This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

”Director Wu, Director Lan, don’t hesitate any longer. Professor Lan’s body can’t wait.”

In the office of the director of the Gastroenterology Department of Good Friend Hospital, a group of people sat around a desk. A tall, thin middle-aged man looked at the others with a serious expression.

”He has high intestinal obstruction and hasn’t had a bowel movement for fifteen days. We’ve thought of everything that we can.” The man in the white coat looked grave. ”Rehydration, correcting water, electrolyte, and acid-base imbalance—none of these measures have worked. We’ve tried all the medicines; even your Traditional Chinese Medicine Internal Medicine Department has used every method they could think of. But everyone has seen the results. They are useless and have no effect at all. Even now, Professor Lan hasn’t eaten a single grain of rice for seven consecutive days. I recommend immediate surgery for Professor Lan.”

Director Wu of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Internal Medicine Department frowned deeply and said in a low voice, ”It’s not that we disagree with the surgery, but the Teacher’s current condition doesn’t meet the requirements for surgery. Difficulty breathing, slow heartbeat—under these circumstances, what kind of survival rate can you guarantee once he’s on the operating table? We can’t take that risk.”

The tall, thin man frowned. ”But the problem now is that we’ve considered all alternatives. If we don’t take this risk, Professor Lan can receive nutrition from nutrient solutions. However, what if an infection or intestinal necrosis occurs? If it really comes to that point, given Professor Lan’s current condition, we’ll be helpless. Now, we’ve used all non-surgical methods available to us, you should have exhausted all your medicines, and we’ve consulted all the experts we could, but nothing has worked. Or are you holding back some secret methods? If you have any, please use them. Professor Lan can’t wait any longer.”

Director Wu looked back at Director Lan beside him. ”You make the decision.”

Now, only Lan Changhua’s son could make the final decision. Director Lan appeared very hesitant, his indecision making everyone anxious, but fortunately, no one pressed him. After a long moment, he said, ”I respect my father’s wishes. Let’s wait for Doctor Du. If Doctor Du has no solution either, then we’ll have to proceed with surgery.” As he spoke, Director Lan’s knuckles whitened, showing how incredibly difficult this decision was for him.

Without surgery, it meant waiting for death—a very painful death. With surgery, given his current condition, the chances of him coming off the operating table alive were almost zero. So, he wanted to wait a little longer, to wait for the Doctor Du his father had mentioned, sincerely hoping his father could hold on until his savior arrived.

But deep down, Director Lan had very little confidence. Who is Lan Changhua? A famous traditional Chinese medicine expert in the Capital, the treasure of the Chinese Medicine Department at Good Friend Hospital. When he fell ill, the experts he could consult were undoubtedly the best in the Capital, perhaps even the best in the entire country. Now that these experts have no solutions, can a young man from the Northwest really make a difference? But even if he doesn’t believe it in his heart, he can only regard Du Heng as a savior. Was he really supposed to send his elderly father to that operating table, where survival was a near impossibility?

At this point, the puzzled Director of Gastroenterology looked at Director Wu and asked doubtfully, ”Doctor Du? Which national expert from your traditional Chinese medicine side is he?”

Director Wu shook his head gently. ”A young man from Jinzhou. His medical skills are extremely exquisite, and he is deeply recognized by the Teacher. Xiao Cao has already called him; he should arrive tonight.”

”A young man?” The Director of Gastroenterology was stunned, then looked at Director Wu with a grave expression. ”You’re grasping at straws. Even if this young man’s medical skills are exceptional, can he compare to you, Old Wu? Can he compare to these national experts in the Capital?”

The Director of Gastroenterology glanced angrily at Director Wu, then turned to Director Lan. ”Director Lan, pinning your hopes on a young man is irresponsible towards Professor Lan. You can see Professor Lan’s current condition. Every minute that passes, Professor Lan suffers more, and the danger increases. Although Professor Lan’s vital signs aren’t good right now, we have the best anesthetist and the best surgeon. There’s still hope if we take the risk. But if we delay any further, Professor Lan’s vital signs will inevitably decline again. At that point, we won’t even have the chance to take that gamble.”

The Director of Gastroenterology suddenly became agitated, his tone growing more intense, causing Director Wu and Director Lan to frown even more deeply. Especially Director Lan, his eyes turned cold. Listening to this damned fellow’s words, it’s as if he doesn’t care about my father’s life at all!

At this moment, a young man who had been standing silently behind the Director of Gastroenterology, cowering like a quail, reached out and gently nudged his director. This nudge happened to interrupt the director, who was about to say more.

When his speech was cut off, the director turned his head, glaring coldly at the young man behind him, his eyes conveying his displeasure. But the instant their eyes met, he understood why the young man had stopped him. He couldn’t help but turn back and look carefully at Director Lan’s expression, only then realizing it was amiss.