However, Director Zhang's rough image did not affect his status in Nanqiao County; he was the first-rate surgeon in Nanqiao County's surgery field, known as Zhang Yidao. He had a generous nature, enjoyed making friends, so his social circle in Nanqiao was vast, familiar with people from all walks of life.
The patient's family was in a dire economic situation. Director Zhang normally charged one thousand yuan for a surgery outside, so the patient's family scraped together just over nine hundred yuan, some even in pure currency, wrapped in newspaper and handed over to Director Zhang.
Director Zhang took the money and then gave it back to the patient, "I've heard about your situation, let's forget about the surgery fee. I'd just be wasting time during my holidays, so I might as well come over and perform the surgery for free. You keep the money, I'll operate on the patient free of charge."
