Chapter 166: Diagnosis Results

The night passed uneventfully, and before dawn the next day, Li Yi got up.

After a quick wash, he took his father straight to the affiliated hospital across from the guesthouse.

Compared to the county hospital, the affiliated hospital was much more impressive.

Not only were there security guards stationed at the entrance, but the medical facilities weren’t the usual small, single-story buildings—instead, they consisted of a row of imposing five-story buildings.

Visiting such a place for the first time, Li Shankui felt somewhat self-conscious, even nervous.

Li Yi, on the other hand, didn’t feel a thing!

A five-story hospital was indeed rare in this era, but looking ahead to the future, which reputable top-tier hospital didn’t have several buildings with dozens of stories?

He led his father with ease to the registration desk and made an appointment with a specialist named Liu Jimin.

This doctor had been recommended to him by the physician at the county hospital, who had said that Dr. Liu was the leading expert on lung diseases in North Sai Province—you couldn’t go wrong with him.

It was also Dr. Zhou who had warned him that Dr. Liu’s appointments were hard to come by—he’d have to get in line early in the morning, or he’d miss his chance.

After booking the appointment—it wasn’t even seven o’clock yet—Li Yi took his father to wait outside the clinic!

They waited for a full hour, and by then, the entrance to the clinic was already crowded with patients and their families waiting to be seen.

Just as everyone was anxiously wondering when the doctor would arrive, a young woman in her late teens wearing a white lab coat walked over and unlocked the clinic door with a key.

The moment the door swung open, the patients and family members at the entrance surged forward in a stampede—the scene was downright terrifying.

However, the young woman seemed to be used to this by now. She stretched out her slender hand and shouted, “Everyone step back! Teacher Liu won’t be here for a little while yet!”

Then, before anyone could say a word, she went about her business, grabbing a broom and mop and starting to clean the room.

Li Yi didn’t approach her. He could tell at a glance that this young woman was likely an intern.

Interns like this usually just assist the senior doctors; asking her for help would be a complete waste of time.

Instead, his gaze kept sweeping the corridor to his left, as if he were searching for something.

Just then, an elderly doctor with snow-white hair and beard came into Li Yi’s view.

It was him!

Without hesitation, Li Yi stepped forward to greet him.

“Hello, Dr. Liu! I’ve been waiting for you!”

Liu Jimin looked at the young man before him in surprise and asked immediately, “Hello, young man. Do we know each other?”

“No, we haven’t. I was referred by Director Zhou from Qing Shan County People’s Hospital. He said my father’s condition can only be treated by you!” Li Yi replied.

Although Liu Jiming couldn’t recall exactly who this Director Zhou was, he nodded and said, “Young man, what’s wrong with your father?”

“He coughs frequently. After examining him, Director Zhou suspected there might be a growth in his lungs, so he sent me here to have you take a look!”

“Oh, where is the patient? I’ll take a look and see.” Liu Jimin said as he walked.

“Got it!”

That was exactly what Li Yi had been waiting to hear. He immediately called out to his father and followed Liu Jimin into the examination room.

The other patients and their families saw Li Yi and Dr. Liu chatting and laughing together, assuming the two already knew each other, so none of them dared to say anything.

And so, Li Yi led his father into the examination room first.

In the examination room, Liu Jimin asked Li Shankui detailed questions about his condition and then gave him a physical examination.

Afterward, Liu Jiming said to Li Yi, “Although your father has some abnormal sounds in his lungs, his breathing is steady and strong. In my experience, the problem shouldn’t be too serious. If you’re still concerned, you can get a chest CT scan, though it might be a bit expensive!”

“How much does it cost?”

Hearing the doctor mention the cost, Li Shankui instinctively asked.

But before Dr. Liu could answer, Li Yi spoke up directly: “Dr. Liu, please write the order!”

“Alright!”

Holding the order form written by Liu Jimin, Li Yi immediately took his father to pay the fee, then followed the nurse’s directions to the CT room.

Li Shankui looked at the payment slip in his son’s hand, his heart aching.

Just moments ago, he had watched his son hand over 120 yuan—enough to cover a year’s worth of farm work for him and his wife.

Li Yi sensed his father’s thoughts, smiled, and said, “Dad, this CT scan is a new diagnostic technology imported from abroad. It can tell us right away if there’s anything in your lungs, so it’s only natural that it’s a bit pricey.”

Hearing that it was imported from abroad, the look on Li Shankui’s face softened slightly, but he still couldn’t help saying, “Even if it’s from abroad, it’s still too expensive!”

“Price doesn’t matter—as long as it cures your illness!”

“Hmm!”

…….

By the time they left the hospital, it was already past four in the afternoon.

Both Li Shankui and Li Yi looked much more relaxed.

The CT scan revealed no abnormalities in Li Shankui’s lungs.

So Dr. Liu Jimin’s final diagnosis was that Li Shankui’s persistent cough was due, on the one hand, to his long-term smoking habit, and on the other hand, to his chronic asthma.

He then prescribed medication and advised him to quit smoking.

The medication was fairly common and not expensive.

But quitting smoking was the one thing that stumped Li Shankui; he had been smoking since he was 15, and it had been nearly forty years now.

Smoking had become an indispensable part of his life—indeed, his greatest pleasure—and the idea of quitting cold turkey seemed impossible.

But the doctor’s advice was clear: if he didn’t quit smoking, his asthma would never improve.

Over time, the combination of asthma and smoking makes him more susceptible to other health complications—it could even lead to lung cancer.

Hearing the doctor’s words, Li Yi understood.

In his previous life, his father had likely passed away for this very reason.

Fortunately, in this life, the problem was detected early, and there was still time to do something about it.

If his father could successfully quit smoking, perhaps the tragedy of his past life could be avoided.

As they walked along the streets of the provincial capital, neither father nor son spoke, and the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Arriving at a state-run restaurant, Li Yi led his father inside.

It was a restaurant specializing in halal cuisine, and Li Yi immediately ordered a large plate of chicken, a dish common in the Northwest.

While waiting for the food to arrive, Li Yi poured his father a cup of tea and said, “Dad, let’s quit smoking!”

Li Shankui fell silent. He wanted to quit too, but he worried he wouldn’t be able to.

“Dad, you’re already a grandfather now, and in a few months you’ll be a great-grandfather. I’m counting on you and Mom to help me raise my kids in the future, so you absolutely have to quit smoking!” Li Yi said.

“I can still help you take care of the kids even if I don’t quit!”

Li Shankui was somewhat tempted, but he still replied stubbornly.

“Smoking is bad for the kids. Do you know what secondhand smoke is?”

“What’s secondhand smoke?”

“It’s the smoke you exhale when you smoke!”

“So what?”

Li Yi immediately replied, “Secondhand smoke contains various harmful substances and carcinogens, such as tar, nicotine, and particulate matter. If non-smokers like us are frequently exposed to secondhand smoke, these harmful substances enter the airways and irritate the mucous membranes, often leading to respiratory diseases like bronchitis, pneumonia, and lung cancer.”

“You’re pulling my leg, aren’t you?” Li Shankui frowned.

“I swear to God, I’m not lying to you!”

Li Yi continued, “Secondhand smoke contains dozens of carcinogens. Long-term exposure to secondhand smoke and repeated exposure to these carcinogens can potentially lead to cancer.”

“Furthermore, frequent exposure to secondhand smoke can cause abnormal blood lipid levels, increase blood viscosity, and often damage heart muscle tissue, significantly raising the risk of coronary heart disease.”

Seeing the look of conflict on his father’s face, Li Yi decided to press his advantage.

“Dad, it’s not so bad for us adults, but it’s dangerous for the kids!”

“Why is it dangerous for them?” Li Shankui asked, furrowing his brow.

“Infants and young children haven’t fully developed their respiratory systems yet. If they’re exposed to secondhand smoke over a long period, they’re not only at risk for conditions like bronchitis and pneumonia, but they’re also more likely to develop asthma.”

Li Yi continued, “Furthermore, secondhand smoke in infants and young children increases the risk of conditions like otitis media, fluid buildup in the middle ear, and eardrum tension, which can damage the auditory system. In severe cases, this can affect hearing and lead to hearing loss.”

“What’s even more serious is that nicotine breaks down into cotinine. Once this harmful substance enters the bloodstream, it can impair a child’s intellectual development.”

“Dad, you don’t want to be in a situation where you can’t even touch the baby once it’s born, do you?”

Li Shankui glanced at Li Yi, then sighed and said, “Fine, for the sake of my little grandson, I’ll agree to quit smoking!”

“Hahaha, great!”

……..