When this person called himself Secretary Walker, Henry Walker immediately remembered who he was. This man was David Grant, the deputy leader of the western work group in Xihe Township. Although he was just a general worker, with over twenty years of experience in Xihezi Township, he was quite the old hand, and just for that, people dared not underestimate him. Even in front of the township chief Samuel Carter, he was a person of considerable standing.

“Oh, so it’s Old Grant. I happened to bring a patient to the hospital. Are you here because you’re not feeling well?” Henry Walker nodded at David Grant and asked with concern.

Hearing Henry Walker’s response, David Grant was momentarily stunned. After mixing in the township for over twenty years, what kind of leaders hadn’t he seen? Upon first meeting Henry Walker, he had already formed an initial impression: a frail scholar, definitely not a match for Township Chief Carter.

This time, when greeting him, based on his understanding of Henry Walker, he thought Secretary Walker would at most give him a perfunctory greeting. He never expected that Henry Walker would seriously inquire about his health, and that natural attitude was something that couldn’t be faked.

“Same old problem, still far from the heart, not going to die yet!” David Grant, after all his years of experience, was puzzled for a moment, then casually brushed it off.

“Old Grant, you really can’t afford to be so careless about your health. The body is the foundation of the revolution. Tell me, what’s the point of working yourself to death? In a few days, go to the city and get a thorough check-up for me. If you need treatment or rest, do it. I’ll approve special leave for you. This is also work. If anything gets delayed, I’ll dock your pay!” Henry Walker said to David Grant in a tone that brooked no argument.

The way Henry Walker talked about docking pay was so forceful that it left David Grant almost frozen in thought. A long-lost sense of care, a warm sense of reliance, surged in his heart, moving him so much he was nearly brought to tears!

Chapter 0005: Vicious Dogs Don’t Bite; Dogs That Bite Don’t Bark

The fat director stood awkwardly to the side, his face clouded with uncertainty. Thinking about how he had just dragged the Party Secretary and flattered the township chief, he felt embarrassed.

Today really was an unlucky day, but fortunately, this new Party Secretary was just a puppet, so there was still room to recover.

With that thought, he quickly put on an apologetic face, slapped his forehead, and said, “Oh dear, Secretary Walker, look at me! I’ve been so busy with work here, so many things to handle, I got confused and didn’t recognize you. Secretary Walker, you go ahead, I’ll excuse myself!” As he spoke, the fat director didn’t wait for Henry Walker to reply and hurried off.

Watching the fat director run off faster than a rabbit, Henry Walker immediately realized something, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

The young female teacher didn’t pay much attention to Henry Walker’s identity. Seeing the director leave, she quickly urged the doctor, Xiao Fu, “Oh, please hurry! My student is still waiting for surgery!”

For most men, when faced with a beautiful woman’s gentle plea, the first reaction is to find it hard to refuse. Even though Dr. Fu was already married, he was still happy to play the role of a gallant protector for a pretty woman. So, faced with the teacher’s plea, he couldn’t help but feel sympathy.

But thinking of the director’s meaningful look as he left, and with his own professional title exam coming up this year, Little Ford showed a troubled expression and said with a bitter face, “It’s not that I don’t want to help, but I don’t have enough authority. You haven’t paid all the medical fees yet…”

“Didn’t the director just say to go ahead with the surgery?” The female teacher didn’t catch the hidden meaning, and seeing the agreed-upon plan change, her face flushed red.

“The director did say that, but the medicine needed before the surgery still requires Director Gao’s signature. Otherwise, the pharmacy won’t release the medicine, and the surgery can’t proceed!” Little Ford was hesitant at first, but this last part he said quite fluently.

The beautiful teacher’s face turned bright red with anger. Her chest heaved violently with emotion. Her face seemed covered in a layer of frost, cold and pained, and she said bluntly, “In the eyes of doctors, life and death are so insignificant! Whether or not to operate depends only on whether the medical fees are paid, with no regard for the urgency of the patient’s condition! Healing the sick and saving lives is a doctor’s duty. I ask you, do you have any humanity left?”

The teacher’s sharp words left Dr. Little Ford speechless, and he could only explain, “It’s not that I don’t want to help, but without the leader’s signature, my words don’t count.”

A low moan came again from the consultation room, and the teacher’s face grew even uglier, her eyes filled with anger, embarrassment, and a hint of helplessness. Her pleading gaze fell on Henry Walker.

He seemed to know the director well, and besides, he drove a car. Maybe asking him for help would work.

With a last glimmer of hope, the teacher rushed to Henry Walker, grabbed his hand, and pleaded, “Kind sir, you’ve seen Little Lily’s condition. Please, I beg you, save this child. If she can’t have surgery now, I’m afraid she… She’s only twelve, her life is just beginning…”