System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

Dusk is approaching, and the sky is darkening.

The light inside and outside the emergency surgery dressing room is the same. Tian Zhiliang politely accompanied Lu Cheng out, smiling softly: ”Xiao Lu, you’ve worked hard again.”

”I’ll take care of tonight’s boxed meals.”

Having invited Lu Cheng to perform another Spleen Preservation Surgery, Tian Zhiliang feels a sense of relief yet profound gratitude.

Some surgeries, if you can’t, you simply can’t learn quickly; trying to force it won’t lead to any breakthroughs in a short period.

Especially when lacking preparation and solid foundation, the road ahead seems even longer.

It’s like an elementary student trying to tackle high school-level problems; those without talent have to slowly take their time, progressing step by step.

As doctors in the hospital, we are tasked with solving patients’ problems.

If we don’t want to recklessly answer: ”I can’t,” and then tear the ”exam paper” (spleen), we must invite a mentor to help with the surgery.

”Okay… Director Tian, there are three brothers in the trauma center who probably haven’t eaten yet.”

”Would it be alright to have a couple more people?” Lu Cheng willingly agrees and adds a request.

Tian Zhiliang nods, smiling: ”Of course, the boxed meals are plentiful.”

”Xiao Lu, why don’t you call me Brother Tian or Brother Liang? Let’s be like everyone else.”

Lu Cheng has addressed Tian Zhiliang as Director Tian for some time now, and previously, Tian Zhiliang hadn’t clarified this point. He knows he will take over as the head of the emergency department.

A leader should have the demeanor of a leader; outside the hospital, sharing drinks and companionship is fine, but within the hospital, the roles should be clear, with responsibilities designated.

When Lu Cheng went to the trauma center as the person in charge, Tian Zhiliang thought that both being small leaders, using professional titles would show respect.

However, his insistence lasted only half a month before feeling embarrassed.

Director Tian frequently invited Xiao Lu over for surgeries and to handle challenges, yet had to show the face of the trauma surgery director to him, which put Tian Zhiliang in a difficult spot.

”Brother Tian, I think both are fine…”

”As the surgery was nearing completion, Dai Linfang called me, probably for some matter.”

”No rush, not pushing, but I should go sooner.”

”Director Tian, you should also take a rest…when it’s time for dinner, I’ll call you…” Lu Cheng proactively shifts the topic.

Tian Zhiliang nods: ”Alright, okay.”

As he watched Lu Cheng depart, Tian Zhiliang’s gaze was complex: within the hospital system, most people in the same unit have similar qualifications and rely on their resumes.

When qualifications are equal, whoever lives the longest tends to be more impressive, with better skills.

The job-seeking process acts as a sieve, filtering out diverse individuals.

When someone breaks this inertia and suddenly appears, accepting such a disparity requires time to adjust one’s mindset.

Fortunately, Lu Cheng is both easy and difficult to get along with.

Tian Zhiliang certainly feels this; if you don’t approach Lu Cheng, you may feel he’s prickly all over.

But if you do approach him, you’ll find this young man to be very grounded and thoughtful, neither arrogant nor impatient.

Luckily, he considers himself someone who has reached Lu Cheng’s side.

...

Paths don’t always align, doctors don’t always knock on the door.

Like the emergency department, the trauma center awaits patients by chance, without prior appointments, always ready.

There aren’t many patients in the trauma center, only Liu Nongqiu, assisted and guided by Dai Linfang, is striving to transform theory into practical experience.

The operating room is the training ground for such new doctors.

Even when being exploited, Liu Nongqiu is fortunate, compared to the early years of Lu Cheng’s career when attending physicians not only withheld teachings but also competed for basic operations, treating Lu Cheng as a mere recorder and patient manager.

Nowadays, Liu Nongqiu has mentorship, and opportunities for hands-on practices, these effective trainings are invaluable.

Unlike the flustered Liu Nongqiu, Dai Linfang is having tea with someone in a white coat in the lounge.

As Lu Cheng opened the door, Dai Linfang hurried to introduce: ”Brother Luo, Director Lu is here.”

The other white coat stands up: ”Director Lu.”

Luo You, is the young man’s name, he seems slightly older than Lu Cheng, in his mid-thirties, with a weary expression, probably also a distressed attending physician.

”Hello Brother Luo, sit, sit, sit.”

”Call me Xiao Lu, please.”

”I was just in the surgery room when Dai Linfang called; I was finishing up the surgery, couldn’t come immediately.”

”Sorry to keep you waiting.” Lu Cheng sits down with Luo You.

Luo You quickly shakes his head, saying: ”Director Lu, it was my confusion, hence the unsolicited visit.”

”Here’s the situation, Director Lu; last night, the trauma surgery department admitted a patient—she’s my niece, my real niece, my brother’s daughter. She was accidentally hit by a car.”

”I just managed to find out that you could preserve limbs, so I asked Director Wu in the trauma surgery to reach out to you?”

”But? It ended up in amputation.”

Lu Cheng knows about this case, raising his hand apologetically: ”Brother Luo, I can understand.”

”In our hospital, cases of destruction injuries are not few. There are some every month. If Director Wu personally calls me, it’s surely regarding relatives and friends of our hospital colleagues.”

”Currently, the hospital hasn’t transferred the major responsibility of destruction injuries over, and I’m not the primary point of contact.”

”But I did indeed look into that case!”

Lu Cheng shakes his head: ”A surplus of willingness, but insufficient strength.”

Luo You isn’t angry, just thinking about his niece, a four-year-old girl whom he held just days ago.

Sweet, cute, although a little mischievous.