Zhang Xiaobei was talking when three figures rushed into the dense forest, and it didn't take long before they arrived in front of everyone.
Zhang Xiaobei looked up and saw that the doctor they had invited was Meng Qingdong.
The two people with Meng Qingdong, one looked somewhat unfamiliar, the other was Meng Qingdong's loyal lackey, Zhao Tian.
When Meng Qingdong passed in front of Zhang Xiaobei, he glanced at him with disdain, held his head high, hands behind his back, full of arrogance, and strode into the crowd.
"Who's sick?"
"Doctor, it's my husband." Seeing that the doctor had arrived, Qi Yaru quickly got up, "Please, take a look. He was fine when we came, but once we got here, he became like this."
"Don't worry, let me take a look." As he passed by Qi Yaru, Meng Qingdong glanced over her chest, turned around to take the white coat from Zhao Tian's hands, put it on neatly, put on rubber gloves, took out a stethoscope, and began to examine Li Jianjun professionally. As he examined, his expression grew more serious.
Seeing Meng Qingdong's troubled face, Qi Yaru couldn't help but feel a bad premonition and asked softly, "Doctor, how is my husband?"
When her husband had fainted earlier, someone had said that this place was troubled and it was highly possible that he had encountered something unclean, which would cause this situation.
Although Qi Yaru didn't believe in ghosts and spirits, her husband had always been healthy, rarely even suffering from minor headaches or fevers. This made her have to consider that possibility.
Five minutes went by, and with a long sigh, Meng Qingdong put away his stethoscope. "Mrs. Qi, your husband has been struck by "miazma," and the toxin has already invaded his viscera. Prepare yourself mentally, it's not easy to treat..."
For Qi Yaru, Meng Qingdong's words were like a bolt from the blue. At that moment, she felt as if her world had collapsed, and tears brimmed in her eyes.
"Doctor, please think of something, no matter what, we must save him." Qi Yaru's face was filled with urgency, "Here is thirty thousand yuan for your help, please."
Seeing the stack of hundred-yuan bills in the bag, Meng Qingdong's heart skipped a beat; he had never seen so much money in his life.
Thirty thousand yuan was not a small sum; with his small clinic, he might not earn that much in five or six years.
Though the money was substantial, he had never seen this illness before, and if something went wrong, not only would he have to compensate for the loss, but he might also have to face legal responsibility. Compared to that, the gain didn't seem worth the risk.
"Mrs. Qi, helping the dying and healing the injured is my duty. If I can save him, I won't shirk the responsibility, but this is difficult to treat..." Meng Qingdong said as he handed the bag back to Qi Yaru, his eyes showing a hint of apology, but more so, regret.
"Doctor, is it that you think the money isn't enough? Here, take my watch, diamond ring, bracelet, everything. I ask nothing more than for you to think of a way to save my husband..." As she spoke, Qi Yaru quickly took off all her valuable items and placed them in the bag, pushing it back to Meng Qingdong.
At that moment, Meng Qingdong was her only hope. If this doctor couldn't save him, lost in these vast mountains, she had no idea what to do as a woman alone.
Meng Qingdong intended to refuse again, but the items in hand were really too tempting, especially the diamond ring in the bag that sparkled under the sun.
"Well, ma'am, here's what I'll do. I'll give your brother some medicine to swallow, and if he gets better, that's his good fortune. If not, you can't blame me."
"Never, doctor, it will definitely not happen..." Seeing Meng Qingdong was willing to try again, a glimmer of hope arose in Qi Yaru's eyes.
"Okay, then I'll give it another shot. If it doesn't work, you'll have to find someone more skillful," Meng Qingdong said as he reached into a small medicine box and took out a bottle of pills. He poured out a few and was about to administer them to the man on the ground when Zhang Xiaobei suddenly stopped him.
"Meng Qingdong, are you trying to kill him?"
Seeing Zhang Xiaobei intervene, Meng Qingdong's face darkened immediately.
"Zhang Xiaobei, better watch your words. Don't spout nonsense here. Who's trying to harm anyone?" Meng Qingdong glared furiously.
"Am I talking nonsense? Don't you know the consequence of taking this medicine?"
"You..."
What Zhang Xiaobei said, Meng Qingdong knew all too well. The few pills he called "cardiotonic pills" would momentarily revive the patient, but once the effect wore off, the man would be finished.
Meng Qingdong thought no one would know if he said nothing. After the man woke up, he would have completed his task and the money would be in his hands.
But he never dreamed that Zhang Xiaobei would suddenly step in and ruin his plan.
"Zhang Xiaobei!" Meng Qingdong gritted his teeth in hatred and let out an angry shout, stepping quickly towards Zhang Xiaobei and said sternly, "Zhang Xiaobei, stop trying to impress with your bluster and slander others. Are you a doctor? Do you know medicine? What concern is it of yours what medicine I use? If you know what's good for you, get lost quickly. If because of you we miss the best treatment time and someone dies, can you bear the responsibility?"
"Doctor, don't waste words on this kid; this kid is obviously up to no good. Since he came here, he's been trying to cozy up to us. If not for the boss's kindness, we would have beaten him up already." One of the onlookers, a middle-aged man holding a medicine ladle, glared at Zhang Xiaobei as if ready to attack.
"Exactly, blaming others for doing harm, I think this kid has ill intentions. Seeing the boss's wife give so much money, he's become jealous and also wants a piece."
"That's for sure, the other is a doctor, what are you? If you want to earn money, you need to have the skills."
Seeing the crowd turn on Zhang Xiaobei, Meng Qingdong stood with his hands behind his back, a face full of malicious pleasure.