Sent to the countryside, I turned the health center into a top-tier hospital.

The boy's illness is getting better day by day.

After several days of treatment, his appetite returned, and he could eat a bowl of porridge and a steamed bun in one meal.

The lady's sorrow lessened day by day, and on the sixth day, she even started humming a song in her hospital room.

It was the kind of humming that happened unconsciously, without the person even realizing it. After humming a few times, the person realized what was happening, looked at Chen Ping with an embarrassed smile, and smiled.

On the seventh day, the boy was discharged from the hospital.

Fang Jianguo didn't come, but Xiao Li did, holding a brocade banner in his hands. It was red with yellow characters that read "Miraculous Healing Skills, Noble Medical Ethics".

When Dean Ma received the banner, he grinned from ear to ear and had his office staff hang it in the most prominent position in the hospital lobby.

Xiao Li then approached Chen Ping separately, handed him an envelope, and said, "This is a small token of County Magistrate Fang's appreciation."

Chen Ping opened it and took a look; it was a shopping card with a considerable face value.

He pushed the envelope back, saying, "No need, buy some nutritional supplements for the child."

Xiao Li paused for a moment, glanced at Chen Ping's expression, and then stopped insisting, taking the envelope back.

In the afternoon, Dean Ma invited Chen Ping to his office.

The office wasn't big, but it was clean and tidy. There was a pot of clivia on the desk, and the flowers were in full bloom.

Dean Ma personally brewed a cup of tea for Chen Ping. The tea was pre-Qingming Longjing, and the tea leaves could be seen standing upright in the glass, with a clear and bright liquor.

"Dr. Chen, I'll say it again, you stay."

Dean Ma sat opposite Chen Ping, his legs crossed, but not naturally, as if he was trying to appear more casual.

"I've spoken to the personnel department about your salary as a chief physician. They'll calculate it at the highest level. Don't worry about housing either; the hospital has subsidized housing, and I'll reserve one for you."

Chen Ping picked up his teacup and took a sip. The tea was indeed excellent, with a long-lasting sweet aftertaste.

He put down the cup, looked at Dean Ma, and smiled. "Dean Ma, I appreciate your kindness, but I can't leave Siping Township."

The health center is still in its early stages, and renovations are not yet complete. The number of patients is increasing every day. If I leave, Director Zhao and the others won't be able to keep it up."

Dean Ma looked at him for several seconds, then sighed.

The sigh was deep, as if it were the release of all the disappointment that had been building up for days.

"I knew you would say that. When I went to Siping Township to find you last time, I could tell that you weren't the kind of person who would leave after seeing some benefits."

He stood up, walked to the window, turned his back to Chen Ping, and looked out the window. "Okay, I won't force you to stay, but you have to promise me one thing: if the county hospital has any patients they can't handle in the future, you have to come and help with the consultations. Of course, I'll pay you for the consultations."

Chen Ping also stood up, "Okay."

Dean Ma turned around and extended his hand.

Chen Ping grasped it. "Dean Ma, I hope you can too..."

"I know what you're trying to say; Lao Zhao calls me every day."

Before Chen Ping could finish speaking, Dean Ma smiled. "As for the equipment, you talk to Lao Zhao and give me a list: electrocardiograph, monitor, mini ultrasound machine. I'll allocate some of what I can to you."

The same goes for medicines. Here's a list of your commonly used medications; I'll have the pharmaceutical company deliver them to you as support for the construction of the rural health center.

Chen Ping smiled. "Thank you, Dean Ma."

Don't thank me, thank yourself.

Dean Ma released his grip, walked back behind his desk and sat down. "If you're capable, people will respect you wherever you go. If I'm not capable, I'll just be stuck in this county town for the rest of my life. Alright, that's enough. You go about your business."

As Chen Ping walked out of the office, he ran into the young doctor in charge of the patient's bed again in the corridor.

He stood at the door with a notebook in his hand, as if he had been waiting for a while.

Seeing Chen Ping come out, he took a step forward, then shrank back, rubbed his hands together, and hesitated to speak.

"Dr. Chen, regarding the prescription for patients with cirrhosis, you used 30 grams of Atractylodes macrocephala, 20 grams of Poria cocos, and 40 grams of Astragalus membranaceus. Is there any particular consideration for the proportions in this formula?"

Chen Ping thought for a moment and then gestured on the wall in the corridor.

"For spleen deficiency with water retention, tonifying the spleen is the root cause, while promoting diuresis is the symptom relief. Atractylodes macrocephala is the chief herb for strengthening the spleen and drying dampness, and its dosage should be large."

Poria cocos promotes diuresis without harming the body's vital energy; it is an assistant herb and should be used in moderate amounts. Astragalus membranaceus tonifies qi and raises yang; when qi flows, water flows, so it should be used in large amounts.

Remember this principle: when treating edema, the ratio of qi-tonifying herbs to diuretics should be determined based on the patient's pulse. If the pulse is weak and thready, increase the dosage of qi-tonifying herbs; if the pulse is slippery and forceful, increase the dosage of diuretics.

The young doctor scribbled notes in his notebook, and when he finished, he looked up, his eyes filled with gratitude, and bowed deeply to Chen Ping.

"Dr. Chen, thank you."

Chen Ping patted him on the shoulder and left.

Around 3 PM, Xiao Li came again.

He stood at the dormitory door, while Chen Ping was packing his things.

The boy has been discharged from the hospital and no longer needs to stay in the hospital dormitory. His canvas bag has been packed and placed on his bed.

Xiao Li knocked on the door frame. Chen Ping looked up, saw him, and nodded.

"Dr. Chen, County Chief Fang would like to invite you for a cup of tea. Do you have time?"

Chen Ping zipped up his canvas bag. "I'm free."

The teahouse is located on an old street in the west of the county town. It has a small storefront with wooden doors and windows. A signboard hangs at the entrance with the three characters "Tingyuxuan" written in calligraphy with a skillful and mature style.

Chen Ping followed Xiao Li inside, passing through a small courtyard. There was an osmanthus tree in the courtyard, with stone tables and benches under the tree. The ground was covered with a layer of golden osmanthus blossoms, which felt soft underfoot.

Fang Jianguo sat in the innermost tea room, dressed casually in a dark gray jacket, similar to the one he wore at the hospital that day, but a lighter shade.

On the table in front of him was a set of purple clay teaware. The tea had already been brewed, and the tea soup was bright red, looking particularly beautiful in the white porcelain cup.

"Dr. Chen, please have a seat."

Fang Jianguo pointed to the chair opposite him, his tone very calm, as if he were talking to a friend of the same generation.

Chen Ping sat down.

Xiao Li left and closed the door behind him.

The tea room quieted down, with only the bubbling of the kettle on the electric stove indicating the water was almost boiling.

Fang Jianguo poured him a cup of tea and pushed it towards him.

Chen Ping picked up the cup and took a sip. The tea was Pu'er, aged, with a mellow taste, no astringency, and a long-lasting sweet aftertaste.

"Dr. Chen, thank you for your help with the child."

Fang Jianguo also picked up his cup, took a sip, and put it down. "I'm not just being polite. I had this son late in life, and he's my only child. If something happens to him, neither his mother nor I can survive."

Chen Ping didn't reply, put down his cup, and waited for him to continue.

Fang Jianguo leaned back in his chair, his expression very serious: "I owe you a favor. You can use this favor anytime. As long as it's reasonable and legal, I will definitely help you if I can."

This was a promise made by a county magistrate, and it's important to know that someone who has reached the position of county magistrate doesn't make promises lightly.

But now that Fang Jianguo has made that promise, it's clear how important this child is to him.