This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Wu Shengnan’s brother quickly found a nurse. Pointing at Wu Shengnan’s undone bandage, he asked her to reapply the medicine and bandage it again.

The nurse, looking at the messy bandages, was clearly displeased. She was about to say something cold when she suddenly recalled the scene of this patient’s admission—the Dean, the Secretary, and various directors had all gathered. The words died on her lips, and the mouth she had opened snapped shut.

Wu Shengnan’s brother didn’t notice this. He was simply following his grandfather’s instructions to take Du Heng to find his father.

The two walked out, one in front and one behind, both silent. They each had things on their minds and, besides, were not well acquainted.

Just as they arrived, the conference room door opened, and several doctors in white gowns emerged. Among them was Li Jianwei, whom Du Heng recognized.

”Xiao Du, you’re here.” Li Jianwei, dressed in casual clothes, spotted Du Heng standing by the door the moment he stepped out.

”Professor Li, have you finished your discussion?”

Li Jianwei nodded and walked over to Du Heng and Wu Shengnan’s brother. ”The first affiliated hospital of Jinzhou has formed an expert panel,” he said. ”They’ve invited all orthopedic experts and traditional Chinese medicine experts from Provincial First Hospital, Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the second affiliated hospital of JZU. They also held a video conference with Orthopedic Experts from the Capital. The consensus is quite strong; everyone agrees on amputation.”

Li Jianwei sighed. ”Currently, the amputation would only involve the lower leg. If we delay, her entire leg might need to be amputated, which would have an even greater impact on her future life.”

Du Heng paused for a moment. ”Do the experts from the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine have no other solutions? Is there absolutely no possibility of conservative treatment?”

Li Jianwei glanced at Wu Shengnan’s brother, knowing Du Heng had just come from the hospital room, and said directly, ”It’s extremely difficult. Her muscles, tendons, and bones are all severely damaged, and the ulcerated areas are already showing signs of infection. Amputation is the best option right now.”

Wu Shengnan’s brother became very agitated. He took a small step forward and said, ”Director Li, is there really no other way? My sister is only twenty-seven; her life has just begun! She’s such a strong-willed person. If she has an amputation, how will she cope?”

Li Jianwei shook his head sympathetically. ”This isn’t my decision; it’s the decision of the expert panel inside. Your sister’s lower leg muscles and skin are already necrotic and ulcerating. The site of the fracture is also showing signs of necrosis. With the efficacy of current Western medicine, we likely can’t control the necrosis before it spreads further.”

”To save your sister’s leg, we’d need a multi-pronged approach that yields rapid, almost immediate results. However, the expert panel concluded that current medications can’t achieve this. The rate of recovery would be far outpaced by the rate of necrosis. So, amputation is the best choice now.”

After speaking to Wu Shengnan’s brother, Li Jianwei’s gaze returned to the silent Du Heng. ”Xiao Du, only Secretary Wu, Dean Wang from the first affiliated hospital, and Director Chen of Trauma Orthopedics are inside now. They should be making their final report on her condition. Do you still want to go in?”

With that, Li Jianwei fixed his eyes on Du Heng.

Although all the experts agreed that amputation was the best option, those making the decision today were all experts in Western orthopedics. As for the few traditional Chinese medicine experts, although they were affiliated with the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, their practices were hardly different from Western medicine, primarily focusing on surgery.

Regarding traditional Chinese medicine, it wasn’t that Li Jianwei was being arrogant; it was just that their traditional Chinese medicine treatments for orthopedics weren’t as proficient as his own.

Now, he genuinely hoped Du Heng could find a solution—something that would allow him, and traditional Chinese medicine itself, to hold their heads high, rather than letting those charlatans from the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, who were TCM practitioners in name only, tarnish its reputation.

As for himself, he was merely the Department Director of the Chinese Medicine Department at Provincial First Hospital. He had been invited today largely due to his title. He wasn’t truly skilled in orthopedics and thus couldn’t offer any constructive suggestions.

Du Heng’s furrowed brow gradually relaxed. He glanced at the few individuals who had turned and gone back into the office, then smiled faintly at Li Jianwei. ”Professor Li, could you take me in for a moment? I have a few ideas now.”

Hearing this, Li Jianwei’s eyes lit up. He looked earnestly at Du Heng and asked, ”Xiao Du, do you really have some ideas?”

”I have some thoughts.”

”Good, let’s go in.”

His expression composed, Li Jianwei immediately turned and led Du Heng back into the conference room.

In the Director’s office, a middle-aged man in a black jacket sat somewhat dejectedly at the office desk. His angular face was etched with disappointment and sorrow.

At that moment, the doctor in a white gown standing at the front said, ”Secretary Wu, you heard them earlier. Amputation is the best option now. But please rest assured, Secretary Wu, I will personally perform Officer Wu’s surgery, and I’ll ensure there are no lasting complications.”

The man called Secretary Wu gave a bitter smile. Her leg would be gone; how could there be no lasting complications?

Just as he was about to speak, he heard the door behind him open. Turning, he saw his son, the expert who had just left, along with a young man, walk in.

”Dad, Doctor Du is here.” Wu Shengnan’s brother pushed open the door. The moment he saw Secretary Wu, he immediately composed himself and said softly, ”Doctor Du says he has a way to treat my sister’s leg.”

At these words, Secretary Wu’s eyes brightened, his gaze turning sharp as he looked at Du Heng. His presence seemed to fill the room with an oppressive aura.

The doctor in the white gown at the front looked slightly puzzled. ”Director Li, is there something else?”

Li Jianwei calmly glanced at Du Heng beside him and said slowly, ”This is Director Du Heng from the Chinese Medicine Department of our Provincial First Hospital. He has some thoughts on Officer Wu’s injury.”

Now, not only Secretary Wu but also the two remaining doctors in white gowns in the conference room turned to look at Du Heng.

Their eyes held a mixture of confusion and faint distrust.

Chinese Medicine Department? Director? What is he trying to do at such a young age? Show off in front of Secretary Wu?

Before the two doctors in front could recover from their surprise, Secretary Wu suddenly retracted his sharp gaze, slowly stood up, and proactively extended his hand to Du Heng. ”Doctor Du, hello. Thank you so much for curing my father. I’ve been wanting to thank you personally but have been swamped with work. My apologies for not doing so sooner.”

”Secretary Wu, you’re too kind. It’s a doctor’s duty to treat illnesses and save lives.” Such pleasantries were best heard and forgotten, not taken seriously.

”Gratitude is due. And I haven’t even had the chance to thank you for my father’s matter, and now I must trouble you with Nannan’s.”

This time, Du Heng merely grinned slightly and said nothing.

Just then, the doctor who had spoken earlier suddenly asked, ”Does this Doctor Du have a better solution for Officer Wu’s condition?”

Du Heng nodded. ”In my personal opinion, Miss Wu’s condition has not yet reached the point where amputation is absolutely necessary.”

”Nonsense!” The doctor immediately refuted Du Heng. ”Officer Wu’s calf muscle fascia is completely necrotic and ulcerated. Furthermore, the fracture site on her tibia shows signs of ischemic necrosis and hardening of the bone ends.”

”If we don’t amputate now, are we supposed to wait until a massive infection sets in and her life is in danger before we do it?”

As he spoke, he shot Du Heng a look filled with disdain.

In his eyes, Du Heng was just an opportunist trying to curry favor with Secretary Wu, a charlatan.

Li Jianwei whispered at this moment, ”That’s Director Chen from Trauma Orthopedics.”

Du Heng remained unruffled and stated his thoughts, ”The patient’s main issue now is the expanding necrosis, carrying the constant risk of a widespread infection.”

”We can tackle this internally and externally. Internally, we’ll work to restore and boost the patient’s original qi, while also reducing inflammation and preventing infection. Externally, we’ll use an external ointment to further combat inflammation, draw out toxins, and regenerate the muscle fascia.”

Du Heng looked earnestly at the man in front. ”Director Chen, do you think this approach is feasible?”

Director Chen looked dismissive. ”Everyone is aware of that approach. The issue isn’t the concept, but the lack of sufficiently effective medicine.”

Du Heng shook his head. ”I’m not referring to Western medicine; I’m talking about Chinese herbal medicine.”

”Chinese herbal medicine?” Director Chen narrowed his eyes at Du Heng. ”Chinese herbal medicine might offer such effects, but we’ve already consulted orthopedic experts from the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and traditional Chinese medicine experts from the Capital. None of them could provide such a prescription.”

As he spoke, Director Chen slowly took two steps forward. ”Doctor Du, is it? I don’t know why Director Li refers to you as ’Director,’ but I presume you are a young and promising talent in traditional Chinese medicine.”

”However, regardless of your confidence, as a doctor, you cannot gamble with a patient’s life.”

Du Heng shook his head again. ”I am not joking.”

Director Chen was furious. His anger was directed at Du Heng, and by extension, at Li Jianwei for bringing him.

He hadn’t expected Li Jianwei to bring such an arrogant and ignorant young man. ”Doctor Du, do you truly believe you’re more skilled than the collective experts from the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Capital?”

Du Heng chuckled lightly. ”I suppose so. I’m quite confident in my abilities.”

Director Chen almost laughed out of anger. ”Alright then, Doctor Du, may I ask if you have any experience treating similar cases?”

”No,” Du Heng replied honestly, shaking his head.

”Then has traditional Chinese medicine ever successfully treated similar cases? Where are the medical records?”

Du Heng shook his head again.

”Setting aside whether someone of your age, Doctor Du, possesses the ability to treat such a condition, traditional Chinese medicine hasn’t successfully treated similar cases for many years. Where, then, do you get the audacity to claim you can?”

These words made Du Heng a little unhappy. ”Director Chen, do you know traditional Chinese medicine?”

Director Chen shook his head.

”Then do you understand traditional Chinese medicine?”

”No. And why should I? What does that have to do with your shameless opportunism?”

Director Chen was truly incensed, his words becoming unrestrained.

Du Heng took a deep breath, suppressing the agitation welling within him. ”Director Chen, if you don’t understand traditional Chinese medicine, how can you be so certain it cannot treat this illness?”

”Sophistry! Did I say traditional Chinese medicine can’t cure diseases? I said *you* can’t cure this disease!” Director Chen’s eyes widened in anger. ”The patient is in a critical condition! Yet you, a young man, are thinking of resorting to dubious methods, showing no regard for the patient whatsoever! How dare you call yourself a doctor?”

Saying this, he jabbed a finger fiercely towards the conference room door. ”Now, please leave! Our hospital does not welcome you!”