By noon, all forty patients had been examined.
A few who were especially poor, elderly, or from the countryside weren't charged; the rest each paid 50 yuan.
After the crowd dispersed, Jiang Yan quickly counted the money.
Cash plus mobile payments came to a total of 1,600 yuan.
"My god!" Lin Feng was thrilled. "1,600 yuan! That's not just revenue, that's pure profit!"
Jiang Yan's smile blossomed. She stuffed the thick wad into Lin Feng's hand and tugged his ear playfully. "Baby, you really have a gift!"
Lin Feng hurriedly pushed the money back. "I still owe you five thousand. You keep it."
She slapped him lightly, yanked open his shirt, and stuffed the bills into his pocket. "Don't you dare mention that five thousand again! Your father's treatment is what matters! You must save enough for surgery at a major hospital. If you only rely on medicine to drag things out, the consequences will be unbearable!"
Lin Feng froze.
Yes—two years ago the doctors had wanted his father hospitalized for surgery, but the family couldn't scrape together the 150,000 yuan required. They'd only managed with drugs. If he could save the surgery fee, his father would be completely saved!
This burden had pressed on Lin Feng's heart like a millstone.
Now, finally, there was hope.
At today's rate, in less than three months, the money could be raised.
Night fell over the Fu residence.
Fu Kangwei half reclined on his bed.
Pain throbbed from his arm and groin, drawing grimaces.
Comminuted fracture: forty-two fragments. Impossible to set them all.
His arm was useless. And that other part… doctors said it would never recover.
He hadn't expected it. After a lifetime of arrogance—slapping and humiliating countless underlings—he was ruined by a lowly orderly!
And he couldn't even report it. Attempted assault would send him to prison first.
Still, vengeance would come.
Lin Feng—so long as you remain in Bincheng, I'll one day tear you to pieces!
"Director!"
The personnel chief entered nervously.
Fu Kangwei snorted. "Have you found out about Lin Feng?"
"Yes, Director." The man bent at the bedside, one knee down, hands clutching the IV stand. "I found out."
"Speak!"
"As you predicted—Lin Feng and Jiang Yan are involved!"
"Damn!"
Fu Kangwei slapped the sheets.
That plump duck, Jiang Yan—I never got her, and Lin Feng has been feasting on her!
I put in so much effort—yet that widow never yielded, always refused me.
I thought her virtuous. Turns out she was already rolling with Lin Feng!
"Where is he?" Fu Kangwei ground his teeth.
"Lin Feng and Jiang Yan have taken over Jiangnan Clinic."
"What? Jiangnan Clinic! That old coffin Jiang just died, and Lin Feng wants to run it? Damn, can't this clinic's mole be burned off?"
The personnel chief bowed low. "Director, don't be angry. Anger will slow your healing. We're worried about you."
"Cut the crap. What's your plan?"
"Same old rule—within a kilometer of Baikang, no clinic survives. Don't worry, I'll take men and smash it tonight."
Fu Kangwei waved weakly. "No. Tonight is pointless. In the dark, it has no impact. To intimidate, we strike tomorrow morning, when they open."
"Director, you're wise!"
"Remember—make it thorough. Not half-done so they reopen in days. I want it destroyed completely."
"Understood. Leave it to me."
Fu Kangwei thought, then added: "Lin Feng has Iron-Sand Finger, very powerful. Bring more men. And don't hurt Jiang Yan."
"Of course. Head Nurse Liu must be kept… for you. Heh heh."
Fu Kangwei sighed, staring at the ceiling. "That woman… I've had many, but never such a tempting one. Jiang Yan—even crippled, I'll still ruin you…"
Lin Feng and Jiang Yan returned home, excitement lingering. It was late, so Jiang Yan ordered two dishes from a restaurant, opened a bottle of Moutai given by a patient, and they drank together.
Her fair skin flushed rosy from the wine, two crimson clouds on her cheeks, making her limpid willow eyes shimmer with a charm that rattled the heart.
A beauty like a painting—Lin Feng stared, forgetting his drink.
"What are you staring at!" Jiang Yan tapped his glass with her chopsticks. "If you burn a hole in me with your eyes, what then? Didn't we agree to be siblings? What brother looks at his sister like that?"
Embarrassed, Lin Feng dropped his gaze, sipped. "Sister Yan, if only you were really my sister."
She smiled faintly, eyes deep and tender. "As a sister, then you could do as you please, right?"
"No, no! I really see you as family. Even though you're so beautiful, I never dared think that way!"
"Not even once?"
"N-no. Never."
"Good." Her tone dimmed, her gaze grew dull. "You're handsome, a medical graduate, with a bright future. One day you'll meet a fine girl, maybe even be chosen by a rich heiress, married into her family. I don't want to hold you back."
Lin Feng froze.
A bitter taste rose in his throat.
So that's what she thought!
No wonder she kept her distance.
"Xiaofeng, I don't want you to misunderstand. Maybe you've wondered why I treat you so well? Tonight, with the help of wine, I'll tell the truth. That day you donated blood to Miss Lin, I thought—Lin Feng is such a rare good man. If I didn't help you, I'd despise myself. That's all."
Lin Feng's heart chilled.Disappointment crashed over him.