Chapter 40: The Style of the Nouveau Riche Is Always the Same

That afternoon, Zhang Fan received a call from Wang Qian. "Zhang Fan, I heard you transferred to the city hospital. You haven't even come over to the house for a meal! I'm here at your hospital visiting a patient, so I thought I’d give you a call." Wang Qian had heard from Dong Hua that Zhang Fan had moved to the city hospital and happened to be visiting someone today.

"Sister Wang, I’ve just arrived at the hospital, so things have been a bit busy. I was actually thinking about finding some time to visit you soon. I’m on the ninth floor, Department of Orthopedics I. Are you coming up?"

"I won't come up. I’m in the special care ward. If you have time, come over here. I want to introduce you to a friend."

The special care ward, formerly known as the cadres' ward, had been renamed to fit the changes of the market economy. The rooms were suites, complete with a reception room, an office, a bedroom, leather sofas, and an oversized Simmons mattress. It was more luxurious than most family homes. This was Zhang Fan’s first time inside. The special care unit was located at the very back of the hospital in a separate two-story building, guarded by a security officer who kept unauthorized personnel out.

"Sister Wang." Zhang Fan greeted her as soon as he arrived.

"You brat, you haven't been to see me in ages! Come, let me introduce you to someone." She pulled Zhang Fan into a patient room.

"This is the Zhang Fan I told you about, Dr. Zhang. He’s the one who fixed my lower back. It’s been almost a year, and it hasn't recurred. This is my close friend, Li Xiao. You can call her Sister Li."

"Hello, Dr. Zhang. Please, sit down." The woman was middle-aged with a refined air; she was short and was not wearing a hospital gown.

"Hello, Sister Li."

"Your Sister Li is also suffering from lower back pain. I told her about you last time, and it’s a stroke of luck that you’ve come to the city hospital. It’s much more convenient now. Take a look at her, will you?" Wang Qian said, pulling Zhang Fan to a seat.

"Let me look at Sister Li’s test results first, then I’ll perform a physical examination."

After reviewing the CT scan, Zhang Fan conducted a lumbar physical exam. "Dr. Zhang, what do you think? I saw Director Chen in the Department of Orthopedics II, and he said I need surgery, or there’s a risk of paralysis later on. I’m hesitant, and since the pain has been severe lately, I checked in to finish the tests first." Li Xiao was the owner of a mid-sized real estate company in Chasu City, with assets exceeding 100 million yuan. While not the top developer in the city, she had a very powerful brother-in-law—the second-in-command of the frontier province. Most of her business involved government projects.

Zhang Fan hesitated. Li Xiao had a lumbar disc protrusion at the fourth vertebra. Surgery wasn't exactly wrong, but according to Zhang Fan’s system, rehabilitation therapy could also work. He had already ruffled feathers by taking emergency patients from Orthopedics II. If he contradicted the director of that department, he would have a hard time in the hospital, even if the director’s recommendation was technically standard. Furthermore, given Li Xiao’s status, he couldn't afford to cause trouble for the director.

Wang Qian, being more familiar with Zhang Fan, noticed his hesitation. "Zhang Fan, don't worry about it. Just do what needs to be done. Sister Li isn't the type to blab."

"That’s right, Dr. Zhang. Don't worry. Even if I do have surgery, I won't be doing it here in Chasu City. It’s not a minor procedure, after all."

After reviewing the CT scan again, Zhang Fan said, "Surgery is the most effective and fastest way to recover. Both orthopedic departments in our hospital are quite good at lumbar procedures. Rehabilitation is also an option, but it’s slower, and the results aren't guaranteed."

"Then I’ll choose rehabilitation. I’m really afraid of surgery. If the pain wasn't so bad, I wouldn't have come to the hospital at all." She was willing to give it a try.

"Zhang Fan, tell me what you need, and I’ll handle it," Wang Qian said, seeing his reluctance.

"Sister Wang, Sister Li is a patient initially assessed by Orthopedics II. It wouldn't be right for me to take over her case entirely. I can provide one rehabilitation session for her; if it doesn't work, then so be it. If it does work, I cannot continue to treat her within the hospital."

"That’s fine," Li Xiao agreed. She was still slightly uneasy at Zhang Fan’s hesitation. In the two decades since her business took off, she had been in contact with top-tier doctors everywhere, all of whom were decisive and efficient. She wondered if someone as hesitant as Zhang Fan really had the skills. She glanced at Wang Qian, who gave her a reassuring look.

Rehabilitation massage for a lumbar protrusion was much more difficult than for a herniated disc. A disc is made of soft tissue, but the vertebrae are bone. If one loses control of the force used, the patient’s pain could worsen, or worse, they could be paralyzed. Li Xiao’s protrusion wasn't severe, but it was pressing on the spinal cord, which was why the pain was so intense.

After positioning the patient, Zhang Fan slowly woke up her muscles. He then created a specific torque in the lumbar spine—a retraction force—to gently guide the vertebra back into place. Rehabilitation was more taxing than surgery; it required a slow, steady output of force. It couldn't be too weak, or it would be ineffective, and it couldn't be too strong, or it would cause injury. It required consistent, stable output.

After more than forty minutes, Zhang Fan was drenched in sweat despite the air conditioning. "It’s hot... my lower back feels so hot, it’s incredibly comfortable. Although it still hurts, it feels much better than before," Li Xiao said as she slowly stood up, turning to Wang Qian and Zhang Fan.

"It’s effective. This proves that Sister Li’s condition can be managed with rehabilitation."

"Dr. Zhang, thank you so much. What should we do about the follow-up treatment? I’ll do whatever is most convenient for you; I’m in your hands." Li Xiao now realized Zhang Fan truly had a gift; Wang Qian hadn't been exaggerating.

"For the follow-up, let’s do it outside the hospital. It wouldn't look good if Director Chen and his team saw us. If this rehabilitation doesn't prove effective, I will still advise you to have the surgery."

"That works. Whenever you’re ready for the next session, I’ll send someone to pick you up!"

"No need. Just give me an address, and I’ll head there myself. It has to be after work hours; I can't do it during office hours."

"How about this: I have a property in the residential complex next to the hospital. I’ll come wait for you there every day after work. It’ll be closer and more convenient." Whether rich or poor, everyone fears illness. Li Xiao’s scalp had gone numb at the mere mention of surgery. She had consulted many experts and had been preparing to fly to the capital after the initial exams.

"See? I told you so! My little brother’s skills are top-notch. When he treated me, he also said the results weren't guaranteed, but look at me now—it’s been a year, and I’m like a normal person. I can even play badminton after work! Once Zhang Fan finishes your treatment, you better not be stingy," Wang Qian said, knowing Li Xiao’s financial standing.

"I’m so glad I listened to you this time. Otherwise, I would’ve ended up on the operating table without even knowing what was going on. Dr. Zhang certainly shouldn't be undercompensated. Here is a card, Dr. Zhang; please take it. It’s not much, just 30,000 yuan. The password is six ones."

Zhang Fan was taken aback—30,000 yuan was "not much"? He tried to refuse, but Wang Qian took the card and shoved it into his pocket. "Just focus on treating your Sister Li and put your heart into it. She doesn't even blink at this kind of small money. As long as you cure her, everything else is easy to negotiate, right?"

"Haha, go ahead and take it. This is your professional fee. I spend more than this on a single beauty treatment in Hong Kong. As long as the treatment works, anything is negotiable. Give me your number, and we’ll coordinate after you get off work tomorrow. We shouldn't keep bothering Sister Wang." Although she said that, while she did spend a lot on beauty treatments in Hong Kong, she had never actually paid for medical care in the frontier province. That was all because of Wang Qian’s influence—without her, someone like Director Huang would have been waiting on her hand and foot anyway. However, without Wang Qian, Zhang Fan would never have even met her.