Chapter Eighty-Nine: A Mysterious Assignment

Layi, the political and cultural heart of Hossum, was ringed with prosperous streets, towering buildings, and every kind of automobile; the blare of horns and the roar of the crowd fused into one. In every outward respect, it rivaled the great metropolises of the developed world. The only difference was that columns of armed troops patrolled the streets from time to time, while police officers were a rare sight.

In Hossum, the gleaming white hospital and the doctor’s profession were held sacred. So long as you possessed a license and were truly a physician, your standing could even be compared with that of a local legislator. In truth, the doctors here were the legislators of the district.

In the corridor outside the ward, Chen Cao opened the cloth bundle. It was the money left behind by Old Man Xize, and only a few coins remained. Medical fees, hospitalization fees, surgery costs — all of their savings had been spent in no time at all.

The doctor who had just treated Meimei had already informed Chen Cao, in a tactful but unmistakable tone, that he no longer had enough money to pay for the next stage of treatment.

Chen Cao knew that well enough. Money had never been a problem for him. He could have made a phone call home at any moment and had the Chen Group transfer a large sum at once. But now he could not. His identity was special; the School Committee of Unit 0611 had already sent his treasonous record to headquarters. If he contacted his family and money were transferred into his account, it would be traced immediately, and the Chen Group would be dragged into serious trouble. And that was not even counting the informant planted by that old devil, secretly stirring up mischief from within.

From the pampered heir of the Chen family to a special operations soldier of the 0611 forces; from civilian life to the barracks, Chen Cao had never once in his memory been troubled by money. Yet now, staring at the cloth bundle in his hands, he finally understood what it meant when a single coin can stump even a hero.

Just as Chen Cao was fretting over money, a graceful nurse came up beside him and, with the same casual ease, extended her slender fingers to hand him a bill for medical expenses, her expression one of clear disdain. Then, in what she apparently believed to be a pleasant voice, she said, “You are Mr. Chen, I presume. Our Doctor Ruan would like to see you in his office.” With that, she swayed away.

She had seen people like him often. That was simply how it was in Hossum. Health insurance, state subsidies for medicine — those were only for show, meant for the international community. To the nurses and doctors in Hossum’s hospitals and clinics, all that mattered was money. So there was no need to treat a man who plainly could not afford care with any courtesy.

Chen Cao lifted his head. He understood why Doctor Ruan was looking for him. He rose and walked slowly toward the end of the corridor.

Doctor Ruan was a man in middle age, around forty, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and looking polished and refined. The state valued him highly as an overseas returnee educated abroad, and had arranged for him to serve here as a chief physician. He was also the head of the district’s medical association and a community representative. The Hossum authorities had spared no effort in offering him every possible privilege to keep such a talent. So now he was, by and large, quite pleased with himself. When Chen Cao reached the doorway, he was bent over, writing a medical report.

Chen Cao politely knocked on the door of the chief physician’s office.

“Come in. Ah, you’re here!” Doctor Ruan lifted his head and saw Chen Cao. His tone was still courteous enough; he had to maintain the image of a benevolent healer.

“Yes, Doctor,” Chen Cao said, standing before him with his back straight and chest lifted, showing no trace of servility despite his lack of money.

“All right. After observing your sister’s condition, and in keeping with my responsibility toward the patient, I must inform you of something.” Doctor Ruan straightened up, but did not invite Chen Cao to sit.

“Go ahead, Doctor. I’m listening,” Chen Cao said, waiting for the man in white to state his price.

“Very well, then I’ll be blunt. As for your sister’s injuries — the cause of them, we are all adults here, and we all understand what happened. Your sister contracted a severe illness and suffered grievous bodily damage, resulting in serious deformity and pathological changes. The medical conditions in Hossum simply cannot perform such advanced surgery. If you want your sister to recover fully, she must go abroad. But going abroad takes time, and you came to the hospital without completing any procedures. I’m sure Mr. Chen understands that.”

Doctor Ruan immediately struck at Chen Cao’s weak point. But he had only guessed part of the truth; he had not guessed that he himself had already slid one step toward the edge of danger.

“Is that so? Then I’d like to hear Doctor Ruan’s opinion,” Chen Cao said, his eyelids lifting slightly. The dagger hidden in his sleeve had already slid into his hand. If his identity were exposed, he would not mind making this man disappear from the world. Right now he was suspicious of everything. If not for Meimei, perhaps things would still have been bearable, but now every matter had to be considered long and hard.

Doctor Ruan adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his face. “During this period, I can keep your sister alive with medication. I can also keep your secret and see you safely out of Layi once you leave. However, the medication is somewhat expensive.”

“Doctor Ruan, you seem to be a straightforward man. Name your price,” Chen Cao said, turning slightly. He had no way to refuse the offer, because he could not find a second hospital in Layi willing to treat a man with no identity and no documents.

And besides, he had no money now. Of course the other man knew that. Yet since he knew it and still said such things, there was obviously another purpose behind it.

Doctor Ruan laid out the teacup in his hand, scraped the rim lightly with the lid, and drew in a deep breath of the tea’s fragrance. “Ten thousand Hossum coins per injection. Five injections a day. And I can also help you reapply for refugee status and send you away safely.”

Chen Cao said flatly, “I don’t have that much money.”

Doctor Ruan set the teacup on the desk and replied evenly, “Naturally. But from your bearing alone, Mr. Chen, I can tell you are no ordinary man. Some things cannot be bought with money.”

“Then say what conditions you require.” Chen Cao’s fingers twitched faintly, and the dagger slipped back into his sleeve. He could see now that Doctor Ruan was not merely the petty, mercenary physician he had imagined.

Doctor Ruan lit a cigarette and said, “I have a shipment that will leave the hospital tonight. I want you to help deliver it. Just take it to a factory on the outskirts, where someone will meet you. Once the task is done, all expenses from these past few days will be waived.”

“Mr. Ruan, are you not afraid that I may be incompetent and spoil your plans?” Chen Cao had already changed his address from doctor to sir, his tone cold. In his eyes, the man before him, aside from a little medical skill, reeked of greed from head to toe and was not worthy of the word doctor.

“Mr. Chen, I could tell by your bearing the moment I laid eyes on you. The very skill of letting a dagger slide from your sleeve without changing expression would be enough to send me to the gates of hell and back several times over. So I trust your abilities.” Doctor Ruan remained calm throughout.

“All right. See you tonight.” There was no trace of politeness left in Chen Cao’s voice. He turned toward the door, then glanced back slightly. “Mr. Ruan, I trust you know the consequences of deceiving me.”

Doctor Ruan did not answer directly. Instead, he pressed the intercom on the desk phone. “This is Ruan Zhengxiong. Move bed thirty-seven to special care, and inject her with Formaphiamine.”

“I am a businessman. My credibility is worth trusting.” As he spoke, he leaned back in his chair. Three days — only three days. After three days, we shall owe each other nothing.

As he spoke, Chen Cao had already left the office, followed by the sharp bang of the closing door.

After Chen Cao left, Doctor Ruan took a black cellphone from the desk, stubbed out his cigarette in the crystal ashtray, and dialed a number.

A hoarse, icy voice came from the other end.

“The ship is ready. When will the goods arrive?”

“The delivery man has been found. The shipment goes out tonight, but it cannot all go at once. It has to be split into three batches.”

“Hmm. That makes it safer. Is he reliable?”

“I’ve watched him for several days. The man should be hiding his true abilities; he ought to be a suitable choice. Besides, someone very important to him is in my hands.”

“Remember to be quick. The people above are impatient. That game is about to begin, and once the initiative is lost, it cannot be played anymore. If time is delayed, you know the consequences.”

The usually composed Doctor Ruan broke into a cold sweat on his broad forehead, and his voice trembled slightly as he said, “Of course I know.”

The voice on the other end continued, “When the deal is done, eliminate any future trouble.”

Dusk gave way to moonlight like a hooked blade. Chen Cao pulled a suitcase steadily behind him. Although Layi had been built like a modern city, under the strict control of the military government, once night fell, anyone without special clearance who encountered the army faced severe punishment at best, and at worst could be treated as a traitor and shot on the spot.

The matter had reached its third day, and all had gone smoothly. Each delivery took place at a different location: the factory on the first day, the station on the second, and today, the final day, the dock.

Chen Cao slipped past the passing troops and turned into a narrow alley. He could already smell the fishy scent carried on the water beside him.

Holding his breath, Chen Cao waited quietly for the contact to appear. Tomorrow — tomorrow he would be able to take Meimei abroad on the plane ticket arranged by Doctor Ruan, to the Democratic Federation of Targee, where the country was democratic and medical care was free. Chen Cao had calculated that it would at least be enough to hold out until he managed to obtain some money.

Tap, tap, tap... just as Chen Cao was hiding in the corner at the mouth of the alley and thinking, the sound of a motor came from ahead, and as if the handoff had already been arranged, two short beams of flashlight light followed by three long ones appeared.

The traders had arrived. Chen Cao did not step out of the alley. He took out the flashlight on his person and answered with the same two-short, three-long signal.

This was the final day. Chen Cao knew that, at times like this, the other side was often preparing to silence him. He had to be careful in everything. He certainly did not think Doctor Ruan was any sort of good man.

The other side was clearly very quiet as well. Unlike the previous two times, they did not seem eager to retrieve the goods tonight. The sound of the motor also fell silent.

Something seemed off. Chen Cao tightened his grip on the suitcase, and a curiosity that had been suppressed for many days surged up within him. If Doctor Ruan was not trafficking human organs, then what else could he possibly be selling?

The Fire God King, chapter eighty-nine, mysterious mission, update complete.