CHAPTER 207: 207 PEOPLE OVERCROWDING

Lu Zhongjiang’s voice was urgent and rather loud. Du Heng instinctively moved the Mobile phone slightly away from his ear.

"Secretary Lu, slow down. What happened?"

"You need to come back right away! There are so many people at the Health Clinic, about a hundred of them, all here to see you. Some are even just wandering around, going through the hospital rooms and asking our inpatients all sorts of questions."

Du Heng panicked for a moment, then quickly realized there was nothing to be afraid of.He hadn’t done anything outrageous, and the Health Clinic had been diligently treating patients without any medical accidents. If they want to ask questions, let them.

However, the fact that dozens of people had come specifically to see him was puzzling.When did I become so famous?

"I can’t make it back right now. I’m in a meeting with Director An."

"Dean, you have to come back. Some of these people came over the weekend, and Doctor Yu told them you were off, so he sent them away. Yesterday, they returned, and more people came with them. But you took the day off to accompany your Niece to her college entrance examination, so those seeking your treatment were persuaded to leave again. Today, some people have come for the third time in a row, and they’re quite agitated. If you don’t come back soon, we’re afraid we’ll be torn apart by them!"

Du Heng pursed his lips. "You’re making it sound terrifying."

"You won’t believe it until you see it for yourself."

"Alright, I’ll speak with Director An and come back immediately."

After hanging up, Du Heng went back in and told An Chunhui about the call. To his surprise, An Chunhui chuckled, took out a newspaper, and placed it on the table. "I was just about to tell you about this. Did you read last Friday’s Jinzhou Evening News?"

"No." Du Heng was slightly puzzled; he wasn’t in the habit of reading newspapers. The Health Clinic subscribed to them, but they were usually placed on the newspaper rack upon delivery and never touched again.

"Take a look." An Chunhui smiled, pulled out a page, and pushed it towards Du Heng.

Looking at the young man before him, An Chunhui was quite satisfied. He had initially brought him in merely to handle tasks from his superiors, never expecting to unearth such a talent.

As Du Heng read the full-page feature, he too was dumbfounded. No one had interviewed him.

When he finally saw Pei Jihua’s name at the end, he understood completely.

"Now you should know where all those patients seeking you out came from, right?"

"I think I understand now."

"Good that you understand. Go now, treat them well, and serve the people diligently."

Du Heng didn’t echo An Chunhui’s slogan but excused himself and left directly.

However, just as he stepped out of the office building, Du Heng suddenly slapped his forehead and turned back.

An Chunhui looked at Du Heng, who had just left and returned, asking with confusion, "Why are you back?"

"Director, I wanted to ask your opinion on something." Du Heng then told him about Li Jianwei’s invitation from Provincial First Hospital.

Upon hearing Du Heng, An Chunhui tensed up. "Is it just for one day, or are they asking you to be the Deputy Director of their Chinese Medicine Department?"

"Just for one day."

Deputy Director? In his dreams!

"That’s good, that’s good. Going for one day is fine. After all, it’s a Big Hospital, and it will be beneficial for your development." He had almost feared that this highly capable general under his command was about to be poached.

"So, how should I arrange the time?"

"You can decide that yourself. As long as it doesn’t interfere with the Health Clinic’s operations, you can go whenever you see fit."

"Thank you, Director. I’ll be off then."

Having received a clear answer from An Chunhui, Du Heng hurried out and rushed towards the Health Clinic.

On the way, he still found time to call Li Jianwei, first expressing a series of thanks, then explaining his own thoughts.

With mutual interest, a few words were all it took for a mutually agreeable outcome.

Afterward, he called Xu Pinglin back. After all, Xu Pinglin was the intermediary, and thanks were due.

After another round of polite pleasantries, Du Heng could finally focus on driving.

The situation at the Health Clinic was even more exaggerated than Lu Zhongjiang had described over the phone.

As far as the eye could see, it wasn’t just eighty or a hundred people, but more like several hundred.

Not only was the Hall packed, but the queue also stretched out to the main gate.

However, Du Heng figured that most of them were likely family members.

As Du Heng drove into the back courtyard of the Health Clinic, he saw Liu Gong from the Police station and another officer helping to maintain order.

Such a massive crowd was a first for both the Health Clinic and the Police station. It was no wonder they were on edge.

Du Heng entered the building through a side door but didn’t go to the traditional Chinese medicine clinic room immediately. Instead, he went upstairs.

The moment Lu Zhongjiang saw Du Heng, he began to complain, "Dean, you’re finally here! It’s absolute chaos downstairs, didn’t you see?"

Du Heng quickly tried to soothe Lu Zhongjiang. "Yes, there are quite a few people."

"You were featured in the Jinzhou Evening News, and patients have been accumulating for three or four days now. Do you think there wouldn’t be a lot of people? Hurry and get down there. Xiao Wu and Dr. Yu can barely hold on."

Du Heng wanted to ask more about the situation, but Lu Zhongjiang gave him no chance, grabbing his arm and pulling him downstairs.

Just as they reached the door of the consultation room, they heard an impatient Old Lady shouting from inside, "Is your Doctor Du coming or not? I’ve been here three times already, and you keep sending me away! Look, my old partner is in a wheelchair! Do you think it’s easy for me to come all this way?"

"You people have no integrity! I came on Saturday, and you said he wasn’t working. I came on Monday, and you said he’d taken leave. Today, it turns out he went to a meeting! I just want to ask, is this even a Hospital?"

The people gathered at the door chimed in, and the noise level rose sharply.

Du Heng could faintly hear Wu Buwei’s attempts to pacify them, but his voice was drowned out by the clamor of the families. Most importantly, it lacked an imposing presence.

Lu Zhongjiang pulled Du Heng towards the room, but someone nearby objected, "What do you think you’re doing? Can’t you see there’s a line? Have you no manners?"

Sensing that public indignation was about to erupt, Lu Zhongjiang quickly shouted, "Everyone, please calm down! This is our President Du. He was in a meeting, but as soon as he got our call, he rushed right back. Please, make way and let President Du in!"

His words had an effect; the people blocking the doorway instinctively moved aside.

However, some looked at Du Heng doubtfully. "He’s so young. Is he a fake? Did you just find someone random to fool us?"

As soon as this was said, some agreed, while others immediately defended Du Heng. "Where are you all from? Haven’t you read the newspaper? Doctor Du is only 28 years old! And there’s a notice board in the Hall—didn’t you see it when you came in? What are you babbling about?"

The person who had just questioned was immediately displeased. He had only voiced a casual doubt, so why was he being attacked?

Just as he was about to retort, Du Heng quickly spoke, "I’m truly sorry, everyone. There was an urgent matter at the Bureau that I had to attend to. The Director also considered how long everyone has been waiting, so he prioritized my business and let me come back immediately. Please, everyone, be patient. We’ll start right away, shall we?"

Since the man himself had spoken, the crowd showed him some courtesy and quieted down a bit.