This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Did you understand?

It seems like they did, but at the same time, they didn’t.

Mostly because some of the things Du Heng mentioned were only vaguely familiar to them. For example, they didn’t know about the combination of stomach heat and liver fire, weak stomach qi in the nourishing pulse, or external Yin dampness. Especially the concepts of Stem and Branch Point Selection, and the Earthly Branches of the Spleen and stomach, which they’d never even thought about before. This made their comprehensive analysis of pulse and symptoms quite pointless.

Li Jianwei secretly let out a breath. He hadn’t quite understood the situation of the disease record Du Heng mentioned earlier, but now he truly did.

However, he still feigned composure, his face betraying no hint of apprehension as he smiled at the two Students before him.

Only Xiao Su still gazed at Du Heng with pride and admiration.

He understood now too, but he attributed it to the period he spent Studying with Du Heng in the latter half of last Year. It was only then that he had begun to delve deeper into and comprehend Stem and Branch Point Selection. Before that, he had merely heard of it but never earnestly studied it. He could never quite believe that the reactions of human internal organs could actually operate according to a specific time-based pattern.

Du Heng initially felt a little disappointed. But when he recalled his own level of knowledge at his undergraduate graduation, which likely wasn’t much better than these two Students, his mindset gradually calmed.

”Alright, now listen to the last question. A Patient has been diagnosed with interstitial lung fibrosis and pulmonale. After four days of Treatment in the Hospital, the Patient’s condition has not improved. Instead, their heart failure and respiratory failure have worsened daily. Subsequently, the Patient became critically ill, and the family took them home to arrange for their final affairs.”

The two student interviewees looked a bit dazed. They really didn’t understand what Du Heng’s question was about. Did he want them to figure out how to save this critically ill Patient? That’s a joke! Neither of them could even properly perform syndrome differentiation for a common cold. How could they possibly understand how to treat such a severe case?

But Li Jianwei and Xiao Su looked thoughtful as they watched Du Heng.

They had reviewed Du Heng’s critical disease records countless times and could now recite the details of each one from memory.

Now, hearing Du Heng speak, they knew this was the first disease record Du Heng had handled, one involving the use of over two thousand grams of aconite—a realm they still dared not touch.

Letting the two Students treat Patients was impossible. Did he want them to...?

The two looked at Du Heng, waiting for his next words.

Du Heng’s expression became more serious, and he slowly said, ”Upon examination, the Patient’s instep yang, LV-03, and Tai Xi pulses are orderly and responsive to touch, their appetite is good, and some stomach qi remains; there is a sliver of hope for a cure.

However, in the anticipated Treatment, each dose of medicine will require approximately 200 grams of aconite. By the end, the total amount might exceed one kilogram.

Now, my question is: as an observing physician—and listen carefully, not the attending doctor, merely an observing physician—what would you do?

You have five minutes of thinking time. After you’ve decided, tell us your choice and your reasons.

You may begin.”

As expected! Li Jianwei took a deep breath and leaned back hard in his chair. Du Heng had said earlier that he was looking for a Doctor who could treat Patients; it turned out this was the test he had waiting. Their skill level and knowledge reserves weren’t dealbreakers; there was plenty of time to teach them those things. After all, their three years as Graduate students were for Studying. However, how to be a doctor—that couldn’t be taught. These Students were already twenty-two or twenty-three; their values and worldviews were largely set. Barring any particularly significant or major event, one couldn’t expect to change their fundamental beliefs. At least, Li Jianwei knew he didn’t possess that ability. Now, it all depended on how the two would answer and what their reasons would be.

The five minutes of time passed in a flash. Judging by their expressions, both Students seemed very conflicted and hadn’t figured out what to do.

Du Heng didn’t give them any more time and called out a name. To his surprise, the honest Child stood up.

The honest Child stood up, hesitated, and glanced at the three people seated before him. He didn’t dare voice his thoughts. He was afraid his ideas wouldn’t align with the answers Du Heng and the others wanted to hear.

Du Heng understood their concerns and said directly, ”Just say whatever you’re thinking. There’s no right or wrong answer to this question. I simply want to know your genuine thoughts.”

The honest Child took a deep breath, silently encouraged himself, and then, looking at the three, said, ”Teachers, I don’t think I would get involved.”

”What’s the reason?” Du Heng asked, his Voice and expression perfectly calm, unchanged. This offered the honest Student a little comfort.

”There are two reasons why I wouldn’t get involved.

First, I am not the Patient’s attending doctor. I have no right to interfere with someone else’s Patient.

Second, the dosage of aconite is too large. This quantity exceeds the limit stipulated by the National Pharmacopoeia by more than a hundred times, which is a violation of laws and regulations.

Third, as you just said, the Patient has only a sliver of hope, and their attending doctor has already given up. I don’t want to gamble with the Patient’s life. It would be extremely irresponsible to give the family hope, only for it to end in failure—irresponsible to the Patient, the Patient’s family, and myself.

Teacher, I have finished my answer.”

Du Heng didn’t comment on the Student’s answer but glanced at the transcript in his hand. ”Your grades in all subjects are excellent, especially English, where you’ve far surpassed others. It’s clear you’re a very hardworking Student. Can you tell me your motivation to Study Medicine? And why did you choose traditional Chinese medicine? No long-winded explanations, no elaborate backstories—just the most direct reason.”

”I’ve loved traditional Chinese medicine since I was a child, and I want to make a contribution to its development.”

Du Heng’s eyelid twitched. ”Is anyone in your family a Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor?”

”No, but...”

”Alright, you may sit down.”

Du Heng was somewhat disappointed; he hadn’t expected the seemingly most honest Student to give such a slick answer. Considering the current state of primary and secondary education in the country, Du Heng found such a reason unbelievable unless someone in the Student’s family was a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine—regardless of whether others believed it, he certainly didn’t.

The male Student was visibly flustered. However, looking at the three expressionless faces before him, he didn’t dare say more and reluctantly sat down.

Du Heng gestured to the other, more calculating Student. ”Alright, tell us your choice.”

”Dear Teachers, I would inform my supervising leader of my thoughts, explaining the risks and possibilities, and let the leader make the decision. If, after considering my proposal, the leader believes there’s still a chance of saving the Patient, I will give it my all. If the leader deems my proposal unfeasible, I won’t push it; I will keep quiet.”

Du Heng was slightly stunned. If this Student’s plan were modified just a bit, it would be identical to his own approach back then.

”Why did you choose traditional Chinese medicine?”

”Curiosity.”

”Curious about what?”

”When I was a child, I went to my hometown for the Lunar New Year. My grandfather had a flare-up of bronchitis, and he could barely breathe due to the excessive sputum in his throat. At times, I even thought his breath might catch, and he would suddenly be gone.

The medicine we brought didn’t work, and we couldn’t get to the Hospital because heavy snow had sealed off the Mountain. Fortunately, there was a senior doctor in the village who used pig gallbladder and beef Lung to make many pellet medicines for my grandfather. After taking a few pellets, his breathing became much easier. From then on, my grandfather kept taking that pellet medicine and never went to the Hospital again. So, I was very curious why pig gallbladder and beef Lung could have such an effect. That’s why I chose traditional Chinese medicine when I declared my major.”Du Heng knew this: Pig Gallbladder and Beef Lung Soup was effective for clearing heat and resolving phlegm, especially potent for cases involving heat symptoms, dry mouth, and thick, sticky, yellow sputum. Pig gallbladder, beef Lung, roasted Sichuan pepper, and Honey, made into pellet medicine, constituted a very useful folk remedy.

”Are you still curious now?”

”Curious. The more I study, the more curious I become. That’s why I applied for the Graduate student program.”

Du Heng had initially said not to discuss reasons and consequences, but hearing the answer ”curiosity,” he couldn’t help but break the rule he had just established. Well, if it was broken, it was broken; it didn’t matter.

”One last question: that thesis of yours, did you write it yourself?”

”Um... I did the work myself, but my undergraduate Teacher revised it several times.”

Du Heng nodded with understanding; it was more or less as he had guessed.

He turned to ask Li Jianwei, ”Teacher, do you have any more questions?”

”No.”

”What about you, Xiao Su?”

”I don’t have any either, senior.”

Du Heng looked at the two Students before him. ”Alright, you may leave. Today’s interview is concluded.”

Although the calculating male Student had answered one more question in the end, he knew his responses to the earlier questions had been too weak. So, he wanted to try and secure another chance. However, Du Heng and the other two Teachers had already risen and were walking towards another doorway, giving them no opportunity.

Similarly, the Student who appeared honest but was actually somewhat greasy also opened his mouth, looking unwilling, but said nothing.

That’s the nature of interviews. Never mind all the supposedly foolproof routines provided by various coaching institutions; to interviewers, those routines often come across as very greasy answers. Du Heng didn’t know how it was for others, but for him, such greasy answers would only lower his impression score. Moreover, judging by Li Jianwei’s and Xiao Su’s expressions at the time, they didn’t seem to appreciate such slightly greasy responses either.

「Back in the office」

Li Jianwei asked Du Heng, ”Xiao Du, what’s your evaluation of these two Students? Which one do you think would be better to accept?”

”I think neither of them is suitable. It would be best not to choose either.”

Li Jianwei was taken aback. He genuinely hadn’t expected this answer from Du Heng. ”Why?”