Chapter 686 — Failed Again
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Achoo!" Kang Jingming sneezed the moment he came through the door, startling Guan Xin, who was in the middle of preparing medicine. She turned and saw him being helped in by two men, and could not help but freeze for a moment. "You again?"
"Guan Xin, I've come to see a doctor..." Kang Jingming felt he had finally found a reason to approach Guan Xin, and perked up with some excitement. "I've caught a cold. Could you give me a shot?"
"Have you registered? Have you seen the outpatient clinic? Do you have a doctor's order?" Guan Xin frowned. She could not understand how Kang Jingming had gone out for a spin and come back at death's door — he looked seriously ill, at that.
But whether his illness was real or feigned, Guan Xin could not possibly give him an injection. Without a doctor's order, how could she treat him as she pleased?
"Huh? I still have to see the outpatient clinic? Look at me — if I don't get a shot soon, I'll die..." Kang Jingming froze, then abruptly realized how hospital visits actually worked. It was all his fever's fault; it had left him muddled and dull-witted. Though it occurred to him too that Zhu Xiaozhang and Wang Shubin hadn't reminded him — they didn't have fevers, so why were they so stupid?
He could not help glaring at Zhu Xiaozhang and Wang Shubin in annoyance, but in front of Guan Xin he had no way to scold them outright.
In truth, he was doing them an injustice. These young masters had never once registered at a hospital back in the provincial capital. With their connection to Kang the Divine Doctor's family especially, they had acquaintances at every hospital they visited — they simply sought out a friend to lead the way to injections and medicine, whatever treatment was needed, and never once heard that registration was required.
"Er... Nurse Guan Xin, Young Master Ming's illness is severe and urgent, and we didn't have time to register. How about this — you treat him first, and I'll go register for him afterward?" Wang Shubin said hastily.
"Then you still have to see the outpatient clinic. Without a doctor's order, I can't dispense medicine as I please!" Guan Xin said. "Since he's this ill, you'd better take him to the outpatient clinic first."
"Er... the thing is, I don't really know anyone at this hospital, not a soul, and I'm afraid they'll fleece me..." Kang Jingming seized on the inspiration. "Look how lavishly this place is decorated — they must have squeezed plenty of fat out of the people. If I don't have a friend here, I wouldn't dare. What if they treat me wrong and kill me? You're the only person I know here — please help me..."
Kang Jingming was quite pleased with his quick wit. The reason was perfectly sound — the newspapers and news reports were full of stories about hospitals' shady dealings; he wasn't making things up, and it all made good sense!
Just as Kang Jingming was feeling rather good about himself, Guan Xin's expression darkened. "Our hospital's system is perfectly clear. There are explicit fee standards — no one will fleece you. And every doctor holds a practicing license; no one is going to treat you wrong and kill you!"
"That's hard to say. Even with clearly marked prices, there's still backroom dealing!" Kang Jingming, his head still muddled, clearly had not noticed that Guan Xin was already quite displeased, and went on with great self-assurance: "These hospital owners nowadays have hearts black as coal. I really can't feel at ease..."
"My father's heart is not black." Guan Xin shot him a glare, turned, and paid him no further attention.
"Gah?" Kang Jingming was stunned by her words, then abruptly understood. Guan Xin's father, Guan Xiaopeng — wasn't he Guan Xuewen's son? And wasn't Guan Xuewen's younger son, Guan Xin's father, a shareholder in this very hospital?