This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

They feared that Du Heng’s treatment would have no effect. Additionally, delaying the removal of the gauze could result in a larger necrotic area in the wound, worsening the condition. This could turn what might have been resolved with a below-knee amputation into a more severe thigh amputation.

Such a consequence was unacceptable to both the family and the hospital.

Therefore, Wu Shengnan had to endure some pain for now.

However, removing the gauze now also had its advantages. Once there was a result, everyone would be absolved of responsibility, allowing for swift action. If the treatment was effective, then Wu Shengnan would not have to endure such suffering for the next two days and could focus on recovery.

As the gauze was removed, the wound was once again clearly exposed to everyone’s sight. The experts’ expressions changed, leaving the Wu family looking at each other blankly, bewildered.

Li Jianwei, Zhao Xingde, and the Dean of Provincial First Hospital all relaxed when they saw the wound for the first time, even though there were still remnants of the ointment on it.

On the other hand, Director Chen, who was knowledgeable in this field and was either genuinely concerned about Wu Shengnan or there to mock Du Heng, his complexion changed dramatically.

How could this be possible?

Wu Shengnan’s leg necrosis and ulceration, which were uncontrollable by even the most high-end, cutting-edge Western medicine and surgery, seemed to be under control after the application of the dark, seemingly unappealing ointment.

Looking at the tender granulation tissue at the wound and the oozing Blood Water, Director Chen couldn’t describe his feelings.

Happiness? Maybe a little, but not much.

Resentment? He couldn’t muster it up.

After a long time, he seemed to have found the reason for his mixed emotions. It was incomprehension.

He couldn’t understand why such a simple herbal medicine mixture could achieve effects that billions of dollars worth of Western medicine couldn’t.

”Doctor Du, how is my daughter’s condition?” Wu Shengnan’s father couldn’t help but ask.

Du Heng placed the gauze he was holding beside her lower leg, stood up, and took a deep breath. ”The wound tissue hasn’t continued to necrotize, and there’s some Blood Water seeping out. The skin on the unaffected part of the patient’s lower leg hasn’t darkened any further, indicating that this area is showing signs of recovering blood circulation.”

Wu Shengnan’s father became slightly agitated. ”Does this mean my daughter’s leg can be saved?”

Du Heng didn’t dare to make any guarantees, so he gently shook his head. ”All we can say now is that the treatment is effective, and the medicine is working. Whether the leg can ultimately be saved still depends on her future recovery. If blood circulation doesn’t recover well, and the muscle and bone at the wound can’t regenerate, there’s still a risk of amputation.”

The flicker of happiness in Wu Shengnan’s father and her family was immediately extinguished by Du Heng’s words.

Du Heng didn’t pay much attention to their reactions; he was already quite confident about the current situation.

He then turned his gaze to Wu Shengnan’s foot, which was the most severely affected area.

Due to prolonged ischemia, frostbite, and the trauma to her lower leg, the condition of her foot was extremely serious.

Du Heng bent down again and began to loosen the gauze on her foot, but Wu Shengnan had no sensation there at all.

Seeing the blackened foot, everyone exchanged glances.

The joy that had just begun to rise was offset by the blackness before their eyes.

At this point, everyone present who understood the medical situation had the same thought: This foot is probably beyond saving.

Given the current situation, by the time blood circulation was restored, the blood vessels in the foot would have already necrotized. At that point, the skin, muscle, and fascia wouldn’t receive nourishment, and the chance of recovery would be long gone.

Based on current predictions, even if the entire foot wasn’t amputated, at least half of it would have to be.

However, this was already a dramatic improvement compared to yesterday’s prognosis.

Du Heng looked at the blackened, unchanged foot and quietly sighed.

He then said, ”All right, everyone. We’ve seen the patient’s condition clearly. The condition is not deteriorating. Therefore, we will continue with the previous treatment plan. Does anyone have any objections?”

Everyone shook their heads, indicating that Du Heng should continue his treatment.

Seeing this, Du Heng asked everyone to leave. He needed to change Wu Shengnan’s dressing again, which meant she would have to endure the pain once more.

After everyone else had left, only a nurse holding medicine and Sir Wu Zhong, who was sitting by the sick bed, remained in the hospital room.

Seeing Du Heng begin, Sir Wu Zhong steadied himself and asked softly, ”Doctor Du, has Nannan’s leg truly been saved?”

Du Heng looked back at Sir Wu Zhong and saw the deep worry etched on his face, yet his eyes were filled with a hopeful gaze. He then looked back at Wu Shengnan on the sick bed and saw that she too was looking at him with hope.

What should he do now?

Should he use a similar diplomatic approach to answer them?

Du Heng thought for a moment and said, ”Based on the situation just now, as long as the patient cooperates with the treatment in the future, the leg will be saved.”

Wu Shengnan finally smiled happily. Even though the pain from Du Heng changing her dressing brought tears to her eyes, she still laughed with joy.

However, she didn’t notice that the worry on her grandfather, Sir Wu Zhong’s, face had not diminished.

Sir Wu Zhong hesitated, then glanced at his granddaughter. After some thought, he decided to ask his question anyway. He felt that even if it was bad news, his granddaughter could bear it.

Especially when compared to the prospect of losing her entire lower limb, she should be able to accept this outcome.

”Doctor Du, Nannan’s foot is terribly black, and she still can’t feel it. In this situation, can her foot actually be saved?”

At her grandfather’s question, Wu Shengnan, who had just managed a smile, froze.

She was lying on the bed and couldn’t see the condition of her own foot.

She had thought that as long as her lower leg was saved, everything would be fine. She hadn’t expected her foot to be in danger.

If she lost her foot, wouldn’t she still become disabled?

In an instant, the smile on Wu Shengnan’s face vanished. She looked at Du Heng with a touch of fear, her eyes filled with a strong plea, hoping to hear comforting words from him.

Du Heng continued to apply the ointment to the gauze, smiled lightly, and said, ”Sir, your concern is unnecessary. It’s only the second day of treatment. How can we already conclude that the foot can’t be saved? Don’t worry.”

”Doctor Du, please don’t be angry for what I’m about to say.”

”Sir, please speak freely. Why would I be angry?”

”After I went home last night, I asked some orthopedics doctors. They all said that with the degree of ischemia in Nannan’s foot, it can’t be saved. And just now, I saw her foot hasn’t changed at all. Can it really not be saved?”

Sir Wu Zhong paused for a moment, then adjusted his tone slightly. ”Doctor Du, please just tell us plainly. We can handle it. Especially now that her lower leg can be saved, which is already beyond our expectations.”

Du Heng stopped his actions, handed the task to the nearby nurse, asking her to dress Wu Shengnan’s wound.

He then straightened up and looked at the grandfather and granddaughter, unable to help but chuckle. ”Sir, the doctors you consulted yesterday also said this leg absolutely had to be amputated. Look, in just one day, I’ve managed to save it, haven’t I?”

His words made Sir Wu Zhong look embarrassed.

Indeed. The leg those doctors said couldn’t be saved, the leg they insisted required amputation—Du Heng had saved it.

Now they’re saying her foot can’t be saved. How ironic does that sound?

It was his own fault, too, for being overly worried about his granddaughter, leading to this awkward situation.

Wu Shengnan suddenly asked, ”Du Heng, can my foot be saved?”

Du Heng turned to look at Wu Shengnan. Seeing her current state, his previous dislike for her suddenly lessened considerably.

It suddenly occurred to him that regardless of whether this woman was demanding or had tried to be clever with him, she was, in the end, just a woman.

Moreover, she hadn’t actually done anything truly excessive to him.