Love letters are not allowed in the exorcism notebook!-Chapter 426 - 4 Biting the hand that feeds you is ungrateful, being indebted makes one compliant

"You don’t have to worry about the expenses; I’ll have the finance department go over the numbers again and waive everything they can for you,"

Wang Yunxiao heard someone speaking like this when he arrived at the door of Qin Xiangdong’s hospital room.

He waited for a moment before he heard Qin Xiangdong’s weary and puzzled voice, "Why is it so expensive?"

Wang Yunxiao curled his lips. He had originally thought that, given Qin Xiangdong’s character, he would definitely not take this kind of advantage. Even if the police station didn’t have a budget subsidy, he could still sign an IOU and then pay it back slowly.

For a man of steel like Qin Xiangdong, the thing he could not stand the most was, first, owing others favors, and second, owing others money.

Without thinking about it, one could tell that this time the police station’s hospital expenses must be astronomical, a figure so large that even Qin Xiangdong couldn’t speak with his usual firmness.

"Western medicine is inherently expensive. If you don’t let the foreigners make money, then what motivation do they have to develop new drugs? As for the medicine, I can charge you the cost price, but the doctors’ labor fees are unavoidable,"

The person inside laughed, "They are all top talents returned from studying abroad; I have to treat them like ancestors, coaxing them. Otherwise, where couldn’t they eat with those degrees? Especially with Capital trying to poach them left and right, what else can we offer besides a salary?"

Wang Yunxiao pushed the door and entered, seeing a portly middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes sitting beside Qin Xiangdong’s bed.

Cao Mengchang, a local tycoon of Tianmen, a renowned philanthropist who had donated to the construction of numerous schools and hospitals in Tianmen City over the years. This New Asia Hospital was built with his investment eight years ago.

Indeed, it was a private hospital that he owned and operated for profit, and there was no issue calling it a donation.

In this era, there was simply no such thing as a public hospital. Even in the Former Dynasty, very few people would be willing to spend the money to build a hospital.

Whatever anyone did had to be considered within the specific historical and cultural context to be fairly assessed for good or bad.

Back in the Shang Dynasty, consuming more alcohol or meat could lead to condemnation and punishment.

Had Cao Mengchang’s behavior of making donations been posted on the future internet, he would probably be cyberbullied to death by keyboard warriors, "You dare make money while doing good deeds? You must be dragged out and shot!"

However, in this era, his actions were unquestionably charitable. Even the President had praised him, and it was said that he had written Cao a piece of calligraphy, framed and hung in his living room. After the new government was established, the market value of that calligraphy skyrocketed by a hundredfold, yet the man was not short of money and never thought of selling it.

Seeing Wang Yunxiao come in, Cao Mengchang gave a hearty laugh, stood up, and said to Qin Xiangdong, "Let’s leave it at this. You don’t have to worry about this matter; I’ll donate some money to your station later to ensure you won’t be put in a difficult position."

Qin Xiangdong frowned, "Mr. Cao, I appreciate your sentiment, but..."

"No, no, don’t be in a hurry to refuse. Think it over first,"

Cao Mengchang shook his finger and spoke seriously, "I know what you want to say, but I wonder if you’ve ever heard the saying, ’He who gathers firewood for the masses should not be allowed to freeze in the storm.’"

"Doing good should be rewarded, and those who are willing to act should receive something in return—this has always been the President’s promoted philosophy. The police force risks life and limb to protect the safety of the citizens of Tianmen City. If they don’t see benefits, how can you encourage others to follow in your footsteps? Do you think your own ideological awareness and personal integrity are more important than this?"

Qin Xiangdong had no answer.

Cao Mengchang walked past Wang Yunxiao, examined him closely, and, satisfied, patted Wang Yunxiao’s shoulder, nodding, "Young man, you’re recovering well—promising and capable!"

Wang Yunxiao smiled and said nothing.

After he left, Qin Xiangdong asked, "Now, besides me, how many others are hospitalized?"

"It’s just you and one advisor from my team; she won’t be able to get out of bed any time soon."

"Jiang Xiaotang, right? I’m aware, tell her to rest easy and recover."

Qin Xiangdong coughed and said, "Go and arrange my discharge procedures for me, I’m going home today."

Wang Yunxiao thought to himself that Qin didn’t look like he could get out of bed either, and couldn’t help asking, "How much have we altogether spent?"

"Twelve thousand."

"That little?"

Qin Xiangdong sighed and said, "No more. Mr. Cao just did the math for me; with so many of us staying here, occupying the special care ward is costly by the day on its own. And it affects their normal business income as well."

Wang Yunxiao thought to himself that it was an exaggeration. He seemed to remember someone saying that a small St. Deponk brand car also cost only twelve thousand dollars. And we haven’t taken any medicine, just stayed in the hospital for a few days, hooked up to IVs—enough to cost a car?

No wonder Qin Xiangdong couldn’t talk tough.

"Mr. Cao gave us a partial discount, and the Bureau also has financial budgeting that we can apply for subsidies from. I’ll ask the Special Service Bureau for some more... In any case, as long as we can avoid soliciting his donations, we will, because if we take his money, a lot of things will become unclear later on," Qin Xiangdong said with a deeply tired look on his face. The torment of illness over the past few days hadn’t pressured him as much as that bill had.

Wang Yunxiao hesitated for a moment and then asked in a low voice, "Doctors in the hospital not prescribing medicine to patients... is that something within our jurisdiction to deal with?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Xiangdong immediately frowned, "What do you mean? What have you discovered?"

"Some doctors are hiding medicine."

Wang Yunxiao said, "I had my people check, and several doctors have already stopped prescribing antibacterial drugs to patients. Officially, they say it’s due to a shortage in the pharmacy’s stock, which may well be the case. But they keep the medicine they’re supposed to prescribe to themselves instead of giving it to patients. I suspect they’re thinking the outbreak might worsen, and then they could sell the drugs at a high price privately."

Qin Xiangdong frowned deeply, remained silent for a long while, then slowly shook his head, "Indeed, we really can’t handle that... Collect more evidence, and then give it to Mr. Cao later; I believe he’ll know how to deal with it."

"This is probably not an isolated case—with so many hospitals across the city..."

Qin Xiangdong took a deep breath and looked out the window.

"Who knows when this rain will stop; it’s only the beginning of July."

After a long silence, he turned back and said solemnly, "We can’t influence the doctors’ professional judgment, but if they’re selling medicine at high prices privately, then it’s definitely a criminal act. Go make a call and ask Gao Shan to come over, and we’ll think of a solution together."

"We’re not afraid of the foreigners who sacrifice to the Evil God. What’s there to fear from a few conscienceless black-hearted doctors trying to make a dirty profit? No matter how much we owe the hospital, I’ll go broke if I have to, but I’ll make up for it. There’s no room for compromise with them on such matters of principle!"