Chapter 28 (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Zhou Wen had only found out that the old woman’s son was not just a little ill, but he was actually diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer when he followed the old woman to the inpatient department. Her son would not live long.

The old woman waited for the male attendant to finish giving Guo Baichun a sponge bath before taking a seat next to the bed and opening up the thermos container with trembling hands. She picked up a plastic spoon and began feeding the tiny old man with a ghastly pale face and severely emaciated body on the sickbed.

Zhou Wen used his Truevision to take a look. The tiny old man’s name was Guo Baichun, and he was 72 years old this year. On the other hand, the old woman was Zhang Jieru, and she was already 93 years old.

“I don’t want to eat.”

“Be good; have one bite.”

“Gulp…” Guo Baichun ate a spoonful of rice soaked in broth under the old woman’s continuous urging. However, he had only swallowed it before he immediately threw up everything in the next moment. “Blargh… Cough, cough, cough…”

The old woman hastily placed down the meal container and picked up the tissue by the bed to wipe her son.

Zhou Wen, who was standing on the side, helped out as well. At the same time, he asked, “Where are his children?”

“They have all passed.”

“Oh…”

Zhou Wen felt rather awkward for having asked the question.

The old woman said with a profound smile, “My eldest grandson was a firefighter. He went into fire back in those years to save people but did not re-emerge. He was only 22 years old at the time, so I am guessing he was about your age now. My second grandson was a policeman, and he died in an accident while on duty as well.”

Zhou Wen’s body tensed up for a moment. He felt a ball of ineffable bitterness stuck in his throat. “All your grandsons are extraordinary men!”

“That’s true!” The old woman heaved a sigh with a smile on her face. There was boundless sorrow seeping from her expression.

When she was done cleaning up her son, the old woman continued to feed her son. Even though Guo Baichun did not have an appetite, he was still very determined to swallow his food. But then, he vomited again soon.

Guo Baichun was suffering from intermittent pain after he vomited. He was only grunting in pain initially, but it turned into agonizing screams later on.

Zhou Wen was well aware that most patients with late-stage liver cancer would suffer from violent pains.

It was mainly due to the rapid growth of the tumors pressing against the liver capsule that resulted in dragging pain. The pain was also caused by the tumor’s necrotic material stimulating the liver capsule and the breakage and hemorrhage resulting from carcinomatosis on the liver’s surface.

On the other hand, judging by the way Guo Baichun looked, the cancer cells had already metastasized fully. Painkillers such as morphine sulfate sustained-release tablets, Pethidine pills, and others would have already been ineffective for him.

Even though the old woman had already accepted life and death, she could not stop her tears from filling her eyes when she saw her son crying out sorrowfully on the sickbed. Yet, there was nothing that she could do either.

The only thing that she could do was use her palms covered in wrinkles to hold her son’s hand tightly and bestow him a mother’s strength.

Zhou Wen was a sentimental person. He could not stand watching a scene like this where he wanted to help but could not do anything.

“Wrong!” Meanwhile, an idea suddenly flashed past Zhou Wen’s mind. He remembered the ‘Biotype Pain Relief Medication Prescription.’

Even though this medication could not be used to treat liver cancer, he speculated that it should be good in relieving Guo Baichun’s agony so that he could enjoy momentary tranquility during the final moments of his life and not die in boundless agony.

Furthermore, the method of preparing the Biotype Pain Relief Medication was very simple. The extraction of raw plant materials followed by the same animal genetic DNA extraction could easily be done with the readily available laboratory equipment.

The only issue now was whether or not he should help. Meanwhile, the familiar prompt tone was suddenly heard in his ears. [Ding! Mission accomplished. Would you like to submit the mission immediately?]

Zhou Wen was stunned for a moment. He was overjoyed at once when he reacted to the situation. He longed to complete the mission for days and nights had finally been accomplished; it came all the more unexpectedly as he had almost given up on it.

He brought up the system interface and clicked to submit. Then, he checked and found that the mission to become a formal employee had been completed for real.

On the other hand, a mission dialogue box popped out once again simultaneously.

[Mission: Zhang Jieru’s Wish

Explanation: Guo Baichun is suffering from the agony of his illness, and he feels miserable beyond explanation. She hopes that there is a medication that is capable of relieving his pain.

Requirement: Produce the Biotype Pain Relief Medication within 48 hours to ease Guo Baichun’s suffering.

Reward: 500 Course XP, 500 Points. 1x Loot box Chance (Black metal)]

Before Zhou Wen could scrutinize the mission, the phone in his pocket was ringing. Wu Yan was calling him.

Zhou Wen left the room and picked up the call outside.

Wu Yan said, beaming with joy, “Hey, I’m going to tell you something. Your formal employment contract has already been approved!”

Even though Zhou Wen was already aware of it, he was still feeling extremely happy in his heart. “Judging from the joy in your voice, senior, your formal employment contract has been approved, too, right?”

Wu Yan took part in an open interview at the hospital toward the end of last year in an attempt to change her status of being a contract employee to a formal employee. Her result at the time was rather impressive too, only that she had yet to receive any public notification or approval all this time.

Wu Yan answered with an ‘Mmhmm.’ She could not suppress her excitement by saying, “I must thank you for this! According to the boss, the team leader of Province CDC’s Pathologist Team, Lin Huaidong, had sung praises to your name to our leaders in the provincial health bureau and also our hospital’s professionals during the epidemic prevention grand meeting yesterday. He said that the entire province should learn from our hospital!”