Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sound of foreheads hitting the floor echoed continuously, each impact sharp and jarring. The onlookers, who had been chattering noisily, fell silent, their eyes moist with emotion.
Whether they were patients or staff at Jiang’s clinic, everyone was deeply moved by the scene.
Jiang Fei had always enjoyed being in the spotlight and receiving admiration.
But now, as he watched the two men kowtowing to him, his smile faded, and he quickly stepped forward to stop them. The two men resisted, wanting to continue expressing their gratitude, but Jiang Fei’s grip on their shoulders was firm. Despite their strength, they couldn’t break free.
Jiang Fei’s character level had increased twice, and although he had never specifically added points to his strength attribute, each level-up automatically increased his strength by 0.2. Now, with a strength attribute of 1.6, he was 1.6 times stronger than the average adult man. Combined with his mastery of Tai Chi, which excelled at using softness to overcome hardness, Jiang Fei had no trouble holding back the two burly men.
“Dr. Jiang, please let us kowtow a few more times! If it weren’t for you, our father wouldn’t have made it!” The two men, who usually looked fierce and intimidating, now had red, swollen foreheads and tears in their eyes. Their gratitude was genuine and overwhelming.
“Men don’t cry easily, but when they do, it’s because they’ve reached their breaking point.”
Even the toughest men have their moments of vulnerability.
The old man, too, was crying, his voice trembling as he said, “Dr. Jiang, let them kowtow. This is our way of thanking you for your great kindness. We have no other way to repay you.”
Jiang Fei shook his head. “There’s no need for this. As a doctor, saving lives is my duty. I only did what I should have done. You don’t need to thank me like this.”
“No, no,” the old man insisted, shaking his head weakly. He looked like he might collapse at any moment, so his sons quickly helped him sit down. “We’ve been to so many hospitals, seen so many doctors. Only you, Dr. Jiang, didn’t look down on me. Only you treated me with your full heart. You’re a good man, a truly great man!”
Normally, Jiang Fei would have been thrilled to hear such praise and gratitude. But now, his heart felt heavy.
He had only done what he believed was his duty as a doctor, yet the patient and his family were so moved. It was a bittersweet realization.
In today’s society, medical ethics seemed to be a foreign concept to many doctors. Doctors looking down on patients, like Liu Zhihong had done earlier, was not uncommon. It was a sad reflection of the times, much like the discrimination faced by migrant workers in cities.
The old man’s condition, while serious, wasn’t untreatable. If the top-tier hospitals and expert professors had been willing to take on his case, the success rate of surgery would have been decent.
But the three of them had been turned away everywhere they went.
The reasons were likely twofold: the complexity of the old man’s condition and his unbearable stench, but also their apparent lack of wealth. They couldn’t afford the exorbitant costs.
The government had been trying to improve healthcare, but as a doctor who had worked in a large hospital, Jiang Fei knew all too well the hidden flaws in the system…
If the old man had been wealthy or a high-ranking official, doctors would have been falling over themselves to treat him, no matter how foul he smelled.
“All men are born free and equal; there is no distinction between high and low, noble and humble—everyone is equal.” Are you dreaming?
If the old man hadn’t met Jiang Fei today, he would have likely gone home to die.
Jiang Fei didn’t know how to explain or comment on this. Instead, he changed the subject. “Old sir, where are you staying now?”
The three of them looked embarrassed. Dunzhu, the braided son, awkwardly replied, “We stayed at a small inn on Half Street last night. But this morning, the landlady kicked us out…”
He didn’t need to explain why. The reason was obvious: the landlady had discovered that her inn was housing a “human stink bomb,” which was bad for business.
The old man said, “It’s fine. I feel much better now. I’m even starting to feel hungry. Dr. Jiang, you must have cured me. We can go home today.”
Jiang Fei shook his head.
The old man’s illness was caused by malignant tumors rapidly expanding, leading to insufficient blood supply and toxin leakage, which blocked his meridians and caused his abdomen to swell. Over time, parts of his body had begun to necrotize and ulcerate. The tumors had suppressed his immune system, making his skin prone to infections.
The bacteria decomposing the necrotic tissue released foul-smelling gases, causing the rashes to rupture and ooze pus, emitting a terrible stench.
Jiang Fei had used the “Qi Lifting Technique” and the “Qi Retention Technique” from the Divine Needle Eight Methods, inserting dozens of needles to stimulate the old man’s digestive system and expel the toxins through vomiting and diarrhea.
Now that the toxins were out, the old man’s life was no longer in immediate danger. But his body was too weak from the ordeal. If he didn’t receive proper care to replenish his energy and strengthen his foundation, he wouldn’t last long.
The best approach was for Jiang Fei to continue acupuncture treatments weekly to help him recover.
“Dr. Jiang, is there still something wrong with my father’s condition?” Dunzhu asked anxiously, sensing Jiang Fei’s concern.
Jiang Fei nodded. “The old man’s illness is under control. Any remaining toxins will be expelled over the next few days. But his body is too weak now. He needs to replenish his energy. I’ll need to perform acupuncture on him occasionally in the future, or he won’t fully recover. Also, the rashes on his body will take at least three months to completely heal.”
“What… what should we do?” Dunzhu asked after a long silence, his voice low.
The old man and Sangzhu also looked worried.
Jiang Fei smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry about accommodation. Haven’t you noticed? The old man’s smell has already lessened. It will continue to fade, and in a week or two, it’ll be completely gone. Also, you’ll need to stay in Jin City for a while. You can rent a place instead of staying in an inn.”
Despite Jiang Fei’s words, the three of them didn’t look relieved.
Accommodation wasn’t the main issue. The problem was the cost of three months of treatment. They had already spent a fortune traveling to various places, and now they were down to just a few thousand yuan. While they could survive in Jin City for three months by living frugally, the medical expenses were another matter.
They hadn’t even paid Jiang Fei for today’s treatment yet!
In their eyes, the little money they had wouldn’t even cover Jiang Fei’s fees. Acupuncture was expensive, and someone of Jiang Fei’s caliber would charge a premium. They hadn’t even dared to ask about the cost earlier.
And now… three more months of treatment?
“Dr. Jiang… may I ask how much it will cost to treat my condition and heal the rashes?” the old man asked hesitantly, adding, “We can use cheaper medicine if necessary.”
Jiang Fei understood their concern and smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry. The medicine to replenish your energy isn’t expensive. I’m not talking about ginseng or lingzhi mushrooms.”
He sat down at Wang Xueyi’s desk, picked up a pen, and quickly wrote out a prescription. After reviewing it, he said, “The medicine on this prescription, even if taken for three months, will cost no more than a thousand yuan.”
Hearing this, the three of them visibly relaxed.
“And… how much is your consultation fee?” the old man asked, bracing himself for the answer. He was prepared to sell everything they owned—their hundreds of sheep and cattle—to pay Jiang Fei’s fees.
Such a good doctor deserved every penny!
