Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 71 Sudden Illness, Diagnosis by Peking Union Medical College Hospital

One afternoon two weeks later, the courtyard was quiet; most people were taking their afternoon nap or busy with household chores. Suddenly, a piercing, terrified scream shattered the tranquility of the courtyard, coming from the east wing of the front yard:

"Xiao Yan! Xiao Yan! What's wrong?! Don't scare your sister-in-law! Gangzi! Gangzi! Come quick, come see Xiao Yan! What happened to him?!"

It was Wang Cuihua's voice, a voice filled with sobs and genuine panic, making anyone who heard it feel a pang of anxiety.

Then came a series of clattering sounds from the pool table, as if something had been knocked over.

"What's wrong? What happened in the front yard?" The neighbors in the middle and back yards were alarmed and opened their doors and windows to look out into the front yard.

Wang Cuihua, her face deathly pale, scrambled out of the east wing and shouted at Lin Gang, who was tidying up at the door, "Gangzi! Hurry! Xiao Yan is dying!" Her hair was disheveled, and tears streamed down her face, her acting skills were superb.

Lin Gang seemed stunned as well, throwing down what he was holding: "What happened? Everything was fine this morning!" The two rushed back into the house one after the other.

This alarmed the entire courtyard. Such a loud noise and such shrill shouts meant something terrible had happened! Many people also rushed towards the front yard.

"Oh my! What's going on?" The third aunt was the first to crowd around the door of the east wing, peering inside through the door frame.

Madam Jia Zhang also came over from the middle courtyard in her slippers, her face bearing its usual harshness, but with a hint of curiosity and suspicion in her eyes: "What's wrong with that sickly Lin family man now? He's always causing trouble!"

Liu Haizhong, his belly protruding, strode over with an official air, frowning as he tried to maintain order: "What are you all doing here? Scatter! Scatter! Let the air circulate! Lin Gang, what's going on inside?"

Sha Zhu also poked his head out of the kitchen, holding a rolling pin in his hand, looking completely bewildered.

At this moment, Lin Gang and Wang Cuihua half-carried, half-supported Lin Yan out of the house. Lin Yan's face was ashen, his lips were a horrifying bluish-purple, his chest was heaving violently, but he seemed unable to breathe, and he was making extremely painful and difficult panting "hoarse" sounds in his throat. His eyes were half-closed, as if he would faint at any moment, and his whole body was limp, relying entirely on Lin Gang for support.

This appearance is absolutely terrifying! It's not just the usual weak look; it's a true "life hanging by a thread"!

The neighbors, who had just been somewhat amused, suddenly gasped in shock.

"Oh my goodness! Her lips are all purple! What kind of emergency is this?!" The third aunt was so frightened that she took a step back, but couldn't help but want to step forward to help.

"That looks terrifying! Could it be... could it be... you know?" someone muttered under their breath, not daring to say the word "dead."

Madam Jia also dropped her harsh words, a hint of pity appearing on her face: "Tsk, what a tragedy... so young..."

Qin Huairu also came out upon hearing the commotion. Seeing Lin Yan's condition, she was startled and instinctively wanted to rush forward to help him up: "Brother Gangzi, Sister-in-law Cuihua, this...this needs to be taken to the hospital immediately!"

"Yes! Get him to the hospital! Hurry, get him to the hospital!" Lin Gang seemed to have just come to his senses; his voice was trembling. He shouted towards the eaves of his house, "The cart! Our cart is over there! Quickly!"

The Lin family did indeed have an old handcart, which they usually used to haul coal or cabbages, and they would lean it against the outer wall of the east wing.

Even Yan Fugui, usually the most calculating man, adjusted his glasses, his usual shrewdness gone, and quickly stepped forward to help Lin Gang support Lin Yan's other arm: "Quick! Hold on tight! It looks like he can't breathe! Carefully lift him up!"

Seeing this, Liu Haizhong also adopted the airs of an old man (after Yi Zhonghai's downfall, he implicitly considered himself an old man): "That's right! Using your own car is good! Convenient! Old Yan, lend a hand! Lin Gang can't handle it alone! Old Yan, go to the neighborhood office and talk to Director Wang!"

Although Yan Fugui might have been grumbling about the wasted time, he dared not delay under the watchful eyes of everyone, especially since it was a matter of life and death. Together with Lin Gang, they carefully lifted the almost unconscious Lin Yan onto the cart. Wang Cuihua cried as she brought a thick quilt from the house to cover him. Although it wasn't cold, the patient was always afraid of catching a cold.

"Gangzi, you pull the cart! Lao Yan, you hold it from the side, don't jostle the child!" Liu Haizhong instructed.

"Let me lend a hand!" A neighbor who usually doesn't talk much stepped forward and held onto the other side of the cart.

"Cuihua, hurry up and get some money and food coupons! The hospital needs them!" the third aunt reminded her.

Wang Cuihua then "came to her senses" and quickly ran back to the house, having already made preparations.

Lin Gang pulled the handlebars, with Yan Fugui and another neighbor flanking him on either side. The cart creaked and groaned as it sped out of the yard. Wang Cuihua followed behind, sobbing, clutching a small cloth bag tightly in her hand.

The remaining women in the courtyard gathered together, discussing the matter, their faces filled with worry and lingering fear.

"Sigh, this Xiao Yan is really scary-looking..."

"You bet! Her face was as white as paper..."

"I hope he's alright, at least he's still alive..."

"The Lin family only has these two brothers left. If... sigh..."

At this moment, the most basic kindness and compassion in the hearts of these ordinary citizens in the courtyard, who were usually calculating and conflicted, were finally stirred up when faced with the possibility of losing a young life. Even Jia Zhangshi stopped making sarcastic remarks, just clicked her tongue and muttered, "I wonder if it can be cured," before turning around and going back to the central courtyard.

The creaking cart disappeared into the alleyway, leaving behind a courtyard filled with sighs and worries. This meticulously planned "sudden illness," using a cart that the family already owned, seemed more real and natural, successfully mobilizing the entire hospital staff and paving the way for the subsequent "journey south for medical treatment."

The cart creaked and rattled along the alley, Lin Gang pulling it with gritted teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. Yan Fugui and the old man from the front yard flanked him, afraid that the bumpy cart would shake the man on it, who looked like he was on his last breath, to pieces.

"Xiao Yan! Hold on! Did you hear me? Say something to your third uncle!" Yan Fugui shouted as he jogged, panting heavily, and leaned down to Lin Yan, whose eyes were closed and whose lips were turning purple. His fingers unconsciously gripped the edge of the cart.

The old man in the front yard also said urgently, "Yes, Yan boy! Open your eyes! We're almost at Peking Union Medical College Hospital! The doctors there are very capable, they'll definitely have a way!" He said this as if to Lin Yan, and also as if to encourage himself and Lin Gang, who was pulling the cart.

On the cart, Lin Yan appeared unresponsive, only the faint, labored rise and fall of his chest indicating he was still alive. However, within his body, a powerful divine sense was calmly observing. Based on the detailed medical data Lin Er had sent from Hong Kong, he precisely manipulated a wisp of spiritual energy, subtly altering the structure of his pulmonary artery to simulate the pathological state of congenital stenosis. This stenosis precisely hindered the adequate flow of blood into the lungs for oxygenation, a key pathological characteristic of Tetralogy of Fallot. He meticulously controlled the level of spiritual energy, enough to create the illusion of critical condition while ensuring no real, irreversible damage to himself. The horrifying changes in his complexion and lip color, and the agonizing feeling of suffocation, all stemmed from this.

They rushed to the emergency room of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. A flurry of activity ensued as nurses and doctors quickly surrounded them. Lin Gang, drenched in sweat and trembling, pulled a slightly worn medical record he had prepared beforehand from his pocket and shoved it at the first emergency room doctor to see him: "Doctor! Doctor! Please take a look! My brother… he has a chronic illness! Today he suddenly…"

The emergency room doctor quickly reviewed the medical records, saw the previous diagnosis of "congenital heart disease," and then looked at Lin Yan's current condition—severe cyanosis and difficulty breathing. His heart immediately sank: "Acute attack of congenital heart disease! Quick! Get him to the resuscitation room! Administer oxygen! Monitor vital signs! Immediately call the head of cardiac surgery for a consultation!"

Lin Yan was rushed into the emergency room. Soon, an older, bespectacled head of cardiac surgery rushed in, clearly having rushed all the way. He took the medical record, quickly glanced through it again, and carefully examined Lin Yan's condition, his expression grave.

"Immediately administer intravenous morphine for sedation and to relieve respiratory distress! Then establish an intravenous line and begin infusion of sodium bicarbonate to correct any potential acidosis!" The chief physician quickly issued the orders, then told the resident physician, "Quickly, order an expedited test—a chest X-ray! Get it done immediately!"

Half an hour later, the fresh X-ray was delivered to the head doctor. He held it up to the light, carefully examining the cardiac features shown on the film. Combining this with the "long-standing" medical record and the typical clinical symptoms before him, he sighed heavily.

He walked out of the emergency room, where Lin Gang and Wang Cuihua were extremely anxious, as well as Yan Fugui, who had followed them all the way and was also exhausted, and the old man from the front yard.

"Doctor, how is my brother?" Lin Gang grabbed the doctor's arm, his voice trembling.

The doctor adjusted his glasses, his tone heavy but trying to remain gentle: "The patient has started medication and his condition has stabilized a little. However... his illness is very troublesome. It's Tetralogy of Fallot, a complex congenital heart disease."

He looked at the bewildered and terrified family members in front of him and tried to explain in simple terms: "It means that there are a few places in his heart that haven't healed properly, so blood can't be properly delivered to his lungs for breathing, which is why he's so short of breath and his lips are turning purple. It's already... quite remarkable that he's grown this big."

Wang Cuihua's tears instantly streamed down her face, and she asked in a tearful voice, "Then...can it be cured? Doctor, you have to save him!"

"The only solution is surgery to repair the malformed area." The director paused, then shook his head helplessly. "However, to be honest, this surgery is extremely complex, requiring specialized equipment and highly experienced doctors. Our hospital... cannot perform it at the moment. Not only can't our Peking Union Medical College Hospital do it, but as far as I know, there's probably nowhere in China that can routinely perform this level of cardiac surgery."

These words struck like a bolt from the blue. Lin Gang and Wang Cuihua exchanged a glance, then suddenly knelt down before the doctor with a thud: "Doctor! Please! Think of something! He's our only brother! We'll sell everything we own to get him treated! Please!"

Yan Fugui, watching from the side, felt a pang of sadness and quickly helped the two men up with the old man from the front yard.

The director quickly helped them up: "Hey, get up! Get up! It's not about the money, or that I don't want to treat him. It's just that we really don't have the technology or the resources!" He lowered his voice, as if revealing a huge secret, "His illness has become extremely dangerous after being left untreated for so long. If it relapses again, I'm afraid... If you have the means, perhaps... perhaps you could try going to Hong Kong. There are some hospitals there run by foreigners, or large public hospitals, whose medical standards are higher than ours. Maybe... they can find a solution."

"Hong Kong?" Lin Gang suddenly raised his head, as if grasping at the last straw. He murmured, "Yes... Hong Kong... foreign hospitals..." He suddenly seemed to remember something, turned to Yan Fugui, his eyes red-rimmed, "Third Uncle, do you remember? I mentioned to you two months ago that I wanted to save more money so that one day I could take Xiao Yan to a foreign hospital in Shanghai or Guangzhou... I never thought... I never thought it would actually happen..."

Upon hearing this, Yan Fugui sighed heavily and patted Lin Gang on the shoulder: "I remember... how could I not remember... sigh, it really is... a self-fulfilling prophecy! I never thought we'd really have to take this path..."

The head of cardiac surgery looked at the family, who were both sorrowful and seemed to see a glimmer of hope, and nodded: "This is just my suggestion. I don't know the specifics over there, and the costs will definitely be enormous. You... should discuss it yourselves. The patient needs to be hospitalized for a few days for observation to stabilize his condition."