Surgery Godfather
Chapter 841 - 751: Bride Price and Dowry

Chapter 841: Chapter 751: Bride Price and Dowry

John Ansen’s case exploded in the group, a person with only half a brain actually lived just fine.

Such a hemispheric brain was a rarity to others, but not to John Ansen.

Though he had never seen a person with a congenitally hemispheric brain, he had seen people who had undergone surgery to remove half of their brain.

There is a type of surgery called hemispherectomy, which is suitable for children with intractable epilepsy. By surgically removing all or part of the diseased hemisphere, while typically preserving the basal ganglia and thalamus, this disconnects the diseased hemisphere from the healthy one. This can cure intractable epilepsy and relieve the patient’s suffering.

Why would patients require such a brutal and crude surgical method to solve the problem of intractable epilepsy in children? Because severe intractable epilepsy in children can lead to hundreds of seizures a day, that’s about every few minutes, with sudden falls, loss of consciousness, convulsions, and frothing at the mouth during each episode.

No one can endure such high-frequency attacks, so for these patients, even at the risk of their lives, their families are willing to opt for surgery.

Since its invention in the 1950s, this type of surgery has saved a large number of children with intractable epilepsy. Although the classic hemispherectomy is no longer practiced in many hospitals, the revised version is still an effective method for treating intractable epilepsy. The modified surgery not only improves the outcomes but also avoids serious complications.

John Ansen had conducted extensive research on the postoperative condition of these patients. He selected 10 patients who were almost indistinguishable from normal people and conducted MRI scans on their brains. He discovered that the remaining half of the brain was capable of self-adaptive reconstruction, forming new and abnormally strong connections between different functional areas, with functional regions taking on multiple roles.

These people, with only half a brain, relied solely on one hemisphere to achieve the basic functions of a complete brain, thus ensuring their normal living capabilities, including language, vision, motion, emotions, and cognitive functions of the brain.

It was like an orchestra, where if half of its members were gone, the remaining half, after training, could still perform the original music by taking on multiple roles, such as a horn player also having to drum.

These patients who lived well told John Ansen that, like muscles, the brain is an organ that can be reshaped.

Muscles can become stronger through exercise; similarly, the brain can also improve its functions through exercise.

Yang Ping imported the CT images from the group into the computer and then studied them on a specialized electronic screen.

The CT image of the hemispheric brain was displayed on the screen, and Yang Ping analyzed it carefully. This kind of congenitally hemispheric brain was different from one formed later in life.

A hemispheric brain formed later was originally a complete and normal brain with just the other half removed, so at least anatomically, it was known, and functionally, it was also easier to study.

However, with this congenital hemispheric brain, theoretically, its structure and functional anatomy were unknown and could not be assumed based on just one half of a normal brain, which was the difficulty of the surgery.

By this time, Xiao Su had finished work and came to the office to find Yang Ping. She also leaned over to look at the images.

"Half a brain?" She also had never seen such an unusual case.

"Move aside a bit, I want to sit closer so that the baby can also see this case, with only half a brain." Xiao Su leaned over, squeezing past Yang Ping.

She said seriously, "Tell the baby about this case; you need to be serious and solemn, no laughing allowed."

It was truly starting from the cradle, or rather, from the baby in the womb. Yang Ping had no choice but to face the screen and begin to explain the case in an earnest manner.

After he finished, Xiao Su nodded, satisfied.

"Mom said there are a lot of free-range eggs and asked brother-in-law to bring some for me to eat," Xiao Su said.

Yang Ping’s mother was overjoyed to hear that her daughter-in-law was pregnant; she not only started storing home-raised eggs but also expanded the breeding varieties and numbers actively.

Yang Ping’s father even started a large vegetable garden, claiming to grow organic vegetables. The two of them planned to continuously provide healthy vegetables and chicken, duck, and fish for their daughter-in-law during her pregnancy.

"Did you just call mom and dad?"

Yang Ping felt that Xiao Su’s frequency of calling home was even higher than his, and each time she seemed to enjoy the conversations with his mother immensely.

Xiao Su chuckled, "I call them every now and then. They set up a large vegetable garden, saying that they want to provide us with organic vegetables, which is good. It makes the elders happy to do what they like."

"I will also call them later to chat," Yang Ping felt it had been quite a while since he last called.

"What do you mean ’later’? You have time now, call now," Xiao Su insisted, urging Yang Ping.

All right, now it is.

Yang Ping dialed his mother’s number, and a booming voice came through, "Pingping, are you off work yet?"

"Still in the office?"

"Where’s Xiao Su? Aren’t you with her? Whenever you’re free you should stay by her side, you hear? Take on more household chores, don’t let Xiao Su do them. If you dare to be a male chauvinist, not taking good care of Xiao Su, I’ll deal with you when I get back."

Yang Ping frowned while Xiao Su laughed beside him.

His mother rattled off a whole list of things like a machine gun.

"Your dad says he misses you, and he wants you guys to come home for the New Year."

"Why are you saying I miss him? It’s you who always misses—," Yang Ping’s father’s voice came through the phone.

There was still plenty of time until the New Year, but they needed to find time to take Xiao Su for a visit.

"I asked your brother-in-law to bring some things for you. He is going to Nandu Provincial City for work. Nothing special, just some vegetables and fruits your dad grew and a few free-range eggs. He says these organic vegetables are not available in the city, they are safe and nutritious."

"Why is it always me who said--"

"Don’t interrupt."

Yang Ping’s sister and brother-in-law were both rural primary school teachers, and her brother-in-law was young and promising, even serving as a vice principal.

"Don’t bring too much."

"There’s not much, just some greens, chili peppers, loofah, eggplants, beans, and a few watermelons—"

"You should come over and play for a few days too. Where’s your sister? Isn’t she coming?"

"We won’t be coming. You’re so busy with work."

"The house is busy too. Recently, there have been especially many patients; I can’t leave." Yang Ping’s father interjected.

"When I’m talking to my son, don’t keep interrupting. Can’t you wait and speak later?"

"Your brother-in-law is going on this trip with his school colleagues for official business. They have a car and it’s on the way, so he’s bringing you some stuff."

This time, Yang Ping’s brother-in-law came to Nandu Provincial City with the principal to find successful businessmen who originated from their hometown and raise funds to improve the school’s teaching conditions.

"Pingping, the vegetables and eggs your brother-in-law brought, some are in gift boxes. Those are for your in-laws. Since you live close to them, you should visit often, keep them company. If there are any physical chores at the elderly’s house, you must help out. Be filial and polite, got it? Are you listening? Remember it."

Yang Ping could only respond with a smile, "I’m listening, taking notes in a notebook. You’re packaging vegetables and eggs in gift boxes?"

"Yes, I had your brother-in-law go to a supermarket in the city to buy special boxes. City folks are particular, and we need to be too."

"And—"

Mom’s voice suddenly jammed like a machine gun’s.

"Fine, your turn to say something since you keep interrupting."

Dad finally got his chance, "I’ll just say a few words. You have to take care of your health outside. Health is the capital of revolution; without good health, you can’t do anything. Also, society has become colorful in this economic era, but as doctors, we must have a conscience. No matter where we are, we need to be honest and can’t do heartless things. It’s okay to earn less money; it won’t starve us. I’m not well-educated, and my words may sound harsh and repetitive, but don’t take it to heart."

"You read a lot of books. How can you say you’re uneducated?"

"What’s my little education in front of a Doctor?"

Their conversation carried over the phone.

After hanging up, Yang Ping felt a warm sensation in his heart. Beside him, Xiao Su was also smiling, her dimples showing.

---

The application for the Outstanding Young Talent award had already started to unfold, and for the final spot, there could only be one choice between two.

Regardless of whether it was Dean Xia from Sanbo or Vice Chancellor Ding Decheng from Nandu Medical University, neither was willing to step back, which meant Yang Ping and Guan Ruyan had to compete for this one position.

Principal Ruo was the current principal of Nandu Medical University, but he would be retiring in two years.

The most likely candidate for succession was this same Principal Ding, who was also a hot contender for academician status; at that time, he and Su Qingyun were considered the most likely from the Nandu system to become academicians.

However, Su Qingyun was successfully elected academician, whereas Ding Decheng was not, something that he had always remembered sourly, believing that Principal Ruo had directed resources towards Su Qingyun, causing his own failure.

Therefore, for this son-in-law’s application for Outstanding Young Talent, he was determined to win, especially since the son-in-law’s credentials were outstanding, the pride of the entire Nandu system.

Principal Ding had only one daughter, and this son-in-law was also his student, so he treated him like his own son. Having already fallen a step behind Su Qingyun, there was no way he would allow his son-in-law to lose to Yang Ping.

Sometimes, life is like a chess game, one step ahead leads to steps ahead; one step behind leads to steps behind.

---

Professor Su was sitting in the study looking through materials; Mrs. Su was by his side.

"Old Su, now that Xiao Yang has graduated early with his doctorate and has also published a paper in ’Science’, is there a good chance for Outstanding Young Talent?"

In his heart, Professor Su had already planned to help Yang Ping apply for the Outstanding Young Talent award. Logically, with the value of Yang Ping’s current paper, securing the award shouldn’t be a problem, but unfortunately, there was only one spot available this time, and they had to compete with a very strong opponent.

Guan Ruyan had returned from studying in Germany, had already published two papers in CNS, and had 32 SCI papers. He had led five national-level scientific research projects—his achievements dazzling.

Seeing that Professor Su did not speak, Mrs. Su said, "Old Su, this ’Science’ paper is Xiao Yang’s dowry. We should also present a decent trousseau."

Professor Su nodded slightly and said with humor, "With such a substantial dowry, our trousseau can’t be shabby."

Comparing the two young men, Yang Ping excelled in academic quality, while Guan Ruyan had a clear massive advantage in quantity. What to do about this?

People always have their biases, and Professor Su thought to himself: Yang Ping is so gifted and so diligent. As an elder, not to mention using my resources to help him, I must at least protect him; he absolutely should not get buried in obscurity.

Now, with this spot available, should he compete for it or not?

Definitely compete!

Yang Ping met the criteria, so why shouldn’t he compete? Why should he give way to others? It made no sense.

PS: Regarding the last Chapter—"Hemisphere of the Brain", I made some amendments today because I might have sent the wrong draft last night, not the final version. When you have time, you may want to go back and reread it. Sorry for that! Thank you!