The next day, the whole family took Mr. He and He Nan sightseeing around the scenic area again.
In the afternoon, they also dropped He Ziqing off at her school.
He Nan was about to head back, and he looked at his father’s leg.
Mr. He said to him, "It’s alright, don’t worry about . Your third brother is here. You go on back to work."
He Nan nodded.
He Nan left the following day. He Lang saw him off at the train station and watched him board. He Nan was carrying quite a few things—all snacks that Xue Yue had bought for the family back ho.
On the third day, He Lang took Mr. He for another acupuncture session.
It was only then that Xue Xingzhou found out Mr. He and the others had co to Beijing City.
He was at ho every day taking care of Zhang Qian and the baby, so he hadn’t visited Xue Yue recently and truly had no idea.
"Why didn’t you tell ? Brother He has already gone back. It’s so rude of ."
Mr. He said with a laugh, "We’re family, so what’s there to be rude about? I heard your wife gave birth. If it weren’t for my leg, I would have wanted to visit."
"You’re welco anyti! You still haven’t t my wife."
Mr. He nodded. "That’s right. But anyone you choose is definitely a good person."
"That’s no lie." Xue Xingzhou wasn’t being modest at all, which made Mr. He roar with laughter.
Xue Xingzhou then asked about Mr. He’s leg.
The two of them chatted for a while.
The next day, Zheng Guofeng ca over with a gift.
"I heard from Xingzhou last night that you were here, so I ca to see you."
As soon as Mr. He and Zheng Guofeng t, they started reminiscing about their days in Da Liushu Village.
"Even though those tis were tough, thinking back on them now, I still feel quite nostalgic."
But Mr. He said, "In those years, I didn’t take good care of you. The children kept it from us, so we didn’t even know we had this connection. If I had known earlier, I would have made sure to look out for you."
Zheng Guofeng said, "The children have already taken great care of . I’m doing quite well. Brother, now that you’re in Beijing City, you must stay for a while."
Mr. He sighed. "It’s not like I have a choice. My leg isn’t any better yet."
Zheng Guofeng nodded. "Actually, I know an orthopedic surgeon. I’ll contact him when I get back and have him take a look at you."
"Then I’ll have to trouble you."
"It’s no trouble at all. It’s what I should do."
Zheng Guofeng was very efficient. The next day, word ca that He Lang should take Mr. He to Beijing City’s Peace Hospital and look for a man nad Wen Yuanbo.
He Lang imdiately took Mr. He to Peace Hospital.
Wen Yuanbo was the director of orthopedics at Peace Hospital. He looked to be in his fifties or sixties, but his hair was completely white.
After examining Mr. He, he said, "Surgery is necessary. It’s too late for conservative treatnt; the results certainly won’t be very good. This condition can cause muscle atrophy, so it will also require physical therapy."
He Lang frowned. "What are the chances of a successful surgery?"
"They’re decent. This is my recomndation. You can go ho and think it over. If you decide on surgery, it should be done as soon as possible. Otherwise, once muscle atrophy sets in, the recovery will be much more difficult."
He Lang nodded.
Mr. He asked the doctor, "How much would the surgery cost, approximately?"
"The cost is quite high. Including the follow-up treatnts, it will be at least three to four thousand yuan."
Mr. He froze for a mont.
He Lang said to the doctor, "We’ll go back and discuss it. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible."
As soon as they left the hospital, Mr. He told He Lang he didn’t want the treatnt.
He Lang knew he was worried about the money.
"Dad, I have money. I earn more than that in a single month now. Don’t worry about such useless things. Eldest Brother should be back ho by now. I’ll discuss it with him. Since the doctor said so, I still think surgery is the better option."
Mr. He shook his head. "It’s just my leg—I can’t walk. It’s not like I’m dying. Spending three or four thousand yuan, and we don’t even know if it can be completely cured. Besides, I’m at this age. Even if I were to die, I’ve lived a full life."
He Lang’s brow furrowed, and his voice grew heavy. "Don’t say such heart-wrenching things in the future. I don’t want to hear it. With us here, forget three or four thousand—we’d get you treated even if it cost thirty or forty thousand. If we spend the money, there’s a chance you’ll get better. If you don’t get treated, there’s no hope at all."
Mr. He sighed. "I never thought I’d beco a burden to you all at my age."
He Lang said, displeased, "You raised us. If we don’t step up now, when will we? I don’t think you’re a burden at all. Your son is in a profitable business; that surgery fee is just a drop in the bucket. You don’t need to overthink it. A speedy recovery is more important than anything."
After He Lang’s persuasion, Mr. He felt a little more at ease.
When they got back and explained the situation, Xue Yue imdiately said, "Dad, if that’s what the doctor says, then we’ll do the surgery. Please, relax. It’ll be okay. We have the money."
He Lang smiled. "You heard your daughter-in-law. Just rest assured and stop worrying for nothing."
He Nan had just arrived ho when he received a telegram from He Lang saying that their father needed surgery.
He Nan could only hurry to his parents’ house.
When Mrs. He saw He Nan return alone, she felt a surge of anxiety.
She listened as He Nan explained the general situation and told her about the telegram He Lang had just sent.
Mrs. He was so frightened she collapsed onto the kang, her lips trembling. "Surgery?"
He Nan nodded. That’s what his third brother had said.
Mrs. He was silent for a long ti.
Seeing her so down, He Nan felt very worried himself. But since his third brother had said it, there was surely no other choice.
After He Nan went to his room to wash up and ca back out, Mrs. He suddenly said to him, "I want to go to Beijing City. I’m worried about your father."
He Nan was taken aback for a mont. "You want to go?"
Mrs. He nodded firmly. "I have to go. If your father is having surgery, I must be there. He Nan, you boys don’t understand. Your father isn’t a young man anymore. At his age, surgery is no small matter. I just can’t rest easy."
You couldn’t bla Mrs. He for worrying so much. In the countryside, the re ntion of surgery implied a life-or-death situation. Mr. and Mrs. He had been together for decades; at a ti like this, Mrs. He had to be by his side.
He Nan nodded helplessly. "I’ll ask for leave from work tomorrow and go with you."
"No need. You just got back, and you can’t keep asking for ti off. Your boss will have an issue with it. I can go by myself. Just take to the train tomorrow. I’ll get off when I reach Beijing City. I’m not an idiot; I won’t get lost."
He Nan thought for a mont. "Alright, then. I’ll have Third Brother pick you up from the station."
He Ze had only heard from others that He Nan took their father to Beijing City for dical treatnt. He knew their father’s leg had been hurting since spring and that he hadn’t been able to work. He Ze had even visited a few tis, but he never expected him to suddenly go to Beijing City.
Now, hearing that He Nan was back from Beijing City, he rushed over.
"Eldest Brother, did you co back alone? How is Dad?" He Ze asked.
He Nan didn’t hide it from him and told him that their father needed surgery.
He Ze was a little confused. "Isn’t it just a leg ache? Why does he suddenly need surgery? Could it be a misdiagnosis?"
"We’ve been to two hospitals and even seen a traditional Chinese dicine doctor. They all said pretty much the sa thing. How could it be a misdiagnosis? Dad’s leg hurts because of a problem with the joint inside the bone. The doctor said dicine won’t be effective and recomnded surgery."
"Is it that serious?"
"What do you think!" He Nan’s tone was sharp.
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