This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Chapter 172: 172 Bargaining

Poverty alleviation?

Du Heng had never done it before and didn’t know the first thing about poverty alleviation.

It was the busy farming season now, so it wasn’t as if he could help people harvest wheat, pick beans, or dig potatoes, right?

That’s right, it’s only June, so it’s not time to dig potatoes yet.

An idea struck Du Heng, and he immediately said boldly, ”No problem. I’ll send you all thirteen village doctors from the Health System, and you can arrange them however you want.”

Song Jiaying said indifferently, ”No need for you to bother. I’ve already arranged all these village doctors.”

Arranged?

Du Heng was a bit confused, but he quickly figured it out.

The Health Clinic only had the authority for professional guidance and operational supervision over these village doctors. Administratively, the Health Clinic didn’t carry as much weight as the Township Government.

He had no choice but to plead his difficulties.

”Township Chief Song, it’s not that I don’t want to transfer people to you, but we really can’t spare anyone right now. Look, we have fifteen inpatients, all of whom have difficulty moving. We only have five nurses. They are responsible for decoction of medicine, feeding medicine, nursing, managing the Hospital rooms, and taking night shifts. They are all exhausted.

”Also, as for our doctors, there’s just me and Dr. Yu. I’m a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, and he’s a Western medicine doctor; we’re the ones who can prescribe and dispense medicine. The other three staff members, besides their daily work, also have to prepare for the licensing exam in July. None of them can afford any delays.

”The Pharmacy is in a similar situation. We have one Chinese medicine pharmacist and one Western medicine pharmacist. If either of them left, we’d be hamstrung. Not to mention logistics; each person there is conscientious and meticulous, assigned to a specific role, so there’s no extra personnel.”

Seeing Song Jiaying’s face getting darker, Du Heng tried to salvage the situation. ”How about this? I’ll send our Secretary Lu Zhongjiang. Secretary Lu is a veteran comrade with high political consciousness and is very capable.”

Song Jiaying’s face got even darker, but she also had a way to counter Du Heng. ”Since your Health Clinic claims it can’t spare any personnel, I’ll find another way.”

She deliberately left her sentence unfinished, but Du Heng didn’t catch on and said happily, ”Thank you for your understanding, Township Chief.”

Song Jiaying continued languidly, ”To find another solution, our Township Government will have to spend more money. Since your Health Clinic claims it can’t spare the personnel, I’ll deduct the cost of hiring others from the funds allocated to you for this month and the next.”

Du Heng’s smile froze on his face.

Could things be done this way?

”Township Chief Song, that’s not right, is it?”

”Why not? This poverty alleviation initiative requires the collective effort of the entire township. Is your Health Clinic planning to contribute neither personnel nor funds?”

”It shouldn’t be like this.”

”Then you provide personnel. At least five.” Song Jiaying had Du Heng cornered and made an exorbitant demand.

Du Heng felt helpless. Without the Township Government’s funding, relying solely on the money allocated by the Bureau and what they currently earned, the Health Clinic would be back to square one in less than two months.

He gritted his teeth and said, ”Two.”

”Five. Otherwise, we won’t have enough people.”

Bullshit! How could lacking just three people mean we don’t have enough?

”Three. No more. Seriously, any more than that, and the Health Clinic’s current operations will run into problems.”

Song Jiaying glanced at Du Heng. ”Fine. In that case, your Health Clinic will take responsibility for two more households.”

He couldn’t just take this lying down.

Du Heng also stared straight at Song Jiaying. ”Township Chief, we’re preparing a Daily Medication Safety Manual to distribute to everyone in our township. Do you think the Township Government could offer some support?”

Song Jiaying thought for a moment. ”A Daily Medication Safety Manual, that’s a good thing. How much will it cost?”

How much?

Du Heng didn’t know.He had only mentioned it to Lu Zhongjiang yesterday; they probably hadn’t even started designing the layout.

But who wouldn’t ask for money when given the chance? It was always better to ask for more.

”50,000 yuan.”

”Are you insane? Are you printing pamphlets or publishing books? Absolutely not.”

”Then how much do you think, Township Chief?”

”Ten thousand yuan.”

”That’s too little. It’s not enough.”

”I can only offer ten thousand yuan. If you want more, you’ll have to ask Director Zhang.”

Du Heng hesitated for a moment and reluctantly promised.

Back at the Health Clinic, Du Heng faced a dilemma.

Whom to choose?

After much thought, no one seemed suitable.

Just then, Du Heng heard Lu Zhongjiang returning to the office next door, so he got up to discuss it with him.

Wu Buwei could manage things now, and since the young man was about to take his licensing exam, it was best to let him stay at the Health Clinic and focus. Xiao Li on the Western medicine side still couldn’t hold the fort alone, so Yu Haiting couldn’t leave. Xiao Li was also preparing for his licensing exam, so he should be allowed to study in peace.

As for the other positions, just as Du Heng had said earlier, it was genuinely difficult to choose someone.

The final decision was that Du Heng and Lu Zhongjiang would go, and they would select one nurse.

There was no other choice.

So, who among the nurses?

Du Heng found Wang Lili and explained the situation again.

Wang Lili thought for a moment, then said, ”Leave it to me.”

With that, she called the other four nurses over.

When she explained the situation to them and asked for volunteers, not a single one stepped forward.

Poverty alleviation—the name itself suggested constant visits to impoverished households and the need to find solutions to their problems. Moreover, this task probably wouldn’t be over quickly.

This was a far cry from working in the office building.

”Let’s draw lots. It’s fair.” Wang Lili had already thought of a solution.

Ultimately, Wang Lili herself was unlucky enough to draw the short straw.

Seeing her resentful gaze, Du Heng felt helpless. What could he do? The lots were drawn in front of everyone. Besides, it had been her idea.

The matter was settled. Just as Du Heng was about to head downstairs, he bumped right into Xiao Li, who was coming around the corner.

”Slow down! What’s the rush?”

”Sorry, Dean. A patient came to see Dr. Yu, and he’d like you to take a look.”

”What kind of patient? One that even Dr. Yu can’t handle?”

”A cold.”

A cold?

Xiao Li stepped aside to let Du Heng pass, then followed behind him. ”Yes, a cold. But the patient claims to have had it for over a month.”

”Interesting. Let’s go take a look.”

When Du Heng entered, Yu Haiting voluntarily gave up his seat. ”Dean Du, please take a look at this patient.”

Du Heng sat down where Yu Haiting had been. He glanced at the patient before him, made a quick visual assessment, then turned to Yu Haiting. ”Tell me about it. A simple cold has stumped you?”

Yu Haiting gave a wry smile and began to describe the patient’s condition. ”The patient is Zhao Fang, female, 30 years old. She reports that since late April, she has experienced fever without any apparent cause. Her temperature has been fluctuating, reaching a high of 40°C. She initially took some anti-cold medicine her family had on hand. When that showed no effect after two days, she went to Dr. Zhang’s clinic and received an infusion for two more days. On the third day, something happened at Dr. Zhang’s clinic, so the patient discontinued treatment there.

”Three days ago, her condition worsened. She developed a cough, a dry and sore throat with a burning sensation, and cold limbs. She also experienced profuse sweating, an aversion to wind, and found it necessary to wear long sleeves and pants in the mornings and evenings. She came to our Health Clinic for treatment three days ago. I diagnosed her with a chronic upper respiratory tract infection. However, the prescribed medication hasn’t been very effective.”

Du Heng listened attentively and flipped through Yu Haiting’s medical records.

When Yu Haiting finished, Du Heng said to the patient, ”Why did you wait so long to seek treatment? This should have been addressed much earlier. Please take off your mask.”

The patient wore a mask. The visible skin between her eyebrows appeared somewhat discolored and pale, indicative of blood deficiency.