Just then, nurse Tang Ping returned with the packaged lunchboxes in hand.
A man in a suit with a beer belly, dressed very smartly, accompanied her. Inside his floral shirt was a red tie, above his lips was a thick short mustache, and a pair of small gleaming green eyes radiated a formidable presence.
Upon seeing this man, a barely noticeable hint of vigilance flashed in Li Jingsheng's eyes.
"Haha, Dr. Li, busy as always!"
"Don't mock me like that! I'm practically getting salt from idleness. Boss Zhao's clinic is packed with a long line at the entrance; how come you have time to visit me today?"
The middle-aged man who arrived was none other than Dr. Zhao from Quick Recovery Clinic.
The two clinics were less than forty meters apart, having interacted many times before, naturally they knew each other.
Although Li Jingsheng had suffered multiple losses at this man's hands, either being swindled or suffering quietly, his heart was brimming with resentment, yet he had to keep up appearances.
Quick Recovery Clinic was the oldest established clinic on this street, rumored to have been open for over twenty years.
Boss Zhao had extensive connections and strong economic power, while Li Jingsheng was new to the scene, not yet standing firm, thus he wouldn't easily offend the person in front of him.
For twenty years, many clinics opened on this street, only to vanish, which is quite terrifying upon reflection.
Why is it that none of those clinics survived?
Was it because the clinic owners lacked medical skills? Or they were not good at running business?
Certainly not.
Some things you only understand through firsthand experience.
Take Li Jingsheng himself; during the first few months after opening, business was decent. He could see seven or eight patients a day, and many people came to buy health supplements. Then, after going through many events, business began to decline.
Several issues bore the traces of Boss Zhao.
But without solid evidence, seeking trouble with Boss Zhao would be a dead end.
Thus, Li Jingsheng silently swallowed the various schemes and conspiracies.
During everyday patient consultations and medicine sales, he exercised extreme caution, leaving no opportunity for the enemy to exploit.
Though salaries hadn't been paid for three months, being able to persist for over nine months without closing down is in itself a remarkable achievement.
The industry has an unwritten rule: if a clinic survives past one year, it's considered to have established itself.
This equates to gaining recognition.
If survival extends beyond three years, colleagues in this area would basically acknowledge you, akin to having a place of one's own.
If his Sunshine Clinic persists for another three months, he would finally gain entry into the local medical industry.
There are three clinics on this street: his Sunshine Clinic, the over 20-year-old Quick Recovery Clinic, and another called Jinkui Clinic.
Jinkui Clinic has been operating for about five or six years.
This clinic has a leaning toward traditional Chinese medicine.
Li Jingsheng always felt this clinic was quite mysterious.
Luxury cars are often seen parked at the entrance of Jinkui Clinic. Though Boss Zhao has targeted Li Jingsheng several times, each time he meets the owner of Jinkui Clinic, he is most respectful.
There's one more thing that's even more astonishing.
The real big boss of this street isn't Quick Recovery Clinic, but the Community Health Service Station.
The three clinics here are like the heroes of Liangshan, operating outside the formal path.
While the Community Health Service Station is the regular army, officially recognized and authorized. They even have the privilege to share the big pie of medical insurance, something Li Jingsheng and others envy greatly.
Twice, Li Jingsheng has encountered patients from the Community Health Service Station, specifically seeking medicine or treatment at Jinkui Clinic.
Moreover, it was the health personnel from the Community Health Service Station who personally recommended them to Jinkui Clinic.
What seems like a trivial matter actually reveals the high status of Jinkui Clinic.
Mind you, the health personnel from the Community Health Service Station wouldn't give Li Jingsheng a second glance. How could such a haughty group extol Jinkui Clinic so much?
Li Jingsheng secretly pondered that perhaps the owner of Jinkui Clinic had a significant background.
There are three clinics in the Old Street of South City, and the other two surviving ones are extremely powerful, backed either by strong connections or seniority and extensive networking, rich and influential. Only Li Jingsheng's Sunshine Clinic is like a solitary 'sapling', without backing or finance, with no connections, and his medical skills merely average, striving for survival amidst formidable foes, naturally trembling in fear.
He stays as low-key as possible.
At this moment, he warmly welcomes the visiting Boss Zhao, showing that he is already quite sophisticated despite his young age.
"So, I can't just come over to check on you this way?"
Boss Zhao rolled his peculiar eyes, questioning rather unhappily.
"What kind of talk is that? You are an industry veteran. If you come to guide work, I'd be more than happy to welcome you! Please, take a seat, go over there for some tea first, and I'll be with you once I finish attending to this patient." After speaking, Li Jingsheng looked over at Tang Ping. "Sister Tang, make tea for Boss Zhao, brew using my best oolong tea leaves!"
Inwardly cursing, while outwardly uttering pleasing words the other party likes to hear.
This is the survival mode of adults.
"Beauty Ping, no need to fuss. I'll come back another day for tea. I still have to attend the safety meeting of the Health Bureau later! Dr. Li should have received the invitation from the higher department too, right?"
Boss Zhao deliberately revealed his afternoon schedule, purposefully demonstrating his standing and power within the industry, aiming to intimidate Li Jingsheng.
Not everyone is qualified to receive an invitation to the Health Bureau's meeting.
"I run a small clinic, can't compare to Boss Zhao's scale. If I'm really called in for a meeting, I'd have to shut down. You can convey the instructions from the higher-ups to me once you're done attending."
Li Jingsheng certainly wouldn't say anything self-deprecating in front of patients.
It might seem humble, yet it cleverly sidesteps sensitive topics by retreating to advance.
"That sounds reasonable! I'll ask Specialist Cui to get an extra set of promotional materials for you later."
Boss Zhao's initial attempt didn't achieve his desired effect and immediately resorted to flaunting his familiarity with personnel at the Health Bureau.
"Thank you then!"
Li Jingsheng thanked him with a smile, his expression calm.
Specialist Cui is just an ordinary officer at the Health Bureau.
Attempting to intimidate Li Jingsheng with such connections is rather naive.
To have some weight, at least a deputy section head level personnel should be involved.
Which owner of a western medical clinic hasn't held a hospital position?
The stipulations for opening a clinic include one rule: there must be at least one certified practicing physician with official registration, having practiced for five years in a medical and health institution, healthy— as the practicing physician.
Anyone who has been a formal doctor in a hospital for five years would have seen some storms.
"Oh my, this wound seems quite deep!"
Seeing his attempt to intimidate Li Jingsheng fail, Boss Zhao slightly bent down to inspect Master Liu's leg injury.
It's clear the old chap came with ill intentions, like a weasel visiting a henhouse.
"I was cut by glass; Dr. Li just examined me and said the injury is quite serious."
Master Liu, being an honest man, directly revealed the root cause.
"Handling such deep wounds is no easy task. Dr. Li is quite bold, daring to stitch even such wounds. When faced with situations like this, I usually recommend going to major hospitals. It's safer."
Boss Zhao squinted his small eyes, displaying a heartfelt concern.
Yet, hidden beneath is a malicious intent, trying to steer the patient towards major hospitals for treatment, robbing Li Jingsheng of a potential earning.
For a small clinic like Li Jingsheng's, treating Master Liu's rather severe wound is indeed a major business. Earning over a thousand without stress, subtracting costs, profiting over five hundred is entirely achievable.