"Dr. Zhang, is there really nothing you can do for my husband?"

In the emergency surgery consultation room, an elderly couple sat blankly opposite Zhang Tiesheng.

Zhang Tiesheng was carefully reviewing the scans together with Lu Cheng. After some pointing at the computer, Lu Cheng shook his head.

Zhang Tiesheng then said, "Sir, the lesion on your liver is too large for us to handle here."

"You might try visiting the outpatient clinic and consult with a general surgery doctor after the holiday."

"But I strongly suggest you call your son or daughter soon and have them take you to the State Hospital or Xiangya for a check-up."

The two elders were silent for a moment before the elderly man, whose head was slightly small and hair curled white, suddenly said, "Let's stop looking and head home."

But as he spoke, it seemed to cause a shift in abdominal pressure, resulting in the elder's brow tightening, furrowing deeper.

The elderly lady was somewhat distressed: "Doctor, even if there's no cure, you could at least prescribe something for the pain. He hasn't slept in nearly two days, he's been in constant pain..."

"And the leg here hurts too."

The elderly lady was plump, but the old man was frail, with his left leg clearly shorter than his right and his hip joint in a deformed position.

Zhang Tiesheng said, "It's pointless. The painkillers I can prescribe won't alleviate this kind of pain."

"The effective painkillers aren't available here in the emergency department; you need to go to the oncology department. We don't have an oncology department in the county, so these drugs aren't accessible."

"That's how it's regulated above. We can't do anything about it."

"You should have come earlier; now it's dragged out to this point..."

Zhang Tiesheng quickly finished writing the medical record and handed it back to them: "We can't treat you here, hurry and call your kids."

"Go to the hospitals in the State or Province as soon as possible to find a solution."

Lu Cheng happened to be in the consultation room when the elderly couple came in, so he stayed.

Of course, Lu Cheng didn't dare to speak.

The elder had a huge tumor about ten centimeters on the hepatic side lobe, adherent to the surrounding mucosa, clearly malignant.

In this situation, probably even Professor Chen Song wouldn't be able to handle it. This isn't an emergency case; it's classified as a huge tumor requiring attention from either the oncology or general surgery department.

The elderly man explained, "It's beyond treatment, you heard it yourself. I'm getting on in years; what's the point of going so far?"

"If the county could handle it, they would. If not, then it's just fate." The elderly man attempted to stand with his cane.

The elderly lady reluctantly pressed him down again, looking at Zhang Tiesheng: "Doctor, please help us think of a way."

"Easing the pain would be good enough."

Zhang Tiesheng flipped his hand: "I can't help. I don't have the authority to prescribe pain relief for your condition."

"These types of painkillers are controlled substances, only the oncology and anesthesiology departments can prescribe them, and our hospital doesn't have the authorization."

"I've told you, call your kids and have them take you to get checked elsewhere; that's the best solution."

The strongest painkiller the emergency department can offer is a muscle injection of tramadol hydrochloride, which isn't very effective for tumor pain.

Even if effective, it's temporary, and doesn't address the patient's issues.

"They're all busy, working outside and can't come back. If they did, the household wouldn't survive financially." The elderly lady explained.

"My eldest has three kids, and barely manages to scrape together living expenses."

"There's no money to go out for medical treatment."

The old couple's attire was very plain; although not patchy, it was clothes washed many times from ordinary brands.

Judging by the style and fit, they were likely hand-me-downs from young people.

"Then there's really nothing I can do." Zhang Tiesheng spread his hands.

Even though lack of money isn't an absolute contraindication domestically, the healthcare costs in the country operate on a parallel system of insurance and out-of-pocket expenses.

This is something beyond Zhang Tiesheng's control.

The elderly lady helped the old man to the door, limping with a cane, their hunched backs radiating helplessness.

Zhang Tiesheng yawned: "Xiao Lu, it's not too early, go take a lunch break."

"You're on a 24-hour surgery shift today, if patients arrive later, you might not get any rest."

Lu Cheng quickly sorted through the emotional ripple the elderly couple left behind: "Okay, Brother Zhang, I'll go check on the patients and call me if anything happens."

Zhang Tiesheng glanced at Lu Cheng unexpectedly: "You're still going to look?"

"The patients assigned to your care are unlucky, probably won't have a chance to make an escape overnight."

Making an escape overnight means trying not to pay the fees and sneaking away in the middle of the night.

Lu Cheng picked up on Zhang Tiesheng's teasing, but didn't mind: "I'll check again, that young man's amputation, he didn't listen to advice and had one yesterday."

"If it goes necrotic, it'll be a pity."

Zhang Tiesheng actually understood the young man but continued to grumble: "If he wants to mess up, we can only respect his fate."

Smoking on the third day post-surgery for limb replantation? Not even gods can save him!~

Lu Cheng walked out of the emergency surgery consultation room—

Just then, Dr. Han Rong was picking up her father to go home. Her elder brother was also there.

"Dr. Lu, good afternoon. Have you had lunch yet?" Han Rong greeted Lu Cheng upon seeing him.

As Lu Cheng paused, Han Rong's brother, Han Pingxiao, came forward to shake hands with Lu Cheng: "Brother Lu, you've worked hard!~"