chapter 7 Ten million medical fees

"Laszlo, what are you doing!" Kwint glared fiercely at Baqir.
"Laszlo!"
His mother-in-law also hurriedly tugged at Baqir, saying that even if she was only a regular level official, and her husband was a deputy-level leader, they were not in the same league as Powa and couldn't afford to offend him.
"Oh, Harris!"
Unexpectedly, Powa was delighted rather than angry upon seeing Baqir, and hurriedly approached him, saying, "What a coincidence to meet here. I was planning to visit you these days. The medicine you prescribed for me last time was miraculous. After taking it for two days, I felt completely different."
Powa chuckled and gave Baqir a thumbs up.
Everyone in the private room was astonished, exchanging confused looks, wondering when Laszlo, this useless guy, had gotten to know the Deputy Director of the Health Bureau and appeared to be quite familiar with him.
"Since Harris is here, I'll let you have this private room. Please continue your meal. I'll drink a penalty cup for my earlier rudeness as an apology to everyone." Powa poured a cup of wine, raised it to everyone, and then drank it in one go.
After that, he patted Baqir's shoulder and said, "Harris, come to our upstairs private room for a drink later. I need your help with something."
"Alright, I'll come over in a bit."
Since Powa had given him such great respect, Baqir naturally couldn't refuse.
After Powa left, the people in the room looked at Baqir differently. The Deputy Director of the Health Bureau was actually asking for his help.
"Oh, brother-in-law, so you know our Director."
Kwint immediately changed to a flattering tone and walked over with a glass of wine. "I spoke inappropriately just now. Don't take it to heart. I'll drink a penalty cup."
After saying this, he drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.
"Well, our bureau has three openings for advanced workers this quarter, and Director Dabney will make the decision. Do you think you can say a few good words for me later?"
Kwint bowed his body, his face full of smiles.
"With my mere associate degree, I'm afraid I can't help you with such a big favor," Baqir said, continuing to eat without even lifting his eyes.
Kwint gave an awkward smile, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Laszlo, we're all family, so don't talk like we're strangers. I was wrong just now, and if you can help your brother-in-law, your aunt and uncle, and your sister will be extremely grateful." Granada's aunt also lost her earlier sharp tone and spoke in a pleasing manner.
"Mom, what do you think? Should I help or not?" Baqir suddenly turned and asked Nara Lester.
Nara's spirits lifted. She had been feeling oppressed throughout the banquet, but now suddenly felt a sense of vindication. Seeing her son-in-law asking for her decision, she looked somewhat proud, straightened her back, glanced at Granada's aunt, and said, "After all, we are family. Laszlo, if you can help, then do it. Your aunt isn't the kind of ungrateful person."
Nara deliberately emphasized her last sentence, causing Granada's aunt to smile without uttering a word.
Baqir then agreed to help and glanced at Granada as he walked out. She still looked cold, but her furrowed brows had relaxed considerably.
This was the first time in nearly two years of marriage that her useless husband had made her proud.
After going upstairs, Powa personally greeted Baqir. The private room was already full of people, and Powa introduced Baqir to the middle-aged man sitting in the center, "Harris, this is Yakez Wade, the Director of Queanmond City's Public Security Bureau."
"Director Wade, hello." Baqir promptly greeted him.
"Director Wade, this is Laszlo Harris, the miracle doctor I told you about. If it weren't for him, my niece would have lost her life that day. For the old man's illness, I think we can let him take a look." Powa then introduced Baqir to Yakez.
"This young man is really young." Yakez smiled and nodded at Baqir, feeling somewhat disappointed inside. Powa had mentioned introducing him to a prominent traditional Chinese medicine doctor, but he hadn't expected a young, inexperienced-looking man.
"Director Wade, don't judge Laszlo by his age. He has a real talent for medicine," Powa strongly recommended Baqir to Yakez.
"Well, young man, why don't you check me first to see if I have any health issues?" Yakez extended his wrist with a smile, his gaze containing a hint of pressure.
“Powa is overpraising me. I just have a bit of knowledge in traditional Chinese medicine." Though Baqir spoke modestly, his hand was already on Yakez's pulse.
"Director Wade is in good health, no major issues. He has slightly high blood pressure, but it's not a big deal. Just be mindful of moderate alcohol consumption," Baqir said.
"You really have great medical skills, young man. I suppose all people of my age would have high blood pressure," Yakez laughed, his words laced with undisguised sarcasm.
"Ha ha ha ha ha..."
The others in the private room also burst into laughter.
"Although you are not ill, Director Wade, your wife appears to frequently experience symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, and aching in her waist and legs. Despite it being summer, even when she wears a down jacket, she doesn't sweat a drop."
Baqir was not annoyed and continued to speak.
"How do you know?" Yakez's face suddenly changed, and the laughter in the private room also stopped abruptly.
"Your wife has an extremely cold constitution. Having spent a lot of time with her, you've somewhat absorbed it as well," Baqir explained.
"Can you cure it?" Yakez's voice trembled slightly.
Having been deeply in love with his wife for thirty years, he was heartbroken when these symptoms started appearing the year before last. Despite seeking medical help everywhere and taking many medications, there was no significant improvement.
"Yes, I can cure it, but it will take some time," Baqir confidently stated.
"Baqir, if you can cure my wife's illness, you'll be my saviour. Cheers to you!" Yakez said, lifting his glass and drinking it in one gulp.
"See, Mr. Wade, didn't I tell you? Harris is a miracle doctor. Let him take a look at the old man's illness," Powa said proudly, having recommended Baqir.
"Harris, are you free tomorrow? I'll send someone, no, I'll come personally to pick you up and ask you to examine my father-in-law," Yakez also addressed Baqir as 'Harris ', utterly impressed by Baqir's accurate diagnosis of his wife's condition.
"What illness does the elderly gentleman have?" Baqir inquired.
"The symptoms are quite simple. It's just a migraine. Each episode lasts only about half an hour, but during that short time, it's excruciatingly painful. He has seen many specialists, but to no avail. There's been no relief at all."
Yakez's expression grew grave. In his over fifty years of life, he had never seen such a severe case of migraine.
This was also why he dined with Powa that evening, hoping his connections could find some specialists in this field. If this didn't work, he was considering seeking treatment abroad.
"Let me visit tomorrow and take a look at the old man's condition," Baqir said, not daring to make a judgement without seeing the patient.
"Harris, you're in luck this time. Do you know who Mr. Wade's father-in-law is? It's Othniel Carlyle! To treat this illness, the old man spent 1.5 million dollars!" Powa excitedly patted Baqir's shoulder.
Othniel Carlyle?
Baqir was inwardly shocked. Othniel Carlyle was a prominent figure in the Queanmond City business community, a giant in the automobile industry. It is said that more than half of the 4S dealerships in Queanmond City belong to him.
"As long as Harris can cure my father's illness, money is no issue," Yakez smiled and nodded.
1.5 million! Baqir felt everything brighten up. The debt he owed Mr. Hudson could finally be resolved.
When the banquet ended, Baqir mentioned Kwint's matter to Powa. Without hesitation, Powa took Baqir downstairs and shouted at Kwint, "You, write an application for a model worker and bring it to my office tomorrow."
"Thank you, Director! Thank you so much!"
Kwint bowed and thanked profusely. After sending off Powa, he personally saw off Baqir and Granada's family. Granada's aunt also put on a smiling face, continuously praising Nara and Mace for finding such a good son-in-law.
Tonight's events greatly satisfied Nara's vanity. She had never expected her seemingly insignificant son-in-law to bring her such pride one day.
"Laszlo, you actually know the Deputy Director of the Health Bureau? I never knew about this before," Nara asked excitedly.
"He came to the clinic for treatment, and we just met a few days ago. Granada was also there. I helped him with a small matter, so he was so polite when we met," Baqir intentionally made the story sound simple.
"Oh," Nara seemed a bit disappointed, initially thinking her son-in-law might climb the social ladder, only to find out they had just met a few days ago.
The next morning, Yakez personally came to pick up Baqir. After driving for over half an hour, they arrived at a well-known top-tier affluent area in Queanmond City. The area was filled with four-storey villas with vast land, surrounded by lawns, green plants, and ponds, resembling small manors.
Upon arriving upstairs, Yakez's brother-in-law, Agastya Carlyle, had already arrived, along with a young man of similar age to Baqir, holding a black-grey medical box marked with the words "Salvation Clinic."
"Are you from Linage City's Scrooge Group's Salvation Clinic?" Baqir was slightly surprised upon seeing the words 'Salvation Clinic'. His university Traditional Chinese Medicine professor often mentioned this clinic with admiration, even praising it as the backbone of the resurgence of traditional Chinese medicine.
"Indeed." The young man's voice was somewhat aloof. As a standout among the younger generation of the Salvation Clinic, he had the right to be distant.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Baqir... I mean Laszlo," Baqir excitedly said, extending his hand for a handshake.
"Flint Scrooge."
The young man merely glanced coldly at Baqir, showing no intention of shaking hands. Baqir awkwardly withdrew his hand.
"Brother-in-law, what brings you here today? And who is this?" Agastya asked Yakez.
"This is the miracle doctor I've invited to treat my father, Doctor Harris," Yakez specifically praised Baqir, somewhat disapproving of Flint's arrogant attitude.
"Hehe, that won't be necessary. Now that we have someone from the Salvation Clinic, there's no need for anyone else," Agastya said, not looking down on Baqir but simply believing that with a Salvation Clinic expert present, others were not needed.
"Housekeeper, give this young man 15,000 dollars as a consolation fee. No, since he was introduced by my brother-in-law, make it 30,000," Agastya instructed the old housekeeper.
"Agastya, let's not be so hasty in making a decision. Since Doctor Harris is here, let him have a look first. What if your Salvation Clinic expert is also at a loss?" Yakez spoke with a hint of displeasure.
Actually, he was somewhat selfish, hoping Baqir could cure his father-in-law's illness, which would bring him and the entire family honour.
"There's no need for that. Let him go. I've already studied Mr. Carlyle's condition before coming here, and I'm quite confident," Flint asserted confidently.