Chapter 136: Crossroads of Healing and Fate

“I’ve learned that with this condition, you can’t have children. I know you’re someone who cares deeply, and if we marry, you’d have fewer options. I’m afraid marrying you would hold you back, and I suspect your parents wouldn’t approve either.”

She was overwhelmed by worry on many levels.

“Just give me a little more time. Once my illness is cured, let’s have the wedding we deserve, okay?”

Su Qianqian looked up at him, her eyes pleading.

“Alright!”

Zhou Can nodded in agreement.

But inside, he silently resolved to work hard to find her a proper kidney donor.

Always be prepared for the worst.

Every day in Tuyu, countless patients die despite desperate rescue efforts. Especially car accident victims—their organs can often be used for transplants.

Organs that could save another life.

But the number of people willing to donate is extremely low.

Less than one in a thousand.

Right now, the most urgently needed transplant organs are kidneys, hearts, corneas, and bone marrow.

The demand is enormous.

Many patients die without ever receiving a viable organ for transplantation.

It’s especially worth noting the lungs.

They are among the most vital organs in the body.

Their demand even surpasses that for hearts and kidneys.

They aren’t usually listed because lung transplants generally have poor outcomes—even if major hospitals tout success rates above 80%.

Lung transplants do have a high success rate initially.

But afterward, hospitals tend to understate the reduced lifespan of the patients.

Let’s put it this way: surviving more than five years after a lung transplant is almost a miracle.

In contrast, kidney and heart transplants barely affect a patient’s lifespan.

Many wonder why lung transplant recipients tend to have such short lives.

It’s because the lung is recognized as the organ most susceptible to severe rejection after transplantation.

There is no equal.

There are many reasons behind this.

For example, lung transplants require minimal HLA matching—only blood type compatibility is needed. In contrast, kidney transplants demand blood type, tissue matching, and cross-matching.

The best case even requires six matching tests.

So don’t assume that money lets you take liberties with your lungs. If a serious problem occurs, no amount of money can get you a second healthy lung.

“Can, let’s not dwell on the negative. Today, I’ve finally paid off all my debts and I’m in high spirits. How about I pick up some groceries and cook for you when I get home?”

That apartment had now become a true love nest for the two.

Zhou Can didn’t actually live there.

Instead, they often met at the apartment—watching TV, cooking together, and enjoying a blissful life as lovers.

They bought some groceries and even a bottle of beer to celebrate properly at home.

But as Zhou Can was washing vegetables, Mr. Li called.

“Li, did you miss me?”

Zhou Can answered with a laugh.

Ever since their jointly run company started getting on track, Mr. Li had become increasingly busy.

They only managed to dine together occasionally.

Or Mr. Li would call Zhou Can over to update him on the company’s status.

By nature, Zhou Can cared very little about money and was deeply loyal, placing full trust in Mr. Li. He rarely involved himself in company affairs.

When Mr. Li reported important details like finances, Zhou Can would simply say, “I trust you entirely. From now on, just keep me in the loop by splitting the profits with me.”

Zhou Can really wasn’t interested in business.

He’d rather hone his medical skills than listen to tedious financial reports.

“It’s been ages since we had a drink together; I miss our long conversations. The company is expanding so fast I can’t even step away! I hired a business manager, but he’s practically useless—I have to guide him in every aspect,”

Mr. Li complained.

“He’ll get the hang of it eventually. Just be patient!”

These were matters Zhou Can had no power to change.

“Haha, you’re just sugarcoating it for me! Looks like I need to put in extra effort to train this guy so things will finally get easier.”

Mr. Li’s hearty laugh showed that he was in great spirits.

“The accountant finished tallying the finances for the past three months today. After deducting taxes, rent, wages, recording costs for our new song, and various promotion expenses, our net profit was 10.6432 million yuan.”

Jinyu Company now had nearly twenty employees and had grown into a respectable enterprise.

Zhou Can was taken aback.

“Net profit this high?! Li, I must be dreaming!”

In just three months—including the initial growth phase—they had earned over ten million.

“I told you when you joined the company that the entertainment business can be extremely lucrative, though losses set in quickly too. We split net profits 50-50, so you get 5.3216 million yuan. This amount will be credited to your account as a dividend. With dividend taxes around 20% these days, will the company handle the paperwork or will you do it yourself?”

Dividend taxes have always been a thorn in the side of many bosses.

Earn a million and you’ll pay 200,000 in taxes.

Who wouldn’t wince at that?

Many bosses just can’t accept it.

“Let the company handle it. I don’t understand those formalities anyway.”

Not long ago, Zhou Can had marveled at Su Qianqian’s high income.

But now he realized that employees rarely earn as much as their bosses!

“Speaking of dividend taxes, there are some legal ways to reduce them. If you’re interested, come by the office on a weekday with your ID—I’ll show you how to optimize your taxes.”

Mr. Li was a heavyweight in the entertainment world.

He knew all the ins and outs.

Zhou Can readily agreed, promising to take a day off and visit the office soon.

“This dividend exceeds 5 million, and after tax, only about 4.26 million remains. Is that enough to cover your bank loan?”

Mr. Li knew that Zhou Can had borrowed a total of 4.5 million yuan from the bank.

Later, when they co-invested in the company, both initially put in 4 million yuan. In the first month, both of them added another 300,000.

Even though Zhou Can hadn’t spent a single penny, he was left with only 200,000 yuan.

In reality, the bank’s monthly installment payments were also a significant expense.

“Don’t worry, it’s enough.”

Zhou Can’s financial foundation was fairly solid.

Pulling out 200,000 or 300,000 wasn’t a problem at all.

And that’s without even asking his parents.

“Alright, if you ever fall short, feel free to come to me anytime.”

Mr. Li might not be rich, but handling a few million yuan was well within his capability.

After ending the call, Zhou Can felt a surge of excitement.

Finally, his loans could be paid off.

Every day ahead promised to be brighter.

With the rapid growth of Jinyu Media Company, Zhou Can’s wealth might even one day surpass that of his parents.

…

The next day, Zhou Can went to work at the hospital.

A long queue had already formed outside the Manual Reduction Room.

Every day, countless patients from far and wide seek treatment here—joint dislocations being the most common case. There are also patients with dislocated pelvises and lumbar spines needing manual reduction.

Soon, Dr. Zhang and another physician arrived.

Another day of treatment began.

Zhou Can had become a formidable force in the Manual Reduction Room.

He could handle almost every type of manual reduction—with his skills only getting better.

“What’s with cutting in line?”

“Old lady, if you dare say one more word, I’ll break your other leg!”

Shouts erupted from outside.

The line-cutter was behaving arrogantly.

Doctors and nurses alike despised such conduct.

After finishing with his patient, Zhou Can turned to look at the commotion at the door.

A smile spread across his face.

So who was this person cutting in line? It turned out to be that no-good lowlife he had once knocked off his shoulder!

Kun had shown up accompanied by two lackeys for treatment.

The three looked intimidating, deliberately flaunting tattoos on their chests or arms to scare off other patients.

“Sir, please step to the back of the line.”

A young nurse hurried over after hearing the argument, trying to mediate.

“Little lady, do you know who this is? Our director and Kun are on friendly terms. Cutting in line is just a courtesy to them.”

That was typical behavior for these street thugs.

Used to being overbearing, they wouldn’t dare get cocky at the police station, but elsewhere, they’d smash a table without hesitation.

“Our Kun only dislocated his shoulder by accident—the doctor just needs to fix it. It won’t take more than two minutes.”

One of his lackeys echoed the sentiment.

“If everyone cut in line like you, how would we maintain order? Please step to the back, or I’ll call security.”

The nurse, accustomed to handling such issues, was not intimidated by the trio.

She insisted they move to the back of the line.

“What did you say? Try summoning security. Mess with us and you’ll get what’s coming to you. One of these days after your shift, one of us will haul you off to a motel. Got it?”

The thug known as Qiangzi was a fierce fighter—his knack for threats and insults was unmatched.

Admittedly, the young nurse, just in her twenties, was already wary of these unsavory characters.

Hearing that the three planned to block her way after her shift made her visibly frightened.

“Now get to the back of the line, immediately!”

Once Zhou Can appeared, Kun recognized him instantly.

His expression shifted and he instinctively stepped back.

The two lackeys also recognized Zhou Can; their arrogance melted away as they obediently helped Kun to the back of the line.

“A doctor’s word carries weight!”

“Good job, kid!”

An elderly woman in a wheelchair gave Zhou Can a thumbs-up.

Other patients and family members in line joined in praising his actions.

Justice, it seemed, always prevailed.

When righteousness and public order were maintained, most people couldn’t help but feel delighted.

“Dr. Zhou not only treats patients adeptly but also knows how to handle line-cutters!” a female nurse complimented him with a smile.

“Hehe, that’s because they’re full of guilt.”

Zhou Can smiled as he stepped into the Manual Reduction Room.

After treating about twenty patients, it was finally Kun’s turn.

Once inside the operating room, the three looked at Zhou Can with lingering fear.

Kun’s expression turned especially awkward.

He was caught between the one who had injured him and the one now treating him.

It was like a tire repair shop owner scattering nails on the road so that other tires would burst, forcing them into his shop for a fix.

Zhou Can grasped Kun’s arm, slowly rotated it, and then pushed it upward.

Crack!

The shoulder joint was perfectly realigned.

The procedure was both swift and flawless.

“That arm will need to be in a sling for at least a month. Remember, if you keep acting tough, next time you might break your other arm—or even both legs!”

Zhou Can warned Kun and his companions with a weighty look.

“Alright, alright!”

Kun was visibly terrified and nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Having already suffered so much pain from having his arm reset by Zhou Can, the thought of possibly losing two legs was horrifying.

The very thought sent chills down his spine.

As he left in a hurry, his panic causing him to misstep, Kun tripped over the threshold.

He stumbled and nearly took a spectacular fall.

Fortunately, he managed to grab onto a wall.

“Kun, are you alright?”

The two lackeys quickly rushed over to assist him.

“Damn it, you blockheads—like two wooden pigs, you can’t even help properly!”

Kun cursed bitterly.

Thankfully, he didn’t fall; otherwise, his freshly reset arm might have dislocated again.

Watching the three leave, everyone shared a knowing smile.

“Serves you right for trying to intimidate me!”

The female nurse scolded the trio as she watched their departing backs.

Clearly, the threat of them blocking her way after her shift had truly frightened her.

Almost immediately after they left, another patient arrived.

This patient’s mouth twisted into a bizarre shape—it looked extremely odd.

It resembled the facial deformity sometimes seen with polio.

Yet his walk was completely normal.

Generally, polio is hugely debilitating, affecting multiple parts of the body—especially limbs and the spine.

“What’s his problem?”

A family member quickly handed Zhou Can an X-ray while explaining.

“My brother, while laughing, somehow twisted his mouth like this. The X-ray indicates a temporomandibular joint dislocation.”

Zhou Can took the X-ray and examined it carefully.

The family member then asked, “Doctor, which part is the temporomandibular joint? Is it the chin?”

“Yes!”

Zhou Can nodded.

In his eight days working in the Manual Reduction Room, he had never encountered a case of jaw dislocation before.

People often joke that laughing too hard can literally make your jaw drop.

And, to be honest, there’s some truth to it.

The temporomandibular joint is one of the most complex joints in the human body.

Sometimes, laughing loudly, yawning, or eating with your mouth wide open—like trying to bite into an apple—can be very dangerous.

Such actions can easily cause a dislocated jaw.

So it’s best to keep it toned down, or you might just end up with a dropped jaw.

“Dr. Fu, please take a look!”

Zhou Can had never performed a reduction on a dislocated jaw before, nor had he observed one, so he dared not act hastily.

Now that he was on good terms with Dr. Fu, he trusted that if he encountered an unfamiliar dislocation, Dr. Fu would instruct him without needing much explanation.

After studying the X-ray, Dr. Fu pointed out two areas of concern, saying, “See here and here? A normal temporomandibular joint should look like this.”

He then manipulated a couple of controls, displaying an image of a normal joint on the light screen.

Zhou Can compared the images carefully, feeling reassured.

But since the joint capsule is close to the ear, exactly how to proceed still required Dr. Fu’s guidance.

“For this type of reduction, you just need to support the chin with one hand, and with the other, locate the correct bony alignment, then lift upward.”

Dr. Fu explained while gently palpating the patient’s facial joint area.

The moment his hand made contact, the patient cried out in pain.

“Bear with it for a moment. We need to pinpoint the dislocation precisely before we can set it properly. If manual reduction fails, surgery will be required—and that cost is very high, with at least a week’s hospitalization.”

Dr. Fu wasn’t just trying to scare the patient; this was the hospital’s standard treatment protocol.

At present, manual reduction remains the most cost-effective, time-saving, and minimally invasive treatment for fractures and joint dislocations.

It’s the first choice whenever possible.

If a patient doesn’t meet the conditions for manual reduction, nothing can be done.

Also, some patients are extremely delicate and distrustful of doctors.

Their families are usually equally difficult—asking endless questions as if they wanted to investigate every detail of the doctor’s background.

In such cases, remember: doctors are human too, with their own limits.

“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to check with the Inpatient Department to see if a bed is available. If there is, you’ll be scheduled for inpatient surgical treatment; if not, you’ll have to wait.”