Chapter 970: Human Lives Cannot Be Traded

Seeing Lu Chuan enter, Zhang Meng’s eyes moved; he certainly recognized Lu Chuan, as it was he who brought people to arrest him.

"I hear they call you Captain Lu. Are you the one leading this case?"

Ignoring what Lu Chuan had just said, Zhang asked him directly about his identity.

Lu Chuan nodded: "Zhang Meng, crime is crime. There’s no such thing as violating legal clauses."

"Oh? What crime do you say I’ve committed? The ones buying kidneys get to live, the sellers get money. What’s wrong with that? Both parties get what they want; it’s a fair trade."

Zhang Meng looked seriously at Lu Chuan: "By doing this, everyone achieves a win-win, and as the middleman, I’m just taking a margin. Besides, you should know my fee isn’t high; I only earn 100,000 yuan per person."

"Only 100,000 yuan. To those wealthy people, it’s just a drop in the ocean."

A drop in the ocean?

Lu Chuan nodded: "You’re right, 100,000 yuan to a wealthy person isn’t even a drop in the ocean. But precisely because of this, your crime is unforgivable."

"Hmph, what unforgivable crime? Isn’t the root issue merely the debate over buying organs with money?"

Zhang Meng scoffed at Lu Chuan’s words.

"Since you know this, you should understand: buying organs is akin to murder."

Zhang Meng was indifferent: "I’m only selling kidneys. A person with two kidneys loses one, there’s no physiological impact."

No impact?

Lu Chuan tossed a stack of documents in front of Zhang Meng.

"You claim there’s no impact, but Zhang, you’re just fooling yourself. Have you considered the current situation of the 19 people who sold their kidneys? Have you visited them?"

Lu Chuan’s eyes revealed disgust.

Crime itself isn’t frightening; anyone can commit a crime. The problem is Zhang Meng knows he’s broken the law yet sees it as no crime, which is terrifying.

His disdain and anger were directed at the legal clauses, as some things are permitted abroad.

Zhang Meng said nothing.

"You graduated from a college, even though you studied pharmacy and later worked in procurement. But you understand these circumstances; a person with two kidneys is healthy. Losing one significantly impacts physical strength, lifespan, and immunity."

Lu Chuan continued revealing Zhang Meng’s evil nature: "Moreover, you clearly know the surgical environment in Bo’ai Hospital’s basement in the USA doesn’t meet sterile operation room requirements. This poses a postoperative infection risk among these people."

"Additionally, do you know why our law prohibits organ trade?"

Lu Chuan looked at the other, giving Zhang Meng an example.

"You’ve been in this business for 5 years, so let me give you an example; you’ll clearly grasp its essence."

"If a billionaire has heart disease and requires a transplant, yet none of the donors match his unique body type."

"Then a nurse treating this billionaire’s condition sees your medical report and discovers your bodily indicators match perfectly for heart transplant."

"If organs were tradable, what would the billionaire see you as when he learns your heart matches? A person or merely a walking heart?"

"I..."

They wanted to assert being human, but couldn’t speak under Lu Chuan’s stern gaze.

Because they knew if such an extreme situation arose, even if organ trade isn’t permitted, they’re still a moving heart in the billionaire’s eyes, who’d find any means to obtain it.

And the billionaire wouldn’t even need to act; just the news would prompt others to act.

"Laws provide you with a layer of security. Without this legal barrier, lives cease to be lives."

Life cannot be traded.

Otherwise, the poor have no chance of survival.

Though we emphasize equality for all, reality divides people into castes.

Some live well due to wealth, experiencing material satisfaction.

Some lack wealth, but find happiness submerged in their mental world, whether through calligraphy or painting.

But some are impoverished, unable to enjoy material comforts and therefore unhappy.

Others, regardless of wealth, live in spiritual emptiness, always feeling void.

Yet despite happiness, wealth, or health, reality divides people between heaven, earth, and hell.

Where true equality lies is in facing death.

Even the richest people become powerless facing death, waiting for its arrival.

Today’s medical techniques allow the wealthy to linger in ICU, but they are merely clinging to life—death remains inevitable.

Yet if life were marketable, this circumstance changes.

As wealthy individuals facing death could purchase organs, extending their life rather than relying on voluntary donation.

Though those involved are mostly apprehended, case processing speed remains slow.

Zhang Meng and others’ participation in crime is evident, with conclusive evidence, but the involvement of hospital staff isn’t outright definitive.

For instance, some doctors and nurses in Haizhou City’s Third Hospital.

Some may knowingly use questionable kidneys; others might be unaware.

Ultimately, their duty was healthcare, not checking kidney origins, nor were they obliged to investigate.

Thus, related investigation and evidence collection may take an extended time.

Yet Lu Chuan and Wang Song have completed their task, reporting the case to Li Donglin before returning to their units.