Du Heng carefully considered this. It was somewhat unrealistic for him to specially prepare several batches of ointment for Li Qin. After all, making it would take ten to twenty hours, a process that was both time-consuming and labor-intensive. Moreover, the most important issue was the lack of a suitable place.

Seeing Du Heng remain silent, the refined-looking man spoke first, "Doctor Du, is there some difficulty?"

Du Heng looked at him and nodded. "Yes, there are some difficulties. It’s quite time-consuming, and I don’t have a place to brew the ointment."

"Can’t it be done here?"

"Where exactly do you mean by ’here’? A patient’s room? The hospital’s decoction room? Or the hospital’s specialized ointment preparation area?"

"Any of those would work."

Du Heng looked at the refined-looking man helplessly. "How could any of those possibly work? Brewing ointment creates a very strong smell. Whose hospital room would allow that? It wouldn’t matter if it were a single room or even a presidential suite. As for the hospital’s decoction room and ointment preparation area, they both have strict hygiene standards and access qualifications. Do you think you or I could just walk in whenever we please?"

The refined-looking man fell silent. But Li Qin, who had seemed to be in a daze, suddenly interjected, "I think you’re just deliberately refusing to make it for me."

Hearing this, Du Heng glanced down at Li Qin, whose arm was being immobilized. "You’re right. I’m not making it for you. Goodbye."

With that, he bid a quick farewell to Li Chengzu and started to leave. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

What a skinny shrew! Who does she think she’s trying to provoke?

She was already annoying enough with her incessant talking, and now she’s copping this attitude. Does she really think she’s some big star everyone has to fawn over?

Use it or don’t. I don’t care!

Seeing this, Li Chengzu quickly intercepted Du Heng. "Doctor Du, please don’t be hasty. Ms. Li’s anesthetic is wearing off, and she’s likely disoriented from the pain."

After stopping Du Heng, Li Chengzu glanced at the refined-looking man. The man reacted instantly, quickly preventing Li Qin from speaking again.

Once Li Qin quieted down, Li Chengzu said, "Doctor Du, are there any particular difficulties in brewing the ointment? Our hospital has a department specifically for preparing ointments, staffed with experienced pharmacists. It shouldn’t be a problem. Or... is your prescription confidential?"

Confidential?

Du Heng had never entertained such an idea. The prescriptions he developed were meant to treat illnesses and save lives. What purpose would secrecy serve?

"Director Li, you’ve misunderstood. The ointment I intend to make is a combination of two external application prescriptions. If the critical timing is even slightly off, both formulas will be ruined. It’s not that I look down on your hospital’s pharmacists. When Professor Lan Changhua was injured some time ago, I also provided them with the prescription. But frankly, I still had to assist them in the end to get it right."

At this, Du Heng’s eyes suddenly lit up. "That’s right! When I made the ointment for Professor Lan Changhua, there was some extra. I’ll ask if they happened to keep any of it."

Li Chengzu nodded and didn’t press Du Heng further.

He wasn’t necessarily insistent that the patient use Du Heng’s ointment, but he felt compelled to witness its effects firsthand. If it was truly as effective as Du Heng claimed, it would be immensely beneficial for his reconstructive surgery department. If feasible, he wouldn’t mind helping Du Heng facilitate its mass production.

However, Du Heng soon returned with disappointing news: after Professor Lan Changhua’s shoulder healed, the remaining ointment had been destroyed.

Du Heng’s spirits weren’t high when he relayed this. He suspected the underlying reason was that Chu Xuwei and the others hadn’t taken his external ointment prescription seriously. However, this was merely speculation, and Du Heng knew it wouldn’t be appropriate to voice it in front of Li Chengzu and the others.

Li Chengzu didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he took out his phone and made a call. He wanted to ask if his superiors would approve Du Heng preparing the ointment. But the response he received left him speechless. Not only did they refuse to let Du Heng make it, but for some undisclosed reason, they couldn’t prepare the ointment from Du Heng’s prescription either.

Well, that’s that then. It seems it just wasn’t meant to be.

Li Qin, the refined-looking man, and the assistant heard the conversation between Du Heng and Li Chengzu clearly.

They weren’t concerned about spending more money; their priority was time. The sooner Li Qin recovered, the less pain she would endure, and the sooner she could get back to work and earn money. Moreover, Du Heng had just described the ointment’s efficacy and the difficulty of her hand’s recovery, so they were even more reluctant to delay.

Having been rebuffed by Du Heng twice, Li Qin didn’t dare speak again. She used her uninjured hand to tug hard at the refined-looking man’s sleeve, her eyes urging him to quickly think of a solution.

The refined-looking man pondered for a moment, then walked over to Du Heng, pulled him a couple of steps aside, and whispered something to him.

Li Chengzu saw this and knew what they were up to. He pretended not to notice, lowering his head to help with the bandaging.

Du Heng looked up at the refined-looking man in surprise. He hadn’t expected this man, or rather, the woman currently lying on the bed, to be so audacious.

They would find the location, and they were offering a "labor fee"—the refined-looking man’s term—of 100,000 yuan.

Could he do it? Of course, he could! Who would turn down money?

Seeing Du Heng nod in agreement, the refined-looking man was overjoyed. However, he then made another request, "Doctor Du, I overheard your conversation with Director Li earlier. You’re also an expert in internal medicine, aren’t you? Could you perhaps help Qinqin with her overall conditioning later?"

Du Heng didn’t speak, merely glancing back at Li Qin.

Noticing this, the refined-looking man added softly, "Doctor Du, please rest assured. I understand the ’rules’."

Du Heng was taken aback. Our rules? What rules? How come I don’t know about them? He wanted to ask, but seeing the refined-looking man’s hushed tone and demeanor, Du Heng kept his mouth shut.

With the matter settled, they accompanied Li Qin back to her hospital room. Du Heng then honored the refined-looking man’s request to check Li Qin’s pulse and perform an examination.

Although Li Qin cooperated with Du Heng’s examination, her expression remained icy, and she stared fixedly at him with wide eyes.

Du Heng didn’t mind in the slightest. After all, they were paying for his services, weren’t they?

"Have you been to the hospital for a check-up? Is it chronic gastritis?"

Li Qin remained silent, just staring at Du Heng. She wanted to see what this outspoken man would come up with. Even the refined-looking man and her assistant, who were beside her, tried to speak but were silenced by her glare.

Du Heng glanced at the ill-tempered woman and said, "After you’re discharged, get yourself some Costusroot and Amomum Stomach-Nourishing Decoction. Your problem isn’t very serious. Also, pay attention to your diet. Stop with the constant dieting and attempts to lose weight. In the long run, your stomach won’t be able to handle it, and your current malnutrition will only worsen."

Li Qin still said nothing, just staring at Du Heng.

Du Heng smiled faintly, then said something that made her blush crimson. "Your menstrual cycle is irregular. It’s always delayed by a few days, you have scanty, dark-colored menstrual flow with clots, and, yes, you also experience pain in your lower abdomen."

Hearing this spoken in front of so many men, Li Qin’s face turned beet red, and she almost shouted, "You’re talking nonsense!"

Du Heng shrugged indifferently. Nonsense, is it? Fine. If you don’t want to listen, I won’t say any more.

"Mr. Zhou, let’s be going. After I’m done here, I still have work tomorrow," Du Heng said, getting up and addressing the refined-looking man.

The refined-looking man felt quite helpless about Du Heng so bluntly stating Li Qin’s issues. But Li Qin’s bad temper was just like that; if she annoyed Du Heng, there was little he could do. Now that Li Qin was unwilling to listen, he couldn’t very well ask about such a private ailment in front of male doctors like Du Heng and Li Chengzu. He had no choice but to stand up, preparing to leave with Du Heng.

They had barely taken two steps when Li Qin suddenly called out from behind them, "Wait!"

The refined-looking man turned back and looked helplessly at Li Qin, who was now silent again. He knew what this girl was up to. Resigned, he turned back to Du Heng and said, "Doctor Du, perhaps you could take another look at Qinqin?"

Du Heng chuckled. "Is she willing now?"

"Willing, she’s definitely willing!"

"Alright then, let’s discuss it. After all, consistently delayed menstruation can significantly impact her future well-being."

Du Heng returned to the bedside, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Ms. Li, do you experience the symptoms I just described? If I’m correct, I’ll continue. If I’m wrong, I’ll leave and not embarrass myself further."

Li Qin was inwardly convinced but outwardly defiant, her eyes still challenging. Staring at Du Heng, she demanded, "How did you know?"

"The medical text ’Gynecology Medical Book’ states: ’Delayed menstrual flow indicates blood deficiency and cold.’ I mentioned earlier that your Spleen and Stomach are weak. The Spleen and Stomach are the source of qi and blood. If your qi and blood are insufficient, the generation of menstrual blood lacks a source. When the Blood Sea acupoint is empty, it will naturally lead to..."

Listening to Du Heng’s detailed explanation, Li Qin’s face grew increasingly red. She couldn’t bear it any longer and quickly interrupted, "Alright, alright! Just tell me how to treat it!"

Du Heng smiled, satisfied. He had intentionally elaborated on these details precisely to make her feel awkward.

Serves you right for pulling that long face and putting on celebrity airs.

So what if you’re a star? Even if you were the biggest superstar, it means nothing to me.

I wonder who spoiled her into thinking everyone has to coddle her, even daring to throw a tantrum in front of a doctor.

"Yours is a case of cold congealing blood stasis. The treatment simply requires warming the meridians to dispel cold, and promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis. I won’t write out a prescription for you; you wouldn’t be able to use it even if I did. Have Director Li prescribe a combination of Four Agents Decoction and a warming meridian decoction. Taking that for about half a month should resolve your issues."

With that said, he turned and left with the refined-looking man, not looking back.

He had provided the formula; how to actually prescribe the medication was a matter for Li Chengzu and them to discuss. It had little to do with him anymore.

As the refined-looking man led Du Heng away, he made several phone calls en route. Only when they arrived at their destination did Du Heng realize he’d been brought to a villa district, clearly an area inhabited by the wealthy.

Du Heng briefly took in the surroundings, marveling at the opulent lifestyle of the rich, before immediately requesting the refined-looking man to take him to the place where the ointment would be brewed.

This place is magnificent, but a quick look is enough.

The phone calls the refined-looking man had made in the car clearly yielded results. As per Du Heng’s request, all necessary materials were provided in double quantities, and they had even arranged for four assistants to help him. With their assistance, Du Heng’s preparation process sped up considerably.

By around 10 PM, he had finished preparing all the ointment.

After Du Heng explained the method of application to the refined-looking man, the man presented him with two exquisitely beautiful gift boxes and pressed a bank card into his hand.

Du Heng accepted them without any show of modesty.

Why should I be modest about payment earned through my own labor?

The next morning, on his way to the hospital, Du Heng checked the card’s balance. It contained 150,000 yuan, which was 50,000 yuan more than initially agreed. This came as a pleasant surprise to Du Heng. However, the surprise lasted only a moment. Then, he carried on as usual, his life entirely unaffected by the extra sum.

This must be the ’rules’ the refined-looking man was talking about!

Although Du Heng didn’t know exactly what these rules entailed, he thought they were excellent.

Rules like these should definitely be encouraged!