System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

”This time we have to make it clear.”

Hypocrisy isn’t an adult label, but knowing how to be hypocritical is certainly an adult’s calling card. Pretending is quite necessary; after all, reality isn’t a fairy tale.

Mu Nanshu was silent for a moment, then said, ”If you come to Union Hospital, you’ll have better opportunities, and I can guarantee you that!”

”Of course, if you have other ideas, we can discuss them.”

Mu Nanshu didn’t close off discussions...

Lu Cheng said, ”Book Bag, I’ll be honest with you, ever since you told me about the Union Hospital’s system, I’m worried, am I falling into a trap?”

”What do you mean?” Mu Nanshu asked.

”Didn’t you say that at your Union Hospital, any PhD with overseas experience can stay at the hospital?”

”But within a few years, they must secure a national natural science foundation grant, otherwise, it’s either promotion or dismissal.”

”The institution won’t renew the contract.”

”Isn’t this just the usual style at your hospital; it’s just the atmosphere.”

”Do you think there’s a possibility that I’m just one of the pawns Professor Zhong Junyun is nurturing?”

”A broad fishing policy?”

Mu Nanshu replied, ”Survival of the fittest.”

”That’s the rule of survival in reality. It’s similar everywhere. Instead, sometimes having a clear standard lets us die with more understanding, doesn’t it?”

Mu Nanshu was no longer the naive little girl.

”That’s true.” Lu Cheng nodded.

...

October 20th, Tuesday, another surgical shift for Lu Cheng.

The shifts in the department are a cycle; Lu Cheng’s surgical shift coincides with Zhang Tiesheng’s emergency night shift.

”Xiao Lu... this patient was just transferred, and we don’t even know if he’ll make it on the road.”

Zhang Tiesheng sighed in the emergency hall, his gaze passing through the transparent curtain, watching the red and blue lights of the 120 ambulance flash outside under the night sky, his tone distant.

Lu Cheng’s expression was calm, ”The patient’s family doesn’t trust us, so there’s no need to say more, wasn’t it you, Brother Zhang, who taught me that?”

It was a closed abdominal injury, with vital signs not very stable.

Zhang Tiesheng, on night shift in the clinic, called Lu Cheng over immediately, thinking of pushing the patient into surgery, but the family arrived in time.

They refused to sign the surgical consent form due to risks, strongly demanded a transfer, and signed the papers.

With swift procedures, the patient was transferred from the emergency resuscitation room to the 120 transport vehicle within three minutes!

Four minutes later, the 120 was on their way.

”If it were you.” Zhang Tiesheng hesitated, meaning that if Lu Cheng had been more assertive earlier, perhaps the patient’s family would have agreed to the surgery.

In the previous surgical shift, Lu Cheng was called over by the department of general surgery to perform a much more complex surgery than this patient’s case.

Zhang Tiesheng wasn’t in the operating room at the time, but heard from those in the operating room that after Director Du Qiang of the general surgery department called Lu Cheng into the operating room, in half an hour, the patient’s blood pressure rose from 79 mmHg to 84, turning the critical situation to safe.

This battle made Lu Cheng famous in the operating room.

Since then, Lu Cheng has only stepped in once more, that time because the patient’s family explicitly agreed to video the operation, allowing Lu Cheng to attempt resuscitation, willing to let the County Hospital have a try.

For other patients, Lu Cheng chose to respect their fate.

He’s truly a man who can endure loneliness.

Lu Cheng said, ”Brother Zhang, the coffee I ordered has arrived.”

A few minutes later, Lu Cheng invited Han Xiaoping, who was on night shift in the ward, to the emergency clinic for coffee and a chat.

The County Hospital’s emergency clinic didn’t have many patients, so during free time, a few white coats gathered for a chat.

Han Xiaoping, with his square face, said, ”Brother Lu is impressive, he even managed to shut down Professor Tong.”

”Brother Zhang, when was the last time you saw Professor Tong? I could swear, since the 16th, he hasn’t been to the department?”

Zhang Tiesheng immediately replied, ”No, this morning Professor Tong came for ward rounds.”

”Well, Han Xiaoping, you’d better not be lazy!”

As one of the few who knew Lu Cheng’s little secret, Zhang Tiesheng not only knew that Tong Yuan’an was made to feel inadequate by Lu Cheng but also that Lu Cheng had a life-saving tool in the emergency room, just kept it secret.

And this thing, many of the hospital leaders knew about it, but they didn’t spread it.

Because it couldn’t be announced, it’s an unofficially recognized thing, and as a County Hospital, you’re not allowed to promote it.

There are surely a batch of people proficient in this skill like Lu Cheng, but it’s said this skill can’t be passed on, purely depending on individual talent.

Without being passable, the skill becomes a personal operation, so it isn’t suitable for public announcement, can be used internally, but not announced publicly.

Han Xiaoping’s face flushed slightly, ”Brother Zhang, I’m not being lazy; I’ve been up since five AM practicing my skills.”

”I’ve sent the videos to Brother Lu, if you don’t believe me, ask him.”

Han Xiaoping’s voice carried a hint of playfulness.

You, Zhang Tiesheng, always say I, Han Xiaoping, lie flat, but don’t you have any clue why?

Before Lu Cheng came to the emergency department, what could I do if I didn’t lie flat?

The department’s surgeries were basically monopolized by you, Zeng Huanqi, and Director Lin, leaving us only to be assistants.

Just being an assistant, you don’t teach anything. Do you expect me to learn just by watching your surgeries, as an assistant?

Lu Cheng nodded, ”Brother Zhang, Brother Han is indeed working very hard, often getting up to practice skills around four or five AM.”