Chapter 77: Are You Playing Good Cop, Bad Cop?

“Mom, was that Director Di from the Municipal Hospital just now?” Lu Xin asked Ma Fengying with curiosity—after he had ‘sincerely’ apologized to Yang Meng, Ma Fengying had allowed him to get up.

Ma Fengying shook her head. “How would I know? You should ask your Uncle Yang!”

Lu Xin glanced over at Yang Meng, who was wiping down a motorcycle with a conflicted expression. Eventually, Lu Xin walked over and asked, “Uncle Yang, was the man who came in just now really Director Di from the Municipal Hospital?”

Yang Meng looked up. “Not bad, kid. You’ve just arrived in Handong City and already know people?”

Lu Xin replied with a hint of pride, “I do well in school, and now I’m interning at a multinational corporation connected to hospitals. Of course I know a few things.”

Yang Meng shook his head and continued wiping the bike. “Multinational, huh? In the end, you either sell medicine or medical equipment.”

Lu Xin opened his mouth to refute, but realized he couldn’t. He asked instead, “How did you know?”

Yang Meng shrugged. “There are lots of industries that deal with hospitals, but if it’s got ‘multinational’ in the name, it’s either pharmaceuticals or equipment. Which are you selling?”

Lu Xin answered, “Medical equipment.”

Yang Meng nodded. “No wonder you know that old fellow. Yes, that was Di Shouye. What, you here this time to schmooze him?”

Lu Xin dragged over a small stool and sat beside Yang Meng. “Exactly. Listen, our company has developed a photon knife that’s currently leading the world in technology. Its effect on tumors is outstanding. With this device, tumor patients can avoid surgery altogether—especially those with brain tumors, no need for a craniotomy! It’s a real blessing for patients. But lately, I don’t know what’s going on with the hospital leadership; we haven’t been able to meet any of them, and suddenly he comes looking for you?”

Yang Meng replied, “The hospital leadership? If I’m not mistaken, Pan Anguo and Xuan Shiying are probably holed up in the lab, leaving errands to Di Shouye. That’s why he came to me.”

Lu Xin’s eyes lit up. “Uncle Yang, could you introduce me to Director Di?”

Yang Meng shook his head. “I’m already trying to avoid him, not a chance!”

Lu Xin rushed to say, “Uncle Yang, if this works out, I’ll get at least a five-figure commission. That would make things easier for my mom! Please, just do it for her sake? I want her to be happy too, to feel proud that her son can provide for her. And if we crack the Municipal Hospital, that opens up the whole Handong market! I’d make sure my mother lives well!”

Yang Meng thought for a moment, tossed the rag into the basin, and stood up. “Let me see the manual for that photon knife of yours.”

“Huh?” Lu Xin was taken aback. “Why would you want to see that? It’s all in English.”

Yang Meng shot him a look. “Just because you can’t understand it doesn’t mean I can’t! Go get it!”

Lu Xin stared at Yang Meng for a moment, then dashed back to his room without another word. Damn, acting all high and mighty! That manual is packed with specialized medical terminology—even I, a proper university student, can barely make sense of it. How could he?

The manual wasn’t just a few sheets of paper; it was thick, like a dictionary. Lu Xin handed it to Yang Meng, half expecting to see him make a fool of himself. In fact, the moment Yang Meng picked up the manual, Lu Xin felt like laughing. Who reads a book like that? Ten lines at a glance? Yang Meng was more like a page at a glance! He looked so serious too, as if he actually understood.

“Xiao Yang, dinner’s ready!” Ma Fengying called out.

Yang Meng carried the manual into Ma Fengying’s room. Four dishes and a soup—quite a spread. Sister Ma’s cooking was indeed something to praise, but Yang Meng kept his head down, reading the manual as he ate.

Ma Fengying said, “Xiao Yang, eat first, or it’ll go cold and won’t taste good!”

Yang Meng didn’t look up. “Let me finish this manual. Almost done!”

Ma Fengying laughed. “Is that really reading? I can’t flip through a book that fast!”

Yang Meng didn’t explain, simply kept turning the pages. After a while, he handed the manual back to Lu Xin. “I can’t help you with this.”

“Why not?” Lu Xin stared in disbelief.

Ma Fengying asked curiously, “What are you two up to? Lu Xin, what do you need your Uncle Yang’s help with?”

Lu Xin explained, “Our company launched an advanced radiotherapy machine. I wanted Uncle Yang to introduce me to Director Di, but he won’t help. Mom, this could really benefit patients! With this machine, many cancer patients wouldn’t need surgery. And if this works out, it would really help my internship evaluation!”

“Is that so?” Ma Fengying tilted her head at Yang Meng. “Xiao Yang, I know Lu Xin upset you earlier, but for my sake, please don’t hold it against him. This concerns his future…”

Yang Meng gave a wry smile. “Sister Ma, do you really think I’m that petty?”

Ma Fengying realized her slip. “Xiao Yang, I’m not good with words. I just care too much. If it’s inconvenient for you, forget it.”

Lu Xin interjected, “Director Di clearly needs something from him. What’s wrong with asking for an introduction? You want money, right? Fine, I’ll contact my boss right now. After it’s done, you’ll get a commission too, okay?”

Ma Fengying frowned at Lu Xin. “Son, is that any way to talk to your Uncle Yang?”

Lu Xin persisted, “Mom, if this goes through, the commission’s big. I want to use that money to give you a good life! For him, it’s just a small favor, yet he won’t help! What’s your problem, Yang? Are you jealous, don’t want to see us leave this place?”

Ma Fengying’s face grew anxious. “Son! Apologize to your Uncle Yang, now! If he’s not helping, he must have his reasons. Didn’t you see he just shut the door in Director Di’s face? He must have his difficulties.”

Yang Meng took a deep breath. “Sister Ma, are you playing good cop, bad cop with me? Forget it, you don’t need to try that. Lu Xin, listen carefully. The reason I won’t help you is because your so-called new machine is a scam!”

“What?” Lu Xin shot to his feet, slapping the table. “That’s nonsense!”

Yang Meng shook his head. “It’s not nonsense. From what you said, your photon knife sounds like a cancer cure-all. But the truth is, the radiation dose it delivers isn’t enough to kill tumors. Your so-called ‘new’ just refers to using 204 radiation sources, and still relies on traditional gamma ray irradiation. The gamma rays themselves are nothing special. Using this machine to treat tumor patients? It might work for stage one or early stage two, and even then, results depend on the patient. For mid-to-late stage two or stage three, the best you can say is ‘maybe’ it’ll help. It’s no different from conventional photon knife devices. Yet your machine costs fifty percent more than similar products! How could I help you?”

Ma Fengying and her son were dumbstruck. After a moment, she asked, “Xiao Yang, how do you know all that?”

Yang Meng pointed to the manual on the table. “All the specs are written there. It’s obvious if you look.”

Lu Xin stared. “Who are you kidding? As if you really understood that manual just now. I’m a top university student and I can’t make heads or tails of it.”

Yang Meng thought for a moment. “I really can’t read English, but that doesn’t mean I don’t understand what it says. What I just told you is on page one hundred twenty-eight of the manual. Go look for yourself. If you don’t know a word, look it up online. Then compare it to a similar product and you’ll see why I said what I did.” With that, he stood up and walked out of the room.

“Xiao Yang, where are you going?” Ma Fengying asked hurriedly.

Yang Meng smiled. “Back to my room to fetch something!”

As soon as he left, Ma Fengying couldn’t help but ask, “Son, is Xiao Yang telling the truth?”

Lu Xin’s face showed only scorn. “You saw how he flipped through the manual! That’s not reading, it’s a joke! Mom, I think my English is pretty good—that’s the only reason I got an internship at a multinational. But this manual gives me a headache, and he—without a degree—acts like he understood… Wait?” Even as he spoke, he flipped the manual to page 128, and sure enough, there were the equipment specifications. He lowered his head to study them.

Was it possible Yang Meng didn’t understand the manual? That would be underestimating him! In the library, he read any book he could get his hands on, flipping through them at lightning speed, standing at the shelf. He’d read English dictionaries by the dozen, and countless foreign medical texts—understanding or not, he’d memorize them all, never knowing when the knowledge would come in handy.

“What are you looking at, son?” Ma Fengying asked anxiously, seeing his expression.

Lu Xin’s eyes were wide. “This page actually does list the equipment specs—the number of radiation sources and everything matches. I haven’t compared it to other machines, so I can’t say if he’s right, but how did he remember all this? How could he do it? Read it once and remember everything? That’s impossible for anyone!”

“Just because you can’t doesn’t mean others can’t,” Yang Meng said, just returning and catching Lu Xin’s words.

Ma Fengying quickly tried to smooth things over. “Xiao Yang, the child is thoughtless, don’t mind him.”

Yang Meng nodded. “I don’t mind. But he does have a point. I’m young, so I don’t care about gossip, but you’re a woman. People talking about you isn’t pleasant. Here’s ten thousand yuan. It’s my thanks for all you’ve done for me.”

Ma Fengying froze. What did he mean? Was she supposed to be afraid of gossip? Was Yang Meng really angry this time?

She was just about to explain, when Lu Xin slammed the table. “Keep your filthy money! Mom, let’s go. Why stay in this dump? We don’t need them!”