Chapter 288 - 266: A Futile Cover-up! Gotta Make Money

Chapter 288: Chapter 266: A Futile Cover-up! Gotta Make Money

In the Xuanfeng Alliance, a sudden news story about the medical field captured everyone’s attention. After Qingfeng Network Company released the story, it shot straight to the top of the trending charts, especially back in the country.

"Xuanfeng Alliance Cracks Medical Case; Hospital Colluded with... Authorities Have Arrested 43 Individuals, Including Hospital Director, Doctors, and Medical Officials. The Case Is Still Under Investigation!"

It was about the central hospital.

Netizens back home were all in disbelief:

"It’s hard to believe there are hospitals this corrupt. So they’ll even make money off the dead until a family is driven to bankruptcy."

"I never thought the medical field in the Xuanfeng Alliance could be so corrupt. To think this kind of thing happens there."

"Heh, does the poster above think this doesn’t happen back home? Go look up the news about Uncle Wang being charged for treatment three days after he died!"

"And in a certain province down south, an elderly person passed away, and eight months later, the hospital was still billing their health insurance. The family was even told to make up for a shortfall!"

"Some people are just naive. Still think the Xuanfeng Alliance is a mess? I think their medical system isn’t so corrupt. At least they actually arrest the culprits."

"Haha, some people can’t seriously think it’s better back home than in the Xuanfeng Alliance, can they? Back home, this would just be swept under the rug. They wouldn’t even be able to make any arrests."

"..."

For a moment, the news created massive waves, and the fervor of the discussion seemed to shift toward the country’s own medical system.

Qingfeng Network Company.

Wang Kai had just finished reviewing a document when the head of the news department rushed in. "President Wang, the people from the censorship bureau told us to take down the story about the Xuanfeng Alliance medical case. It’s already been scrubbed from other platforms."

"???" Wang Kai was stunned. "What the hell? How did this story get in their way? Do they have to stick their noses into every single trending topic?"

The department head quickly explained, "I made some inquiries. It seems the story struck a chord with the public and started drawing comparisons to our own medical system, so..."

"I get it. Take it down," Wang Kai ordered with a sigh.

Of course he knew just how powerful and far-reaching the network behind the domestic medical system was.

Still, it was so high-handed, forcing them to take the story down just like that.

But for such a massively trending story to just vanish into thin air... wasn’t that just a clumsy cover-up? Weren’t they just treating everyone like idiots?

Then again, when he thought about all their ridiculously itemized fees, wasn’t that just fleecing people like they were fools?

Wang Kai shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it. After all, he was rich now. If he ever got sick, he had access to special medical channels and exclusive VIP treatments.

Just as Wang Kai had thought, the viral medical story suddenly vanished without a trace. Who couldn’t figure out what was going on?

The online complaints only grew louder, and many people even started posting videos full of veiled satire.

Unfortunately, who cared?

...

The Xuanfeng Alliance.

Early in the morning, Chen Bo brought Lin Chao to Wind Manor to meet with Lu Feng.

Seeing this man again, Lin Chao was still just as awestruck.

’Someone so young is actually the one in control of the entire Xuanfeng Alliance.’

’Is there any other young person in the entire world who could accomplish something like this?’

’His peers back home are still in college or just starting their bewildering post-grad internships.’

"Governor!" Chen Bo said.

"His Excellency the Governor," Lin Chao said.

Seeing the two of them, Lu Feng asked, "Aside from the central hospital, what about the others?"

He cared deeply about places like hospitals. They were meant to save lives and heal the wounded. Since this was his territory, he would absolutely not allow such corrupt parasites to exist.

Chen Bo reported at once, "I led a team to investigate the other hospitals in Wind Capital. We found that many of them have similar situations. What’s more, they all have some connection, to one degree or another, with the medical official we arrested. You could say it’s just like back home—the entire medical system is rotten."

"..." Lu Feng fell silent at his words.

When Chen Bo used the domestic medical system as an analogy, Lu Feng understood immediately. It meant the system as a whole was compromised.

The only difference was that the Xuanfeng Alliance’s medical system didn’t know how to be discreet, nor did it have enough power to normalize its own corruption.

Therefore, he couldn’t give the Xuanfeng Alliance’s medical system the chance to do so.

It had to be purged.

Lu Feng spoke to Chen Bo in a cold voice. "Get to the bottom of this. If you lack experience investigating hospitals, find someone from back home to help. Don’t let a single one of these scumbags get away."

"Understood!" Chen Bo replied at once.

To be honest, he really didn’t have any experience in this area. Without a deep understanding of medicine, he wouldn’t even know where to begin investigating the tricks those hospitals were pulling.

As for the rest of the police force? They were useless.

So, upon leaving Wind Capital, he immediately took out his phone and dialed Yang Ming’s number.

Tianzhou City.

At Qingfeng Tea City, Yang Ming was brewing tea with Master Kai.

The two of them not only collaborated on construction projects but also on the distribution of Dream-Returning Wine. These days, they often hung out to drink tea and strengthen their rapport.

When Yang Ming saw Chen Bo’s call, he answered with a smile. "Chen Bo, what’s up? What’s the occasion?"

Chen Bo got straight to the point. "Yang Ming, I need a favor. Find me someone who knows the ins and outs of the medical field. President Lu wants me to conduct a thorough investigation of the Xuanfeng Alliance’s hospital system, and I’m completely in the dark. The guys at the Xuanfeng Alliance police department are useless."

"Got it," Yang Ming agreed. Within their Qingfeng faction, Chen Bo was a true insider, closer to the core than people like Master Kai.

After hanging up, he turned to Master Kai. "Master Kai, do you know anyone who’s familiar with the medical system? I mean someone who really knows all the dirty little secrets. The folks in the Xuanfeng Alliance need to investigate their medical system, and they’re short on people who can help."

Hearing this, Master Kai answered immediately. "For that, you’ll want to find a guy named Tan Ming."

"Tan Ming? Who’s that?" Yang Ming asked, confused.

Master Kai explained, "He’s a stubborn blockhead. Used to be in charge of Tianzhou City’s medical department. When he discovered problems in the hospitals, he single-mindedly pushed for reforms, but he never considered that the entire system is like that. Reforming one part would mean shaking up the whole thing."

"You know what happened next. The medical establishment used its connections to pressure him, but the guy is as stubborn as a mule. He just kept digging for evidence. The more evidence he found, the greater the threats became. Eventually, he was forced out, and the whole affair was swept under the rug."

"He’s the kind of person who, if you gave him real authority, could actually root out and solve all the problems in the entire medical system. Unfortunately, against the system, one man’s power is too small."

"Besides, as they say, water that is too pure has no fish. In certain environments, his personal integrity and incorruptibility are practically a sin."

Yang Ming didn’t hesitate. "Master Kai, can you help me set up a meeting with this Tan Ming? It sounds like the Xuanfeng Alliance needs a man with his talents."

"Mm," Master Kai nodded.

...

「Time passed.」

The audit of the Xuanfeng Alliance’s medical system continued. The director of the central hospital, Dacai, and the others were swiftly tried, sentenced to death by firing squad, and the verdict was announced to the public.

Lu Feng was satisfied with this outcome. He then left Chen Bo to continue the investigation and purge the rest of the medical system.

He paid the matter no more mind. Instead, he had several jars of wine brought to him. Previously, he had obtained two special bone fragments from the game.

When infused in wine, these two special bone fragments could create a liquor that restored eyesight. He planned to make the wine first and then give it to the researchers in the game to study.

After taking over the East Suburb Fortress, his research department had grown in scale and talent. With the right people, their knowledge base surpassed that of the real world by an immeasurable degree.

Having them decipher it would certainly be easier than using researchers from the real world. Besides, the Xuanfeng Alliance probably didn’t have researchers of that caliber anyway, and trying to use them would create the risk of leaks.

Lu Feng smashed the two special bone fragments, placed them into separate wine jars, sealed them, and brought them into the game.

But as soon as he entered the game, his game exploration skill revealed information about the wine:

[A liquor infused with special bone fragments. Drinking it has the effect of restoring eyesight. (Note: The infusion is not yet complete; its effects are limited. It will take two days to reach full potency!)]

Lu Feng was a little surprised to see the note. He had assumed the wine would need to infuse for a long time before becoming effective; he never thought it would work so quickly.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. When Lu Feng entered the game again and checked the description of the wine, he found that it had indeed taken full effect.

[A liquor infused with special bone fragments. Drinking it has the effect of restoring eyesight.]

Seeing this, he immediately brought a jar of the wine out of the game and back to Wind Manor. Just as he was about to have someone find a few nearsighted people to test it on, Baguda came rushing over.

The moment Baguda saw him, he reported, "His Excellency the Governor, the production line for the face masks you requested has been set up. We’ve also purchased some of the necessary materials."

Lu Feng nodded. After obtaining the gene-active fluid face mask technology, he had planned to make it the second major industry for the Xuanfeng Alliance.

Now that the production line was ready and the materials were purchased, it was time to start producing the masks.

Right now, the Xuanfeng Alliance wasn’t just engaged in large-scale infrastructure projects; it had also recruited numerous teachers. On top of that, he was planning a comprehensive raise in wages and benefits for all police officers and soldiers. All of this required money.

So, it was time to make some money.

Lu Feng first nodded, then gave Baguda another order. "Baguda, go find some people with poor eyesight. Have them drink this wine. Hmm, let them drink it for a day or two. I need them for an experiment."

Baguda was instantly confused. ’Why would the Governor suddenly want to find nearsighted people and make them drink wine?’

Still, the Governor had given an order, and his job was to follow it. He acknowledged the command, picked up the wine jar, and left.