Die trying to rely on it

  Seeing Mr. Liu's indignant look, Mr. Zhao also had the same feeling: "Now some doctors are indeed too unreasonable, and it's right to teach them a lesson. However, just because of this, you want to go directly to Xiao Luo at the Health Department, isn't that a bit too much? Finding their hospital director would be enough."

  For Old Zhao's somewhat conciliatory advice, Old Liu was disdainful: "My old heart isn't that small! But think about it, because of our status, these doctors are already very cautious and meticulous when examining us. And yet they can still make such a ridiculous misdiagnosis. If the patient were someone else, wouldn't they be in trouble? Wouldn't they mistake a cold for hemorrhoids and treat it as such? This kind of person isn't just going to apologize and that's it, I want to strip them of their white coats." Old Liu had a stubborn streak, a hard-boned literati temperament that once he made up his mind about something, he would be more obstinate than a donkey and insist on seeing it through to the end. Of course, it was also this persistence, combined with the help of some old friends, that allowed him to remain standing despite repeated setbacks in his official career.

  Seeing Mr. Liu's fiery momentum, Old Man Lan hastily changed the subject: "Alright, now these doctors are indeed not like they used to be, and it wouldn't be a bad thing to give them a good scolding! Even if we strip off their white coats, it would serve as a warning to other doctors to behave themselves. But I'm saying, Old Liu, this time you were diagnosed with something different from before, that's a good thing, right? At least this 'lung disease' is easier to treat than the 'heart disease' you were originally diagnosed with!"

  Several old men, although they frequently go in and out of the hospital for check-ups and treatment due to age-related issues, only have a rough understanding of their own ailments and are clueless about other diseases. Judging from the names alone, it seems that one is a lung disease and the other is a heart disease. Several old men almost unanimously believe that lung disease is less dangerous. After all, in terms of function, the heart is obviously much more important to humans than the lungs.

  "You don't understand, this 'primary pulmonary hypertension' is also a heart disease, and it's known as the cancer of heart diseases. Which one do you think is more dangerous?" Although he was talking about his own life, Liu Lao Yezi, this strange old man, didn't have any change in expression on his face, and his demeanor could be described as 'carefree'. Hmm... at least it seemed that way.

  "Ah, then why did you come back? Why didn't you just stay in the hospital and get treated, it's more convenient that way..."

  "Alright, let's hurry up and get you back home, old brothers."

  …………

  When they heard that Old Man Liu's illness was so severe, several old friends who had known him for decades became anxious and immediately took him to the hospital.

  Mr. Liu hastily stopped, "No need to bother so much. I just asked the experts in Beijing, and this disease doesn't have a good treatment method even now in the whole world, not even the cause is clear. If it was at an early stage, there would be 20-30% chance, but now..."

  "No matter how slim the chance is, we can't give up, right? Hurry back to the hospital." Old Man Zhao was the oldest among several old brothers, and at this moment, he finally brought out the big brother demeanor that had been unused for many years.

  "Alright, let's be real. If I were to receive strict treatment for this illness, I might be able to live another three or five years, but the suffering would be immense. However, if I just take my medication and don't undergo rigorous treatment, I'd probably only lose half a year or eight months of my life. What would you do in my shoes? And besides, if those quack doctors were to treat me, who knows, I might not even live as long as I would without any treatment!" Liu Lao Ye Zi, always known for his tough and unyielding demeanor, surprisingly showed a side of himself that resembled a child afraid of getting shots, revealing that the sudden turn of events had indeed left this seemingly fearless old man with some concerns.

  Although Old Liu said so, several old brothers didn't believe it at all. It wasn't until Old Zhao made a phone call to an old friend who worked at a top hospital in Beijing and was known as a master doctor that they confirmed the truth after asking a few questions. It seemed that their old brother Old Liu's days were indeed numbered. The atmosphere suddenly became very gloomy.

  After a while, Old Zhao seemed to suddenly remember something and broke the silence with only cicadas chirping, "Old Liu, if you really don't plan on going to the hospital for treatment, then let's just try anything, go to Little Zhang's place and have him take a look!"

  As a crowd of old friends focused their puzzled gazes on him, Old Zhao continued: "When I called Lao Bai in Beijing earlier, he told me that your 'primary pulmonary hypertension' is often easily confused with 'high-altitude heart disease'. Even experienced doctors can misdiagnose it, so from this point of view, we can't completely blame the doctor who examined you before. But this young fellow Zhang Jin was able to see your true condition at a glance. Although I haven't seen his treatment methods, having such diagnostic vision is already quite remarkable. Who knows, he might have some way to treat your illness."

  Mr. Zhao's words made Mr. Lu's eyes shine, and he nodded in agreement: "Right! Old Zhao is right. To be honest, I've lived for most of my life, but this is the first time I've met someone like Little Zhang. He's young, yet full of mystery, can cook, brew wine, diagnose illnesses, and has started living in seclusion before the age of thirty. Can't see through him, really can't see through him! Who knows, maybe this kid really has the skills to cure Old Liu's illness!"

  Old Master Liu didn't mind this proposal from his old brothers at all, and nodded in agreement with a smile: "This is a good idea. To be honest, I've been thinking about it since leaving that place just a few days ago. It's truly a 'utopia'! As he said this, Old Master Liu still had a nostalgic look on his face, but then revealed his old gourmet self, "Moreover, there's Little Zhang's wine and dishes, even if he can't cure my illness, I want to stay there for a few days and bring the painting I promised to give him. Originally, because of the complicated relationship with Old Blue's granddaughter, although I wanted to go, I didn't dare to. But now that my life is almost over, my face has naturally become thicker, and even if it means being a freeloader, I'll stay at Little Zhang's place for two days. Alright, that's what I'll do, I'll go these next two days."

  When he saw Old Liu, his face originally had a stern expression but now showed an excited look. Lao Laozi said with some regret: "I thought the wine sent by our family's FeiFei was already the best in the world after I drank it. But after going to Xiao Zhang's place and coming back, I realized that this wine is still a rare good wine, but if these dishes weren't made by Xiao Zhang, no matter who made them, they seem not to match the wine. Now when I drink wine, I either pair it with Xiao Zhang's pickled small dishes or simply drink it straight up, fearing that other people's dishes will disturb the flavor of the wine."

  Lao Lü's words brought a nod of agreement from Old Man Zhang: "Isn't that right? Only the fine dishes of Little Zhang can match his beautiful wine. Now Old Liu is in luck!" As he said this, Old Man Lü actually felt a little bit sour.