Tang Mountain was located in the Feng City Suburbs. It wasn't a tall mountain, but transportation was inconvenient and the area was overgrown with wild grasses. It was the Ding Group's most recent key development project.
A month ago, a survey team discovered a hot spring on Tang Mountain. The water quality was excellent and rich in minerals.
Ding Aiguo immediately made the call to buy the operating rights, preparing to develop it into a high-end hot spring resort.
But the results of a detailed survey over the past few days were disappointing—the hot spring's flow rate was too low, the water pressure was insufficient, and it simply couldn't support large-scale commercial development.
"According to the current data, even if we force development, the daily water output would only be enough for two guest rooms. Forget about making a profit; we couldn't even stay in business," Ding Kaifang said helplessly.
What's more, they had been pumping water for a few days.
Now, the spring wasn't producing any water at all.
And any water they managed to force out was cold.
Ding Aiguo frowned. "Are the survey reports accurate? Could there be an error?"
"We've already run the tests three times, and the results were the same each time," Ding Kaifang sighed. "We have no choice but to give up now. We basically bought the operating rights for nothing."
Xue Mei comforted him, "You can't rush things in business. Since it's not a good fit, it's better to cut our losses now."
Ding Aiguo nodded and didn't say anything more.
'For a large corporation like theirs, failed investments were normal.'
After dinner, Duoduo was so sleepy she couldn't stop yawning, so Ding Kaifang took her home first.
Since Xue Mei had a good nap in the afternoon, she was still feeling quite energetic and sat in the living room chatting with Ding Aiguo.
"I'm so worried about Duoduo," Xue Mei sighed.
Ding Aiguo's brows furrowed tightly.
Anorexia, or anorexia nervosa in full, is a psychological disorder.
Common types include childhood anorexia, adolescent anorexia, and anorexia nervosa. It is particularly common in females, with a prevalence about ten times higher than in males.
The causes of anorexia are complex, involving social factors, family factors, and more.
Most critically, the disease can be fatal. Its mortality rate can reach 10-20%, mostly due to complications from malnutrition and suicide resulting from depression.
A person who only drinks water and doesn't eat can survive for a month at most.
Duoduo could still drink a little water for now.
But if her symptoms didn't improve, she might even stop drinking water.
"I hope the doctors at the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine have a solution."
Ding Aiguo said.
...
The next morning, the driver took Ding Kaifang and Duoduo to the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The hospital lobby was bustling with people, and long lines had formed in front of the registration windows.
Ding Kaifang had pulled some strings in advance, so he took Duoduo directly to the specialist consultation area.
He had made inquiries and learned that the most famous doctor at the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine was Professor Gao Guanghui.
He was best known for treating difficult and complex cases.
"Dad, I don't want to see the doctor..." Duoduo whispered, shrinking into Ding Kaifang's arms, her little face pale.
"Be good. After we see the doctor, we'll go get some ice cream."
Ding Kaifang coaxed her softly, but his heart ached. 'That trick used to work, but now Duoduo isn't even interested in her favorite ice cream.'
Pushing open the consultation room door, they saw an elderly man with salt-and-pepper hair sitting inside. It was Professor Gao Guanghui.
He was wearing reading glasses and had a kind face. When he saw Duoduo, he smiled slightly. "Come on in, little one."
The room was filled with the faint scent of Chinese medicinal herbs.
Gao Guanghui had Duoduo sit on a small stool. He first observed her complexion and the coating on her tongue, then gently took her pulse.
"How long has she had anorexia?"
"Over half a year. At first, she just didn't like to eat, then she started eating less and less," Ding Kaifang said, fraught with worry. "Now she eats almost nothing, just drinks a little water."
Gao Guanghui nodded and asked a few more questions, such as what Duoduo usually liked to eat, whether she had ever been frightened, and about their family dynamics.
Ding Kaifang answered each question, but he was a little confused. 'What do these questions have to do with anorexia?'
"Childhood anorexia may seem like a problem with the spleen and stomach, but it's actually closely related to one's emotional state," Gao Guanghui explained as he wrote out a prescription. "Children are sensitive. The family environment, academic pressure, even a parent's careless remark can cause them to develop resistance, which in turn affects their appetite."
Ding Kaifang was taken aback. "But our family..."
"I'm not saying there's a problem with your family," Gao Guanghui smiled. "A child's world is very small. A minor issue can seem like the end of the world to them."
He finished writing the prescription and handed it to Ding Kaifang. "This is a formula to stimulate the appetite and strengthen the spleen, combined with some herbs to calm the spirit. Have her take it for seven days first."
Ding Kaifang took the prescription and saw what was written on it:
Prince Ginseng, Poria Cocos, Fried Atractylodes, Dried Tangerine Peel, Amomum Villosum, Polygala Tenuifolia, Silktree Bark...
"Doctor Gao, is this medicine... bitter?" Ding Kaifang asked hesitantly.
"It's a little bitter, but I've added licorice, so it won't be too hard to drink," Gao Guanghui said, patting Duoduo's head. "You'll be a good girl and take your medicine, okay, little one?"
Duoduo kept her head down and didn't make a sound.
"This is my phone number. If anything comes up after you get home, you can contact me."
Gao Guanghui handed him a business card.
Of course, he didn't give his card to every patient.
Besides, Duoduo's case was a classic example of childhood anorexia.
He wanted to follow up to determine the medicine's efficacy.
This would allow him to adjust the medication when encountering patients with similar symptoms in the future.
"Thank you, Doctor."
Ding Kaifang took Duoduo downstairs to have the prescription filled.
When they got home, he immediately had the nanny brew the medicine.
After the medicine was brewed, the whole house filled with the bitter smell of herbs.
Ding Kaifang held the bowl and crouched in front of Duoduo. "Duoduo, let's just drink a tiny bit, just a little, okay?"
Duoduo stared at the dark, murky medicinal liquid, then suddenly covered her mouth and shook her head violently.
"Be good, just one sip. After you drink it, Daddy will take you to the amusement park!"
Duoduo just shook her head, her eyes turning red.
Ding Kaifang's wife, Lin Yue, tried to bring the bowl to Duoduo's lips, but as soon as Duoduo smelled it, she burst out crying with a "WAAH!" Her small hands desperately pushed the bowl away, spilling the medicine all over the floor.
"What are we going to do?" Lin Yue stomped her foot in frustration.
Ding Kaifang gritted his teeth. "Should we... force her?"
"No!" Lin Yue immediately objected. "She's already resistant. Forcing her will only make her more scared!"
Ding Kaifang thought for a moment, then took out his phone and called Gao Guanghui.
"Doctor Gao, Duoduo absolutely refuses to drink the medicine. Can we... force a little of it down?"
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds before Gao Guanghui sighed. "Mr. Ding, forcing a child with anorexia is the worst thing you can do. If you force the medicine down, it could make her develop an even deeper fear of the act of 'eating.' She might even refuse to drink water after that."
"Then what do we do?" Ding Kaifang's voice trembled.
"You can only guide her patiently, or..." Gao Guanghui paused. "Try other methods, like medicinal baths, Massage, or making the medicine into sweet pills."
After hanging up, Ding Kaifang and Lin Yue looked at each other, speechless.
Sweet pills? Duoduo wouldn't even eat candy now.
Medicinal baths? She even resisted taking regular baths.
Massage? She wouldn't let strangers touch her at all.
...
「Li's Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic.」
Li Xu was engrossed in studying the Commentary on the Art and Literature Record, while Song Sisi was racking her brain writing a paper.
DING-A-LING~
His phone rang.
It was a call from his old classmate, Hu Qiming, who worked at the City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
"Old friend, what's up?"
"Haha, it's good news! The City Health Commission issued a directive to improve primary healthcare. The directive requires the city's Class A Grade 3 hospitals to send staff to support grassroots clinics and health centers. I just saw the list, and your clinic is on it, so I volunteered to be the one to support you guys."