Surgery Godfather-Chapter 409 - 0381 Deep Bow

Chapter 409: Chapter 0381: Deep Bow

Chapter 409: Chapter 0381: Deep Bow

Hong Zhigang returned to the hospital. At the entrance of the ICU, in the family waiting area, a familiar face was waiting. Hong Zhigang’s lips trembled as Han Jiangong slowly stood up and smiled, “Brother—”

For the first time in fifteen years, the two spoke to each other as if a fifteen-year rift never existed.

“Jiangong, my junior brother,” Hong Zhigang was somewhat disoriented.

The ICU door opened, with Professor Zhang standing at the entrance: “Zhigang is here too. Both of you come in, his condition is barely stable, he wants to see you both.”

The news of the surgery scheduled for tomorrow had spread throughout the entire hospital. Everyone knew how dangerous the surgery was and knew that Professor Feng was offering himself as an experimental subject to the operation table.

Many doctors spontaneously contacted each other on WeChat, gathering at the family waiting area outside the ICU. As they were not allowed inside the ICU, they could only wait at the entrance.

“Dean Chen, everyone wants to see Professor Feng in the visiting corridor,” Director Peng addressed, looking at the increasing crowd.

As if it were the last glance at this orthopedic giant, Dean Chen sighed, “Negotiate with ICU, open up the corridor for visits, let everyone take a look.”

The number of people in the waiting area kept increasing. The hospital doctors, doctoral and master students being educated, standardized training students, and interns, were all quietly waiting, with no commotion or discussion.

Among them were also the impoverished students from mountainous regions who had once received financial aid from Professor Feng.

“How are the preparations going in the operating room?” Dean Chen asked, his voice becoming hoarse.

Director Peng reported, “Everything is ready. All the instruments are prepared. Dr. Yang is the chief surgeon, with Professor Hong and Professor Han assisting. The nurses are all elite.”

“Hmm, just in case, has the administrative office made all preparations?” Chen asked, worried.

The office director, Deng, lifted his head and said: “All prepared.”

“Cancel all my meetings for tomorrow. I’ll be waiting in the changing room of the operating theatre,” Dean Chen said, his eyes red.

The crowd kept increasing, nearly overfilling the family waiting area.

“Why are there so many people?” Dean Chen saw many unfamiliar faces.

“I didn’t send out any messages. These people are here spontaneously after receiving other messages. Since Professor Zhang’s condition worsened, there are dozens of Professor Zhang’s students who have returned from abroad. As visits are not allowed, everyone just wants to take a glance from the corridor. The administrative office has arranged for a special reception,” Director Deng said, also surprised by the number of people.

“There are more downstairs. Quite a few of Professor Zhang’s former patients heard about it somehow and came over,” added Director Peng.

“Good Lord, he saved countless lives and cultivated many talents throughout his life. It’s as if they all knew that this might be the last time they see him,” Dean Chen choked on his words.

Han Jiangong and Hong Zhigang put on their isolation gowns, masks, and caps, following Professor Zhang into Professor Feng’s private ICU room. Professor Feng lay in bed, hearing their footsteps.

“Is that you, Jiangong?” His voice was feeble.

“Zhigang is here too,” Professor Zhang informed Professor Feng.

Han Jiangong slowly approached, kneeling by the bed, holding his mentor’s hands tightly, “It’s me, Jiangong—”

“Are you here?” Professor Feng’s hand suddenly strengthened, gripping Han Jiangong’s hand.

Two tears streamed down, wetting his entire cheeks. Professor Feng tried to rise, but he lacked the strength to do so.

“Are you okay?” His hand was trembling.

After fifteen years. The master and the apprentice reunited in such a manner after fifteen years. Even though they had been in the same city these fifteen years, they had not been able to meet.

“Master, Jiangong is very well–you can rest assured,” Tears streamed down Han Jiangong’s face.

Professor Feng let out a sigh, “Do you still resent me?”

“How could I? I have never resented you, Master.” Jiangong helped him move his hand to touch his face.

“Does it still hurt?” Feng asked anxiously.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore.” Han Jiangong sobbed uncontrollably.

“I’m sorry, Jiangong, I’m so sorry.” Professor Feng’s trembling hand reached out again for Han Jiangong’s.

“Please don’t say that, teacher, you did not let me down, nor did my senior fellow apprentice, I’ve never resented you.” Han Jiangong’s field of vision was blurred by tears.

Professor Feng, looking up at the ceiling, realized that fifteen years had gone by. He himself was in his twilight years and his two students were both in their fifties.

“Jiangong, as a teacher, I never believed that you could do such a thing. After some reflection, I’ve concluded that you probably had already learned about the relationship between Zhigang and me, and decided to sacrifice yourself to advance his cause, am I right? I need straightforwardness,” Professor Feng finished forcefully.

“In fact, Zhigang is more suitable to be the director of the department. Under his leadership the orthopedics department has become one of the top three nationwide.” Han Jiangong did not answer directly.

“I finally found out the answer, thank you.” Professor Feng choked up.

“Zhigang, come over.”

Kneeling by the bed, Hong Zhigang reflexively extended his hand to his mentor, his father.

Professor Feng joined his hand and Han Jiangong’s together: “Apologize to Jiangong. I want to hear it—”

“I’m sorry, Jiangong!” Hong Zhigang didn’t care about anything else at this point.

“Hmm. I also want to say, I’m sorry. Really, I’m sorry—” Professor Feng’s face was full of tears.

“It was fifty years ago. We were sent to the countryside. I was assigned to a hospital in your town in Huzhou, where I met your mother. She was a beautiful woman and we fell in love. But, as you know, due to special reasons, your mother was never able to join my family, preventing me from fulfilling my original promise. I didn’t know—didn’t know that she was pregnant—”

“So, you never got married in your life?” Zhigang asked.

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“Except for her, I would never love anyone else again.” A sigh escaped from Professor Feng.

“Later, I visited Huzhou, Hong Xue was already dead, her heart was weak. After giving birth to you, she just didn’t last through it, passing away three days later. But she was pregnant, why didn’t she come to me, write a letter to me to tell me that she was ready to settle down and get married, asking me to forget about this relationship and find a suitable wife? I went to find her, but your uncle didn’t tell me that she had a child—”

“Afterward, when you got admitted to college and were about to graduate, your Uncle got lung cancer. He had very little time left and he came to Shanghai to find me, asking me to look after you. That’s when I started to suspect something about your identity. You look a bit like Hong Xue. At that moment, I didn’t think to question it, believing you were your Uncle’s son. It’s not surprising that you look like Hong Xue. After a while, during one of your medical check-ups, I secretly took a blood sample and had a paternity test done. In the end, it became clear that you were the child of Hong Xue and me. Your Uncle raised you because Hong Xue made him promise never to let you interrupt my life, and absolutely never to mention this to you. He took this secret to his grave.”

Hong Zhigang and Han Jiangong were practically collapsed at the edge of the bed, sobbing uncontrollably.

Han Jiangong reflected on their youth, how their benevolent teacher not only embodied rigorous scholarship, but also often provided them with financial support, instructing them during surgeries.

Once, there was a patient whose aortic arch was encroached upon by a spinal tumor. The teacher raced all the way to the train station, using the station’s broadcasting system to get the patient back for surgery.

At that time, the patient was rushed into the operation room with his aorta on the verge of rupturing — just one step away from rupture and death.

Even during the last moments of his life, the teacher planned to turn himself into an experiment subject for surgery. If the surgery failed, a pathological autopsy would be performed to provide experience for the younger generations. He had dedicated his life to medicine and in the end, chose to donate his body to the cause as well.

“Dad—I don’t blame you—” Hong Zhigang sobbed.

“Listen up—” Professor Feng took a deep breath.

“All of you, come in!” The doctors who had just been kept out by Professor Zhang, were now being allowed in by him.

Hong Zhigang, Han Jiangong, the ICU doctors and nurses, as well as a group of young doctoral students stood around the bed, ready to listen to Professor Feng’s last words.

“First, no matter how great the risk, even if the success rate is zero, the operation must be performed. Second, a pathological autopsy will be conducted after my death, followed by in-depth and extensive research on this type of tumor to accumulate experience and achieve a breakthrough. Third, keep my funeral simple and avoid extravagance. Hong Zhigang and Han Jiangong will be in charge of all arrangements. Fourth, I don’t have much savings, only 84,000 yuan in the bank. Donate all of it to the Medical College of Jiaotong University. Fifth, my old house may be of some value. After selling it, split the proceeds evenly between Zhigang and Jiangong. Sixth, there is a patient follow-up record book in my study. On it is recorded a paraplegic patient. At that time, I had just started to perform scoliosis surgery, which led to the patient’s paralysis. I’ve always felt guilty about it. Zhigang, please continue to follow up and visit the patient every year. In the future, if medical treatment becomes possible, bring them to the hospital for treatment. The expenses will be covered by the money obtained from selling the house. Remember, don’t contravene these points.”

Professor Zhang recorded everything on the side. After finishing, Professor Feng motioned with his hand, “Arrange the surgery as soon as possible. Although I have many regrets in this life, I believe I have done my best. You may all leave now.”

The visiting corridor was already packed with people, including all of the doctoral candidates, masters, standard training students, and further education students at Shanghai Sixth Hospital, as well as Professor Feng’s foreign students who had rushed back from abroad—

Hong Zhigang and Han Jiangong stood upright, bowing deeply in farewell to their mentor. Perhaps, this really was their final farewell.

In the ward, in the hallway, everyone followed suit, bowing deeply.

The ICU ward fell into silence.