Chapter 39: Obeying Orders, Not Decrees

 Jiang Chen stood with his arms crossed, leaning casually against the doorframe. "That's right. I'm Jiang Chen. What do you want?"

A middle-aged man in refined clothes and round-rimmed glasses stepped forward, his voice tinged with arrogance. "Yesterday, did you treat a girl named Liu at the town hospital?"

"'Treat'?" Jiang Chen scoffed. "You make it sound easy. I saved her life, okay?"

He was already in a bad mood, still brooding over how Director Gou had scammed him into working for free. Now, being dragged out and interrogated by some unknown person only stoked his fire further. The man's tone made it sound like Jiang Chen had hurt Miss Liu.

"I wasn't there, so I won't comment on yesterday." The man with the glasses replied coldly. "I just want to ask—do you actually know medicine?"

"If I didn't, your Miss Liu would be in the morgue right now," Jiang Chen shot back, his tone turning sharp.

The man was momentarily stunned, rolling his eyes with a disdainful grunt. "If you're so capable, how'd you end up in a dump like this?"

As he spoke, he kicked the courtyard wall. A chunk of dust and plaster fell with a crash, sending up a cloud of yellow dirt.

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes. This guy's clearly here to stir trouble.

He chuckled, his expression one of amused defiance. "Sir, haven't you heard the saying: 'Small temple, powerful god'?"

"I've heard 'Shallow ponds breed the most turtles,'" the man replied, smirking sarcastically.

Jiang Chen wasn't angered; he laughed even harder. "Sure, this clinic's a little shabby. But good medicine isn't measured by the building. Tell you what—why don't I examine you first?"

The man paused. "Me? Do I look like someone who's sick?"

"Whether you are or not depends on the symptoms," Jiang Chen grinned.

"Oh yeah? Then tell me, what symptoms do I have?"

Jiang Chen's eyes swept over the row of men in suits behind the speaker. He leaned in and patted the man's shoulder. "With so many people around, are you sure you want me to say it out loud? Might get embarrassing."

The atmosphere suddenly shifted.

The man hesitated. If he refused, it would seem like he had something to hide. But if he agreed and Jiang Chen really did say something embarrassing, how would he save face?

After a moment of silence, the man forced a laugh. "Say it. What, you think I've got AIDS or something?"

Jiang Chen grinned wider. "Oh, I wasn't talking about you. I meant your wife."

"My wife? What about her?"

"She's got gynecological issues. It's been going on a long time, right? Keeps recurring?" Jiang Chen said lazily. "Am I wrong?"

"H-How do you know? Did you… have something with her?" The man's face flushed red, voice rising.

Jiang Chen curled his lip. "Don't flatter your wife. Isn't she a bit old for that? You couldn't pay me to punch that timecard."

"Then how do you know she's sick?"

"Because of you."

"Me?"

"Yeah. You're the one carrying the bacteria into her. You've got chronic prostatitis—it's been over a decade, right? You've been delivering germs to her like an express courier. If she wasn't sick, it'd mean you two haven't shared a bed in years."

Jiang Chen stopped, watching as the man's face twisted like he'd swallowed a fly.

He'd hit the mark.

The secretary had been suffering from prostatitis for ten years, and his wife's gynecological problems had started around the same time. They'd visited countless top hospitals, spent a fortune, only to see symptoms return within weeks. They eventually gave up on protection, unknowingly reinfecting each other over and over.

The man fell silent. His eyes flickered with doubt.

Jiang Chen went on, "Your face is puffy, your voice weak, no energy. And it's summer, yet you're in long sleeves—afraid of the cold, huh? Classic kidney deficiency."

"You…" The man's confidence was starting to waver.

"Bet when you get emotional, you pee a little, huh? Pants already wet?" Jiang Chen quipped.

The suited men beside him shot quick glances—and sure enough, there was a damp spot on the man's pants.

Embarrassed, he quickly squeezed his legs together and tried to cover it with his hands.

"Your issue isn't just the inflammation—it's your weak constitution," Jiang Chen said. "Your prostate's the victim. The real culprit's your kidneys."

The man's expression turned complicated. At last, he mumbled, "You... might have a point. But how do I know you're not just bluffing?"

"Try me and see if I can cure you," Jiang Chen replied smoothly.

"You really can?"

"Herbal medicine, acupuncture—three months of treatment. Let's see if you're still peeing your pants." Jiang Chen was calm. "But I don't do charity work."

"How much?" the man asked cautiously.

"Thirty thousand. Ten thousand upfront."

"Thirty thousand?!"

"If that sounds pricey, feel free to queue at the Provincial People's Hospital. I'm not begging you to be my patient."

The man hesitated.

One of the suited bodyguards stepped up, glaring. "Do you know who you're talking to?"

"Of course," Jiang Chen said innocently. "The Secretary-General."

"Then how dare you extort him? Want me to tear this dump down?"

"Oh? That impressive? If your secretary's just the errand boss, that makes you... the errand boy's errand boy?"

That remark made the guard furious. He rolled up his sleeves and lunged.

But Jiang Chen moved like lightning. He grabbed the man's shoulder, shoved down hard, and sent him staggering.

In the next instant, Jiang Chen hoisted him like a sack and tossed him aside.

Thud!

The man landed in a haystack and rolled several times before stopping.

The other bodyguards were stunned. They all instinctively backed away toward the cars.

The secretary turned pale, legs trembling.

Jiang Chen walked up with a grin, placed a hand on the man's waist, and pressed gently.

Suddenly, the man felt a rush of heat below. He looked down—

Damn it! His pants were soaked again!

He froze for two seconds, then quickly forced a smile. "Doctor Jiang, you're amazing! This condition… only you can cure it."

Jiang Chen brushed off his hands. "So what does your chairman want from me?"

"He wants to invite you… to express his gratitude and to ask for your help."

"See? Should've said that sooner. All this fuss for nothing."

With that, Jiang Chen turned and walked away.