This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Struggling free from his companion’s supportive grasp, he clutched Du Heng’s arm, crying out, ”Director Du...” But after uttering the name, he was too choked with sobs to speak further.

At this moment, Sun Jiaxiang, who had initially introduced Du Heng, fell silent, his gaze towards Du Heng filled with utter incredulity.

What he knew about Du Heng was from the information provided by the school—limited to what he had specifically inquired about—and he hadn’t deliberately investigated Du Heng further. Unexpectedly, absolutely unexpectedly, someone on the verge of becoming an academician possessed such comprehensive, top-tier abilities across various fields. This fundamentally altered his perception of Du Heng. Perhaps he really should give Wang Pan’s proposal serious consideration. No need to rush, though. This was a perfect opportunity to observe him up close.

Director Xue was also rather stunned.

He had initially assumed the visitor was a family member, then a colleague, but he never imagined it would turn out to be a ”freak” like this. Damn, what the hell was going on? However, as someone who had already climbed to the pinnacle of his field, he possessed the necessary acumen and understanding, and he certainly recognized and respected those of similar caliber. But to agree, right now, to let a doctor he’d just met enter the ICU and treat a patient... that was a bit much...

Seeing Director Xue still hesitating, Director Han Zhenghe spoke again, ”Old Xue, there’s something else I didn’t mention. Not long ago, Director Du successfully treated a case of acute kidney injury and another of chronic nephritis. And considering Professor Su’s current state...”

Director Xue took a deep breath. As the director of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, he had already exhausted every option he could think of. He had consulted experts and directors from their own hospital’s traditional Chinese medicine, cardiovascular, and nephrology departments, and even renowned specialists, directors, and academicians from other institutions. But the results were plain to see; none of them had found a solution.

So now, should he let this young man—whom he had just met but who came highly praised by a colleague, an academician no less—give it a try?

Director Xue looked at the weeping Su Yuan, who happened to be looking back at him.

Director Xue sighed. This year, Professor Su completed vital research on purifying traditional Chinese medicine for heart disease and was a candidate the headquarters had already decided to promote to academician. Therefore, their department was obligated to spare no effort, unreservedly and at all costs, in his treatment. Now, considering the family members also consented to this young man’s treatment... well then...

”Director Du, would you like to go in and see Professor Su’s condition?” Director Xue finally made his decision and extended the invitation to Du Heng. Although it breached protocol, Su Nan’s condition no longer permitted the standard consultation process.

Without a flicker of hesitation, Du Heng nodded his assent.

Subsequently, he entered the ICU ward with Director Xue, Director Han, and Sun Jiaxiang, leaving Sir Wu Zhong and Su Yuan outside.

Sir Wu Zhong sighed internally. His impulsive decision last year, merely to secure his granddaughter’s marriage and happiness by matchmaking such a grandson-in-law, had unexpectedly led to this grandson-in-law becoming so renowned. Setting aside the influence of status and power, in terms of reputation alone, he, the father-in-law, was likely already less renowned than this grandson-in-law. The young man was only thirty, just at the start of his career. What about five years from now? Ten years?

However, Sir Wu Zhong then gave a carefree smile.

What was the point of dwelling on it so much? Regardless of what Du Heng became, he was still his grandson-in-law, still the father of his great-granddaughter, and would still have to call him ”Grandpa.” He was, in essence, his grandson.

Du Heng, upon entering the ward, wasn’t dwelling on such extraneous thoughts. He was already entirely focused, listening intently as Director Xue began to describe the patient’s condition.

”Professor Su has a history of left ventricular hypertrophy; his heart has never been very strong,” Director Xue explained as they walked, beginning to detail Su Nan’s situation. ”This left ventricular hypertrophy also led to Professor Su developing pulmonary hypertension.

”However, being an expert in heart disease himself, he always managed it very well and had never encountered any dangerous situations.”

Director Xue sighed softly and continued, ”Just a week ago, Professor Su suddenly caught a cold. The viral infection triggered myocardial ischemia.”

Du Heng listened silently, not interjecting.

He knew that if it were merely myocardial ischemia, even complicated by pulmonary hypertension, it wouldn’t have stumped the experts at this hospital. Therefore, there had to be other underlying issues creating such a dire situation.

As expected, after a brief pause, Director Xue went on, ”After four days of treatment in Jinzhou, his pulmonary hypertension had shown slight improvement, but then Professor Su suddenly developed kidney failure along with impaired consciousness. He arrived here, and today is the second day. Despite trying various methods, there’s been no improvement. Furthermore, Professor Su has now fallen into a complete coma and is showing signs of heart failure.”

Pulmonale, heart failure, cerebral crisis, and concomitant kidney failure. A dead end.

Du Heng sighed inwardly but didn’t lose hope.

He had treated heart conditions stemming from pulmonale, as well as patients with cerebral crises resulting from heart failure and respiratory failure, themselves triggered by pulmonale. Moreover, Li Cuihua, the very first patient whose treatment had brought him fame and set him on the path to success, had a condition very similar to Su Nan’s current one. Most importantly, if he could pull Li Cuihua back from the brink of death, he refused to believe he couldn’t save Su Nan now. In these three years, he had become far more capable than when he had first received the external application.

Du Heng quietly bolstered his confidence while carefully listening to Director Xue’s account of the condition.

Upon arriving at the hospital room, when Du Heng first saw Su Nan, he could hardly reconcile the sight before him with his memory of Professor Su.

His lips, tongue, and fingernails were cyanotic. His abdomen was distended like a drum, navel protruding, chest flat. His lower limbs were swollen, discolored, and had a mud-like consistency.

Du Heng took a deep breath, slowly approached Su Nan, and began a meticulous examination.

After completing the examination, Du Heng heaved an internal sigh of relief.

A white, thick, and greasy tongue coating; scattered and chaotic pulses. Observing the cyanosis of his lips and fingers, the diagnosis of heart failure was certain. Furthermore, the swollen lower limbs indicated severe kidney failure. However, this was much less severe than Li Cuihua’s condition had been. At the very least, the pulses in his lower body were deep, solid, and forceful, meaning he hadn’t reached an incurable stage.

Seeing Du Heng finish the examination, Sun Jiaxiang asked, ”Mr. Du, what are your thoughts?”

Du Heng’s expression turned serious. He looked at the three individuals before him, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said, ”It’s not a major issue. We need to warm the interior and expel cold, open the exterior blockages, clear phlegm, and awaken the spirit. Two doses of medicine should be enough to bring him around.”

Not a major issue? Awake after two doses of medicine?

The three individuals facing him all frowned, wondering if Du Heng was merely bluffing or talking big.

Having witnessed such a display from Du Heng before, Sun Jiaxiang asked directly, ”Mr. Du, what medicine do you plan to use? Could you elaborate?”

Du Heng nodded lightly. ”Professor Su’s underlying condition is cardiopulmonary disease, which weakened his defenses. After being afflicted by yin cold, his body couldn’t expel it, leading to an overwhelming presence of yin cold both internally and externally, thereby obstructing his mental clarity.

”Thus, while the root of Professor Su’s illness is indeed pulmonale, the current exacerbation was caused by external cold invading both the exterior and interior. To address Professor Su’s condition, we simply need to open the internal and external pathways, warm the interior to expel the cold, and alleviate the pressure on the kidneys. Then, we transform phlegm to awaken his spirit and restore his consciousness. This way, he can mobilize the qi and blood throughout his body on his own.”

Sun Jiaxiang pondered, ”Will it work?”

”It definitely will,” Du Heng stated with conviction. ”Although Professor Su suffers from a chronic illness, he has always taken good care of himself and maintained his righteous qi. While he appears critically ill now, his stomach qi is still present. Therefore, all that’s needed is to restore his yang qi and consolidate his stem desertion. As long as his yang qi recovers, his kidney yin and kidney yang will naturally be replenished. When his essence, qi, and spirit are invigorated, Professor Su will surely recover.”

Du Heng elaborated at length and with eloquence, while Sun Jiaxiang, listening to his explanation, once again lapsed into silence.

Because Du Heng’s approach was entirely different from his own.