Xu Pinglin had complete faith in Du Heng’s words. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

This trust had been cultivated over a year, witnessed by his own eyes, and experienced personally.

So, the moment Du Heng sent the prescription to his Mobile phone, Xu Pinglin eagerly got up.

However, just as he rose, two women approached from behind, their anxious voices calling out, "Xu Pinglin, how is my daughter?"

Xu Pinglin turned at the familiar sound, seeing a woman with tightly curled hair and a deep red trench coat coming towards him. Beside her was an older woman, bearing a six-tenths resemblance to Xu Pinglin, though she looked more aged and timid, her face etched with anxiety.

From their earlier words, Du Heng guessed the curly-haired woman was likely Xu Pinglin’s Mother-in-law, and the other his own mother.

Hearing their voices, Xu Pinglin immediately turned and hurried towards them. "Mom, Mother-in-law, why did it take you so long to get here?"

The Old Lady with curly hair was quite imperious, reaching Xu Pinglin in a few quick strides. "How is my daughter now? How long has she been in there? Is she in any danger?"

Xu Pinglin hurriedly explained the situation. He maintained a very humble posture throughout the conversation, showing no signs of the arrogance he usually exhibited in his Department.

However, Xu Pinglin was also deeply worried about his Wife in the delivery room. After a quick explanation, he urged both mothers to sit down before he hurried over to press the call button outside the delivery room.

Within a few seconds, Director Zhang, who had only made a brief appearance before, showed up again.

Du Heng thought there might be some twists and turns, but he was overthinking it.

After listening to Xu Pinglin’s explanation, Director Zhang invited Du Heng over. They went back into the consultation room. Without saying a word, Director Zhang simply had Du Heng rewrite a formal prescription as per regulations. Then, without further ado, she took the prescription, signed with Du Heng’s name, and re-entered the delivery room.

This treatment left Du Heng slightly surprised; he had been prepared for scrutiny and questioning.

Xu Pinglin noticed Du Heng’s confusion and explained, "Were you surprised that your prescription was adopted directly?"

Du Heng nodded, looking puzzled at Xu Pinglin.

Watching the prescription being taken inside, Xu Pinglin let out a heavy sigh. "Director Du, you’re not just a doctor at your Health Clinic anymore. You’re also a doctor at our Provincial First Hospital. Even though it’s an external employment, you have prescribing rights here."

"Moreover, Director Du, you might not yet have a clear grasp of your own reputation. In our hospital, while perhaps not everyone knows you, more than half of the Department Directors certainly do."

Xu Pinglin patted Du Heng’s shoulder, and the two returned to their seats.

Glancing at the two mothers anxiously waiting by the delivery room door, Xu Pinglin surprisingly calmed down. "You probably don’t know this, but during the time you were in the Capital, word about your treatment of patients with gastric lesser curvature cancer and atrophic gastritis reached the Oncology Department."

"Their Director and two Deputy Directors came to me for those patients’ medical records. Because of this, they also specifically sought out Old Li in the Chinese Medicine Department."

"So, within our hospital, your reputation is now definitely at an expert level. It’s just that everyone is concerned about face, and there isn’t usually much interaction, so you’re unaware."

Hearing Xu Pinglin say this, a small thrill of pleasant surprise filled Du Heng’s heart. It seemed his half-year at the Provincial First Hospital had not been in vain.

The two men wanted to chat, but the two mothers were extremely anxious, taking turns to ask Xu Pinglin about the situation. Within half an hour, each had asked no fewer than ten times.

But Xu Pinglin didn’t know either, so he could only continuously reassure the two mothers. This scene, paradoxically, made him less tense.

「Half an hour later,」 the door to the delivery room opened again.

Director Zhang herself came out holding a baby, calling out as she emerged, "Xu Pinglin, Director Xu, quickly come and meet your little princess!"

The two mothers, who had been waiting anxiously at the door, quickly crowded around, both eager to see their hard-won grandchild. "It’s Pinglin’s Child, isn’t it? I’m the baby’s grandmother. Quick, let me see!"

As they spoke, the two old women’s hands were already lifting the swaddling clothes covering the Baby.

Xu Pinglin, equally excited, had stood up the moment he heard the announcement.

Du Heng saw clearly that when Xu Pinglin stood up, his entire body was trembling slightly.

A flurry of chaotic activity followed, especially when Liu Shengnan was wheeled out. The three of them were flustered, unsure whether to hold the Baby or push Liu Shengnan’s gurney.

Du Heng wanted to step forward and help but was gently pulled back by Director Zhang, who was beside him.

Looking at the very young face before her, and then thinking about that bowl of herbal soup from earlier, Director Zhang couldn’t help but be slightly lost in thought.

Du Heng was now considered a doctor of the hospital, so his prescription could be regarded as one issued after a department consultation. Besides, their Obstetrics Department also had doctors proficient in traditional Chinese medicine, so she had no concerns about Du Heng’s prescription.

But just one bowl of that Decoction medicine, and the Woman in childbirth, whose cervix had only dilated four finger-widths after more than five hours, successfully delivered the Baby in just twenty minutes. The entire process could be described as incredibly smooth.

Du Heng stopped, a little surprised. "Is something the matter, Director Zhang?"

"Director Du, that prescription of yours was remarkably effective. Is it suitable for all expectant mothers who have difficulty with cervical dilation?"

"It should be applicable in most cases, I believe."

"In that case, Director Du, can our Department use this prescription?"

"Of course, it can be used. It’s an ancient formula, so anyone can use it. However, it might not be needed often, right? After all, expectant mothers whose pelvic joints don’t open are a minority."

A hint of joy appeared on Director Zhang’s face, but she explained to Du Heng, "How should I put this? Actually, there are still quite a few. While cases like Director Liu’s today, where the cervix only dilates to three or four finger-widths, are relatively few, achieving a dilation of nine or ten finger-widths isn’t very common either. Often, our midwives need to intervene manually."

Du Heng raised an eyebrow. He understood gynecological treatments, but he genuinely didn’t know about these things Director Zhang was mentioning.

"Then, Doctor Du, are there any specific points to note for this prescription, or any contraindications?"

"As long as all the expectant mother’s check-ups show no problems, this prescription can be used. Hmm~~ if there are any other issues, Director Zhang, you can call me."

Du Heng glanced at Xu Pinglin and the others, who were already some distance away. "Director Zhang, is there anything else?"

Receiving a negative reply, Du Heng bid farewell and quickly hurried after them.

However, upon reaching the door of the hospital room, Du Heng stopped and called out to Xu Pinglin, "Director Xu, congratulations on your new baby girl. This is my meeting gift for her. Please help her accept it."

Saying this, Du Heng took out the Red Envelope Doctor Hou had passed to him that afternoon and pressed it into Xu Pinglin’s palm.

Xu Pinglin recognized the Red Envelope at a glance; he knew it was the one he had prepared for Du Heng. He immediately tried to refuse, repeatedly saying he couldn’t accept it.

What Du Heng feared most was this kind of polite back-and-forth. Every time he encountered it, he felt an inexplicable embarrassment.

He truly couldn’t understand it. If someone politely refused, should the giver really take the offered Red Envelope back? And those who repeatedly feigned refusal only to pocket it in the end—were they genuinely more polite than someone who accepted it directly?

Seeing that even an advanced intellectual like Xu Pinglin couldn’t escape this ’polite deference’ ingrained in the national character, Du Heng simply let go and turned to leave. "Alright, Director Xu, this is a meeting gift for the Child. Don’t push it back and forth. Hurry inside to take care of Director Liu. I’ll be going now."

Xu Pinglin wanted to say more, but Du Heng walked away quickly without looking back.

Once in the Car, smelling the strong fishy odor that filled it and looking at the jam-packed trunk, Du Heng couldn’t help but smile and shake his head. This scene, no matter how you looked at it, seemed like he had driven to the Provincial First Hospital for a supply run.

He drove out to get something to eat and fill his stomach. By the time he drove back to the Health Clinic, it was already past ten in the evening. Du Heng no longer felt like going home and went directly to his dormitory to sleep.

「Early the next morning,」 Du Heng had no choice but to go home.

Today was the burial for those who had died in the car accident. As a kinsman of Bing, he had to go.

Actually, according to the customs in Central Lake, for those who died accidental deaths like this, the body generally wouldn’t be brought into the home. It would be kept outside the door for one night. Once the grave was dug the next day, they would be buried directly for peace, without any ceremony.

But this time, many people had died. Even though the Police Station and the Township Government had processed things at the fastest possible speed, it still caused a delay of many days.

Within this, although the government’s work faced difficulties, it wasn’t actually extensive.

The reason it dragged on for so many days before being resolved was mainly due to the other victims’ families demanding compensation from the family of Bing, the driver.

Although Bing and his wife had also perished in this incident, Bing was the driver, and the others were considered passengers. Therefore, their families demanded compensation from Bing’s relatives.

Du Heng wasn’t clear on what the final resolution was, and he didn’t plan to inquire. It was undoubtedly a messy, contentious situation.

But it also served as a wake-up call for him. When he was driving, if he encountered acquaintances from various villages on the road, it was best not to offer them a ride if he could avoid it. Even if they would say behind his back that he looked down on people, was arrogant, haughty, and so on, he wouldn’t give anyone a lift anymore.

Outside Bing’s main door, the first thing one saw were two large, bright red coffins. Beside them stood a bewildered little boy, dressed in mourning clothes and a mourning cap, curiously glancing around. As for his grandmother, Du Heng didn’t see her.

Not many people had come, but those present were all middle-aged and young men capable of helping carry the coffins; women and children were almost entirely absent.

At this time, everyone was gathered in twos and threes. Some were speaking in low voices, some occasionally glanced towards the coffins, but more people were smoking, silently looking at the area in front of the coffins.

In front of the coffins, the captain of the Third Brigade was continuously discussing and busying himself with something alongside the feng shui master he had invited. Judging by their actions, Du Heng guessed they were probably making the final preparations.

Du Heng scanned the area and quickly spotted his Big Brother in the crowd. However, he didn’t go over to him directly but instead started chatting with some people nearby.