HLM – Chapter 732 Purchasing Medications

Atulu and Uncle Bing both thought that smoking marijuana wasn’t a big deal. To be honest, everyone in this line of work did it. In New Zealand, joints mixed with marijuana were as common as regular cigarettes in China.

But they didn’t like these people either, so driving them out was just fine.

When Atulu got into the car, he joked, “Boss, can I have the confiscated cigarettes later? I haven’t smoked in a long time; I really miss the taste.”

“Go eat shit!” Wang Bo replied decisively.

Two police cars silently drove toward New Zealand Road, while these guys just stayed there.

Wang Bo deployed an operation: four officers in two cars would flank the suspects from both directions. These people were good at escaping, and he didn’t want them to get away again.

This operation was a raid. No alarms were sounded on the road; the cars silently appeared at both ends of the highway before turning on their sirens.

This was one of those frustrating New Zealand police rules: during normal dispatches, sirens had to be on; silent enforcement wasn’t allowed, to ensure the suspects’ right to be informed.

But Wang Bo didn’t need to be that cautious. A bunch of them were lying on the grass enjoying themselves, probably hallucinating as emperors or wealthy tycoons. When the police cars stopped, no one ran.

Perfect. Atulu and Uncle Bing went up and handcuffed them. With his experience, Uncle Bing searched them and pulled a bag of sage from under the armpit of a big-bearded guy.

He opened it, looked at it, and shook his head. “It’s not marijuana.”

“What? That still has to be a problem. Take it away!”

Back at the office, Wang Bo deliberately displayed the sage and asked what it was. Sure enough, someone recognized it. Juan immediately identified it as a specialty from his hometown: “Salvia! Haha, this is some good stuff. Boss, where did you get it? Share some with me.”

Wang Bo kicked him. “Get lost. This is a hallucinogen!”

Juann shrugged. “Maybe, but it’s a natural plant and isn’t addictive to humans.”

Wang Bo replied harshly, “Poppies are also natural. Do you need me to tell you what happens when their juice is refined? You dare say that stuff isn’t addictive?”

New Zealand’s control over crime was too lax. According to the New Zealand government’s Guide to Illegal Hallucinogens 2013, importing, manufacturing, or selling Salvia is illegal, but possessing a small amount isn’t strictly punished.

So Wang Bo scared them off and drove them out of the town. He couldn’t sentence them, but expulsion was justified.

The next day, Rock Shtock was released as well. Kelly had been waiting for him and, seeing him, happily opened her arms to hug and kiss him.

But Rock Shtock swung his hand and slapped her hard. “Smack!”

The slap was strong enough to spin Kelly around. Wang Bo, watching, saw her eyes glaze over—she was probably seeing little stars circling her head.

Juan couldn’t stand it and rolled up his sleeves to intervene.

Wang Bo stopped him. “Don’t. Unless she calls the cops.”

Rock Shtock thought Kelly had exposed his fortune-making plans, so he hated her utterly. One slap wasn’t enough—he began striking her with both hands.

Wang Bo stood coldly aside. A foolish girl like Kelly was already beyond reason; a serious illness required strong medicine.

Kelly screamed in pain, unable to bear it, finally calling out, “Help! Police, help!”

Wang Bo kicked Rock Shtock in the abdomen, sending him flying, then mockingly looked at Kelly, tears streaming: “This is true love, huh?”

Rock Shtock shouted again: “I’m suing you! How dare you hit me?! Fuck—You bastard! I’ll tell you—”

Long-annoyed Juan snapped. He ran up in three strides and pounded Rock Shtock: “Idiot! How dare you insult our boss? You’re asking for it!”

Wang Bo coldly asked Kelly, “You can sue him for assault. Want me to teach him a lesson?”

Kelly, not innocent either, wiped her tears and snot, shouting: “Sue him! Arrest him! That bastard deserves hell! Send him to jail to sell his ass!”

So Mr. Rock, just released from detention, was locked back in.

This time, Rock behaved. He realized the local police were different from Christchurch’s; here, the cops were rough and brutal, quick to hit people.

“Who the hell are the real gangsters?” Rock wondered, sitting in the detention room, baffled.

Time passed, and September quietly arrived. Blossoms swayed in the spring breeze; Sunset Town was about to welcome its most beautiful season.

In early September, Doctor Yi came to Wang Bo. “Boss, should we prepare some allergy medications in the hospital for people to take?”

Every year, from early September to the end of February, New Zealand experiences peak pollen season. During this period, countless trees and flowers release pollen in the warm season, and proteins in the pollen cause severe discomfort for allergy sufferers.

New Zealand has high rates of allergies and asthma. Every spring, family doctors prescribe oral allergy medications.

Sunset Town, a tourist spot, is required to stock certain medications for tourists, including nasal sprays, eye drops, and ear drops for pollen allergies.

Because of the spring-fed irrigation, the flowers bloom earlier and longer than usual. By August, many flowers were already open, but few people had allergies.

Wang Bo mentioned this, and Doctor Yi smiled. “In August, medium to large trees and shrubs are waking up from winter, but smaller plants and shrubs are not yet active. Also, the air is humid in August, so allergies aren’t severe.”

“In September, more trees and shrubs start spreading pollen, humidity drops, temperature rises, and floating pollen attacks more sensitive people.”

Preparation is better than cure. Wang Bo asked Elizabeth to draft a medication request form. He signed it as mayor, Doctor Yi countersigned, and the medications could be requested.

In addition to medications, Doctor Yi requested professional masks, like the N85. Wang Bo recognized them—he’d seen these masks often when combating smog in Beijing.

N85 masks are expensive, usually forty to fifty bucks, but in New Zealand, they were given for free. The country’s healthcare benefits were indeed excellent.