Chapter 835: Introduction

Chapter 835: Chapter 835: Introduction

"Dean Li, don’t worry, I will definitely perform well," Wu Mengmeng said hurriedly.

The two chatted for a while before the hospital’s queuing system began calling numbers. Patients started walking into various consultation rooms one after another, and Li Xu’s clinic room welcomed its first patients as well.

"Dr. Li."

He Pengjun and his wife accompanied his mother-in-law into the consultation room. They had registered early and were the fifth patient of the day. Upon entering, He Pengjun’s wife greeted Li Xu politely. He Pengjun was surprised when he saw Li Xu—he was so young!

"Take a seat," Li Xu said. As he gestured for He Pengjun’s mother-in-law to sit, he flipped through her medical record, gradually recalling his impression of the patient.

Doctors saw a tremendous number of patients every day. In a regular outpatient clinic, a doctor averaged about fifty to sixty patients daily. That amounted to five or six hundred over ten days. Even if a patient returned for a follow-up after just three days, the doctor would have seen around two hundred other patients in the interim.

For patients and their families, they were dealing with one specific doctor, so they would remember them clearly even after ten days or half a month. But for the doctor, even just a day later, they might not remember a specific patient without checking the medical records.

"Mm, the recovery is progressing well. Continue with the original prescription. Avoid spicy and smoked or roasted food. You can eat more fruit—most fruits are considered ’cool’ in nature, sweet, and juicy, which is very good for the body," Li Xu advised after examining the patient.

After hearing these instructions, He Pengjun and his wife finally left the room with her mother.

"He’s so young." Walking out of the consultation room, He Pengjun was still a bit in disbelief. "He looks only around thirty. He doesn’t put on airs, treats patients kindly, and is highly skilled. If only there were more doctors like him."

"Yeah," his wife agreed with a smile, nodding.

They had seen many doctors. Putting aside their medical skills, attitude alone was often a massive issue. While there were certainly doctors with good bedside manners, many left much to be desired. Often, when walking into a consultation room, a doctor’s expression would look as though the patient owed them millions.

Because of this, patients often joked: Even if you actually owed the doctor millions, how could they possibly be happy unless you were admitted to the hospital and spent a fortune? Though it was a joke, it indirectly reflected the prevailing attitude of most patients toward hospitals and doctors today.

"Doctors like him need more publicity," He Pengjun said. "Anyway, I’m definitely going to spread the word about Dr. Li in the future so that more people know about him."

"You’re just a taxi driver. How are you going to publicize him?" his wife couldn’t help but laugh.

"Why can’t I?" He Pengjun countered. "I drive a cab and meet a lot of people every day. If anyone needs it, I’ll recommend Dr. Li. Every new person who finds out about him adds to his reputation."

The Spring Festival arrived exceptionally early this year.

The residual excitement of New Year’s Day had not yet fully faded, but the strong, festive atmosphere of the impending lunar new year could already be felt in every street and alley. In the early morning in Feng City, the air held a biting chill, yet the streets were bustling with vibrant life.

Large red lanterns hung at the entrances of supermarkets, and speakers played cheerful holiday songs on a loop. On the roadside stalls, bright red couplets, character posters, and a dazzling array of dried fruits and holiday goods were piled high like small mountains.

Amidst the noisy, vibrant hustle and bustle of city life, a blue-and-white taxi weaved briskly through the traffic.

He Pengjun gripped the steering wheel, his mood as bright as the thickening festive spirit. Ever since his mother-in-law’s illness was cured by Dr. Li Xu, He Pengjun had become Li Xu’s "unofficial promoter." Now, whenever he was driving passengers and heard them complain about feeling unwell or mention going to a hospital, he was guaranteed to steer the conversation toward Li Xu at the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

"Hey, ma’am, when it comes to seeing a doctor, you have to find the right person. Dean Li Xu at our Feng City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine really knows his stuff. My mother-in-law is in her seventies and was sick for over a year. She saw so many famous doctors with no improvement, but after a few prescriptions from Dr. Li, she can now get out of bed and cook for herself!"

He Pengjun repeated these words several times a day.

Although not every passenger believed him—some even thought he was a shill hired by the hospital—He Pengjun did not mind at all. In his view, a good doctor deserved to be known by more people. This was not just about helping Dr. Li; it was about pointing those tormented by illness in the right direction.

Early that morning, He Pengjun had a stroke of luck and snagged a long-distance fare from the city center to the airport. For taxi drivers in Feng City, airport trips were highly sought-after prizes.

The Feng City Airport was built in the suburbs, over forty kilometers away from the city. Although it was far, the entire route was connected by the airport expressway. The road conditions were excellent, making it a stress-free drive with a hefty fare. Most importantly, after lining up in the airport taxi waiting area, drivers could often pick up a passenger heading back to the city. A round trip without driving an empty cab meant a solid income for the day.

After dropping off his first customer, He Pengjun waited in line at the airport for about half an hour before picking up two female passengers.

One appeared to be in her early forties with ear-length short hair, wearing a meticulously tailored dark gray cashmere coat. Her brow carried a hint of the competence and authority of someone accustomed to holding a high position, though her face was slightly pale, and she was frowning slightly as if suppressing something.

The other was much younger, around thirty. She pushed two suitcases with brisk, efficient movements, appearing to be an accompanying staff member.

He Pengjun hurried out of the car to help load their luggage into the trunk, greeting them warmly, "Please sit tight and buckle your seatbelts. Where are we heading in the city?"

"To the city center. I’ll point out the exact address on the navigation shortly," the younger woman replied politely as she helped the older woman into the backseat.

The car pulled smoothly out of the airport, and He Pengjun observed them through the rearview mirror. Usually, when driving female passengers, he spoke less—especially when dealing with those who exuded an air of distinction—for fear of being perceived as noisy.

However, they had only driven a few kilometers when He Pengjun realized something was wrong.

The older woman in the backseat was leaning slightly forward, one hand pressing tightly against her lower abdomen. Her already pale face was now beaded with a fine layer of cold sweat. Her lips were pressed tightly together, clearly enduring immense pain.

"Ma’am, are you... feeling unwell?" He Pengjun couldn’t help but ask. "You don’t look so good. How about I take you straight to the hospital? It’s still quite a distance to the nearest one from here, but once we get off the highway, it’ll be quick."

The middle-aged woman shook her head, her voice laced with exhaustion. "No need... I’m fine. Just drive normally."

The younger woman beside her looked anxious. She asked in a low voice, "Director Tian, is it hurting again? Should we listen to the driver and go to the hospital first?"