Du Heng and his two companions set off relatively early, leaving at 1:40 PM.
When they arrived, the entire Village Committee compound was already teeming with people, predominantly elderly n and won.
Seeing this, Du Heng understood.
This enthusiastic turnout was due to a few key reasons. First, people believed the Health Clinic doctors were significantly more skilled than village doctors, and not just by a small margin.
Second, it was free. The loudspeakers had been announcing it all through lunchti, and opportunities like this were rare.
Third, it was a chance to join in the excitent. After all, with the recent snow, there was no work to be done in the fields, so gathering for a chat was a good way to pass the ti.
As Du Heng’s group approached, a crowd quickly surged around them, and the scene grew increasingly chaotic.
However, such a scene was no challenge for Zuo Liangliang, especially with the village party secretary also present.
He hitched up the large padded coat draped over his shoulders, his eyes wide and his voice booming as he pointed at the jostling crowd and yelled, "Step back, don’t push! How can the doctor examine patients if you’re all crowding in like this?"
He then walked over to a newly set-up table, deftly pulled a couple of people into place, and announced, "Everyone line up here! If you don’t queue, you won’t be seen."
His style was quite rough, but highly effective. Amidst the commotion, everyone lined up without needing to be told.
Du Heng and his two companions didn’t stand idle; they quickly put on their white gowns and took their respective positions.
Zuo Liangliang had prepared personnel files with clearly recorded past dical histories for all the patients. With these in hand, Du Heng’s work was quite straightforward.
His job was to conduct normal consultations and examinations.
So patients had pre-existing conditions and just needed a check-up to see if there were any changes. Those already on dication were advised to either continue their current regin or were prescribed different dicines.
Another group consisted of people who had never been to a hospital for an examination. They had various discomforts and hoped to get treatnt during this free clinic.
Du Heng knew his current skill level was very high, but he wasn’t entirely sure to what extent. In the Health Clinic, there was no one to compare himself to. He had treated few patients so far and hadn’t encountered any difficult or complicated cases, making comparisons hard.
Today, however, with the patients lining up, as soon as he began, employing the four diagnostic thods—Inspection, Auscultation, Inquiry, and Palpation—he could clearly ascertain each person’s condition. Cross-referencing with the registered data, he made no errors.
The process of examination, diagnosis, and then prescribing dication took about five minutes per person.
Slightly more complex cases, like arthralgia due to hypertension and arthritis, weren’t particularly difficult either; they just took an extra two minutes to manage.
Wu Buwei, however, was finding it tough.
Du Heng only had to conduct the examinations, chattering away, while Wu Buwei had to ticulously write down Du Heng’s diagnoses and the corresponding prescriptions. Du Heng’s part was rely to glance over them and sign his na.
By 4:00 PM, Wu Buwei had lost count of how many disease records and prescriptions he’d filled out. He was certain it was well over thirty.
Wu Buwei felt he’d written more in these past two hours than in all his five years of schooling.
His fingers and wrist were already aching, and his writing hand had started to tremble.
Seeing Du Heng working tirelessly without a break, Wu Buwei, who had just seen off a patient, quickly said, "Senior Brother, let’s take a break. You can grab a drink of water, use the restroom, and let rest a bit too. My wrist feels like it’s about to snap!"
Du Heng, deep in his work, hadn’t noticed Wu Buwei’s state. Reminded now, he looked at Wu Buwei’s strained expression and finally understood. A glance at Zuo Liangliang nearby showed him looking even more drained than Wu Buwei, completely wilted.
"Okay, a ten-minute break," Du Heng agreed with a smile. "Mr. Zuo, please ask everyone to wait a bit. We’ll take ten minutes, use the restroom, and be right back."
Zuo Liangliang, looking as if granted amnesty, quickly jumped up and announced, "Everyone, please wait a mont! Let Doctor Du take a short break. He’ll be right back after a quick trip to the restroom."
Although so people weren’t from Zuo Liangliang’s village, they were all from the sa larger brigade and knew each other fairly well. So, when Zuo Liangliang announced the break, no one objected.
They figured as long as the doctors could see them eventually, chatting while waiting wasn’t a problem for them; it wouldn’t cause any delay on their part.
Just as Du Heng and his two companions stepped into the clinic, an SUV pulled up to the main entrance of the Village Committee compound.
Inside sat five young people—two n and three won—all dressed in professional suits with down jackets worn over them.
The scene unfolding at the Village Committee entrance made them hesitate to get out.
To the left of the Village Committee gate, people were lined up neatly.
To the right, people were gathered in small groups, chatting.
The two sides were clearly distinct, yet shared one common feature: the majority were elderly n and won.
"Team Leader Li, should we still get out?" asked a girl in the back seat by the window. She grew incredibly nervous as she watched the elderly people outside, whose gazes were now fixed on their vehicle.
The young man driving gripped the steering wheel, also feeling apprehensive. He had no idea what was going on. Suddenly, his eyes lit up when he spotted a table ahead with a blood pressure monitor on it. "See that table up there?" he said. "They must be colleagues here for the sa reason as us. I just wonder which company they’re from."
Team Leader Li turned to the other four in the car. "Everyone," she said, "how much money we make today depends on how many people we can successfully invite. So, perk up! Think about all our training. You’ve been taught everything you need to know, and I’m sure you rember what to say. Just stick to the training, and I’m confident you’ll all succeed. Let’s go!"
THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!
The sound of four car doors closing echoed at once.
The five young people in matching professional suits imdiately drew everyone’s attention.
After exiting the car, the five quickly straightened their clothes and gathered at the trunk. Each grabbed a stack of red hats and a pile of promotional leaflets.
After exchanging encouraging glances and putting on what appeared to be very sincere smiles, they fanned out towards the different groups of people.
The girl who had been so nervous in the car now wore a brilliant smile, showing no trace of her earlier anxiety. She walked gracefully over to a few elderly won who had already been seen by the doctor and were now chatting off to one side. "Hello, Aunties!" she said cheerfully. "What are you all doing here?"
The young woman’s smile was sweet and radiant, and the elderly won, ward by her cheerfulness, smiled back.
A slightly chubby but not tall woman replied, "We’re here for a check-up." Her gaze then shifted to the hats in the young woman’s hand. "And what is it you do, miss?"
The young woman’s heart gave a little flutter. ’A check-up?’ she thought. Heh, they must be in the sa line of business, just using different approaches.
"Auntie, we’re from the Boka Rehabilitation Center," the young woman explained. "This month, our center has launched an initiative: ’Caring for Rural Elders, Focusing on Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Health.’ We’ve invited national cardiovascular and cerebrovascular experts to give free lectures on the dangers of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and their prevention. Plus, we’re offering free professional testing for everyone."
"Free?" the woman asked. "Are your services free too?"
The young woman’s eyes sparkled as she smiled sweetly and asked, "Auntie, was the check-up you just had free as well?"
"Yes, it was a free check-up, and very good too! They just felt my pulse and knew what my ailnt was."
Also free? she mused. Then it must be true, they’re definitely in the sa field. But this competitor has really gone all out, even getting a real dical expert who can actually diagnose illnesses!
Hearing the word "free" again, the elderly woman was thrilled.
What a lucky day! she thought. First a free doctor’s visit, and now a free vascular screening!
"Miss, are all your services really free?" the woman pressed.
"Yes, completely free," the young woman confird. "The lectures by nationally renowned experts are free, and the testing is free too."
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