Wu Shengnan’s brother quickly found a nurse. Pointing at Wu Shengnan’s undone bandage, he asked her to reapply the dicine and bandage it again.
The nurse, looking at the ssy bandages, was clearly displeased. She was about to say sothing cold when she suddenly recalled the scene of this patient’s admission—the Dean, the Secretary, and various directors had all gathered. The words died on her lips, and the mouth she had opened snapped shut.
Wu Shengnan’s brother didn’t notice this. He was simply following his grandfather’s instructions to take Du Heng to find his father.
The two walked out, one in front and one behind, both silent. They each had things on their minds and, besides, were not well acquainted.
Just as they arrived, the conference room door opened, and several doctors in white gowns erged. Among them was Li Jianwei, whom Du Heng recognized.
"Xiao Du, you’re here." Li Jianwei, dressed in casual clothes, spotted Du Heng standing by the door the mont he stepped out.
"Professor Li, have you finished your discussion?"
Li Jianwei nodded and walked over to Du Heng and Wu Shengnan’s brother. "The first affiliated hospital of Jinzhou has ford an expert panel," he said. "They’ve invited all orthopedic experts and traditional Chinese dicine experts from Provincial First Hospital, Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese dicine, and the second affiliated hospital of JZU. They also held a video conference with Orthopedic Experts from the Capital. The consensus is quite strong; everyone agrees on amputation."
Li Jianwei sighed. "Currently, the amputation would only involve the lower leg. If we delay, her entire leg might need to be amputated, which would have an even greater impact on her future life."
Du Heng paused for a mont. "Do the experts from the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese dicine have no other solutions? Is there absolutely no possibility of conservative treatnt?"
Li Jianwei glanced at Wu Shengnan’s brother, knowing Du Heng had just co from the hospital room, and said directly, "It’s extrely difficult. Her muscles, tendons, and bones are all severely damaged, and the ulcerated areas are already showing signs of infection. Amputation is the best option right now."
Wu Shengnan’s brother beca very agitated. He took a small step forward and said, "Director Li, is there really no other way? My sister is only twenty-seven; her life has just begun! She’s such a strong-willed person. If she has an amputation, how will she cope?"
Li Jianwei shook his head sympathetically. "This isn’t my decision; it’s the decision of the expert panel inside. Your sister’s lower leg muscles and skin are already necrotic and ulcerating. The site of the fracture is also showing signs of necrosis. With the efficacy of current Western dicine, we likely can’t control the necrosis before it spreads further."
"To save your sister’s leg, we’d need a multi-pronged approach that yields rapid, almost imdiate results. However, the expert panel concluded that current dications can’t achieve this. The rate of recovery would be far outpaced by the rate of necrosis. So, amputation is the best choice now."
After speaking to Wu Shengnan’s brother, Li Jianwei’s gaze returned to the silent Du Heng. "Xiao Du, only Secretary Wu, Dean Wang from the first affiliated hospital, and Director Chen of Trauma Orthopedics are inside now. They should be making their final report on her condition. Do you still want to go in?"
With that, Li Jianwei fixed his eyes on Du Heng.
Although all the experts agreed that amputation was the best option, those making the decision today were all experts in Western orthopedics. As for the few traditional Chinese dicine experts, although they were affiliated with the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese dicine, their practices were hardly different from Western dicine, primarily focusing on surgery.
Regarding traditional Chinese dicine, it wasn’t that Li Jianwei was being arrogant; it was just that their traditional Chinese dicine treatnts for orthopedics weren’t as proficient as his own.
Now, he genuinely hoped Du Heng could find a solution—sothing that would allow him, and traditional Chinese dicine itself, to hold their heads high, rather than letting those charlatans from the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese dicine, who were TCM practitioners in na only, tarnish its reputation.
As for himself, he was rely the Departnt Director of the Chinese dicine Departnt at Provincial First Hospital. He had been invited today largely due to his title. He wasn’t truly skilled in orthopedics and thus couldn’t offer any constructive suggestions.
Du Heng’s furrowed brow gradually relaxed. He glanced at the few individuals who had turned and gone back into the office, then smiled faintly at Li Jianwei. "Professor Li, could you take in for a mont? I have a few ideas now."
Hearing this, Li Jianwei’s eyes lit up. He looked earnestly at Du Heng and asked, "Xiao Du, do you really have so ideas?"
"I have so thoughts."
"Good, let’s go in."
His expression composed, Li Jianwei imdiately turned and led Du Heng back into the conference room.
In the Director’s office, a middle-aged man in a black jacket sat sowhat dejectedly at the office desk. His angular face was etched with disappointnt and sorrow.
At that mont, the doctor in a white gown standing at the front said, "Secretary Wu, you heard them earlier. Amputation is the best option now. But please rest assured, Secretary Wu, I will personally perform Officer Wu’s surgery, and I’ll ensure there are no lasting complications."
The man called Secretary Wu gave a bitter smile. Her leg would be gone; how could there be no lasting complications?
Just as he was about to speak, he heard the door behind him open. Turning, he saw his son, the expert who had just left, along with a young man, walk in.
"Dad, Doctor Du is here." Wu Shengnan’s brother pushed open the door. The mont he saw Secretary Wu, he imdiately composed himself and said softly, "Doctor Du says he has a way to treat my sister’s leg."
At these words, Secretary Wu’s eyes brightened, his gaze turning sharp as he looked at Du Heng. His presence seed to fill the room with an oppressive aura.
The doctor in the white gown at the front looked slightly puzzled. "Director Li, is there sothing else?"
Li Jianwei calmly glanced at Du Heng beside him and said slowly, "This is Director Du Heng from the Chinese dicine Departnt of our Provincial First Hospital. He has so thoughts on Officer Wu’s injury."
Now, not only Secretary Wu but also the two remaining doctors in white gowns in the conference room turned to look at Du Heng.
Their eyes held a mixture of confusion and faint distrust.
Chinese dicine Departnt? Director? What is he trying to do at such a young age? Show off in front of Secretary Wu?
Before the two doctors in front could recover from their surprise, Secretary Wu suddenly retracted his sharp gaze, slowly stood up, and proactively extended his hand to Du Heng. "Doctor Du, hello. Thank you so much for curing my father. I’ve been wanting to thank you personally but have been swamped with work. My apologies for not doing so sooner."
"Secretary Wu, you’re too kind. It’s a doctor’s duty to treat illnesses and save lives." Such pleasantries were best heard and forgotten, not taken seriously.
"Gratitude is due. And I haven’t even had the chance to thank you for my father’s matter, and now I must trouble you with Nannan’s."
This ti, Du Heng rely grinned slightly and said nothing.
Just then, the doctor who had spoken earlier suddenly asked, "Does this Doctor Du have a better solution for Officer Wu’s condition?"
Du Heng nodded. "In my personal opinion, Miss Wu’s condition has not yet reached the point where amputation is absolutely necessary."
"Nonsense!" The doctor imdiately refuted Du Heng. "Officer Wu’s calf muscle fascia is completely necrotic and ulcerated. Furthermore, the fracture site on her tibia shows signs of ischemic necrosis and hardening of the bone ends."
"If we don’t amputate now, are we supposed to wait until a massive infection sets in and her life is in danger before we do it?"
As he spoke, he shot Du Heng a look filled with disdain.
In his eyes, Du Heng was just an opportunist trying to curry favor with Secretary Wu, a charlatan.
Li Jianwei whispered at this mont, "That’s Director Chen from Trauma Orthopedics."
Du Heng remained unruffled and stated his thoughts, "The patient’s main issue now is the expanding necrosis, carrying the constant risk of a widespread infection."
"We can tackle this internally and externally. Internally, we’ll work to restore and boost the patient’s original qi, while also reducing inflammation and preventing infection. Externally, we’ll use an external ointnt to further combat inflammation, draw out toxins, and regenerate the muscle fascia."
Du Heng looked earnestly at the man in front. "Director Chen, do you think this approach is feasible?"
Director Chen looked dismissive. "Everyone is aware of that approach. The issue isn’t the concept, but the lack of sufficiently effective dicine."
Du Heng shook his head. "I’m not referring to Western dicine; I’m talking about Chinese herbal dicine."
"Chinese herbal dicine?" Director Chen narrowed his eyes at Du Heng. "Chinese herbal dicine might offer such effects, but we’ve already consulted orthopedic experts from the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese dicine and traditional Chinese dicine experts from the Capital. None of them could provide such a prescription."
As he spoke, Director Chen slowly took two steps forward. "Doctor Du, is it? I don’t know why Director Li refers to you as ’Director,’ but I presu you are a young and promising talent in traditional Chinese dicine."
"However, regardless of your confidence, as a doctor, you cannot gamble with a patient’s life."
Du Heng shook his head again. "I am not joking."
Director Chen was furious. His anger was directed at Du Heng, and by extension, at Li Jianwei for bringing him.
He hadn’t expected Li Jianwei to bring such an arrogant and ignorant young man. "Doctor Du, do you truly believe you’re more skilled than the collective experts from the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese dicine and the Capital?"
Du Heng chuckled lightly. "I suppose so. I’m quite confident in my abilities."
Director Chen almost laughed out of anger. "Alright then, Doctor Du, may I ask if you have any experience treating similar cases?"
"No," Du Heng replied honestly, shaking his head.
"Then has traditional Chinese dicine ever successfully treated similar cases? Where are the dical records?"
Du Heng shook his head again.
"Setting aside whether soone of your age, Doctor Du, possesses the ability to treat such a condition, traditional Chinese dicine hasn’t successfully treated similar cases for many years. Where, then, do you get the audacity to claim you can?"
These words made Du Heng a little unhappy. "Director Chen, do you know traditional Chinese dicine?"
Director Chen shook his head.
"Then do you understand traditional Chinese dicine?"
"No. And why should I? What does that have to do with your shaless opportunism?"
Director Chen was truly incensed, his words becoming unrestrained.
Du Heng took a deep breath, suppressing the agitation welling within him. "Director Chen, if you don’t understand traditional Chinese dicine, how can you be so certain it cannot treat this illness?"
"Sophistry! Did I say traditional Chinese dicine can’t cure diseases? I said *you* can’t cure this disease!" Director Chen’s eyes widened in anger. "The patient is in a critical condition! Yet you, a young man, are thinking of resorting to dubious thods, showing no regard for the patient whatsoever! How dare you call yourself a doctor?"
Saying this, he jabbed a finger fiercely towards the conference room door. "Now, please leave! Our hospital does not welco you!"
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