The air in front of the crowd congealed and twisted under the pale, white incandescent light, casting ghostlike shadows that danced with every movement.
This was not the human realm. This was hell.
Zheng Ren stood in front of the obstetrics chief resident and managed to force a smile, trying but failing to come up with words that could ease the situation.
Even Chang Yue, who had her negotiation and communication skills maxed out, would not be able to persuade these troublemakers.
Meanwhile, Su Yun, who had been trailing behind him, was nowhere to be seen.
That brat had a spider-sense! However, it was good judgment as there was absolutely no point in the both of them getting tortured.
"Hey, who are you?" A middle-aged thug with half a tattoo exposed on his neck approached Zheng Ren and grinned, revealing two rows of yellow teeth in his mouth.
"I'm the surgeon who performed the operation. Please let me know if you have any questions." Zheng Ren could feel the tumultuous thudding of his heartbeat. The warm and sunny world in his dream had long shattered into pieces and vanished into thin air.
"You're brave," said the yellow-toothed, tattooed man as he took out a pack of cigarettes. Another man behind him quickly lit the cigarette with a lighter which had an indiscernible image on it.
Zheng Ren wanted to say that smoking was prohibited in the hospital, but… would it make any difference?
"We'll take the woman away," the yellow-toothed, tattooed man said, "We didn't really want surgery because it was only a small issue, but you guys actually spent almost ten thousand yuan on treatment. Brother, do you think that's reasonable?"
"The blood transfusion alone cost around 3000 yuan, and we've tried to minimize the fee as much as possible." Zheng Ren helplessly tried to defend himself.
Suddenly, there was a commotion behind the crowd.
A glimmer of hope emerged in Zheng Ren's heart. Had Su Yun returned with security guards? Even though the guards lived a miserable life and lacked the courage to confront trouble at crucial moments, their numbers could potentially counter the troublemakers' bl.u.s.ter and make them think twice.
A man in a suit and leather shoes walked over.
Zheng Ren was unsure what brand of hair wax the man was using as his hair remained shiny even in the darkest hour of the morning. That, coupled with his smoothly-ironed suit on his ramrod-straight figure, was awe-inspiring and had a commanding presence.
"Reporter Wei, over here." The one leading the way was not Su Yun but another tattooed man.
A bomb instantly went off in Zheng Ren's head.
Nowadays, reporters were uncrowned kings who ruled over the public opinion.
One time, a reporter had used tea as a urine sample for investigation and was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. The incident was then published, causing an uproar in the press.
How could laypeople understand the complexity of the medical world? Using only a pen, an expert writer could easily manipulate the public's emotions and misdirect their thoughts, inevitably leading to a wild outburst.
Basically, no one read through the article completely, and the only terms that caught their eyes were 'tea', 'urine sample' and 'infection'.
Tea contained bacteria, so what other diagnosis could there have been?
Despite the ridiculousness of the situation, the doctor's license was revoked. The absurd incident not only had a disastrous impact on the hospital's reputation, but was also a prelude to an era of medical disputes…
Meanwhile, the reporter had been promoted and buried in wealth following the increased popularity of his news.
Zheng Ren was stunned. If the troublemakers had been a bunch of thugs, the matter could have been settled in exchange for bruises and wounds on his body. However, the reporter's presence indicated that someone had secretly planned this, and the punishment would not be as easy as mere beatings…
In the worst possible scenario, his medical license would…
Zheng Ren dared not to think about it and asked, "And you are?"
"My name is Wei Feng, a reporter from Sea City Metropolis Daily." The smell of hair wax assailed Zheng Ren's nostrils as Wei Feng approached him.
"..." Zheng Ren sighed internally and remained silent.
"I received a call stating that something was going on here. That's why I came," said Wei Feng plainly, but his expression was solemn as if he were an honorable judge and Zheng Ren a despicable criminal with an unpardonable crime.
"Tell me about the situation." Wei Feng seemed to be quite satisfied with Zheng Ren as the latter seemed like an experienced and reserved doctor, but it also meant that Wei Feng would be forced to come up with more strategies to get what he wanted. However, it would simply be time-consuming and not difficult.
Performance, sales and his glorious exposé of the dark side of society going onto his resume… These things put a smile on his face.
"The situation is very simple." Zheng Ren thought about it and gave a brief narration of the situation very slowly, choosing his words very carefully.
"Do you mean to say that you performed the surgery without family members' consent?" With a notepad and a pen in his hands, Wei Feng quickly jotted down points.
"The family members weren't there! We were unable to locate them during the resuscitation!" The obstetrics chief resident helplessly denied Wei Feng's claim as she could vaguely detect a tinge of malice in his words.
"Okay, got it." Wei Feng made no attempt to record this statement. He then flipped his pen upside down and rhythmically tapped the notepad.
"As for the title, how about Unethical Surgeon Performs Surgery By Force, or maybe Poverty-Stricken Critically-Ill Pregnant Woman's Family Ruined Due To Expensive Treatment?" Wei Feng mumbled while staring at both Zheng Ren and the obstetrics chief resident. The tapping noise, like a drum of doom, seemed to amplify in Zheng Ren's ears.
"You can't do that!" A steady stream of salty tears flowed down the obstetrics chief resident's cheeks.
Chapter 125 - Let Me Handle It
"Can't I?" Wei Feng smirked.
"Reporter Wei, doctors are getting unethical nowadays, and this hospital is charging such an unreasonably high price for simple treatment. Poor people like us can't take it anymore." Despite his attempt to look like a farmer, the exposed tattoo on the yellow-toothed, inked man's body clearly stated otherwise.
"Let's go somewhere quiet for me to record your story." Wei Feng smiled and added, "After all, I've to listen to both sides to ensure that my report is unbiased and fair."
Zheng Ren stared coldly at Reporter Wei, who was declaring black to be white.
As a doctor, curing disease and saving lives were his fields of expertise, not debates or wars of words.
As Wei Feng pocketed his notepad and left, Zheng Ren felt an encroaching darkness stretch out and threaten to engulf his future.
The use of tea as a urine sample was many years ago, and most people did not have the faintest idea what had happened at the time, but its repercussions had ripples to this day.
A few years ago, a woman's anus had been sutured during episiotomy repair after childbirth. The incident had been reported by a large newspaper and its effects had been catastrophic. Even though it was confirmed to be fake news, the reporter did not apologize for his mistake and worse, the medical staff involved had been the ones to bear the consequences in the end.
This had induced panic in the nationwide medical field, especially the emergency and pediatrics departments, and many large hospitals had thus stopped their pediatrics departments from operating at night.
The troublemakers responsible for distorting the truth would never assume all this to be their doing. Perhaps a few of them did, but who among them cared, anyway?
Just like today, once it was determined that the doctors were guilty of dereliction of duty for performing surgery on a patient who did not need it and charged a high price afterward…
Zheng Ren desperately wanted to
drag them by their collars and let them have a good look at the pools of dark red blood splattered all over the stretcher trolley in the resuscitation room and the operating table in the interventional radiology suite.
Surgery was 'not required'?
The woman would have died in ten to twenty minutes if she had been left unattended.
However, who gave a damn about the truth?
The family merely wanted their medical expenses waived and a high compensation from the hospital.
The reporter only cared about fame and promotions.
The people willing to treat disease under radiation and risk their lives to save another were merely an insignificant speck of dust in their eyes.
Watching Wei Feng slowly vanish into the distance, Zheng Ren's pupils contracted and everything turned to black and white.
Reporter Wei had clearly expressed his views in front of him.
It was difficult to sell news of doctors successfully treating illnesses and saving lives in today's world, but indiscriminately performing surgery with sky-high medical charges? That was breaking news.
What would the man choose? Zheng Ren could guess even if he were to count off his fingers.
"Ding!" The elevator rang, and at the same time, a dozen burly brutes emerged from the fire escape.
Huh? They looked familiar, and Zheng Ren… seemed to recognize the leader of the group…
He was Little Six, the one with whom he had had supper at a food skewer stall last time.
Behind the crowd stood a listless figure: Su Yun.
"What do you want?" His path was blocked by a group of beefy ruffians, Reporter Wei lost his earlier sense of superiority and instantly became nervous.
"What, is this your house?" asked Little Six as he gazed at the man contemptuously.
"..." Little Six's aggression alongside the dozen brutes in black suits behind him had an absolutely overwhelming aura that left Reporter Wei speechless.
The many men who looked out of place among the patient's family members quickly backed off in terror as soon as they saw Little Six. They looked as if they wanted the earth to open up and swallow them whole.
Reporter Wei gave them a hateful glare and left the scene in a hurry.
"Brother Zheng, are you alright?" Little Six asked out of concern, approaching Zheng Ren.
"I am now," replied Zheng Ren with a bitter smile.
In order to not make matters worse, Little Six summoned the yellow-toothed, tattooed man to the fire escape and asked about the situation.
Soon, the professional troublemakers had disappeared without a trace, leaving only a few family members who had been blinded by greed.
"Brother Zheng, this is a difficult issue to deal with," said Little Six, embarrassed.
"Let us talk in my office." Zheng Ren preferred not to discuss this matter in front of the troublemakers.
Little Six put a few men on guard duty in the obstetrics department to prevent the patient's family members from harming medical staff. Then, he followed Zheng Ren to the office in the emergency department.
Su Yun trailed behind them with his head lowered and his footsteps light, as if he was sleepwalking.
"Brother Zheng, honestly, this is troublesome," said Little Six as soon as he entered the office and closed the door.
"How troublesome?" Zheng Ren was also aware of the magnitude of their situation, and he wanted to hear Little Six's judgement.
"The troublemakers alone don't pose any threat," Little Six said, "However, I hadn't expected them to have connections with the newspapers or even invite a reporter to the scene."
Zheng Ren sighed heavily.
"Had this happened a few years ago, you'd not need to pay them much mind. Just shoot them a glare, give them a red packet, and everything would be settled, but now…" Little Six looked helpless.
Zheng Ren recalled the slogan—crime prevention is everyone's responsibility!—that Little Six had shown him the day he had accepted Bu Li's invitation for dinner.
However, calling the police would be pointless in this case.
After noticing Zheng Ren's dejected, sunken expression, Little Six immediately added, "I'll visit the newspaper office tomorrow and see if I can find anyone to talk this over with."
Zheng Ren thought about it and smiled.
Little Six was taken by surprise. What happened to Doctor Zheng? Had he lost his mind due to tremendous stress?
"I used to hate socializing. How dull it is to share nonsense with a bunch of boring people and pretend to be best friends for life…" Zheng Ren continued to smile and said, "Let me handle it this time."
Little Six lowered his gaze in response. He had intended to propose an option to Zheng Ren.
There was an easier method to settle this issue—seeking help from either Miss Bu or Elder San, both of whom had high social statuses. The medical staff was in the right this time, but even in an unreasonable situation, they still held the power to turn the tides.
"In that case, we have no choice but to wait. I'll make a phone call as soon as the sun rises." Zheng Ren stretched himself lazily.
Even though it was already past five o'clock in the morning, the winter sky was still as dark as coal outside the window.
Like a black hole, consuming all light.
Before taking his leave, Little Six repeatedly advised Zheng Ren to call him without hesitation in case of trouble.
Zheng Ren returned to the on-call room after seeing Little Six out. Laying on the bed with his hands underneath his head, he stared at the inky darkness outside, waiting for dawn to come.
That was all he could do right now.
Fortunately, it was just a small local newspaper instead of a large firm. Not everything was lost yet.
"I left Imperial Capital because of this." Su Yun brushed his black bangs aside. "We'll always meet this type of people in the medical field. Hey, I think you're doomed this time, so let us establish a pet medical center together."
Zheng Ren ignored Su Yun, who was just blathering.
"How did you find him?" asked Zheng Ren absent-mindedly.
"Xie Yiren has his phone number. She gave it to me a few days ago and told me to call it if trouble arose," Su Yun said lazily, "I didn't expect a blockhead like you to also have good social connections."
"This isn't actually a problematic issue. I think Chief Physician Pan can easily settle it."
"You can't always trouble an old comrade either."
Chapter 126 - Zombies in Doomsday?
The sky gradually brightened.
Sea City General Hospital welcomed another hectic day as usual. The sadness, anxiety, exasperation and helplessness of the previous night had been nothing but an interlude. No one remembered it except the few who had been involved directly.
When Old Chief Physician Pan arrived at his office, Zheng Ren approached him and recounted the events of last night.
Old Chief Physician Pan acclimatized to social change after being demobilized for more than thirty years. Apart from the fire that still burned within him, his attitude was not very different from that of an ordinary senior consultant.
Zheng Ren's report made him think for a long time.
He failed to come up with a better solution, and so the only option was to take it one step at a time.
There were no problems with the path Zheng Ren had chosen. Old Chief Physician Pan was worldly enough to understand that it was effective, but should only be used as a last resort.
Perturbed, Old Chief Physician Pan also gave Elder San a phone call.
He cut straight to the point when the call connected.
Since Zheng Ren had called Elder San an hour ago, it would be hypocritical for Old Chief Physician Pan to stand on ceremony. Moreover, from his seemingly close relationship with Elder San, there was no need for formalities in the first place.
A hearty laughter came from the other end. Elder San was an elegant man with a soft voice, so Zheng Ren had no clue what had transpired between him
and Old Chief Physician Pan.
After chatting for a while, Old Chief Physician Pan hung up with a smile.
"It's done," Old Chief Physician Pan said. "The young man wants a promotion in a small newspaper office. Elder San already had some discussion with related personnel."
"Okay." Zheng Ren nodded, stupefied.
"Besides, we have evidence, so they can't cause trouble anymore. Don't worry." Old Chief Physician Pan comforted Zheng Ren.
Zheng Ren did not care about evidence. Would it be useful in medical disputes?
He was still unhappy even though damage had been minimized.
The Snake and The Farmer, one of Aesop's fables, was a constant reminder that similar situations would always repeat themselves, and sometimes, he felt the titular farmer mirrored in himself..
Zheng Ren's goodwill led him to never choose to be the snake.
However, being the farmer did not appeal to him much, either.
A blacklist of unreasonable troublemakers restricting them from consultation under the normal healthcare insurance system had been advocated in the medical field for a long time.
However, that was merely wishful thinking among resentful doctors. Zheng Ren could guarantee that the official implementation of such a system would earn the medical industry instantaneous public disgust.
It was enough for an ordinary surgeon like him to do his duty well; as for everything else… There was nothing he could do about them.
Seeing Zheng Ren's gloom, Old Chief Physician Pan tapped his shoulder and smiled. "You are such an open book. Relax, this is just a minor issue."
Zheng Ren responded with a bitter smile.
"Let's go on a ward round." Old Chief Physician Pan knew that consolation would be pointless right now. It was better to maintain a regular work schedule and allow time to heal the wound in Zheng Ren's heart.
They called up the doctors on duty and began the ward round. The patients of the emergency observation unit were not critical; at least one-third of them were victims waiting for compensation from other parties or those that had been involved in fistfights or traffic collisions.
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