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

Around noon, Chen Ping checked the time and got up to leave the consultation room.

"Wang Tao, keep an eye on things; I need to go out at noon!"

Chen Ping called out into the corridor.

"You've arrived, Master..."

Wang Tao ran over quickly.

Chen Ping headed towards Zhao Guosheng's office. He was having lunch with Zhang Jianmin, and he wanted to let Zhao Guosheng know as well.

As he passed the pharmacy, Chen Ping glanced inside through the window.

Sun Xiaoyan sat in the chair, her face still covered in sweat, drinking water expressionlessly.

Chen Ping walked to the door of Zhao Guosheng's office and knocked on the door frame. "Dean, I have a lunch appointment with Secretary Zhang, so I won't be eating in the cafeteria."

"Wang Tao is watching the clinic, so there are no patients here right now."

Zhao Guosheng looked up from behind his desk. "Go ahead. If there are patients in the consultation room, I can keep an eye on things. Nothing will happen."

Chen Ping nodded and then walked towards the gate of the health center.

"Dr. Chen, are you going out?"

Liu Mazi was sitting in the guardhouse when he saw Chen Ping coming over. He stood up and greeted him.

"Yes, I'm going out to take care of some errands." Chen Ping nodded with a smile!

The streets were much quieter at midday than in the morning. The bright sunlight shone on the road, casting a small shadow of the old locust tree by the roadside.

When Chen Ping arrived at Lao Zhou's restaurant, there weren't many people at the entrance, and Lao Zhou was dozing off behind the counter.

That's how it is in these rural restaurants nestled in the mountains; unless you're hosting a dinner party or doing business, people rarely come here to eat.

So, in Siping Township, with tens of thousands of people, they only support Lao Zhou's restaurant. They can't afford to support one more.

"Old Zhou, not busy today?" Chen Ping asked.

Old Zhou stood up and said with a simple smile, "It's the same every day, except for holidays."

As Lao Zhou spoke, he led Chen Ping toward the private room, saying, "Dr. Chen, Secretary Zhang hasn't arrived yet. Please have a seat, and I'll pour you a cup of tea."

Chen Ping sat down in the private room by the window. Old Zhou brought over a pot of tea and set out two cups. "Secretary Zhang booked a private room and said he wanted to have dinner with you. In our Siping Township, the only person Secretary Zhang would invite alone is probably Dr. Chen."

Chen Ping smiled and said, "Stop joking. Secretary Zhang has eaten here quite a few times."

"I'm not making this up. Although Secretary Zhang has eaten here quite a few times, it was always other people who treated him. There aren't many people who would make Secretary Zhang pay out of his own pocket."

"Dr. Chen, don't underestimate yourself just because you're a doctor. You have more influence than the hospital director and even the village chiefs."

As Old Zhou spoke, he glanced at Chen Ping with envy.

For ordinary people, having a township party secretary treat them to a meal is a great honor.

Many village chiefs, committee members, and village party secretaries want to invite Zhang Jianmin every day, but Zhang Jianmin doesn't give face to everyone.

But when it came to Chen Ping, Zhang Jianmin took the initiative to treat him to a meal, which was a stark contrast.

Old Zhou's restaurant is the only one in the entire Siping Township, so he knows everything about it!

"It was just a casual meal with Secretary Zhang, and besides, I couldn't let him pay for it..."

As Chen Ping spoke, he took out two hundred yuan and handed it to Lao Zhou: "Take this money first, and we'll make up the difference later."

"No need, just give me a hundred first. I doubt you'll even spend a hundred!"

Old Zhou only took out a hundred-yuan bill. "Dr. Chen, everyone says that you city people, especially those with high education, don't understand social etiquette."

"But I see that you are very good at interpersonal relationships. It won't be long before Dean Zhao retires and you will definitely become the dean."

Chen Ping smiled awkwardly, then poured himself a cup of tea and drank it. He didn't want to discuss this issue with Lao Zhou.

About ten minutes later, footsteps came from the doorway, and Zhang Jianmin pushed the door open and came in.

He was wearing a light gray coat today. He greeted Chen Ping as soon as he entered, then stepped aside to let the person behind him in.

A woman in her forties followed them into the private room. She was wearing a dark gray coat and her hair was neatly tied up, making her look very capable.

Zhang Jianmin introduced, "Dr. Chen, this is my wife, Liu Mei. She works at a pharmacy in the city. She came to visit me these past few days when she had some free time."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ping quickly stood up and extended his hand, saying, "Hello, sister-in-law."

Liu Mei smiled and shook hands with Chen Ping. "Dr. Chen, my husband has mentioned you many times before. I'm so glad to finally meet you in person today."

"My Miaomiao would have been in real danger if it weren't for Dr. Chen's help. I've always wanted to thank you in person, but I haven't had the time."

"Sister-in-law, it's nothing, and besides, Secretary Zhang has helped me a lot during my time in Siping Township," Chen Ping said.

"Alright, everyone, please sit down!"

Zhang Jianmin invited the two to sit down, then told Lao Zhou about a few dishes, and Lao Zhou went to prepare them.

"Dr. Chen, would you like some more wine?" Zhang Jianmin asked Chen Ping.

"I'm not drinking anymore, I have to go to work this afternoon!" Chen Ping shook his head.

"Then I won't drink it. I have a meeting this afternoon..." Zhang Jianmin said.

Chen Ping poured water for Zhang Jianmin and his wife and waited quietly for the food to be served.

Zhang Jianmin took a sip of his tea, glanced at his wife, and then turned to Chen Ping, saying, "Dr. Chen, the reason I invited you to dinner today is because there's something I'd like to ask you for a favor."

"Your sister-in-law has been having migraines lately. She has a throbbing pain in her left temple. She went to the city hospital for a checkup and had a CT scan done. They said there was nothing wrong and prescribed some painkillers. They worked for a few days, but then the pain returned."

"Your medical skills are superb, and you've seen many difficult and complex cases. Could you take a look at them?"

Liu Mei frowned upon hearing this: "Yes, when it hurts, half of my head feels swollen, and I can't sleep well at night. It's really awful."

Chen Ping put down his teacup, looked at Liu Mei's face, and said, "Sister-in-law, stretch out your right hand so I can take your pulse."

Liu Mei rolled up her sleeves and rested her wrists on the edge of the table.

Chen Ping placed three fingers on the finger, closed his eyes, and sang for about ten seconds, then switched to his left hand and sang for the same amount of time.

Then he let go and asked, "Sister-in-law, is your headache related to your menstrual cycle?"

"Is the pain more severe before or during your period?"

Liu Mei paused for a moment, then nodded. "That's true. The pain is worst for the two days before my period, but it gets better after that."

Chen Ping smiled and said, "Then it's not a problem with the head. It's a menstrual headache caused by insufficient liver blood and upward flow of qi and blood. Western medicine can't find any organic lesions, so the CT scan is normal."

"It's not a serious problem. If it's convenient for you this afternoon, come to the health center. I'll give you a few acupuncture treatments and prescribe some traditional Chinese medicine to help you recover. You should be fully recovered in two or three cycles."

Upon hearing this, Liu Mei's expression visibly relaxed. "That would be too much trouble for Dr. Chen."