System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

”If it’s still very painful, we can postpone the rehabilitation for a day, especially since the brace you ordered hasn’t arrived yet.”

Han Rong smiled and replied, ”Dr. Lu, my brother said he asked my dad to order a custom brace, it should arrive this afternoon.”

Han Rong had fair skin, but there were some acne marks on her face. She looked quite young, had a slender figure with long legs, but was perhaps too ’slender’!

Lu Cheng nodded and said, ”A professional hand brace will be more beneficial for rehabilitation. Dr. Han is an orthopedic doctor and can understand the expense of a custom brace.”

”I’ll call someone to come over later.”

Han Yongshan asked, ”Dr. Lu, isn’t a custom brace quite expensive?”

”It’s about a thousand, designed based on your size and hand circumference. It’s a bit better than the generic type. I’m not sure about the exact price, you can deal directly with the supplier when the time comes,” Lu Cheng replied honestly.

Han Yongshan looked at Han Rong, ”Why buy something so expensive? It’s not like it will be used for long.”

Han Rong said with her hands behind her back, ”Dad, why do you care about this? You always say you’re getting old and will listen to my brother and me!”

”But now you want to make a decision yourself? Just leave it be.”

”You’re not paying for it anyway.”

After saying this, Han Rong turned to Lu Cheng, ”Dr. Lu, you told my dad yesterday that he could start functional exercise today, so he started clenching his fists this morning. This won’t affect his recovery, right?”

”Isn’t it a bit rushed?”

Just because Han Rong’s brother is in orthopedics doesn’t mean Han Rong fully understands such a fast post-surgery recovery plan.

Lu Cheng responded cautiously, ”It can also be slower. Mainly because your father’s muscle strength is still good, and his pre-surgery functionality was quite decent. He has a strong tendon base, which allows for quick recovery.”

”If you’re worried, you can postpone it for two or three days. It won’t make much difference.”

Han Rong realized she misspoke and quickly explained, ”Dr. Lu, I didn’t mean to question your judgment, I just asked offhandedly.”

”I think my dad’s surgery went very well, really, thank you Dr. Lu!”

”I wonder if I could have the chance to treat you to a meal, Dr. Lu.”

After saying this, Han Rong casually turned to help her father get out of bed.

”Dr. Han, you don’t have to be so polite. The fact that Uncle Han chose to come all the way from Ji City to see me in Long County makes me feel honored.”

”I just did what was necessary, no need for a meal,” Lu Cheng declined, then added to Tian Zhuang:

”Stop the intravenous pain medication for this patient, switch to oral meds, and also get him a box of calcium tablets and vitamin D. Older people often take these. He asked me to prescribe them yesterday, but it was too late to get them in the evening.”

Tian Zhuang replied, ”Dr. Lu, I’ve already prescribed the calcium and vitamin D, and also two boxes of the anti-swelling meds.”

”But during the morning rounds, Dr. Xiao didn’t mention stopping the intravenous meds.”

Lu Cheng replied, ”Then just stop the dosage for tonight.”

Han Rong walked her father, Han Yongshan, to the restroom door, let him go in alone, then turned back: ”Dr. Lu, inviting you for a meal is just a gesture, you’re being too polite, you’ve indeed been a great help.”

”If you hadn’t happened to be in the department last night, I would definitely have had to call and bother you to come over personally.”

Lu Cheng laughed and said, ”Wasn’t it destined for us to meet? I happened to be here, it was no trouble.”

”Dr. Han, you really don’t need to be so polite. I’ll continue with my rounds; I’m sure you’re also quite busy with your internal medicine duties.”

Lu Cheng then headed to bed 3, where Chen Nanlan was the second tendon suturing patient after Han Yongshan’s surgery yesterday.

Chen Nanlan immediately smiled and asked, ”Dr. Lu, you can’t be very old, right? You look so young, do you have a girlfriend?”

Lu Cheng replied, ”I’m already thirty, do you think I have a girlfriend or not?”

”Sister, how’s your physical rehabilitation going?”

”Come, let me have a look...” Lu Cheng bent down to carefully observe Chen Nanlan’s finger flexion and extension.

Over there, Han Rong’s eyes dimmed slightly before she said, ”Dr. Lu, colleagues having a meal together, your girlfriend shouldn’t misunderstand, right?”

Lu Cheng turned and smiled, ”Dr. Han, how about this? After uncle is discharged, I’ll treat you to a meal, as a colleague gathering.”

”Also a way to thank you for trusting me.”

Han Rong suddenly realized that she and Lu Cheng were more than just colleagues; they were also in a patient-relative and medical staff relationship. If she did something behind his back, Lu Cheng couldn’t escape.

Of course, Han Rong knew she wouldn’t do that, but Lu Cheng, as the attending physician, had to act cautiously.

”That works. It’s a deal then,” Han Rong agreed casually, not taking it seriously.

She just felt a bit regretful that with age, good boys around her were becoming rarer. Finally finding one that caught her eye, and he was already taken.

Which was normal, it would be strange if Lu Cheng didn’t have a girlfriend...

Why hadn’t anyone introduced Lu Cheng to her? Han Rong felt a bit conflicted inside, but quickly shrugged it off.

Lu Cheng turned to look at Chen Nanlan, ”So far, it looks good, but your situation is different from Uncle Han’s. You’ve suffered more tendon damage, and the cuts are deeper.”

Lu Cheng instructed, ”So your rehabilitation should be more gradual, with a longer recovery period, to avoid ruptures or tears during the process.”

Chen Nanlan was scared, ”Does moving it a bit this morning affect it?”

Lu Cheng reassured, ”I’m just afraid you’d rush recovery to compete with Uncle Han and make yourself anxious. There’s no need to hurry. Taking it slower won’t affect it.”

”That’s not the case,” Chen Nanlan quickly smiled and replied.

[By communicating appropriately to soothe a patient with mild anxiety, obtained 0.1 Skill Points]

Lu Cheng didn’t expose Chen Nanlan’s lie, ”Glad to hear that... There’s nothing else to note, just the usual stuff. Quit smoking and drinking, definitely quit smoking...”

Chen Nanlan understood who Lu Cheng was addressing, ”Don’t worry, Dr. Lu, we’ll keep an eye on Uncle Han.”

The patient in bed 4 was discharged this morning, so it was temporarily empty. Lu Cheng then proceeded to bed 5.

The lady in bed 5 smiled at Lu Cheng and said, ”Dr. Lu, Professor Tong also came to see me this morning and said the recovery is going well.”

She had a very positive demeanor, with a bright smile and a kind voice. This made Lu Cheng feel a bit melancholy.

But he didn’t express it, only smiled and said, ”Then I don’t need to check on you. Professor Tong must have already given you more professional guidance.”

”But, miss, you should pay attention to losing weight!~”

”Haha, okay.” The lady felt a bit self-conscious and patted her tummy.

Lu Cheng added, ”I’m serious, losing weight not only benefits health but also improves appearance, and makes it easier to find clothes too.”

Upon hearing this, the lady didn’t know why, but she really took it to heart.

[Persuaded an obese patient to decide on weight loss, planted the seed of determination, helped reduce the risk of diseases, obtained 0.3 Skill Points!]

This lady is quite adorable...

”Dr. Lu, I’m serious too.” The lady nodded earnestly.

After finishing the rounds, Lu Cheng rubbed some hand sanitizer as he looked at Tian Zhuang, ”Brother Wu, how are you handling meals now?”

Tian Zhuang lowered his head slightly and said vaguely, ”Brother Lu, I still have some money.”

”And your brother?” Lu Cheng’s expression was conflicted.

Yesterday, Tian Zhuang had asked again how to learn suturing skills, and Lu Cheng was considering whether to continue the conversation with him.

”My mom called several times asking me to go back, but I didn’t agree. As for my eldest and second brothers...” Tian Zhuang seemed a bit embarrassed here.

Lu Cheng said, ”Forget it; if it’s hard to explain, don’t bother.”

Lu Cheng walked away—it’s Tian Zhuang’s family matter, and Lu Cheng wasn’t interested in getting involved.

Tian Zhuang realized Lu Cheng was a bit upset and quickly followed, ”Brother Lu, they’re mainly asking to borrow money for the mortgage, or else it’ll be overdue. I didn’t agree.”

”Brother Lu, I really want to learn the technique, and I promise I won’t cause you any more trouble.” Tian Zhuang promised.

[Helped a timid patient rebuild confidence, overcome psychological shadows, partially restore self-confidence, and find life’s direction, obtaining 2.2 Skill Points]