This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Du Heng also noticed Gu Ping’s dilemma and, wanting to give him a hint, reminded him, ”Have you read the Emperor’s Inner Classic before?”

The Emperor’s Inner Classic? Gu Ping felt his liver tremble.

Traditional Chinese medicine has four great classics: the Emperor’s Inner Classic, the Classic of Difficulties, the Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Miscellaneous Diseases, and the Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica. Among these, the Emperor’s Inner Classic is revered as the foundational text of medicine. It is a must-read book for traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and was strongly recommended by schools during their education. But how many have actually read it? Anyway, Gu Ping knew that during his school years, none of his Chinese Medicine teachers had read the entire book, or even read it thoroughly. He himself was no different; he had only read the first few articles before giving up. Now, he didn’t even know where he had discarded the book, likely leaving it to gather dust somewhere.

After waiting for a long time and seeing that Gu Ping still had no response, Du Heng knew his reminder had been in vain. However, with a slight thought, he understood the reason. Reading the Emperor’s Inner Classic is difficult. Translations lack flavor, and the original text is full of obscure words and phrases, making sentences hard to understand. Moreover, without a certain level of knowledge, simply reading the book is almost like reading a celestial scripture. Some people even used this book as a cover to defraud others of their money. For example, a few years ago, when qigong prevailed, the Emperor’s Inner Classic contributed significantly, providing a theoretical basis for certain people. They would read a third of it, guess another third, and then make up the rest themselves. As a result, the widely circulated ”Stained Clothes Eighteen Falls” reappeared in Jianghu, and the famous scene where no one could stand—they had to crawl and roll—was born.

He was getting sidetracked. Even Du Heng himself had only recently finished reading the entire book within the past three months.

His mistake! Du Heng chided himself and then said directly, ”In the Emperor’s Inner Classic, the ’Elementary Questions - Qi Jue Theory’ Chapter mentions: ’The large intestine transfers heat to the stomach, and those who eat well but stay thin are due to this.’ Don’t you think this matches the young man’s symptoms from earlier?”

After a pause, he continued, ”In the ’Miraculous Pivot - Meridians Chapter,’ it also says that when there is excess in the ST-36, a person is inclined to hunger. The ST-36 mentioned here refers to the stomach.”

Seeing Gu Ping nodding as if he somewhat understood, Du Heng asked, ”You said the patient has heat in his large intestine. Can you find any evidence for that?”

This question didn’t fluster Gu Ping; he had listened very carefully and answered promptly, ”The patient reported dry stools resembling sheep dung, which should be a symptom of heat in the large intestine.”

Du Heng nodded. ”Now, try to deduce again. See if my diagnosis for the patient was incorrect.”

After the question, there was a long silence.

After a while, Gu Ping said, ”The patient is easily irritable and has many dreams, indicating liver deficiency and fire prosperity. Eating much yet being thin indicates stomach deficiency and fire prosperity.” He stared intently at Du Heng. ”Mr. Du, your diagnosis is not wrong.”

”So, you see, although they both involve yin deficiency and fire prosperity, the location of the viscera is different, resulting in different outcomes. The Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill and the Anemarrhena, Phellodendron, and Rehmannia Pill both act on kidney yin. Are they useful for liver and stomach yin deficiency? Of course not.”

Gu Ping took a breath and said with heartfelt sincerity, ”Thank you, Mr. Du. I understand now.”

”It’s good that you understand. Let me ask you another question. When the patient was leaving, why did I tell him not to eat spicy or smoked food?”

”To prevent the stomach from flaring up with heat again.” This question wasn’t difficult; dietary restrictions are common knowledge.

”So, at this juncture, what would be good for him to eat?”

Gu Ping’s mind raced. He hadn’t expected Du Heng to make such a sharp turn, jumping from pathology and etiology directly to food. The leap was so quick it left him struggling to keep up.

”During the height of summer, it’s appropriate to eat more fruits, especially watermelon.”

”Why?”

”Watermelon is cooling in nature, sweet in taste, and juicy. It can both nourish yin and clear heat, making it very suitable for this situation of yin deficiency and stomach heat.”

”Then can he eat more plums?”

”No, they’re too sour. People with stomach yin deficiency can’t tolerate it.”

Du Heng smiled and asked no more questions. He stood up and started to walk out. ”Alright, I’m leaving. Just make sure you do a good follow-up with this patient.”

”Thank you, Mr. Du.”

Du Heng waved his hand, not rejecting the title of ’Mr. Du’ this time.

”Mr. Du, let me see you out.”

Just as Gu Ping finished speaking, Xu Pinglin’s figure appeared at the doorway. He said with a chuckle, ”Are you two finished?”

Du Heng looked at Xu Pinglin with amusement. ”You’re back just in time. We just finished.”

Xu Pinglin chuckled. ”Gu Ping, you go ahead and tend to your work. I’ll chat with Mr. Du for a while.”

When Gu Ping had left, Xu Pinglin pointed to a stool. ”Sit. Let’s chat for a bit before you go.”

”Is something the matter?”

Xu Pinglin didn’t speak. He walked over to his office desk, opened a drawer, took out a Red Envelope, and gently pushed it in front of Du Heng.

Du Heng was taken aback. ”What’s this?”

”Well, it’s the end of the month. This is a token of appreciation for you,” Xu Pinglin said, a little apologetically. ”You’ve worked hard this month and helped me out several times. Please don’t think it’s too little; it’s just the consultation fees from those patients you treated. Of course, don’t think it’s too much either. It’s hardly any money at all. It’s my fault for not explaining clearly to the patients and not charging an expert fee, just the usual hospital inpatient fees.”

Du Heng laughed. There’s such a good thing?

He picked up the Red Envelope and felt its weight. It indeed wasn’t much, probably around three or four thousand yuan.But thinking about it, in the past two months, he had only treated one case of gastric ptosis and one of atrophic gastritis. Just two patients, yet he could get three or four thousand yuan. Xu Pinglin must have given him all the earnings from them.

”You’ve done our Department a great service, so giving you a Red Envelope is only right. It’s just a bit less than I’d hoped,” Xu Pinglin said, genuinely feeling a bit embarrassed.

Although Du Heng had only stepped in twice, both times he had solved Xu Pinglin’s urgent problems. The second time, especially, could be said to have averted a crisis for their Department.

Now, seeing Du Heng take the Red Envelope, Xu Pinglin felt a little more at ease.

”Are you really giving this money to me?” Du Heng shook the Red Envelope in his hand.

”Of course.”

”Then how I handle it is my own business, right?”

Xu Pinglin didn’t know what Du Heng was up to but could only nod.

In front of Xu Pinglin, Du Heng took all the money out of the envelope and counted it. It totaled four thousand and one hundred yuan.

It seemed Xu Pinglin truly had given him all the income from those two patients.

After counting it all, Du Heng separated one thousand five hundred yuan, put it in his pocket, and pushed the remaining two thousand six hundred yuan back to Xu Pinglin.

Xu Pinglin watched Du Heng’s actions with confusion. He didn’t take the money Du Heng pushed over, instead asking, ”Now what are you up to?”

”This money, I can’t take it all myself. Doctor Hou, the doctor who signed my house, and the nurses should all have a share.”

Du Heng patted the pocket containing the money. ”This is my share. Please help me divide the rest among the others. After all, it’s everyone’s contribution; it’s not right for you to give all the money to me alone. Besides, we should aim for long-term cooperation. If you encounter cases you can’t handle in the future, feel free to refer more of them to me. After this, others won’t object; they might even be eager for me to help. Don’t you agree?”

Xu Pinglin knew Du Heng was making excuses, trying to be modest, but there was nothing wrong with Du Heng’s decision.

Indeed, colleagues who were skilled and didn’t try to hog all the credit were well-liked by everyone.

What Du Heng said might very well come true.

”In that case, on behalf of the others, I thank President Du for his generosity.”