CHAPTER 383: 355 NEW BEGINNING

Even with these doubts in mind, would Chu Xuwei oppose his own teacher? No, he wouldn’t.

Chu Xuwei pondered slightly before asking a very practical question, "Teacher, whether we want to keep Doctor Du or apply for a research project for him, the realistic issue is that Doctor Du’s academic qualifications are inadequate. He only has a bachelor’s degree."

Upon hearing this question, Professor Lan’s face also turned a bit unnatural.

Nowadays, not only Good Friend Hospital but also other hospitals at the same level require all their newly recruited doctors to have a PhD. Regardless of their specialty, all new doctors with qualifications below the doctoral level are to be phased out after a certain period, none spared. A very competent doctor in the Pediatrics Department was reportedly forced to transfer because of this.

Helpless against this tough, practical problem, Professor Lan replied after some thought, "Don’t worry about it. You can apply under my name first. I’ve reviewed Doctor Du’s previous articles; they are quite good. Afterwards, I’ll talk to Doctor Du and ask him to publish a few more articles in core journals. The remaining problems should then be solvable."

Chu Xuwei nodded. "Then you should rest first, Teacher. I’m going to the outpatient clinic; they’re still waiting for news there."

Professor Lan closed his eyes; he wanted to take a nap.

Chu Xuwei glanced at the female doctor beside him and then left for the consultation room without turning back. However, it seemed the female doctor hadn’t noticed Chu Xuwei’s gaze at all. She looked dazed.

What had she heard? She’d heard about the department’s future development plans and direction. More than that, she’d heard opportunity. First, the doctor named Du who had treated Professor Lan today was young and highly skilled. Second, he might become her leader in the future. Third, the department was going to apply for a research project under Professor Lan’s name, which meant it wouldn’t be a low-level one. Furthermore, Doctor Du, who would lead the project, seemed to have already substantially completed the research and even had a viable prescription. This meant that if she could get involved, she could gain credit without much effort or time.

With this in mind, her eyes suddenly lit up.

However, she did not notice that the male intern across from her, who had come with her, secretly smiled.

The female doctor hadn’t noticed Chu Xuwei’s reaction and gaze earlier, but the intern was right across from Chu Xuwei and had captured all of his expressions. What the female doctor had just realized was something he had already considered. Although he was just an intern and didn’t have the unique advantages the female doctor possessed, this didn’t mean he wanted to give up. Seeing the female doctor’s gleaming eyes, he knew she must have figured it out. But it had taken her too long to react.

Heh heh, intelligence is a great thing.

Du Heng would not know that a drama similar to the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was unfolding in the small hospital room. If he knew, all he could say was that none of those who managed to stay in the Capital were easy to deal with, not even a sharp-tongued woman or a marginal intern.

At this moment, Du Heng was stunned by the news Cao Binghe brought.

"You didn’t mishear? They want me to take over Professor Lan’s work?"

Cao Binghe nodded. "Yes, Director Chu personally told me just now. However, Director Chu also said that it’s okay if you don’t want to."

Du Heng was stunned.

He had come to the hospital this time mainly because he was too idle in the dormitory and wanted to experience the atmosphere of a top-tier national hospital and meet Professor Lan sooner rather than later. But he didn’t want to start working immediately. Besides, he was here for an academic exchange and to learn; why did it feel like he was here for a regular job, seeing patients? This was somewhat different from his initial plans.

Du Heng was quite hesitant, unsure if he should agree to such a request.

Looking back at the people still lingering at the door, he could tell from their anxious expressions and movements that these people, like him, were all from out of town. But he was here to learn and felt relatively relaxed, while they were here seeking medical treatment, feeling uneasy, helpless, and quite desperate. However, this was not enough to move Du Heng. He knew that for a top-tier hospital like Good Friend Hospital, even without Professor Lan, there would still be Professor Wang, Professor Zhang, and Professor Li. If these patients really didn’t take refunds, they would eventually be scheduled an appointment with another expert.

But wasn’t he here to see more rare and unusual cases?

After figuring it out, Du Heng nodded. "Fine, I’ll give it a try. But if the patients have complaints or cause trouble, that’s not my responsibility."

Cao Binghe had already talked with Chu Xuwei, so he also knew about Professor Lan’s plan. Now that Du Heng had agreed to fill Professor Lan’s vacancy, it meant their first step had succeeded.

Although Du Heng taking over for Professor Lan would definitely elicit some ridicule, doubts, or dissatisfaction from those who didn’t understand the true situation, what did that have to do with them? The director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Internal Medicine Department had personally agreed. Du Heng also had no record of malpractice or accidents. Thus, even the Medical Affairs Department had no right to interfere in their department’s affairs.

A grin crept onto Cao Binghe’s face. "Very well, Doctor Du," he said. "Since you’ve agreed, I will be your assistant during this period of consultation. You can tell me if you have any problems, and I will help you handle them."

Then he pointed outside. "Doctor Du, please get ready. I’m going to notify the outpatient clinic and the patients waiting outside."

After saying that, Cao Binghe turned and left.

Du Heng, however, took a few deep breaths and carefully looked around the room that was about to become his consultation office.

How should he put it? It was quite similar to his offices at the Health Clinic and the Provincial First Hospital in terms of layout, furnishings, and size. The consultation rooms were about the same size too. The only difference was the pulse pillow. The one at the Health Clinic was cloth, filled with wheat straw; a bit old, but very clean. The one at the Provincial First Hospital was also cloth, filled with grain; however, it was new and had been specially prepared for him by Li Jianwei.

Du Heng took a couple more glances at the pulse pillow here, a hint of distaste in his eyes. It really is disgusting; it’s a bit dirty. This pulse pillow is leather, though I can’t tell if it’s genuine or artificial. The part where patients rest their wrists has developed a patina and is even a bit shiny. Although it looks a bit dirty, it also indicates something else: a truly large number of people come here seeking medical treatment.

Du Heng slowly walked over to where Professor Lan usually sat and gradually took his seat.

This all felt like a dream. Who could have foreseen that a doctor from a small Health Clinic would end up in the seat of a nationally renowned expert, about to treat patients? If he posted his current situation in his university class group chat, it would probably explode.