This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Wang Shizhen's move was a great help to Du Heng.

The reward for previously detecting Hepatitis A had also come through.

The Epidemic Prevention Department gave a commendation that was substantial yet cost them little—a paper certificate.

An Chunhui, however, was more generous, directly giving 3,000 yuan.

Du Heng had discussed this matter with Lu Zhongjiang. The Health Clinic had discretion over whether to provide an additional reward. However, to motivate the village doctors to properly fulfill their duties and to lighten the Health Clinic's workload, they decided to contribute an extra 2,000 yuan. This brought Wang Shiyuan's total to 5,000 yuan, hoping it would serve as an example to others.

Now that Wang Shiyuan's issue was resolved, Du Heng could submit his report directly.

After finalizing Wang Shiyuan's documents, Du Heng called over Xiao Liu from the Inspection Department and asked him to run an errand: deliver the materials to Song Jiaying.

Afterwards, he prepared to gather his tools and begin the day's Treatment, aiming to lessen Wu Buwei's workload so he could have some time for Studying.

A few days prior, things had been more manageable. With about ten patients daily, Wu Buwei could complete his work in less than half a day and then begin his Studying. But now, the number of patients had more than doubled, leaving him with no time for Studying. He could only do his Studying at home or when on duty.

However, Du Heng hadn't even finished with one Patient when he received an unexpected phone call.

Reluctantly, he had to set aside his work and go out again.

「In the Medical Affairs Department of the Municipal First Hospital, two groups of people sat facing each other, clearly distinct.」

On one side were a man and a woman. The woman was weeping, presenting a vulnerable figure. The man, radiating an air of righteousness, gesticulated and directed sharp words at the opposing side.

On the other side, everyone was in white gowns. They all wore solemn expressions, listening intently to the man speaking.

Among those in white gowns, Du Heng recognized someone: the Emergency Doctor from the Municipal First Hospital.

After a short while, the two groups separated, and everyone in the white gowns went into another office.

About Half an hour later, the office door opened again. The Emergency Doctor emerged, his face ashen. Walking ahead of him was a middle-aged man who looked deeply aggrieved.

Shortly thereafter, Du Heng arrived at the Medical Affairs Department of the Municipal First Hospital. There, he saw the Emergency Doctor, who had become a friend, and also met Zhou Yixian, a man famous by reputation but seldom seen in person.

After listening to the section chief of the Municipal First Hospital's Medical Affairs Department, Du Heng understood the full story. The Mother of Xiao Ying—the girl who had attempted to jump from a building on the day of the college entrance examination and whom they had rescued—had come to the Hospital seeking compensation.

The grounds for the claim were that Du Heng, despite not being an emergency staff member of the Municipal First Hospital, had participated in the emergency rescue. This participation, they alleged, had led to her daughter jumping from the building and her subsequent death.

And the Municipal First Hospital's stance was, surprisingly, to accept responsibility.

However, the primary responsibility was not to be borne by the Hospital, but by the Emergency Doctor on duty at the time, and Du Heng.

Du Heng couldn't help but let out a dry laugh. Yes, you're a higher-level hospital, no doubt. But what has that got to do with me, Du Heng? Since when do you get to make decisions for me?

The compensation demanded was 1.2 million yuan. Du Heng and the Emergency Doctor were cited for procedural violations, each to bear 500,000 yuan. The Hospital and the Department, for their part in failing to supervise adequately, would each bear 100,000 yuan of the compensation.

Such a brilliant scheme. So damn shrewd! Why don't they just go be performing monkeys?

"Director Zhou, what's your opinion?" Du Heng wanted to hear what this Director Zhou thought, especially since the Emergency Doctor was from his Department, which was also on the hook for 100,000 yuan.

Director Zhou still wore that deeply indignant expression, looking as if he were too furious to speak. This lasted for about twenty seconds before he suddenly seemed to deflate. He sighed and said, "This plan is the best solution. It's also good for Xiao Hu and you. You'll only need to pay some money, and it won't affect your jobs."

Du Heng sneered.

He acted for so long just to say that? 'Pay some money'? Is 500,000 yuan 'some money'? Besides, what does it have to do with you whether my job is affected or not? Demanding money from me while trying to play the good guy? Ugh! Disgusting! And you call yourself a Director? You'd be overqualified as an actor!

"Whether you compensate or not is your business. It has nothing to do with me, not even a penny's worth. And you certainly can't make decisions for me," Du Heng said, glancing at the Emergency Doctor.

This is your Director? This is your section chief? Using doctors as scapegoats? What a joke!

The section chief of the Medical Affairs Department glared, his voice booming as if reprimanding doctors from his own hospital, "This is for your own good! Don't be ungrateful. If they actually take you to court, you'll not only have to pay compensation, but your practice qualification will also be revoked!"

Du Heng shot him a cold look, anger flaring within him. "You shut up. Who do you think you are? Do I need you to look out for my 'good'? And don't you yell at me. I'm not a doctor from your Hospital."

With that, ignoring the ashen-faced section chief of the Medical Affairs Department, Du Heng opened the door, strode out, and pushed open the door to the office opposite, walking right in.

He cast a cold eye over the two people in the office. "I hear you want to sue me?"

Xiao Ying's Mother glanced at Du Heng, then lowered her head and resumed her quiet weeping. The man beside her, however, looked Du Heng up and down. "And who are you?"

"My name is Du Heng."

The man shot to his feet. "So, you're Du Heng. Very well. We've made a compensation demand. Do you accept it? If not, we will proceed with legal action and sue you for your violations."

Du Heng scoffed. "What violations?"

"You are not an Emergency Doctor of the Municipal First Hospital, yet you participated in the emergency treatment. Moreover, you used self-made medicine for the Treatment. It was these violations on your part that directly led to the tragic death of Xiao Ying."

Du Heng reached into his pocket, pulled out his work ID, and slapped it on the table with a THWACK! "Do you recognize this?"

The man glanced down at it, not understanding Du Heng's point. "Your work ID, so what?"

"Look closely. I am a Doctor. I am a Doctor from the Chinese Medicine Department."

"So what?"

Du Heng scoffed. "And you are...?"

The man adjusted his collar and stated proudly, "I am the lawyer retained by Xiao Ying's Mother."

"Then you should do some proper Studying before you come here again."

"What do you mean by that? If you don't want to compensate, then we'll see you in court."

"Don't try to scare me with that. Doctors are obligated to participate in public emergency medical aid. Furthermore, I am a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. The prescription I gave Xiao Ying at that time is specified in the National Pharmacopoeia for traditional Chinese medicine. So, tell me, where exactly did I violate any rules? Was I supposed to just stand by and watch that girl miss her chance at the college entrance examination?"

The lawyer paused, stunned for a moment. Then it struck him: their primary angle of attack wasn't this at all, but the fact that Xiao Ying had died.

"But after your rescue efforts, the Patient died three days later. Isn't that your responsibility?"

Doctor Hu, the Emergency Doctor who had entered with them, sighed helplessly. He had resigned himself to his fate.

He didn't blame anyone, only his own rotten luck that the Patient who had accepted Treatment had died.