Chapter 110: Hospital Visit

Gao Yueqiu followed Liu Yunfei into the classroom with a sense of trepidation, beginning her very first English lesson. She was deeply anxious that Liu Yunfei, the school’s infamous troublemaker, would disrupt the class. During the lecture, she found herself glancing at him countless times; although he always appeared absent-minded, Gao did not dare to discipline him, fearing that her first day would end in humiliation.

At that moment, Liu Yunfei was preoccupied with a different concern: how to tell Dong Qianqian the truth. If he spoke up, would he be seen as a despicable snitch? He had always despised such people. Yet, could he just sit by and let Dong Qianqian remain oblivious? If he didn't warn her, and she ended up ruined by Chen Zhiqiang, he would have nowhere to cry. After much deliberation, he decided he had to tell her; if she remained stubborn after that, there would be nothing more he could do.

As the saying goes, one man's meat is another man's poison. While Liu Yunfei was troubled, Gao Yueqiu was unexpectedly in high spirits. The students were surprisingly cooperative with such a beautiful teacher. Liu Yunfei had not listened to a single word of the lecture from start to finish, but he hadn't caused any trouble either, and the class ended smoothly. Out of professional ethics, she hoped to find an opportunity to talk to him later—after all, the student was still salvageable—but not today; she hadn't yet found her footing.

At noon, when school let out, Liu Yunfei drove his flashy Porsche slowly out of the school gates, naturally drawing the gazes of students and teachers alike.

Watching the slowly rotating golden star-shaped wheel hubs, the school’s local bully, Jiang Tao, saw only a massive "fat sheep" before him. Standing 1.85 meters tall, Jiang Tao’s status as the school’s hegemon had been set since his freshman year. It wasn't just because of his size, but because he was a capable fighter with a ruthless streak. Others had challenged his authority in the past, but after one such individual was beaten until he bled profusely and spent three months in a hospital bed, no one dared to defy him, either to his face or behind his back. Of course, the victim had called the police and filed complaints, but to what end? They didn't have his father. Was his father a high-ranking official? No. A wealthy tycoon? Not really. His father was far more formidable: Jiang Mancheng, the boss of the local underworld syndicate, the Four Seas Association. The law-abiding world feared the underworld; this truth held regardless of the society. You are in the light, I am in the shadows; you fear losing your position, I do not fear losing my life. The power dynamic was clear.

The school administration was also headaches over the son of the Four Seas boss, but there was nothing they could do. They only hoped the three years would pass quickly so he would leave. Their requirements for him were simple: hit fewer people, and as long as you don't cripple anyone, even if you fail every subject, we will never hold you back a grade.

However, Jiang Tao’s ambitions were not so simple. He had some pride; his father had a syndicate, so why couldn't he organize one too? He couldn't live off his father’s reputation forever. He wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, carve out his own territory, and build a future where the clouds would part and the masses would follow. In short, Jiang Tao’s mantra was, "One word: beat the hell out of them!"

But the most important foundation for organizing a syndicate was financial backing. Although his family gave him plenty of pocket money, it was nowhere near enough to support a large organization. Besides, using his family’s money would be a loss of face. Not only should he not take a cent, but he should be eating and drinking well, and eventually contributing money to his family—that was what a real man did.

If he didn't pay and his subordinates didn't pay, then who would? Naturally, the "fat sheep" would. The problem was that there were too few wealthy students in the school, and his syndicate was perpetually in a budget deficit. As soon as his senior year began, he told everyone to keep an eye out for freshmen from wealthy backgrounds. To his surprise, his "dog-headed strategist," Zheng Dayong, brought good news that very day.

Jiang Tao valued Zheng Dayong. First, the kid could endure; when he was at a disadvantage, he never fought for temporary gains. Even if someone pointed a finger at his nose, cursed his ancestors, and slapped him twice, he would never explode in anger. Secondly, the kid had endless schemes; nobody knew where he came up with those devious ideas. Whether acting as a scout, a mole, or a strategist, he was capable. How could such a versatile talent not be highly valued?

When Zheng Dayong reported that Liu Yunfei was wealthy, Jiang Tao was skeptical. He knew Liu Yunfei—not as a prominent figure, but he was familiar enough to have spoken to him a few times. He didn't seem like a rich kid. But after seeing him drive the Porsche, Jiang Tao sighed heavily. He had truly misjudged the situation; he had been sitting on a gold mine for two years while begging for food.

However, Zheng Dayong warned him that Liu Yunfei seemed to have powerful connections and that they should test the waters first. Jiang Tao thought it unnecessary. What kind of connections? Even if his father were the Municipal Party Secretary, he wouldn't be afraid. The more these "grandsons" acted like they had connections, the more cowardly they were; one good scare and they’d wet their pants. But as a leader, he decided to respect a reasonable suggestion from a subordinate, lest no one offer ideas in the future.

By now, Liu Yunfei had reached the community office, asked for the hospital ward where Old Dong was staying, and headed straight to the Huangjiang City People's Hospital. Walking into the 22nd Ward of the Cardiology Department, he immediately saw Dong Qianqian’s mother. It turned out Old Dong was on an auxiliary bed in the hallway.

"Auntie, why are you out here? Doesn't the constant foot traffic affect his rest?" Liu Yunfei walked up two steps and set down the fruit. He didn't call her 'Auntie' (in the formal sense) today, but 'Auntie' (in the friendly sense) to sound more intimate. Perhaps it was the medication, but Old Dong’s condition had slightly improved today; he recognized Liu Yunfei and nodded.

"There's nothing we can do. They said there were no beds, and it's peak season for illnesses. It’s disruptive and he can't sleep at night, but what can you do? We were the last to arrive," Dong’s mother said. Seeing Liu Yunfei enter, she became even more certain that he was the one who had paid the bills.

"How long will you have to wait? And there’s no air conditioning out here; it's stiflingly hot."

"It's been a few days. There was a bed open yesterday, but it went to a family that arrived after us. Sigh, we just don't have any connections." Dong’s mother sighed sadly, then suddenly remembered something. "Little Liu, have you eaten yet?"

"I'm not hungry. I have things to take care of right now," Liu Yunfei said mysteriously. Under Dong’s mother’s bewildered gaze, Liu Yunfei stopped a pretty young nurse passing by. Generally, as long as a young nurse didn't have a repulsive face, wasn't too overweight, and wore a snow-white coat with a glimpse of slender legs, they looked quite lovely. "Nurse, are the attending physician and the head nurse in?"

"The attending physician is in the office, right over there. The head nurse went to the cafeteria and will be back soon. Is there anything I can help you with?" The nurse looked at this handsome, sunny, and smiling boy, felt a sense of affinity, and was naturally happy to help.

"Oh, no need, thank you, Nurse."

Although the nurse felt a slight sense of disappointment, that last "Nurse" sounded sweet to her ears. She thought to herself that if she had known this family had such a handsome relative, she would have been gentler and more precise with the old man's injections.

"Auntie, Uncle, is there anything wrong with this? Why don't you come with me to see the doctor? I don't know him." The more he spoke, the closer he acted; Liu Yunfei's mother wouldn't have known she had suddenly gained another sister.

"It's fine, it's fine," Dong’s mother wasn't foolish; she understood why he wanted to see the doctor. She hadn't eaten pork, but she had seen pigs walk. Yet, she felt embarrassed; Liu Yunfei had already spent so much money, and she was already so deeply indebted to him—how would she ever pay it back?

The doctor looked very dedicated, reading professional literature in his office even during his lunch break. However, those in the know understood that he was waiting for the patients' families. As for what he was waiting for, that was anyone's guess.

Seeing the two enter, the doctor first furrowed his brow and, with a heavy heart, described Old Dong’s condition as grim. He said the illness had progressed to such a stage that it was almost terminal, adding that the hospital could only do its best, and the outcome would depend on Old Dong’s "fate." His words left Dong’s mother in tears.

Liu Yunfei knew the doctor had a three-step strategy: First, scare you; second, get close to you; third, ignore you. When dealing with families of patients with urgent conditions, they first scare you, describing the condition in the worst possible light and listing every possible and impossible complication. They make you realize that unless this "white-clad savior" intervenes, you might as well give up. Of course, the savior’s intervention doesn't come for free.

If the family doesn't understand the "rules," the second step, "getting close," begins. They approach you, show concern, and are the first to ask about you when they start their shift. They are kind in tone and intimate in words, sometimes even slipping you small, worthless hospital items. Those who don't understand the situation might think the doctor is the patient's own son. At this point, your conscience should kick in, and you’ll voluntarily offer a "gratitude fee" or "hardship fee."

If that doesn't work, and the patient's family is truly an "iron rooster" that won't shed a single feather, then he’s sorry. Ask about the condition? He ignores you. Ask about the plan? Still ignores you. Ask when the surgery is? He ignores you. If you push him too far, he won't visit the ward for a week just to see if your pockets are truly that tight, so you’ll know that resisting to the end is a dead end.