"Trace element imbalances in a.d.u.l.ts often lead to decreased kidney function. If you had made this diagnosis on a patient in a hemodialysis unit, I'd accept it. But that man was normal, so I have my doubts," Su Yun said.
"Which is why I suspect that he has dietary problems," Zheng Ren said with a nod. He understood Su Yun's skepticism.
Su Yun turned to Chief Chu and asked, "Chief Chu, why don't you ask Mr. Song about this?"
After a moment of hesitation, Chief Chu dialed the man.
"Hi. No, the dishes are great. We're very satisfied."
"Right, there's something I wanted to ask. What's your favorite food? Anything special?"
"Oh, sure. Yes, let's speak face-to-face."
The call ended and Chief Chu's gaze fell on Zheng Ren.
Was this another win for the young doctor? Su Yun could read the old man's expression and shook his head softly. His tousled locks swayed languidly. It was tiring to see Zheng Ren always being right.
Soon, Song Ying returned to their private room.
His waddling was more evident when his pace quickened.
Song Ying bowed in respect before asking, "Chief Chu, the question you asked just now: was it related to my legs?"
"Little Zheng, why don't you share your thoughts," Chief Chu said to Zheng Ren.
"Mr. Song, please have a seat." Zheng Ren gave the man a smile. "When did you start noticing the inconvenience in your steps?"
"Three or four months ago."
"Do you have any food habits?"
Song Ying hesitated for a moment. Then, he stared into Zheng Ren's eyes and found only the concern of a physician.
"I like to eat grilled sausage." Also known as a waddling gait.
Chapter 222 - A Grilled Sausage Totem (Part 4 of 5)
Even a man as simple as Zheng Ren could not believe Song Ying's answer. "Grilled sausage?"
A restaurant owner liking grilled sausage?
Was it a joke?
The room simmered down.
The air cooled.
Faces filled with disbelief.
Song Ying let out a bitter smile. He propped his hands on the table and took a moment to steady himself before speaking, "So here's the story:
"I come from a poor family, like the proverbial frog at the bottom of the well. I spent many years working and trying to start up a business but luck was just not on my side. It felt like I was always half a step behind."
At this moment, Zheng Ren could empathize with the man.
"One year, I did enough networking to get myself a small booth at the International Horticultural Exhibition.
"So, I opened up a stall selling grilled sausages and beverages.
"I spent 12 hours a day at that stall but never felt tired. That time, the food I ate most was grilled sausage. I remember the exhibition coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival that year. When the doors closed, I carried the remaining dozen or so sausages to the viewing grounds for the fireworks. I sat there and ate the sausages as fireworks painted the night sky and the musical fountain came to life."
Song Ying's voice was soft as his forced politeness gave way to genuine nostalgia.
He was reliving his painful past.
"The moon that night was round and so bright." There was a glimmer in Song Ying's eyes, as if that same moon was before him now. "I know it's superstition, but ever since that night, my luck turned for the better. My dear doctors, you should know that luck plays a big role in a business. I've grown afraid of the bitter years, so every night, I head to the streets and get myself some grilled sausages."
The story was an odd one, but the doctors had seen people from all walks of life. A businessman's superstition was understandable.
"When I'm in a good mood, I'll get a few sticks. On bad days, I buy a few sticks more. When I need to make a big decision, I'll eat even more."
Zheng Ren concluded that this had to be the root of his dietary problems.
"The taste gets old sometimes, but when I think back to the difficult years, grilled sausages become all the more delicious. I know it's weird to find a restaurant owner who chooses to stuff himself with grilled sausages from the streets instead of food from his own establishment," Song Ying said as he shook his head.
Chief Chu consoled the man.
"Is this related to my problem?" Song Ying asked. "A few months back, when I was eating sausages at Gui Street, the weather turned gloomy and the moon was obscured by clouds. I thought the cold winds had gotten to me and made my legs like this."
"What happened next?" Zheng Ren asked, the wheels in his mind spinning.
"I tried acupuncture, cupping and moxibustion. I even got a feng shui guru to help with the problem but nothing worked. The limp is not severe and things have been busy in the shop, so I've been putting off dealing with the problem. I did think to reach out to you, Chief Chu."
"Well, it's just your luck that you have Boss Zheng here today," Chief Chu said with a laugh.
"Quite true. If I could trouble Boss Zheng to take a look at my case," Song Ying said. His demeanor was back to that of a polite and hospitable host.
Song Ying had noted Zheng Ren's youth but the two department chiefs seemed to hold the young doctor in high regard. He was not about to question Zheng Ren's legitimacy directly.
It was important to be amiable to others.
A good nature brought in opportunities.
"I believe your gait is caused by overconsumption of grilled sausages. Phosphorus is a key element in food preservatives and additives. They exist in salt form, such as calcium phosphate, disodium phosphate, monosodium phosphate, trisodium phosphate and more.
"These inorganic phosphates are easily absorbed by the gut when not bound to proteins. Based on your recount, you've been eating a lot of grilled sausages throughout the years. The symptoms you're experiencing are likely caused by the acc.u.mulation of phosphate."
"Are you sure?" Song Ying asked before realizing that he was questioning a doctor about medical issues. He flashed an embarrassed smile and said, "Sorry, I shouldn't be doubting your diagnosis. What should I do, then?"
"Go to the general surgery department and get your parathyroid glands removed. The bump on your wrist should be gone after three weeks. Your gait should also gradually improve." Zheng Ren continued with a playful smile. "But you should absolutely reduce your consumption of grilled sausages. You can have some occasionally, but definitely not at the rate you've described."
Grilled sausage had become Song Ying's good luck charm… If Zheng Ren forbade Song Ying from eating it, he worried that it would affect the man's mental state and business.
Reduced consumption was the best option.
Song Ying nodded in surprise.
He did not know the functions of the parathyroid glands, only their anatomical position.
Could removal of the glands could make the bump on his wrist disappear? It sounded unbelievable.
He kept his doubts to himself but decided to make an appointment at the hospital regardless.
The diagnosis sounded a little far-fetched for Chief Chu, but the medical theory behind it was solid. It was a rare disorder so a checkup was required to determine its treatment plan.
"Little Song, I'll arrange for a hospital visit," Chief Chu said.
Song Ying stood from his seat and bowed slightly. He was not about to turn down the offer. "Thank you."
Chief Chu took a look at the time and said, "It's a bit late now. Remind me of it tomorrow, alright?"
As he said that, Department Chief Kong's phone started ringing.
"Hello.
"What?
"Get to the point! What's going on with the ophthalmology department?
"I'm out now. If traffic is good, I'll be back in an hour. Okay, go make the arrangements."
With that, he hung up.
The mention of ophthalmology piqued Zheng Ren's interest.
"Excuse me, there's an emergency in the hospital," Department Chief Kong said as he g
ot up from the table.
Quiet, uninterrupted meals were few and far between for doctors—or so it was for junior doctors. The case must have befuddled even the chief resident to require Department Chief Kong's input.
"Oh? What's the matter?" Chief Chu asked.
"Lin Jiaojiao lost her vision. The ophthalmologist says there's an interrupted blood supply in her eye and they can't operate. They want a second opinion," Department Chief Kong said.
Chapter 223 - A Benefactor’s Guidance (Part 5 of 5)
"The ophthalmic artery? What's that got to do with your department?" Chief Chu asked, perplexed.
"This is Lin Jiaojiao. I have to go take a look regardless." Frustration was evident in Chief Kong's tone.
"Lin Jiaojiao, the one who was attacked years ago?" Su Yun piped up.
"Yes. She was once a nurse in my department but was poached by pediatrics. Just two days in her new post, she was stitching a wound on a kid and was punched in the face. There was bleeding in her brain.
"She resigned after that and went into cosmetic surgery. Now, she's the owner of the nation's largest cosmetic surgery hospital, Yimei Cosmetic Surgery."
"See what I mean, Boss Zheng? I could start up a veterinary hospital and turn it into the country's best animal hospital within five years, guaranteed. We could open multiple branches across the nation and then you can just sit home and count the money," Su Yun said Zheng Ren seriously.
Zheng Ren ignored the man's gibberish. Department Chief Kong put on his coat and was ready to leave when Zheng Ren asked, "Chief Kong, you drank a bit just now. Will you be able to operate?"
The question caught Department Chief Kong off guard. It was unlikely that he would need to step into the operating room as his role was supervisory. He would normally advise on the trickier parts of the surgery.
It would be a waste to leave the smart, capable surgeon here.
"Little Zheng, why don't you come with me then?" Department Chief Kong offered.
It was late in the night.
Zheng Ren was a doctor from another hospital and had no obligation to join in on this emergency case.
"Sure." The reply came with a smile.
Zheng Ren would rather help out a case in hopes of a surgery than stay here in the restaurant.
Dining was such a boring affair.
"Then let's call it a night," Chief Chu said. "I'll drop you guys off at the hospital before heading home."
Song Ying escorted them out of the restaurant. Along the way, he exchanged some words with Chief Chu about his hospital appointment the following day.
At the bottom floor, Feng Xuhui had his eyes fixed on the staircase.
Since Zheng Ren's arrival in Imperial Capital, Feng Xuhui had gotten to know the many sides of the chief resident.
Zheng Ren was like a goldmine of surprises.
Feng Xuhui could tell Zheng Ren was a man who could change his career.
He stood at the restaurant's reception and waited for the group, preparing himself mentally to stay throughout the night.
Unexpectedly, the group had come downstairs early.
Feng Xuhui quickly greeted them and made a beeline to the counter to pay the bill.
Song Ying walked to the counter and said with a smile, "It's on the house."
The manager nodded. "Understood, sir."
"Thank you, thank you, Little Song," Chief Chu said to Song Ying. Feng Xuhui's existence was utterly ignored.
The man was crestfallen.
He had waited the whole night and could not even get the bill.
Why was life so difficult?
Feng Xuhui's grief consumed his heart, flowing like a river.
Zheng Ren walked over to the man and said, "Manager Feng, sorry for troubling you. There's an emergency case in the hospital and I'm going with Chief Kong to have a look. You should go on back first."
Trapped in a daze, Feng Xuhui did not respond. 'Isn't Chief Zheng here for a research procedure? Had he applied for a transfer to Imperial General?'
Why would he need to assist in the emergency surgery otherwise?
Feng Xuhui was confused and helpless.
The world he knew was slowly being taken apart by Zheng Ren.
Zheng Ren and the others had already left when his mind got around what was happening.
The winds picked up as Feng Xuhui stood at the door of the restaurant.
Song Ying was also there, a perfect smile on his face. The smile only faltered when Chief Chu's car left the premises.
The restaurant owner signaled for a cigarette and the manager moved to get him one.
He noticed Feng Xuhui by the door, thoughts in turmoil on this cold, windy night.
Song Ying smiled.
He was not usually one to give unsolicited advice.
The path to success was filled with struggles and hardship…
He owed his success to no one.
However, there was a subtle difference in Song Ying's demeanor today.
From his exchange with the group, he could tell that Zheng Ren was someone of importance. The young doctor exuded a confidence that cut through the traditional seniority-based hierarchy.
'The youth today are an impressive bunch. He has a bright future, that kid.'
The strong impression Zheng Ren had left made him less guarded when he saw the lost Feng Xuhui. He waved his cigarette at the man.
"Huh?" Caught unaware, Feng Xuhui's mind could not process the meaning behind the gesture.
"Do you want a smoke?"
"Yes, thank you."
The restaurant manager passed Feng Xuhui another cigarette.
"Young man, you made the right choice," Song Ying said. This innocent-looking novice reminded him of himself many years ago.
"Ah? What choice?" Feng Xuhui's thoughts were still a blur.
"Mr. Zheng has a bright future ahead." Song Ying stared at where the car had vanished into the distance. "You don't have to do much: just hold on tight to the man and enjoy the simple p.l.e.a.s.u.r.es in life. One day, he's going to strike big and you'll reap the rewards."
The words surprised Feng Xuhui.
Was it true? Life could not be that simple.
"May I know who you are?"
"I'm the owner of this restaurant," Song Ying said with a roguish smile. It was indeed this man's lucky day as he rarely bothered giving out advice to the younger generation.
"Nice to meet you, sir." Feng Xuhui bowed his head in respect and retrieved a name card from his coat pocket.
Song Ying turned to leave before the card was even halfway out, his half-smoked cigarette extinguished.
Feng Xuhui watched the businessman walk away, feeling awkward with his name card in hand.
Many people had told him that one needed a benefactor to climb the ranks of society.
Was today his turn to receive one?
The benefactor had said that Chief Zheng was his key to success.
He stood there for a long time until his cigarette burned all the way to his fingers. The sudden jolt of pain brought him back to the real world.
Hold on tight to Chief Zheng?
Feng Xuhui wanted to weep.
Chief Zheng traveled in a Rolls Royce Phantom, dressed in clothes that cost tens of thousands and dined at high-end restaurants in Imperial Capital…
What did he have to offer?
Chapter 224 - Time Is Running Out (Part 1 of 3)
Research Graduate Liang drove the group back to the hospital.
Once they arrived, Zheng Ren, Su Yun and Department Chief Kong headed straight for the ophthalmology department.
Zheng Ren felt confident with a Master-rank skill book still in his reserves.
However, as a general surgeon with no expertise in ophthalmology, he knew that a Master-rank skill book would not set him apart from the doctors in Imperial Capital.
After some thought, he decided it was unlikely that he could solve such a rare case.
They arrived at the ophthalmology departme
nt and Department Chief Kong immediately went to visit Lin Jiaojiao.
Outwardly, Lin Jiaojiao looked to be in her thirties, but Zheng Ren presumed that she was most likely in her mid-forties, as was expected of the founder of the nation's largest cosmetic surgery hospital.
There was a young a.d.u.l.t standing by her bed, eyes clouded over with tears; she was most likely Lin Jiaojiao's daughter.
When they entered the room, Lin Jiaojiao's good eye flickered open. With a sob catching in her throat, she croaked, "Chief…"
Department Chief Kong got down to business. "Calm down. What happened?"
"Chief… I had an injection scheduled. So once all my clients were gone, I took a dose of hyaluronic acid. An hour later, my vision started to blur and the next thing I knew, I couldn't see through my right eye. I had my daughter quickly send me to the hospital to see Chief Ma," Lin Jiaojiao explained clearly, her experience in the medical field evident.
"Hyaluronic acid?" Department Chief Kong repeated.
Hyaluronic acid was a type of mucopolysaccharide. In 1934, an ophthalmology professor in Columbia University extracted the substance from the eye of a cow. The chemical composition of the colorless substance was analyzed and further studies revealed its involvement in joint l.u.b.r.i.c.a.t.i.o.n, blood vessel permeability control, protein-binding, electrolyte balance, wound healing and more.
In the world of cosmetic surgery, hyaluronic acid was mainly used for hydration and the removal of wrinkles.
It had been touted as the best natural substance for water retention under the skin.
How had this substance caused blindness?
Department Chief Kong had a hand on his temple as he pondered the situation.
"Old Kong, you're finally here." A woman in her fifties, clad in a doctor's coat, walked over. "My ophthalmoscopy found a lack of blood in her retina. I suspect an obstruction in the ophthalmic artery."
It was the ophthalmology department chief, Dr. Ma. As she concluded her statement, the scent of alcohol reached her nose and she frowned. "Were you drinking?"
"Yes, I was having dinner with Chief Chu."
"What was the point of calling you here, then? I'll get Old Pan from Union Medical to assist with the surgery," Department Chief Ma said.
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