I don't know how he'd know your brake shoes were in good shape unless he took off the disc to inspect them, in which case it would be obvious to a mechanic that they are just old style drums that adjust using a star wheel.

You can access the star wheel without having to take off the wheel. It's in behind the wheel. There is an oval rubber plug that you take off to fit a flat screwdriver in to spin the star wheel to adjust the brake shoes.