This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Upon arriving at his office, before his buttocks even touched the seat, Wu Buwei brought someone in.

It was none other than Du Yihai, who had visited a month earlier.

At this time, his hair had turned completely white, and he looked at least twenty years older than before. When he looked at Du Heng, the bloodshot veins in his eyes were clearly visible. Indeed, the wrinkles on his forehead and at the corners of his eyes could be described as deep gullies.

A month ago, Du Yihai had been more deferential, yet he had still possessed some vitality.

But today, he truly resembled a lifeless, walking corpse.

Seeing Du Heng, he didn't say anything, only straightened his back a little, his hands clasped before his abdomen, apparently concealing something beneath his clothes.

After Wu Buwei showed him in, he helped Du Heng by pouring a glass of water, placed it in front of Du Yihai, and then excused himself to attend to his own matters.

For a moment, only Du Heng and Du Yihai remained in the office.

Seeing Du Yihai's current state, any past unpleasant feelings Du Heng held had long since vanished. However, he didn't know what to say and could only offer a polite invitation, "Mr. Yihai, please sit. Have some water."

Du Yihai perched on the edge of the sofa, appearing very constrained. Once Du Heng also sat down, Du Yihai pulled a plastic bag from inside his clothes and abruptly pushed it in front of Du Heng. "President Du, please, you have to help me! You know many people. Take this money, use your connections, and find a way out for Du Huang and Du Teng. I truly have no other options now."

The black plastic bag was bulging. It looked like two stacks, each at least a palm-width thick.

Du Heng knew what he was referring to and could see how pitiable he looked.

But he was, indeed, powerless in this matter.

Setting aside past grievances and considering the current circumstances, this was a capital case. Could he, a mere Dean of a Health Clinic, a stock-level cadre, possibly intervene?

"Has the sentence been passed?"

"It was passed last week."

Sentenced!

Du Heng didn't inquire further.

Clearly, since the sentence had already been passed and Du Yihai was still seeking him out, it meant it wasn't the most severe punishment; they must have received fixed-term prison sentences.

Thus, Du Yihai's purpose for coming today was clear: he was looking for connections to get their sentences reduced.

Now, Du Heng had three options. The first was to help. With his current network, he could, by pulling various strings, eventually find some connection. But doing so, regardless of the money spent, would mean he would owe a massive favor—a truly enormous one. Honestly, the relationship between Du Yihai's family and his own wasn't deep enough to warrant incurring such a significant debt of gratitude.

The second option was to be ruthless: agree to help, take the money, but then bungle the job. He could return a small portion later and pocket the rest, and no one would be able to say anything.

Besides, wasn't this the standard modus operandi for many who solicited help these days?

But did he really need that bit of money?

No, he didn't. Plus, taking it would leave a bad taste in his mouth. It was completely unnecessary.

The third option was to refuse outright. Don't cause himself unnecessary trouble, and don't delay the other party from seeking help elsewhere.

Having made his decision, Du Heng didn't press for more details and instead kept trying to steer the conversation elsewhere.

Du Yihai was no fool; he immediately understood Du Heng's unspoken message.

He wasn't surprised. He had only come to Du Heng as a last resort, clutching at straws, because he had truly run out of options.

Seeing Du Heng's stance, his spirits sank even lower. He didn't linger or argue; he simply picked up the plastic bag from the table, stuffed it back inside his clothes, and left, his body hunched over.

Du Heng didn't try to detain him, nor did he offer any insincere platitudes, merely seeing him to the door.

Watching Du Yihai's departing figure, Du Heng felt a complex mix of emotions. Truly, the wheel of fortune turns every thirty years. Or, to put it more pointedly: pride comes before a fall, arrogance invites disaster.

Sighing softly, Du Heng returned to his office, picked up his needle tool kit, and began the day's treatments.

As the exam date drew nearer, the pressure on Wu Buwei and Xiao Li mounted. Du Heng tried to help Wu Buwei with his tasks as much as possible each day, allowing him more time to study.

「Later that evening, after returning home and finishing dinner, Wang Shuqiu took her sister-in-law and Du Xuejing to the adjacent room to discuss what to buy for the house and how to arrange things. Du Yi, eager to join in, tagged along.」

Their departure left the two brothers alone, allowing them to talk freely. Du Heng then recounted Du Yihai's visit from that morning.

After hearing the story, Du Ping heaved a long sigh, lit a cigarette, and said, "I heard that during the sentencing, Du Teng was designated the principal offender and received eighteen years. Du Huang was a bit unlucky; he delivered the final blow, so he got twelve years. The other four involved were sentenced to seven or eight years each. And that's not all—they also have to pay several hundred thousand yuan in compensation, which will be divided among their families."

Those were heavy sentences. Both men were just over thirty years old; after serving more than a decade, they would be in their fifties by the time they got out.

Even if they behaved well in prison and earned a sentence reduction, how many years could realistically be shaved off?

"Moreover, I heard their troubles aren't over yet. Du Da's case is also linked to them. It's all very messy." Du Ping took a drag from his cigarette and flicked the ash. He continued, "Du Yihai has approached many people. You know Du Yijiang, right? They're all descendants of the same great-grandfather, part of the same lineage. Even he didn't agree to help."

Du Heng had heard of Du Yijiang; he was supposedly one of the most successful members of the Du Family.

However, this branch of the family had been workers since their grandfather's generation and had always lived in the city. Their ties with Duke Village were tenuous, almost non-existent.

Frankly, in Du Heng's opinion, aside from sharing the surname Du, this branch of the family had no real connection to the old Du Family anymore.

The two brothers sat together, casually chatting and sharing gossip. Somehow, the conversation drifted to international affairs, which they discussed with surprising passion.

When Zhang Sumei and the others returned, the two brothers were still deep in discussion.

Zhang Sumei looked like she had something to say, but seeing the two brothers engrossed in their conversation, she hesitated to interrupt.

The two brothers were merely rambling, so when Du Heng noticed his sister-in-law wanted to speak, he stopped debating with his elder brother and turned to her. "Sister-in-law, if you have something to say, please go ahead."

Zhang Sumei, suppressing her excitement, asked, "Xiao Heng, I heard from Xiao Qiu that you can also treat infertility?"

Du Heng nodded. "Yes, I've treated several cases of sterility and infertility. In fact, one couple I treated is now successfully pregnant. But why do you ask?"

"You know my younger brother's wife from my parents' side, right?"

"I know her. You mean Bao's wife, Ding Yuemei, right?" Du Heng said, puzzled. "But they have children, don't they? Two sons, even."

Zhang Sumei shook her head. "No, it's not about them. It's about Yuemei's side of the family—her own brother. He's thirty-five this year, and he and his wife have been married for over ten years but still don't have any children. They were thinking of adopting a child from your brother Bao, since his second son is just over a year old, the perfect age."

"So, Sister-in-law, you're asking if I can examine Yuemei's brother from her side of the family?"

"That's exactly it. To be honest, your brother Bao and his wife are reluctant to give their child up for adoption. But Yuemei's brother is her only sibling, and it's not good for him to have no descendants to carry on the family line."