Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 48

48. Crowbar and Sledgehammer

Screech-

Amidst the lively morning commute, a 12-seater van screeched to a halt in front of the hospital.

“Is this the right place?”

“Wait! Our hospital! Oh, this is it.”

“Alright, alright! Let’s get out, quick!”

From the abruptly stopped van, a dozen or so laborers piled out. Each of them held a picket sign, and some were even carrying crowbars and sledgehammers.

“Hey, kid, is this the right place?”

“Yes, the address this driver gave me is definitely correct.”

“So, this is the hospital where our Choi Hyung [older brother/respected colleague] is hospitalized, right?”

They were all colleagues who shared meals at the construction site, gathered after hearing the news from the driver.

“It’s bad enough we didn’t get paid, but now he’s even had an accident…”

For them, taking a day off work was a significant risk, but they couldn’t ignore Choi Sun-hae’s plight, who had always taken good care of them. That’s why they had followed the director and brought him from the golf course parking lot.

“Hey, Director… no, Mr. Director. Aren’t you getting out?”

“Ah! Hurry up and get out.”

The man holding the sledgehammer slammed it against the ground, urging him on. At the sound, the director, who had been cowering in the back seat, quickly moved.

“I’m getting out. I’m getting out.”

“Why? Now that you’re here, do you feel like it was a waste of time coming?”

“No.”

“Or are you annoyed because you have to come and apologize against your will?”

“No, not at all. It’s a misunderstanding.”

The director, who had been arrogant and dismissive of Choi Sun-hae, was now meek as a lamb among the laborers.

“I’m just as heartbroken as all of you.”

“Then why haven’t you visited him until now?”

The most physically imposing laborer glared at the director in his expensive suit, grabbing his collar.

“I was planning to go tomorrow.”

“Stop talking crap.”

“I-I’m serious.”

“Stop talking nonsense like your name suggests and go inside and apologize.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Ah! That’s right, Mr. Director. You haven’t forgotten that you’ll take care of the hospital bills and the overdue payments right away, have you?”

“Of course. Until he makes a full recovery…”

“Where did they say he was, in the emergency room?”

The laborers ignored the man’s words and went into the hospital.

* * *

“Grandma, that’ll be 4,500 won today, and since you have a prescription, please wait a moment…”

The receptionist, who was processing a patient’s hospital bill, stopped speaking.

“Who are those people…? Hammers in their hands?”

She saw the laborers entering with an aura as if they were going to tear down the hospital.

“Jung-hee, what’s wrong…? Oh my! Oh my! What is all that? Team Leader?”

The employee next to her was also at a loss, looking at them.

“Shouldn’t we call the police?”

“Team Leader! Please come out quickly. Team Leader?”

The receptionists, wide-eyed, shouted urgently, and Team Leader Choi rushed out of the office.

“What’s going on?”

“Look at those people over there.”

“Oh no, some laborers…”

“Oh! Team Leader, those people are going to the emergency room. Stop them quickly.”

“Ha! This is why we need a security guard.”

Team Leader Choi trembled inwardly and blocked their path to the emergency room.

“Oh! That’s the emergency room over there.”

“Excuse me… how can I help you?”

“We’re here for a visit.”

Visiting looking like they were about to destroy someone was hard to believe.

“A visit?”

“Yes, Choi Sun-hae, our colleague, had a hole in his stomach and is hospitalized here, or so we heard. Is that not the case?”

In the meantime, Tae-kyung, who had been contacted by an employee, came out of the emergency room and answered instead.

“This is Dr. Kim Tae-kyung, the director of our hospital. He is currently treating Choi Sun-hae.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“Please take good care of our Choi Hyung.”

The dozen or so laborers bowed to Tae-kyung as if they were greeting a gang boss.

“But, Doctor, can we visit him?”

“Choi Sun-hae had surgery early this morning and needs to rest now.”

“Doctor, it’s about resolving his livelihood issues, so I’m sorry, but could you please allow us to visit?”

Tae-kyung, who had been wondering if they were here to cause trouble, allowed the visit after hearing the words ‘livelihood issues’.

* * *

“Doctor? I don’t know, but those people seem like they’re going to cause trouble. Shouldn’t we report them to the police?”

“I don’t think so, but let’s watch them together for now.”

The visit began in the second-floor lounge, with Tae-kyung and Team Leader Choi present to prevent any harm to other patients.

“Why did you all come when you’re busy?”

“How could we ignore it when Choi Hyung is in this state?”

“But why is the director here…?”

The foreman pushed Oh Bul-gu, who had been dragged along, forward.

“W-Well, I came to apologize.”

“Of course, you have to apologize. You pushed someone and made a hole in their stomach; you’re not even human if you don’t.”

‘He said he pushed him and caused the accident?’

Tae-kyung finally learned the details of the accident that he had been curious about. He had been wondering how he had fallen and suffered a penetrating abdominal injury, but it turned out that he had been pushed and had the accident against his will.

‘That’s the guy who caused the accident.’

As soon as he heard that, Tae-kyung wondered if the director, who had pretended not to know, was even human.

“Choi Sun-hae could have died.”

Tae-kyung, who had been standing quietly in the back, said it on purpose so that the director could hear.

“Really? Are you saying our Choi Hyung could have died?”

“Yes.”

It was true. A penetrating abdominal injury is a significant injury even in surgery. There are many organs in the abdomen, as well as important nerves. If the iron rod had entered just a little to the side, it could have penetrated an organ and led to death from excessive bleeding.

“Choi Sun-hae was just lucky.”

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“I don’t know about that, but I remember one thing for sure.”

The director was apologizing profusely, but he wasn’t sincere. He was just doing it reluctantly because he had been dragged here. Choi Sun-hae, who felt that, couldn’t stand it any longer and said what he wanted to say.

“I clearly remember that I grabbed your expensive clothes while begging for money, and you pushed me because of that.”

“No, I was just suddenly flustered…”

“Enough! Let’s have a practical conversation. Director, do you see this?”

One of the laborers raised the picket sign hanging around his neck.

“We even prepared picket signs to protest in front of the broadcasting station if you don’t pay the overdue wages.”

“Excuse me for interrupting, but you can report it to the police.”

Team Leader Choi, who was standing close to Tae-kyung, chimed in.

“Don’t even mention it. Even if we tell the police, a rich person can just hire an expensive lawyer, and it’s over. My son says it’s faster to report it to the broadcasting station.”

“That’s right. If we stand in front with picket signs, won’t someone come out?”

“But will the broadcasting station people even meet us? We need to know someone at the broadcasting station to report it.”

Because they had gathered so hastily, the laborers’ plans were not concrete.

“I’ll get you a meeting.”

While they were worrying about the broadcasting station issue, Tae-kyung, who had been listening, offered a solution.

“Yes? Doctor?”

“Yes. I know a successful PD [Producer-Director] over there.”

PDs and writers frequently visit general hospitals on a regular basis. They mainly come to find material for dramas and investigative reports. During his days as a slave [working long hours for little pay] at Shinhwa University, there was a person who became acquainted with Tae-kyung as an investigative PD came and went as if it were his job.

When the emergency treatment video on YouTube became a hot topic, he even contacted him for coverage. Of course, he refused, but he had helped him quite a bit in the past, so he was sure that he would help if he contacted him.

‘Yes, this kind of thing might be resolved quickly if it gets media attention.’

Tae-kyung, who had been constantly concerned about Choi Sun-hae’s unfortunate situation, thought it was a good thing.

“Doctor, you are truly Choi Hyung’s benefactor. You’re healing his body and helping him report to the broadcasting station.”

“Doctor, thank you so much.”

Not only the laborers but also Choi Sun-hae expressed their gratitude to Tae-kyung. However, only one person, the director, couldn’t feel at ease.

“Mr. Choi, please don’t do that, and I will pay the overdue wages right away. I will definitely resolve it.”

He had been secretly laughing at the construction site laborers for thinking they could report to the broadcasting station, but when Tae-kyung stepped in, he quickly changed his attitude.

“How can we believe the words of someone who has been ignoring us until now?”

“I’m serious. By next week…”

“Next week? I don’t think our director has fully grasped the situation yet.”

“Excuse me. I heard that Mr. Choi Sun-hae is here.”

While the director, with a fire under his feet, was fidgeting, his secretary appeared with an elderly gentleman.

“How did Secretary Kim get here…? Ah, Father!”

“Hello. I am Oh Bul-su, the president of Narak Construction.”

The president immediately went to Choi Sun-hae and bowed his head to the ground. Then, he walked straight to the director,

Slap-

He slapped him across the face. The slap was so strong that Oh Bul-gu’s head turned as if it would break.

“Ah, Father?”

Slap-

Everyone was surprised and closed their mouths at the sound of another slap.

“You trash. Don’t even call me Father!”

The president scolded his son, the director, fiercely, then approached Choi Sun-hae again.

“Sir, I am truly sorry. I have raised my son poorly. My wife has been ill for several years, so I entrusted the company to my son, and he caused another accident. I have nothing to say even if I had ten mouths [idiom for being deeply ashamed and having no excuse].”

He had heard all the news from the director’s secretary and rushed to the hospital.

“It may be difficult to compensate for the pain you have suffered with anything, but as a father with children, I ask for your leniency just once.”

“I understand.”

Choi Sun-hae couldn’t refuse the president’s sincerity. He knew the heart of a parent for their child.

“Thank you. The overdue wages, hospital bills, and all compensation for damages will be paid in full today.”

“I don’t need compensation for damages. I just hope that this kind of thing doesn’t happen again in the future.”

“I promise. And compensation for damages is a part that should be paid, of course. Please don’t refuse. Then, I will visit you again soon.”

The president acted politely until the end, glared at his son as if he would kill him, and dragged him out.

“Follow me.”

The laborers, who had been holding their breath and watching this scene, were all happy.

“The son is terrible, but the father is the real deal.”

“Anyway, I’m glad that our Choi Hyung’s overdue wages have been resolved well.”

“It’s all thanks to you guys.”

“It’s not because of us, it’s because you’ve been living kindly.”

Choi Sun-hae’s face, which had been full of dark clouds, was now clear.

“No, thank you for caring. Thank you, Doctor, too.”

Ding-dong-

While exchanging greetings with his colleagues, he checked the message at the sound of his ringing cell phone. But his expression was unusual after checking the message.

“Choi Hyung, what’s wrong with your expression? Is it about Narak Construction?”

“That’s right. The president sent a text message…”

“But surely he’s not saying he won’t give us the money today?”

“No, it’s not that… it’s 200 million won [approximately $150,000 USD]. He sent 200 million won as compensation for damages, saying he was sorry.”

Everyone’s mouths dropped open at the ‘200 million won’ amount.

“Could this be the wrong amount? Doctor, I don’t understand. Is this correct?”

Tae-kyung answered, checking the text on Choi Sun-hae’s phone screen.

“It seems like he sent it correctly.”

“Since he specified the exact amount, it’s the amount sent to Choi Sun-hae.”

Tae-kyung also felt relieved that Choi Sun-hae’s situation, who had even tried to end his life in the hospital, had been resolved well.

“Just focus on recovering now.”

“Yes, Doctor. I will. Thank you in many ways.”

* * *

“Ha! 200 million won…”

Team Leader Choi, passing through the ward, muttered to himself and kept saying ‘200 million won’.

“200 million won. But Doctor, you seem to be in a good mood.”

“It makes me think that even though the world is harsh, it’s still worth living in.”

“Aren’t you thinking too positively? In my opinion, he’s just trying to silence it with money because he’s worried that his son’s actions will damage the company’s image if it goes to the media.”

“That may be the case, but it’s still a definite compensation for someone who needs money right now.”

“That makes sense when I hear it. Oh! I’ve been thinking about it.”

Team Leader Choi stopped walking and blocked Tae-kyung’s path.

“What do you think about using one of those people?”

“For what?”

“Security guard. Do you remember what those laborers said earlier?”

The laborers had thanked Tae-kyung as they left the lounge. And they had told him to contact them anytime if the hospital needed any help.

“Isn’t doing the heavy lifting exactly what a security guard is for? I posted it on a job search site, but I haven’t received a single email yet, so I don’t think it will work this way.”

“Ah! One person will be coming for an interview for the security guard position.”

“Yes? An interview?”

“Yes, someone I know said they would introduce someone to me. They said they would come for an interview once they’ve finished their current job.”

“We need to get good people at the hospital… I wonder what kind of person it will be.”

Tae-kyung was also curious about the security guard.

‘He has a good eye for people.’

Moreover, since it was someone introduced by Kim Cheol-gi, he expected it to be a good person.