kicked Da Qiang.
"Damn, you’re really unreasonable, such a big thing happened at ho, and you didn’t tell us anything at all?" Wang Xing pointed at Ding Qiang and spat, expressions not looking good.
And Qin Wei, being small and thin, sighed at this mont, "Da Qiang, all the brothers have been quite worried about you. We kept trying to reach you before, if sothing happens you should let us know, right? If not for Qingzi calling this ti, we wouldn’t know what’s happening."
Listening to the two, Ding Qiang opened his mouth but couldn’t say anything; the negative emotions faced with family and friends finally eased at this mont.
Because there was no holding back among them; they spoke openly, expressing concern most directly.
"Alright, since everyone is here, Da Qiang, you said 300,000, surely it’s not all? But don’t worry, the money issue is solvable; tell what’s going on now." Su Qing asked.
The two rushed over anxiously; he only knew Da Qiang’s father needed 300,000 for surgery, but the specifics were unclear.
Besides, just 300,000 for surgery, it certainly wasn’t a minor surgery. Post-surgery care, hospitalization, recovery after discharge—these all cost money. Initial estimates would be at least over 400,000.
While everyone was present, Du Qiang briefly explained his father’s situation. He’s currently lying in the ICU, and the expenses are tens of thousands per day—no family can withstand that.
"The doctor told to arrange the surgery as soon as possible, but... the probability of success... is less than ten percent."
Upon hearing these words, Su Qing and the others fell silent. This... is going to be tough. Before arriving, he thought money could solve everything once it was in place.
The three exchanged glances. After a long pause, Su Qing took a deep breath and said, "So you’re saying, if we don’t do the surgery, we lose even that ten percent chance?"
Ding Qiang was montarily stunned, but after eting his gaze, he couldn’t help but nod.
"Then what are you hesitating about? I’ve told you, don’t worry about the money. Isn’t this why you ca to ? When can the surgery happen?" Su Qing spoke, clarifying the situation for him.
There are only two choices now: spend three hundred thousand to take a gamble with less than a ten percent chance. If you win, your loved one lives; apart from the surgery cost, you’ll end up with more debt. If you lose, without further treatnt, the three hundred thousand will be lost, and you’ll gain nothing.
Of course, you can choose to forgo treatnt, but the reason Ding Qiang sought him out was to take a chance. If there’s hope, who would want to lose their father?
Wang Xing’s current dilemma is simply that the probability is too low. In the past, he would have unquestionably chosen to save his father, but having matured over ti, he started considering his family. The main issue is his mother. If they accrue this debt, the elderly will definitely suffer later.
"Exactly, Da Qiang, what are you hesitating for? I may not be as wealthy as Qingzi, but I can contribute eighty to a hundred thousand. Let’s get past this." Wang Xing spoke up.
Even Qin Wei nodded, though sowhat awkwardly, said, "Well, I don’t have much money, only twenty thousand. I’ll transfer it to you later; use it first."
Listening to everyone’s words, Ding Qiang’s gaze gradually beca resolute, and he nodded heavily.
"Alright!"
Su Qing didn’t dominate the act of kindness from Wang Xing and Qin Wei, even though he could fully cover the costs. He didn’t want to deprive them of showing their goodwill.
Soon, the group of four arrived at the corridor outside the ICU intensive care unit and spotted a woman who looked about fifty, but wasn’t actually that old—it was Ding Qiang’s mother.
Dressed simply, she was laying on the floor, surrounded by so makeshift kitchenware.
Scenes like this are very common. Not everyone is wealthy. So people can’t afford nearby hotels during hospitalization and can only make do at the hospital.
"Mom, these are my high school classmates, Su Qing, Wang Xing, Qin Wei." Ding Qiang introduced.
"Hello, Auntie" *3
The three greeted her simultaneously.
At this, the woman hastily tidied up her clothes and stood up flustered, "Hello... to you all; sorry to show you such a sight."
Despite it being the New Year, none of them ntioned it. At such tis, who would think of celebrating?
Hearing this, Su Qing stepped forward and directly said, "It’s all right, Auntie. I think Uncle needs surgery as soon as possible. Don’t worry about the money; we’ll handle it."
Hearing these words, the woman couldn’t help but look at her son with a hint of panic in her eyes, "Son... this..."
"Mom, it’s true. Rest assured, this amount is nothing for my classmates. Dad can’t wait any longer."
Although the words were clear, there was still so difficulty in the woman’s expression.
The haggard woman had already reached her psychological breaking point and was thinking of giving up treatnt. The less than ten percent chance was too low, and she feared both the loss of her loved one and the burden of a huge debt. After all, her son had grown up; even if the family couldn’t help much, they shouldn’t drag him down either.
Before the woman could speak up, Su Qing quickly asked, "Da Qiang, can we not go in yet?"
As he spoke, he looked towards the distant ICU doors.
Ding Qiang shook his head, "Family can only visit at designated tis each day."
Upon hearing this, Su Qing sighed, "If that’s the case, better sooner than later. Go ask the doctor if they can arrange for surgery tonight."
"Okay, I’ll go right now!"
With that, Du Qiang hurried off to contact the doctor. Su Qing turned around and beckoned Wang Xing over, whispering a few words in his ear.
Then Wang Xing nodded, "Okay, I’ll take care of it right away!"
"Yes, hurry."
With that, Wang Xing also left in haste.
"Auntie, don’t worry. Rest assured, Da Qiang’s matters are our matters. You’re now Da Qiang’s only relative; you can’t collapse. Leave the rest to us."
Although the woman had heard their nas before, just as his mother Zhou Hui had heard of Wang Xing, Da Qiang, and the others, she never t them and wasn’t familiar, so she couldn’t stop expressing her gratitude verbally.
...
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