Chapter 426: A Hand Extended in the Dark

“Is there anything else you wanted to ask?”

The girl fidgeted nervously, her hands twisting together as she stared at the floor.

“Are you really planning to sell yourself just to pay back the patient?” Zhou Can asked coolly.

“If there’s truly no other way, only then would I do that. The best solution is to find a kind-hearted boss, work for him, and have the debt paid off from my wages.” Though the girl was naive and inexperienced, she wasn’t foolish.

She’s still so young. Working to pay off her debt is probably the best option she has.

At least for someone as vulnerable as her—with no way to stand against ruthless bosses or angry families of patients—the only thing left is to make up for her mistake however she can.

“How long have you been out working in the real world?”

Zhou Can’s voice was gentle but probing.

The other doctors in the office were either busy writing up charts, issuing orders, or handling discharges. Some listened quietly to the exchange between Zhou Can and the girl, their hands never stopping.

You see all kinds of darkness in a hospital, day in and day out.

Parents bring in their sick children, willing to spend any amount—sell the house, sell the car, even borrow money—to give them a chance at treatment. But when grown children bring in elderly parents, the moment the medication gets expensive or the treatment isn’t cheap, they might just give up and walk away.

One mother raises seven sons, but seven sons can barely support one mother. That’s a story hospitals witness all too often.

Of course, there are exceptions—children so devoted they only care whether their parents recover, no matter the cost.

But since Zhou Can started practicing medicine, he’s met precious few truly devoted kids.

He’s seen far more sons and daughters who turn their backs.

“I’ve been working for almost seven months now. At first, I just wanted to earn some money and apply to an adult college. Now, after what happened, all I can think about is doing whatever it takes to get that uncle’s illness treated. I can’t even consider anything else anymore.”

She dug her fingers into her hands, the gesture betraying just how helpless and lost she felt.

Adult college entrance exams?

She said she’s only been working for seven months, so just how old is she now?

After spending a lot of time with Dr. Xu, Zhou Can had developed the habit of thinking problems through carefully.

“Sorry if I’m being rude, but how old are you?”

It’s not polite to ask a woman her age.

People hate it—just like asking what someone earns in a year.

“I’m twenty. After the new year, I’ll be twenty-one. I was born in the mountains of Guizhou, where schools are behind. I was nearly eight when I first started school. I worked hard and made it into the county high school, but right before graduation, my father died in a mine accident…”

This was a girl with a truly hard life.

There’s no shortage of kids who’ve drawn the short straw in life. But ones who fight against fate and never give up like her? Rare indeed.

Most children eventually bow their heads to destiny.

But her eyes shone with the perseverance of wild grass. Heavy snow couldn’t crush it, wildfire couldn’t burn it. She’d never give in or back down—her heart stayed true.

Kids like her, after years of working and struggling, usually find their own kind of success in the end.

“What about your mother?”

“After I was born, Mom couldn’t stand the harsh life in the mountains. She left me and Dad behind and ran away.” She said it dry-eyed.

Maybe she’d run out of tears long before.

“Didn’t you get any compensation after your dad died in the mine accident?”

Zhou Can hadn’t meant to pry.

But, looking at how desperate her situation was, he couldn’t help himself.

“The money went to my uncle. I called him to ask for it, but he told me it was spent on building a house.”

Her words came out strained and pained.

You could hear the anger buried in her voice.

This world really is cruel. Good people get bullied, gentle souls get used.

Even her own uncle, when she needed help most, refused to give her what was rightfully hers. Instead, he took it for himself—cold as ice.

The law of the jungle has existed as long as humanity itself.

Our society might be ruled by laws, but everywhere you look, there are still shadows the law can’t reach.

She’s too powerless—bosses, families of patients, even her own uncle—they all take advantage, squeezing her for every last bit. Chances are, if she ever marries, her uncle will shamelessly try to take her dowry too.

“Suppose I could call on some good-hearted folks to help you. For example, maybe it shouldn’t be on you to pay for all the treatment for that burned customer. You should only cover a small part of it. Or your dad’s compensation from the mine—it should have been yours. Would you want that kind of help?”

Zhou Can watched her closely as he asked.

He didn’t go out of his way to play hero, but that didn’t mean he lacked a conscience.

When it came to greedy families—red envelopes, begging, none of it mattered to him.

But whenever the pure and helpless from the very bottom of society needed it, he couldn’t help but want to reach out a hand.

“Why are you helping me? What do you want in return? Are you like my boss, planning for me to keep you company for a few years?” The girl stared at him, wary.

She’d been hurt far too many times. Trust was a luxury now.

Anyone who tried to come close, she kept at arm’s length.

It was pure instinct—a shield for her heart.

“I don’t want anything from you in return. Only because of these four words: Justice and conscience.”

Zhou Can said it slowly and seriously, meaning every word.

“Justice…conscience…”

For the first time, she looked right into his eyes, surprised.

“Yes. Justice and conscience—that’s all. I hope my help can get you out of this mess, so you can go back to school, chase your dreams. Someday, when you’ve made it, you can give back to society, warm the lives of those in need. That’s enough for me.”

He answered her sincerely.

“If that’s true, I’d be grateful for your help and remember your kindness for the rest of my life. I dream of going to college. I actually got into a decent university with my exam scores, but with no money, and my father gone, I had no choice but to find work just to survive and put my education on hold.”

Her eyes held new emotion when she looked at Zhou Can.

Thankfulness, and a growing respect.

“If it’s possible, I’d like to take the college exam next year and pick a different major. I want to become a doctor—one as good as you.”

Her voice was firm and her gaze unshakable.

“Hey, let me give you some advice. Don’t do it. Anyone who persuades someone to study medicine must have a death wish. Medicine takes backbreaking work, and right now, the atmosphere in healthcare is the worst it’s ever been. It’s brutal out there.”

Zhou Can forced a bitter smile.

Only those who’ve gone through medical school know just how tough it really is.

Getting a master’s degree is no guarantee of smooth sailing.

Most people only see the glamorous side—the forty- and fifty-year-old chief doctors, head held high.

But that’s after decades of climbing the ranks.

Ordinary doctors? Most of them live pretty rough.

“I’m not afraid of hardship. So, how are you planning to help me?”

Zhou Can had clearly won her over. If getting out of this mess meant accepting help, she’d agree in a heartbeat.

“Leave me a phone number, write down your name and ID number. I’ll have someone get in touch with you.”

Helping someone so disadvantaged wasn’t something Zhou Can could do alone; he didn’t have the time or energy.

He needed a favor from someone—Reporter Mu Qing from the TV station.

The girl wrote down her ID and phone number. Zhou Can told her to wait for further news.

Mu Qing was a busy journalist. Whether she’d take up the cause was anyone’s guess.

Of course, if she turned it down, he could still find other ways—just probably not as effective.

With the media’s support, things always move surprisingly fast.

That’s why, whenever regular folks run into real trouble, their first thought is always to seek out a journalist.

After the girl left, Dr. Xu came over.

“Zhou, are you really thinking of admitting that patient? I got the background—he’s allergic to anesthetics, and even after proper treatment for his burns, he got an infection. Multiple antibiotics haven’t worked. What can our hospital do?”

Dr. Xu was Zhou Can’s mentor and didn’t beat around the bush.

“I talked to the patient and got a signed waiver. We’ll do everything we can, but if we lose him, that’s just fate. If the family won’t agree, they can try somewhere else.”

Zhou Can knew the case was tricky, but if the risks could be managed, it was worth a shot.

After all, saving lives is a doctor’s duty.

“Honestly, I doubt other hospitals could cure that injury either. But I have an idea—worth a try.”

Dr. Xu still looked worried, his brow deeply furrowed. Clearly, he didn’t think much of treating this patient.

“What idea?”

Dr. Xu pressed.

“Use the larvae of the greenbottle fly.”

Given how unique the case was, Zhou Can thought this angle was worth exploring.

“You mean—maggots?”

Dr. Xu’s eyes lit up and he looked at his protégé with new appreciation.

This kid was as steady in surgery as he was creative with treatments, always offering ideas no one else would even consider.

“Exactly.” Zhou Can nodded firmly.

“Since antibiotics were discovered, using maggots to treat wounds has all but vanished. Still, your suggestion is worth a try.” Dr. Xu was finally relenting.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhou Can added, “We’ll probably need legal to help with the waiver, but if we pull this off, not only do we save a life, the Emergency Department gets a huge boost in publicity. Even if this only makes a small paper, it could go viral overnight.”

He left the rest unsaid.

He trusted Dr. Xu understood as well as he did.

“You really are talented, kid. Fine, I’ll talk to the family. If they agree, I’ll get Director Lou involved. Those family members aren’t exactly saints. When it comes to families like this, you need to stay alert—don’t get sentimental. Go get your work done!”

Dr. Xu was strict but also protective of his favorite pupil.

The surgical patients—especially the ones who needed to stay after an operation—only got through after careful review.

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So far, Zhou Can hadn’t run into any disasters.

……

He made time to check in on the inpatients, then quickly messaged Mu Qing.

He didn’t wait for her reply. He just changed into scrubs and headed straight into the operating room for another busy day.

The morning passed in a blur of nonstop work.

The Emergency Department’s operating rooms had been running at high volume for over two months now—dozens of operations a day—and everything ran like well-oiled clockwork.

Everyone focused on assisting Zhou Can.

He handled the critical steps—he couldn’t afford to slip up.

Around lunchtime, Dr. Xu brought news: the burn patient had been admitted, and the family had signed the agreement. Director Lou was taking the case very seriously.

Zhou Can would be both the admitting and attending physician.

In other words, if the treatment succeeded, the Emergency Department would do everything to make Zhou Can a star.

“My qualifications are still thin. You should handle the treatment, sir.”

Zhou Can wanted nothing more than to see Dr. Xu back on his feet.

“Are you helping me, or trying to get me killed? You know my situation. Anyone but me can have the spotlight. I need to be as low-key as possible—flying under the radar is the only way I survive.”

Dr. Xu shot him a glare.

It wasn’t that he looked down on Zhou Can or didn’t recognize his respect.

His circumstances were unusually dangerous. Zhou Can had no idea just how deep the water ran.

“That medical accident was years ago. You’ve done everything to repay the family—are they still after you?”

Zhou Can was more and more curious: who exactly was that mysterious victim?

Dr. Xu and every senior staff member at the hospital always kept a tight lid on it.

“Unless that patient makes a full recovery, I can only dream of keeping my job until retirement. That would already be a blessing.”

Dr. Xu’s reply was heavy with meaning.

“So just how important is that patient, anyway?”

Zhou Can pressed, unable to hold back.

“Let’s just say you don’t want to know. It can only hurt you. What I can tell you is, I give most of my salary each month to make amends, but they don’t care about the money. All that matters is that my attitude is right.”

For the first time, Dr. Xu shared a fraction of the truth about the patient.

It made sense—whoever could force Tuyu Hospital to ice its top surgeon must have terrifying influence.

That’s the life of a doctor. Cure someone, you’re a hero.

Fail? It could destroy you.

That’s always been the way, from ancient times to today.

Even royal doctors in the past often faced execution if they failed.