Chapter 14: Standing Up Against Injustice and Lending a Helping Hand!
“What’s going on?” Tang Ye thought it was a medical dispute and quickly pulled Dr. Cao out from the crowd.
Dr. Cao explained softly, “A young man brought in a patient suffering a cerebral infarction. When told he needed to register and pay, he said he had no money. Everyone worried he’d run off and didn’t let him leave.”
A young man, about twenty years old, was surrounded in the center, his face flushed with anxiety.
“Young man, you can’t leave. Go pay at the registration window immediately.”
“It wasn’t me who hit her. I just kindly brought her to the hospital. How could I extort money?”
“The doctors said she must be treated quickly; otherwise, even if she survives, there will be lasting complications.”
“I don’t have that kind of money. Even if I did, you can’t morally force me to pay.”
“You hit someone and want to shirk responsibility? We can’t let you leave.”
“Whether or not you hit her, you have to wait for the police.”
The young man tried several times to leave forcefully but was blocked by security and bystanders.
A young nurse appealed to the crowd, “Don’t let him go. If he leaves, we won’t be able to find him later.”
Tang Ye, tall and imposing, looked over everyone’s heads and observed the scene clearly, frowning as he muttered, “He doesn’t seem to be lying.”
Dr. Cao’s expression grew serious. “We’ve seen many cases like this before. People hit someone, see the huge medical bills, and disappear in a flash. These days, not many are truly selfless.”
Tang Ye glanced toward the treatment room.
On the bed lay an elderly woman, eyes tightly shut, white foam at the corners of her mouth.
Staring intently at her, Tang Ye’s pupils suddenly dilated. He pushed through the crowd forcefully.
“Everyone, stop arguing. Let’s save the patient. I’ll cover the medical expenses.”
The young man sighed in relief, casting Tang Ye a grateful look.
He had never done a good deed before, and when he finally did, he was misunderstood. The frustration was unbearable.
Tang Ye’s arrival was undoubtedly a timely help.
Cheng Lin came up beside Tang Ye, recognized the patient, and was shocked.
No wonder Tang Ye volunteered to pay.
The patient was an esteemed elder, Yao Mei, former director of the city’s Investment Promotion Bureau.
Tang Ye first checked her pulse, then examined her eyelids, gasping sharply.
Her pupils were already dilated and unresponsive—a very dangerous sign.
After a cerebral infarction occurs, every minute is a race against death.
“Everyone be quiet!” Tang Ye commanded.
He pulled out his wallet and placed it in Cheng Lin’s hand. “Sis, there’s money on the bank card. Quickly go register Yao Mei.”
Saving a life is like putting out a fire.
Without hesitation, Cheng Lin dashed to the payment window.
Tang Ye’s decisiveness made her forget he had once been her subordinate.
---
Tang Ye shouted again, and the area fell completely silent.
“Dr. Cao, please call neurosurgery immediately.”
Dr. Cao was stunned, thinking, “This is my turf, why is he taking charge?”
But then he reconsidered; Tang Ye’s intervention might be more effective at this critical moment.
“I already called earlier. Neurosurgery is quite busy.”
“I’ll call Old Tang,” Tang Ye said, pulling out his phone.
The crowd watched curiously.
“This guy sounds pretty confident.”
“Who’s Old Tang?”
“That’s his father, the director of neurosurgery here.”
“Oh… no wonder!”
Tang Ye dialed Tang Yu’s number and said directly, “Dad, there’s a patient in ER with an acute cerebral infarction. You need to come quickly and help.”
Tang Yu was momentarily stunned. He thought, “You came back late last night, I didn’t see you. And you’re calling me now to save someone?”
“I’m in a meeting, but I’ll be there soon.”
“You have five minutes.”
“You little rascal!” Tang Yu laughed. Even the hospital director wouldn’t speak to him that way.
Cheng Lin returned from payment and found Tang Yu had arrived with two neurosurgeons.
Tang Yu performed a rapid physical exam on Yao Mei, then ordered the doctors to transfer her to the neurosurgery operating room for immediate surgery.
Tang Ye and Cheng Lin stayed near the OR door, waiting.
Yao Mei’s daughter hurried in to sign the surgical consent.
The operation lasted four hours.
Finally, the red light outside the ICU turned green.
Tang Yu emerged through the lead-lined door, removing his mask. “She’ll need to be monitored in intensive care for a day. The surgery was quite successful.”
“Thank you, Director Tang,” Yao Mei’s daughter choked up.
Tang Yu glanced at Tang Ye before turning away.
The daughter then bowed deeply to Cheng Lin and Tang Ye. “Thanks to you both, Director Cheng, Little Tang, my mother’s surgery went so smoothly.”
“Don’t mention it. You should thank the young man who showed such courage. He brought her to the hospital immediately, buying precious time for the surgery.”
The young man had stayed.
Police reviewed surveillance footage from the accident site.
The video showed Yao Mei waiting at a crosswalk. Suddenly, she crouched down and lingered for a minute or two before slowly collapsing onto the curb.
More than a dozen passersby glanced from afar but dared not approach.
A girl tried to step forward but was firmly pulled back by her mother.
---
Only this young man stopped his car by the roadside, helped her into the vehicle, and rushed her to the hospital.
Yao Mei’s daughter approached quickly and bowed in thanks. “Young man, thank you today. Here’s my card. Please give me your contact info too.”
The young man brushed off his previous frustration. “It’s nothing.”
Then he gave her his phone number.
The daughter pulled out an envelope, trying to slip it into his pocket.
He tossed it on the ground. “What’s this? Don’t insult me.”
The daughter’s embarrassed expression flickered briefly, and she didn’t insist. “Hey, you make me feel ashamed. Once Mom recovers, I’ll treat you to a meal!”
The young man finally smiled. “That sounds good.”
He then approached Tang Ye and extended his hand. “Thanks for backing me up today! Without you, I’d be wrongly accused.”
“No need to thank me. You’ve got a strong sense of justice.” Tang Ye patted his shoulder firmly.
“Let’s exchange contacts! I’m Lin Ziyang.”
“I’m Tang Ye.” They exchanged numbers.
The young man called Tang Ye immediately.
Tang Ye saved the contact.
The young man waved goodbye.
Cheng Lin had once thought Tang Ye was always meddling and overly enthusiastic. Now she realized his good reputation was built exactly on this—always optimistic, always bright, and passionate in all he did.
She glanced at her watch regretfully. “I wanted to treat you to lunch today as thanks, but now it’s already three o’clock.”
Tang Ye rubbed his stomach and smiled. “You mentioning it makes me hungry.”
Cheng Lin beamed. “Let’s go. What do you want to eat?”
Tang Ye laughed, “I know a place nearby with amazing fish noodles.”
Cheng Lin snapped her fingers. “Go, go, go!”
---
Yao Mei’s son-in-law arrived at the hospital.
“Mom, how is she?”
“She’s alive! In intensive care now. Director Tang performed the surgery personally. There was massive bleeding. If we’d been a few minutes later, they would’ve sent her to the provincial hospital, but it would’ve been too late.”
The son-in-law sighed. “Director Tang’s skills are truly impressive.”
The daughter spoke softly, “We have to thank Director Tang’s son. He even paid the medical fees himself—I forgot to reimburse him. His name is Tang Ye. Do you remember him?”
The son-in-law slapped his forehead. “Mom mentioned him a few times—the young man she wanted to introduce to Qingqing?”
She nodded. “Yes, he’s quite a catch! Well-spoken, kind-hearted. No wonder Mom likes him so much.”