Chapter 17: Surgery
Outside the hospital ward.
As
soon as Ning Qiu Tong walked out of the ward, Ning Qing Xue immediately stood
up and anxiously asked, “Is dad okay?”
While
talking to her, Ning Qing Xue wanted to enter the ward to have a look, however,
Ning Qiu Tong suddenly stretched out her arm to block her.
“He’s
fine. Let him rest awhile.”
Ning
Qiu Tong forced herself to squeeze out a smile as she said. Upon seeing her
elder sister’s slightly red eyes, Ning Qing Xue could not help but feel upset
too.
The
two sisters gazed at each other with a few shades of sorrow in their heart.
“Ahem.”
Ning
Zhong Ping gently coughed as he comforted them, “Don’t worry. Professor Xie’s
medical skill is unrivaled, he will definitely cure big bro.”
Ning
Qiu Tong nodded before asking, “Second Uncle, do you know when was my father
injured? How did he receive the wound?”
Ning
Zhong Ping shook his head, showing that he was unsure of it as well.
“That’s
strange. Professor Xie said that this is not a natural illness but it’s most
probably due to exterior beating. However, he could not tell what exactly it is
for now. In conclusion, father’s illness is extremely weird…”
When
he heard this, Ning Zhong Ping’s face changed colour as if he had suddenly
thought of something.
Ning
Qiu Tong was busy recalling professor Xie’s words and hence, she did not notice
the sudden change in his expression.
Soon,
the surgery started.
When
she saw her father being pushed into the operation room, her strong and tough
act finally collapsed as she broke down.
Leaning
against the wall, she let herself slide down onto the floor and covered her
face with her hands as she cried soundlessly.
She
was not ready yet, nothing must happen to her father!
Under
the influence of Ning Qiu Tong’s mood, even the cold and emotionless Ning Qing
Xue burst into tears and squat down while hugging Ning Qiu Tong.
Ning
Zhong Ping solemnly sat on the chair while looking at the 2 sisters weeping
disconsolately. In the first place, he was already bad with words, hence, he
did not know how to comfort them in this situation.
Subconsciously,
he tightly clenched his fist; His white knuckles and bulging blood vessels are
currently the manifestation of his innermost feelings.
He
had already guessed when big bro was injured!
I
will avenge big bro! I MUST…
After
a long period of time, the sign of the ongoing surgery finally turned off.
When
she saw professor Xie walking out of the operation room, Ning Qiu Tong’s heart
tightened.
“Professor
Xie, my father he…”
Due
to her being too emotional, Ning Qiu Tong could not even articulate the words
properly. Her whole body shivered involuntarily, looking extremely pitiful.
“Relax,
the surgery went smoothly, the decayed part of the lung has successfully been
removed. Up next, Mr Ning will have to be hospitalized so that we can observe
his condition. If all is well, we can then proceed with the next stage of the
treatment.”
Professor
Xie took off his surgical mask as he exhaustingly said.
He
was not young anymore and moreover, he had not performed a surgery for a very
long time, hence, this surgery had really tired him out.
Fortunately,
the surgery was successful.
Therefore,
after seeing Ning Qiu Tong’s frail appearance, he smiled and patted her
shoulder before saying, “The patient is still unconscious. You guys should go
have a meal and rest now, don’t tire yourself out.”
Her
heart that was suspended in mid-air, finally came to a rest.
At
that moment when she relaxed, she seemed to have lost her strength as she suddenly
fell backwards.
Luckily,
Ning Qing Xue had a fast reaction, when she saw Ning Qiu Tong falling, she
immediately reached out and supported her.
“Big
sis, why don’t you go home and rest. If this continues, you will get sick
before dad recovers…” Ning Qing Xue worriedly uged.
“I’m
fine… Qing Xue, you go buy some water and food. We will rest here while waiting
for dad to come out.”
Ning
Qiu Tong shook the head as she said. Upon seeing her stubborn attitude, Ning
Qing Xue could only carry out her request as she turned and went to buy some
food.
After
the 3 of them ate some snacks, they continued to guard outside the ward.
After
a while, a nurse came out of the ward and said to them, “The patient is awake,
you all can go in now. However, please remember not to let the patient eat
anything.”
Ning
Qiu Tong agitatedly led the younger sister into the ward.
When
she went into the ward, she saw a pale-faced Ning Zhong Guo due to severe blood
loss.
“Dad,
are you feeling better now?”
“It’s
not that fast.”
Ning
Zhong Guo weakly shook his head as he reached out to hold his daughter’s hand.
He
looked so healthy in the morning but after a round of surgery, he seemed as if
his illness was beyond cure with his defeated look.
Looking
at his weak appearance, Ning Qiu Tong could not hold back again as tears
started to fall.
“Dad
is alright, come talk to me for awhile. Qing Xue, you come here too…”
As
if to let his daughters feel relieved, Ning Zhong Guo forced himself to be more
active as he tried to sit up, wanting to talk to his 2 daughters.
However,
Ning Zhong Guo suddenly felt a stuffy feeling in his chest.
Following
closely, he forced puke out a mouthful of warm blood.
“DAD!”
Seeing
that the bed sheets were instantly stained red by the fresh blood, Ning Qiu
Tong was stunned.
Without
the slightest hesitation, she immediately wailed towards the door, “Somebody
help! Where are the doctors? Someone quickly call the doctors!”
Only
after Ning Qing Xue ran out to call for help did Ning Qiu Tong then helplessly
looked at her father, who was still unceasingly coughing out blood.
Due
to this sudden change, she started crying like a kid, the previous strong and
independent woman was all gone…
“Dad,
don’t scare me… Didn’t professor Xie said that the surgery was successful? How
can it be like that.”
“Ahem…
I’m fine… Don’t worry.”
Ning
Zhong Guo coughed for awhile, he even spat out some blood while coughing.
When
he felt that he was feeling better, Ning Zhong Guo held her hand and said with
much difficulty as he squeezed out a smile, “The weather cannot be foreseen,
people all have good and back luck. Qiu Tong, you are not young anymore. Do you
still not understand?”
“Dad!”
Ning
Qiu Tong opened her mouth as she screamed silently. The tears have longed
blurred her vision.
Her
father was just a hand away, however, in her eyes, his figure became blurry and
she could almost not see his appearance anymore.
“It’s
okay. Your dad has lived for 3 more years. I’m already satisfied with it…”
Saying
up to this point, Ning Zhong Guo’s voice became steadier and clearer, it was as
if he was feeling much better.
But
in Ning Qiu Tong’s eyes, this was a sign of him being completely conscious
before dying!
She
cried and shook her head, with a hoarse throat, she yelled, “DAD! Stop talking!
Just rest! Professor Xie will be here soon! He will definitely cure you!”
“It’s
futile. Professor Xie is not a deity, I am very clear of my illness…” Ning
Zhong Guo shook his head and stretched out his hand to wipe off her tears,
however, he realized that the tears kept flowing.
“Do
you know why your father has lived for 3 more years? It was because 3 years
ago, you father met a deity…”
Ning
Qiu Tong stared at her father in a dazed as she listened to him narrate.
Other
than crying, she did not know what else to do anymore.
“The
old deity had given me a medicinal pill, called Life Prolonging Pill… It was so
mysterious, after eating it, the sickness was gone and hence, your father was
able to accompany you for 3 more years…”
“Just
like that, I’ve lived for an additional 3 years, I’m content with it. Qiu Tong,
you have to learn to be content too, understand?”
Ning
Qiu Tong remained silent. Ning Zhong Guo helped her to wipe her tears and
continued, “When your father is not around anymore, you have to take good care
of your younger sister…I know your pride is very high, normal man can’t enter
your eyes. Hence, I did not urge you to start your own family. However, you are
not young anymore. When I’m alive, I can’t carry my grandson. But, when I’m no
longer around, you have to let me see him. If not, be careful I will annoy you
in your dreams everyday…
At
a time like this, Ning Zhong Guo still had the mood to crack a joke. He even
started to laugh at himself.
Meanwhile,
Ning Qiu Tong dully stared at her father.
Suddenly,
as if she received an electric shock, Ning Qiu Tong quickly stood up.
She
then opened her handbag and proceeded to empty its contents.
Following
closely, she knelt on the ground in a somewhat crazed manner and started to
throw her belongings out.
The
current Ning Qiu Tong acted like she was bewitched as she unceasingly murmured,
“Medicine pill! Medicine pill!”
Finally,
she found it…