Liu Amei said she felt fine, but her expression revealed she wasn’t very comfortable. The deep furrows that occasionally creased her brow were a constant reminder to Du Heng that the woman before him was suffering from the pain caused by the tumor.

However, Du Heng was powerless to help her with this; Liu Amei had to bear the pain herself.

At first, Liu Amei couldn’t stop herself from begging Du Heng or other medical staff for a pain-relief injection, but she was always denied.

It wasn’t that Liu Amei couldn’t afford the injections, but frequent use of painkillers was not advisable.

Western medicine pain-relief injections typically contain analgesic and sedative medications. Prolonged use can lead to dependency. Some painkillers, like morphine, suppress respiration and can cause respiratory depression, over-sedation, and addiction.

For example, some drug addicts, when desperate, would feign extreme pain to get a pain-relief injection at a hospital to satisfy their craving.

Secondly, with prolonged use, the side effects of painkillers can accumulate and have multiple impacts on the body. They can cause ulcers and hemorrhage in the liver, kidneys, and digestive tract, and even lead to liver and kidney function impairment.

Thirdly, the overuse of painkillers can numb patients to pain, causing them to ignore worsening conditions or sudden changes in their symptoms, thus turning minor illnesses into major ones.

Liu Amei’s condition wasn’t like those requiring surgery, where pain would subside and disappear after a day. She needed to undergo a long process of supporting right qi and removing tumors, so painkillers were to be used sparingly, if at all.

Du Heng had considered using Chinese herbal medicine for pain relief. However, after much thought, he realized that a pain-relief prescription would conflict with the current prescription for supporting right qi and removing tumors, so he didn’t issue one for pain relief.

The pain made Liu Amei uncomfortable. As New Year’s Eve drew nearer, a faint disappointment also showed on her face.

From the southwest to the northwest, thousands of miles from home, she dragged her ailing body, with no family by her side. As the new year approached, her loneliness and sense of loss intensified.

Du Heng could see her desolation and solitude. He sighed softly and said, "Do you want to call your family and let them know you’re okay?"

Liu Amei seemed tempted, but the glimmer in her eyes vanished in an instant. "No need, I’m fine."

Her refusal was within Du Heng’s expectations; her husband’s actions had deeply wounded her. But she still had her mother and father, and Du Heng wanted to try to help her mend her relationship with her parents.

"How about calling your parents?"

"Thank you, Doctor Du, but there’s no need. I’m fine."

When her parents were mentioned, Liu Amei’s eyes filled with both anger and gloom.

Liu Amei had said she was practically sold by her parents for a high betrothal gift, which was why her husband later felt he’d gotten a raw deal, refused to continue her treatment, and abandoned her.

Moreover, after her husband left, Liu Amei had called her parents, only to be met with indifference instead of concern.

One who has not experienced another’s suffering should not presume to advise them on virtue.

Understanding this, Du Heng didn’t press further when he saw Liu Amei’s reluctance. He advised her to rest well and was about to leave the hospital room.

Just as he reached the door, Liu Amei called out, "Doctor Du, can you help me call Miss Li? I’d like to thank her."

Du Heng stopped.

It was an expected and understandable request, as all of Liu Amei’s expenses were being charged to Li Qin.

However, Du Heng didn’t have Li Qin’s contact information, which was quite embarrassing.

Unsure what to tell Liu Amei, he suddenly remembered talking to Li Qin on the phone the day after her treatment. However, he couldn’t recall whose phone it was, and since he hadn’t expected any future contact, he hadn’t saved the number.

"Alright, I’ll go to my office, get my phone, and look for her contact information. Then I’ll come back."

Du Heng bought himself some time. He needed to return to his office and find that phone number. If he couldn’t find it, he would have to contact Li Chengzu to see if he had it.

Back in his office, Du Heng rummaged through his call logs from over half a month, which were quite disorganized.

Fortunately, it was a Capital number, its origin clear. Plus, during those few days in the Capital, he hadn’t made many calls. After about five minutes of searching, he finally found the number.

Du Heng tried calling the number. This might be the number of that sophisticated man, or his assistant. He had already mentally rehearsed what he wanted to say and cleared his throat.

The phone had barely rung when it was answered by a voice Du Heng found very familiar. "Expert Du, so you do remember you have a patient like me?"

Hearing the seemingly coquettish voice and tone from the other end, Du Heng paused. He didn’t speak immediately, instead taking the phone to glance at the number again.

Is this really Li Qin’s phone number? Are celebrity phone numbers this easy to get? And are we close enough for her to talk to me like that?

"Hello? Hello?" Hearing no reply, Li Qin on the other end sounded confused.

"Hello, Ms. Li." Du Heng couldn’t use his prepared words. Without waiting for her to speak, he directly stated the purpose of his call.

Du Heng’s straightforwardness left Li Qin, who had just answered with a slightly coquettish tone, speechless for a long moment. She was completely exasperated with this man.

Never mind that I’m a celebrity, or even a woman. Just the fact that I remembered his phone number—shouldn’t he at least chat with me for a bit, show a little excitement?

When Du Heng finished speaking and received no response, he grew cautious, afraid Li Qin might refuse and affect Liu Amei’s mood. He tentatively asked again, "Ms. Li, do you agree?"

"I don’t agree." After her crisp reply, the dial tone indicating the call had ended immediately sounded.

Du Heng stared at his phone, dumbfounded. This woman must have something seriously wrong with her head, a major issue! How could a normal person do something like that?

Well, if she doesn’t agree, she doesn’t agree. I need to think carefully about how to tell Liu Amei. Couldn’t get through? Busy with work? Or maybe she’s not in the country?

Du Heng’s eyes suddenly lit up. That’s a good excuse! Isn’t going abroad to be an ’ordinary person’ what these domestic celebrities love to do most?

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.

Before he could sort out his thoughts, there was a knock on the office door. Lu Zhongjiang walked in, carrying two dark red wooden boxes.

"Secretary Lu, it’s been tough on you, having to run around every day." Seeing Lu Zhongjiang, Du Heng put aside his previous thoughts and immediately got up to make tea.

Towards the end of the year, there were meetings, big and small, every day. Du Heng avoided them whenever possible, delegating them all to Lu Zhongjiang.

He had initially heard that Cui Guanghai liked meetings and thought Cui Guanghai could share some of the burden. Unexpectedly, Cui Guanghai only enjoyed presiding over meetings for others; he thoroughly disliked attending meetings organized by others.

So, he had flatly refused Du Heng’s requests to attend, leaving everything to Lu Zhongjiang.

Entering the room, Lu Zhongjiang placed the boxes on the tea table. After removing his gloves, he rubbed his cheeks and said, "Dean, the Municipal Health Bureau is coming to our Health Clinic for a surprise inspection tomorrow."

"What?" Du Heng’s hand trembled as he poured water, splashing a good amount. Flustered, he quickly put the thermos down.

"Director An informed us during the afternoon meeting; he had only just received the notification himself."

Du Heng frowned. "Tomorrow’s a holiday, and they’re suddenly coming for an inspection? What on earth are they inspecting? Are they out of their minds?"

Du Heng muttered to himself as he refilled Lu Zhongjiang’s teacup. After setting down the thermos, he looked at Lu Zhongjiang with a puzzled expression. "The Municipal Health Bureau? Why would they come to inspect us? We’re a district-managed Health Clinic; we have no direct dealings with them. Even if we upgrade to a second-level hospital, we’d still be a district-managed unit, so it still wouldn’t concern them. Besides, our potential upgrade is a matter for the Health Commission, not them."

The more he spoke, the deeper Du Heng’s confusion became. "Secretary Lu, did Director An say what aspect they’re coming to inspect?"

Lu Zhongjiang picked up the freshly brewed tea with both hands, as if to warm them, but the cup was too hot, so he put it down again. "In this morning’s meeting, Director An mentioned that our Health Clinic was selected as one of Jinzhou City’s Top Ten Units in the Health System, and we might also receive the Best Progress Award. Dean, you personally have two awards as well: Top Ten Outstanding Young Workers in the city’s Health System, and Outstanding Young Cadres. That’s probably why."

Du Heng looked utterly bewildered, but Lu Zhongjiang was grinning from ear to ear.

Seeing Lu Zhongjiang’s expression, Du Heng’s doubts intensified. "That can’t be right. We didn’t win any awards at the district level this year. How could we suddenly win city-level awards? That doesn’t make sense."

Lu Zhongjiang chuckled, his usual solemn demeanor gone. He pointed to the boxes he had just set down and said, "Well, here they are."

With that, he opened one box and took out a shiny trophy.

Du Heng’s heart leaped, and he quickly stepped closer. He had been so stunned by Lu Zhongjiang’s sudden news that he hadn’t really noticed the boxes.

"Excellent Units in the Whole District."

Seeing the golden characters on the gleaming crystal pillar, Du Heng eagerly took it from Lu Zhongjiang’s hands, a wide grin revealing his back molars.

Watching Du Heng’s delighted expression as he held the award, Lu Zhongjiang chuckled again. He opened the other box, revealing a differently styled crystal pillar and a certificate.

"Dean, take a look at these." Lu Zhongjiang picked up the two items and gestured with them towards Du Heng.

Du Heng’s heart pounded again. He carefully set down the trophy in his hands and slowly took the two items from Lu Zhongjiang.

Top Ten Outstanding Individual Award

Jinzhou Shanghu District Health Bureau

The large, gilded characters leaped into view, slightly dazzling Du Heng’s eyes. Joy welled up in his heart, almost bursting forth.

His hard work over the past year had finally culminated in these two trophies and a certificate.