"Director Liu, you... why are you looking at me like that? Are the results out? It's really cancer?"

Seeing Liu Banxia return, staring at him with a solemn face. His wife also looked troubled, and the patient's heart shot up into the sky.

It must be cancer, no doubt about it.

Just now, Director Liu was still chatting and laughing, trying to reassure him and saying it wasn't cancer. Now his face has turned like a black pot bottom, it's over, it's really over.

Others also looked at Liu Banxia in surprise. Could it really be some malignant disease? But even if it is, given Teacher Liu's usual way of handling things, and seeing how timid the patient is, he wouldn't just tell the patient directly like this.

Look at how terrified the patient is right now.

"Sigh... your condition..." Liu Banxia sighed.

"Director Liu, I also thought about it just now. If it costs a lot, I won't get treatment. It would be a lot of suffering, and it might not even work. Anyway, I have insurance, it just went into effect, so it covers it, might even make a couple of bucks," the patient said.

"Just give me some medication to keep the pain at bay at that time. Our upstairs neighbor on the 3rd floor is in the late stages of liver cancer, in so much pain they're rolling around. I just want to avoid that suffering."

"Those are things for the future. We need to talk about the present first. Delay, delay." Liu Banxia had a look of depth.

"You tell me, I've asked you several times, and you just wouldn't say anything. Now look at what's become of it? Otherwise, why suffer like this?"

Hearing Liu Banxia say this, the patient perked up, "Director Liu, are you saying I delayed it? If I came earlier, there wouldn't have been any problem? So can I still be treated?"

"You tell me first, what else have you been hiding from me?" Liu Banxia said.

Xu Yino blinked and smiled. But fearing the patient might notice, she turned away.

The others reacted a bit slower but soon realized Liu Banxia's intention. He was definitely scaring the patient, if it were really some malignant disease, Liu Banxia wouldn't handle it this way.

"I... I actually just drink a bit. But they said that the insurance company doesn't cover claims if I often drink after my policy just took effect," the patient said softly.

"How much do you drink at a time?" Liu Banxia asked.

"About three taels," the patient said.

Liu Banxia stayed silent, just looked at him.

"Um... if there's good food, I might drink half a catty. It's not like I drink that much every time," the patient said, looking at Liu Banxia's eyes.

"How many times a day?" Liu Banxia continued to ask.

"One... two times," the patient said.

At this point, not only Liu Banxia but even Xu Yino turned around and looked at him with a helpless gaze.

With such crucial information, the patient actually chose to hide it. Had he said this earlier, there wouldn't have been any need for a diagnosis, it's clearly caused by vitamin B deficiency due to chronic drinking.

"I've told you, don't lie to a doctor. Doctors are here to help you. If you lie to the doctor, the doctor won't have a full picture of your condition, and you'll be the one to suffer," Liu Banxia said.

"You have beriberi, caused by a long-term deficiency of vitamin B1 due to drinking, which leads to all these symptoms."

"What? Beriberi? But my feet aren't itchy. Did the toxins from the beriberi spread into my blood?" the patient nervously asked.

"Diagnosing yourself is quite efficient," Liu Banxia said helplessly.

"Didn't I explain? It's vitamin B1 deficiency, and the full name of your condition is vitamin B1 deficiency syndrome, commonly known as beriberi. If you had mentioned this earlier, you wouldn't have had to get colonoscopy, CT scan, or lumbar puncture, and you wouldn't have to worry so much."

"Director Liu, are you saying I can still be saved?" The patient disregarded everything else; this was his main concern.

"Depends on what you do in the future. But if you keep drinking like this, no offense, it's just a matter of time," Liu Banxia said.

"See if you still want to keep drinking. Just go ahead, drink yourself to death sooner or later," the patient's wife added.

This is what the two of them had discussed coming back, to give the patient a "lesson" and help him kick the habit of heavy drinking.

"Your condition is treatable at this stage, as long as you supplement with vitamin B complex and some niacin. Stay here tonight, you can't be trusted to take care of yourself at home," Liu Banxia said.

"Don't think that just because you're fine this time you can go back and start drinking again. When this condition gets severe, even if it doesn't cause other issues, it will damage your neurological function."

"What I'm saying is, even if we supplement you with vitamin B1, your legs and feet won't function well because the nerves are damaged. Even if they recover, it won't help. Walking might not be in circles, but it definitely won't be smooth."

"Next, we'll need to draw your blood to test the vitamin B1 levels. Only this can make a diagnosis for sure, but it's probably a certainty."

The patient doesn't have any other thoughts now. Upon hearing that it's not a serious issue, whether it's taking medicine or getting injections, as long as it can be cured, it's fine. All that's left is to nod repeatedly, disregarding everything else.

"My goodness, if they had said this earlier, they'd have diagnosed the disease in a few minutes. But look how things are now, it's been such a hassle." Xu Yino said, feeling frustrated.

"What can be done? I didn't expect this either." Liu Banxia said with a bitter smile.

"President Qi asked during the consultation, and I did too. There was even a smell of alcohol then, just from drinking at noon, but he said he only drinks occasionally."

"Who knew his 'occasionally' meant drinking every day? Wasted a lot of money and time, how worthless."

It really did irritate him, constantly considering the patient and pondering how to protect the patient's mood, so they won't be overly anxious.

The actual situation turned out like this, wasted all this time.

"But it seems such phenomena aren't unique, some people even hide smoking when we ask." Qi Wentai said.

"Maybe it's because some insurance without physical exams has restriction clauses. As they say, insurance companies have two things they never pay: this doesn't pay, that doesn't pay."

"Sigh... It adds so much difficulty for us. Everyone wants to find loopholes, and we have to fill them." Liu Banxia said.

"But there's no other way, with so many types of insurance now. Not sure how they're insured, but things are a mess. Are there insurance scams too?"

"Of course there are. When they're insured, they don't clarify when or under what conditions you can claim. Many will tell you it's lifelong insurance, doesn't it sound impressive, covering you for life." Wang Chao chimed in.

"But in actuality, it's lifelong insurance, only paid after you die. The coverage is decent, but when you want to use it, you can't."

"Big insurance companies might be a bit better, but it's hard to say. Anyway, it's all about the agents making money, deceiving people. One person deceived is one gained, your paid premium, after the cooling-off period when you cancel, there's hardly any money left."

"And there are many hidden clauses, when you file a claim, they'll find fault with these. That's why they say this doesn't pay, that doesn't pay. Sometimes, it's not the insured intentionally concealing anything."

"When we buy insurance, we just ask how much the premiums are, what illnesses are covered, and how much is compensated. We also hope to live steadily for a lifetime, nobody wants to get seriously ill."

"Basically, regardless of what anyone says, insurance companies are in it for profit. They have actuaries, right? The types of insurance they offer definitely prioritize company interests." Qi Wentai said.

"Commercial insurance currently is an effective supplement to health insurance; for some patients with deficiencies, it can be quite helpful. Health insurance still can't fully cover some medications and equipment costs, leaving a lot for patients to bear."

"We are powerless. Let's just hope the patients don't hide anything from us." Liu Banxia said.

"Today's expenses can't be considered wasted, think of it as a health check-up. Fortunately, there's no serious illness, let him go home and supplement with vitamins in the morning."

"Actually, without us saying, he'll take them daily in the future. Quitting alcohol shouldn't be a problem either—when compared to personal hobbies, life is ultimately more important."

Qi Wentai and Wang Chao smiled; this patient is indeed representative of typical patients.

Clearly cherishing their life but not telling the truth to the doctor, worried it might actually affect insurance claims. Yet, they forgot that all information is helpful for the doctor.

But we shouldn't blame the patient, nor Wentai and Liu Banxia for missing the diagnosis.

When the patient chooses to hide, you can't judge accurately. Even if he wakes up thinking today's examination costs were wasted, Liu Banxia isn't responsible.

"Sigh... Let's just honestly receive the patient. Once this patient finishes the medicine and sleeps, they'll be fine tomorrow morning." Liu Banxia said.

"We do owe it to that patient with aortic dissection from drinking; because of seeing him, the patient's wife got a bit worried, so she told me."

"Otherwise, it'd be a long hassle—even if cerebrospinal fluid tests show no positive results, with the worsening of the patient's leg weakness, we might have to resort to a cycle of shock therapy."

"That's not easy to bear, it's also the patient's luck. They're fortunate and didn't make us worry about them all night."

"Haha, even if worrying, it's your job—you're on duty anyway." Wang Chao laughed and said.

Liu Banxia gave him a helpless look; when it comes to knocking himself down, this guy seems very enthusiastic. Seems like I have to think about it... maybe I'll get a pig trotter from him one day.

Instinctively, Wang Chao sensed something was amiss, yet couldn't quite figure out what.