The young students were all chattering, voicing their opinions, but they failed to notice that the usually easy-going Mr. Li was slowly becoming expressionless. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

BANG!

The newspaper was slapped hard onto the table. The chattering stopped instantly, and everyone looked at Li Jianwei in astonishment.

What’s going on?

Mr. Li had always been an easy-going person. Even during exams, if students couldn’t answer or answered incorrectly, he would patiently explain things to them and rarely lost his temper. He would only put on a stern face and use harsh words for fundamental errors.

But now, they were just discussing the newspaper, this "Divine Doctor." What was the problem?

The room fell into a dead silence.

Li Jianwei was somewhat disappointed. He used to think his current students were decent. However, since getting to know Du Heng and learning more about him from Xu Pinglin, he now felt there was a significant gap between his students and Du Heng. Listening to their arrogant words now angered him even more.

"You’ve criticized this doctor as if he’s worthless," Li Jianwei said coldly. "Let me ask you, have you even read this report? Do you know who the person in this report is? Do you know what he has done?"

The students exchanged glances. The one who usually performed the best, who was considered their senior, stepped forward. "Sir, did we say something wrong?"

"Wrong?" Li Jianwei sneered, slapping the newspaper in his hand again. "The doctor in this article is named Du Heng. He graduated from our school seven years ago. He’s your alumnus."

Seven years ago? An alumnus? A Divine Doctor? Isn’t that a bit much? And from our own school? Even if he is, how old could he be? Thirty at the absolute most, right? How could he be a Divine Doctor? With such a grand title, wasn’t he afraid of being crushed by it?

The students all stared at Li Jianwei. The flickering in their eyes clearly showed their disbelief. Li Jianwei felt that if he weren’t their mentor, they might have burst out laughing and pointed at him, accusing him of spouting nonsense.

Suddenly, Li Jianwei lost the desire to be angry. He pushed the newspaper towards them. "Take a look first. We can talk after you’ve read it."

The students swarmed over, heads pressed together, jostling for a view. Helplessly, the senior who had grabbed the newspaper could only read it aloud softly so everyone could hear.

As more of the article was read, the astonishment on their faces grew more pronounced.

Never mind the talk about disease records and actual patients—which newspaper or radio station didn’t hype things up like that? But his two official positions, being Dean of a Health Clinic and an in-system employee, were enough to make their jaws drop. With such credentials, what kind of fool would boast about being a Divine Doctor? Especially since he was already a Dean, with status and position—wouldn’t it be better to just earn money peacefully?

When the article was finished, the students looked at each other, their eyes filled with awkwardness and disbelief.

Twenty-eight years old! He was only three or four years older than most of them; some were even the same age as this alumnus.

At this point, everyone turned to their senior. "Senior, do you know this alumnus?"

The senior scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. "No, I don’t. I had to resume my studies for two years, and then it took me another two years to pass the postgraduate entrance exam. We weren’t in the same cohort."

"OH~~"

This made the senior feel even more awkward.

Li Jianwei tapped lightly on the table. When all the students looked at him, he asked, "Alright, you’ve read it. What are your thoughts?"

"Teacher, is this real?"

Li Jianwei glanced around at his students and nodded slightly. "It’s real. I’ve met him. I’ve even worked with him on a consultation for a patient. And actually, you all know him too."

"We know him too?" The students looked at each other, confusion in their eyes. That’s impossible. If he’s such a prominent figure, we’d definitely remember him.

Everyone murmured in agreement, nodding.

Li Jianwei sighed. The incident where he’d botched a prescription for a gastric ptosis patient from the Gastroenterology Department was embarrassing, but since everyone knew about it, he didn’t try to hide it and recounted it truthfully. "Do you remember back in May, when the Department of Digestive asked me for a consultation for a gastropathy patient?"

The students nodded. They didn’t understand why Li Jianwei would bring up such a humiliating event.

Ignoring their confusion, Li Jianwei continued, "You know what happened then, so I won’t go into details. But you also heard what happened afterwards: Deputy Director Xu invited a young doctor from outside, and he cured the patient with a single prescription. That young doctor was Du Heng."

What? Is this for real? I thought this supposed master just appeared out of nowhere!

Seeing the students whispering to each other in disbelief, Li Jianwei stood up to leave. As he left, he added one last remark, "Doctor Du only has a bachelor’s degree. He never had a mentor."

He wanted these students to understand that there’s always someone better, always a higher mountain to climb.

After leaving the office and glancing at the quiet ward, he turned and headed upstairs. He needed to talk to Xu Pinglin.

Du Heng was unaware of these events. After freshening up, he and Wu Buwei hurried to the restaurant.

When they arrived, they found mostly family members, along with colleagues and leaders from their workplace. A boisterous crowd filled three or four tables.

However, among Zhang’s guests, few of the Big Leaders were present, and the school’s Principal was also absent.

Du Heng understood perfectly. It wasn’t that these people didn’t want to come; they genuinely didn’t have the time or the inclination. The school had just dealt with a mass food poisoning incident. He heard that after he left yesterday, the Principal had been summoned to the Education Bureau and was likely still busy with other departments today.

As for the Township Government officials, their situation was even worse. They couldn’t shirk responsibility for the students’ food poisoning. On top of that, the toilet renovations in Wangjiazui had them extremely agitated.

Ignoring them, Du Heng and Wu Buwei found a place to sit.

Zhang’s and Mr. Zhao’s two children were busy greeting the guests, both beaming with joy. It seemed they were quite happy about their parents getting together.

However, there was no place set up for recording gifts today; they were truly just inviting everyone for a meal to witness their union.

Wu Buwei had to run out again to specifically buy two Red Envelopes. After writing their names on the corners, he presented them to the older newlyweds.

Seeing Du Heng, Mr. Zhao looked a bit shy. Thanks to years of physical training, he didn’t look like a man of 50 at all, more like someone in his early 40s.

"Congratulations, Mr. Zhao and Zhang, on your happy union," Du Heng said, handing a Red Envelope to Zhang.

Mr. Zhao tried to refuse. "Oh, come on. We just wanted to invite everyone for a meal, to be witnesses. We’re not planning on accepting gifts. Take it back, quickly. We can’t accept this."

"Mr. Zhao, this is just a small token from me, your student. It’s not much, but you must accept it. With so many people here, let’s not make a scene by pushing it back and forth," Du Heng insisted, gently pushing the Red Envelope that Zhang had tried to return back into her hands.

"Well then, thank you, President Du."

"Mr. Zhao, please, just call me by my name. If word got out that you’re calling me President Du, our old classmates would surely give me a hard time," Du Heng said with a smile. "Mr. Zhao, Zhang, I actually have some things to take care of at the hospital, and I’m on duty tonight, so I should get going."

"Stay a little longer! You’ve barely touched your food."

But Du Heng didn’t linger. He had promised Yu Haiting he would return early. After all, Yu Haiting was celebrating his wife’s birthday, and it would be impolite to arrive too late.