Chapter 4 Chapter 3 "I don't want to die!"

Tao Qiquan! Everyone must be familiar with this Mr. Tao. He once knew me because of "feng shui". Interesting person. Tao Qiquan is one of the most wealthy people in Asia. He is in his prime, he controls countless institutions, and his wealth is distributed all over the world. He plays a pivotal role and is the most important figure in the Asian financial circle. It is of course important news for such a big man to have a heart attack and go to the hospital. I hurriedly asked, "What did the newspaper say?" Bai Su said: "It's not very detailed, it's just very serious."

I said, "How old is Tao Qiquan this year?" Bai Su said: "You are only in your early fifties, but there is no relationship between disease and age." I walked up and down a few steps, picked up the phone, and called a bank.This bank is also an enterprise under Tao Qiquan. The vice chairman is named Yang. I have met him several times. He is Tao Qiquan's trusted aide in this city. Tao Qiquan is such a big shot, so even if he had to make a phone call with his subordinates, it would not be easy.The secretary who answered the phone first said that Vice Chairman Yang was not free and was in a meeting. After I reported my name, and after several twists and turns, I finally heard Vice Chairman Yang's voice.His voice sounded extremely anxious: "Mr. Wei, hello. Oh, what a pity, Mr. Tao---"

I was taken aback: "What's wrong? Mr. Tao's condition---" Vice Chairman Yang said: "I just came back from the hospital. The doctor who consulted said that it is a congenital heart disease, which has reached a very serious stage. Alas, I really don't know what to do." My heart sank. If the consulting doctor said that, it would be very ominous. I asked, "He didn't seem to have any signs of heart disease before?" Yang replied: "Why not? We have been persuading him to rest more and pay more attention to his body, but what can he do? He is so busy. Before entering the hospital, he was still presiding over a meeting and proposed a plan to buy a building in Long Island, New York." , it was during the meeting that he passed out and was sent to the hospital."

I couldn't help but smile bitterly, career success is the goal that everyone in the world pursues, but a successful career is like a heavy shackle that is tightly tied around the neck of successful people. It is really impossible to get rid of it. Possibly, there is no choice but to serve it endlessly. In the end, what is it for? I am afraid that none of the successful people can answer it. Tao Qiquan is like that.Anyone will think: If I have so much property as his, I must do nothing and enjoy it.Only he himself knows that he can't have half a minute of his own time, and he will wake up because of career gains and losses in his sleep.Perhaps, only death can make people of his type truly rest in peace.

I took a breath: "I want to see him, what hospital does he live in?" Vice Chairman Yang told me the name of the hospital, and told me that the doctor restricted him from seeing interviewers, and that if I wanted to see him, he had to insist. I said: "Don't worry, as long as he is sane, he will definitely meet me. Of course, in order to save me from wasting time waiting, can you make arrangements for me first?" Vice Chairman Yang said: "Of course, I'm going to see him too—wait a minute, there's a call, it's from the hospital." I heard him on the other phone and kept saying "yes. yes." Then said: "I'll come right away, Mr. Wesley just talked to me, he's coming to see you too, ok, I'll pick him up and come along .”

I heard him say that, and knew he was talking to Tao Qiquan, and sure enough, his voice sounded again: "We'll meet at the hospital gate, first come, first wait." I put down the phone and exchanged a glance with Bai Su. Bai Su smiled wryly: "A billionaire is facing death, how do you feel?" My voice was very low: "In everyone's mind, their own life is the most important thing. There is no difference between a beggar and a billionaire." Bai Su sighed again: "That's not necessarily the case. There are many people in the world who are brave enough to end their lives."

I said: "Among the 4.2 billion people, such people are, after all, very few." I drove straight to the hospital.It was a very well-known private hospital, known for its expensiveness and extravagance.Of course, a rich man like Tao Qiquan can buy a hundred of these hospitals at will without frowning.I waited at the gate of the hospital building for about five minutes. During these five minutes, I saw many tycoons in the financial world rushing down from their luxury cars and entering the hospital. These people, although all They are well-known tycoons, but almost all of them are subordinates of Tao Qiquan, or rely on Tao Qiquan for support in business dealings.When Vice Chairman Yang came, several people greeted him. As soon as he saw me, he held my hand and said, "Go up quickly."

Seeing this kind of battle, I couldn't help feeling a little nervous, and said in a low voice, "It's no longer possible? Why did you call so many people?" Vice Chairman Yang made a helpless look, and we took the elevator together to reach the special ward on the top floor.As soon as you get out of the elevator, the extravagant arrangement makes you never think that this is a hospital.A lobby of 100 square meters, with a glass roof, is a large greenhouse filled with flowers so that patients can see the sun. In that lobby, many people gathered, all of them were tycoons from all walks of life, but those tycoons obviously did not have the honor of being received by Tao Qiquan, they just sat or stood in the lobby, talking in a low voice.

Yang Zhi and I walked through the lobby and came to an automatic door. There were two big men guarding the door. When we saw Vice Chairman Yang, we immediately opened the door with a button. Inside the door was a small living room with several people sitting in it. Now, I recognize at least three of them as presidents of major banks. After passing the small living room, there is a corridor. When we go all the way to the end of the corridor, there is another door. A nurse is at the door. As soon as he saw us, he opened the door, and Yang and I walked in. Inside the door is a huge room, almost every corner is filled with flowers.Tao Qiquan was lying on a hospital bed.

Seeing him lying on the bed, I couldn't help feeling sad.A man, no matter how high his position or wealth may be, when he lies down, cannot lie on two beds, or, like everyone else, on only one bed. In front of the bed, there are two doctors who are treating Tao Qiquan, and there are many medical instruments that I can't name.Tao Qiquan's face looked extremely pale.When I saw him before, he always gave people a feeling of vitality, but now, the vitality is obviously moving away from him. There were already six or seven people in the room. I took a quick look, but I recognized their identities. They were probably the same as Vice Chairman Yang, and they were all Tao Qiquan's most capable and trusted figures in his career.

Tao Qiquan's eyes rolled, and a nurse shook the upper half of the hospital bed, keeping Tao Qiquan in a half-lying position.A doctor took off the oxygen mask on Tao Qiquan's mouth: "Speak slowly, don't take more than half an hour──" Before the doctor finished speaking, Tao Qiquan waved his hand abruptly, his movements were very rough, and his voice was extremely impatient: "What's the difference? I'm dying anyway." The two doctors beside the bed could only smile wryly, and Tao Qiquan looked at everyone in the room: "I'm not dead yet, come here." All the people hurried to the bedside, I didn't need to curry favor with Tao Qiquan, so I stayed not far from the door, the two doctors had already been pushed back to my side.I whispered, "How is he?" The two doctors looked at each other with wry smiles, and one of them said in a low voice: "Under the best recuperation, his heart function can last about fifteen to twenty days, and then—" The doctor's voice was extremely low, and everyone in the ward came to the bed and became very quiet, so Tao Qiquan's voice sounded very thick, he was almost shouting: "The doctor said I'm dying, I don't want to die , I don’t want to die at all.” I took a breath, involuntarily, and closed my eyes for a while.Tao Qiquan's two sentences were almost whining.He doesn't want to die, not at all, but his heart function can only last for fifteen to twenty days, what else can he do? After Tao Qiquan's words, there was a buzzing sound beside the hospital bed, probably saying "you will not die", "auspicious people have their own fortune" and other non-marginal words. Tao Qiquan looked very impatient, and he said, "Stop talking nonsense, have you contacted Dr. Barnard yet? Ask him to charter a plane and come right away. He is the authority on heart replacement surgery." A half-bald middle-aged man hurriedly said: "Our representative in South Africa has already contacted him, and he promised to come." Tao Qiquan laughed, full of confidence: "You don't need to say anything, as long as I don't want to die, I won't die." Immediately, there was another sound of echoing from the hospital bed, as if Tao Qiquan really didn't want to die, so he wouldn't die.I looked at the two doctors beside me, who shook their heads in helpless sadness.I have quite a few questions for those two doctors, but at this point.Obviously not appropriate, so I refrained from saying. Tao Qiquan called another person's name: "What I want to do, I can always do it! That year, no one in the world believed that I could buy Venezuela's large oil fields, but how did we succeed?" The man looked fierce and said, "Money, if you have money, you can do anything!" Tao Qiquan laughed triumphantly: "Yes, if you have money, you can do anything, and you can buy life. I have money, and I won't die. With 100 million US dollars to extend my life by one day, I can live to be 200 years old." A younger doctor beside me said in a very low voice: "His mentality is extremely abnormal, it's really pitiful." I looked at the doctor and made a gesture with him, signaling him to leave the ward with me for a while, but at this moment, Tao Qiquan suddenly called out: "Wesley, why don't you come over?" Of course I couldn't ignore him, so I walked towards the hospital bed and said, "I think you may have a lot of important things to tell me, so I don't want to disturb you." Tao Qiquan was a little annoyed: "Fart, what are you talking about, I have something to tell them, I have plenty of time, so why rush, come here, let's chat." When a person is seriously ill, he is still full of confidence in his own life, which is of course a good thing.But Tao Qiquan's confidence was not normal.Because his confidence is completely pinned on his wealth.In fact, even if you are willing to spend 100 million US dollars, it is impossible to exchange for a day of life! Death is the ultimate way for people, and it is also the fairest arrangement. No one can avoid it. It has nothing to do with having money or not. When I think about it, I feel that as a friend, although it is extremely unpleasant, I still have to do it, and I call him by his English name: "You should be brave and accept the fact that this is not a time for small talk when." I used these two sentences as the beginning of what I was going to say, and I thought it was very appropriate, but when Tao Qiquan heard it, his face immediately became extremely ugly. And all the people beside the hospital bed became even uglier than Tao Qiquan in an instant. Two of them glared at me. Judging by their appearance, if they hadn't beaten anyone for a long time, they would definitely punch me.Their angrily expressions showed their extreme loyalty to Tao Qiquan, the big boss, as if Tao Qiquan couldn't be killed by an atomic bomb. I ignored these people, and said again: "The doctor's diagnosis result, you should know it by now, while you can manage things──" I've just said this, and one of those two people has already yelled at me: "Shut up! Mr. Tao's health is absolutely fine." I felt extremely disgusted: "This is what you said, the doctor's opinion is different from yours." The man said: "What is a doctor, Mr. Tao──" I interrupted the man's words at once, and looked directly at Tao Qiquan: "Do you believe what the doctor said, or this kind of person?" Tao Qiquan panted rapidly, his expression became extremely tired in an instant, he raised his hand and waved slowly: "Get out, you all get out." Everyone hesitated, Tao Qiquan raised his voice and shouted, "Everyone get out, I want to talk to Wesley alone." When he shouted like this, his face turned blue, he looked very terrifying, and his breathing became short and unrestrained. A doctor hurried over, pushed away the two people beside the hospital bed, put on the oxygen mask, Putting it on his face, at the same time, he waved his hand to make everyone leave. All the people looked at each other and retreated together. There were only two doctors left in the ward, Tao Qiquan and me. The two doctors were leaving too, but I asked them to stay. After breathing under the oxygen mask for about three minutes, Tao Qiquan's face gradually returned to normal. He pushed away the doctor's hand, and his voice was still weak: "As soon as Dr. Barnard arrives, I can be saved. I know my heart , It won't last for many days, but there is still enough time to replace it with a healthy heart." I took a breath: "On this point, we need to hear the opinions of experts." I looked to the two doctors: "In a situation like Mr. Tao's, what is the hope for the success of the heart transplant operation?" The older one said: "Heart replacement surgery is very complicated. First of all, a healthy heart must be available for use──" I interrupted him and said, "You don't have to think about it. Mr. Tao has plenty of money. It's not difficult to find a healthy heart for him to replace. I'm asking about what happens after he has such a heart." The doctor said: "Dr. Barnard has performed more than five heart transplant surgeries. The equipment in this hospital is more than enough for surgeries. But the biggest problem with heart transplant surgeries is the phenomenon of rejection." Tao Qiquan immediately said: "But there are successful examples." The elderly doctor turned his head away and remained silent.The young one said: "The so-called successful examples are really not optimistic. Before the rejection was completely resolved, the shortest record for a person who underwent a heart transplant was two days, and the longest record was no more than two years." Tao Qiquan's face twitched, and his expression became extremely ugly. The young doctor didn't dare to mention this issue to Tao Qiquan at first, but once he started, he became unscrupulous: "Even if I have two years to live, during these two years, I will continue to perform operations to resist rejection." , and the heart-changing person can hardly carry out any activities, this is already the best situation that can be foreseen." Tao Qiquan's lips trembled, trying to say something, but no sound came out. The scene in front of him is really cruel, discussing the time of his death in front of a dying person!Tao Qiquan is very strong, that's why he can bear it. If it were someone else, he would not be able to bear such a discussion. Under such circumstances, I had no choice but to say: "The most optimistic estimate is that two years is good. Medicine is advancing rapidly, and after two years, new technologies may emerge." Tao Qiquan smiled wryly: "Even you use empty words to comfort me?" I hurriedly said, "What I'm talking about is not empty talk. In fact, there is no other way to keep you alive except undergoing heart transplant surgery." At that moment, Tao Qiquan's face showed an extremely profound sadness, and he couldn't help muttering: "I don't want to die, I really don't want to die, as long as I can live, no matter how much it takes The price—" When he said this, his body trembled involuntarily. I pressed his shoulders hard, trying to calm him down, but of course it didn't work at all. He was still trembling violently, and his face turned blue again. The doctor quickly gave him another breath of oxygen, and after two minutes passed, he sighed: "Wei, do you know that I am only fifty-four years old this year, if another thirty years-" I sighed and said: "This is a helpless thing. Throughout the ages, I don't know how many people are in the same situation as you." The elderly doctor said: "I think Dr. Barnard will be here tomorrow, and we can study together when he arrives." Tao Qiquan grabbed my hand like a child: "I want to live, I always believe that money can create miracles, I always believe, I really always believe." I really couldn't think of any words to comfort him, so I just patted the back of his hand lightly.Tao Qiquan looked at the doctor: "Give me a sedative, I don't want to wake up, wake up, I will think about many things, it's too painful." The doctor smiled bitterly: "I'm really sorry, your heart is in a very bad condition now, and the sedatives will increase the burden on the already overwhelmed heart, so—" Tao Qiquan murmured: "I am the most painful person in the world, no one will suffer more than me. Don't wait for Dr. Barnard, go and find me a healthy heart first." I retreated to the door, opened the door, and conveyed Tao Qiquan's order to the people waiting at the door, and there was a loud answer from outside the door.I don't know what method these people use to find them, but they have plenty of money and should be able to find a heart for transplantation. I went back to the ward again, very hesitant in my heart.I'm here, and under such circumstances, naturally I can't leave Tao Qiquan, but if I don't leave, there is really nothing to say if I stay with him here, should I leave or stay? Tao Qiquan obviously saw my hesitation, he said: "Stay with me, to be honest, you are my only friend, tell them to go, I will naturally notify them if I want to see them." I conveyed Tao Qiquan's order again, came to the sofa on the hospital bed, and sat down.Doctors and nurses kept coming and going, and I picked up light topics to talk about.At midnight, Tao Qiquan fell asleep. The two doctors were still on duty, and the nurses were also awake. I was very sleepy, and lay on the sofa. I was about to fall asleep in a daze, and I opened my eyes again when I heard the two doctors talking in a low voice.A doctor saw me awake: "Mr. Wei, please decide on this matter." The doctor's expression was serious, and before I could ask what was the matter, he said again: "There is a person who claims to be Dr. Barnard's representative and insists on seeing Mr. Tao. He has something important to say to Mr. Tao, is it called?" Mr. Xingtao, should we wait until tomorrow?" I looked at Tao Qiquan, he was asleep, but he was frowning tightly, and his expression was quite painful. Since Dr. Barnard sent a representative, I think he must very much want to see this representative, because he put all his hopes on him. On this doctor who could perform a heart transplant for him.So, I nodded: "OK, please come in and I'll wake him up." The doctor shook his head, sighed, turned and walked out, and when he reached the door, he paused for a moment, then turned around again, shook his head again, moved his lips, and murmured something.At this time, I couldn't bear it anymore. Since Tao Qiquan's disease started, this problem has been in my mind for a long time.I made a gesture to the doctor, indicating that I have something to ask him, then walked towards him, came to his side, and lowered my voice: "Doctor, I have a question for you." The doctor looked a little sad, as if he already knew what question I wanted to ask, so he also lowered his voice: "Excuse me." I lowered my voice again, maybe because I didn't want to ask at all, or maybe because I already knew the answer to this question. I said, "Mr. Tao, is there no hope for him at all?" The doctor smiled bitterly: "This is asking knowingly." My breathing was a little short, and my voice was dry: "Even Dr. Barnard's heart transplant surgery can't save it?" The doctor made a gesture. I don't know what his gesture meant, but his helplessness showed his mood.He said: "Dr. Barnard is an outstanding surgeon, but in fact, since the first time, heart transplantation is not the most complicated surgical operation. In our hospital, several doctors can do it, The problem is the rejection phenomenon after the transplant, Mr. Tao...he can't live for a long time, and even if he lives, he will be in extreme discomfort and pain." I listened quietly and looked at Tao Qiquan again.Death is not a tragedy, it cannot be avoided by anyone.But death happened to Tao Qiquan, which is undoubtedly a tragedy. Moreover, he wanted to live so much that he refused to accept death at all, firmly believing that money could buy his life back.His "belief" is bound to be disillusioned.When that moment came, the pain he felt was ten thousand times that of death itself. I sighed again, and made a gesture of resignation: "There is nothing left to do, please ask Dr. Barnard's representative to come in." The doctor shook his head and walked out. When I came to the hospital bed, I put my hand on Tao Qiquan's forehead before I touched it. Tao Qiquan jumped suddenly, and he didn't even open his eyes. He already shouted in a hoarse voice: "I will not die, I will live." I cleared my throat: "Someone came to see you—" He opened his eyes with a look of extreme bewilderment, and I continued: "Dr. Barnard's representative." When he heard it, he let out an "ah" sound: "Okay, it's finally here, where is it? Where's the person?" I pressed the button beside the bed, and one end of the bed was raised slightly: "The doctor is going to invite him in—" Speaking of this, I paused: "Actually, everyone will die." Tao Qiquan was angry and shocked: "Of course I know, but before I die, I will live at least twenty years, um, thirty years, or more." It's so sad that he's talking things he doesn't even believe himself, and I might as well have stopped talking at all and let him lie to himself until death comes. I am somewhat stubborn, and I think it is a sad and funny thing for a person to lie to himself like this before he dies. Such a thing should not happen to such an outstanding and successful person like Tao Qiquan. So, without even stopping, I said, "No, you won't live that long, you will die soon, and death may come sooner than you imagined." As soon as my words came out of my mouth, Tao Qiquan was obviously irritated by me, a strange red color suddenly appeared on his pale face, I was really afraid that he couldn't bear the stimulation and anger, so he would die.He was shaking his fist, trying to hit me.But even though he was angry and agitated, he could not shake his fists, and the strange blush on his pale face made one feel that this was a dying person. I stretched out my hand, grabbed his waving fist, and said in an extremely sincere voice: "Listen, it's nothing when a person dies. I firmly believe that a person has a soul, and the soul is immortal. Your body is much more precious, you should not imagine that your body can last forever, you should think about the further future." Tao Qiquan became even angrier, and tried his best to break away from my hand: "Nonsense, what a soul!" I wanted to explain to him further, but he shouted again in that hoarse voice: "I want a body, my body gives me all the enjoyment, can you chew tender beef with your soul? Can you embrace it with your soul?" The beloved woman? Can you use your soul to experience the comfort of good silk sticking to your body?" I wanted to interrupt him, but he spoke excitedly and quickly, and suddenly laughed again and again: "Wesley, it's a pity that you don't want to be a missionary." I smiled wryly, and if I had to explain to him the relationship between religion and the soul since the beginning of human civilization, it would be too long a story, to the extent that his limited life might not have enough time to listen to it, let alone comprehend it of the true meaning. I was thinking about how to continue the conversation between me and him when the door opened and the doctor walked in. Behind him was a tall, thin man with piercing eyes and a tall, pointed man. Westerners with noses. The first impression of that person is that he is very smart and capable, and his actions also show this.As soon as he came in, he almost didn't waste a second, and went straight to the bed: "Mr. Tao, my name is Rock, and I'm Dr. Barnard's personal representative." Tao Qiquan was taken aback for a moment: "I didn't know Dr. Barnard had a personal representative." That person - Rock - treated Tao Qiquan like a child, and patted Tao Qiquan on the head: "You have a lot of things you don't know, too many." If Tao Qiquan had been treated like this with anyone else, or under any circumstances (although the possibility of this is extremely rare), he would definitely fly into a rage.At this time, Tao Qiquan was also startled for a moment, but he didn't have an attack, he just groaned. Rock sat down and looked directly at Tao Qiquan: "I have something to tell you about how to continue your life." Tao Qiquan shook, straightened his body, and wanted to speak, but Rock immediately made a gesture to prevent him from speaking, and said, "This is between me and you." As he spoke, he turned his head and looked at me and the doctor. From the moment Rock came out, I don't know why, but I didn't like him at all.I've never met Roque, but the strange thing is, I seem to have a certain impression of him.This vague impression comes from his high and pointed nose. When and where have I seen a Westerner with such a high, pointed nose? I was thinking about this, so I didn't pay much attention to Roque's words. Although I listened to his words and understood his intention of looking towards me as soon as he said those words, but because I was thinking, So my reactions were a little slower than usual. The so-called "slow reaction" is actually only a matter of a second, but Rock was impatient, and he sneered: "I thought my hint was obvious enough." The doctor looked very embarrassed at that moment, turned around and walked out the door, and I also stood up. Although I stood up, I didn't intend to leave, I just looked at Tao Qiquan. The reason I didn't want to leave was because Rock was a stranger at all.He claimed to be Dr. Barnard's "personal representative," but produced no proof at all.It was not appropriate for such a stranger to be alone with Tao Qiquan. Tao Qiquan was also surprised: "No matter what we discuss, Mr. Wei can be there, he is my best friend." Rock said in an extremely mocking tone: "Good friend? How good is it?" Tao Qiquan didn't even think about it: "It's so good that he can directly point out to me that I don't live long." Rock laughed out loud as if he had heard the funniest joke.He laughed very wantonly, and the laughter stopped suddenly.He pointed directly at Tao Qiquan: "Listen, the conversation between you and me, only you and I can participate—" He raised his hand vigorously, and continued: "No third party can participate, no third party!" Tao Qiquan was a little angry: "What if I insist on his presence?" Luo Ke said: "Then let's not talk anymore. Mr. Tao, what you need now is not a good friend, but someone who can keep you alive." Tao Qiquan's face was very ugly, but he didn't continue to get angry, and obviously gave in, He glanced at me and made another gesture.I still have no intention of leaving, because I feel that the more this sudden Roque insists on facing Tao Qiquan alone, the more suspicious he looks. Rock looked at me and laughed again. This guy smiled and said, "If you don't leave here, what is your purpose? To protect him?" I snorted and didn't answer. Luo Ke smiled even more, pointed at Tao Qiquan, and said: "Don't forget, he is a dying person. If I want to kill him, I don't need to do it at all. As long as I go out, how long can he live?" I took a deep breath and thought to myself, what Roque said was right. Tao Qiquan was about to die, even if he wanted to kill him, there was nothing to do.At most, Luo Ke just cheated him of some money. Tao Qiquan had too much money, so what if someone cheated him a little?There is really no need for me to insist on staying in the ward with Tao Qiquan. As soon as I thought of this, I laughed, shrugged, turned around and walked to the door, opened the door, made another gesture of indifference, walked out, and closed the door.