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Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Surgery Over
Cheng Cheng was the second person to walk out of the medical room.
With lingering fear in his heart, Cheng Cheng told everyone that the injury on his back was inflicted by a mutated pig. This creature, though it possessed the body of a pig, had claws like a pangolin, extremely sharp, and its body had a thick layer of fat. Bullets were ineffective unless fired from a close range. Moreover, it was surprisingly agile due to the slippery mud, and Yan Xiao and Zhao Wei were hit because they fell in the muddy ground.
—Yan Xiao’s wrist was bitten off by it. If Xiao Jian hadn’t been quick, that part of the hand might already be inside the pig’s stomach by now.
Cheng Cheng thoroughly described the human-faced, pig-bodied creature he saw, making sure to relay all details he thought were important before heading back to his room to rest.
After listening to Cheng Cheng, neither Han Yi nor Lu Changyuan looked good.
"We need to go again and figure out what this thing is," Lu Changyuan said to Han Yi. Without understanding it, they would still be in chaos if they encountered the creature again.
Killing it once and understanding its weaknesses would do much more to boost morale and bring people together than the current unease.
Han Yi nodded and said, "I will go myself tomorrow."
"Brother, I’ll go with you," Han Jiaojiao shook Han Yi’s arm, afraid he wouldn’t take her. She whispered in his ear, "My ’Ability’ might come in handy."
Han Yi smiled faintly and nodded in agreement.
"Big Bro, take me with you," Heizi said.
"I’m going too!" Bai Kairui said with red eyes.
"You guys stay here to take care of Yan Xiao," Han Yi refused them, "Xiao Jian isn’t gravely injured. Let him lead the way, then I’ll bring Jiaojiao and Zhou Xiaoliang."
Han Yi set the team roster and instructed, "While I’m gone, someone from the base will likely come. Try to delay the military service issue as much as possible, we’ll discuss everything when I return."
Lu Changyuan nodded, "We can spread the word that we have serious injuries, exaggeratedly so. The base probably wouldn’t force the issue; they can’t be expected to draft several seriously ill patients for military service."
While they were talking, the door to the medical room creaked open, and Yu Wanxi came out, her face covered in sweat.
Yu Wanxi quickly tidied herself up and was about to head to the kitchen to cook when Han Yi stopped her. He asked her to prepare meals separately for the injured, and for the rest, they would eat with the group from Zhu Changfu’s room for today.
Zhou Yan came out three hours later. He was exhausted. Zhao Wei’s injury was severe, with significant damage to his tendons. There wasn’t a single spot on his body that was unharmed, and each wound required stitching, consuming time and energy.
Zhou Yan rested only briefly outside before returning to the room. He needed to assist Hao Boming, who wasn’t done yet. The follow-up surgery was even more complex and challenging, and Zhou Yan was there to help Hao Boming, even if it was just to pass surgical clamps to save him a bit of energy.
Yan Xiao was unconscious, and no one had much of an appetite. They quickly finished their meal and returned to the main room to continue waiting.
Han Jiaojiao inquired about Hao Boming’s wife and child, learning that neither had caused any commotion, which eased her mind. Yang Qi had taken them food, along with some snacks and canned fruit. Han Jiaojiao thought for a moment, then handed her laptop to Yang Qi to take to them as well, remembering it contained some cartoons.
She just hoped the little girl would behave and not cry to go home, as Hao Boming was in the middle of a critical surgery for Yan Xiao and couldn’t afford any distractions.
Lu Changyuan was also worried about this; although none of them had ever raised a child, they knew that some kids tend to cry at night, especially when staying in a stranger’s place. He sent over a few brothers who looked relatively kind to keep the child entertained, with strict instructions to ensure that Hao Boming’s daughter wouldn’t cry or fuss that night, whether it meant telling stories or singing nursery rhymes.
People stayed in the main room to take turns keeping watch at night. Han Yi and Han Jiaojiao waited until eleven at night, but the surgery was still not over. Considering they had a mission the next day and that waiting outside was useless, they decided to wash up and go to bed.
The surgery lasted a total of thirteen hours.
The procedure for reattaching a severed limb was complex, not only requiring thorough debridement of the wound on the severed hand but also the removal of necrotic tissue. Then, under a microscope, blood vessels and nerves would be examined for damage and the wound further cleaned.
Fortunately, Han Jiaojiao had been using her Ability to maintain the cellular activity of Yan Xiao’s severed hand, resulting in very little necrotic tissue and no signs of infection, so this step proceeded very smoothly.
Then, Hao Boming, with the assistance of Zhou Yan, performed bone joint fixation, tendon and ligament repair, and finger vascular bridging one by one.
After completing the entire reattachment surgery, Hao Boming’s legs were trembling, and Zhou Yan was hardly any better off. During the procedure, they had no time even to sip water, let alone eat or visit the restroom.
Yan Xiao was still unconscious from the anesthesia.
Hao Boming and Zhou Yan supported each other as they walked out, only to realize it was already broad daylight outside. They both sat down, looking pale and exhausted.
Yu Wanxi made them soft, easily digestible noodles with a thick tomato soup that was tangy and appetizing. Each bowl also had a poached egg on top, emitting a fragrant steam.
Looking at the steaming bowl of noodles, Hao Boming swallowed and glanced sideways at Zhou Yan, who had already started eating. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, he looked away and coughed twice before asking, "Where’s my wife and daughter?"
Yu Wanxi spoke gently, "They’ve already eaten. Now you eat. You must be exhausted after being busy all night."
Zhu Changfu also laughed and said, "Dr. Hao, you worked hard. Your family is fine, don’t worry."
Hao Boming thought to himself: Damn it! Now you’re being nice to me?! Where was this attitude earlier?!
He hadn’t forgotten how Zhu Changfu was cold and indifferent to him the day before. So he stiffened his neck and said, "I need to make sure they’re really alright first!"
Zhu Changfu continued to smile cheerfully, saying repeatedly, "Of course, of course, hey! Xiaoyang! Take Dr. Hao to see his sister-in-law."
Hao Boming almost choked with anger. — Damn! Who the hell is your sister-in-law?!
Yang Qi nodded and took Hao Boming to the building next door.
Perhaps due to being in a strange environment, the child had woken up early. However, she wasn’t making a fuss, just quietly watching cartoons in the room while Ye Jing spoon-fed her egg custard.
As soon as Hao Boming went upstairs, he saw this warm scene and his heart relaxed at first, then was overwhelmed with anger! — Damn it! I was forced by these gangsters to perform surgery all night long, nearly dead from exhaustion! And you two are here, eating and drinking and watching cartoons comfortably?!
When Ye Jing saw him, she was both startled and overjoyed.
"Husband!"
"Daddy!"
The two of them rushed to Hao Boming, and Ye Jing said, her voice shaking, "Husband, they didn’t do anything to you, right? I was so scared..."
Am I not the one who should be scared to death here?! What’s there for you to be scared about with your eating and drinking?! Huh?!
"...Is there any more egg custard? I’m starving..." Hao Boming restrained himself again and again, finally looking at the half bowl of yellow egg custard and speaking.
Ye Jing quickly handed him the bowl of egg custard. As Hao Boming ate, he wondered if he should go back downstairs to finish the bowl of tomato soup noodles... But would that look bad?
