The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 205 - 204: Seeing a Doctor

"We’ll go to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow."

After He Lang spoke, He Nan nodded in agreement.

Shiyi leaned against the bed, looking at Mr. He’s swollen leg. She pouted her little lips and blew on it. "Grandpa, Shiyi will blow on it so it doesn’t hurt anymore."

Mr. He’s eyes filled with amusement as he stroked Shiyi’s head.

Xue Yue went to the kitchen and cooked two bowls of noodles, bringing them out with some side dishes.

"Dad, Big Brother, have something hot to eat. The food on the train isn’t very good."

He Nan nodded. They hadn’t bought any food on the train at all, eating only the dry rations they had brought from home with some hot water. They wanted to save their money for the medical expenses.

At noon, Daya came home by herself on the bus.

He Lang had taken her to and from school for a few days, but once Daya memorized the route, she insisted on going by herself.

Watching Daya in her light blue striped long dress and white sneakers, with her hair in a high ponytail and a bright smile on her face, He Nan found it hard to connect her with the girl who had pretended to be crazy during the New Year.

’People really are like flowers,’ He Nan thought. ’There’s a world of difference between raising one delicately in a pot and tossing one in the mud to be stepped on from time to time. Looking at Daya now, who could tell she was abandoned by her parents? Dad was right. It was Daya’s good fortune to have met my third brother and his wife.’

That evening, Little Chen came home and chatted with Mr. He and He Nan for a long time.

Before bed, Mr. He remarked that Little Chen had changed so much in the year he’d been away. He had matured a great deal and spoke with a new sense of composure.

Early the next morning, after breakfast, He Lang took Mr. He and He Nan to Beijing First People’s Hospital.

Registration, consultation, examination.

By the time the test results came out, it was already past ten in the morning.

"It’s severe osteoarthritis, complicated by synovitis. It’s already quite serious. Fortunately, the joint isn’t displaced, or it would be even more trouble. Has his leg hurt before? Or has he ever had any trauma to the leg?"

Mr. He said, "When I was young, I often played by the river and would even wade in to catch fish in the winter. My leg hurt for a while back then, but it got better later. I’ve never had any major injuries."

Da Liushu Village used to have a river where they often went to catch fish. But later, during the droughts of the sixties, it slowly dried up.

The doctor nodded. "We’ll start with conservative treatment: medication for anti-inflammation and pain relief, and injections directly into the joint. There’s also purulent fluid in your joint that needs to be drained. If conservative treatment isn’t effective, then surgery will be the only option."

He Lang asked, "Doctor, can my dad’s condition be cured?"

"It’s hard to say right now. It depends on how he responds to the treatment. He should avoid standing or exercising for long periods to reduce the strain on the joint. It would be best to buy a wheelchair. That way his mobility won’t be affected, and you won’t have to carry him everywhere."

"Does the hospital sell them?" He Lang asked.

The doctor shook his head. "No, but there are stores nearby that do."

He Lang nodded.

When He Lang and the others returned from the hospital, Xue Yue had already finished making lunch.

She saw He Nan pushing a wheelchair with Mr. He sitting in it.

Xue Yue asked, "How did it go? What did the doctor say?"

"He’ll start with medication. If that doesn’t work, he’ll need surgery," He Lang said.

Xue Yue furrowed her brow. "Is it that serious?"

He Lang nodded.

Xue Yue suggested, "Why don’t we see a traditional Chinese medicine doctor this afternoon and see what they have to say?"

He Lang hesitated for a moment, then looked at his father. "Dad, what do you think?"

Mr. He nodded. "We’re already here, so we might as well."

After lunch and a short rest, they left.

They didn’t come back until after five in the afternoon.

The traditional Chinese medicine doctor said more or less the same thing as the one from the morning. However, he prescribed medication combined with acupuncture and had already given Mr. He his first session before they left.

One session every three days.

They had originally planned to head back after the doctor’s visit, but now it was clear they couldn’t leave. He Nan had taken a week off and needed to go back in two more days.

He Lang said to He Nan, "You go back to your work. Dad can stay here with me. I’ll look after him. If it comes to it and he needs surgery, I’ll let you know."

He Nan nodded. "Okay. You take this money. You paid for the medicine and the wheelchair today. Just keep a record of the expenses, and I’ll pay you back later."

As he spoke, He Nan took a small money pouch out of his pocket.

He Lang stopped his hand.

"There’s no need. I’m not short on money. He’s my dad too, it’s my duty to pay for his treatment."

He Nan placed the money on a nearby cabinet. "Take it. Your money is your own. If this isn’t enough, then you’ll have to cover the rest."

He Lang nodded. "Tomorrow, come see my shop. Then I’ll take you to Beijing University to find your daughter. You can see what the campus is like, too."

He Ziqing hadn’t gone home for the holidays. She wrote in a letter that she was working on a project with her advisor.

He Ziqing didn’t even know they were in Beijing City.

He Nan’s eyes lit up, and he nodded.

He had been thinking the same thing. Since he was in Beijing City, he definitely wanted to see his daughter. It had already been half a year.

After taking the painkillers, Mr. He felt much better. At least he wasn’t being woken up by the pain at night or waking up stiff all over in the morning anymore.

The next day after breakfast, Xue Yue and her family, along with He Nan, pushed Mr. He in his wheelchair to their shop first.

Seeing the bright, spacious two-story design, Mr. He was very pleased.

He couldn’t stop nodding. "Not bad, not bad at all."

Shitou came over to greet them. "Uncle He, Brother He Nan, I heard from Little Chen yesterday that you were here. I was watching the shop so I didn’t go back. Uncle He, is your leg alright?"

Mr. He said with a smile, "Sigh, when you get old, all sorts of aches and pains come out."

"Uncle He, you’re not old at all. Everyone who eats the five grains is bound to have some health problems. Since you’re here in Beijing City, with all the good doctors, they’ll definitely be able to fix you up. Just relax."

Mr. He nodded. "I hope so."

He Nan looked around for a moment, then secretly asked He Lang, "Can I afford the clothes here?"

He Lang chuckled softly. "Who are you buying for?"

He Nan looked at him. "My daughter, of course. Who else?"

He Lang pursed his lips. ’I thought my brother had a new flame or something.’

"It’s our family’s shop, why would you buy anything? Just tell me which outfit you like, and I’ll get it for you."

He Nan said disapprovingly, "Third Brother, that’s no way to run a business. Even between blood brothers, accounts must be settled clearly. Otherwise, if all our relatives and friends come to take things for free, you’ll go bankrupt!"

He Lang smiled and nodded. "You’re right, Big Brother. So, which one do you like for Ziqing? I’ll give it to you at cost."

He Nan pointed to a bright red dress on the rack. "That one. That one’s beautiful."

He Lang pressed his lips together. "Are you sure you want this one?"

He Nan looked at him. "What’s wrong? Is it very expensive?"

"No." He Lang got one in He Ziqing’s size.

He Nan carried the clothing bag, already imagining how happy his daughter would be.