System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

The 12th floor of the Function Experimental Building, 1215!

1:47 PM.

Lu Cheng sat among five other older gentlemen, each glancing around but noticing no ”teachers” had arrived. The oldest-looking one took the initiative to start:

”You all look a bit unfamiliar. How about we exchange WeChat contacts? I’ll introduce myself, I’m Han Gongqiang from the Hand Surgery Department at En City People’s Hospital.” Han Gongqiang had broad shoulders, solid muscles, and was quite personable.

”Hello Brother Han, I’m Lin Bin from the Three Gorges University Affiliated First Hospital. I’m thirty-nine this year, probably the oldest after you, Brother Han?” Lin Bin, tall and slender, looked gentle and scholarly, squeezing out a smile behind his glasses.

”I’m from Huangshi City People’s Hospital, Ding Mengzhuo. I’m the same age as Brother Bin, born in May.” Ding Mengzhuo rubbed his protruding belly, his slightly chubby build making him look like a jovial fellow.

”Provincial People’s Hospital, Dong Qiaoshan.” Dong Qiaoshan had a more serious, aloof look with a square face. Even with a smile, he exuded a subtle aura of authority.

After Dong Qiaoshan spoke, Liu Qiming and Lu Cheng stayed silent. The Provincial People’s Hospital was among the top in E Province, its orthopedic department not much inferior to Union Hospital’s.

Realizing the environment tensed up after he spoke, Dong Qiaoshan laughed and said, ”We’re all students here. Even I am here to brush up on my skills, no need to be tense, gentlemen.”

Liu Qiming, with his thick eyebrows, quickly responded with a flattering smile, ”Hello Teacher Dong, I’m Liu Qiming from Xianning City People’s Hospital. I’ve heard of you but regrettably never had the chance to visit.”

Xianning City People’s Hospital was indeed closely aligned with the Provincial People’s Hospital as part of a medical alliance.

”Hello Teacher Dong.”

”Hello Teacher Dong...” The others, including Lu Cheng, greeted him cordially as well.

With Dong Qiaoshan’s age, even if not an associate professor, he was likely a senior attending physician with formidable competence.

Everyone noticed Lu Cheng right away because he looked so young. Dong Qiaoshan turned to him and asked, ”What’s your name, brother? Where do you work?”

Lu Cheng hurriedly responded truthfully, ”Teacher Dong, I’m Lu Cheng. Lu as in land, and Cheng as in success. I’m from the Long County People’s Hospital in Xiang Province...”

Lu Cheng’s words left everyone momentarily dumbfounded, exchanging surprised looks.

The awkward atmosphere lasted about three or four seconds before Dong Qiaoshan warmly extended his hand, ”Dr. Lu, you look quite young.”

”I’m exactly thirty this year,” Lu Cheng replied with a smile.

”Impressive, you’re quite the young achiever. At your age, I was still playing in the mud. You started being responsible early, Xiao Lu.”

”If there’s ever a chance, you must give us some pointers,” Dong Qiaoshan added enthusiastically.

In a small county in Xiang Province, being a doctor might stem from family connections, an early sense of responsibility, or perhaps family holding shares in something.

Lu Cheng quickly replied, ”Teacher Dong, you give me too much credit. It would be more fitting for you and the other teachers to guide me!”

”See, Xiao Lu is so well-mannered, his words and actions are just so soft and delightful,” Dong Qiaoshan remarked naturally.

”But, Xiao Lu, why did you choose a county hospital as your stepping stone?”

Lu Cheng said, ”Teacher Dong, I’ve been working hard at the county hospital for many years with little to show, so I’m here to learn something new.”

”I hope to gain some skills to enrich myself.”

Lu Cheng sensed Dong Qiaoshan and the others’ underlying meanings but dared not play along further.

Dong Qiaoshan’s face was somewhat twisted—

Working in a county hospital for many years suggests a lower educational background; how did he make it here?

However, Dong Qiaoshan did not delve further, ”Xiao Lu’s eagerness to learn is something we could all aspire to.”

”Our meeting is fate. I’m somewhat familiar with Han City, so I boldly suggest we have dinner tonight to get to know each other better.”

”Brother Han, I hope you won’t mind my young age and naïveté,” Dong Qiaoshan looked stern but talked the most, as if with a loose mouth.

The Provincial People’s Hospital status of Dong Qiaoshan was imposing enough that Han Gongqiang couldn’t possibly think less of him, ”Teacher Dong, with your familiarity and adeptness, you’re the best choice for arranging.”

”But upfront, I’ll handle the dinner bill...”

”Then I’ll take care of the drinks. I’ve already brought them,” Liu Qiming quickly volunteered.

Han Gongqiang pulled out his Huanghelou 1916 cigarettes and offered, ”Want to step out for a smoke?”

Dong Qiaoshan and others readily accepted, and Lu Cheng, not claiming to be a non-smoker, followed the crowd out of the classroom and into the restroom.

The five veteran smokers lit up their cigarettes, and Lu Cheng, with a cigarette in his mouth but no lighter, was promptly helped with a light by Ding Mengzhuo.

Lu Cheng took a puff and coughed violently, betraying his novice smoker status.

Being the oldest, Han Gongqiang didn’t mind Lu Cheng’s naivety and asked softly, ”Teacher Dong, is there genuine substance to this workshop led by Professor Xie?”

”Half a year ago, our department head urged us to register. Do you know any insider info, Teacher Dong?”

Dong Qiaoshan nodded, ”Our head told me Professor Xie managed to bring in two full-body instructors this time!”

Emphasizing, ”Two whole instructors, not just parts. I came specifically for this. Plus, there are opportunities for hands-on nerve suturing, making it the highest-spec, most meticulous workshop yet...”

After finishing, Dong Qiaoshan looked at Lu Cheng, ”Originally there were only five spots. Didn’t expect we’d have one more brother now; that’s just serendipity.”

Ten eyes turned to Lu Cheng, instantly catching Dong Qiaoshan’s drift.

Feeling somewhat awkward under the gaze of these seniors, Lu Cheng played dumb, unsure why.

Advanced workshops aren’t about fair exams; mutual willingness between teachers and students redefines justice.

Being savvy, Han Gongqiang and the others knew better than to make things explicit, instead laughing, ”Xiao Lu, you ought to practice your smoking skills too?”

Lu Cheng: ”Apologies, Brother Han, for wasting your good cigarettes.”

Han Gongqiang dismissed it, ”Are cigarettes ever any good?”

”They’re just harmful playthings.”

As they chatted, Cao Kong, who had earlier been in charge of registration, walked into the restroom.

”Teachers, Teacher Xie is here. Let’s go inside and observe some discipline,” urged Cao Kong, a mere Ph.D. student.

”Professor Xie will also be here soon.”

Hearing this, the group quickly disposed of their cigarette butts and, after several deep breaths, filed out, including Lu Cheng.

Xie Yuan’an observed the group of seasoned veterans with plastered smiles entering the classroom, feeling a sense of resignation.

She knew her role as a lecturer was superficial, failing to command the room. If not for the requirement to gain teaching experience for a promotion, she’d never undertake such tasks.

After everyone was seated, Xie Yuan’an softly cleared her throat, ”Welcome, colleagues. On behalf of our hospital’s Hand Surgery Department, I welcome you all.”

”I hope we’ll share a collaborative and fruitful experience during these five days of workshop. Now, let me briefly introduce the course schedule for this workshop...”