"He's a civilian. I joined the army to protect the country." Fan Tianshui scratched his head in embarrassment. "Dr. Zheng is a good man. Doctors are incredibly important on the battlefield and soldiers will always go after anyone who harms them."
Zheng Ren was reminded of the battle in Southern Xinjiang decades ago. One side targeted the enemy's field hospital and incited an uproar. The enemy had returned fire with heavy artillery that rained down on their base.
Fan Tianshui stood to face them and bowed at a perfect right angle. Then, he took his meager belongings and left the room.
"Where is Dr. Zheng…" Thanks to his quick reflexes, Fan Tianshui avoided colliding with a passerby. He gave the person an apologetic smile and left.
Chapter 131 - Are You Dr. Zheng?
"Chief Su, why are you here?" Zheng Ren said in surprise.
Chief Su from the obstetrics and gynecology department was walking towards him. The last time they had met was a few days ago when they had checked on the placenta abruption patient.
"Let's talk in the office," Chief Su said.
They went in. "Thank you for yesterday night."
"Anytime." Zheng Ren lowered his head in respect as he was speaking to a department chief.
"However, there is something that I would like your help with." Chief Surgeon Su did not beat around the bush.
Two days before, at midnight, her deputy chief had rushed off to check on a situation. She was an old horse in the department and had been quick to get details from the chief resident.
It had been a tricky situation. Although the sun had yet to rise, the deputy chief had called the obstetrics and gynecology department chief.
Chief Surgeon Su had reached the patient's room early in the morning. She looked at the patient's charts as the chief resident explained the incident. After gathering the relevant details, she had rubbed her forehead and sighed.
'Do not fear trouble. Admit your mistakes. That is the rule.'
However, this patient was a difficult person. If the hospital did not compensate them, there was the possibility of the family coming at her with matchsticks and gasoline.
There were a few people she could reach out to for help but she had been uncertain as to who was the more reliable candidate.
The next morning, as Chief Surgeon Su was ruminating possible solutions, she overheard some chatter from the staff. It appeared that the patient's family had unfurled a banner of gratitude in front of the emergency department entrance last night.
A weight was lifted from Chief Surgeon Su's c.h.e.s.t. It must have been Old Chief Physician Pan's doing.
She went to thank Old Chief Physician Pan and found out Zheng Ren was the one who solved the problem.
Youngsters these days were wild.
The medical field was full of ambitious and talented people looking for an opportunity to shine. Every doctor would eventually encounter a case beyond their abilities and wish for a miracle worker to save the day.
It was an honor to know friends or coworkers who had the expertise and experience to solve such problems.
Zheng Ren was one of those doctors. Chief Surgeon Su learned that he was the one who performed the surgery last night, and even heard rumors of him completing 49 back-to-back appendectomies.
Initially, she had not believed them.
Most rumors were exaggerated as they passed from mouth to mouth, and therefore she placed little weight in them.
Chief Surgeon Su had only started to notice Zheng Ren after he helped the obstetrics and gynecology department with two difficult cases.
The most recent one was the emergency case at midnight. The patient had suffered from postpartum hemorrhaging. If she had died in their care, Chief Surgeon Su would have had a million and one questions to answer.
If that had happened, the patient's family would have done the exact opposite of what she heard today. She was glad the situation was resolved.
A thought entered Chief Surgeon Su's mind and she smiled. "Do you remember the pregnant patient who was vomiting?"
A look of surprise came across Zheng Ren's face. He tried to recall the patient he saw in the obstetrics and gynecology department.
"You were right about the diagnosis. We did not manage to save the baby." Then, she continued with a smile, "But, next time, we will be able to."
"That's good to hear."
"Another thing, Chief Zheng. I have a friend whose child is suffering from appendicitis. He asked for a referral. Are you free today?"
This…
It was the first time Zheng Ren encountered such an offer, so he felt a bit awkward.
Usually, a patient would call up a doctor they were familiar with for consultation. Zheng Ren was not accustomed to referrals for surgeries.
He had been an ordinary resident doctor. Why would anyone want him specifically for their surgery?
Now, he was the chief resident of the emergency department. His surgical skill was acknowledged by the department chiefs, so surgery referrals were going to be a norm.
"Yes. I'll always have time for Chief Surgeon Su," Zheng Ren said and smiled.
Chief Surgeon Su nodded. She had not expected any less from him.
"Then let me connect the both of you. Once the fast is complete, you can start the surgery." After a pause, Chief Surgeon Su continued, "Thank you for today, Chief Resident Zheng."
Zheng Ren knew she was referring to the postpartum hemorrhage patient.
A short exchange later, she left.
"Who knew you could hold a proper conversation sometimes." Su Yun brushed aside the mop of hair covering his forehead.
"Of course. It's basic respect for one's elders," Zheng Ren replied.
Zheng Ren's phone rang after a few minutes. It was Chief Surgeon Su's friend.
Zheng Ren asked him long he had fasted and gave him details about the procedure, followed by directions to the second floor of the emergency department building. The man thanked Zheng Ren profusely before ending the call.
Zheng Ren texted the WeChat group and informed them about surgery preparations.
Soon, hurried footsteps echoed in the emergency ward corridor.
A middle-aged woman appeared with four panicky elders, asking for a Dr. Zheng.
Hearing his name, Zheng Ren stood to greet them.
The woman was taken aback by the young man. She assessed Zheng Ren and asked a few seconds later, "You are Dr. Zheng? The one who was on the phone with my husband?"
"Yes."
"You are the surgeon suggested by Chief Surgeon Su?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Aren't you a bit young?" one of the seniors asked with doubt in their tone.
"Didn't Chief Surgeon Su say she would get the best surgeon in the hospital?"
"Doesn't look like it. This boy is too young."
The four elders discussed among themselves as Zheng Ren stood aside. The woman was beginning to feel embarrassed.
They could opt for another hospital or surgeon but it was rude to discuss it in this one's face.
"Dad, Mom, shut up," the woman whispered harshly.
"I'm disappointed in how you two are handling this!" an old, square-jawed man said.
He was a septuagenarian with ruddy cheeks and a healthy physique; his tone was hushed but the words still registered in Zheng Ren's ears.
"I said I would find an experienced doctor to look at Yaya, but you guys disagreed. I'm not trying to criticise but this surgeon is way too young to be performing surgery. What if something happened?"
Zheng Ren could only watch this drama play out as he stood there awkwardly.
He would be fine with whatever the patient's family decided as it was ultimately their decision. Zheng Ren was not about to brag about his surgery skill.
"Please keep your voices down. No one is forcing you to have the surgery here. At least have some decency to not trash-talk in front of us." Su Yun's face was drawn into an unhappy scowl.
"You…" The old man pointed at Su
Yun. Halfway through, the man regained his senses and realized he had overreacted. He glared at Su Yun and turned to the middle-aged woman. "Wait a minute. Let me make a phone call."
Chapter 132 - Pigtailed Patient
"How rude," Su Yun huffed.
Zheng Ren smiled, unconcerned.
If he had been a layman visiting a clinic, given the choice, he knew he would have gone for a more senior doctor himself.
Experience was an important part of medicine.
Therefore, the patient's family was not misguided in their decision. Their response was just overly dramatic and straightforward, eliciting some discomfort in others.
Zheng Ren did not take their words personally. He gave them a polite smile, then turned to leave.
"You are being too nice," Su Yun muttered unhappily.
"And you have a temper. No wonder you don't want to be a doctor." Zheng Ren chuckled.
A moment later, Zheng Ren's phone rang.
Before he could answer the call, a few figures appeared at the office door. Leading the group was the square-faced old man with ruddy cheeks.
The old man stared Zheng Ren down. Doubt swam in his eyes.
"You called?" Zheng Ren asked as he waved his phone.
"Chief Pan gave me your number?" the old man said incredulously.
"You mean Old Chief Physician Pan from the emergency department? If so, then yes," Zheng Ren said with a nod.
"..."
The old man had rang up Old Chief Physician Pan, but he had been in an important meeting with hospital administration to negotiate for more staff, resources and support.
Old Chief Physician Pan had spared only a moment for the old man's request for an appendectomy and directed him to Zheng Ren.
The old man's heart sank when he heard the name.
It was the same surname in the same emergency department. There could not be two Dr. Zhengs, right? It was possible, but not probable.
Still, the old man dialed the number with some optimism.
A phone rang in the office.
Now…
This was awkward.
"Dr. Zheng, Chief Surgeon Pan recommended you," the old man said tentatively.
After the previous commotion, he would not blame the doctor for refusing to take their case.
He had misjudged the young man.
Now, he had to swallow his pride and ask this man to save his granddaughter.
"I see. Where's the patient?" Zheng Ren asked.
Zheng Ren's question prevented Su Yun from sneaking in a few snide comments. Su Yun shot him a glare in response.
"Her father is bringing her over now."
"Let's head over to the treatment room. We'll do a simple checkup first," Zheng Ren said calmly.
A few minutes later, a middle-aged man arrived with a small figure by his side, his face etched with worry while the child clutched at her abdomen.
The older folk were outraged.
The girl had a determined look on her face, unlike her father, who was visibly worried.
"Yaya…" The elders fussed over the girl.
The old man with the ruddy cheeks turned to the father. "How could you let Yaya walk here?"
"She wouldn't let me carry her…" Yaya's father said in defense.
"Grandpa, I can walk. It doesn't hurt as much." The young girl had cute, playful pigtails. Her voice was soft, sweet and charming.
"That's unacceptable." The elders started to argue and complain.
At the top right corner of Zheng Ren's vision, the System showed the little girl's diagnosis: acute appendicitis.
It was a simple case.
Pain was subjective. Some people could suffer a perforated appendix and endure the pain to the point of developing gangrenous appendicitis, but this young patient looked like she was on the verge of giving up.
She was in her teens, likely fifteen or sixteen years old1.
Lying on the hospital bed, her face scrunched up in pain, the girl's body curled up like a prawn as she clutched her abdomen.
She was certainly a strong one. Even in pain, she tried her best to smile and maintain her demeanour in hopes that her elders would calm down.
"Little miss, could you lie flat on the bed for me?" Zheng Ren asked with a kind smile. He wanted to establish a good first connection with the patient.
"Okay," the pigtailed girl said. She did her best to turn over in the bed.
The fetal position lessened the pain in her abdomen. Hence, when she tried to extend her body, the pain hit her hard.
Her eyebrows knitted together as she gritted her teeth, trying not to make any sounds.
'This child is trying to stay strong for the family. Such a filial child,' Zheng Ren thought.
These days, children like her were rare.
"Yaya, slow down." The elders crowded around the hospital bed to help the girl but she rejected their assistance.
With a grim smile, she slowly shifted her body so that Zheng Ren could perform the checkup.
Zheng Ren palpated her abdomen and her legs instinctively curled up.
There were signs of point tenderness and rebound tenderness at the lower right quadrant of the abdomen, but no muscle guarding.
Based on the medical report provided by her father and the symptoms described by the patient, his diagnosis of acute appendicitis was correct.
Although he had the System's guidance, Zheng Ren still preferred to base his diagnosis on clinical data.
After all, it was a matter of life and death.
If the case was not life-threatening, a thorough assessment never hurt.
"Am I very sick?" the pigtailed girl asked Zheng Ren.
"Just a little," Zheng Ren replied with a smile. "We just need to do a short surgery, then you'll be back to normal."
"Oh. Okay." The girl continued in seriously, "I searched for my condition and it should be appendicitis. There are invasive and non-invasive treatments, but I think surgery would be a better choice. I don't want to deal with chronic pain."
'What a bright child,' Zheng Ren thought.
She was wise beyond her years.
It was commendable that she did not make a fuss over the pain. She could even make an educated guess about her condition and decide on her own treatment plan.
"Little girl, be careful what you're searching for online. Some information on the web is false," Zheng Ren teased.
Self-diagnosis was a phenomenon that irked many doctors. For the sake of financial gain, many search engines' top results were sites that required some form of payment.
As these sites prioritized profits, they often contained false information to misdirect their readers.
One had to screen through sites to identify the legitimate ones.
"I know how to differentiate my sources, don't worry," the pigtailed girl said knowingly.
She was independent and smart despite her childlike appearance.
Zheng Ren gave her a smile. He brought her father to process her admission and left the elders to fuss over the child.
The diagnosis was confirmed and the girl was admitted to the hospital.
She had started fasting beforehand, so once the admission procedure was complete, Zheng Ren ordered nurses to prepare the patient.
Preoperative skin preparation and intravenous line setup was done swiftly.
Su Yun ferried the girl up to the third floor in a stretcher trolley while Zheng Ren brought the informed consent doc.u.ments to her family members. He watched their faces pale as he detailed each step of the procedure. Based on the patient's mannerisms, I believe the author meant to say five or six years old.
Chapter 133 - Obedient and Independent
Informing the family took almost ten minutes and by the end of it, they were pale as ash.
Every pre-surgery briefing ended this way as doctors explained all the potential complications of the surgery.
The probability of complications was one in a thousand, sometimes one in ten thousand.
It was still enough to scare most patients' families, especially this one as they adored the pigtailed girl. To them, signing the informed consent doc.u.ments felt like signing a death warrant for their precious granddaughter.
Zheng Ren did not rush them. The Chu sisters needed at least ten minutes to prepare the anesthesia and that was probably enough time for the family to make a decision.
After saying his piece, Zheng Ren waited patiently for the family to sign off the doc.u.ments.
"Dr. Zheng, the surgery will be a success, right?" the old man asked meekly. The color from his cheeks had faded from worry and anxiety.
"This surgery has a high success rate but complications do occur in a tiny population of patients," Zheng Ren explained. He was careful with his words.
Medical doctors were not allowed to promise anything.
Hence, miracle doctors and traditional chinese physicians were becoming more popular among the public.
The wait continued until a middle-aged man came downstairs to inform Zheng Ren that the patient was anesthetized and ready for the surgery. At last, the family decided to go ahead with the surgery and signed the doc.u.ments.
Zheng Ren left the paperwork for Chang Yue and went to change before heading to the operating room.
"Big sisters, both of you are so pretty. I want to become a doctor like you when I'm older."
"Big sisters, do you like spicy strips? Once I'm healed, I'll share mine with you."
"Big sisters…"
The pigtailed patient was talking with Chu Yanran and Chu Yanzhi when Zheng Ren walked in. There was no hint of fear in the child.
Presurgical preparations were already done. Su Yun stood at his usual spot as the assistant, holding the surgical gauze and mosquito clamp up solemnly.
Zheng Ren scrubbed in and changed into a sterile gown before assuming his position as the lead surgeon.
The girl was chatting with the Chu sisters when Zheng Ren made the first incision.
The subcutaneous adipose layer was thin and Zheng Ren was able to part the tissues quickly.
"Will there be a scar?"
The question came when Zheng Ren located the swollen appendix. He proceeded to clamp the appendicular artery.
The Surgeon's Studio c1-799 Page 70