This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Du Heng looked coldly at the silent people present. ”As for the remaining patients, I have seen the names of every one of your hospitals in their medical histories.”

”My seniors, if I, Du Heng, harbored the slightest ill intent, if I had merely said one extra word to any of them—with over 800 patients having passed through my hands—they could sue you all into utter ruin, land you in jail, and even bankrupt you.”

Du Heng shouted these last few sentences, his hands braced on the table, his eyes filled with exceptionally complex emotions.

As he spoke, Du Heng’s emotions were clearly stirred. Looking at the seniors before him, he said, ”I could have undertaken this project entirely on my own.”

”I simply wanted us to progress together, to help each other out where possible.”

”But, my seniors, look at what you’ve been doing these past few days! Are you truly acting for the good of this project? Are you truly acting for the good of traditional Chinese medicine?”

Looking at the silent crowd, Du Heng suddenly sighed. ”During my time away, I visited Good Friend Hospital and Harmonious, and I also met with Luqi. To be honest, their attitude towards traditional Chinese medicine, and even the attitude of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners towards their own field, far surpasses ours.”

”It used to be said that our province had the best environment for traditional Chinese medicine, the best attitude towards it, and that our strength was among the top.”

”But looking at things now, while our strength might still allow us to jostle for a position, given our current attitude towards traditional Chinese medicine, in less than ten years, when the current generation of seniors retires, and then when your cohort of seniors retires, will we have anyone capable enough to take your place, anyone who can step up?”

Du Heng murmured, almost to himself, shaking his head gently. ”I don’t know about other workplaces, but at our Municipal Maternal and Child Health Hospital, before I arrived, there were a total of six TCM doctors. Astonishingly, not one held a deputy senior title, let alone a senior one. How utterly ridiculous is that?”

”Consider Provincial First Hospital, the Chinese Medicine Department my teacher leads—a department in a Class A hospital, mind you! One senior, two deputy seniors, one mid-level, and four juniors. What kind of absurd staffing is that?”

”I genuinely don’t know how my teacher managed to move such a department forward.”

”Sometimes I wonder: when my teacher retires, and those two deputy senior colleagues also retire, will there be no choice for the next director but to appoint that one attending physician?”

”And what if that attending physician leaves prematurely? What if they resign? What if they’re poached by another hospital?”

Du Heng paused, his voice gradually softening. After a moment, he continued, ”I got a bit carried away just now and perhaps said too much. Seniors, please just pretend you didn’t hear it.”

”Um... about that 150,000 yuan training fee I mentioned earlier? That was just me talking. Don’t take it seriously.”

The crowd was initially stunned by Du Heng’s outburst, struggling to follow his train of thought. Then, when he suddenly declared he didn’t want the training fee, they were stunned all over again.

”Based on the current space available at my Municipal Maternal and Child Health Hospital and my plans for this project, for the first stage, each of your hospitals will send two people.”

”The requirements are: a solid theoretical foundation, and skills in acupuncture and massage. They don’t need to be experts, but they must at least know the basic techniques and be able to identify all acupoints accurately.”

”After they join the group, I will conduct a one-week assessment. Those who pass will stay. Those who fail will be sent back to their respective workplaces, and you will need to send replacements.”

”However, if your candidates fail twice, I will cancel the cooperation with that workplace. This time, there will be no room for concessions.”

”Then, each stage will last three months, and each hospital will rotate its personnel. How much they ultimately learn will be up to the individuals themselves.”

”My seniors, do any of you have objections to this arrangement?”

After Du Heng finished speaking, he waited silently for the seniors’ decision.

Although the Municipal Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital had been, in a way, insulted by Du Heng, its director was a man of self-awareness. Despite his displeasure, he knew Du Heng was right. Furthermore, among these hospitals, theirs had the least strength, so he had little choice and was the first to support Du Heng.

The other hospitals, though still somewhat dissatisfied, found the current terms much better compared to the conditions initially proposed. Moreover, judging by Du Heng’s demeanor, if they didn’t agree this time, they risked being kicked out one by one.

”Alright, since none of you seniors have any objections, let’s proceed with this arrangement.” Seeing everyone nod in agreement, Du Heng finalized the matter. ”To ensure the project progresses more effectively, producing results faster and in greater quantity, if any seniors wish to sponsor more, they are welcome to do so.”

”Of course, the amount of sponsorship is entirely up to your goodwill. I won’t offer any guarantees; everything will depend on the project’s progress and the contributions made to it.”

Damn it.

Everyone in the room nearly cursed aloud.

Isn’t this pretty much what we discussed earlier? It’s still about needing people and money. But by maneuvering things this way, the initiative has landed squarely in Du Heng’s hands. As for what they might gain beyond trained personnel, that’s no longer up to them—it all depends on Du Heng’s disposition. Judging by contribution? Contribution, my foot! This young fox is far more cunning than his master. But what could they do about his cunning? Just moments ago, Du Heng had pontificated on everything from individual skill levels to the broader development environment of traditional Chinese medicine. He had effectively positioned himself on an unassailable high ground, stripping them of any initiative. They were left with no recourse.

One by one, they stated their positions, committing to the sponsorship amounts that had essentially been decided from the start—such as 400,000 yuan from the First Affiliated Hospital of JZU and 400,000 yuan from the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

However, when the Second Affiliated Hospital of JZU announced its 400,000 yuan, Du Heng stood up again. ”My apologies, I may not have been clear earlier.”

”I will not be cooperating with all institutions. Your Second Affiliated Hospital of JZU is not within my scope of cooperation.”

Seeing the representatives from JZU Second Hospital about to speak, Du Heng waved his hand dismissively. ”This is non-negotiable. As for the reason, I stated it last time: I don’t know how capable your traditional Chinese medicine department is, but simply because your own hospital’s departments look down on you, I choose not to cooperate.”

”Furthermore, don’t blame me for being blunt: go ask your own doctors what exactly happened that day and what words were spoken.”

”Finally, it is now the fourth day, and your Department of Neurology still hasn’t provided any explanation regarding my friend.”

”Today, my friend has regained consciousness and can walk. In another three to five days, he will be well enough for discharge.”

”As for how your Department of Neurology intends to handle this matter, you had best formulate a plan. Playing dead and hiding is no way to resolve the problem.”

With that, Du Heng stood up. ”Seniors, please discuss any subsequent matters with my teacher. I have other business to attend to, so I must take my leave now.”

”Have the participants report to the Municipal Maternal and Child Health Hospital next Monday.”

Everyone nodded and smiled as they watched Du Heng depart.

Truthfully, they had long wanted him to leave. The young man was too cunning.

Of course, among them, the representatives from the Second Affiliated Hospital of JZU were the most crestfallen.

But Du Heng’s stance was firm, and with no one else in the room speaking up for them, they were truly helpless.

After Du Heng departed, the director from JZU Second Hospital immediately turned to Li Jianwei. ”Director Li, you must help us by speaking to President Du!”

”This whole mess is because of those bastards in the Department of Neurology! It has nothing to do with our Chinese Medicine Department.”

Li Jianwei chuckled softly. ”Director Jiang, it seems you still haven’t grasped where the problem truly lies.”

”Where is that?” Director Jiang asked, puzzled.

At this point, Director Nie from the First Affiliated Hospital of JZU couldn’t help but interject, ”Director Jiang, we’ve also heard about the situation between President Du and your Department of Neurology. In my opinion, your Department of Neurology has indeed gone too far and spoken with appalling disrespect.”

”Do you understand why President Du refuses to cooperate with you, and why, out of all of us here, no one is speaking up on your behalf?”

”It’s because they—your Department of Neurology—offended not just Doctor Du, but the entirety of traditional Chinese medicine!”

”And yet, you haven’t taken steps to reclaim the dignity of your traditional Chinese medicine colleagues; instead, you’re here pestering President Du. Director Jiang, you are truly muddled!”

Director Jiang’s eyes widened in stunned realization. Had he truly oversimplified the matter?