Ding Peng initially assumed that Director Tang and Elder Huang's advocacy for the young man led to him treating the patient. However, hearing Wang Xiang's words suggested the hospital was at a loss, which seemed irresponsible. If he had been a step later, this young man would have been needling his wife.
Director Tang quickly explained, "Mayor Ding, our Western medicine diagnosis is intestinal infection, requiring surgery..."
"Then why not operate?" Ding Peng interrupted.
Elder Huang glanced at Wang Xiang and said, "Mayor Ding, the surgery depends on Director Wang; he is the authority in this field."
Wang Xiang cursed inwardly. Elder Huang had shifted the blame to him. He was indeed an authority and confident he could complete the surgery, but the patient was the mayor's wife, and operating near the anus was a daunting prospect for anyone. Seeing Ding Peng's gaze shift to him, Wang Xiang hurriedly stated, "Mayor Ding, the surgical site is rather awkward. It's not that I'm unwilling, but I can't because the incision would have to be made from the anus."
Ding Peng's expression darkened. Before he could respond, Wang Xiang continued, "But Elder Huang and this young man claimed Traditional Chinese Medicine could cure it, and Director Tang agreed to their treatment, calling it 'zhong gu' (poisoning). Isn't that blatant falsehood?"
Upon hearing the term "zhong gu," Ding Peng frowned. He clearly didn't believe in such claims and said, "Since you are all helpless, then hand it over to my Imperial Physicians."
"Mayor Ding, are the Imperial Physicians from the capital willing to make this trip?" Elder Huang asked with some surprise. While Ding Peng's status was significant, Imperial Physicians were meant to treat top national leaders.
"I happen to know an Imperial Physician, also a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Elder Huang, you should know him too." Although Ding Peng had chided Elder Huang earlier, he held him in high regard.
There were only two Imperial Physicians for Traditional Chinese Medicine, and knowing Elder Huang knew one, he immediately thought of someone. "Could it be Sun Bai?"
"Precisely, Imperial Physician Sun Bai!" Ding Peng confirmed.
"With him here, there should be no problem," Elder Huang stated, holding Sun Bai's medical skills in high esteem. He then looked at the mayor's wife on the bed and hesitated, "Mayor Ding, Madam's intestinal issue remains unresolved and is causing her pain. Perhaps let Divine Doctor Li..."
Ding Peng waved his hand, "Elder Huang, I trust your skills. Please attend to my wife's pain."
"Very well!" Elder Huang said no more. He knew Ding Peng's decisions were hard to sway. Pushing for Li Se further would only displease this influential figure.
Wang Xiang glanced at Li Se and said, "Your work here is done. Uninvolved personnel should leave promptly."
"Director Wang, as a doctor, one should at least possess basic medical ethics," Li Se replied. He then ignored Wang Xiang and, after bidding farewell to Elder Huang, left directly.
Wang Xiang was furious, but Li Se had already departed.
Following this, Elder Huang personally administered acupuncture to the mayor's wife. Simple pain management was not a challenge for his skills.
Upon exiting, Li Se called out to Xia Shuyu.
"So soon?" Xia Shuyu looked at Li Se with surprise. "I just saw the mayor go in."
"I was asked to leave," Li Se replied helplessly.
"The mayor asked you to leave?" Xia Shuyu immediately understood and sighed, "They lack foresight. I heard the mayor even invited an Imperial Physician from the capital. That twenty million yuan consultation fee will likely go to that Imperial Physician."
Li Se was not concerned about the twenty million yuan. He said, "The mayor's wife's condition is quite complicated. Even with the Imperial Physician here, it may not be effective."
"What illness?" Xia Shuyu asked curiously.
"She has 'zhong gu'," Li Se stated gravely. Although Elder Huang could manage the situation, "gu" techniques were insidious. Every hour delayed made the cure more difficult because the "gu" worm would grow, leading to greater trouble.
If he had treated her just now, acupuncture could have easily resolved it. However, if the Imperial Physician failed, it would be far more complicated than mere acupuncture.
But this was no longer his concern. As he was about to leave the hospital, he encountered familiar faces.
"Divine Doctor Li!" It was Shen Long.
"Divine Doctor Li, you're here too?" Shang Zhifeng was also present.
Besides these two, several other wealthy individuals were there.
"You all are..." Li Se seemed to have guessed something.
Shen Long smiled, "We heard Madam Mayor was gravely ill, so we wealthy individuals pooled twenty million yuan to invite a divine doctor for her. We heard even an Imperial Physician from the capital has arrived."
Shang Zhifeng quickly added, "Divine Doctor Li, since you're here, let's go together. With you present, I don't think the Imperial Physician will even need to act."
The other wealthy individuals were greatly astonished. Why did Shen Long and Shang Zhifeng hold this young man in such high regard, even comparing him to an Imperial Physician?
"No, thank you," Li Se shook his head. "With Elder Huang and the others here, there won't be any issues. Besides, I am just an ordinary doctor; how could I dare compare myself to an Imperial Physician?"
Seeing Li Se's demeanor, Shen Long seemed to understand. "Divine Doctor Li, you can't entirely blame Mayor Ding."
He had been through it before. Initially, he hadn't believed Li Se's medical skills. Even after learning them, he hadn't taken them too seriously, which was somewhat embarrassing.
"I understand," Li Se said, without blaming Ding Peng. "This is only human nature. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."
Li Se's attitude towards Shen Long remained indifferent.
After Li Se departed, Shen Long sighed, "Alas, regretting it now is too late."
"I almost offended Divine Doctor Li as well. Fortunately, my entire family went to apologize," Shang Zhifeng chuckled.
Shen Long looked envious. He had also brought his family to apologize, but it was too late.
After leaving the hospital, Xia Shuyu asked Li Se, "Li Se, shouldn't you try to obtain a medical practice license?"
"It doesn't seem easy," Li Se naturally desired one, but applying for it was not straightforward.
Xia Shuyu smiled, "As a doctor, what are you worried about? Look at Director Tang, Elder Huang, Shen Long, Shang Zhifeng, and Elder Wei San – all such influential figures, and they all highly regard you. With just a word from you, they can expedite a Western medicine license for you in minutes."
Li Se was taken aback. It seemed he had inadvertently met many important people. He pondered, "We'll see about that later."
He wasn't concerned about this matter at the moment. His mind was on Chen Bin's processing plant. If Chen Yongyan's family didn't follow his advice, and the employees had to take a day off or move out of the processing plant tomorrow, then people would die tomorrow.