This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

”There’s also a chance for people who like to eat vegetables grown with organic fertilizer but do not wash them to get a worm infestation.”

Organic fertilizer and not washing the vegetables... A few doctors in the room couldn’t help but swallow.

Would anyone really have such strong tastes?

Du Heng ignored their discomfort and continued, ”There is also the situation of unsupervised children in rural areas; they are also a high-risk group for this illness. In my Health Clinic, people still come to get their children dewormed. However, those are all cases of intestinal roundworms. This is the first time I’ve encountered an infestation of the bile duct by roundworms.”

Du Heng now understood. The system didn’t register effective statistics because I didn’t perform deworming and didn’t solve the root cause. And my treatment plan of clearing heat and detoxification, unblocking the bowels to purge heat, and sweeping away blood toxins was not wrong.

”Gu Ping, bring the needles.”

”Mr. Du, if it’s a roundworm infestation of the bile duct, wouldn’t using deworming medicine be better?” Gu Ping approached, helped Du Heng find the needles, and asked softly.

”If the roundworms are in the stomach, deworming medicine is indeed effective. But now, there are roundworms in the bile duct, and they must be driven out from there first. Don’t worry, I’ll use acupuncture to drive them out. At this point, it’s much more convenient and effective than using medication.”

As he spoke, Du Heng had already taken the needles and begun the acupuncture again.

He needled from Yingxiang (LI20) through to Sibai (ST2), then the philtrum and gallbladder acupoints. However, this time Du Heng didn’t just insert the needle superficially and call it done, nor did he use the common lifting, thrusting, and rotating maneuvers. Instead, after inserting the needle to a certain depth in the acupoint, he held the needle handle and used small-amplitude, high-frequency lifting, thrusting, and rotating movements, causing the needle body to vibrate slightly. This was another acupuncture technique called the ”tremor method,” aimed at stimulating the qi at the site of the lesion and enhancing the effects of expelling evil and supporting righteousness.

After that, he applied needles again at ST-36, LI-11, and Zhiyang (DU9), but this time using only ordinary acupuncture techniques.

As Du Heng’s acupuncture continued, the patient’s urge to vomit intensified. Seeing the time was ripe, Du Heng quickly concluded the acupuncture treatment.

As soon as Du Heng removed all the needle utensils, the patient could no longer bear it. He turned over, leaned against the headboard, and began to retch violently. And as he retched, a scene unfolded that made everyone stare, mouths agape, and feel the urge to retch themselves.

A pale, glistening worm was expelled from the patient’s mouth, its body still wriggling outside his oral cavity. What was even more unsettling was that only half the worm was out; a large, unseen portion remained in the patient’s throat. And as the worm continued to twist, the exposed half seemed to be retreating.

GULP.

Du Heng’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and his mouth went dry. Although he had orchestrated this, he hadn’t expected such a visceral outcome.

”RETCH!”

A female doctor standing behind him couldn’t bear it any longer. She covered her mouth, pushed past the people behind her, and quickly stumbled out the door. As she fled, she made sounds of retching.

Du Heng wanted to run too, but seeing the half-exposed worm, he knew he couldn’t. I can’t run. Not only could he not run, but he also had to deal with the immediate problem.

”Nurse! Nurse! Bring me forceps and a tray!” Du Heng called out, suppressing his revulsion.

Within seconds, a nurse appeared with the items Du Heng needed. As she walked through the crowd of doctors, her eyes were filled with contempt.

These doctors, usually so arrogant, are nothing but a bunch of rookies in my eyes, she thought. For someone as battle-hardened as me, this scene is just child’s play.

Du Heng steadied himself, took the forceps, and, fighting back his nausea, clamped onto the ”plump” and ”writhing” worm.

”Open your mouth wide. Tilt your head back... Yes, a little higher.”

Following Du Heng’s instructions, he eventually pulled a roundworm over twenty centimeters long straight out of the patient’s throat.

The doctors present, after overcoming their initial shock, stared wide-eyed at the ”trophy” Du Heng had extracted. At that moment, they believed Du Heng’s diagnosis.

Thank goodness we didn’t question Du Heng earlier, they thought. What a wise decision that was.

For some of the younger doctors, apart from their increased admiration for Du Heng, the sight of the twenty-centimeter-long roundworm and the way it emerged was enough to broaden their horizons. They had seen such things in textbooks and video materials, but no amount of reading or watching could compare to the profound impact of witnessing it firsthand.

For at least this week, they mused, we’ll constantly feel like there’s something ’squirming’ in our throats. Today’s scene will definitely be an unforgettable memory.

Du Heng tossed the worm and forceps into the tray. As he set down the forceps, he couldn’t help but shudder.

”Director, the patient’s problem is clear now. We need to go back, write a prescription, and get the worms out of his bile duct as soon as possible.”

Xu Pinglin’s eye twitched slightly. Hearing Du Heng’s words, he quickly responded, ”Yes, write the prescription immediately. The patient’s condition must be brought under control.” As he spoke, Xu Pinglin turned and headed for the door.

When everyone had left the hospital room, they all suddenly felt a wave of relief wash over them.

”Director Du, now that the patient’s bile duct issue is being addressed, do you have a solution for the pancreatitis?”

”Don’t worry, leave it to me.”

Back in Xu Pinglin’s office, only Du Heng, Xu Pinglin, and Doctor Zhou remained. The others didn’t join them; The main problem has been identified, after all, they likely reasoned. If we went, we’d just have to listen to Xu Pinglin boast about Du Heng again. We all agree Du Heng is incredibly skilled, but we’re tired of Xu Pinglin constantly singing his praises. It’s getting annoying. Besides, Du Heng is going to prescribe traditional Chinese medicine. We don’t understand it, so how could we help?

Doctor Zhou, however, did understand traditional Chinese medicine, so he followed them into the office.

”Director Du, what prescription are you planning to use?”

Du Heng didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, ”Doctor Zhou, do you have any suggestions?”

As an experienced attending physician, Doctor Zhou certainly had his expertise. Hearing Du Heng’s question, he responded immediately, ”I was thinking of using the Detoxification and Coordinating Qi Decoction from ’Identification of Typhoid Fever and Plague.’ This prescription dispels toxins, detoxifies, and purges heat. It seems to fit the symptoms perfectly.”

Du Heng nodded. ”The patient’s pathogenic heat is obstructing the liver and gallbladder, and there’s already heat accumulation in the chest. The Detoxification and Coordinating Qi Decoction is appropriate for these symptoms, but its effect might be slightly insufficient.”

Doctor Zhou frowned slightly, looking at Du Heng, waiting for an explanation.

Du Heng paused for a moment before continuing, ”The Detoxification and Coordinating Qi Decoction primarily treats high fever in the triple burner, along with symptoms like abdominal fullness and dryness. It’s remarkably effective for febrile diseases. Especially when heat toxins are rampant, causing qi mechanism turmoil, this medicine can clear and transform, lift the yang, clear deficiency, and disperse fire. However, this patient not only has a disordered qi mechanism but also circulating blood toxins, which are the root of his inflammation. Therefore, our medication needs to sweep away these blood toxins and expel pus and blood. The Detoxification and Coordinating Qi Decoction, however, lacks this particular function. It cannot address the patient’s most fundamental and critical problem.”

Doctor Zhou fell silent for a moment. The Detoxification and Coordinating Qi Decoction is the most suitable prescription I can think of right now. Yet, according to Du Heng, its effects are insufficient for the patient’s most pressing issues.

He then asked earnestly, ”So, Director Du, how do you plan to formulate the prescription? Will you use an established formula or create your own?” He asked with genuine sincerity, showing no embarrassment or hesitation despite being older than Du Heng.