This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Adopting children is a common occurrence in rural areas.

In Jinzhou, most people who adopt choose a child from their own relatives or siblings. It's seldom that they would pick a child they don't know, such as adopting one from outside or buying one.

Moreover, there is an interesting phenomenon: when the child reaches a certain age, they are told that they were adopted from so-and-so's family and the reasons behind their adoption. It's rare that this information is withheld.

This is an interesting custom compared to other places.

The main reasons they don't adopt from unfamiliar families or purchase a child are to avoid raising an ungrateful person and to prevent the child's birth parents from causing trouble or trying to reclaim the child when they are older. Furthermore, there are concerns about potential unknown problems with a child from an unfamiliar background.

As for buying a child, Du Heng had never heard of it happening in his twenty-plus years of memory.

So, everyone prefers to adopt children with whom they share blood relations. It's easier to nurture familial affection, and they don't have to worry about other troublesome issues.

Du Heng thought for a moment and asked, "Sister-in-law, about Yuemei's brother from her maternal family—have they always been childless?"

"Not exactly. I heard they had a child when they first got married, but she had an Abortion around two or three months into the pregnancy due to exhaustion from working in the fields. Since then, she has never conceived again."

"Didn't they go to the Hospital for a check-up?"

"They did, but after the check-up, they were told their bodies were fine. There wasn't any issue, but she just couldn't get pregnant."

That's strange!

Even if the chances are low, it's improbable that they wouldn't have a single chance in over a decade, right?

His sister-in-law, Zhang Sumei, looked at Du Heng with an extremely earnest gaze, hoping he could find a way to help them.

It wasn't just that Ding Yuezong's (Yuemei's brother's) own younger brother and his wife were unwilling to let him adopt their child; Zhang Sumei herself also didn't want such a situation to arise.

Du Heng suddenly found it a bit amusing. He had treated a fair number of patients and had gained some reputation, especially in treating stroke. But recently, he didn't know why, it felt like his cases were starting to deviate from his specialty.

"Sister-in-law, ask Yuemei's brother from her maternal family and his wife to come to the Health Clinic tomorrow morning. I'll assess the situation first," Du Heng said, not daring to make any guarantees.

They had one child previously, but not having another for over ten years meant he couldn't make any careless promises.

His sister-in-law was thrilled. She stood up and headed out, saying, "Okay, I'll call Yuemei now and ask them to come early tomorrow."

Although Zhang Sumei was very concerned, the Ding couple seemed even more so. When Du Heng arrived at the Health Clinic in the morning, the couple was already waiting in the Hall.

After exchanging pleasantries, Du Heng took the two to his office. Since it was still before official work hours, he wanted to look into their problem first and see if he could resolve it.

"Ding, please sit down. I'll get you some water."

Ding Yuezong was thin but had a robust personality and a somewhat overly familiar demeanor. His wife appeared quite quiet, even serene, with an air of having no desires or worldly concerns.

Therefore, since their arrival, it had mostly been Du Heng and Ding Yuezong chatting, while his wife had only spoken a few words at the very beginning and had remained silent since.

"We're all family here; you don't need to fuss," Ding Yuezong said, genuinely stopping Du Heng from busying himself for them.

Seeing this, Du Heng didn't delay further and got straight to the point.

"Ding, shall we begin then?"

"Sure, we'll listen to you."

"My sister-in-law gave me a general idea of your situation, but it wasn't very detailed. Ding, could you please tell me the whole story from the beginning?"

Ding Yuezong paused upon hearing this, thought for a moment, and glanced at his wife.

Seeing she still wore that same detached, tranquil expression, he began to speak. "About half a year after we got married, she became pregnant. It was around July, the busiest time in the fields. We're all villagers; we don't lead luxurious lives, so my wife came to work in the fields with me."

He sighed, glancing at his wife again. "One day, while working in the fields, a sudden shower hit. We were both out there with nowhere to take shelter, so we got completely soaked. After returning home, she started bleeding that night and had an Abortion."

Du Heng furrowed his brows. Last night, his sister-in-law said the Abortion was due to the pregnant woman's exhaustion. But now, according to the husband, it was from getting drenched in the rain and catching a chill.

"My sister-in-law mentioned this last night. Have you been unable to conceive ever since?"

"No, that's not it. She could get pregnant, but every time, around the two or three-month mark, it would end in an Abortion." Ding Yuezong's spirits seemed to dampen, but his wife beside him remained as calm as when she first entered, as if the matter being discussed had nothing to do with her.

For a moment, Du Heng even thought this woman might have some psychological issues.

Ding Yuezong noticed Du Heng's gaze and explained, "My wife has always had a quiet disposition. In recent years, because of the child issue, she has spent her days burning incense and praying to Buddha, which has made her even more tranquil."

He quickly reassured Du Heng, "But don't worry, she's just a bit quiet; there's nothing else wrong with her."

Du Heng also felt his stare had been impolite. Hearing Ding Yuezong speak, he quickly averted his gaze. "Ding, given this situation, didn't you go to the Hospital for a check-up?"

"We went to the Provincial Women and Children's Hospital and had a check-up done."

"What did they say?"

"The doctor said it was habitual miscarriage, but after the examination, he said her body was very healthy, with no issues at all. Later, he suggested it might be an environmental problem, so after she got pregnant again, we moved into your cousin Bao's house to live."

Ding Yuezong shook his head, his expression bleak, and continued, "This time, not only did we change environments, but from the moment we knew she was pregnant, my wife spent almost all her time on the bed, except when she needed to use the toilet. But even so, the pregnancy still ended in an Abortion at five months."

Du Heng leaned back in his chair.

The sequence of events Ding Yuezong described and what his sister-in-law had said last night could be considered two completely different versions. Apart from the final outcome of being childless, there were no other similarities.

"Didn't you seek treatment from a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to help regulate her system?"

"I don't believe in traditional Chinese medicine."

Du Heng was taken aback because the one who answered was Ding Yuezong's wife, who hadn't spoken a word since she entered.

What do you mean by that?

You don't believe in traditional Chinese medicine, yet you came to see me today?

You don't believe in traditional Chinese medicine, so you resort to burning incense and praying to Buddha?

What kind of absurd logic is this?

Du Heng restrained himself. "Have you been pregnant recently?"

"We don't dare anymore. The doctor said too many Abortions would harm her body," Ding Yuezong quickly interjected, but he couldn't stop his wife.

His wife then said slowly, "What's destined to be will eventually come to pass; if it's not in your fate, don't force it."

Du Heng was so stunned he didn't know how to ask any further questions.

Has this woman damaged her brain from all that incense burning and praying?