Old Horses

The patient's family was shocked at the sudden news.

"I have just returned from a conference in America and they had a patient with the same condition," Zheng Ren lied reassuringly, loud enough that he could be heard by the patient. "I brought back a type of medication that's very effective in treating such an illness but it's a bit pricey."

"She'll be cured?" the elder son of the patient asked immediately.

"It has a 100% cure rate," Zheng Ren replied confidently without any of his usual disclaimers.

The on-call doctor had a look of confusion. 'Hasn't Chief Resident Zheng been in the emergency department's operating room for the past few weeks? When did he fly to America? Did he mean he went to a lecture delivered by an American?

'And he has a cure that 100% works?

'That doesn't sound very scientific.'