Chapter 29 – A Terrible Illness (4)

“Doctor, did you just refer to leprosy as a light illness?”

Han Chang-gyu asked, twisting his lips.

‘Even if it is Hansen’s disease, it is not an incurable serious illness. Because a treatment will be developed in just a few years. Moreover, your granddaughter doesn’t have Hansen’s disease, she has chickenpox. If my diagnosis is correct, it won’t take very long to treat her.’

“It is not exactly so, but I think it is not a fatal illness.”

Kim Ji-hyuk spared his words.

Kim Ji-hyuk thought there was no need to reveal yet that Chairman Han’s granddaughter was suffering from chickenpox, not Hansen’s disease.

“Not a fatal illness?”

“Yes.”

“That sounds like you might be able to cure our granddaughter’s illness?”

“Yes.”

“You are an interesting doctor. Hmm, let’s first go to the study and talk more.”

Chairman Han walked ahead first with a face full of curiosity.

* * *

A moment later, Han Chang-gyu’s study.

“Did you just say my granddaughter’s illness is definitely not a fatal one?”

Chairman Han Chang-gyu asked with a solemn expression.

“Yes. It is a disease that can be cured.”

“Can I interpret your words that it is not a fatal illness to mean it is treatable?”

Chairman Han Chang-gyu tested Ji-hyuk’s intentions once again.

Chairman Han Chang-gyu asked, taking a sip of Ssanghwa tea.

“Yes. It is a treatable illness.”

Ji-hyuk spoke with a face filled with confidence.

“Treatable? Can you take responsibility for the words you just spoke, Doctor?”

Chairman Han Chang-gyu was still unable to believe Ji-hyuk’s words.

“I am not sure what you mean…”

“If it is a bluff in youthful vigor, it would be better to give up even now. Do not put on airs for no reason only to suffer a terrible fate.”

Chairman Han Chang-gyu tried to test Ji-hyuk’s will by first putting strong pressure on him.

‘What on earth is this attitude? How can he be so rude to a doctor who will treat his granddaughter? What is the use of having lots of money? He is a human being who lacks even basic manners.’

“A terrible fate? What does that mean?”

Kim Ji-hyuk was not intimidated by Han Chang-gyu’s threats at all. He displayed his displeasure without filtering.

“The hospital you are currently working in is likely a building built with my money.”

‘So? What are you going to do? Are you trying to fire me?’

“Is that so? I didn’t know. That is great. We are severely short on hospital rooms anyway, so if it’s alright, please build another building on the empty lot next to the hospital, Chairman!”

Ji-hyuk was certainly not someone to lose heart over that much.

“You are an audacious young man. Do you really say that because you do not know what kind of person I am? Did Butler Hwang not say anything to you?”

‘I know. A pro-Japanese collaborator during the Japanese colonial period, and now a dog of the Syngman Rhee regime, a man of absolute power enjoying all kinds of wealth and honor. How could I not know? But look at yourself now. You look like nothing but a pitiful old man trembling with anxiety in front of your granddaughter, your only remaining flesh and blood. Moreover, at the same time the Syngman Rhee regime collapses, you will fall into the abyss as well.’

“Yes. I heard. That you will give five million won in cash if I cure your granddaughter’s illness.”

“Of course. I will give it, however…”

Chairman Han Chang-gyu glared at Kim Ji-hyuk, changing his gaze.

“Yes. I also heard that if I fail to treat your granddaughter, I might die without anyone knowing. Chairman!”

“And so? Are you really confident?”

Han Chang-gyu glared at Kim Ji-hyuk as if to devour him and asked.

“I will try to save her. Instead, since I am risking my life, if the patient gets well, please give me twice the promised amount as the price. I think ten million won is not that big of a sum as the value of my life.”

Kim Ji-hyuk held his head high and stared sharply at Chairman Han Chang-gyu.

“Ten million won… That is not a small sum of money.”

Even from the standpoint of Chairman Han Chang-gyu, a textile tycoon at the time, ten million won was clearly an enormous fortune.

“Haha. My goodness…”

Kim Ji-hyuk wore a bitter smile.

“Weren’t you thinking until just now that I wouldn’t be able to treat her?”

“What?”

Chairman Han Chang-gyu’s eyebrows twitched.

‘I must not back down here! A beast has no mercy for prey that shows weakness. Facing the strong with strength is the standard rule!’

“If I am going to fail the treatment anyway, does it matter if it is ten million or twenty million won? Or have you changed your mind in the meantime and are calculating whether curing your granddaughter is worth that much?”

“Wait, it’s not that my granddaughter’s life value is a problem, but I was pondering for a moment whether your life value is worth that much.”

He was no ordinary old man either.

Han Chang-gyu held back Kim Ji-hyuk’s steps as he tried to stand up.

“Is that so? Then it seems I made a mistake in not asking for one hundred million won as my life value.”

It was Ji-hyuk responding even more strongly.

“Hahaha, one thing is for sure. Your boldness is worth something. Though it shouldn’t be a bluff.”

“This is a treatment I perform with my life on the line. I am at an age with many days left to live. I have absolutely no desire to die meaninglessly. Furthermore, most importantly, I do not play around with human lives.”

“I like your boldness. Fine. Just save our A-yeong by all means. If you do, I will give you even if you ask me to hand over my entire wealth, not just one hundred million won.”

‘I have no need for your entire wealth. Since it is futile money that will be lost overnight once the military regime comes into power.

, ? . . ! . 1950 . . ? , ! , .

! . . .’

“What are you thinking about so intently? Are you afraid?”

As Kim Ji-hyuk fell deep into thought, Han Chang-gyu spoke, narrowing his eyes.

“How could that be! I am pondering how much I should ask for once I succeed in the treatment. Because no matter how much I think about it, ten million won seems like a miscalculation.”

Kim Ji-hyuk scratched the back of his head and smiled slyly.

“Hahaha, the more I see you, the more I like you, young doctor. I promise you. Just save my granddaughter. I will grant whatever it is.”

“Empty promises have no meaning, Chairman! I will save your granddaughter within exactly ten days, so give me ten million won as promised earlier. And this condition must be left in writing. Of course, you must have it notarized as well.”

Since changing their mind at any time is the nature of tycoons, Ji-hyuk tried to make a firm arrangement.

“Hahaha, you are a doctor who has some useful corners. Yes! That is how transactions are made. In times like these, whom do we rely on and whom do we trust? Everything comes from documents. Fine! Let’s see whether the value of your body will be one hundred million won, or less than a passing beggar’s foot-wrap.”

Ring, ring!

In that way, as Chairman Han Chang-gyu pulled the cord next to his desk, a bell rang, and Butler Hwang entered the study.

“Butler Hwang, it seems we need to write a contract, so bring my stamp.”

“Yes, Chairman!”

Chairman Han Chang-gyu wrote a contract on the spot to give a huge sum of ten million won to Kim Ji-hyuk in return for saving his granddaughter. Of course, he also wrote down without omission the price to be paid should the opposite case occur.

* * *

A moment later.

“Ji-hyuk! Where have you been?”

As Kim Ji-hyuk returned to the hospital, Kim Yun-seok, who had been waiting anxiously outside the main gate, ran over.

“Ah? I had some urgent business for a moment. What’s the matter?”

“Sigh, I don’t know what it is, but you should tell me your destination so that I can make excuses somehow, right? Are we people who can just wander around as we please?”

Yun-seok glared at Ji-hyuk.

“Right. Did something happen?”

“Today is the day of the professors’ conference. Professor Olsen was looking for you desperately.”

“Hmm, sorry. I had some urgent business.”

“Yes. You aren’t someone to do anything foolish anyway, so go to Professor Olsen’s room first. He told you to come as soon as you arrived.”

“Understood.”

‘What? Cho Dong-gi? He said he would take care of it himself? At any rate, this man lies whenever he opens his mouth!’

Kim Ji-hyuk grumbled and moved his steps to the fourth floor where Professor Olsen’s room was located.

* * *

Professor Olsen’s office.

“Professor, I am Kim Ji-hyuk.”

“Come in.”

Knock, knock, knock, Kim Ji-hyuk knocked and entered Professor Olsen’s office.

“I heard you visited Chairman Han Chang-gyu’s house. Professor Cho Dong-gi told me.”

‘Professor Cho Dong-gi did say something at least. But what is the use of that. He hasn’t actually done anything.’

“Yes. I apologize for not telling you in advance. Since it was such an urgent situation…”

Kim Ji-hyuk showed a troubled expression.

“If there is a patient, you must go. However, our hospital has rules and principles. If you act recklessly like this, it would be better for such principles not to exist. Is that not so?”

Professor Olsen scolded Kim Ji-hyuk gently.

“I am sorry. I will be careful so that such an event never happens again.”

“I didn’t say that to hear such words… Anyway, I find Professor Cho Dong-gi uncomfortable. No matter how I look at him, he seems like a politician, not a doctor.”

“…….”

“Currently our hospital is also in a mess due to lack of hands, so I wonder if there is any need to volunteer to go to Gwangju. There is no need for Professor Cho Dong-gi to go either… No. Why am I telling you such things anyway.”

Professor Olsen did not hide his discomfort regarding Professor Cho Dong-gi.

“Yes.”

“At any rate, if a patient arises and a situation to treat them occurs, let me know first. I have absolutely no intention of stopping a doctor who wants to treat a patient. Do you understand?”

“Yes. I will do so.”

“By the way, I heard that family’s granddaughter’s illness is critical?”

‘Just how much does he know? Judging by the way he speaks, Professor Cho Dong-gi doesn’t seem to have explained in detail.’

“Yes. That is correct.”

“Hmm, actually, when I contacted my home country, they said a treatment will be released soon. If they hold out for just a few more years, there will be hope for Hansen’s disease patients as well. Though currently there is nothing we can do.”

‘Heavens, he knew! But how? Did he hear this from Cho Dong-gi as well?’

“Did you know that?”

As he checked slightly, Professor Olsen knitted his brows deeply.

“That is why I think poorly of Professor Cho Dong-gi. He sent you there knowing clearly that the child has Hansen’s disease! I have no idea what on earth is in that man’s head! A person who abandons his patient so easily, what right does he have to be a doctor…”

Professor Olsen shook his head in displeasure.

‘Hmm, he must have guessed it after hearing the general symptoms. If so…’

“Professor, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Chairman Han Chang-gyu’s granddaughter, Han A-yeong, does not have Hansen’s disease!”

“What??”

The startled Olsen blinked his eyes.