"Ding Ke, come, try this hairy crab. You can't get one as fresh as this at the Seafood House anywhere else."
A middle-aged man, his face full of flattery, used chopsticks to place a hairy crab, weighing nearly a pound, onto the plate of the man beside him.
The man called Ding Ke glanced at him. "Old Mo, we've known each other for more than a day. You're usually so stingy. This time you're really splurging to treat me to a meal at the Seafood House. Spit it out, what do you need my help with?"
The middle-aged man was named Mo Zhiqiang. He ran a small clinic on Jianghua Street.
The man he called Ding Ke was a deputy section chief in the Health Bureau.
Even though this guy was only a deputy section chief, his position gave him considerable authority. Therefore, people like Mo Zhiqiang, who ran small clinics or pharmacies, had to curry favor with him.
They had known each other for quite some time, and Mo Zhiqiang was known for being extremely stingy, so Ding Ke knew him very well.
Since Mo Zhiqiang was willing to treat him at a place like the Seafood House, where expenses could easily run into thousands, Ding Ke was certain he had something to ask for.
"Ding Ke, what's our relationship like? I'm just grateful for your continuous care, so I thought I'd treat you to a meal..."
Upon hearing Ding Ke's words, Mo Zhiqiang immediately put on an act, as if to say, "Ding Ke, don't misunderstand me."
But Ding Ke immediately leaned back in his chair and stared at Mo Zhiqiang.
Halfway through his sentence, Mo Zhiqiang finally couldn't go on.
"Ding Ke, I'm not here to ask you for a favor this time. I'm here to report a situation. A traditional Chinese medicine clinic opened on Jianghua Street recently. I've heard many people say the owner doesn't have a medical practice license. Ding Ke, tell me, isn't this playing with people's lives? As a conscientious person, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch this happen."
Mo Zhiqiang maintained a look of profound compassion. If someone didn't know any better, they might actually believe he was looking out for everyone.
The truth was, ever since the traditional Chinese medicine clinic opened, Mo Zhiqiang's small clinic had seen a steady decline in business.
In the past couple of days, the number of patients he'd seen could be counted on one hand.
Keep in mind that in the past year, Mo Zhiqiang had earned over three hundred thousand yuan from his small clinic, living a comfortable life.
But things were different now. The number of patients he saw each day was negligible. If this continued, he might not have any patients left. How could Mo Zhiqiang allow this to happen?
However, it was the patients' choice where they wanted to seek medical treatment. Mo Zhiqiang couldn't force them to come to his small clinic.
So, after much deliberation, Mo Zhiqiang decided to involve Ding Ke.
Once the traditional Chinese medicine clinic was shut down, the lost customers would have no choice but to return to his small clinic.
Mo Zhiqiang had his calculations all worked out.
"Tsk tsk tsk, Old Mo, your words are so moving that I almost want to cry. However, the information I have is quite different from what you're saying."
Ding Ke lit a cigarette, a mocking smile on his face.
Unfazed by Ding Ke's teasing, Mo Zhiqiang instead slammed the table. "Ding Ke, is it that guy Geng Wenliang who's been talking trash about me? That guy talks nonsense all the time, don't believe him!"
Geng Wenliang was a peer of Mo Zhiqiang, running a small clinic next door.
Although they were on different streets, they were considered rivals. Every time they met, it was with sarcastic remarks and mutual dislike.
Ding Ke waved his hand and then said with a serious expression, "Alright, Old Mo, never mind who said it. Nowadays, everything requires evidence. Without evidence, relying solely on your word, what does that make it?"
Mo Zhiqiang hesitated for a long time. Finally, he took out an envelope from his bag and, with a look of heartache, placed it next to Ding Ke's hand.
Seeing the envelope beside his hand, Ding Ke's serious expression immediately turned into a smile.
When he felt the thickness of the envelope, his smile grew even wider.
"Old Mo, don't worry. Tomorrow, tomorrow I'll immediately take people to check out that traditional Chinese medicine clinic. If the situation is indeed as you say, I will handle it strictly according to procedure."
Ding Ke patted Mo Zhiqiang on the shoulder.
Although Mo Zhiqiang was pained by the expense, he was now reassured by Ding Ke's affirmative reply. He promptly raised his wine glass.
"Then I'll await your good news, Ding Ke."
After that, the two clinked glasses and ate hairy crabs, juice dripping from their mouths.
...
"Grandpa, your leg problem has been around for quite a few years, hasn't it?"
Du Fei finished examining an elderly man with graying hair and looked up at him.
The old man chuckled. "Yes, when I was in the army, during a mission, I hid in the snow for two days and two nights without moving. Ever since then, this leg has been giving me trouble. It must be about forty years now."
"But Grandpa, don't worry. I'll give you a few acupuncture treatments later, and you can take two packs of medicine home to drink for two courses of treatment. You'll be fine."
Du Fei lowered his head and quickly scribbled down the prescription on paper.
He then looked up and handed the prescription to Xu Wenshan, who was waiting nearby, instructing her to go and get the medicine according to the prescription.
Last time Gong Cixin and Xu Wenshan visited the traditional Chinese medicine clinic, Du Fei had shown them the profoundness of traditional Chinese medicine.
After visiting the clinic three times in a row, Gong Cixin's condition had improved considerably.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Wang Zhongling pulled Xu Wenshan aside and said that the clinic was short-handed and wanted her to come work. After some consideration, Xu Wenshan agreed.
After Xu Wenshan started working at the clinic, Wang Zhongling learned that her academic performance had been excellent even after she went abroad.
The reason she ended up singing at a food stall was because Gong Cixin's illness had forced her to drop out of school early to work.
While feeling sympathetic towards Xu Wenshan, Wang Zhongling also felt fortunate to have met her, as she couldn't imagine what would have happened otherwise.
Since starting to work at the clinic, Xu Wenshan was always the first to arrive and the last to leave, which made Du Dabao somewhat depressed. He felt like she was trying to take his job.
Later, Du Fei told Xu Wenshan not to come too early and to just arrive with everyone else according to the scheduled time. Only then did Xu Wenshan stop arriving so early.
After Xu Wenshan went to get the medicine with the prescription, Du Fei led the elderly man with graying hair to a nearby area.
"Grandpa, just relax later. Leave the rest to me."
Du Fei had the old man lie down comfortably and then arranged silver needles beside him.
The old man turned his head to look at Du Fei. "Young man, to be honest, I came today because others said you are a miracle doctor. But I'm curious. At your age, even if you started learning from the womb, it's only been twenty years. That doesn't quite qualify you as a 'miracle doctor,' does it?"
"Grandpa, 'miracle doctor' is just something the local neighbors call me randomly. However, treating your old ailment is a piece of cake for me. If I can't cure it, not only will I not charge you, but you can also smash my signboard."
"In short, rest assured, just lie down obediently."
Du Fei had encountered many patients like this old man.
Initially, when they came to Du Fei's traditional Chinese medicine clinic and saw his age, they would be full of distrust.
But after they received treatment from Du Fei, they were all won over by his medical skills.