Chapter 255: 256 Being a villain in vain
No wonder that rascal was so uneasy just now! No wonder my brother-in-law had to watch his expression, not daring to say who it was for so long! So that's what was going on! They said others were coveting Zhao Xinfang's looks, but it turns out *he's* the one planning to make a move on her himself.
Du Heng looked at Liao Quansheng with some surprise. "Brother, you knew?"
At this, Liao Quansheng said frankly, "My sister said she had a special feeling for Xiao Zhao the first time she met him. What could I do? Let them get to know each other and see. Whether it works out or not is up to them."
His bluntness left Du Heng and Zhao Xinfang speechless.
Du Heng rubbed his nose. It wasn't appropriate to discuss this with Zhao Xinfang present. So, he said to Zhao Xinfang, "Alright, I just came to check on you. Since you're settling in well, you should get back to your tasks. We won't disturb your work. We'll go chat outside. Just call me when you get off."
Zhao Xinfang nodded. "Okay, brother-in-law, I understand. Mr. Liao, I'll get back to work then."
Liao Quansheng waved his hand. "Go on, go on."
As Du Heng and Liao Quansheng watched Zhao Xinfang walk away, they too left the storeroom.
"Brother, you don't object to this?"
Liao Quansheng looked surprised. "Object to what? People are free to date who they want these days. Besides, I've told you what my sister is like. She's been spoiled rotten at home, and she's determined to do whatever she sets her mind to. No one can talk her out of it. In fact, the more you object, the more determined she becomes."
Du Heng was taken aback. "When I brought Xiao Fang here, I told you he has epilepsy. Doesn't that bother you? And while he seems cheerful, his family situation has made him very sensitive emotionally."
"Pfft, epilepsy isn't some fatal illness. Besides, didn't you say it's under control? What's there to worry about?"
As Liao Quansheng spoke, he put his arm around Du Heng's shoulder. "I know what you want to say, just relax. My sister, like me, is single-minded when it comes to love. And from what I've seen of Xiao Zhao this past week, I'm very pleased. I don't object to them dating. If they do end up together, I'll even help talk our parents around, though I doubt they'd object anyway."
Du Heng walked on silently with his head bowed. This all felt too unreal. And Liao Quansheng's attitude... it seemed off, no matter how he thought about it. While epilepsy might not be a major illness, it's definitely the kind that people look down on, and there's also the risk of it being hereditary. Even ordinary families would be wary of it, let alone one like Liao Quansheng's. Something is fishy!
Du Heng couldn't quite pinpoint what was worrying him, nor could he understand what felt so strange. He simply voiced a common concern, "But he doesn't have much formal education, and you know his family situation..."
Liao Quansheng slung his arm tighter around Du Heng's shoulders. "I don't get it. She's my sister, right? I'm not worried, so what on earth are you worked up about? Besides, this is a wholesale medicinal supplies business, not some high-tech industry. Formal education isn't the be-all and end-all. What matters is if he's reliable, willing to learn, and has ambition."
"And what's wrong with his family situation? If they really do get together, with you as his brother-in-law and me as her older brother, would we let them starve or end up homeless?"
He patted Du Heng's shoulder. "Alright, nothing's set in stone yet. What are you getting so worked up for? Come on, let's go to my office for tea."
He had a point. Why was I getting so worked up over something that was still in its earliest stages?
It took him a while to figure it out. He wasn't worried about anything else; he was afraid that if the young man truly invested his feelings and got serious, only to be abandoned, it would be a severe blow to him.
Zhao Xinfang's issues weren't just physiological; they were primarily psychological.
He was currently in a crucial consolidation phase of his treatment. Du Heng feared that if something genuinely went wrong, even with his level of expertise, he might be powerless to help.
However, Du Heng couldn't help but marvel at how Wang Shuqiu's side of the family was blessed with truly top-tier looks.
Never mind Wang Shuqiu; Zhao Xinfang definitely fit the bill of a 'pretty boy.' Even the lean and scruffy Zhao Xinyuan, Du Heng had noticed during their last meeting, had good features. With his looks and slender build, if he were to wear women's clothes and light makeup, he could outshine a good majority of women.
It had to be said, the genes from Wang Shuqiu's mother's side were indeed excellent.
Liao Quansheng invited Du Heng back to his office for tea, but Du Heng, knowing Liao Quansheng was also busy, declined. Besides, it was getting late; he figured he'd wander around outside by himself, and they'd be getting off work soon anyway.
Seeing Du Heng was firm, Liao Quansheng didn't insist and returned to his office to tackle the pile of matters waiting on his desk.
Outside, Du Heng strolled around alone, but he couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened. After a moment's thought, he called Wang Shuqiu and told her everything.
Wang Shuqiu, after listening, didn't share Du Heng's worries at all; instead, she sounded delighted.
Hearing the happiness in Wang Shuqiu's voice over the phone, Du Heng suddenly chuckled.
So, I was the one making a mountain out of a molehill.
After Zhao Xinfang finished work, the two of them headed home together. They had dinner that evening, and Du Heng didn't bring up the afternoon's events again.
「The next day at work, it was business as usual.」
However, when it was time to go treat the patients, Wu Buwei stopped Du Heng. "Senior Brother, can you explain this disease record to me?"
Qiu XX, male, 43 years old. One month ago, experienced pain in both arms. First consultation at the Municipal Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital diagnosed a stroke. After taking Expelling Wind Medicine, the numbness in his arms worsened, phlegm and saliva increased, his body became weak and muscles lax, with contracture pain in his legs and knees. Subsequently, he developed trismus (mouth-clenching) and hesitant speech, dizziness with a heavy sensation in the head, drooling from the corners of his mouth, a sensation of insects crawling on his skin, and scratching produced white, flaky skin.
He was then transferred to the Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital for a second consultation, which reconfirmed the diagnosis of a stroke.
After various Expelling Wind Medicines yielded no results, he was referred to Zhonghu Health Center.
Du Heng's third consultation diagnosed spleen qi deficiency. Prescription: Six Gentleman Decoction Added Flavour.
After two days of hospitalization and six doses of medicine, the patient's arm numbness lessened, phlegm and saliva decreased. With his family's help, he could briefly sit up, and his speech became clearer.
"Senior Brother, given the patient's severe condition, why did you diagnose it as spleen qi deficiency instead of a stroke?"
"I recall we had a similar case a few weeks ago, didn't we?"
"Yes, the patient in the same hospital room as the troublemaker. But that patient only had mild numbness in both hands and no other symptoms, so I understood his treatment."
Wu Buwei, still puzzled, continued, "But this patient is different. The numbness in his arms is much more severe, and he exhibits all the symptoms of a stroke. Why is the syndrome differentiation result the same, and why are the treatment method and process identical?"
Du Heng leaned back slightly and asked softly, "These two patients share a common characteristic. Did you notice it?"
A flicker of confusion crossed Wu Buwei's eyes. He then lowered his head and began to flip through the disease records in his hand. After quite some time, he looked up. "They both drink alcohol?"
Du Heng nodded. "Not only do they drink, but they are also heavy drinkers. The previous patient was admitted because after drinking the night before, his arms developed a slight numbness, and he immediately sought hospital treatment."
He then pulled out Qiu's case file and pointed to it. "This Mr. Qiu is the same; both experienced arm numbness after drinking. However, Qiu didn't seek medical attention promptly. Instead, over the following week, he went on four more drinking binges. Only when his arms became so numb he couldn't move them did he finally go to the hospital."