Chapter 70

Auntie Liu is also a proper college graduate with considerable strength. When she saw Si Ming in danger, she almost couldn't help but intervene, but the consequences of doing so would have been very serious. Zhang Dixian could scare Han Lin away, but she didn't have that effect.

The university admissions system in Su State is equivalent to that of Huaxia before the expansion of the national territories in Si Ming's previous life. The admission rate is at the level of the 1990s, and the threshold is extremely strict. It is impossible to get in unless you are an elite. A high school diploma is the average education level in Su State. A brick falling from the sky will not hit a university student, whether from a data point of view or a physical point of view.

"It's best not to get involved in something so dangerous."

She turned and went back to the basement, pretending she knew nothing, just like Hongdou, who was focused on drawing in the basement and completely undisturbed by the fight.

At the hospital, Yao Bilian waited for Si Ming to arrive safely.

This is only natural. In the Sea Continent, medicine and martial arts are inseparable. Most martial artists know some medical skills, at least how to take care of their own bodies. Doctors are also unlikely to be lacking in Internal Cultivation strength, otherwise they would not even be able to diagnose patients. Therefore, being a doctor is also a profession with high martial arts skills, and the security of large hospitals is comparable to that of military bases.

It is precisely for this reason that attacks on doctors are rare in Su State, because family members have to consider their own safety before taking action and estimate whether they will be killed by the doctor with a syringe.

"How could something like this happen? Even scum like Han Lin had such a stroke of luck. Heaven really has no eyes."

After hearing Si Ming's account, Yao Bilian didn't show much worry. Instead, she apologized to Si Ming and Lu Mao, saying, "That scumbag was definitely after me. I'm so sorry to have dragged you two into this."

"Living under the same roof, it's only natural to help each other. There's no question of dragging each other down," Si Ming waved his hand, indicating that it wasn't important, and then turned to Lu Mao, "I really feel bad that you've been dragged into such danger so soon after moving in."

Lu Mao laughed heartily and said, "Although I was a little scared when I was face to face with that villain, looking back now, I think it was quite exciting and I learned a lot. It even gave me some inspiration for cooking. If I had stayed in China, I definitely wouldn't have encountered something so interesting. This trip abroad was definitely worthwhile."

He certainly has a spirit of adventure; after all, he dared to go to a foreign country to study alone, and one couldn't make such a decision without considerable courage.

Si Ming then expressed his gratitude to Zhang Dixian. This man was not a member of the Mohist Knight Guard; he had simply been invited by the police to help investigate the case and had become involved. He had no obligation or responsibility to catch the murderer.

"Now that you two young heroes have arrived safely, this Daoist Master should take his leave. Take care."

Zhang Dixian followed the two to the hospital, not to protect Yao Bilian, but to protect Si Ming and Lu Mao, to prevent Han Lin from turning back halfway.

Si Ming hurriedly said, "Daoist Master, let me see you off."

Just as he was about to get up to see them off, Yao Bilian tossed him a black bag. He caught it, opened it, and found a stack of banknotes inside.

"No matter what, I can't let you spend money. I'm the legally designated guardian. Although I rarely fulfill my duties, at least you don't need to be polite with me when it comes to money."

This money was exactly the amount Si Ming had bet yesterday. He knew that Yao Bilian came from a wealthy Lineage and was truly not short of money, so he didn't stand on ceremony. He casually put the money in his pocket and escorted Zhang Dixian the hospital entrance.

"That's enough. Although the killer's primary target for revenge is Yao Tanyue, there's no guarantee they won't target you. Be extra careful these days, and never travel alone. Try to stay in crowded places."

"I understand, Daoist Master. Goodbye."

Si Ming watched the other person's back disappear around the corner before turning back, but just as he passed the toll booth, he heard an argument.

"Doctor, please, my daughter's condition is really urgent. Please have mercy and perform the surgery first. I'll make up the difference later. If we delay any longer, she might miss the best treatment period."

"No means no! Let me tell you, Zhang Laolai, if you don't pay the full surgery fee this time, we absolutely will not perform the surgery on you. Begging me won't help; this is the rule!"

Si Ming turned his head and saw a middle-aged man with severe hair loss pleading with a doctor in a white coat, who was impatiently trying to get rid of him.

Is this the classic quack doctor tactic of refusing to treat patients unless they pay?

Si Ming immediately dismissed the idea, because when he brought Ying Zhou over last night, he hadn't brought any money to pay the deposit either, but the doctor still took him to the emergency room immediately, and he only paid the deposit from the bank afterward.

"Universal love" and "non-aggression" are the two pillars of the Mohist School, far more prominent than its other ideological propositions. Even if it was just for show, the Mohist School had to maintain the image of "universal love" and always had relevant policies to help the disadvantaged.

"Doctor, I beg you, how about I write you an IOU?" Seeing that the other party was still unmoved, the middle-aged man's knees buckled and he knelt on the ground. "I'll kowtow to you!"

"Don't bump into me, don't bump into me, I can't take that."

Seeing the commotion growing and attracting a crowd of onlookers, the doctor in the white coat, sensing the situation was turning sour, quickly explained to the crowd, "Listen, everyone, it's not that our hospital is deliberately making things difficult for him, nor is there a rule that we won't treat him if he doesn't pay. It's just that this Mr. Zhang has a criminal record! Last time, his wife had surgery at our hospital, and he repeatedly assured us that he would definitely pay the bill after the surgery. But what happened? As soon as his wife's condition improved, the two of them immediately ran away without paying anything. In the end, the doctor who signed the consent form paid for it. Tell me, is there any justice in this?"

The doctor in the white coat turned to the middle-aged man and said, "Old Zhang, please, leave a way out for good people! It's not that we doctors don't want to be good people, but do you know how painful it is to be deceived after doing good deeds? We don't expect good people to be rewarded, but at least we can't let good people suffer bad consequences!"

"I was wrong last time, but I promise I won't do it again this time! My wife has already divorced me, and now I live with my daughter."

The middle-aged man knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly until his forehead turned red.

Bystanders, seeing this, felt that although the man was untrustworthy and hateful, they also felt sympathy for him. So they advised the doctor, "Perhaps he really doesn't have the money; let's be more understanding."

"He might not necessarily be trying to scam money for the surgery, but what can he do if he can't afford it? We can't just drive all the poor people to their deaths."

Si Ming also felt a pang of sympathy, thinking that even the most hateful people had their pitiable side. He weighed the 20,000 yuan in his pocket and was about to step forward to donate it.

At this moment, the doctor in the white coat snorted coldly and said loudly, "Does everyone know why his wife divorced him? Instead of providing the money, he took his wife's surgery fees to the casino and gambled it all away! Tell me, can you trust someone like that?"

Those who had previously expressed sympathy for the poor suddenly fell silent. It's not difficult to sympathize with the poor, but no one is willing to sympathize with a gambler; they just think such a person is beyond redemption.

Si Ming stopped abruptly, taking his empty hands out of his pockets. At that moment, he felt that there was always a reason why someone was pitiful.

"Doctor! Doctor! I've truly reformed and will never gamble again. Please believe me this time! I'm a good-for-nothing, a scumbag, but my daughter is innocent!"

The middle-aged man grabbed the doctor's trouser leg, pleading with tears in his eyes.

The doctor in the white coat forcefully pulled the leg back, saying impatiently, "Old Zhang, I'll give you three options. First, pay the surgery fee in full, and we'll arrange surgery for your daughter immediately; second, pay the outstanding surgery fee from last time, and we'll still perform the surgery for your daughter; third, go find another hospital. Don't keep targeting us to rip you off. Look at Putian Hospital across the street, it's pretty good, rip them off too!"

"They're private individuals, and they absolutely won't treat patients without payment. I really have no other choice..."

The middle-aged man spoke weakly, noticing that the crowd around him was beginning to disperse; no one seemed willing to sympathize with him.

"I'll cover the cost."

Si Ming stepped forward and handed the bag he was carrying to the doctor in the white coat.

"Young man, are you sure?" The doctor in the white coat glanced at the banknotes in the bag. "As an adult, I must warn you, gamblers are the least trustworthy people. You absolutely cannot get this money back, so you should take it back and give it to your parents to avoid getting scolded."

Si Ming refused the bag the doctor in the white coat offered, saying, "That man is indeed despicable, but he's right about one thing: his daughter is innocent. This money... is my New Year's money. Consider it a donation. I never intended to take it back. However, your hospital must guarantee that this money will only be used for his daughter."