CHAPTER 63: 063 UNEXPECTED

Du Heng also felt embarrassed.

Entering the confinement room with blisters all around his mouth—was he implying he was weak, or that there was something wrong with Yan Ting’s postpartum care? Either way, it was inappropriate.

Du Heng didn’t dwell on the issue. He pulled Du Jiang aside and said, "Don’t worry about it. I’m feeling a bit of heat. Find me some medicine; I’ll take a few doses."

"You’re taking it?"

"Who do you think it’s for? If you had ’heat,’ wouldn’t you take medicine too?"

Du Jiang chuckled, lowered his head, and rummaged through a nearby cabinet drawer. He took out some medicine and then brought Du Heng a glass of water.

After taking the medicine, Du Heng took a thermometer and a blood pressure monitor from the medicine box to measure Yan Ting’s temperature and blood pressure.

If these two checks showed no issues, Du Heng would have to consider if Yan Ting had other organic lesions.

Her blood pressure was fine.

But when he took the thermometer and tested her, the reading was 37.7.

This was her forehead temperature. Du Heng tested it again on Yan Ting’s wrist: 37.8.

A low fever!

Du Heng now strongly suspected that Yan Ting had an infection in her lower body.

With a clear direction, Du Heng asked directly, "Yan Ting, do you feel any discomfort in your lower body?"

Asking this question in front of her husband was awkward, but it was better than having Du Jiang relay messages back and forth.

Yan Ting was also embarrassed, but as they were old classmates and she had already given birth, she was more thick-skinned than Du Heng and Du Jiang. "It’s a bit hot, and it hurts a little."

"Is it swollen?"

"A bit."

An infection, with inflammation; he could confirm this now. But what was the cause? Such infections don’t just happen without reason. One thing was for sure: the infection had only developed recently. If she had been infected right after giving birth, she would still be bedridden, and the hospital wouldn’t have discharged her. The source of the infection had to be found and eliminated. Otherwise, no matter how much medicine she took, it would be useless. Recurring episodes could put the patient through torment and potentially lead to other, stranger illnesses. That would be a real hassle.

Looking at the couple, Du Heng shared his thoughts. "Yan Ting has an infection, but I can’t find the source right now. If we don’t find the source, even if we cure it this time, it will soon recur."

Du Jiang and his wife were also deeply troubled; if Du Heng didn’t know the cause, they certainly wouldn’t.

Du Heng gently pressed the blisters on his lips and looked at the couple by the bedside. A reason he hadn’t considered suddenly came to mind.

Intercourse! He hadn’t considered this before because Yan Ting had just given birth and hadn’t fully recovered yet. She also still had lochia. Besides, he figured Du Jiang probably wasn’t that desperate, and more importantly, Yan Ting might not agree. However, now that all other possible causes had been ruled out, only this seemingly impossible reason remained.

After pondering for a long time, Du Heng gathered his thoughts and asked the couple, "I have to ask you two a question, and you must answer honestly."

They both looked at Du Heng. "Go ahead, ask."

"Have you two had intercourse recently?"

The couple exchanged an awkward glance, then asked with some bewilderment, "Does that matter?"

From their expressions, Du Heng knew it was true but still needed confirmation. "Just tell me, yes or no?"

"...We did it once, a couple of days ago," Du Jiang said, a little embarrassed.

Du Heng almost exploded. Damn it! To think that was the ridiculous reason he’d been racking his brains over for so long!

Looking at the sheepish Du Jiang, Du Heng was so exasperated he almost laughed. This imbecile, and he’s actually embarrassed!

He was simultaneously furious and amused.

Given their close relationship, as long as no fundamental lines were crossed, they could speak without reservation.

He immediately pointed at Du Jiang and started scolding, "You imbecile! When you were discharged, didn’t the doctor tell you that you couldn’t have intercourse for a while? Do you think the doctor’s words are just hot air, is that it?"

Seeing Du Jiang lower his head, Du Heng continued his tirade, "You made it through seven or eight months, couldn’t you hold out for just a few more days? If you were that desperate, there’s a tree outside your house. Go hug it and rub yourself raw! Why did you have to harm your wife? She just gave birth to your son! Have you no conscience?"

After scolding Du Jiang, he turned on Yan Ting. "And you! He became a fool driven by lust, but didn’t you know enough to cherish your own body? Couldn’t you have just kicked him out?"

At this moment, Du Jiang casually remarked from behind him, "She initiated it, not me."

"I..." Damn it all! I’m the real idiot here. Du Heng instantly felt defeated.

The atmosphere in the room became a bit awkward.

Du Heng took a couple of deep breaths. "Never mind. I’ll prescribe some medicine for you."

He then took out a prescription paper from the bottom of his medicine box, started writing down basic information, and then asked Yan Ting, "Do you have any medication allergies?"

Yan Ting still hadn’t quite recovered from the embarrassment. Hearing Du Heng’s question, she shot Du Jiang a belated glare and said, "No allergies."

"Is the baby breastfed or on formula?"

"I’ve been breastfeeding, but my milk supply decreased in the past few days, so I’ve added formula."

Du Heng pursed his lips and began writing the prescription.

When Yan Ting saw him writing the prescription, she quickly glared at Du Jiang, glanced meaningfully at her own chest, then at Du Heng.

Du Jiang understood. Smiling, he sidled up to Du Heng. "Tingting’s milk supply has decreased. Do you have any remedies for that?"

Du Heng, concentrating on writing the prescription, didn’t even look up. He asked casually, "Didn’t you make pig’s trotter soup?"

"We did, but it didn’t work."

"Perfect. Take this prescription to Fei to get the medicine, and ask him for some polygonum hydropiper while you’re there." Du Heng handed the completed prescription to Du Jiang. "This is oral medicine, twice a day. Don’t get it wrong. Do you have any of that prescribed medicinal bath solution left?"

Du Jiang didn’t know, so he looked at Yan Ting. She shook her head. "Not much. Enough for maybe one or two more times."

"Then I’ll write you another prescription for a medicinal bath. Use it twice a day." Du Heng took out the prescription paper he had just put away. "All the dosages are written down. Once the medicine is used up, check yourself. If there are no problems, you don’t need to worry. If it’s still not better, call me."

"Thank you so much," Yan Ting said politely, holding the baby.

"Do we need to be so polite with each other?" Du Heng replied with a smile.

However, the baby couldn’t be soothed and was just wailing WAAH WAAH. Du Heng’s voice was soft, and with the noise, it was impossible to hear him clearly.

Du Jiang was already very practiced. The moment he saw his son start to cry, he picked up the warmed baby bottle from the table and handed it to Yan Ting.

Du Heng packed up his things, slung his medicine box over his shoulder, and prepared to leave.

Du Jiang stopped him. "Don’t be in such a hurry to leave. What about your fee for this house call?"

Du Heng shrugged off his arm. "Get lost! Have you run out of sensible things to say?"

Du Jiang chuckled. "Heh heh, it’s only proper, isn’t it?"

"Just don’t do that kind of stupid thing again next time."

With that, Du Heng ignored him, carried his medicine box straight back to the living room, and then had Wu Buwei put it away.

Carrying it like this to the feast would be uncomfortable and inconvenient.