System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

Tendon suturing skill (proficiency 2/10), modified Kessler suture technique (proficiency 3/10), compared to two other (proficiency 0/10), seem to have only increased proficiency by 2 and 3 points.

However, proficiency isn’t something that should increase instantly like it did for Lu Cheng; it requires meticulous training and diligent effort.

Once proficiency improves, it doesn’t just look better but becomes evident in every operational detail, making the work increasingly ’pleasing to the eye’ for professionals!

It’s not the ’level’ leap in proficiency that leads to a qualitative change, but quantitative changes are the source of qualitative transformations.

”I just casually came over to take a look.” Chen Song wouldn’t admit that he saw the information in the group, saw Lu Cheng bringing a patient into the operating room, and came over to keep an eye on Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng has not yet formally acknowledged him as a mentor; at most, Lu Cheng had bought him a thirty-one yuan cup of milk tea as a ’token of respect’.

The ’thirty-one yuan’ respect was long done.

No doctor would knock on the door, and no teacher would take a detour for nothing. Chen Song wasn’t a glutton for punishment, and his voice was slightly playful: ”If I hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have realized my eyesight is getting worse... must have been hit.”

Lu Cheng caught the hidden meaning in Chen Song’s words about ’being hit’.

At this moment, Han Xiaoping looked up and joked: ”Professor Chen, is it really fair being so partial to Xiao Lu?”

Chen Song glanced at Han Xiaoping, his tone gentle: ”Oh, does Xiao Han have an opinion?”

”Do you want me to give you another chance to evaluate your basic skills? If you do better than Xiao Lu, I could be more partial towards you.” Chen Song replied earnestly.

Han Xiaoping laughed heartily, trying to cover his embarrassment with a smile.

”Or, are you doubting our hospital’s consistently excellent teaching evaluation method?”

Han Xiaoping nearly felt overwhelmed by the imposing words from Chen Song: ”Professor Chen, listen to what you’re saying.”

”What I’m saying is, you’re producing a lot, and Xiao Lu is drinking the first press, shouldn’t you give us a taste too...”

”Cough, cough!~” Circulating nurse Xue Xue immediately coughed and said, ”Watch your language.”

Han Xiaoping had no other intentions, but what he said was indeed a bit blunt and quickly clammed up.

Chen Song walked away proudly: ”I’m quite frail, don’t want you all to drain me dry.”

”Going to rest now.”

”Xiao Lu, after the surgery, come find me, accompany me for a late-night snack... you’re buying...” Chen Song instructed.

”Okay, Teacher Chen.” Lu Cheng had no doubts.

Chen Song taught him so much; it’s very normal to treat him to a meal. Usually, Zhang Tiesheng and Zeng Huanqi want to invite Chen Song to dinner, but Chen Song doesn’t even bother to go.

Although his monthly salary was only eight thousand yuan, not particularly wealthy, Lu Cheng couldn’t afford to be stingy.

After Chen Song left, Han Xiaoxian admired with envy, his eyes slightly flattering: ”Xiao Lu, Professor Chen is truly good to you.”

”After a few months, you might take off. By then, don’t forget your Brother Ping.”

The patient’s injury was as expected, and the surgical method was a technique Lu Cheng was skilled in, so he was at ease, smirking lightly: ”Take off? The wings may break just after spreading.”

”Without surgical volume, how can I take off? What position would I have when it’s all based on seniority?” Lu Cheng glanced at Han Xiaoping, speaking with a smile.

Han Xiaoping didn’t respond, evidently acknowledging the reality in Lu Cheng’s words.

Lu Cheng could handle surgeries others couldn’t; no one dared to compete. But if it were others’ core surgeries, it wouldn’t be Lu Cheng’s turn.

...

After the surgery, Lu Cheng didn’t immediately look for Chen Song but waited until the patient was back in the ward, then carefully explained to the family the details to observe post-surgery:

”Wearing a cast today might be uncomfortable, but today’s discomfort must be endured. Don’t take it off, or there’s a chance the stitches might snap.”

”Also, don’t exert your hand too much.”

”Once the anesthetic wears off, the pain will start to increase. I’ve added painkillers for you, but if the pain becomes severe, ask the on-duty doctor for more.”

”Don’t worry too much about other things, rest well tonight, and tomorrow I will come with Professor Chen to see you. Then we can plan your post-operative rehabilitation based on your condition.”

”Oh, you can’t compare yourself to bed 3; he’s on his fourth day post-surgery, so he can move his hand freely.” Lu Cheng carefully explained.

”I can’t compare, I just had the surgery, why should I?” the patient, in his sixties with white hair, replied earnestly.

”Dr. Lu, I’ll be watching him, he won’t dare mess around.” The patient’s wife, also with half-white temples, said with a big smile.

Lu Cheng chuckled softly: ”Most people wouldn’t think of comparing, but there are a few who are competitive. I encountered it during my training.”

”Complex fractures were caught sneaking out of bed the first day, and two hours later had to be taken back to the operating room.”

”I apologize for being verbose, but everything I mentioned is from experience, nothing else to add…”

”But if the hand feels very numb or swollen, inform the doctor immediately, as it could be a hematoma. Hematomas caught early are easy to treat, do not neglect it.”

”Regarding your gastroenteritis, we can’t address it today; tomorrow we’ll have a gastroenterologist from internal medicine consult and prescribe some medication...”

From the other side, a patient named Xiao Gao said: ”Dr. Lu is very attentive, even if he seems wordy, it’s for your own good. Listen to him, you won’t go wrong.”

”Okay, okay, more words bring more reassurance.” The patient laughed sheepishly.

”Dr. Lu, have you had dinner? Hope it hasn’t delayed your meal.” The elderly woman quickly inquired.

That’s how it is in the county, with lots of social customs, and alongside them, a warmth that can’t be matched in Han City.

”I’ve eaten, I’ve eaten, but I must be off work, see you tomorrow…” Lu Cheng turned to leave.

”...”

About two hours after Lu Cheng left, a young, lean figure in a white coat slipped into the comprehensive ward in the emergency department where the elderly couple was housed.

The person, wearing a white coat, was questioned by the elderly: ”And you are?”

”I’m Peng Kun from orthopedics, on duty today. I heard from the operating room about a tendon suturing done in the emergency department, came to learn a bit.”

The elderly couple stood nervously, trembling slightly, with anxious expressions: ”It’s my surgery, doctor. Is something wrong? Did the surgery fail?”

Peng Kun, slender in build, shook his head gently, speaking amiably: ”No, the surgery is fine, I came to learn and do a simple check, if that’s alright?”

”No problem, no problem. We thought there was an issue with the surgery.” The couple shook their heads.

As Peng Kun leaned closer, the senior quietly asked: ”Dr. Peng, are you an orthopedic doctor?”

”Yes, I completed my graduate studies at Xiangya Second Hospital, recently returned to work.” Peng Kun replied while carefully observing the patient’s fingers and hand blood flow.

If the fingers or hand appear pale, it may indicate post-operative hematoma or vessel involvement, risking necrosis.

Upon realizing Peng Kun was a graduate from Xiangya Second Hospital, the senior became wary: ”But Dr. Lu said, no one at Renmin Hospital could perform tendon suturing. Was he deceiving us for the surgery?”

Peng Kun narrowed his eyes slightly: ”I studied sports medicine, not a hand surgery specialist, so I don’t perform tendon sutures either.”

”Naturally, I wanted to learn since I’m back, so I came to observe a bit.”

”Otherwise, since I’m on duty today, I would have been the one performing surgery.”

Having just completed a surgery, Peng Kun dared not remove the cast for further examination but spent time analyzing the suture incisions for insights: ”Indeed, sewn well, Dr. Lu performed the surgery with great skill.”

”Unfortunately, he won’t stay with our orthopedics department...” Peng Kun felt somewhat regretful.

”Oh, Dr. Lu worked in orthopedics before?” The senior felt reassured after hearing Peng Kun also recognized the quality of Lu Cheng’s surgical work, and began to gossip.

”Yes, Dr. Lu was still in our department last month, it’s just this month he transferred to emergency.”

”Sir, your surgery was performed well; follow the doctor’s instructions for rehabilitation, and you’ll recover nicely.” Peng Kun released the patient’s hand, removed his examination gloves, and used the ulna side of his index finger to wipe his forehead.

Peng Kun, having been sponsored to pursue his graduate studies, reflected on how three years ago, when Lu Cheng joined orthopedics, he was still at Renmin Hospital, knowing only that Lu Cheng was well-versed and educated.

To the extent his own father felt threatened about Peng Kun’s future prospects, promptly arranging for him to pursue further studies...