BXBX NOVEL Chapter 61 - 61B: Repaid a peach with a plum.
The following events were quite straightforward.
For Chen Bingsheng and Zhang Zhixin, it was also straightforward, simply a role reversal.
Under the strong leadership of Chen Cang, a teaching lesson led by Zhang Zhixin and Chen Bingsheng, with demonstrations and lectures, stubbornly turned into a training session with smartphone cameras rolling.
A few appendectomy surgeries concluded.
A nurse from the neighboring operating room came over to hurry them: “Doctor Liu, the surgery in the adjacent department is about to start, they are urging you to come over for the anesthesia.”
Liu Jian, still not fully satisfied, licked his lips: “Young Chen, watching you operate is a pleasure!”
“Next time you’re doing surgery, let me know in advance, and I’ll come to administer the anesthesia!”
With that, he scurried away.
The nurse was left surprised. After all, Liu Jian was known as the top anesthetist, highly skilled and extremely safe-most doctors hoped to have him as their anesthetist.
Even the department head was picky when it came to having Liu Jian.
But this time… Liu Jian volunteering to do anesthesia was exceedingly rare.
Looking up at Chen Cang, she saw nothing but good looks!
Meanwhile.
Zhang Zhixin and Chen Bingsheng were still there, discussing in whispers only audible to themselves:
Old Chen: “The separation of the appendix was excellent just now, but I have a question about why…”
Old Zhang: “I don’t get it either! Askyoung Chen.”
Old Chen, with a glum face: “It’s your turn this time, you ask. I’ve already just asked; asking again would make it seem like my IQ_is in arrears.’
Old Zhang, his face turning slightly red, embarrassed: “He has already criticized me several times; it’s too shameful… After all… I’m his boss, aren’t
I?”
Old Chen, sternly: “I’m still his teacher!”
They all left the operating room together and returned to the changing room. Chen Bingsheng stretched lazily: “Young Chen, take my white coat to the ward, we’re washing them all together tomorrow, I’m not going up there.”
Chen Cang nodded: “Alright, boss.”
The moment Chen Bingsheng heard the word “boss,” the gloom of the whole afternoon vanished, and he took a satisfying breath as the air seemed much
fresher. It felt great.
Seeing this, Zhang Zhixin couldn’t help feeling a bit competitive: “Young Chen, remember to come on Saturday. I’ll let you do the suturing. You’ll get to perform a double eyelid surgery yourself!”
Chen Gang’s eyes lit up upon hearing this; he had been eager to try it for a while. This was a great opportunity!
He quickly said, “Roger that! No problem, Boss Zhang!”
Zhang Zhixin nodded in satisfaction: “Hmm, if you do well, I will let you do it on your own in the future.”
At these words, Chen Cang broke into a blissful smile because this was the real deal. A double eyelid surgery could net a thousand bucks, unlike the previous appendectomy, where the supervising physician, Zhang Zhixin, made less than a hundred.
Chen Cang: “Boss Zhang is generous!”
It was already around six o’clock, and Chen Cang couldn’t go home yet. He had to go up and hurry to complete the medical records and check on the patients to see if everything was okay before he could leave work.
When he arrived at the office, he remembered he had forgotten to take the UK (a key-like device similar to a USB flash drive used for logging into the hospital system) which he had left in the locker room of the operating theatre.
In a rush, he went down to quickly retrieve the UK and then visited the restroom.
In the restroom, he suddenly heard voices from outside. Listening closely, he recognized them as familiar; they belonged to the surgeons Zhang Youfu and
Zhang Zhixin.
Out of curiosity, he began to listen intently.
Zhang Youfu had just come out of the operating room when he happened to bump into Zhang Zhixin. Seeing him, he immediately frowned and asked, “What was going on today?”
Zhang Zhixin pretended to be clueless and gave a bewildered smile, ” Director, what’s wrong?”
Zhang Youfu’s voice grew low, “Didn’t I tell you to pass the few appendectomy operations you had to Zhou Xiaodong? He has a competition the day after tomorrow. Let him practice more. If he passes, Zhou will become a full-fledged member of our department. As one of us, you should help out young Zhou
more!”
Zhang Zhixin laughed awkwardly, “Director, those three operations were quite special; they were cases brought in by my connections, so I had to perform the surgeries myself.”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Youfu snorted coldly, “The little nurse in the operating room told me – the surgery just now was performed by that ER doctor, Chen Cang, and Chen Bingsheng was there too. How many times have I told you not to be so close to Chen Bingsheng all the time? You’re in general surgery, and he’s in emergency. You need to understand your place.
Zhang Zhixin attempted to feign ignorance, “Ahem, it’s all one hospital, after all. We often collaborate with the ER on surgeries. Besides, Chen and I are old classmates. I just happened to run into him earlier and couldn’t get away.”
Zhang Youfu, not pleased upon hearing this, sighed, “Zhixin, you have to differentiate between personal and professional matters. Haven’t I been good to you? I’ve never said anything about the cosmetic workyou do on the side, but you still have to be diligent in your duties here. As part of our general surgery team, you should contribute to the department, shouldn’t you?” On hearing this, Zhang Zhixin suddenly felt annoyed. It was clear he was being threatened with the fact that he performed cosmetic surgeries outside.
Who in the hospital doesn’t have some side business? Director Zhang Youfu himself often performs ‘flying knife’ surgeries. What difference does it make?
Yet, there was no helping it; that’s just how the system works. If someone is the director, you have to cooperate with the leadership, comply with their arrangements, and understand their decisions with positivity!
Zhang Zhixin nodded, “Alright, Director, I understand. I’ll be more careful in the future. I have some family matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now.”
Having said that, Zhang Zhixin intended to leave.
Zhang Youfu didn’t say anything but snorted coldly and walked away.
Chen Cang remained silent in the restroom…
Upsetting the director in the department was no trifling matter, and Chen Cang had seen his fair share of petty retaliation.
There was once a senior doctor in orthopedics who had been at the hospital for over twenty years and was quite skilled, especially known for his excellent surgeries, earning high praise from patients. When the old director retired, this doctor was a hopeful candidate for the position, but someone else squeezed him out.
The senior doctor was naturally resentful, but with a belly full of grievances, there was nothing he could say.
The new director and the senior doctor didn’t see eye to eye and particularly resented that the latter’s surgeries were better than his own. After all, how would it look in a department if a junior doctor outshone the director in surgery?
So, he simply assigned the senior doctor to the outpatient clinic, under the pretext of, “Your surgeries are already so good; give the younger doctors some opportunities. You should spend more time in the outpatient clinic.”
With those words, the senior doctor was relegated to the outpatient clinic, where he stayed for a year or two without being given opportunities to perform surgeries, eventually falling behind in skills until he resigned and left the hospital.
Sometimes, the atmosphere within a department can be very difficult…
Unless you truly have a prestigious background or an appealing appearance… or if you possess extraordinary skills, like being the only one capable of performing a certain surgery that no one else can – that would also suffice.
If you’re just slightly more talented, it doesn’t really amount to much; you still can’t avoid being manipulated by others.
Thinking of how Zhang Zhixin had helped him so much that day, Chen Cang was somewhat moved.
He also found himself harboring several plans in his heart.
Given time, he would certainly repay the favor!