Into the Lion’s Den chapter 2

“Jack’s Hotel” opened with great fanfare. Just as the firecrackers (replaced with something like confetti or a big opening ceremony noise – makers in the US context) were set off, Tom led two hooligans into the door and said, “I heard you made a fortune outside and came back to show off?” Jack said, “Thanks to your good luck, I’ve been doing okay outside these years! Brother, you’re the kingpin in Harmonyville. This time I’m back to open a shop, and I’ll rely on you to take care of me!” Then he filled a glass of wine and said, “Let me offer you a toast first! If you have any difficulties in the future, just say a word. I can’t say much, but I can still come up with a few thousand dollars!”

After hearing these words, Tom’s cold face softened. He picked up the glass and drank it all in one gulp. Jack offered three more toasts in a row. The waiters scurried around, serving good wine and delicious food. Before long, Tom was so drunk that he “thumped” and rolled off his seat, lying straight on the ground.

Jack looked at him and shouted in a loud voice, “Brother Tom is dead drunk. Quick, call a car and send him to the hospital!” One of the hooligans said, “He’s just drunk. It happens all the time.” Jack said, “How can you say that! Brother Tom is such an important person. If something happens to him, who can take the responsibility? You go and call his wife over!” The hooligan had no choice but to make a phone call. Tom’s wife rushed over in a hurry. Jack called a taxi and rushed him to the town hospital.

Speaking of this town hospital, it was quite well – known in Harmonyville. Recently, there had been a popular saying in the town: “One fear is Tom entering the shop, and the second fear is getting sick and being admitted to the hospital.” The first fear is needless to say, and the “second fear” refers to the town hospital. A new female hospital director had been transferred to the town hospital recently. Her husband worked in the county government, and one of her brothers was the county police chief. Since she took office, the medical expenses had been sky – rocketing. The doctors seemed to be directly reaching into the patients’ wallets when they felt the pulse. That’s why there was this saying.

To cut a long story short, Tom was sent to the hospital. The doctors rushed forward and dragged him into the emergency room like a dead dog. Jack quietly took out a sealed envelope and gave it to Tom’s wife, saying, “Nowadays, it’s common to give a tip when seeing a doctor. You give this to the attending doctor. It’s just a little token of our gratitude!” Then, making an excuse that he was busy in the shop, he left first.

When no one was around, Tom’s wife stuffed the envelope into the attending doctor’s white coat. The doctor closed his eyes and pretended not to see it. After a while, he secretly opened it. He was so angry that he almost exploded: inside the envelope was a stack of play money used for some kind of prank! Wasn’t this cursing the doctor for being money – grubbing? The doctor immediately went to the director’s office and reported, “Good news. There’s a rich patient today!” The female director quickly instructed, “Then don’t let him go easily!”

Suddenly, the whole hospital was in a flurry of activity. They did blood tests, urine tests, X – rays, and a whole bunch of other examinations. After a round of折腾, the examination fees alone were $5,800! The conclusion was that the cause of the illness was unknown, and he had to be hospitalized for observation. Then, without any explanation, Tom was moved to a first – class ward. They hung two bottles of intravenous drips on him every day, and they did a full – body re – examination every few days.

Tom had just drunk too much. After he sobered up, he was fine. Seeing the doctors being so serious and respectful, he really thought he was an important person and the hospital didn’t dare to neglect him, so he was enjoying this high – end treatment. He never even thought about paying the bill! The first – class ward was equipped with air – conditioning and color TVs. Jack also sent some fruits and snacks from time to time, telling him to “rest and recuperate at ease”. Tom really regarded the hospital as a wonderful place and was a bit reluctant to leave.

After more than a month, Tom’s wife said to Tom, “Your brother is having a birthday. He’s urging you to go home and help with the arrangements.” Tom then said, “Okay, let’s go.” He packed his luggage and was about to leave with his wife when a nurse on duty stopped him and said, “You haven’t settled the bill yet. Go and settle it first!” Tom stared at her in surprise, “Settle the bill? What bill?” The nurse said, “The medical expenses and the hospitalization fees, a total of $33,800!” When Tom heard this, his eyes turned red, “I only have a little change here. Take this first!” Then he kicked at the nurse. The nurse was so scared that she cried and shouted, “It’s terrible! The patient is trying to avoid paying the bill and even attacking people!” The whole hospital was in an uproar. The female director heard the news and rushed over with some people. She shouted, “Stop him! Don’t let him go until he pays every cent!”

Tom didn’t know the female director, let alone her background. When the female director shouted at him, he said nothing and suddenly punched her hard. The female director was caught off guard and was knocked to the ground, bleeding profusely.

The hospital was in complete chaos. Someone called the police during the commotion. Soon, the shrill sound of police sirens came from outside. Tom realized that something was wrong and slipped out through the back door of the hospital.

It turned out that when the town police station received the alarm from the hospital, saying that the female director had been beaten by Tom and was in a critical condition, the police chief was almost scared out of his wits! All the police officers immediately rushed out. The female director’s brother, the county police chief, was extremely angry and dispatched many policemen to reinforce. Finding that Tom had escaped, they organized a force to block all the roads out of the town. They used loudspeakers to call on all the villagers in the town to join the manhunt for Tom! The townspeople had been waiting for this day for a long time. They all picked up whatever they could find and went out. Tom had just hidden in a shed when the villagers swarmed in and dragged him out! That night, the county TV station reported this exciting news with the title “Police and villagers join hands to get rid of the local bully and restore peace to the tourist destination”.

Tom was taken away. It was said that he wouldn’t be able to come back for ten or eight years. The property he had extorted over the years was seized by the court to pay for the hospital’s medical expenses and losses. Although the hospital had won a great victory, it was also severely damaged. The female director still had lingering fears when she thought of that punch. From then on, she really became more restrained. The two fears in Harmonyville were gone. Someone gave Jack a thumbs – up and asked him, “How did you come up with this idea?” Jack smiled and said, “Working outside has given me a new way of thinking!”

It seems that we can’t underestimate the workers who come back from other places!