System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

The general surgery department needs to be studied, and the emergency department definitely needs to be studied as well.

As things stand, Director Lin and the others in the emergency department have been quite good to me, so I shouldn’t easily bypass Lin Qianlong to make any promises to Du Qiang.

”Director Du, as you know, our emergency department is in a rather awkward position, especially our emergency surgery section, where the range of surgeries we can perform is very limited.”

”For now, we’re just barely able to make ends meet.” Lu Cheng explained his situation.

”We can send some other emergency cases your way.”

”I’ve also discussed it with Director Lin, and he has agreed to it.” Du Qiang suddenly revealed surprisingly.

Lu Cheng immediately sat up straight, very surprised: ”Director Lin agreed?”

”Yes, I spoke to Director Lin about it. I’ll make the cases of digestive tract perforations and intestinal obstructions available!”

Knowing that Lu Cheng would not easily believe just his words, Du Qiang added, ”Specifically, you can confirm with Director Lin before getting back to me.”

”Xiao Lu, regardless of Director Lin’s decisions, you need to understand him. With their level of technical accumulation, it’s not a sure thing whether they are suited for spleen preservation or gallbladder preservation surgeries.”

”It’s too much of a leap; emergency basic surgeries are more suitable, while specialized surgeries should be done by specialized doctors.”

”Learning technical skills isn’t easy, and finding the right learning path is even harder... You should understand that better than I do...”

After saying this, Du Qiang took a sip of tea and stood up: ”Xiao Lu, give it some thought, and I’ll wait for your response.”

”Anyway, we’ve already added each other on WeChat.”

Du Qiang left.

Lu Cheng watched Du Qiang’s back, deep in thought.

Clearly, Director Du Qiang is a smart person, not the kind of person who mindlessly stirs up resentment.

October 1st, Thursday, at noon.

The weather was slightly cold.

There were no patients in the emergency surgery consultation room, so Lu Cheng had lunch there with Zhang Tiesheng.

The lunch was ordered by Zhang Tiesheng. Before the National Day, Lu Cheng had treated everyone in the department to a meal, spending quite a lot.

The takeaway from He Dagang’s Porridge Restaurant was twenty yuan per meal, the same price as dining in.

”Brother Zhang, today Director Du Qiang from general surgery told me that our hospital’s spleen and gallbladder preservation surgeries will be transferred to their department, and Director Lin agreed to it.”

”Is he trying to trick me or is it true?” Lu Cheng handed over the decision-making authority, proving he didn’t make a unilateral decision.

Previously, it was agreed between Lu Cheng, Zhang Tiesheng, and others that during Chen Song’s countryside stint, all learning resources would be yielded to Lu Cheng. Once he learned the surgeries, he would gradually teach them how to perform spleen and gallbladder preservation surgeries.

There had been no other variables mentioned until now.

Zhang Tiesheng’s large black-framed glasses shook up and down as he took a few big bites, chewing quickly: ”Director Lin mentioned this to us privately.”

”In actual fact, the difficulty of spleen preservation and gallbladder preservation surgeries is far beyond our current level.”

”Xiao Lu, you’ve been learning for so long and haven’t mastered it yet. If we spend time learning it, we might not achieve anything substantial.”

Zhang did not shy away from stating, ”After all, Xiao Lu, you plan to take part in the state talent selection exam and may not be in Long County for more than a year.”

Zhang Tiesheng chuckled lightly as he put down the chopsticks: ”Based on what you’ve said before, even in a year, I might not learn much.”

”It’s better to hand this opportunity back to general surgery in exchange for something more practical.”

The decisions made by Lu Cheng at the hospital leadership level can’t be ignored as if nothing happened.

In principle, the staffing in the Long County People’s Hospital is managed by the state. Lu Cheng just underwent a legitimate personnel change within Xiangzhou.

It’s also a normal personnel change within the autonomous prefecture.

Lu Cheng hurriedly stated, ”Brother Zhang, won’t you suffer for this? When Professor Chen was around, I took all the resources.”

In any case, Zhang Tiesheng and Zeng Huanqi had been generous in giving up the learning opportunity. Even if they didn’t offer it to Lu Cheng right away, this kindness is worth remembering.

”What’s there to lose? Their general surgery department wants us from the emergency department to help with advanced surgeries; it doesn’t come cheap.”

”It’s just that on this matter, Director Lin and I slightly disagree.”

Zhang Tiesheng glanced at Lu Cheng, smacked his lips twice, quickly took four or five bites, and then continued: ”This approach is because they know you’re leaving and are turning you into a bargaining chip.”

”Due to that, Director Lin perhaps doesn’t know how to approach you with this.”

”An even more realistic issue is that once you leave, our emergency department will revert, unable to handle tendon suturing or manual repositioning, still needing spleen and gallbladder preservation cases to be referred.”

”With backlogs in surgeries, everyone will have to tighten their belts again.”

The payroll for September was calculated this morning, Zhang Tiesheng’s performance pay came to 10,002.32!

Such tidy figures used to be unimaginable in the emergency department.

Lu Cheng was silent for a while before saying, ”Brother Zhang, I hadn’t discussed with Director Lin about participating in the state talent selection previously.”

Zhang Tiesheng made a scornful noise, ”What is there to discuss?”

”Who wouldn’t want a good job? Both I and Zeng Huanqi apply every year, just haven’t made it yet.”

”You’re just making a personnel change within the Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture; who would stop you?”

Zhang Tiesheng looked again at Lu Cheng and added, ”But you should also prepare for a tug-of-war. This kind of selection exam isn’t usually passed in one go.”

”Of course, it’s not impossible to get selected with just one try.” Zhang Tiesheng spoke somewhat cryptically.

We’re adults; everyone understands what Zhang Tiesheng meant.

Furthermore, Zhang Tiesheng analyzed Lu Cheng’s strengths: ”However, unlike others, you have the exact resources that may appeal to those state directors.”

”With your own research projects... it’s a significant attraction for teaching hospitals... they might not be able to resist it.”

”Many chief physicians at the State People’s Hospital have wanted to reach professorship for a long time.”

Cities at the prefecture-level do not focus on academic research, but that’s a widespread trend.

To advance to professorships, one must have research; senior physicians welcome anyone who knows research.

Currently, many prefectural hospitals only hire those with postgraduate degrees, precisely for this reason.

They recruit people because of staff shortages but also hope new blood can help them ascend further.

”So, we assess your odds of being selected as quite high.” Zhang Tiesheng elaborated in detail on the considerations and strategies made by him and Director Lin Qianlong.

It can’t be said Lu Cheng pulls the ladder away, leaving Lin Qianlong and the others without options.

”Brother Zhang, are there a lot of traps in these selection exams?” Lu Cheng stopped overthinking and continued querying.

”Let me be clear, there are many pitfalls, and a lot of people work in county hospitals as springboards to get to Ji City.”

”Many need this platform, not everyone gets the opportunity to study for a master’s or doctorate...”

”Of course, capable people are also scarce, and if someone is genuinely talented, the state would prioritize them.”

”After all, the medical profession differs greatly from others; maybe six out of ten slots are for skilled individuals.” Zhang Tiesheng’s stance was direct without being ambiguous.

In medicine, unlike other professions, when teachers take selection exams, if the candidate isn’t competent, it won’t result in people dying, leaving room for maneuver.

In medicine, some incompetent people, early on, take the administrative route and enjoy its ease; normal folks couldn’t endure clinical trials.

”Brother Zhang, you’ve taken the selection exams several times but didn’t pass either?” Lu Cheng’s look was somewhat surprised.

Zhang Tiesheng’s family connections were quite prominent, and when he worked, his father was still working in Long County, currently at the State Development and Reform Commission.

What’s more, Zhang Tiesheng has an aunt working at the State Commission for Discipline Inspection with considerable authority.

Logically, with Zhang Tiesheng’s connections, changing positions should be easy.

Zhang Tiesheng smirked slyly: ”Recent years, Xiangzhou’s personnel changes have been chaotic; it’s best not to move about recklessly.”

Lu Cheng listened, alarmed: ”Brother Zhang, what does that mean?”

Zhang Tiesheng responded mysteriously: ”Just what it says on the tin.”

”Xiao Lu, just focus on applying.”