Chapter 133: What Exactly Are You Here For?

"It was the parents of that young man," Di Wei said in a muffled voice. "They kept pestering my mentor, demanding to know exactly what illness their son had. My mentor told them it was caused by HPV, but they didn't understand and kept badgering him. In the end, he had no choice but to tell them plainly that their son had a sexually transmitted disease. The result? My mentor ended up with four teeth knocked out and a concussion. Doctors are supposed to be angels, right? Ha! Who treats angels like that? Demons from hell?"

Silence fell over the room.

Di Wei continued, "Now I’ve been suspended pending an investigation, and years of hard work have gone down the drain. But what’s the point of investigating me? Why did Zhou Chun approach me? Isn't it just to get his medical equipment into the Municipal Hospital? He’s a mere ER doctor; he clearly wanted to use me to sway my father. But what kind of man is my father? He’s the 'golden signboard' of the Municipal Hospital, yet his annual income doesn't even hit a million. Don't think that's a small amount; he’s spent his whole life at the hospital, and his skills are legendary. If he wanted to, he could easily add a zero to that! Plus, the money he donates every year is an astronomical figure. How could he ever let substandard photon knives into the hospital for the sake of money?"

Yang Meng smirked. "By your account, your old man has lived his life as a 'saint.' Tsk tsk, I never thought that annoying little old man had such a halo. So, you're actually a little 'rich second generation' yourself."

Di Wei replied, speechless, "Watch your mouth! He’s my father, after all." He shook his head. "Fine, you’re right. Sometimes I feel like my dad and his old friends are living like 'saints,' but they can't impose their own moral standards on their children, can they? They’re old and don't have many demands on life, but what about us? We need to buy homes, cars, get married, and have kids! You call me a 'rich second generation'? Let me put it this way: if my dad really died, I’d believe he donated every penny he owned. But leave me a massive inheritance? I’d never believe that, even if I died!"

Yang Meng and the others burst into laughter. Yang Meng pointed at Di Wei and said, "Buddy, you told me to watch my mouth, but your tongue is sharper than mine! You're already cursing your own father to death?"

Di Wei shrugged. "He's my father; I can complain, but you can't. Let me tell you, I’ve got it easy compared to a friend of mine. Mr. Yang, you might even know him."

"Who? I know him?" Yang Meng asked, puzzled.

Di Wei nodded. "Didn't you say you know Director Pan?"

Yang Meng replied, "Pan Anguo, right?"

"The friend I'm talking about is Director Pan's son. He's three years older than me and another 'second-generation doctor.' He followed in his father's footsteps. Since Uncle Pan is a master of orthopedics, my friend is also in orthopedics at our hospital. He’s already been promoted to associate chief physician," Di Wei said.

Yang Meng was surprised. "An associate chief physician that young? No wonder he's the director's son!"

Di Wei curled his lip. "Don't think like that. My friend inherited Uncle Pan's true skills; he’s practically the backbone of the orthopedic department at the Municipal Hospital now."

Yang Meng asked, "Then why is he unlucky? By your account, an associate chief physician should have no problem earning four or five hundred thousand a year, right? And being in orthopedics, he’s a big shot—a million-a-year salary shouldn't be out of the question, right?"

Di Wei gave a bitter laugh. "Theoretically, yes. But he’s Uncle Pan's son. Uncle Pan is the director; he knows exactly how much his son earns. Every payday is a day of mourning for my friend—the money basically just passes through his hands!"

"What do you mean?" Yang Meng asked.

Di Wei explained, "I mentioned earlier that every department in our hospital has a fund for patients who can't pay their bills. My friend is the biggest donor to the orthopedic fund! Uncle Pan donates everything my friend earns beyond his basic salary, subsidies, surgery fees, and overtime. And there you have it: a dignified associate chief physician bringing in less than twenty thousand a month. He’s the lowest-paid orthopedic associate chief physician in any provincial-level Grade A hospital in the country—bar none!"

Yang Meng whistled. Was over ten thousand really low?

The answer was: It was damn low!

Five years of undergraduate study, three years for a master's, two more for a doctorate—how many decades does a person have in their life? Add in the clinical training, and after finally struggling to become an associate chief physician, you can't make any money? That’s tragic.

"Doesn't he rebel?" Yang Meng asked.

Di Wei shook his head. "Rebel against what? Uncle Pan says, 'I sent you to medical school not to make money, but to have enough to eat and drink!' My friend is a dutiful son, so he just bears it. Now, he spends every day hoping Uncle Pan retires. You see, my dad and his friends are all 'saints' with high standards and high morals, but shouldn't they consider those of us with lower enlightenment?"

Yang Meng laughed. "You should be telling them that, not us."

"What's the point of telling them?" Di Wei muttered. "What can you do when you're stuck with a dad like that? If anyone else said that to me, I could call them out for standing on a moral high ground and spouting nonsense, but they actually live by those standards. What can we do? We can't just swap fathers, can we?"

"You can't swap fathers, but you can swap hospitals!" Long Teng suggested.

Di Wei shook his head. "If I could, I would have! You underestimate the influence of these old men. We’re all like the Monkey King in the palm of Buddha—we can't escape their reach! Our biggest hope now is that they retire soon. Sigh, I don't even have to worry about that anymore. With this suspension, who knows what will happen when I go back? I don't even dare to answer my dad's calls! The moment the suspension notice came out, he was roaming the hospital with a stick, swearing he'd break my legs!"

Duan Bowen smiled. "Dr. Di, don't worry about that. Uncle Long called Director Pan to ask for a doctor, and Director Pan recommended you directly. They might be strict, but they still care about you deep down."

Long Teng added, "If things are so miserable at the hospital, just come work for me. Longyun Fitness has its own medical department. You're an ER doctor, and we deal with emergencies all the time; you'd be a perfect fit! The pay would definitely be much better than at the hospital. Of course, it’s not a state-sponsored position, so I have to attract people with high salaries."

Duan Bowen chimed in, "I don't think that's an issue. It’s a foregone conclusion that public hospitals and universities above the county level will eventually abolish state-sponsored positions. Some places have already started, so that shouldn't be a reason for Dr. Di to hesitate. Just stay here, Dr. Di!"

Di Wei hesitated. He had to admit, he was tempted.

Yang Meng cleared his throat. "I say, Dr. Di, what did you come here for today?" Only then did everyone remember that Di Wei had come to treat Yang Meng. But upon arrival, he’d been busy treating Long Teng and Bai Ze. The conversation had become so engaging that they’d all forgotten the original purpose of his visit!

Di Wei finally snapped back to reality. He had come to treat Yang Meng! He’d been here for ages just chatting and had completely forgotten.

He looked Yang Meng up and down. "When I arrived, Uncle Pan told me you had multiple fractures, but looking at you now, you don't look like someone with broken bones."

Yang Meng pointed to himself. "I do have multiple fractures. I’m just someone who knows how to grit his teeth!"

Di Wei laughed. "Mr. Yang, stop teasing me, will you? Fracture patients don't act the way you are right now."

Yang Meng replied, "Just check me and see!"

Di Wei walked over to Yang Meng. "Where do you think you have fractures?"

Yang Meng thought for a moment. "My guess is at least seven or eight places. My right arm is definitely broken."

Di Wei watched as Yang Meng moved his right arm—the one holding a cigarette—with ease. It didn't look like a fracture at all.

However, displaying professional courtesy, he said, "Would you mind taking off your shirt? Let me examine you!"

Yang Meng stripped off his cycling jersey and undershirt, extending his arm toward Di Wei.

Di Wei whistled. "I really hate dealing with you people. You all strip to the waist at the drop of a hat. Is it just to show off your muscles? Eight-pack abs, big deal! I have those too!"

Yang Meng grinned. "Look at you. Who doesn't have abs? I have a buddy named Lobster—he’s over two hundred pounds and he has two 'packs' too... one on top and one on the bottom."

Di Wei grabbed Yang Meng's arm. "I really don't know how you people train! Let me take a look... Hmm? Subcutaneous bleeding? Localized swelling with purplish discoloration..." He tapped several spots on Yang Meng's arm with his knuckles, his expression suddenly turning grave.

Seeing this, Duan Bowen asked urgently, "Dr. Di, is there something wrong with Mr. Yang?"

Di Wei nodded, his face serious. "Mr. Yang really does have fractures. This must be incredibly painful! But based on his behavior, you can't tell at all. Mr. Yang's ability to endure pain is beyond my imagination!"

He began to observe Yang Meng's body, noticing subcutaneous bleeding in multiple areas. Upon closer inspection, he realized there were far more than seven or eight fractures. How had he managed to keep going?

Long Teng asked, puzzled, "Master, how did you get injured?"

Yang Meng sighed. "Do you even have to ask? I got beaten up!"

"What?" Long Teng and Bai Ze exclaimed in unison.

"Someone beat you into this state? How long did you fight for?" Bai Ze asked.

Yang Meng held up one finger. "He used only one move to make me look like this!"

"Hiss." Long Teng and Bai Ze both gasped. They looked at Yang Meng, realizing he wasn't joking. My god! Was there really someone that powerful in the world?

Finally, Long Teng asked the question weighing on his mind: "Master, give it to me straight—did you go and have a fight with a Tyrannosaurus Rex?"