System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

(After attending an external training session and exchanging ideas with many fellow authors, I’ve decided to slightly adjust my writing style. I hope everyone likes it.)

March 7th, the 27th day of the lunar calendar, afternoon.

”Director Huang, I’ve come back to report in.” Lu Cheng carried two boxes of pastries from Kyoto, using his back to push open the door to the director’s office.

Huang Haibo’s office wasn’t much different from when Xiao Zhaoxi was around, except there were a few more stacks of blue folders.

Huang Haibo, with his big head and small eyes, stared keenly at the boxes in Lu Cheng’s hands: ”What are you bringing all this nonsense for?”

”Director Huang, there’s a receipt inside, it’s all under two hundred. Everyone else in the department got the same.” Lu Cheng placed the box down with a smile.

”I’ve been taking leave quite often recently, really appreciate all the leaders and senior colleagues. It’s just a little gift.”

Huang Haibo had assumed his position in Xiangzhou for a week, but Lu Cheng had gone on leave to Kyoto on the 4th.

With one person missing, others had to cover his shifts, so Director Huang needed to be made aware and give his coordination and agreement.

Huang Haibo glanced at the receipt orientation, then no longer refused, saying with a smile: ”Xiao Lu, I actually haven’t figured out what was up with your reason for taking that leave.”

”Director Huang, it was just to gather some funds.” Lu Cheng knew Director Huang’s personality and needed to be clear when communicating with him.

Huang Haibo pulled open a drawer, fetched some tea leaves, and pushed them towards Lu Cheng to help himself: ”What kind of funds require you to personally go to Kyoto?”

”Isn’t your business a bit abstract?”

The funding for the State People’s Hospital mainly comes from Xiangzhou’s direct departments, with a few outstanding teams able to secure provincial funds.

Why go up a few levels to Kyoto for funding?

Lu Cheng wasn’t there to report on his matters in Kyoto, so he directly asked: ”Director Huang, Professor Tong Yuan’an contacted me a few days ago.”

”I was in Kyoto at the time and couldn’t inquire in detail. That’s why I came to you first thing upon returning to report to you.”

Upon hearing Lu Cheng mention Tong Yuan’an, Huang Haibo promptly calmed his expression: ”Did Professor Tong explain everything to you? What are you thinking, Xiao Lu?”

After months of effort and persuasion, Huang Haibo had finally convinced Tong Yuan’an to endorse him, and his gaze towards Lu Cheng was earnest!

”Director Huang, this is how I see it. Since you’re my direct supervisor now, it’s not appropriate for you to join the group, and I feel it would be restrictive.”

”Of course, I’ve also asked many teachers, and it’s best to have someone proficient in legal matters in the project group they say.”

”Therefore, my thoughts are, you could become a titular member first, and we can find opportunities later...”

Huang Haibo interrupted: ”Sure, sure, it’s fine.”

”It’s okay to be a titular member, always okay.”

Not being greedy, coming from a County Hospital, he hoped to involve himself in project groups to work on projects and articles and to secure a proper senior title before retiring!

Lu Cheng’s tone remained calm: ”Director Huang, my point is, you might need to do some real work, like helping with patent registration and such.”

Huang Haibo’s eyes flickered slightly, his right index finger softly tapping the table, speaking very slowly: ”Patent registration?”

”Are you aiming for something so high-end?”

Lu Cheng silently nodded in confirmation.

Huang Haibo’s expression turned stern: ”Alright, it seems these things are quite beyond my current understanding, I’ll do my best.”

Huang Haibo adjusted his attitude: playing along.

...

Upon leaving the office, Lu Cheng headed straight to the emergency department to rest, only to be caught by Tian Zhiliang on the spot: ”Lu Cheng, you’re just in time, come with me to the operating room for a hand.”

”I thought Cao Gui had made a mistake.”

Tian Zhiliang promptly led Lu Cheng towards the operating room direction.

”Director Tian, what’s the situation?” Lu Cheng immediately composed himself, suppressing his mental and physical fatigue.

After running around in Kyoto for days, he was yearning for some rest.

”Acute abdominal condition, just escorted from the CT room to the operating room.”

”To be safe, you’d better come with me. The hospital leadership has already spoken to me five times this month.”

”We’ll talk as we walk.” Tian Zhiliang’s voice was dreary, mentally exhausted, and no longer possessing the carefree flair of the newly appointed ’Chief of Surgery’.

In the locker room of the emergency surgery department, there were no outsiders. Tian Zhiliang stripped himself first: ”Only after Director Xiao left did I realize how formidable Director Xiao truly was.”

”For my position, there’s no shortage of people eyeing it.”

During Xiao Zhaoxi’s time, he managed internal and external affairs, now Huang Haibo supervises internal medicine, and Tian Zhiliang oversees emergency surgery, each handling their own domains.

Lu Cheng’s eyes flickered slightly: ”Has the hospital leadership come to question the emergency department too?”

Tian Zhiliang gave a wry smile: ”Honestly, it’s just my position, during Director Xiao’s time, there were few who could replace him.”

”Just me, Tian Zhiliang?” Tian Zhiliang closed his eyes tightly, his face twitching.

Exposing his ’incompetence’, clarifying his mediocrity.

During Xiao Zhaoxi’s time, the things Xiao Zhaoxi could do, others couldn’t replicate, the money Xiao Zhaoxi could secure, others couldn’t guarantee.

For someone of Tian Zhiliang’s average capability, what he could do, others could also achieve, and the money he could secure, others could get too.

Lu Cheng: ”Director Tian, what do the hospital leaders mean?”

Lu Cheng actually also considered Tian Zhiliang’s appointment as the emergency surgery director somewhat ’under-qualified over-appointed’, but wouldn’t openly say so.

”I don’t know... Let it go by fate.”

”Power does not match the position, it will bring consequences. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep for five days now.” Tian Zhiliang’s voice trembled, although his back wasn’t hunched, Lu Cheng could sense he was straining himself.

”...”

Once dressed, Tian Zhiliang regained his ’Chief of Surgery’ persona. In communication with the OR nurse and anesthesia team, his tone was particularly stern and precise:

”Circulating nurse, contact Gastrointestinal Surgery and Hepatobiliary Surgery for a consultation, ask when they can precisely arrive at the operating room, and if the medical department needs to intervene to request personnel.”