Jiangli City is a provincial capital with a long history and a population of over ten million.
On the bustling Old Street of South City, an inconspicuous clinic nestled among many shops.
"Sunshine Clinic of South City!"
The six big characters on the simple signboard had faded due to sun and rain.
Inside the clinic, the young owner, Li Jingsheng, was leaning over the counter calculating expenses, his heavy worries almost overflowing from his furrowed brow.
The clinic had been open for more than nine months, but business was bleak, with some days not seeing a single patient. Rent, utilities, taxes, staff salaries, inventory costs... all sorts of visible and invisible expenses weighed on the owner like invisible mountains.
All he could think about now was making money.
The nurse, Tang Ping, was diligently cleaning up, silently handing the boss a cup of water.
"Sister Tang, I owe you three months' salary, don't I?"
Li Jingsheng took a sip of water and asked apologetically, looking up.
She paused her work, gently smoothing the hair falling on her forehead. The white nurse uniform wrapped around her slender figure, highlighting her graceful demeanor.
"I didn't ask yesterday because I didn't want to make things difficult for you."
She smiled understandingly at the boss.
According to their arrangement, salary was to be paid on the 15th of each month.
Working at the clinic for over nine months, she knew well what kind of person the boss was. If he had the money, he wouldn't be delaying her salary.
"In these three months, you haven't once urged for your salary, and I'm really grateful. Is your child starting school soon?"
"You even know that!"
Tang Ping was quite surprised.
The boss had so much to deal with every day, and she didn't expect him to care about her personal affairs.
"Ha! What about you do I not know?" Li Jingsheng smirked slightly, glancing at her. "Last week I noticed you starting to look worried, and I guessed you were anxious about your child's tuition. Here's five thousand, take it for emergencies."
He took out a bundle of cash from the safe he had prepared earlier and handed it to Tang Ping.
Seeing the thick stack of bills, Tang Ping's eyes widened.
Surprise spread slowly across her lovely almond-shaped face.
She hadn't received her salary for three months and was nearly at the end of her rope. With these five thousand yuan, not only was her child's tuition covered, but this month's living expenses were also taken care of.
"Where did you get this money?"
She knew the boss was deeply in debt, and many friends and classmates would either have 'poor signal' or 'automatically disconnect' when he called. It was impossible for him to borrow such a large sum.
When young people lack money, they are easily tempted to resort to illegal activities.
She didn't want to see the boss go down the wrong path.
"Don't worry, the money came from a legitimate source."
Li Jingsheng pushed the money towards her.
"Did you... sell your favorite motorcycle?"
Women have a keen intuition, and Tang Ping noticed the boss's motorcycle was missing this morning.
It normally parked at the entrance.
"Yes, sold it. I also ended the lease on my apartment and plan to live in the clinic, so I no longer need it for commuting."
Li Jingsheng was a motorcycle enthusiast, and he spent nearly twenty thousand yuan on that bike.
"Didn't you say that motorcycle was the symbol of your love with your girlfriend? How could you sell it when it has such special significance to you?"
Hearing the boss sold his bike made her heart ache a little.
The boss sold his beloved possession to gather tuition for her child, and she felt a pang of guilt.
But this was the harsh reality.
"Ha... love has already blown away with the wind. I broke up with her last week. Hurry up and put the money away, it's not good if customers see it."
Li Jingsheng's face darkened slightly, and thinking about his girlfriend felt like a stab to the heart.
After six years of dating, reality finally won.
In the end, being poor is the original sin.
With the clinic mired in debt, his girlfriend wasn't willing to endure such hardship with him. Women are very realistic these days; finding someone to share joys is easy, but finding someone to share hardships is tough.
"She's foolish to not want someone as outstanding as you!" Tang Ping felt the boss's girlfriend would surely regret it one day.
Just as they were speaking, a patient walked in.
Both of them perked up; finally, there was business.
To them, a patient was like a starving wolf seeing a piece of fresh meat.
"Doctor, I think I have a cold. I feel weak all over, have a headache, and a bit of a fever. Can you give me two bottles of an IV?"
A woman, around forty, leaned against the door as she walked in.
She spoke weakly, her face haggard, appearing quite ill.
"Let me take a look at you first! Come, have a seat over here!"
Li Jingsheng measured her temperature, blood pressure, and pulse.
She had a fever of 38.3 degrees, normal blood pressure, and a slightly fast pulse at 114 beats per minute.
To avoid unnecessary disputes, when examining female patients, he would try to estimate the heart rate through pulse measurement. Otherwise, if the female patient accused him of impropriety, a doctor would be at a great disadvantage.
A small clinic couldn't be as firm as a big hospital.
Encountering opportunists, they could only consider themselves unfortunate.
After carefully inquiring about the patient's symptoms, he had a good idea.
It was just an ordinary cold with a fever, no lung infections, or serious issues like myocarditis; over-the-counter fever and cold medicine would suffice.
"I've examined you, and it's not a serious condition. Some medicine will make you well. Why do you want an IV?"
"An IV works fast, so it won't delay my work."
The woman replied.
Most patients only pursued effectiveness, neglecting the potential side effects of the medication.
"Indeed, IVs act quicker, but for a regular cold like yours, I'd suggest you buy two boxes of medication to take at home! Medicine always has some side effects, and using strong drugs for a mild cold can cause adverse effects!"
Li Jingsheng tried to explain to the patient in simple terms.
"As long as it cures me fast, it's fine, don't worry about the rest. Every time I get a cold, I get an IV, and it works much better than taking medicine."
The patient didn't listen to him at all.
"You really don't need an IV for this condition; overusing antibiotics can greatly harm the body. Trust me and just take the medicine."
Li Jingsheng didn't want to earn morally compromising money.
The two boxes of medicine together cost less than thirty yuan, with a profit of about ten yuan. An IV session would charge at least eighty yuan, with a profit no less than 35 yuan. It usually took two IV sessions to consolidate the effect, earning at least 70 yuan in profit.
Other doctors would be eager to give the patient an IV.
Running a clinic, without a ruthless heart, even survival is hard.
This was because he adhered too strictly to his principles; no wonder he struggled to pay salaries.
"Oh, no wonder no one comes to your clinic! Turns out you can't even do an IV! Forget it, I'll go to Quick Recovery Clinic instead! If it weren't so crowded there, with IVs queued up to number 37, I'd have been treated there. I always went there for treatment, and they'd hang two bottles for me, and the medical skills are excellent. Young doctor, find a chance to learn from Doctor Zhao!"
The woman said as she got up to leave.
Running a clinic, one must be ruthless and speak fluently; otherwise, money can't be earned, and patients won't appreciate it.
As the woman got up, Li Jingsheng knew he'd messed up again, and his mind went blank.
"You've successfully refused the 508th instance of over-medication; immense merit, system loading..."
After a brief dizziness, some information appeared in his mind.
Li Jingsheng
Level: Junior Resident Physician 188/500
Diagnosis: Proficient Pulmonary Medicine 71.4/100, Beginner Gastroenterology 9.7/10
Treatment: Beginner Pharmacodynamics 6.4/10, Beginner Pharmacokinetics 2.3/10
Skills: Proficient Interrupted Suturing 47.1/100, Proficient Continuous Suturing 21.8/100, Beginner Pressure Hemostasis 6.7/10, Beginner Ligation Hemostasis 8.5/10, Proficient Dressing 31.2/100, Beginner Square Knot 8.2/10, Beginner Sliding Knot 5.6/10
Talent: None
Life Points: 13