Chapter 14 Acute Appendicitis

  "The Master's Ghost-Catching" ended up like this, greatly exceeding people's expectations. However, no one complained. Everyone was just here to watch the excitement, and whether or not the master could really catch the vengeful spirit didn't matter. After all, no one had ever seen what a vengeful spirit looked like anyway. I, a little kid, managed to drive the rough and burly Master away with just a few words, which was almost as enjoyable as catching a vengeful spirit itself.

  Some people even started making fun of Master Xu.

  "What a cowardly monk, scared away by just a few words from a little kid..."

  "Yeah, useless, he even wanted to hit someone just now."

  "He dared. If he had hit Xiao Jun, Twelfth Uncle would have known and skinned him alive..."

  "Really? Really? Uncle Twelve is now the director of the commune..."

  Perhaps the pain was too much, Xiao Qing didn't cry out anymore, curled up in the tattered quilt, occasionally letting out a moan.

  "San Cai, Autumn Fire, you two lift from the front, Er Gou, you and I will lift from the back, hurry up, the person is not going to make it..."

  Little brother-in-law said in a loud voice.

  Everyone saw Xiao Qing's abnormal behavior and became tense, so they quickly lifted up the door panel.

  At this time, Qi Ba returned from outside. He was a man without a plan, and since Master Gong had run away in anger, his daughter was also ill like this, it wasn't good to stop him, so he just grumbled incessantly.

  "How can this be good? How can this be good? There's not a single cent at home..."

  It's not that there isn't a single penny left. Seventh Aunt has already turned over the entire household and handed it over to him, shaking out every last bit.

  I took a glance, one "big union" (10 yuan), one Mao's five-dollar bill (5 yuan), and some scattered small bills, no more than twenty yuan in total. I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness in my heart.

  Although prices are extremely low now, if surgery is needed, 20 yuan is not enough in any case. And this is actually a family's entire savings. No wonder Mr. Sun Yat-sen said "China suffers from poverty, but not inequality". It's even more unbelievable that the head of state would prioritize developing productive forces and getting rich after his southern tour a year later.

  Great men indeed have piercing eyes!

  Just as he was sighing in admiration, four sturdy men had already lifted up the door panel and gone out of the house.

  Qi Bo and his wife, along with several relatives and friends, held up torches to light the way.

  I hastily caught up with him.

  "Xiao Jun, Xiao Jun, what are you doing?"

  Second sister and third sister cried out in unison.

  "I went with them to the commune."

  "What are you kidding?"

  My second sister was startled.

  "What are you doing going to the commune in the middle of the night? If your mom finds out, she'll beat you! Hurry up and come home with me... Your grandparents will be worried to death..."

  Second sister was really anxious. The Liu family mountain is about eight or nine miles away from the commune, most of which are mountain roads, dark and treacherous. If one slips, it's over. Even if it's just a scratch or a sprained ankle, Mother will not forgive her. After all, she brought me to see Master catch ghosts.

  I didn't care, just followed Xiao Shu and them as they walked out.

  Second sister and third sister rushed up from front and back, grabbing my arm.

  "Don't go!"

  The second sister was so anxious that her tone of voice changed.

  I sighed and said, "Second sister, the money brought by Seventh Uncle is not enough."

  "What's it to you? You don't have money anyway."

  The second sister said fiercely.

  "They won't treat Little Qing's illness if they don't have money. I know those people at the clinic."

  This is the truth. After the rapid economic development, "difficult to see a doctor" has become one of the most headaches for the grassroots class. The prices and medical ethics of hospitals at all levels in the 21st century are notorious. In contrast, the township health centers in the 1970s were not only extremely simple in conditions, but also had doctors and nurses who were like masters sitting in the hall, high above. Their medical skills and ethics should not be overestimated.

  "Xiao Qing's sister is very seriously ill and may need surgery tonight, otherwise she will die."

  "That... it's no use even if you go, you're not a doctor."

  The second sister's tone obviously softened.

  It's interesting.

  I actually went to the health clinic, but I may not be of much help. Those doctors and nurses wouldn't care about me anyway. By insisting on this, it's just that I want this matter to have a beginning and an end. Besides, after staying in Liujia Mountain for over a month, I'm really feeling suffocated and want to go out for a walk. Even if it's just going to the Red Flag Commune, which is also very remote in my mind, it's fine as long as I can take a stroll.

  When feeling lonely and bored, people always want to do something, this is a common human emotion, which doesn't change just because of time-travel.

  "Who says I'm not a doctor? Don't doctors know about acute appendicitis? Maybe if I went, I could even give some pointers to the clinic's doctors and nurses."

  Seeing Second Sister moved her heart, I simply and utterly deceived her.

  Second sister pouted and scolded with a smile: "You just know how to talk big..."

  "Second sister, Father and elder sister are all in the commune, let's go play at Father's place."

  The third sister started beating the drum on one side.

  "Yes, Second Sister, didn't Little Uncle go too? With so many adults around, nothing will happen."

  "Let's go quickly... Xiang, you get the torch, I'll take care of Jun."

  Second sister was finally persuaded. In fact, she also wanted to go to the commune to play. Speaking of which, she is only thirteen years old and still a child.

  When Little Uncle found out that we three siblings had already walked one or two miles away.

  "Oh no, Xiao Jun, you've also come? What's going on... Alas, how can I explain this to Jin Cai?"

  Seven uncles scolded and hugged me at the same time.

  "Seventh uncle, don't worry. When we arrive at the commune, if the clinic doesn't treat Little Qing, I'll go find my dad, and also... ask Director Yan to lend you money."

  "Thank you too, Little Jun..."

  Qī bó de shēng yīn jiù yǒu xiē gěng zhè.

  Translation: Qi Bo's voice was a little choked.

  A group of people rushed to the commune, and San Jie frowned and limped as she walked. Her foot had been bruised by a stone. I was the most relaxed, with Qi Bo and several other adults taking turns carrying me all the way, not walking a single step. San Jie was older, but didn't get this treatment, only Qi Bo's mother carried her for a short distance in between.

  Luckily it was evening and pitch black, so San Jie didn't see the smug look on my face. Otherwise, I'd probably be dead from her hatred.

  Being small also has its advantages, can rely on being small to sell being small, haha!

  The clinic only had an old man on duty, who reluctantly got up to open the door after knocking for a long time. He was still muttering and cursing under his breath. Before the door even opened, he was already yelling: "What's wrong with you? It's the middle of the night, you're going to wake the dead... The doctor isn't here, come back tomorrow morning..."

  "Master, please open the door, someone is seriously ill and won't last much longer..."

  "It's no use opening the door... I'm telling you, the doctor is not in..."

  This situation was within my expectations.

  "Second sister, where does father live? Do you know?"

  "Second sister glared: 'How would I know? Dad was transferred to the commune, and I've never been here before.'"

  I'm too lazy to bother with her, so I turned to Xiao Shu and said: "Xiao Shu, take me to find Dad, or else, go find Director Yan."

  Little brother-in-law was startled: "Looking for Director Yan?"

  Looking for Old Dad was already intimidating enough, but hearing that they were looking for Director Yan made them even more fearful. The head of the commune's revolutionary committee was a big shot in the eyes of ordinary commune members.

  "Oh dear, hurry up! Saving people is urgent. I've met Director Yan before, he's a good person and won't scold you."

  As soon as I spoke, I couldn't help but laugh at myself. So old-fashioned and self-righteous, lecturing my younger brother-in-law like that.

  The security guard at the entrance of the public housing estate was much more amiable. As soon as I opened my mouth, I introduced myself and made my identity clear.

  "I'm Liu Jincai's son, I've come looking for my dad, it's an urgent matter."

  The gatekeeper hastily got dressed and took us a few people running to the second floor of the commune cadre dormitory building, knocking on the door.

  "Director Liu, Director Liu, someone has come to your home looking for you and says it's an urgent matter."

  "Dad, it's me, hurry up and get out of bed..."

  All that could be heard was the creaking of the bed boards inside. It was assumed that Father must have been frightened out of his wits. In the middle of the night, his seven-year-old son had actually run to the commune to find him; how could he not be shocked?

  "Xiao Jun... Yezi, Xiaoyan, how did you all come... Chenglin, what happened?"

  Dad just wore a pair of shorts and ran to open the door, seeing that his children were safe, he first let out a sigh of relief. The last sentence was said to Xiao Shu. After all, Xiao Shu Ruan Chenglin is already an adult.

  "Uh, no... nothing much..."

  Little uncle has always been afraid of dad, scratching his head, some words can't be expressed.

  "It's like this, Father. Seventh Aunt's daughter, Little Qing, is seriously ill and on the verge of death. She's now at the entrance of the health clinic waiting to be saved. However, there are no doctors at the clinic, so you should hurry over and take a look."

  Saving people is urgent, I couldn't care about my little uncle's words anymore.

  "Alright then, wait for me, I'll get dressed."

  Just as Father had finished dressing, the door of the next room creaked open and a tall figure emerged - it was Director Yan. I suppose our loud shouting had woken him up too.

  "Xiao Jun?"

  Director Yan saw me, with a hint of surprise and delight. Since meeting me twice at Mr. Zhou's house, Director Yan had an extremely good impression of me, even jokingly saying he wanted to recruit me as his son-in-law.

  "Uncle Yan is good."

  I hastily bowed and greeted him. I knew that a well-mannered child is always more likable, even in a hurry, I didn't want to be rude.

  "Alright..." Uncle Yan chuckled and couldn't help but reach out to pat my head, asking: "Little Jun, what happened?"

  I quickly told him roughly what had happened.

  Yan Yucheng's face turned stern, and as soon as he saw his dad leave, he waved his hand and said, "Let's go, Jincai, we'll take a look together."

  I couldn't help but exclaim: "Great..."

  Yan Yucheng smiled and said: "Little devil, what's good?"

  I just smiled and didn't say anything. I couldn't say that you're the director, the number one in charge, and when you went to the health clinic those doctors wouldn't dare be neglectful. That would make us seem too self-serving, afraid of offending people. Besides, Dad was there too, I couldn't say something that belittled him. Otherwise this son would be too unfeeling.

  The director and deputy director of the commune came out together, how could a small clinic withstand it? It was inevitable that people would be turned upside down. The old man who transmitted the message immediately put on a smile, took a flashlight and ran to the dormitory building inside to knock on the door, calling up all three doctors and five nurses in the clinic at once.

  "Mom... I'm thirsty..."

  Xiao Qing's dry, cracked lips moved as she spoke dazedly.

  Excessive pain had numbed her sensory nerves, and she no longer felt any pain.

  "Al...alright, Mom will get you some water to drink."

  "No way, Seventh Sister, I have a stomachache and can't drink water."

  I hastily stopped Seventh Aunt.

  I had learned some first aid knowledge in my previous life, so I knew that patients with acute abdomen shouldn't drink water casually. However, since we were already at the clinic, I didn't dare to rashly diagnose Xiaqing as having acute appendicitis, and could only vaguely say it was a stomachache. After all, although the clinic was small, it was still a regular hospital, so it's better not to take out the little axe hidden on me and swing it around wildly in front of the door, lest I become a laughingstock.

  "Huh, little friend, how did you know that when your tummy hurts, you can't drink water?"

  A doctor-like man hurried over, asking with some surprise. Looking at him in his forties, he had a stout figure that was rare in rural areas at the time. It's hard for him to get up in the middle of the night and still remember to wear a dirty white coat, which is also considered to be quite dedicated.

  I just smiled and didn't answer.

  Being small also has its advantages. I love to chat with whoever wants to chat, and if they don't want to, there's nothing I can do about it.

  "Ah, Director Yan and Director Liu, you both are here..."

  The fat doctor came over with a big smile on his face and shook hands with the two directors.

  "Director Qi, please hurry up and arrange for rescue."

  Director Yan said.

  "Yes, don't worry, Director Yan, I'll arrange it right away."

  Director Qi, who was stout and agile, quickly squatted down to give Xia Qing a simple examination, and immediately made a preliminary diagnosis of "acute appendicitis perforation", and arranged for surgery right away.

  I'm a bit stunned. Is Director Qi being too ruthless? Such a simple examination, the steps are almost identical to what I did in Seventh Uncle's main hall, and yet he sent the little girl off for surgery?

  No wonder, the public health clinic's equipment is simple and crude, I estimate that even the instruments for a routine blood test are not available. Isn't it still relying on the doctor's experience to determine?

  Watching their daughter being pushed into the operating room, Qiūěr and her husband were extremely nervous.

  Director Yan comforted: "Don't worry, Director Qi used to be the chief surgeon of the county people's hospital, doing an appendicitis surgery is no problem."

  Haha, so that's how it is. No wonder Director Qi has been so confident, he really does have skills. My impression of him immediately improved. The county people's hospital's surgical backbone doctor, demoted to be the director of this small commune health clinic, must have made some kind of mistake.

  In an era where everything is centered around class struggle, it's really not that hard to make a mistake.