Boys of Ice and Fire

The Medical Treatment

After he got the offer from Monkey Education, Ethan was summoned by his mother Priscilla to the hospital right away. Bob, Ethan's father, was now lying on the ward, waiting for the doctor to decide upon a proper treatment plan for his kidney stones. Ethan arrived at the doctor’s office, not so afraid of the infamous medical fees as the first time he had taken his father to the hospital a week ago, because he was now officially a member of an Internet company.

“Two plans for your father,” said the doctor. “First, we might use supersonic tech to shatter the stone. But this leaves permanent damage to your father’s kidney. It’s cheaper, though. Costs about $300-400.”

Ethan listened intently as the doctor laid out the plans, and he realized that the doctor was a young one, with cute facial features and a congenial personality. I am getting really old after so many years of wandering. Ethan thought to himself pathetically. Even young men like this doctor had entered the workforce to serve the people!

“The second option involves more procedures,” said the cute young doctor. “It is a systematic treatment and doesn’t harm the kidney. First of all, a tube will be put into your father's urinary tract, so that accumulated urine is passed out immediately and the pain is eased right away, at the same time creating enough space for rock destruction. Then an operation has to be made, during which the doctors will put a sort of endoscopic tool through the urinary tract and into the kidney. Then the rock will be taken care of by the tool, with no permanent harm done. Of course, the fee is 10 times higher. It costs about $3000-4000.”

“We’ll choose the second plan,” Ethan took no time to hesitate, but Priscilla pulled him aside, appalled.

“Are you out of your mind?!” said Priscilla outrageously. “We don’t have the money for such a high-end operation.”

“I’ll soon have a job in an Internet company,” said Ethan. “I can earn that money, mom! Doesn’t dad deserve better treatment, after all he has done for our family?”

Bob had been a businessman in construction materials and equipment for many years, but had made little money, given the tight control on the real estate market since the government decided to put a damper on the soaring housing prices.

“You can borrow money from Alipay,” said Ethan. “I’ll pay it back when I get my salary for the first month.”

“Nonsense!” croaked Priscilla in the corridor. “I’ve made it quite clear. We don’t borrow money. We’ve been a poor family since you were born because your father likes to borrow money all the time!”

It’s the same old talk again. Ethan would borrow money from Alipay himself if he could, but all the credit he could obtain had been used on his father’s construction projects. Priscilla was the only person he could turn to for help.

Just now, the cute doctor walked out.

“Just tell me your choice when you’ve made up your mind,” said the doctor, smiling at Ethan warmly and then going to deal with other issues, in his sweeping, doctor’s white coat and young students’ sneakers.

As much as Ethan was attracted by the doctor, he had to persuade Priscilla soon. It was at this moment that Ethan received a call from another company that he had an interview with. Ethan walked away a few steps to answer it, faking his professional voice again.

“Hi, yeah, I’m Ethan.”

“I’m Mary, the HR director of Notebook Education. I’m glad to tell you you have passed your interview.”

Ethan was silent for a moment. He had already made up his mind to go to work for Shaun, but he needed to stage a show to turn down the offer politely. Moreover, he was curious about the pay Mary was willing to offer. It made him feel important to compare the different high payments from different employers. Then there was also the dreadful possibility that Notebook Education made the pay exceedingly high, so high that Ethan would have to turn his back on Monkey Education.

“We know you are also applying for Monkey Education,” said Mary. “and I’m happy to say that we have the same work hours, but our pay is $6000 plus bonus at the end of the year. Would you like to consider it?”

“Thanks, Mary,” said Ethan. “But I got the offer from Monkey Education just a few hours ago. And I have confirmed that offer. I’m sorry.”

“But our pay is top of the industry.” Mary sounded suspicious and outraged at the same time. After several minutes of wordplay to turn down Mary’s ever-increasing benefits, Ethan’s secret seemed to have been discovered.

“Do you have an acquaintance at Monkey?” snapped Mary all of a sudden.

Yeah, Mary, and more than just an acquaintance. He might just be the love of my life. Ethan murmured silently to himself with curled lips. And Ethan was shocked too that Mary could be so perceptive.

“No, what, no! Of course not.” Ethan couldn’t believe his acting nature could come so handy. “I just want to be... faithful to an offer I’ve confirmed.”

“Alright...” Mary didn’t want to dwell on a lost cause, and hung up the phone.

Ethan grimaced at the payment Mary had just offered, thinking about all the money he would now lose on a monthly basis. He looked at his mother who had been standing by and eavesdropping on the conversation, and made up another story.

“Just pick the second plan for dad.” said Ethan, throwing up his arms in the air and curling his lips smugly. “I just got a job paying $6000 a month.”