CHAPTER 120: 120 SEARCHING FOR DU HENG

Pei Jihua stopped suddenly at the entrance of the residential complex, his gaze drifting towards the Perilla Clinic not far away. He hesitated, wondering whether he should go in. After quite a while, he turned away from the complex entrance and headed towards the Perilla Clinic.

After all, one’s life is worth far more than one’s pride.

Wei Kaida had indeed changed. In the past, he was flighty and irresponsible, always thinking about how to sneak out of the clinic and where to go have fun. But today, he sat quietly at the consultation desk, a thick volume of "Chinese Internal Medicine" in his hands, reading. Though his brows were furrowed and he barely turned a page for a long time, he remained seated steadily, studying intently.

He’d slacked off terribly these past few years. Plus, the patients who came to the clinic usually had relatively simple symptoms, so he’d managed to muddle through. But now, actually picking up a textbook again, he found even reading a single line to be a struggle.

There were four brothers in their dormitory. Dong Yuezhang had embarked on a political career, leaving medicine behind, so Wei Kaida didn’t dwell on him. But Jin Zan and Du Heng were both still in the medical system. Jin Zan had the highest education among them – a postgraduate degree. He was a rising star in their department, being groomed by their Director as a successor. Although he currently didn’t have an authorized job, their hospital regulations stated that once he passed the Deputy Chief Physician assessment, he would automatically be granted one. Jin Zan’s prospects were second only to Dong Yuezhang’s. Du Heng was a bit worse off, still slogging away at the Health Clinic.

In the past, when they were all together, they were just buddies. They hadn’t felt comfortable prying, and Du Heng himself never boasted about his abilities. But during the past ten-odd days of dating Li Nating, Du Heng had become a frequent, smoothing topic in their conversations.

He had also learned from Li Nating that Du Heng treated Paralysis and hemiplegia as easily as drinking water. Especially after he patiently read Du Heng’s academic papers, he was utterly stunned.

Not to mention, Du Heng was already preparing for this year’s Deputy Chief Physician assessment. With Dong Yuezhang’s help and his current skill level, his success was highly probable.

With skills and professional titles, his future career and earning potential were limitless.

And so, it was only him, Wei Kaida, who had unknowingly been left so far behind he felt he couldn’t even see their taillights anymore.

Moreover, now he felt he had found true love; he felt he had found a goal to strive for.

"Hello, Doctor," a voice suddenly broke Wei Kaida’s concentration.

Wei Kaida put down his book and began to greet the visitor with his standard spiel, "Hello, you... You... Why are you here?"

Seeing the person before him, Wei Kaida jumped to his feet in surprise.

Pei Jihua looked at Wei Kaida’s reaction, feeling a little awkward. "I came to apologize," he said. "I was too impulsive that day."

His posture was very low, his tone sincere. This relaxed Wei Kaida considerably, who, in turn, felt rather embarrassed by Pei Jihua’s humility.

Deep down, he knew he had caused the incident that day; the primary responsibility lay with him.

"Big brother, please don’t say that. It was my fault that day. My medical skills were lacking, and I misdiagnosed your wife. I should be the one apologizing to you."

"It was my attitude that was bad..."

Then the two of them began a round of somewhat muddled apologies.

Finally, Wei Kaida couldn’t take it anymore and cut short the pointless apologies. "Big brother, what brings you here today?"

Pei Jihua turned his head to look around. Not seeing Du Heng, he was slightly disappointed. "I came to thank the doctor from that day."

"Thank him?" Wei Kaida’s eyes darted around, and he instantly understood. His father had asked someone to inquire, and it turned out Pei Jihua’s wife had indeed been hospitalized and apparently even had surgery.

"Yes, to thank him. If it weren’t for that doctor’s reminder, my wife might have been in danger. I went to the tumor hospital myself today, and I really do have a tumor in my left lung."

Pei Jihua looked around again. "I still don’t know that doctor’s name?"

Wei Kaida felt a surge of pride, but also shock.

He wasn’t too surprised that Du Heng could diagnose Pei Jihua’s wife’s illness; after all, there were clear symptoms, and Du Heng had asked some questions. But diagnosing a tumor in Pei Jihua’s left lung—that was what truly shocked him. He hadn’t believed it from the start.

To determine there was a tumor in the unseen left lung just by taking the pulse, without any questioning—this was completely beyond his current scope of knowledge.

Now that the man himself had confirmed the diagnosis, his perception of Du Heng was once again completely overturned.

"His name is Du Heng. He’s my brother, and his medical skills are fantastic." Wei Kaida’s tone was filled with a sense of shared honor.

"Could you call Doctor Du out? I’d like to thank him in person."

"I can’t do that. My brother doesn’t work here."

Pei Jihua was a little surprised. He had assumed Du Heng was a doctor at the Perilla Clinic. "Then can you tell me where he works?"

"He’s at the Zhonghu Town Health Clinic. If you want to thank him, you’ll have to go there to find him."

"A Health Clinic?" Pei Jihua was even more surprised.

He felt that someone with such medical skills should either be running their own clinic or holding a position in some major hospital. He never would have imagined such an expert actually worked at a Health Clinic.

Wei Kaida saw Pei Jihua’s expression and, thinking Pei Jihua might have reservations, quickly started singing Du Heng’s praises. "Don’t look down on doctors at the Health Clinic. He alone is responsible for the health of ten to twenty thousand people in their township; his skills are beyond question."

Wei Kaida enthusiastically hyped him up, perhaps even exaggerating a bit. "He’s now been exceptionally recommended for the Deputy Chief Physician assessment... You know what a Deputy Chief Physician is, right?"

Pei Jihua nodded.

"Also," Wei Kaida continued, turning to Pei Jihua seriously, "he recently published two papers in core Journals—something many doctors in big hospitals can’t necessarily achieve. Do you know what a core Journal paper is?"

Pei Jihua looked at Wei Kaida, somewhat speechless. "I’m a JZU postgraduate, and an editor and contributor for the Jinzhou Evening News."

Wei Kaida stared at Pei Jihua, dumbfounded.

He wouldn’t have been surprised if Pei Jihua had any other profession, but a newspaper editor—that he hadn’t expected.

For a fleeting moment, his calves trembled.

If Du Heng hadn’t made the correct diagnosis that day, their Perilla Clinic would likely be ’infamous’ throughout Jinzhou by now.

For a moment, he was at a loss for words.

Pei Jihua didn’t mind. Since he had gotten the information he needed, he didn’t linger.

Although he had apologized upon entering, his impression of Wei Kaida remained poor.

"Sorry to have disturbed you. Please, carry on."

Wei Kaida only managed to utter a "Goodbye" before Pei Jihua was already out the door.

After leaving the clinic, Pei Jihua took out his phone and searched for Zhonghu Town Health Clinic.

Looking at the map displayed on his phone, Pei Jihua muttered, "It’s a bit far."

Glancing up at the already dimming sky, he composed himself and hurried towards the hospital.

In the evening, he still had to accompany his wife, who was in the hospital.