183: Chapter 184 The Arrest of Divine Doctor Li Yong
Just as dawn broke and the entrance to the suburban alley was still immersed in morning mist, the tranquility was shattered by a piercing siren. Three black vehicles emblazoned with "Administrative Law Enforcement" pulled up steadily in front of the "Lis Medical Hall." The flashing red lights of the police sirens pierced through the thin mist, casting swaying shadows on the mottled walls, instantly making the entire alley tense.
The car doors opened, and six law enforcement officers in dark blue uniforms filed out. The leader had three bars on his epaulets and held a neatly folded document in his hand, his expression as cold as ice. Without any wasted movement, they walked straight toward the clinic entrance, their footsteps on the bluestone pavement making a dull thud that woke the sleeping households in the alley.
"Is Li Yong here?" The leading captain, surnamed Zhao, walked to the counter. His gaze swept over Li Yong, who was organizing herbs, and his voice carried no warmth. "We are a special investigation team jointly established by the Provincial Health Commission and the Public Security Department. We are now summoning you according to the law to cooperate with an investigation into a case of 'suspected major illegal medical practice.'"
Li Yong's hand paused mid-air, and the herbs in his hand slowly fell into the bamboo basket. He looked up and saw the arrest warrant in Captain Zhao's hand—it bore the red official seals of the Provincial Health Commission and the Public Security Department. The charge column clearly stated "suspected use of unapproved herbal preparations, causing organ damage to three patients, suspected major illegal medical practice," and the date was late last night.
"Impossible! How could Doctor Li harm patients?" Aunt Wang, who sold breakfast next door, had just opened her door. Seeing this scene, she immediately rushed over. "My old man had a stroke last year, and it was Doctor Li who nursed him back to health with herbs. He can even work in the fields now! Have you arrested the wrong person?"
"Exactly! Doctor Li is a good man!" Grandpa Zhang from the mouth of the alley arrived leaning on his cane, followed by a dozen villagers, all of whom were locals who usually sought treatment from Li Yong. "A while ago, my grandson had a high fever and the big hospital had no appointments. It was Doctor Li who stayed up all night brewing medicine to save the child's life! How could he possibly practice medicine illegally and harm patients?"
The villagers gathered around, pleading for Li Yong all at once. Some even tried to step forward to block the law enforcement officers, and the atmosphere instantly became tense. Captain Zhao frowned, took a step back, and gave a look to the team members behind him: "Please cooperate with law enforcement! We have the right to handle anyone obstructing public duties according to the law!"
The team members immediately stepped forward, forming a human wall to separate the villagers from Li Yong. Aunt Wang still wanted to argue, but was pulled back by Grandpa Zhang—looking at the arrest warrant in the officer's hand, Grandpa Zhang knew it was an official case and arguing was useless. He could only say to Li Yong with red eyes, "Doctor Li, don't be afraid. We all believe in you and will wait for you to come back!"
Li Yong looked at the villagers gathered at the door, his eyes reddening slightly, but he did not panic. He set down his herb basket and slowly straightened his blue cloth gown, smoothing out the wrinkled hem. His movements were as composed as if he were just going out for a house call, rather than being summoned for an investigation.
"Captain Zhao, I will go with you." He looked at Captain Zhao, his voice calm. "But I have one request. Could I say a few words to Mr. Zhang?"
Captain Zhao checked his watch, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded—the order he received was to "bring Li Yong back to the investigation team," it didn't say he couldn't see anyone.
Zhang Fan stepped out from the crowd, his expression solemn. He looked at Li Yong and was about to speak, but Li Yong beat him to it. Li Yong walked up to him, took a deep breath, and suddenly bowed deeply to him—this gesture was the highest etiquette of the older generation to express trust, and it looked exceptionally tragic in the morning mist.
"Mr. Zhang, I trust you." Li Yong's voice was very soft, but every word was clear. "I have never done anything against my conscience in my life. Those stories about 'patient damage' are all fake. My innocence, and that anti-cancer prescription, are both entrusted to you."
He paused, his eyes full of solemnity: "I have already made three copies of the prescription. One is hidden on the roof beam of the clinic, one was given to my nephew in the countryside, and one..." He pulled a neatly folded piece of yellow paper from his breast and pressed it into Zhang Fan's hand. "You take this one. Don't let it fall into the hands of bad people. If it can be put into production in the future, remember what I said: make it affordable for ordinary patients."
Zhang Fan gripped the yellow paper tightly, his fingertips feeling the roughness of the paper and the heavy weight of Li Yong's trust. He nodded vigorously, his voice firm: "Uncle Li, don't worry. I will definitely clear your name, and I will definitely protect the prescription and not let it be taken by Tianming Group."
Captain Zhao stepped forward and took out handcuffs: "Time's up, let's go."
Li Yong did not resist and held out his hands. The cold handcuffs locked onto his wrists with a "click." He looked back at the wooden sign of the clinic, at the villagers gathered at the door, and finally at Zhang Fan. He didn't speak, just gave a slight nod, then turned and followed the officers toward the police car.
The villagers watched Li Yong's departing figure, and some couldn't help but cry. Aunt Wang wiped her tears and said, "What are we going to do? Such a good man like Doctor Li, how could he be arrested..." Grandpa Zhang sighed and patted Zhang Fan's shoulder, "Young Master Zhang, we know you're capable. You must save Doctor Li!"
Zhang Fan didn't speak, just watched the police car's sirens gradually fade away until they disappeared at the end of the alley. The morning breeze blew by, carrying the fragrance of herbs, but it couldn't disperse the coldness in his eyes. He pulled out his phone, found a contact labeled "Lawyer Wang," and pressed the call button.
The phone rang three times before being picked up, and a steady male voice came through: "President Zhang? Calling me this early, is there an emergency?"
"Lawyer Wang, get ready." Zhang Fan's voice had no extra emotion, only an unquestionable firmness. "I want to fight a lawsuit that will draw national attention—the defendants are the Provincial Health Commission and Tianhua Group, the plaintiff is Li Yong, and the charges are 'false accusation and framing' and 'abuse of power.' I want everyone to know that even official power cannot arbitrarily trample on a healer's innocence."
Lawyer Wang on the other end—Wang Jingdong, a top criminal defense lawyer in the country who had won several classic "citizen vs. government" cases—was stunned for a moment before reacting. His tone became serious: "President Zhang, are you sure you want to do this? Suing the Provincial Health Commission is extremely difficult. It requires sufficient evidence, and we'll have to face..."
"I have the evidence." Zhang Fan interrupted him. "Evidence of Wang Tianhua forging medical records, bribing witnesses, and using connections to exert pressure—I am collecting it all. You just need to prepare the litigation materials and contact the best team. I'll handle the rest. This lawsuit must not only be won, but won with dignity, so that everyone knows justice will not be crushed by power."
Wang Jingdong was silent for a few seconds, then laughed: "Good! Since President Zhang has said so, I have nothing to hesitate about. I'll assemble the team now and fly to Jiangcheng this afternoon. We'll meet and discuss the details. I'll fight this case with you to the end!"
After hanging up, Zhang Fan gripped the yellow paper in his hand and looked toward the alley entrance. The police car was no longer visible, but he knew that this war centered on Li Yong's innocence and the anti-cancer formula had just entered its most critical stage. Wang Tianhua was using official power, trying to crush them with 'rules'; and he would use those same 'rules' to thoroughly tear apart Wang Tianhua's disguise in court, before the people of the whole country, to clear Li Yong's name and deliver the heaviest counterattack to Tianming Group.
The villagers were still discussing at the door. Zhang Fan turned and walked into the clinic, picked up his phone, and dialed Liu Ruyan's number: "Liu Ruyan, have the Technology Department immediately activate maximum authority to track all communication records and financial transactions of Wang Tianhua and his Legal Department, especially evidence of the forged medical records. We must find the source. Also, contact all patients cured by Li Yong and have them prepare their testimonies—whether video or written, the more the better."
"Understood! President Zhang, we are already investigating. The Technology Department just discovered that Wang Tianhua's Legal Director, Zhou Ming, contacted a print shop late last night, suspected of forging medical records. We are currently tracking the print shop's records!" Liu Ruyan's voice carried a hint of urgency but was very firm.
Zhang Fan hung up, walked to the counter, and looked at the herbs Li Yong hadn't finished organizing. His gaze gradually became sharp. He knew the coming days would be difficult, but he would not back down—for Li Yong's trust, for the anti-cancer formula to benefit the world, and to oppose the ambitions of Tianming Group, he had to win this battle.