CHAPTER 127: 127 UNUSUAL MINDSET

Du Heng didn’t linger on it; he promptly signed Ma Zichen’s internship form, giving him a very high score and genuinely excellent comments.

Ma Zichen beamed as he read it and thanked Du Heng again, "Du, are you free tonight? My dad would like to invite you to dinner."

TSK TSK, listen to that.

Du Heng wasn’t petty, but Ma Zichen suggesting dinner right when he walked in, versus after Du Heng had signed the internship form, gave a very different impression.

"Not recently, I’m afraid. We have many inpatients. Doctor Li and I are the only doctors here at the hospital right now, and we also have night shifts. We can’t get away. Once things quiet down a bit on my end, I’ll treat your dad to a meal. I haven’t even had the chance to thank him for signing my recommendation letter."

"Then it’s settled, Du! I’ll be waiting for your call."

"Heh heh, don’t worry. I still owe you a meal."

"In that case, you owe me two meals!"

Ma Zichen was very enthusiastic and had relaxed considerably. He no longer sounded as reserved as when he first arrived.

Du Heng noticed this and chuckled inwardly. "Two meals it is. However, there’s something I need your help with."

Ma Zichen thumped his chest. "Du, just say the word. I’ll get it done perfectly for you."

"Since you’ve signed up for standardized training at Provincial First Hospital, could you help me check if there’s someone named Zhao Xinyuan, a graduate from JZU Medical College this year?"

"Du, are they a relative of yours?"

"No. Just help me find out if such a person exists. You don’t need to do anything else."

"It’s a small thing. I’ll ask around for you as soon as I get back."

Since Ma Zichen had finished his business, he didn’t stay much longer. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Du Heng, he left.

Du Heng also had a momentary break. But soon after, he grabbed his needle tool kit and went upstairs.

If patients couldn’t be admitted to the hospital, then there was no choice but to rely on medication. But once they were hospitalized, they had to be treated thoroughly, and acupuncture was an indispensable method of treatment.

He had barely started administering acupuncture to two patients upstairs when chattering and laughter echoed from the hallway.

Du Heng recognized Wang Lili’s voice among them. Indeed, Wang Lili, passing by the hospital room door, spotted Du Heng inside, busy administering acupuncture.

Wang Lili walked in with a smile. The woman beside her, who had been talking and laughing loudly just moments before, instinctively lowered her voice upon seeing Du Heng. She quietly greeted, "President Du," then stood aside silently.

Du Heng smiled. "Are you all done with the vaccinations?" he asked, turning his head back to continue administering acupuncture.

"We’re done. I heard Dr. Zhang and the others will be back soon too."

"That’s good. With you all away these past few days, it’s been incredibly busy."

Wang Lili smiled. "Dean, you carry on. I’ll go wash my hands, change my clothes, and then come over."

"No need. You should all go rest. Just come in for your regular shift tomorrow."

Wang Lili didn’t say anything else. She just smiled and left the room.

In the nurse’s rest room, the two women put away their belongings. Wang Lili then changed into her work uniform, ready to go out.

The girl who had come in with her hesitated. "Sister Lili, President Du... didn’t he tell us to rest? What are you doing?"

Wang Lili paused at the door, then turned back and said, "I’m not going to help the Dean; I’m going to help Tingting. She’s been working alone these past few days and even has night shifts. She must be exhausted. Hmm... if you’re tired, you can go home and rest. Just come in for your regular shift tomorrow."

The girl’s name was Yan Hongling. She was one of the three who had been temporarily transferred to work at the Township Government, and she had been there the longest.

Originally, she hadn’t wanted to return.

She had an authorized job, and her uncle worked in the social security office. She didn’t believe Du Heng would actually dare to suspend her salary and send her personnel file back to the bureau.

But her uncle had given her a long talk, explaining Du Heng’s connections. He advised her to return for now and look for opportunities to get transferred again later.

She was still hesitant and reluctant to return.

The Health Clinic might not have much work, but going there every day felt like being in prison; she had to clock in and out punctually. If there was an inpatient, she would even have to work the night shift, and on holidays too.

But things were different at the Township Government.

She might work for twenty days a month, then attend a meeting, deliver a document, or get something stamped, and just like that, she could skip another ten-plus days of work.

Moreover, when working at the Township Government, people came to her asking for help. But at the Health Clinic, her work felt like serving people.

For all these reasons, Yan Hongling genuinely didn’t want to return. But seeing that the other two had also come back, she didn’t dare to be headstrong any longer and returned with them.

In her third month at the Health Clinic, her uncle had arranged for her to work at the social security office, so she wasn’t very familiar with Du Heng.

However, upon returning and seeing Du Heng, she felt inexplicably uneasy and didn’t dare to be too casual around him.

But even so, the lazy habits she had developed there weren’t that easy to shake off.

After speaking, Wang Lili didn’t wait for Yan Hongling’s response and went to the hospital rooms herself.

Several of Du Heng’s acupuncture patients were elderly, as were their companions. They all suffered from various aches and pains. Expecting them to help was less realistic than hoping they wouldn’t cause any additional trouble or be a hindrance.

Wang Lili entered the hospital room and helped Du Heng roll up a patient’s trouser leg to make it easier for him to administer acupuncture.

Du Heng glanced back at Wang Lili. "I told you all to go rest. Why didn’t you?"

"Administering vaccines to the children isn’t tiring. What’s there to rest for? I’m here to lend you and Tingting a hand so we can finish earlier and all rest together."

"Alright then. But I don’t need your help here. Go check on the patients in the first two hospital rooms. Tell those receiving acupuncture not to move. I’ll go remove their needles once I’m done with this one."

Wang Lili agreed and headed to the other hospital rooms.

Just as she reached the hallway, she saw Yan Hongling, who had also changed into her work uniform. Wang Lili couldn’t help but smile. "Good. You go to the decoction room downstairs. Tingting should be busy there now."

"Alright, Sister Lili." Yan Hongling pouted playfully at Wang Lili before turning and heading downstairs.

Wang Lili found this amusing but said nothing.

Just as she was about to head to the front hospital room, she suddenly heard Wu Buwei’s voice from behind. "Wang, is my Senior Brother on the second floor?"

"Yes, he’s in this room."

"HEH HEH, thank you, Wang."

Du Heng looked at Wu Buwei in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Wu Buwei chuckled. "I just went to the office and you weren’t there. I figured you might be in a hospital room, so I came up to check."

"Since you’re here, don’t just stand there. You can do the rest." Du Heng straightened up, handing the needle utensils in his hand to Wu Buwei. "The patients’ medical records are right there. Take a look and administer the acupuncture yourself."

This was exactly why Wu Buwei had come upstairs. So, he readily accepted the needle utensils, glanced at the open medical record nearby, took a deep breath to steady himself, and then began administering acupuncture.

Du Heng handed over the needle utensils but didn’t leave. He stood beside Wu Buwei, observing his work and offering verbal corrections when needed.