This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

After some more casual chatting, the person in charge stood at the door, stroking his chin as he watched Du Heng leave.

A short while later, he suddenly waved to someone nearby. ”Hey, you there, come here for a second.”

”Director Pi, you called me?”

”Go find our colleagues from the News Department now. Have one of them take you to the award ceremony tomorrow. Remember, you don’t need to focus on anyone else, just capture Dean Du’s award-winning moments. Got it?”

”Ah... going to the venue? I don’t think I can get in, can I?”

Director Pi turned and walked away, but his voice lingered. ”That’s why I told you to find our colleagues from the News Department. Use your brain.”

As his voice faded, Director Pi’s figure also disappeared, leaving the summoned young man to curse silently. Damn it!

Du Heng had no idea he now had a dedicated photographer.

After a good night’s sleep, he picked up Li Jianwei the next morning. They had breakfast together and then headed to the award ceremony.

”Teacher, you go on ahead. I’ll park the car.”

”Alright, I’ll wait for you inside the venue.”

Li Jianwei straightened his crisp suit and cheerfully walked towards the venue.

By this time, many elites and gurus from various industries in the province had already arrived at the venue.

”Look at the door! Who’s that?”

”Li? Why is he here?”

”The Health System only has two awards this time, right? It seems neither of them has anything to do with Li.”

”Li just loves this kind of scene. Besides, with his status, getting an entry pass isn’t hard. It’s not surprising he’s here.”

”That’s true. Otherwise, how could he be the Director of the Chinese Medicine Department at Provincial First Hospital?”

”That’s a bit harsh. While Li’s skills might be slightly inferior compared to other directors at his level, he certainly has some capabilities. Moreover, his teaching ability is quite renowned in the education sector.”

”Hmph, a doctor making a name for himself in education? That’s quite the news story.”

”I heard from Old Liu of the Provincial Health Group that Director Li has a very solid foundation; common diseases pose almost no challenge to him. However, his treatment style is somewhat rigid, lacking a certain spark, which makes him less adept at handling difficult and complex cases. That’s why he wasn’t accepted into the Provincial Health Group. I also heard he barely made it into the Provincial Expert Database, and only then because someone strongly vouched for him.”

”Heh, isn’t he the only Director of a Chinese Medicine Department in our province’s top Class A hospitals who hasn’t joined the Health Group?”

”Alright everyone, let’s drop the idle talk. He’s still the Director of Provincial First Hospital; we should show him the proper respect.”

”Exactly. Who knows, one day we might all need to ask for his help.”

”Ask him for help? I’d have to be tired of living comfortably for that.”

Instantly, as Li Jianwei approached, the cheerfully chatting crowd split into two groups.

One group moved off to chat with others, while the other waited in the aisle for Li Jianwei.

”Head of Zhang, your Construction Department really made a name for itself this time with two award-winning projects!” Li Jianwei began to greet people familiarly as soon as he walked over.

”It’s all thanks to everyone’s hard work.”

Li Jianwei continued, turning to the person beside him, ”Director Hu, I heard your department won a second prize this time. With the Yellow River on the verge of becoming clear, your contribution is truly immense—a great merit!”

”Merit or not, it’s all about serving the ordinary people. By the way, Li, your hospital isn’t listed for an award this time, is it? Are you just here to join the excitement?”

”Ah, one of my students won an award. He was too nervous to come alone, so he insisted I come along to give him moral support.”

A student? Winning an award? This old boy really has a knack for teaching; he even managed this!

”Tell us more. We haven’t heard a thing about it!”

Li Jianwei managed to keep his pride in check, but the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth was irrepressible. ”My student submitted it himself. He was just tinkering around and developed an ointment for fractures and another for repairing scars. The effects were quite good, so he applied for patents and started a company with others to commercialize them. He didn’t think much of it. But since he’s part of our Health System, and this brings honor to our system, I took the liberty of submitting his work for an award. Unexpectedly, he actually won!”

The people beside him audibly swallowed. ”Li, how many projects did your student submit?”

”Two.”

”And he won awards for both?”

”Both were listed when I filled out the forms for the second review, so yes, they should both have won.”

The onlookers suddenly felt their mouths go dry.

Good heavens, this old fellow’s luck is just incredible! I heard the Health System only had two awards this time, and both went to his students! What a formidable person!

Having such a student would skyrocket one’s status in Jianghu! Never mind other fields; within the Health System alone, with these two awards to his student’s name, Li Jianwei has truly made his mark.

”Li, you mentioned your student is already working in your system? If there’s a chance, please introduce us.”

”No need for introductions. You all probably know this young man already.”

The crowd was even more astonished.

The doctors they typically associated with were all Deputy Directors and Directors of Class A hospitals; they rarely paid much attention to mere attending physicians.

”Who is it?”

Li Jianwei observed the expressions on their faces, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. ”This young man loves to cause a stir. A while ago, he treated a celebrity for cancer, and it made the news. Did any of you see it?”

They exchanged glances; they truly hadn’t heard about this news.

Being busy individuals, they had no inclination to follow such entertainment-focused news.

Some genuinely didn’t know, but that wasn’t true for everyone present.

That Director Li from the Construction Department suddenly looked up, his eyes sharp, and exclaimed in surprise, ”Li, are you talking about Du Heng from the Municipal Maternal and Child Health Hospital? He’s your student?”

”Oh, so Director Li actually knows this young man.”

Director Li asked incredulously, ”Li, I remember Du Heng is very young, and he’s the Dean of the Municipal Maternal and Child Health Hospital. Is he really your student?”

”Absolutely. A student in the combined Master and Doctoral program, genuine and guaranteed.”

”Really?” Director Li’s eyes widened. ”So, the news reports saying that Dean Du can treat cancer... are true?”

Cancer?

Instantly, the few whose mouths had gone dry felt not only their throats parch but also as if their tongues were tied.

Li Jianwei smiled proudly. ”It was all over the news. The celebrity involved even came forward personally to confirm it. How can you still not believe it?”

”Cancer... if that could be conquered, it would definitely be on the national news broadcast. I saw something about it online, but with celebrities involved, I just assumed it was a publicity stunt,” Director Li said, his expression turning peculiar.

”Li, you absolutely must introduce him to us! We might need to rely on your student to save our lives in the future!”

”Yes, Li, we’re all friends here. You have to introduce us.”

Li Jianwei’s vanity was immensely gratified. Weren’t the benefits of having Du Heng as his student clearly evident now?

Li Jianwei said cheerfully, ”Gentlemen, it’s not just in the future that you might need my student. You might very well need him right now.”

”Li, that’s not very kind of you! How can you jinx us like that?”

”Li, we’re all friends. Saying something like that is going too far.”

Several people began to protest, half in jest, their real intention being to draw closer to Li Jianwei.

Li Jianwei maintained his cheerful smile. ”My student is a general practitioner of TCM. To be perfectly honest, with my current level of skill, I’m not even worthy to carry his shoes.”

”Li, surely you’re being too modest?”

”Modest?” Li Jianwei shook his head. ”Today’s awards are for two surgical ointments. Treating cancer falls under the Internal Medicine Department. He himself is now the Dean of the Municipal Maternal and Child Health Hospital, and his work in the Gynecology and Pediatrics Departments has earned him quite a reputation online. You tell me, am I exaggerating?”

”He’s a true talent, Li! All the more reason you must introduce us!”

”Yes, indeed...”

”Ahem, excuse me... Esteemed leaders, the conference is about to begin. Please return to your seats. The conference will start shortly...”

The sudden announcement from the loudspeaker on the rostrum brought the conversations to a halt.

Understanding the announcement, they stopped milling about. After reiterating their dinner invitations to Li Jianwei, they headed to their own seats.

Just as they were returning to their seats, the group that had distanced themselves earlier also returned, prompted by the announcement.

”Honestly, what do you find to talk about with someone like him?” one of the returnees said, looking at Li Jianwei, who was smiling cheerfully in the distance, his tone filled with disdain.

However, those who had just been chatting with Li Jianwei simply chuckled. ”Someone like him? What kind of person is that?”

”Well, just...”

”Alright, Chief Wang, perhaps you should watch what you say. It’s good to be charitable with one’s words.”

The few of them exchanged smiles. They eagerly anticipated the moment Li Jianwei’s student would take the stage. They couldn’t wait to see the expressions on Chief Wang and his companions’ faces when they revealed the student’s identity.

Meanwhile, Du Heng, holding the pass Li Jianwei had given him, entered the venue.

Gazing at the spacious and grand venue before him, Du Heng let out a long breath, as if expelling stale air.

Back in April, due to some damned frustrating incidents, the municipal awards he had been certain to win were all rescinded. Consequently, there had been no word about any provincial-level recommendations either.

Unexpectedly, now in mid-June, a mere two months later, he was back, participating in the selection for the Provincial Level Science and Technology Progress Award. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t thrilled. If the occasion weren’t so formal, he truly would have wanted to shout: ”I’m back!”

Of course, this was all based on the premise that he didn’t know the cancellation of the previous awards was actually Sir Wu Zhong’s doing. Otherwise...

”Teacher, where do I sit?”

”See those? The second and third rows at the very front—that’s where the award recipients sit. Each seat has a name on it. Yours should be in the third row. Go find it.”

”Teacher, let’s go over together.”

Li Jianwei said, ”There’s no seat for me up there. You should go on ahead. I’ll just find a random seat further back.”

With that, Li Jianwei gently nudged Du Heng forward.

He was already very satisfied with how today had turned out.

Du Heng knew there were many formalities here, so he didn’t insist further.

Seeing everyone else finding their seats, he didn’t dare to linger and quickly made his way to the front rows.