Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 86: Chapter 46: Life and Death Aside, Continue with the Consultation

“The patient has an open abdominal wound, and the condition of the internal organs is unknown. At present, I can only try. Family of the patient, are you willing?” Gu Changsheng professionally asked before the surgery.

“Can you save my husband?” Wang’s wife no longer displayed her shrew-like demeanor and looked at Gu Changsheng with surprise.

“Not necessarily, as I said, I can only try my best.” Gu Changsheng replied realistically, given the current medical conditions were extremely poor, without any auxiliary instruments, even he couldn’t be entirely sure of successfully saving a life, but without trying, Butcher Wang would indeed be doomed!

“Don’t let her try!” An old woman hurried forward and pushed Gu Changsheng, pointing at her with malicious intent and howling, “It’s this witch who harmed my son like this. What do you, a woman of the household, know about curing illnesses and saving lives? You are nothing more than a climber, depending on the County Prince’s Mansion’s backing, enticing all the village doctors to support you, now thinking too highly of yourself as someone significant!”

While scolding, she continued to fling herself against Gu Changsheng.

How could Xiao Cui and Han Qiu allow it? They stepped left and right to protect their lady, pushing the person away.

...

“Old Lady Wang, listen to what I’m saying, Doctor Liu is powerless to save Butcher Wang’s life. Now that Lady Changsheng says she can try, this is Butcher Wang’s last hope. Instead of waiting here for death, it’s better to let Lady Changsheng try; there might be a glimmer of hope,” Doctor Liu stepped forward, persuading.

The other doctors also echoed in agreement from a distance; the man was beyond saving, and it was extremely difficult for anyone willing to attempt a rescue.

“All of you have been blinded by this witch, joking with my son’s life, it’s like treating human lives as straw!” Old Lady Wang pointed at each person who agreed, her accusations mixed with tears.

“Old Lady Wang, don’t blame me for speaking bluntly, doctors do not attend to those bound to die. It’s rare that Lady Changsheng is willing to try. There’s a saying that you treat a dying horse as if it’s alive. Right now, we utterly lack the ability to save him,” Doctor Liu pointed at the Butcher Wang on the ground, speaking bluntly, with a trial, there might still be a chance to save his life; without a trial, death is certain!

“You, can you really try?” Wang’s wife stepped forward, asking cautiously.

Gu Changsheng, while swiftly inserting several silver needles into Butcher Wang’s body, replied, “I am willing to try, but whether I can save him is up to fate. Moreover, I need you to sign a handprint. I will try my best, but life or death is out of my hands.”

“What kind of reasoning is this? Who knows if you have really tried your best? If he dies, it’s not related to you; if he lives, it’s your contribution; you think too beautifully!” Old Lady Wang disapproved.

“Doctors treat illnesses, not fate. Medical ethics exist for a reason, and you do not have much time to consider. Butcher Wang doesn’t have long left,” Gu Changsheng spoke gravely.

“Mother-in-law, Doctor Liu said there’s no hope. We can’t just watch him die, life and death are predestined, and I am willing to try!” Wang’s wife turned to explain to Old Lady Wang.

“I disagree! Where is there such a signature? This is handing a human life to her hands. Have you forgotten how this witch robbed us of our silver yesterday and threw my son out?”

Whispers began to spread around the crowd; indeed, having patients sign a document of non-liability before treatment was unheard of; Lady Changsheng’s actions seemed much improper.

Han Qiu had already prepared a document and stood to the side, holding it.

After looking at the nearly lifeless Butcher Wang on the ground, Wang’s wife steeled her heart, dipped her finger into the Yantai, and turned around to press her handprint on Han Qiu’s document.

Seeing this, Gu Changsheng’s tension eased and he spoke sternly, “Carry Butcher Wang to the disinfected room I had prepared in the back. Those who can tolerate blood and be of help, stay; the rest of you, do not follow.”

The neighbors helping Wang’s wife carry the body, upon hearing this, lifted the door plank and followed Uncle Song towards the backyard.

As Uncle Song led the way, he muttered, “If he dies in our house, what will we do then?”

The surroundings grew even noisier; they had never seen anyone bringing a dying person home like this; wasn’t this asking for trouble?

If the medical hall treated someone who then died, even a signed document wouldn’t help…

“Elder Xu, please hurry and prepare the medicine according to my prescription, and have these haemostatic herbs ready, ground into powder,” Gu Changsheng wrote a prescription with swift strokes and handed it to Elder Xu, then turned towards the back door of the medical hall.

Elder Xu, holding the prescription, answered and hurriedly walked out of the medical hall; Gu Family Medical Hall was out of medicinal ingredients!

“Lady Changsheng, Doctor Liu is not skilled, but I am willing to lend a hand,” Doctor Liu followed, his gaze intense, with a determined attitude.

Indeed, it was so; Lady Changsheng had taken on the task of treating one doomed to die, and those involved could hardly extricate themselves from its consequences.

Staying to help meant sharing the risks!

Similarly, if the patient were saved, it would mean both fame and profit!

Weighing the pros and cons, some indeed backed out, but Hu Yihai, with his prominent mustache, followed, and Doctor Liang, skilled in setting bones, did as well.

Gu Changsheng glanced at them and nodded, then instructed Han Qiu, “Clean clothes, strong alcohol, white cloth, boiling water… along with the catgut sutures I made a few days ago, have everything ready and bring them.”

“Lady Changsheng, can he really be saved? The cut is so large, even the best herbs can’t stop the bleeding,” Doctor Liu asked worriedly as he followed behind Gu Changsheng.

Hu Yihai and Doctor Liang beside him also nodded, the wound was too large, it couldn’t hold any medicine at all.

“Without Diamonds, don’t undertake delicate work. I’m seventy percent sure I can cure him,” Gu Changsheng admired the courage of the three, and did not hide the truth.

“Seventy percent? Then why did you let them sign and stamp their names?” Hu Yihai was stunned, even Doctor Liu had said it was hopeless, certain death, and yet she was seventy percent sure and still asked people to sign such a document. What did that mean?

“How sure do you need to be before you take action?” Gu Changsheng asked indifferently, not stopping in his stride.

“Fifty percent,” Hu Yihai replied succinctly.

“Fifty percent chance, equally balanced between life and death, have you never encountered medical disputes?”

“Medical disputes?” Hu Yihai asked, confused.

“It means when treatment goes wrong and the patient’s family comes knocking on your door,” Doctor Loh explained.

“Of course, which medical hall hasn’t faced such incidents? It’s inevitable,” Hu Yihai sighed. Which medical hall hadn’t seen death?

“There you have it. You only take action when you have a fifty percent chance, whereas I, even with the slightest hope, will not abandon the patient. I prefer to prepare the patient’s family for the worst while hoping for the best,” Gu Changsheng said. Seeing Han Qiu approach, he swiftly took off his outer garment and put on clean clothes. Time was pressing; there was no time to worry about proprieties.

For a moment, Hu Yihai and the others didn’t know what to do, their heads nearly touching their chests.

“Time is life, and doctors are racing against death itself, without any reservations. You change too, or you can’t come in with me,” Gu Changsheng said as he passed clean robes to them and turned into the temporary ward.

At this moment, Gu Changsheng was assessing the situation; the use of silver needles to stop bleeding had proven very effective, and she was quite satisfied.

However, inside the Medical Hall, the doctors had already descended into chaos, and the crowd of onlookers outside was bustling and noisy.

“Has Changsheng’s Mother taken the patient in?” Yuan Bao, who had forgotten something important, stood outside, pulling over a passerby to ask uncertainly.

“Yes, he looked beyond saving, with such a large gash on his belly, his intestines were even spilling out, tsk tsk…” The passerby didn’t notice who he was, and responded with a face full of pity.

“Right? I think the Gu Family Medical Hall, being open for only three days, is about to be involved in a death…” another person chimed in.

Yuan Bao dodged with his feet hatefully. With the Medical Hall surrounded by an overly curious crowd, squeezing through was impossible; he’d have to find another way in.

“Doctor Loh, do you think Changsheng’s Mother can save Butcher Wang?” another doctor asked uncertainly.

“Hard to say, Doctor Liu is the best among us at treating external injuries, and even he said there’s no hope…” Doctor Loh stroked his long beard as he spoke.

“Alas, it seems Changsheng’s Mother has gotten herself into trouble. Old Lady Wang is no easy mark. If something really happens, there’s no telling how much commotion there will be,” one person shook his head and sighed.

“Didn’t they all sign and put their hand seals, agreeing to disregard life or death?” another person interjected.

“That piece of paper won’t stop anything. If someone really dies, it could very well turn into evidence that Changsheng’s Mother caused harm. This action by Changsheng’s Mother is really quite improper…” People still have a breath when they go in, but once dead when coming out, the doctor cannot escape responsibility.

“Chief Hu and Doctors Liu and Liang are also blinded. If something happens, who knows what trouble they might get into…” someone said, shaking his head in disapproval.

While various speculations swirled outside, Gu Changsheng remained unmoved.

This was her first real surgery in this world, with primitive medical conditions apart from her surgical knife and other tools at her waist and the silver needles, she suddenly felt as if she were on a battlefield rescue mission, with urgent time and primitive conditions. She was certain she could once again push the limits!

Holding a pair of scissors that had been sterilized in strong liquor, Gu Changsheng cut a hole in the center of a white cloth and placed it over Butcher Wang’s wound.

This time, she brought Han Qiu and Xiao Cui along; these two had been with her the longest. Han Qiu had seen life and death on the battlefield, and although Xiao Cui did not have as much courage, she was exceptionally loyal and obedient.

She was uncertain if the next things she would do could be accepted by the three of them, but she would not stop their desire for knowledge as doctors nor would she allow them to disrupt the surgery.

“Xiao Cui, stand aside and watch. Doctor Liu, you’re good at treating external injuries, you should have some experience, come and assist me. Han Qiu, no matter who it is, anyone who startles or disturbs my operation, throw them out,” Gu Changsheng instructed as she took her hand from the liquor and dried it, gesturing for Doctor Liu to do the same.

Seeing the rare seriousness on Gu Changsheng’s face, they all nodded in agreement, though their hearts were filled with apprehension.