Chapter 152: Use Mine
Seeing Aunt Song and her daughter crying together in a heap, Uncle Song could only speak up. "Jiaojiao said that being this upset is bad for Xiaxia’s health."
"Dad, it’s all my fault. For my brother’s sake, I’ll try to relax. I’ll eat properly every day."
"What if Wang Gang finds out? What will you do then?" Aunt Song asked worriedly.
"If he wants a divorce, then so be it. I’ve had enough these past few years," Song Xiaxia said, showing a rare moment of strength.
"The surgery will leave a scar, and you’ll need a long time to recover afterward. Instead of hiding it, it’s better to let Wang Gang know."
After all, Uncle Song was a manager, overseeing several department stores and various supply and marketing cooperatives.
"Qianqian, go to the Wang Family’s home. Just tell them your second sister has blocked fallopian tubes and needs an operation."
Song Xiaxia was quick-witted; it was only because she felt she owed Wang Gang that she was willing to let his mother bully her.
Soon, Wang Gang arrived at the Song family home with Song Qianqian. "Xiaxia, do you really have to have the surgery?"
"Yes. The Divine Doctor said it was caused by taking too much medication, and also by your poor hygiene. Wang Gang, if you feel that having an operation is a bad idea, then just divorce me and remarry."
"Xiaxia, you know that’s not what I mean. I’m worried about your health. How about we just adopt a child?"
Wang Gang said sincerely. He truly loved Song Xiaxia; she was the girl he had put so much effort into winning over.
But she hadn’t had a single good day since marrying him. It wasn’t as if his wife and his mother fought.
It was just his mom’s one-sided verbal abuse, which later escalated to physical beatings. His heart ached for her, and he had even urged his wife to fight back.
’I can’t just go and yell at my own mother!’
"How could an adopted child be as good as one of our own? And it’s not like I can’t have children. The Divine Doctor said I’ll be able to get pregnant a year after the surgery."
Song Xiaxia didn’t doubt Gu Jiaojiao’s medical skills in the slightest. ’Are you kidding me? How could the person who can cure my brother be anything but incredible?’
"But I can’t stand the thought of you being in pain! An incision on your abdomen, that must hurt so much!"
"Wang Gang, don’t stand here putting on a show! It’s bad enough that your mother beats our Xiaxia at home, but she also has to hit her in the street."
Aunt Song said, her voice filled with uncontrollable rage. Then, catching him off guard, she slapped Wang Gang twice across the face.
It wasn’t that Wang Gang didn’t know his mother-in-law was going to hit him, but he didn’t dodge, letting her strike him.
He was a mechanic. He’d met Song Xiaxia while shopping at a department store, fallen for her at first sight, and begun to pursue her relentlessly.
He felt it was the fortune of three lifetimes to have married Song Xiaxia, but sadly, it seemed even the heavens couldn’t stand to see him happy.
Half a year after they married, his wife didn’t get pregnant, so they both got checked at the hospital.
At first, he lied to his mother, saying it was his fault, but his wife had to take medicine, so he couldn’t hide it for long.
Moreover, his wife felt so guilty that she abandoned her dignity to try and please his mother. He, in turn, handed his entire salary over to his mother.
And his mother would take the couple’s money and turn around and spend it on his younger brother and nephew.
This not only failed to please his mother, but it also made her exploit them even more ruthlessly.
’Is a son really that important?’
He desperately wanted to take his wife and run far away, to escape that home, but his wife was unwilling.
"Mom, why did you hit Gang? He’s very good to me," Song Xiaxia said, her heart aching as she gently rubbed Wang Gang’s cheek.
"Xiaxia, I’m tough, it doesn’t hurt at all. You’re the one who’s been suffering," Wang Gang said, squeezing his wife’s hand, his own heart aching.
"Alright, that’s enough. Xiaxia, focus on getting better. The surgery is in two days. Wang Gang, come upstairs with me. I have something to say to you."
Uncle Song spoke with a guilty conscience. He could see that this son-in-law truly cared for his daughter.
’He’d rather not have a son than see her go under the knife. If he were to find out that my daughter has to give a piece of her liver to my son, I don’t know if he could take it.’
In the study on the second floor, Uncle Song lit a cigarette and looked at the son-in-law across from him, who still looked handsome despite his swollen face.
"Father, please just say what’s on your mind. It was my fault for not protecting Xiaxia. You can punish me, but I will never leave her."
Wang Gang said uneasily. He had rarely seen his father-in-law look so grim. ’This can’t be anything minor.’
"Wang Gang, you know that our Zijie has had a bad heart since he was a child. The Divine Doctor says it can be completely cured."
"Father, that’s great news! You seem very worried, though. Is the surgery risky?"
"There are risks, of course, but... the Divine Doctor said that Zijie’s liver is severely damaged. He needs a piece of a relative’s liver..."
Wang Gang, who had managed to stand out and win over Song Xiaxia, was no fool. He quickly realized what this meant.
His eyes widened in shock, his jaw dropped, and he began to stammer when he spoke.
"F-Father... I’m begging you, please don’t use Xiaxia’s liver. Use mine."
"I don’t want to either. I wanted to use my liver, but the Divine Doctor tested us. Ours aren’t compatible. Only Xiaxia’s is a match."
"No, please, use mine. Mine will definitely work. Xiaxia and I are husband and wife. If hers works, then mine definitely will too."
Uncle Song: "..."
"Then let’s go find the Divine Doctor and have you tested."
Uncle Song looked at his second son-in-law, who was as strong as an ox. ’If his liver is a suitable match,’ he thought, ’that would be for the best.’
’My daughter is still too frail. I don’t know what effect transplanting a part of her liver into my son would have.’
So the father-in-law and son-in-law went downstairs, got in the car, and drove to the Su family’s house. When Aunt Song and Song Xiaxia asked what was going on, neither of them would say a word.
At the Su family home, the same important figures were still present. When Uncle Song explained why they had come, Gu Jiaojiao was taken aback by Wang Gang’s actions.
She had seen with her own eyes how Song Xiaxia’s mother-in-law had berated her, while her husband just cowered to the side, not daring to say a word.
’And now he wanted to offer his liver for Song Zijie? That was truly mind-boggling.’
’But this was their private family affair; it wasn’t her place as an outsider to get involved.’
She retrieved a blood-drawing kit from her pocket dimension, put it into the backpack on Su Shuochi’s back, and then passed it to Xia Qiuming.
"Professor Xia, please draw his blood. We’ll get it tested tomorrow."
’Their medical room was all set up. It was a simple matter of painting the walls bright white. The white bedsheets, the white lights, and all the medical equipment came ready-made from my pocket dimension.’
"Okay." This wasn’t the first time Xia Qiuming had drawn blood for a test, but this time he felt a particular sense of mission.
’He only knew that Su Shuochi had a courtyard containing mysterious medical equipment, and he had long been eager to see it for himself.’
After his blood was drawn, Wang Gang kept pleading with the Divine Doctor to use his liver, going on about how healthy he was.
Xia Qiuming had no trouble handling anxious family members. With just a few reassuring words, he sent Uncle Song and his son-in-law on their way.
"I didn’t expect this guy to be so smitten. I really do hope his liver is a better match for Song Zijie," Li An remarked with feeling.
The people in the living room found their respect for Uncle Song growing, seeing how all three of his daughters had so eagerly volunteered for blood tests.
"It’s possible it could work. I’ve seen it abroad—many non-relatives can be suitable donors too."
Xia Qiuming said as he washed his hands.
’Of course, Gu Jiaojiao knew that. It would become common several decades in the future. But in this era, people were so conservative they were unwilling to even donate blood.’