Chapter 85 – Writer Lee Kyung-ri (1)

“Fufu, of course. Tell me. What is the matter?”

“I am sorry for asking favors every time.”

“You rascal, make sure to repay me later. Surely I will… Ah, no.”

‘Yes! When your era comes, if you entrust me with matters of medical policy, I will do my best to help. However, only concerning medical matters. Please never drag me into political affairs!’

“It is nothing else, but there is a certain patient in our village, and I happened to hear about their family situation…”

Kim Ji-hyuk began to explain the details of the Park Mi-yeong couple to Brigadier General Park Jeong-ui along with the relevant documents.

After a short while.

“So, you are saying this is a promissory note? The one written for that loan shark?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… Wait a moment. Rather than me looking at it, it seems it would be better for Captain Choi to look at it.”

“Captain Choi?”

“Yes. He is a military prosecutor.”

“Ah!”

Park Jeong-ui immediately summoned one of his subordinates.

He was Military Prosecutor Choi Seong-yong.

After a short while.

Captain Choi Seong-yong carefully examined the promissory note.

“Is there any way to rescue them?”

Kim Ji-hyuk asked, feeling anxious.

“Well… The interest is a bit high, but there does not seem to be any major problem with the creditor-debtor relationship?”

“Ah, I see. Then there is nothing that can be done…”

Kim Ji-hyuk bit his lips, feeling it was a pity.

“Wait a moment!”

Right at that moment, Captain Choi Seong-yong raised his palm.

“Yes??”

“There is collateral under the debtor’s name? Farmland?”

“Yes. That is right. It is farmland registered under the name of Go Min-guk’s friend. I heard they put that up as collateral.”

“Then, in the end, did the loan limit not increase because of this collateral?”

“Probably?”

“But just looking at the land documents, this much of a loan cannot be issued. It makes no sense for the loan amount to exceed the collateral, does it? What kind of people are they, would they do something that loses them money? Isn’t that so?”

“T-That is true, right?”

“This is strange. Something smells fishy. I get the feeling that they played some trick together.”

Captain Choi Seong-yong showed interest as he scanned the documents thoroughly again.

“Are you sure?”

“When I was young, my father was heavily defrauded, so I became a prosecutor to catch these kinds of scammers! With such a foul smell vibrating, there is no way there is nothing to it. No, there must be something!”

Captain Choi Seong-yong wrinkled the tip of his nose.

“I am sorry… Then could you look into it?”

Kim Ji-hyuk scratched the back of his head, feeling embarrassed.

“Hahaha, they said you are like an irreplaceable younger brother to the commander, right? Of course. I must help!”

Captain Choi Seong-yong readily accepted Kim Ji-hyuk’s request.

“Thank you! Thank you so much. Please do it as quickly as possible. His wife’s body is very sick. Since they are such good people, I really want to help them.”

“Anyway, this nosey nature of yours is still the same. You are a guy who would give away his liver and gall if it didn’t hurt. Of course, because of that, I like you.”

Looking at Kim Ji-hyuk, Brigadier General Park Jeong-ui wore a pleased smile.

“Well. What can I do when I was born this way? Anyway, I was perplexed, but this is a relief. It means there is a small hope. Thank you, Brother!”

“There is no such thing as thanks between brothers. By the way, did you come all this way because of this? You could have just told me over the phone.”

“Ayy. It is nice to see your face while doing this!”

“Yes! Good thing you came. Let us leave that promissory note issue to Captain Choi, and since we saw each other’s faces, let us have a drink of raw rice wine with boiled pork. Huh?”

“Yes. Sounds good.”

With that, Park Jeong-ui took Kim Ji-hyuk in a jeep and went out.

Gangwon Provincial Hospital.

After having a good drink with Park Jeong-ui and spending the day chatting, Kim Ji-hyuk went straight to find Professor Kim Jong-hyuk of the Department of Internal Medicine at Gangwon Provincial Hospital the next day.

“Professor, hello. I am Kim Ji-hyuk, working at the Moeundong clinic!”

“Yes. Welcome. You said you worked at the National Medical Center?”

“Yes.”

“I see. Professor Jeong Gi-ryeo praised you so much that his mouth went dry.”

“Ah, do you know our professor?”

“Of course. I also worked at Korea University Hospital two years ago.”

“Ah, is that so? Then you can speak comfortably, Professor!”

“Fufu, shall I?”

“Yes. By the way, did the results come out?”

“Hmm, it seems we need to run a 24-hour urine test.”

Professor Kim Jong-hyuk wore a serious expression.

“Then you mean the cortisol level is high.”

“For now, we have to look at it that way. We need to check if the cortisol decreases after administering medicine to be sure.”

“As expected, the possibility of Cushing’s syndrome seems high.”

“We must see it that way. We need to measure the ACTH level and determine if there is a problem with the pituitary gland or the adrenal gland to start treatment.”

“I see.”

“Even if it is not necessarily Cushing’s syndrome, the blood test results are bad. It seems better to hospitalize her as soon as possible.”

Professor Kim Jong-hyuk frowned as he looked at the test sheet.

“I understand. I will tell the patient that. In the worst-case scenario, if removing both adrenal glands does not resolve it…”

“Well. There is nothing we can do then. She will just have to live on steroids for the rest of her life.”

“I see.”

“Yes, yes. But these days, Sweden and the United States are aiding a lot of good medicines, so unless it is the worst case, it seems possible to maintain the status quo. Of course, a full recovery is impossible.”

“Yes.”

“However, even that is impossible at our hospital. She must be moved to the National Medical Center or Severance as soon as possible to receive treatment.”

Hmm, Professor Kim Jong-hyuk let out a short sigh.

“Yes. I will contact Professor Jeong Gi-ryeo!”

“Since you are here, why don’t you have a meal before you go.”

“No. I don’t think I can leave the clinic empty for long.”

“Fufu. Never change that heart of yours that cares for patients for the rest of your life.”

“Yes. I will keep that in mind!”

‘It was Cushing’s syndrome!’

It was the moment when Kim Ji-hyuk’s prediction turned out to be correct.

* * *

One week later, the clinic.

As the era was what it was, Brigadier General Park Jeong-ui’s intelligence capability was outstanding. In the end, it was revealed that Go Min-guk’s friend and the loan shark conspired to illegally extort Go Min-guk’s property, allowing Go Min-guk to escape from the hellish swamp of private loans.

“Doctor! Thank you so much! I will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life!”

In that way, Go Min-guk returned alive from hell.

To him, Kim Ji-hyuk was like a savior sent from heaven.

“I am glad it worked out. But this is just the beginning. Your wife’s disease is not that simple. Your role as a husband is important.”

“Of course! Even if I have to devote my everything, I will save Mi-yeong.”

“Fufu, and stop drinking alcohol now.”

“Ah! Of course. Actually, I was originally a person who could not even drink or smoke. From now on, I will not even put alcohol to my mouth!”

“Oh my, now I feel like I am seeing the real hyeongbu!”

At that, Nurse Park In-seon joined the conversation.

“S-Sorry! I am also so sorry and grateful to In-seon.”

Go Min-guk scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.

“Please take good care of Sister from now on.”

“Of course! In the future, I will live my life thinking of you two as my saviors!”

Thanks to Kim Ji-hyuk, everything was resolved for Go Min-guk.

He had returned to the diligent and good person he was before.

* * *

“Doctor, Sister Kyung-ri is at the clinic right now!”

“If you mean Sister Kyung-ri…?”

“That sister we saw at the town hall last time. The one who writes novels… Do you not remember?”

Nurse Park In-seon explained, panting heavily.

“Yes. I remember. But where does she hurt?”

“Her abdominal pain seems severe. She was almost rolling around… What should we do? Since you had left work, Doctor, I tried to do something, but I don’t think it will work. She is in too much pain.”

Nurse Park In-seon had a perplexed expression.

“What do you mean, what should we do? We must go. Let us go.”

“Yes, yes. Thank you!”

After a short while, the clinic.

Lee Geum-i, who writes novels, suddenly came to the clinic.

“*Pant, pant*, oh, my stomach!”

Lee Geum-i was lying on the bed, clutching her stomach in pain.

At a glance, she looked to be suffering from considerable pain. Nurse Park In-seon hurriedly approached Lee Geum-i.

“Kyung-ri Unni! I am here.”

“A-Are you here? Where is the doctor?”

Lee Geum-i greeted her in a dying voice.

“Yes. I brought the doctor! The doctor will treat you.”

“R-Really? Quickly, quickly! I feel like I am going to die!”

At the words that Kim Ji-hyuk had arrived, her expression brightened as if a savior had appeared.

“Patient! Where does it feel uncomfortable?”

In the meantime, Kim Ji-hyuk, who had washed his hands and brought out the medical tools, asked Lee Geum-i.

“My stomach! My stomach hurts so, so much!”

Lee Geum-i was huddled up, even breaking out in a cold sweat.

“Let me take a look. Excuse me, but could you lift your top slightly?”

“Yes. I understand.”

Nurse Park In-seon, who was by her side, slightly lifted Lee Geum-i’s top.

With that, Kim Ji-hyuk began the auscultation.

‘Oh dear, judging by the thunderous sound coming from her intestines, it seems she also has enteritis… But looking at the nature of the abdominal pain, that does not seem to be the cause…’

Kim Ji-hyuk began his examination, placing the stethoscope here and there.

“Really, it is my first time hurting this much. Doctor, please save me!”

Lee Geum-i, almost on the verge of crying, grabbed Kim Ji-hyuk’s sleeve and clung to it.

‘Well. It doesn’t seem to be to that extent, she is exaggerating a bit.’

“Is it the right abdomen? Or the left abdomen?”

“T-The right side.”

‘The right side? If so, there seems to be a possibility of appendicitis.’

“Does it hurt here?”

Kim Ji-hyuk pressed the right lower abdomen gently with his hand.

“A-No. That is fine. It hurts a bit higher than there!”

Lee Geum-i grimaced in distress.

“Then what about here?”

“Aaak!”

As he pressed higher, Lee Geum-i let out a shriek. She even shed a tear.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

“Yes, yes! I-It hurts! That is the spot. It hurts as if being pierced by an awl!”

Covering her upper abdomen, which Kim Ji-hyuk had pressed just now, with her hand, Lee Geum-i complained of the pain.

“By any chance, did this side hurt before? To be more precise, did the pain start here?”

Kim Ji-hyuk pressed the lower abdomen once more.

“N-No. It hurt here from the beginning! That place was fine!”

Lee Geum-i pointed to her upper abdomen again and complained of pain.

“Doctor, by any chance, could it be appendicitis?”

At that, Nurse Park In-seon, who was watching from the side, asked cautiously.

‘Generally, appendicitis starts with pain in the upper abdomen and tends to move down to the lower abdomen. However, this patient has no lower abdominal pain at all right now, does she? Therefore, the possibility of appendicitis is not as large as one might think. However, considering the intensity of the pain, which is similar to appendicitis, and the location of the abdominal pain, there is a disease that is commonly confused with appendicitis… If so?’

“Well. I think we will have to examine her more to know.”

Kim Ji-hyuk shook his head slowly.