Chapter 3: The Expert's Demeanor

"Here they come! Here they come!"

Someone in the crowd whispered, and everyone immediately straightened up.

A black Audi slowly drove up. Before the car had even come to a stop, Zhang Renjie rushed forward, positioning himself to open the car door. A forced smile appeared on his pained face, "Director Chen, why did you come in person!"

The person who arrived was not an expert but Chen Gaofeng, the director of the Health Department of Nanjiang Province.

After getting out of the car, Chen Gaofeng got straight to the point, "Have the experts from the capital arrived?"

Zhang Renjie bowed and replied, "We've been in contact, and they will be here shortly!"

Chen Gaofeng stood there, his face devoid of any smile, "Then let's wait together!"

As the highest leader in the medical and health sector of Nanjiang Province, Chen Gaofeng was under a lot of pressure. Just seeing Zhang Renjie's face made him inexplicably angry: Damn it, if Feng Yuqin gets cured, I won't get much credit, but if something goes wrong, I'll be implicated. If I had known you were such a failure, unable to even treat constipation, I would never have let you be the director of this hospital.

A few minutes later, a Koster minibus, escorted by police cars, sped in.

This time, it was really them. No one had to give orders; the crowd downstairs spontaneously formed two lines, creating a welcoming path. If it weren't for Shao Haibo pulling him, Zeng Yi would have been left standing in the middle.

The car stopped, and Chen Gaofeng and Zhang Renjie took a few steps forward, standing side by side at the car door, ready to welcome the experts.

As soon as the car door opened, the crowd burst into enthusiastic applause.

A senior expert in his fifties slowly got out of the car. His hair was slightly graying, his face square, and he wore a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses, giving him a distinguished air.

"Director Li, you've come just in time, thank you very much!" Zhang Renjie clapped hard and stepped forward, bowing slightly, "Let me introduce you. This is Director Chen of the Health Department of Nanjiang Province, who has specially come to welcome the experts despite his busy schedule."

"Director Chen, it's too much for you to come in person!" The old man nodded slightly, his face showing no sign of being flattered.

"This is Director Li! He is the chief authority in the field of gastrointestinal diseases in our country, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a recipient of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, a Changjiang Scholar, and a recipient of special government allowances. He is currently the deputy head of the expert medical team of the State Council."

Chen Gaofeng immediately extended both hands, firmly shaking Director Li's hand, "Welcome, Director Li! With you here, we feel much more at ease!" Chen Gaofeng's smile was full of enthusiasm and a touch of humility, as if he were receiving a high-ranking official rather than welcoming an expert.

Director Li responded calmly, "Little Chen, I have to conduct a consultation for a central leader tomorrow afternoon, so time is tight. Let's skip the formalities and get straight to the patient's condition."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Chen Gaofeng nodded vigorously and turned to Zhang Renjie, "Director Zhang, please brief Director Li on the condition of Patient No. 1."

Zhang Renjie hurried forward, ready to take on the task.

But before he could speak, Director Li walked with his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed straight ahead, "Let's talk as we walk."

Chen Gaofeng and Zhang Renjie showed no displeasure; instead, they quickened their pace to lead the way. The hospital leaders followed closely behind, forming a large group that headed straight to the inpatient department.

Zeng Yi was pushed to the back. He wanted to hear about the patient's condition, but he was too far away to hear Zhang Renjie clearly. However, he recognized the identity of Director Li—Li Zhengkun.

Li Zhengkun was a member of the National Health Committee, a genuine "imperial physician" responsible for the daily health care of several national leaders. Despite having no official position, he regularly interacted with leaders at the vice-national level and above, making his influence significant. His students were spread throughout the medical and health institutions across the country, including one who was a deputy minister of the Ministry of Health.

Realizing this, Zeng Yi understood why Director Chen had been so deferential!

Patient No. 1's ward was on the top floor of the inpatient department, with two internal guards standing at the door.

At the Provincial People's Hospital, beds were always in short supply, and sometimes even the corridors were filled with patients. Getting a bed here was almost impossible without a bribe or connections. However, on the top floor, the situation was completely different. The entire floor was empty and sealed off, accessible only by a dedicated elevator.

Wearing a white coat from the Provincial People's Hospital, with a work card on his chest and carrying a medicine box for Li Zhengkun's assistant, Zeng Yi was briefly scrutinized by the guards before being allowed in.

Upon entering, Zeng Yi's first impression was the size.

The entire Patient No. 1 ward covered over 100 square meters. It included a patient room, two family rooms, and a caregiver room. The living room was exceptionally large and luxuriously decorated with high-end leather sofas and imported redwood furniture. It was equipped with all kinds of appliances, surpassing even a five-star hotel's presidential suite.

In the patient's room, Chen Gaofeng was already reporting good news, "Director Feng, I have some good news to report. Director Li from the capital has arrived, and your condition will soon improve. Please stay positive!" He straightened up and pointed to the IV drip, "The IV is very important, and someone must be here to monitor it 24/7!"

Hiding behind the crowd, Zeng Yi thought to himself that Director Chen was really a sycophant. Administering an IV was a minor matter that didn't need the director's personal emphasis; the hospital would surely treat it as a top priority.

Li Zhengkun put on a pair of sterile gloves, calmly reviewing the symptoms Zhang Renjie had described: persistent high fever, no signs of organic disease, indicating simple diarrhea. Based on the test results, the problem was most likely in the intestines.

After organizing his thoughts, Li Zhengkun approached the bed, checked the IV label to confirm what the patient was receiving, then bent down to examine the patient's complexion, checked the eye fundus, and asked softly, "How are you feeling now?"

"Tired, cold, no strength..."

Feng Yuqin was exhausted from the continuous diarrhea, extremely weak. She had to gather her strength to answer Li Zhengkun's question.

Hearing the patient's response, Li Zhengkun had a basic diagnosis. Seeing the patient's poor condition, he didn't ask more questions and turned to Zhang Renjie, "Let's discuss this outside and let the patient rest."

According to regulations, doctors generally do not discuss the patient's condition in front of them to avoid affecting their emotions.

As everyone moved out, Zeng Yi had a chance to observe the patient. If he had known the patient's identity, he would have been shocked. The patient lying in the bed, apart from showing signs of weakness, had none of the usual demeanor of a first lady.

The instruments at the bedside showed the patient's temperature at 38.3 degrees Celsius, and it had been high for several days.

If a person had a fever for so long, they would typically show signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, red face, and even delirium. However, Zeng Yi noticed that the patient showed no signs of dehydration. When answering Li Zhengkun's questions, she was very clear-headed, and her lips were even slightly blue.

Zeng Yi frowned, indicating that although the patient had a fever, it was not a high-heat condition. Instead, there was a presence of cold in her body. With all the doctors out, Zeng Yi couldn't make further observations and followed the group out.

Once the door to the ward closed, the reception room outside became a temporary consultation room.

Li Zhengkun asked, "What is the patient's bowel movement like?"

"Yellow-green watery stools, often with foam, accompanied by bowel sounds, occurring seven to twenty times a day," Zhang Renjie replied.

Li Zhengkun nodded slightly, confirming his initial diagnosis. "The patient's intestines are likely infected with multiple bacteria. Let's do a smear test."

Zhang Renjie presented a report, "Director Li, here are the results from our previous tests. Please review them."

Li Zhengkun took the report, adjusted his glasses, and shook it a couple of times, a common habit before reviewing medical images. He then squinted to read it.

After a moment, he put down the report, "My diagnosis seems correct. According to the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the smear, the number of resident bacteria in the intestines is minimal, while the number of transient bacteria, such as Staphylococcus, Candida albicans, and Streptococcus, is extremely high. Clearly, the patient has a severe imbalance of intestinal flora, a typical case of intestinal dysbiosis."

Zhang Renjie immediately showed admiration, truly a top-notch doctor for central leaders!

Why is Western medicine considered difficult? The difficulty lies in the diagnostic skills! Once a diagnosis is made, Western medicine has a standard treatment protocol. Any doctor would follow a similar treatment plan. The key to being an excellent Western doctor is the diagnostic ability. Although Director Li's conclusion was consistent with the provincial hospital's medical team, the provincial hospital had to change their conclusion after a misdiagnosis. Director Li, however, made the correct diagnosis just by reviewing the report, demonstrating his superior skills.

"I fully agree with Director Li's conclusion!" Zhang Renjie was the first to agree, and the other doctors followed suit.

Zeng Yi was also impressed. If he were using Western diagnostic methods, he would have reached the same conclusion. Although Zeng Yi specialized in traditional Chinese medicine, he was not unfamiliar with Western medicine. In fact, his Western medical skills were even more advanced than most doctors, though Shao Haibo was unaware of this.

Chen Gaofeng, not wanting to be left behind, praised, "Director Li, your experience and insight are remarkable. No matter how complex the condition, it's easy for you to handle. Now that the diagnosis is clear, please provide a treatment plan!"

This flattery pleased Li Zhengkun, but he didn't rush to provide a plan. Instead, he looked at Zhang Renjie, "Have antibiotics been used?"

"Yes, we used 1.2 times the standard dose, but..." Zhang Renjie shook his head, indicating that antibiotics were ineffective for Feng Yuqin.

"What about probiotics? Were they used in conjunction?"

"Also used..." Zhang Renjie shook his head again.

For the first time, Li Zhengkun's face showed concern. If antibiotics and probiotics were ineffective, the situation was challenging. The patient's condition was already critical, and a more conservative approach might be too slow, while an aggressive approach might be too risky.

There was a quick-acting treatment, but...

Li Zhengkun's right hand instinctively rested on his waist, and he began to pace, a habit when he was thinking. After two minutes, he stopped, "Has enema therapy been tried?"

Zhang Renjie's face showed hesitation. For a regular patient, it would have been used long ago, but this was the wife of the provincial party secretary. How could they dare to try such a treatment?

Li Zhengkun understood the dilemma but still believed the quick-acting treatment was the best option, "Disease should not be hidden from the doctor. We should try to convince the patient."

The doctors in the room remained silent. Who would dare to talk to Director Feng? Even if they could persuade her, it would be a thorn in her side, and they would face consequences.

Zhang Renjie also hesitated, "Enema therapy is indeed the best option, but... let's discuss it to ensure we're making the right decision."

"The diagnosis is clear. What more is there to discuss!" Li Zhengkun was greatly dissatisfied. He always provided the best solution after careful consideration, and no one dared to question him. "The patient is in bed, and the condition is critical. When do you plan to act? If we miss the best treatment time, who will be responsible?"

The room was silent, and no one dared to respond.

"If you find it hard to speak, I'll talk to the patient!" Li Zhengkun was angry.

Just as the situation was becoming tense, the door to Patient No. 1's ward opened, and a person entered, saying quietly, "Party Secretary Fang is on his way. Everyone, prepare to brief him on the treatment plan."

He then added, "Party Secretary Fang is very busy. Don't mention anything unrelated to the condition."

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