Early the next morning, dawn was just breaking.
Yuan Su borrowed a van used for deliveries in town. Its rear seats had been removed, leaving just enough room to lay out bedding.
Li Suhua's back hurt so badly that she couldn't move. Yuan Su and Pu Yu carefully helped her into the van and laid down a thick quilt for her.
The road to the county seat was uneven.
Li Suhua's back ached so fiercely that she couldn't lie comfortably.
With every bump, the old woman instinctively clenched her teeth. Cold sweat soaked the white hair at her temples.
Yuan Su drove, his gaze flicking to the rearview mirror every so often.
He said nothing. The veins stood out on the backs of his hands as he gripped the wheel, trying to keep the ride as smooth as possible.
They arrived at the county's central hospital.
Registration, examinations, X-rays-the whole morning passed in a flurry.
"See this? Right here."
The doctor pointed at the obvious shadow on the scan, his tone grave. "Her lumbar disc herniation is already very severe. At her age, nerve damage is irreversible. If you put this off any longer, she will most likely become paralyzed from the waist down."
The office fell silent for a moment.
Pu Yu suppressed her panic and forced herself to sound calm. "Can surgery cure it? Will there be risks?"
"Every surgery carries risks, especially for elderly patients. But given your grandmother's current condition, the benefits outweigh the risks. If she recovers well afterward, her pain could be reduced by eighty to ninety percent, and walking shouldn't be a problem."
"How much will the initial surgery costs be?"
"For the hospital deposit and the surgery prepayment, you'll need at least ten thousand yuan to start." The doctor closed the medical