Chapter 32 - 032 Free Lunch

Words : 1393 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 32: 032 Free LunchAlthough Du Heng remained silent, he listened intently. However, the faint smile playing on his lips made Li Jun increasingly flustered and gave him palpitations. Moreover, the growing indifference from the surrounding elderly, coupled with their blunt remarks, soured Li Jun’s mood further. He knew perfectly well what he was up to. He lacked confidence, and Du Heng’s smile unnerved him. His boasting gradually dwindled in volume until he fell completely silent. Li Jun stopped talking, but Du Heng picked up. "Finished?" "Yeah." Li Jun felt an inexplicable surge of nervousness. "I have a few questions. Clarifying things will benefit everyone. If there are no issues, I’ll help you mobilize the village. What do you say?" Li Jun swallowed. Although he didn’t know what Du Heng might ask, he grew increasingly nervous. The sight of Du Heng, smiling faintly, put immense pressure on him. He didn’t even know where this pressure was coming from. "First question: what kind of organization is your Boka Rehabilitation Center? May I see your credentials?" "Sorry, we didn’t bring any credentials with us, so you can’t see them. But I can tell you, our center has conducted extensive research into cardiovascular conditions, and for post-operative care and recovery, we are outstanding in the industry." Du Heng just chuckled, ignoring Li Jun’s words. Li Jun’s words sounded professional and impressive, but to Du Heng, they were clearly nonsense. Moreover, Li Jun hadn’t answered his previous question: "Can your Hospital treat patients and prescribe medicine?" This question was piercing. Prescribing medicine was a privilege exclusive to a medical institution. Of course, treating cardiovascular diseases without prescribing medicine was impossible. However, Boka Rehabilitation was just a Rehabilitation Center; it lacked that authorization. The "medicine" it could dispense was either a health product or quasi-medicine health products. But Li Jun knew he couldn’t answer that way. Doing so would mean failing miserably on the spot. Left with no choice, he gritted his teeth and said, "We can." The moment he spoke, Wu Buwei handed his mobile phone to Du Heng, displaying the online introduction for "Boka Rehabilitation Center." Du Heng glanced at the introduction on the mobile phone, his smile widening. "You’re not being honest." He then showed the phone’s screen to Li Jun. Li Jun panicked, desperately trying to explain, "Our center can’t, but the doctors at our center can." "Enough. Stop talking nonsense." Hearing Li Jun’s blatant lies, Du Heng’s expression turned cold. "Let me ask you another question: where is this ’Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Treatment Association’ registered?" Li Jun remained silent. There was no way to answer this question, as the information could be found online. But Du Heng pressed on, "What is its superior governing body? Who is its person in charge?" Li Jun stayed silent, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "Fine, let’s assume it’s a different organization and you don’t know. But what about this expert? You invited them. You’ve been promoting them heavily. You must know about that, at least." Du Heng jabbed a finger at the expert’s photo on the glossy flyer. "It only says ’expert’ here, and so many of them, all with ’Nationwide’ titles. But where does this expert actually work? What’s their workplace? It’s completely untraceable. Li Jun, isn’t it? Tell us, which Hospital and which Department does this expert hold a senior position in?" This time, Li Jun’s sweat didn’t just seep; it poured like rain. Every question Du Heng asked struck Li Jun to the core. Each inquiry was like a sharp tug at his heartstrings. What were they doing? Selling health products, plain and simple. Find a couple of presentable people with an approachable, expert-like demeanor, dress them up, put them on stage, and bamboozle the audience. Exaggerate the dangers of the disease, hype up the effects of the medicine treatment until it sounds like a miracle cure. As for the illiterate old farmers in the audience, what would they understand? Soon enough, without any prompting, these fools would eagerly hand over their money. Otherwise, why offer everything for free? Did they really think these people were philanthropists? But now, Du Heng was hitting the nail on the head with every sentence. It was obvious he knew their playbook. His heart pounded. He was at a loss. Just as he was debating whether to storm off to save face or try to flee, Du Heng spoke directly. "Are you afraid to say, or unable to say?" Du Heng thrust the flyer practically into Li Jun’s face, his expression stern. "So, what’s the deal, folks? After scamming the old man and old woman in the cities and facing stricter crackdowns, you’ve now come to the rural areas to harm people? Do you have any shame at all?" Growing increasingly incensed, Du Heng flung the flyers from his hand. "These people are farmers! They earn no more than several thousand yuan in one year. They struggle to save a little money, and you heartless bastards have targeted them! Sёarᴄh the NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You really are heartless! Afraid of problems with your products, you make them from a mixture of flour and starch—maybe adding a few vitamins to the ’better’ ones. Yet you sell a box for eight or nine hundred, or even one or two thousand yuan, don’t you? Tell me, isn’t it heartless to make a group of elderly people spend thousands on a box of noodle kernels? "How can you bring yourselves to deceive the elderly? Has your conscience been eaten by dogs? "Don’t forget, you have parents back home too! How would you feel if your own parents were scammed like this?" Du Heng was overflowing with righteous indignation, his stomach churning at the sight of these well-dressed, slick-looking men and women. Spittle flew from his lips, spraying directly onto the face of Li Jun, their leader. "Well said, Doctor Du! You’re right! They’re a group whose consciences have been devoured by dogs!" Zuo Liangliang immediately chimed in, supporting Du Heng. "Doctor Du is spot on!" the village party secretary echoed, starting to clap. "Well said!" "Beat these scoundrels out of here!" "How dare they deceive us old folks! Break the bastards’ legs!" Once someone started swearing, others were sure to follow. And don’t forget, this was a rural village. The curses from these less-educated folk, while not always deeply malicious, were certainly coarse and vulgar. Especially the Old Lady types, with fifty or sixty years of practice; their words flew like daggers, sharp enough to wound both body and soul. Li Jun had been panicking. But with Du Heng’s spittle on his face, Du Heng’s aggressive, pointing tirade, and the barrage of crude curses from the crowd—as a young man, and the leader of the other four—his resentment suddenly boiled over. Who the hell do you think you are? Do you think you have the right to lecture me? Li Jun was furious. He puffed out his chest, ready to confront Du Heng. But as he raised his eyes, he met Wu Buwei’s challenging stare from behind Du Heng, and Zuo Liangliang’s eyes, wide as light bulbs. He glanced sideways at the village party secretary, who was continually adjusting his padded cotton jacket by shrugging his shoulders. The man looked to be in his fifties or sixties, but a savage aura around him seemed to intensify. He lost his nerve. Li Jun immediately backed down. The sudden surge of gallbladder qi vanished without a trace. He looked around. The villagers who had just been calling him ’nephew’ were now glaring at them with ill intent. Li Jun didn’t dare to stay a moment longer. This place, a poor village deep in the Big Mountain, was full of what he now considered savage locals. If they didn’t leave now, they might genuinely be met with shovels and sledgehammers! "We’re sorry! We were wrong! We’ll leave right away!" Li Jun was the team leader not just because of his professional skills, but also because his ability to read people and situations was first-rate. Otherwise, that team leader position, with its extra five percent commission, wouldn’t have landed in his lap. Without waiting to see if Du Heng and the others agreed, he turned and bolted for their car.

Chapter 32 - 032 Free Lunch

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