This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Du Heng figured this out and understood what Yang Wei's smile meant, so he also laughed. But Du Heng's laughter made Yang Wei feel a bit embarrassed. It really proved the saying: as long as you aren't embarrassed, others will be.

"Didn't you just say Yang Yuansheng has a daughter too? Is she also in school?"

"That one is an ungrateful person, good for nothing. She ran away from home more than three years ago without any news, just like her mother."

Du Heng was a bit surprised; he hadn't expected this twist. However, these were not important matters. Now he had a clear understanding of Yang Yuansheng's basic situation. His situation couldn't be simply understood as poverty due to illness; it also included the factor of poverty due to education. But there was good news: Yang Yuansheng actually owned a truck. This meant if they could solve Yang Yuansheng's health problem, there'd be no need to even consider how to find a way out for him; he already had one. However, liver cirrhosis and ascites... these were troublesome conditions.

While pondering how to treat this illness, Du Heng continued to ask about Yang Yuansheng's family background and health, so he could get a general understanding of his situation.

He didn't know how long they had been talking when You Fang entered, one hand holding chopsticks to lift the door curtain, the other carrying a plate of cold dishes.

Du Heng was a bit startled. Did Yang Wei's winks just now mean he'd asked his wife to cook? But this You Fang was really capable; no wonder Yang Wei didn't want to let her go.

Du Heng estimated that aside from Yang Wei's fear of not finding another wife and the fear of local gossip causing him to lose face, her capability was also a reason he didn't want to let go. If such a woman were his, he wouldn't let her go either. It was just like with Wang Shuqiu. Besides her beauty, if she weren't a good person, someone suited for building a life together, he would have left long ago given her family situation. They certainly wouldn't be at the stage of discussing marriage now.

At this time, Yang Wei stood up, took the items from You Fang's hand, and said with a smile, "President Du, it's getting late. Let's have something to eat. When my Uncle Yuansheng arrives later, I'll go with you."

After frequent visits to the upper village, Du Heng had gradually developed a thick skin. Besides, they had already brought the food out. Standing up to leave or making a show of refusing would have been too pretentious.

It turned out You Fang was not only quick and efficient but also a good cook.

After finishing the meal and seeing that it was almost time, Du Heng and Yang Wei got up and headed to Yang Yuansheng's house, while You Fang efficiently tidied up the dishes. This couple is quite interesting.

As soon as the two of them stepped out of the main gate, a man approached the entrance. He had a sallow, emaciated face and a gaunt figure, with a slightly bulging stomach. Carrying a hoe on his shoulder, he walked slowly, swaying with each step.

Yang Wei also saw the man coming and went forward to take the hoe from his hand. "Uncle Yuansheng, President Du from the Health Clinic is here to see you."

So this is Yang Yuansheng!

Du Heng looked at Yang Yuansheng's slightly bulging stomach, a little surprised. He'd learned from Yang Wei that Yang Yuansheng's ascites had been drained just last month, yet now his stomach was visibly bulging again. The ascites was accumulating too quickly! That shouldn't be the case.

"Hello, Yang Yuansheng. I'm Du Heng from the Health Clinic. Can we talk?"

Yang Yuansheng's expression was pained, yet he looked at Du Heng with an extremely calm gaze. "Let's talk at my house."

When they arrived at the main gate, the dog that had startled Du Heng earlier was already lying by the doorway, enthusiastically welcoming its owner home. When the door was opened, it even let out a couple of barks.

Yang Yuansheng waved the dog away and led Du Heng and Yang Wei into the yard.

Old and messy. That was Du Heng's first impression of the yard and house.

Nowadays, the better-off villagers lived in two or three-story red brick buildings, while those slightly less well-off had large, single-story houses. Even those with less had houses with red brick foundations and pine beams.

But Yang Yuansheng's house—how to describe it? The walls were earthen, and the roof beams were so blackened it was impossible to tell what kind of wood they were. The doors and windows were all of an old-fashioned wooden lattice style.

Upon entering the house, it was pitch black; one could hardly see anything without turning on a light. But after turning on the light, the sight that met his eyes was one of utter chaos, so messy there was nowhere to set foot.

Understandable for a man in such a sorry state, especially a sick and unkempt one.

Left with no choice, Du Heng and Yang Wei had to step out of the room again.

"Yang Yuansheng, I came today to see if there's anything we can do to help you. You can tell me any thoughts you have." Du Heng didn't need to be sitting down to talk; he stated his purpose directly after they left the house.

Yang Yuansheng, likely finding it uncomfortable to stand, paid no mind to Du Heng and Yang Wei and slowly sat down on the steps. "I don't have any requests, just wondering if you could help my son apply for a student loan. I'm completely out of options now."

"We'll consider that. Let's talk about your situation."

"Heh..." Yang Yuansheng gave a bitter laugh. "What's there to say about my situation? You've seen it. I'm just biding my time, waiting to die. If I weren't afraid that killing myself would affect my child's future, I'd have jumped into the Back Ditch by now."

"Can I check your condition?"

"Go ahead."

"I practice traditional Chinese medicine. Give me your wrist, and I'll take your pulse."

Yang Yuansheng looked at Du Heng with surprise and, while extending his hand, said, "You're a traditional Chinese medicine doctor? And so young?"

Yang Wei chimed in from the side, "Uncle Yuansheng, President Du is amazing. Li Qiuhua from Shang Ling Village, that woman who was practically dead, was saved by President Du."

Having someone boast about him was supposed to be a good thing, but when it's exaggerated this much, it's a little embarrassing.

"It wasn't as serious as you make it sound. Li Qiuhua was still alive then, not dead."

"I heard she was sent to the hospital, then the hospital wouldn't admit her and sent her back. How is that different from being dead?"

Du Heng didn't bother explaining further. The more he explained, the more chaotic it would become.

After the examination, Du Heng's frown deepened. "Do you have any previous medical reports? Let me see them."

Yang Yuansheng started to get up, but Yang Wei said, "Uncle, just tell me where they are, I'll get them. You rest for a bit."

Yang Yuansheng didn't insist and told Yang Wei where to find them.

Although Yang Yuansheng had told him the exact spot, it still took Yang Wei nearly five minutes to emerge from the room with a large plastic bag. The room was too messy.

Du Heng took out the contents of the plastic bag and found that Yang Yuansheng had kept these documents very well. Some medical records dated back over ten years.

Fortunately, Yang Yuansheng had preserved them well, which allowed Du Heng to discover some new information. Yang Yuansheng's liver cirrhosis wasn't solely caused by drinking. Twenty years ago, he had already been diagnosed with Chronic Prolonged Hepatitis A and B Mixed Hepatitis.