It's just good luck, having taken in a master-level student that made him so smug. So, take whatever this kind of person says with a grain of salt."
Though he said that, the envy in Old Wan's voice was something he couldn't conceal, no matter how hard he tried.
After seeing off the two visitors, Li Jianwei couldn't help but stand up straighter. Being able to feel so vindicated in front of his old classmates, especially those who had always looked down on him, it was already an act of great restraint that he didn't grin from ear to ear and laugh out loud.
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; the wheel of fortune turns," Li Jianwei mused, thinking of Wan. "But it seems that wheel never turned *your* way. Besides being good at studying when *you* were young, what else do *you* have?"
Du Heng didn't know about Li Jianwei's smugness. Right now, he was in the room next door to the conference room, still polishing his special report and making final modifications to the PPT where he felt it was inappropriate.
CREAK.
The door was pushed open, with Kang Zhirong leading the way for the person entering behind him.
Upon seeing Du Heng, Kang Zhirong hurriedly said, "Dean, Professor Lan is here."
Professor Lan?
Du Heng, who was focused on editing his report, momentarily blanked, not recalling at first who this so-called Professor Lan was.
When he raised his head and saw the familiar figure behind Kang Zhirong, Du Heng was shocked. He stood up and rushed over as quickly as possible.
"Professor Lan, why are you here?" Then, he looked happily at Cao Binghe, who was beside Lan Changhua. "Dr. Cao, you came too?"
With Cao Binghe's support, Lan Changhua slowly entered the room.
"Heh, I was just invited to attend your provincial Chinese Medicine Association conference. I happened to hear you were organizing a major event here, so I came to see you. I wonder if I'm welcome?"
Du Heng looked deeply apologetic. "Professor Lan, what are you saying? I wouldn't even dare to dream of inviting someone of your stature; how could I possibly not welcome you? Besides, you came all the way to Jinzhou and didn't even call me to pick you up. I... I..."
Lan Changhua chuckled as he sat down on the armchair in the room, his gaze casually sweeping over Du Heng's open laptop. "I only agreed to attend this conference because I couldn't refuse the invitation from your provincial leaders. The schedule is quite tight, though. It's a two-day conference, staying overnight, and I was planning to leave right after it ends on the second day. I didn't want to bother you."
Lan Changhua continued slowly, "Later, I heard your association was preparing a special report session. My curiosity was piqued, and I wanted to see what you've achieved this past year, so I changed my itinerary on a whim."
Du Heng listened intently to Professor Lan Changhua, but seeing Lan Changhua's dull complexion, hunched body, and frailty, his heart grew heavy.
When he went to the Capital at the end of June, he had already felt that Lan Changhua's health was worse than when he saw him during the New Year. He hadn't expected that in just half a year, Professor Lan would have declined to this extent.
"Since you changed your itinerary, you really should have contacted me. Let me at least fulfill my duties as a host," Du Heng said, a little frustrated. He then turned to Cao Binghe. "Dr. Cao, you too. Professor Lan came, and you didn't even call me. Besides, we're friends, aren't we? Even if Professor Lan wasn't here, you could have at least called me, right?"
Regarding Du Heng's discontent, Cao Binghe smiled faintly. "Teacher didn't agree. He gave me strict orders not to disturb you, saying you'd be very busy preparing for the report."
"Oh, come on! Even if I'm busy, do I not even have time for a meal?"
"Meeting today is just as good," Lan Changhua interjected.
Du Heng quickly said, "Then it's settled. After the meeting, you mustn't just disappear. We'll have dinner together tonight. That should be fine, right?"
"Alright, of course, no problem," Lan Changhua said cheerfully. "Is this what you're planning to present today?"
Du Heng quickly moved the laptop in front of Lan Changhua. "Professor Lan, please take a look for me. I prepared it all myself, and I'm not sure if there are any issues."
Lan Changhua gently shook his head. "Never mind. In this field, you're now an expert among experts. I won't make a fool of myself by looking at it. Besides," he added, "during the Q&A session after your presentation, there will be plenty of people to help you find any problems. Don't worry."
Seeing Professor Lan Changhua say this, Du Heng didn't insist. Instead, he leaned closer and asked softly, "Professor Lan, what's wrong? Your complexion doesn't look very good."
Lan Changhua smiled nonchalantly, but as he was about to speak, he couldn't help but sigh. "Ever since I had that fall last year, this body of mine has been getting progressively worse."
Saying this, Lan Changhua seemed to regain his earlier demeanor and chuckled lightly. "The old saying goes, 'It's rare for a man to live to seventy.' I'm already pushing eighty, so this is quite normal."
Du Heng frowned slightly. "If you're not feeling well, you should be resting more. Why come all the way to Jinzhou? Such a long journey, whether by plane or high-speed train, is a burden on your body. Besides, it's just a local association conference. You really didn't need to come in person."
At this, Cao Binghe sighed and interjected, "That's what I said too. The Director advised against it, and his family tried to persuade him, but Teacher wouldn't listen. He insisted on coming. He's really become as stubborn as an old child."
Lan Changhua chuckled softly. "I had to come. A few years ago, I promised your provincial leaders I would attend one of your provincial association conferences.
"But I kept being busy and never found the time, so the matter dragged on.
"This time, your leaders approached me again. I also feel my health isn't what it used to be; who knows, one day I might not be able to get out of bed. So, I wanted to fulfill this promise.
"I've lived a long life; I can't become someone who doesn't keep their word at the very end, can I?"
Since Lan Changhua had put it that way, what more could Du Heng say? He could only respectfully keep quiet and not press the matter further.
"Then, Professor Lan, would you allow me to take a look at you?" Du Heng asked carefully after a long hesitation.
But Lan Changhua just laughed heartily. "What's this? Are you looking down on me? I'm still an expert from the Capital, you know. Besides, I've been diagnosing patients my whole life. Can't I diagnose myself? Am I not brave enough to?"
"Professor Lan, you misunderstood, that's not what I meant."
"Alright, I know what you mean. You can rest assured," Lan Changhua said, then stood up. "I won't disturb you any longer. Xiao Cao and I will head to the conference room first."
As Lan Changhua rose, Cao Binghe quickly stepped forward to support him, and Du Heng stood up as well.
Lan Changhua gently waved his hand at Du Heng. "Don't bother seeing us out; you should focus on your work. Just have this young comrade show us the way and arrange seats for us."
Du Heng quickly nodded, knowing this wasn't the time to insist on formalities.
"Xiao Kang, please take Professor Lan and Dr. Cao to the conference hall. Ask Professor Li to arrange a seat for Professor Lan."
Kang Zhirong nodded. "Alright, Dean. I'll find Professor Li at the venue and make sure everything is arranged properly. Don't worry."
"Alright. Take good care of Professor Lan."
Du Heng reminded Kang Zhirong again, then escorted the three of them out of his room. Only when their figures were out of sight did Du Heng slowly return to the room.
As the old saying goes, "Doctors don't treat themselves." This saying doesn't only refer to doctors treating their own illnesses but also extends to their family members. "Not treating oneself" doesn't mean doctors *cannot* diagnose or treat themselves or their relatives. Rather, it highlights a concern: when a doctor's own well-being, or that of a loved one, is directly involved, subjective emotions can unconsciously creep into the diagnostic process, especially during syndrome differentiation. These subjective emotions can, to some extent, inevitably affect the doctor's judgment. Furthermore, because it involves oneself or close relatives, emotions can be difficult to control, potentially leading to inaccurate diagnoses. This was precisely why Du Heng had made his earlier request.
