Two minutes later, Li Yi finally turned around: "Compared to three months ago, do you feel any differences in your body?"
"It gets numb more easily, and the numb area has expanded." Hu Chunmei gestured, "It used to be just the back, but now even my shoulders get numb, and in severe cases, I struggle to breathe."
"You're really something, Teacher Hu, dragging it out this long." Li Yi said to Qiao Sheng, "Go prepare a deposit of one hundred thousand."
"I have, I have, it's ready." Qiao Sheng felt a chill down his spine, "Brother... I... Chunmei she..."
"Although it's very likely benign, the tumor is still growing, it might already involve the thoracic cavity, and the extent of nerve damage is unknown." Li Yi looked at Hu Chunmei and said, "Immediate surgery can't guarantee no permanent nerve damage."
With that, Hu Chunmei was dumbfounded as well.
"I fucking told you, dragging it out!" Qiao Sheng was anxious and slapped himself, "For those kids, is it worth it? Except for Li Zheng..."
Hu Chunmei's face was full of regret.
This time, she genuinely regretted it.
Li Yi waited until she had been remorseful long enough before smiling: "Now you're scared, aren't you?"
"Mm..."
"Alright, what I said earlier was standard procedure, but since we're friends, I'll be honest." Li Yi pointed at the photo on the screen, "Although it's quite severe, it's still within my range. Don't worry, get hospitalized, and we'll aim for surgery within four days."
Hu Chunmei and Qiao Sheng were overjoyed and couldn't contain themselves.
Cheng Wenyue, who was fixing her hair in the mirror, quickly interjected: "Teacher Li, your schedule is already packed, aren't you going to get any sleep?"
"This is the first time my son has asked me for a favor, I can't drop the ball." Li Yi turned to Qiao Sheng and smiled, "Our hospital is short on beds, so you'll have to make do with a shared room. Also, adding an extra surgery means the family will have to come in early, around 4 a.m."
"You're the one working hard, you're the one working hard, I can sleep in the hallway." Qiao Sheng nodded frantically, reaching for the red envelope in his pocket.
Cheng Wenyue quickly coughed and left the room: "I'll go reserve a bed…"
As soon as the office door closed, Qiao Sheng pulled out a thick red envelope and tried to slip it into Li Yi's drawer.
Li Yi couldn't help but laugh: "We have surveillance here, Teacher Qiao, be careful."
"Sorry, sorry..." Qiao Sheng quickly pulled back his hand, looking around trying to find a reasonable angle.
"I'll accept the favor, but no red envelopes." Li Yi nodded at Qiao Sheng, "Help me keep an eye on Li Zheng, don't let him skip a single minute of P.E. class, and make sure he participates in exercises and sports meets. Treat it like catching a fugitive, and make sure he's there."
"No problem, brother, it's my duty." Qiao Sheng agreed instantly but quickly began to worry.
It seemed he had promised Li Zheng he could skip P.E. class.
Helping his brother was a must.
But his elder brother's request couldn't be ignored.
He was stuck between a rock and a hard place, what to do?
But soon he was relieved.
What's bigger than the sky?
Dad is the biggest.
He would make it up to his brother in other ways.
"This is too easy, anything else?" Qiao Sheng quickly asked, "Lake Ying High School is my old stomping ground, just let me know if you need anything."
"Hmm..." Li Yi thought for a moment, then said, "Li Zheng seems to have taken a sudden interest in basketball. Since you're a P.E. teacher, help me pick out a good basketball for him. This kid probably runs off to buy school supplies with his money."
"Leave it to me."
Just then, Cheng Wenyue knocked and entered: "The bed has been reserved, a family member will need to come with me for the procedures."
"Coming, coming." Qiao Sheng gathered his materials and followed, bowing as he went.
Only after Qiao Sheng left did Hu Chunmei start to speak.
"I'm embarrassed to have made you laugh..."
"It's actually quite good; being around passionate people is beneficial for your health." Li Yi glanced at the wall clock, "I really don't mean to avoid discussing Li Zheng, but I need to prepare for surgery in five minutes."
"No worries, you go ahead."
"Wait, we can talk a lot in five minutes." Li Yi said seriously, "Both his mother and I are very busy with work and don't have much time to spend with him. You might understand him better than we do, so go ahead."
"Okay." Hu Chunmei quickly said, "I've already spoken to the teachers of different subjects, so you don't need to worry too much. Just give him confidence at critical moments. Hard-working people are actually prone to frustration. I heard your family members are all very accomplished, so in your free time, tell him stories about your family to let him know that everyone fails at times. The key is to get back up quickly and keep going."
"Li Zheng was right, you truly are a good teacher." Li Yi waved his hand, "I don't have high expectations for his academics. However he does, it's his path. I'm just afraid his mindset... how to put it, I'm afraid he's too pure, only studies without living, and I'm not sure that's healthy."
"Ah, this..." After a moment of hesitation, Hu Chunmei decided to spill the beans, "There's something you should know, but don't say it came from me."
"I... I'll try."
"You don't need to worry about that aspect." Hu Chunmei gestured, smiling, "He might be involved with a girl. I'm quite accurate in these things, and I haven't misjudged in twenty years as a matchmaker. Rest assured, I've already covered it up with the Dean, so it shouldn't bother you."
"Wait... explain more clearly." Li Yi was shocked.
"It's just that Li Zheng might have mutual feelings with the best girl in our... no, the best girl in our school."
"Holy shit!" Li Yi clapped his hands and instantly became like Qiao Sheng, "I was afraid he'd marry a textbook."
"Director Li, keep it down... keep it down..."
Li Yi was still excited: "Good news, good news, I'll give him more pocket money and drown him in school supplies."
"Heh heh..." Hu Chunmei wiped her sweat.
Aren't you throwing meat buns to dogs.
At this moment, the announcement in the ward areas sounded.
"Director Li Yi, please come to Operating Room No. 3."
"Oh, time to go." Li Yi quickly calmed himself, took a deep breath, and let his arms relax at his sides.
"Yes, I'll go find Old Qiao for the procedures as well." Hu Chunmei stood up and was about to bow, "Oh... what did I do to deserve such effort from you... it's really troubling..."
"No, no." Li Yi quickly helped Hu Chunmei up, "We doctors and teachers are like family, we're in it for life and understand each other."
"Thank you..." Hu Chunmei looked guilty, "Jumping the queue like this must've put you in a tough spot... I'm really sorry."
"You're overthinking it, I do have some privileges." Li Yi laughed, "We face the risk of being attacked by family members every day, standing in the operating room for more than ten hours. If we can't even help with such small things, we might as well not live."
"Heh heh, you have a way with words."
Hu Chunmei had more to say, but she swallowed her words.
Spend more time teaching your son.
His issue with Lin Yujing isn't about pocket money.
It's about whether he can communicate with people.