Chapter 58 – The Gentleman Who Studied in America (6)

Surgical duty room.

“What is this? Grandfather always leaves trash around…”

Kim Ji-hyuk picked up a piece of paper he found lying around on the duty room desk.

‘What is this? A promissory note?’

Just as Kim Ji-hyuk was about to crumple the paper and throw it in the trash can, he paused after reading the content written on the document.

He immediately checked the details.

“If the creditor is Kim Pil-sung? Does it mean the patient Kim Pil-sung in our hospital?”

Kim Ji-hyuk narrowed his eyes and looked at the contents of the document in more detail.

‘It seems he lent 500 dollars and will receive 10% of the shares… Wait! The debtor is Sam Walton??’

Kim Ji-hyuk blinked as if something had occurred to him.

‘Sam Walton… Sam Walton? Oh my, could it be the founder of Walmart, Sam Walton!’

Startled, Kim Ji-hyuk read down the contents of the document in more detail.

“Wh-what? Ben Franklin store?! If it’s a Ben Franklin store, isn’t that the predecessor of Walmart? 10% of the shares of Ben Franklin store!!”

‘Th-this is crazy!’

Kim Ji-hyuk could not close his open mouth easily.

“If it’s 10% of Walmart’s shares? How much is that in money?”

Kim Ji-hyuk went into complex calculations.

‘Let’s see. How much was Walmart’s asset value? I think I saw in an article that it was roughly over 200 billion dollars… Then, if 10% of the shares is here, is it 20 billion dollars?? If converted to Korean won, it is 27 trillion won!!! Wow, this is a jackpot!’

Trembling—

“To think he earns 27 trillion won just by lending 500 dollars? Wow, Bitcoin is nothing compared to this!”

Kim Ji-hyuk’s hands holding the document trembled wildly.

It was at that very moment.

“What are you doing there?”

Kim Yun-seok opened the door and entered the duty room.

“Uh? Yun-seok! Wh-what is this?”

Kim Ji-hyuk handed the document to Kim Yun-seok in an excited voice.

“Ah, that? The patient Kim Pil-sung gave it to me. He said it was a promissory note he received after lending 500 dollars to an American named Sam or something.”

“It-it is true! Grandfa… No! Yun-seok! You must keep this safely.”

The Ben Franklin store, the predecessor of Walmart.

Of course, 10% of the Ben Franklin store’s shares would not translate directly into 10% of Walmart’s shares. Anyway, Kim Ji-hyuk’s thought was that if they held the shares of the Ben Franklin store and could maintain a good relationship with Sam Walton, it would certainly hold immense value.

Even if it wasn’t up to 27 trillion won.

“Hey! How can you believe the words of a bragging, penniless gentleman? Besides, are you going to go all the way to America just to collect 500 dollars? The boat fare would cost more than that.”

‘No, no! This is not 500 dollars, but 27 trillion won!’

However, it was a situation where he could neither explain nor make him understand that Sam Walton would found Walmart and that Walmart would grow into a global enterprise worth 200 billion dollars.

“No! How do you know if 500 dollars will become 2,000 dollars or 20,000 dollars? So, keep it well! I will send you to America no matter what.”

“20,000 dollars my foot! Did this guy eat something wrong this morning? Why does he suddenly talk about America?”

Since Kim Yun-seok did not know the reason why Kim Ji-hyuk was making such a fuss, he could not help but show a lukewarm reaction.

“You never know what will happen to people! So it means you should keep this well like a treasure chest. You know I invested in stocks through Mr. Brown, right? That has already risen immensely. I will definitely send you to America, so keep that in mind!”

“Hahaha, really? Studying in America… Am I finally benefiting from my friend? Thank you just for saying so!”

“I am definitely sending you! So keep my words in mind.”

“Got it, you punk! That aside, I’m worried about patient Kim Pil-sung. Although we put out the urgent fire, it seems recovery won’t be easy. The patient’s heart also seems to have weakened a lot… Since he didn’t know what would happen to him, he gave this to me to take care of.”

Kim Yun-seok pointed at the document with his chin.

“I see.”

“Yes. It seems my responsibility is heavy. If I had paid more attention…”

Kim Yun-seok had a gloomy face.

“That’s not it.”

“What? What does that mean?”

“There is such a thing. Anyway, it’s not your fault, so there’s no need to blame yourself. Professor Chung will take care of it, so do not worry too much.”

“The professor?”

“Yes. There was another reason why patient Kim Pil-sung’s physical condition suddenly deteriorated.”

“Another reason? What is that?”

“I don’t know the details either. Anyway, let’s just leave this issue to the professor, okay?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about at all. Alright, for now.”

‘Yes! It’s not grandfather’s fault. So there is no reason to suffer from unnecessary self-doubt!’

Kim Ji-hyuk stared at Kim Yun-seok.

* * *

A Japanese restaurant near the hospital.

After work, Professor Chung Ki-ryeo headed to a Japanese restaurant near the hospital with Professor Watanabe.

“No, what money does Professor Chung have to suggest eating at such a high-end restaurant?”

“It is my special gift prepared to nourish you, who are suffering from homesickness, so please do not decline. Taste the food of your homeland after a long time.”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo took off his coat and sat down.

“Hahaha, you know me so little. I am a person whose appetite suits hot soybean paste stew and warm rice rather than sashimi.”

“Hahaha, is that so? Before I knew it, you have become a complete Korean.”

“It’s not that I became a Korean, I am a Korean now. I am a person who made up my mind to dedicate myself to the medical development of this country.”

“Thank you. I don’t know how fortunate it is that there is a Japanese like you.”

“I am sorry. My homeland committed washing-impossible atrocities against this Republic of Korea. I apologize on behalf of my country. Though it is not something that can be forgiven.”

“No, not at all! Didn’t you also say it? You are a Korean. What kind of apology does a Korean make to a Korean? Stop talking nonsense and let us eat delicious food!”

It was Professor Chung Ki-ryeo who raised Watanabe, who was trying to kneel and apologize.

“I am sorry.”

“Nonsense! To be honest, I am crazy about sashimi. I couldn’t eat it because I was conscious of others’ eyes, but thanks to you, let us feast after a long time!”

“Hahaha, is that so?”

“Of course, of course. Let’s loosen our belts and get heavily drunk today!”

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

A moment later.

The food was served in that way, and the two spent a pleasant time sharing conversations while pouring cups of sake back and forth.

And.

“Professor Watanabe! It seems there was a problem with the treatment of patient Kim Pil-sung.”

Gulp—

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo drank a cup of sake and looked at Professor Watanabe’s expression.

“It is fine. Even though surgery is strong in practice, isn’t it a bit lacking in theory? Isn’t internal medicine there to supplement and strengthen those points? The reason I scolded Yun-seok was because of that. Yun-seok is a very clever doctor. Since he is a talent who must lead this country’s surgical field in the future, I scolded him sharply, so please understand.”

“…”

“Oh! You don’t have to make such a gloomy face, you know? Just be careful in the future!”

When Professor Chung Ki-ryeo looked at Watanabe with a serious expression, Watanabe waved his hand.

“Haha, since you say so, I can also relieve some of my worries.”

“Of course! Isn’t this all for the medical development of the Republic of Korea? Come! Do not distort your not-so-handsome face any further and accept a cup of my sake.”

Trickle—

Professor Watanabe filled Professor Chung Ki-ryeo’s cup.

“I hope you listen without misunderstanding. The reason patient Kim Pil-sung’s condition deteriorated is because of a problem with the drug prescription made by internal medicine.”

“Hahaha! I thought this man’s heart was quite broad, but he is so narrow-minded? Even though I said it is fine? Stop putting on pride and let this matter pass…”

“I don’t think it is a matter to just let pass.”

“Oh! Looking at your expression, it doesn’t seem like a joke… Do you have any basis for saying so? If it is like this without any basis, my feelings might get hurt?”

This time, Professor Watanabe’s expression became serious.

“The Jeprodac administered to patient Kim Pil-sung is the problem.”

“Jeprodac? Isn’t that widely used as a cardiotonic? What is better than that as a heart drug? Isn’t it a drug whose safety is recognized worldwide?”

When Kim Ji-hyuk first brought this up, Professor Chung Ki-ryeo had the same reaction.

“That is what the American pharmaceutical company says.”

“Hmm, I don’t know what on earth you are talking about. It is a drug whose clinical trial results were also very excellent, Jeprodac is! A drug whose verification has already ended even at the University of Tokyo…”

“This is a report on Jeprodac obtained with difficulty. If you look at it for a moment, you will understand what my words mean.”

At that, Professor Chung Ki-ryeo pulled a bundle of documents from his bag and handed it to Professor Watanabe.

“Oh my! What on earth is written here…”

Flipping—

Professor Watanabe began to read the report handed over by Professor Chung Ki-ryeo.

As the report pages turned one by one, Professor Watanabe’s face grew increasingly serious.

After Professor Watanabe had finished reading all of the reports.

“It says to prescribe with caution to patients with kidney disease.”

Thud—

Professor Watanabe placed the report on the table, his face completely frozen.

“It means that not only kidney disease, but if Jeprodac is administered to a patient with weakened immunity, it can cause serious side effects. The red rash scattered on patient Kim Pil-sung’s body and the sudden hematuria can be the evidence. Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk of our department found it.”

“Hmm… If so, our kids… No, it is because of my carelessness.”

Professor Watanabe’s throat bobbed with a tense expression.

“No! Didn’t you also say? This is an act of God. As you said, wasn’t Jeprodac a proven drug?”

“Haha, did I say it was an act of God? How can Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk know the cause of that act of God, while I could not? I feel a sense of self-loathing.”

“Look here! I didn’t know about it either, you know? There is no need to blame yourself. This is definitely not your mistake!”

“I said those words to Dr. Kim Yun-seok! It has become a truly ridiculous sight.”

Gulp—

Professor Watanabe emptied his cup in one shot.

“It is fine. We can just stop Jeprodac and treat him now!”

“No. It was an incident where the patient almost died. It is not something to just let pass.”

“Oh, then what are you going to do?”

“What do you mean! We must explain the truth to patient Kim Pil-sung and ask for forgiveness. It is not something to cover up loosely, is it?”

“That is…”

“No! We must never let it pass. I will explain everything truthfully and follow the patient’s disposition. Then it seems I must leave first.”

Sigh—

Professor Watanabe stood up with difficulty.

“Are you going right now? Why don’t you go with me later?”

“No! Is this something to dawdle over?”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo tried to stop him, but Watanabe did not break his stubborness.