Chapter 447 — Rolling In

Yang Huaijun wasted no time on pleasantries and went straight to the point. "Grandpa Guan, the main reason I brought Xiao Song along this time is that I'd like to borrow your connections to look into a few things."

"Xiao Yang, no need to stand on ceremony. Just say what you have to say." Guan Xuewen knew that Yang Huaijun would only come to him over something important, so he waved a hand and asked directly, "In future, if Xiao Song has business of her own, she can simply come to me."

"Thank you, Professor Guan," Qiu Lingshan said hastily.

"It's like this, Grandpa Guan. Recently there's been a gang trafficking organs illegally, running wild, seizing beggars, vagrants, even the disabled right off the streets, cutting out their kidneys or their corneas. They've grown utterly brazen!" Yang Huaijun said. "So I'd like to ask you to help me find out where the major hospitals are sourcing their organ transplants and corneal grafts. I'm hoping we can dig up some leads from that."

"That's easy enough to arrange. But all I can do is make inquiries. For operations already performed, even if the organs were obtained illegally, I have no way to demand that they be cut back out," Guan Xuewen said.

"Naturally. That would be too inhumane. But the parties involved in the illegal transactions still have to be punished," Yang Huaijun said. "I'm counting on your help, Grandpa Guan."

"I'll give Xiao Xiang a call. He's a shareholder in several hospitals and better informed than I am," Guan Xuewen said with a nod.

The Xiao Xiang Guan Xuewen spoke of was his youngest son, Guan Xiaopeng, Guan Xin's father, who held shares in a number of hospitals and also co-owned a private hospital in Songjiang City with Guan Xin's mother. He was, by any measure, one of the most renowned figures in the province's medical circles.

"Heh, with Uncle Xiang and Aunt Lan helping, we should be able to dig up some information," Yang Huaijun said with a nod. Aunt Lan, as he called her, was Guan Xiaopeng's wife and Guan Xin's mother.

Yang Huaijun had brought Qiu Lingshan along chiefly to ask for Guan Xuewen's help. Now that the matter had been laid out and Guan Xuewen had readily agreed, there was no reason to linger. Besides, it was plain that Guan Xuewen had other business with Wei Zhao, so Yang Huaijun rose to take his leave. "Grandpa Guan, we'll be going then. Things are rather busy at the bureau. I'll come and see you another day."

"Go on, then. Come for dinner some other time," Guan Xuewen said with a nod.

"Wait!" Wei Zhao called Yang Huaijun back. "I've already prepared the medicine for your second course of treatment, but I didn't bring it with me today. Tomorrow, why don't you come to my school to pick it up?"

"Fine. But lately I've been seconded to the neighboring city to help investigate a major case, so I may be very busy. If I can't find the time, I'll send Xiao Song over," Yang Huaijun said with a nod. "I won't waste words on thanks. It's all understood without being said."

"Then keep busy. Just don't work yourself to death," Wei Zhao said with a shrug. "Back before I started treating you, I never saw you this busy."

"Heh heh, a man should do as much as his abilities allow, and haven't I just about recovered?" Yang Huaijun said, a little sheepish. "Besides, aren't I also creating opportunities for you and Xiao Song?"

"Huh?!" Wei Zhao's eyes went wide, and so did Qiu Lingshan's.

Wei Zhao was somewhat at a loss for words. Why was Yang Huaijun always trying to push him and Qiu Lingshan together? As for Qiu Lingshan, what astonished her was how Brother Yang, in Wei Zhao's presence, had suddenly turned so flippant.

Hmph, that brat must have corrupted him. It had to be! One day, when she came out on top, she would make Wei Zhao pay! But for now, it seemed she could not turn things around just yet. She would have to keep working at it.

After seeing Yang Huaijun and Qiu Lingshan off, Wei Zhao returned to Guan Xuewen's study. Guan Xuewen was on the phone, and he had just hung up as Wei Zhao came in. "I called President Lai. He'll be over shortly."

"President Lai? You mean Fatty Lai?" Wei Zhao blinked before it registered.

"Heh, that's the one." Naturally, Guan Xuewen could hardly call Lai Changshan "Fatty Lai" to his face.

They had barely exchanged a few words when voices came from outside the study, and the next moment a ball-shaped person came rolling into the room. Fatty Lai had been here before, so Auntie Liu knew him, and the moment he arrived he was let straight in.

But Fatty Lai had heard from Guan Xuewen that Wei Zhao would be here too, and so he had grown a little anxious — he was desperate to see Wei Zhao. They had not met since parting at the birthday banquet, and in his excitement he tripped at the study door and came tumbling straight into the room.

Wei Zhao was startled by Fatty Lai. "What kind of martial art is that? Even if you wanted to get in faster, there was no need to come in like that!"

"Heh heh... a slip, a slip. I tripped by accident and ended up like this..." Fatty Lai said, a little embarrassed. "Divine Doctor Lin, I've finally found you. I've missed you so much! Boo-hoo, I thought you'd abandoned me and I'd never see you again! You have no idea how excited I was when Professor Guan called me just now — I wasn't even this excited on my wedding day!"

"All right... just keep your distance from me. I am a little frightened. I do not doubt your orientation, but I am still on my guard against you," Wei Zhao said once he had put a meter between himself and Fatty Lai.

"That is fine. Just seeing Doctor Lin is enough for me," Fatty Lai said, not minding in the least that Wei Zhao wanted nothing to do with him. He dug a document out of his backpack. "Doctor Lin, please have a look. The ownership of the tower has been fully transferred to Miss Guan Xin's name. The moment Miss Guan Xin signs, the contract takes effect!"

"Oh? Is that not where your new company is headquartered as well? If you hand over the whole thing, what becomes of you?" Wei Zhao asked, puzzled.

"I have become a tenant. From now on I shall pay my rent on time every month!" Fatty Lai said. "Doctor Lin, you are not going to throw me out, are you..."

Wei Zhao found Fatty Lai a bit of a nuisance, but he had no grounds to evict him. The man had given him his own tower; throwing him out after that would be downright shabby.

"No, I will not. Stay as long as you like. As for the rent, forget it," Wei Zhao said with a wave of his hand.

"Heh heh, then I shall stay right where I am!" Fatty Lai had already made up his mind to latch onto Wei Zhao for good. He had seen it clearly: so long as he stayed close to Wei Zhao, benefits would surely pile up in the future!

Wei Zhao had not been close to him before and had not much cared for him, but that did not matter. Give it time and familiarity would come of itself. Was it not going well already? At least Wei Zhao was willing to see him now. That was a fine beginning!

"How is your father doing?" Having taken a whole tower off the man for nothing, Wei Zhao felt a little uneasy. He was not the sort to reap without sowing; his fees were steep and his commissions cutthroat, but he had earned them through honest work.