Chapter 69

The attending doctor pulled Chu Tianshu aside and said solemnly, "We must operate as soon as possible. After an hour, the patient could be in mortal danger at any moment."

"Then organize the rescue quickly," Chu Tianshu said anxiously. "What procedures need to be handled? The patient's husband and daughter can sign the forms."

The attending doctor lowered his head in difficulty and whispered, "The surgery fee hasn't been paid yet."

No wonder Zheng Tuhu was pacing around in a panic but helpless.

Chu Tianshu said, "Doctor, saving lives is the priority. I will be responsible for raising the surgery fee and will pay it within three days."

The attending doctor shook his head in pain, "This... I can't make the decision. For surgery before payment, such exceptional cases require special approval from the hospital leadership."

The attending doctor's difficulty was understandable.

In the past, the hospital had many cases where surgeries were performed before payment to save lives. Later, some patients fled the hospital after surgery, leaving the unpaid fees, causing significant losses to the doctors and departments involved.

Subsequently, another similar incident occurred. The attending doctor, unable to resist the desperate pleas and oaths of the patient's family, gritted his teeth and performed another surgery without payment. Unexpectedly, the patient's condition was very complex, and the surgery was unsuccessful. The patient died on the operating table. The unreasonable family members organized a group of troublemakers, vandalized the hospital's facilities, beat the attending doctor, and demanded a huge compensation from the hospital.

In the end, the situation became uncontrollable. The hospital paid money, and the attending doctor was disciplined and transferred from his position.

Since then, the hospital has made a mandatory rule: without approval, any unauthorized decision to perform surgery before payment will result in all consequences being borne by the responsible party.

"Which hospital leader needs to approve it? I'll go find him," Chu Tianshu said impatiently.

"No need to look. I'm here," Zhu Wangcai, wearing a white coat and reeking of alcohol, appeared at the ward door.

The attending doctor hurriedly greeted him, "You're here, Deputy Director Zhu."

Zheng Xiaomin stood up from the bedside, head down, not daring to look at Zhu Wangcai, and bit her lip, sobbing softly.

Zhu Wangcai walked up to Chu Tianshu and sneered triumphantly, "Heh, didn't expect you to fall into my hands so quickly?"

Chu Tianshu glared at him angrily and said, "Director Zhu, please approve the surgery to save the patient. We can settle our grievances later."

Zhu Wangcai spoke with a grand and righteous tone, "Who do you think you are? You say surgery, and it's surgery? The hospital sees thousands of patients every day. If everyone delayed payment like you, the hospital couldn't operate."

Chu Tianshu argued, "Director Zhu, you are a doctor. Saving lives is your duty. Can you bear to watch a patient die on the bed without doing anything?"

Zhu Wangcai said disdainfully, "Stop lecturing me. The hospital is not a charity or a welfare station. Thousands of doctors, nurses, and staff need to be paid, medical equipment needs to be purchased, and hospital conditions need to be improved. All of this requires money."

Zheng Tuhu, with a mournful face, stepped forward, grabbed Zhu Wangcai's hand, and pleaded, "Director, please, do the surgery for my wife first. I'll sell my house and pay the surgery fee."

Zhu Wangcai pushed Zheng Tuhu, making him stagger, and with a mouth full of alcohol, he sneered at Zheng Xiaomin, "Little girl, you look quite pretty, but why did you marry this poor guy? If you have money, pay up; if not, get lost."

Zheng Xiaomin trembled all over and said humbly, "Director, my father said he will sell the house to pay the fee. I beg you, save my mother."

Zhu Wangcai waved his hand impatiently and said, "If the fee isn't paid, remove the tubes and discharge her. Don't let her die on the bed." The attending doctor and several nurses exchanged glances, showing signs of reluctance, but with the director's order, no one dared to disobey and stepped forward to remove the tubes.

Zheng Xiaomin "thumped" to the ground, grabbed his leg, and knocked three loud heads, crying, "Director, if she is discharged now, my mother will die. We will definitely raise the surgery fee. I beg you."

Zhu Wangcai looked down at Zheng Xiaomin and sneered, "Begging me now won't help. Make him kneel and beg me too."

"Xiaomin, get up. Don't kneel to this inhumane guy," Chu Tianshu, burning with anger, pulled up Zheng Xiaomin and shouted loudly, "Zhu Wangcai, don't bully people too much!"

Seeing that Chu Tianshu not only refused to submit but also dared to get angry at him, Zhu Wangcai immediately shouted, "Remove the tubes, and I'll take responsibility if anything happens."

Xiang Wanqing, who had been watching from the side, could no longer bear it. She suppressed her anger, stopped everyone, and took out her press card, saying, "I am from Qingyuan TV. The hospital is a place to save lives, not a place for you to bully people. Please, Director Zhu, don't push things to the extreme."

Xiang Wanqing thought that showing her press card would make Zhu Wangcai cautious, but he didn't care. He took the press card, didn't even look at it, and threw it on the ground, pointing at Xiang Wanqing and shouting, "Is being a journalist so great? Do you think I'll be afraid of you just because you show me a piece of paper? I'm following the rules. Even if Kang Guangsheng from your station were here, he would still have to pay first before the surgery."

For such an unreasonable person, Xiang Wanqing was also helpless. She walked to the corridor and called Bai Yunduo, asking her to transfer 100,000 yuan from "Yunqing Beauty" to the hospital.

Bai Yunduo, hearing this, said anxiously, "Honey, we just bought a batch of health products and equipment. There's less than 10,000 yuan left in the account. What's going on? Why do you suddenly need so much money?"

"Oh, I can't explain it to you right now. I'll find another way," Xiang Wanqing continued to make calls, but from her anxious expression, it seemed she wasn't having much luck.

These days, 100,000 yuan is not a small amount, and not everyone can come up with it immediately.

Chu Tianshu, suppressing his anger, also came to the corridor, took out his phone, and called Wu Mengdie.

Before she could speak, Chu Tianshu said, "Senior Sister, I beg you, lend me 100,000 yuan, and transfer it immediately."

Wu Mengdie lowered her voice, "Xiao Chu, I'm in a meeting. Can you wait a bit before transferring it?"

"Senior Sister, no, waiting will cost a life."

"Is it that laid-off worker from the instrument factory again? I've already made my stance clear. Please don't bring it up again."

"No, you must listen to me."

Wu Mengdie became a bit unhappy, and her tone became stern, "Chu Tianshu, we have already repaid Ling Jia's kindness in an appropriate way. I told you, the allocation of Ling Yun Group's funds also requires a reason."

Chu Tianshu, in a hurry, had a sudden idea, "Senior Sister, does charitable donation count as a reason?"

"What do you mean? Explain clearly," Wu Mengdie, unable to deal with Chu Tianshu, seemed to have left the meeting, and her voice became louder.

"Qingyuan TV's 'First Scene' program is doing a segment on this. The program will air tomorrow night and will call for kind-hearted people to help the patient. Your money can be considered an advance donation from Ling Yun Group. Is that okay?"

"Your suggestion is worth considering," Wu Mengdie hesitated for a moment and then said, "But how can I be sure that the program will definitely air?"

Chu Tianshu glanced at the worried Xiang Wanqing and said urgently, "Senior Sister, please wait. The reporter Xiang Wanqing is with me. I'll let her talk to you."

"Xiang Wanqing? Is she the beautiful anchor from Qingyuan TV?" It seemed Wu Mengdie still remembered Xiang Wanqing.

"Yes, that's her."

"Okay, give the phone to her. Let her talk to me."

Chu Tianshu quickly handed the phone to Xiang Wanqing, "Wanqing, Wu Mengdie from Ling Yun Group wants to talk to you. She has agreed to consider an advance donation of 100,000 yuan for Zheng's mother's surgery. Please confirm that the program will air tomorrow night."

Xiang Wanqing, hearing that the money was secured, was very excited. She snatched the phone from Chu Tianshu and said, "Hello, I am Xiang Wanqing, a reporter from Qingyuan TV."

Xiang Wanqing confirmed the authenticity of the program to Wu Mengdie and guaranteed with her integrity that the program would air at 6:30 PM the next day.

"Alright, I'll notify the finance department to transfer the money immediately," Wu Mengdie immediately agreed and said, "Let Chu Tianshu take the call."

Chu Tianshu was very excited, and his hand holding the phone was still trembling, "Senior Sister, thank you."

"Thank me? You shouldn't," Wu Mengdie said calmly, "Send me the bank account number for Ling Rui. I'll transfer the money immediately. Please make the donation in Ling Rui's name to the program's participants."

The bank account number Wu Mengdie mentioned was one Chu Tianshu had set up under Ling Rui's name to pay rent monthly.

Without hesitation, Chu Tianshu sent the account number to Wu Mengdie.

Ten minutes later, a text message showed that the 100,000 yuan had been transferred.

Chu Tianshu and Zheng Xiaomin went to the hospital's billing office and transferred the 100,000 yuan to the hospital's account via bank transfer.

Back in the ward, Bai Yunduo had also rushed from the outpatient department to the inpatient department, arguing with Zhu Wangcai to stop the medical staff from removing Zheng's mother's tubes.

The attending doctor and medical staff, who had already been unhappy with Zhu Wangcai's behavior, stopped when Bai Yunduo intervened and refused to do anything that would harm the patient.

Zhu Wangcai, still aggressive, shouted, "Bai Yunduo, as a hospital staff member, you are openly violating the rules. Do you still want to keep your job?"

Chu Tianshu walked into the ward, slapped the payment receipt on Zhu Wangcai's pockmarked face, and shouted, "Open your greedy eyes and look. The money has been paid. Please arrange the surgery immediately."

Zhu Wangcai, seeing the payment receipt, was stunned. He threw the receipt to the attending doctor and slunk away.

At this moment, Zhang Wei rushed in, followed by Da Hu and Lao Wan, each holding a wad of cash of varying thickness, and they barged in noisily.

Seeing them, Xiang Wanqing's face turned pale.

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