Chapter 150: How Can You Grow Without Practicing?
The hazy drizzle crawled across the window, forming water stains like a spiderweb, intricate and complex.
In the Orthopedics Ward One, after a simple handover, Peng Haibo immediately went to Tong Yuan’an, smiling broadly, “Professor Tong, have you eaten breakfast? You have two surgeries today.”
“I grabbed something on the way over,” Tong Yuan’an nodded slightly, his tone polite.
The two scheduled surgeries today had been arranged long ago, and Tong Yuan’an couldn’t back out: “Director Peng, let’s go do rounds first. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can get to the operating room.”
Tong Yuan’an’s expression was calm.
“Professor Tong, do you have any plans today? If you’re free, how about dinner after surgery today?” Peng Haibo’s tone was casual.
“I can’t handle it anymore. Director Peng, you guys are working too hard,” Tong Yuan’an chuckled.
Peng Haibo was extremely good to Tong Yuan’an, but he couldn’t be polite to his face. Behind the scenes, he’d have Peng Kun cause trouble, keeping him constantly prepared to back him up: “Take a break today.”
“Our department’s Dr. Peng Kun has also realized his mistake and insisted on personally apologizing to you.”
“He should do that,” Peng Haibo said with a smile.
Nowadays, he could only cling tightly to Tong Yuan’an’s coattails to pave a good path forward for Peng Kun.
Peng Haibo wasn’t worried about himself; as long as he didn’t mess up, the hospital and the leadership wouldn’t let the department’s situation change drastically.
But Peng Kun was different; he was still a nobody right now.
Tong Yuan’an tightened his jaw: “Director Peng, what joke are you playing? What crime does Peng Kun need to apologize for to me?”
Peng Haibo cautiously explained, “Professor Tong, young people, indeed, are a bit impatient. They just want to learn how to perform surgery, so they can’t contain their impatience. I hope you can be more understanding.”
“Actually, when you think about it, young doctors need to practice surgery. Without practice, their skills can’t just appear out of thin air.”
“Unable to endure the loneliness of practice, they misjudged their true skill level.”
Tong Yuan’an crossed his arms, his voice ethereal: “Director Peng? When did you start caring about whether people learn or not?”
Without practice, skills could not appear out of thin air.
This statement was not problematic in itself, but it was not applicable to a county hospital.
In the hospital, others only cared about whether you had a skill, not where your skill came from.
Tong Yuan’an observed that Peng Haibo had taught Peng Kun surgery, and no one else was seen teaching anyone else, with most people just working to finish their shifts.
Peng Haibo said, biting the bullet, “Professor Tong, isn’t it obvious? Everyone learns surgery this way.”
“Director Peng, did you change the rules overnight?” Tong Yuan’an narrowed his eyes, completely disregarding social niceties with Peng Haibo.
Peng Haibo’s face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger.
Ultimately, Peng Haibo couldn’t do anything to Tong Yuan’an, so he said, “Professor Tong, let’s go do rounds first, and then perform surgery…”
The matter of Tong Yuan’an transferring departments was known to Xiang Kuihua, Luo Changwu, and others, but no one genuinely intervened to keep him, at most making jokes about how they would miss him.
In the eyes of Luo Changwu and the others, Tong Yuan’an’s presence or absence did not affect the normal operation of their work.
Hand surgery was a subspecialty of orthopedics, unrelated to trauma, spine, or sports medicine.
While Peng Haibo, as director, might think of expanding his domain, they had no obligation to follow Peng Haibo’s every whim.
The biggest beneficiary of Tong Yuan’an staying in the ward was Peng Kun. Peng Haibo had prepared Tong Yuan’an for Peng Kun, so they couldn’t say much or find fault.
Now that Peng Kun had angered Tong Yuan’an, they wouldn’t offer any help.
…
Morning, 12:40 PM.
In the doctor’s lounge of the surgical operating room, during an interval between flap transplantation surgeries.
Peng Kun looked at Tong Yuan’an, pushed up his glasses, and said in a low, ingratiating voice, “Teacher Tong, I heard you’re applying for a department transfer next month?”
“En, there are other tasks I need to attend to,” Tong Yuan’an didn’t completely fall out with Peng Kun, so he responded superficially.
“Are you going to Ward Two?” Peng Kun continued to inquire, and then offered Tong Yuan’an another cigarette.
Tong Yuan’an took it, pinching it between his index finger and thumb: “Probably, it’s not finalized yet.”
Peng Kun nervously looked up, his tone solicitous, “Teacher Tong, did I upset you during the past few surgeries?”
“If that’s the case, I can apologize to you.”
“I was indeed too impatient… I’m sorry, Professor Tong…”
Tong Yuan’an adopted an detached demeanor: “Mistakes are mostly determined by people!~”
“Everyone is just trying to make a living; where is there such absolute right and wrong?”
“For example, if I look at it from your perspective, I also think it’s not wrong.”
“Learning is not shameful.”
Tong Yuan’an’s indifferent demeanor and tone made Peng Kun feel that Tong Yuan’an was growing further and further away from him.
Peng Kun’s expression finally became serious, and his tone formal: “Professor Tong, I had no choice but to do this. Our entire department is being suppressed by Lu Cheng from the Emergency Department.”
“Not only tendon suturing, but he even interferes with classic and typical fractures.”
“If this continues to develop, what will happen? Our entire department won’t be able to establish a foothold.”
“Under such circumstances, we must proactively respond instead of passively waiting to be bled dry…” Peng Kun poured out his heart, his voice hoarse.
“Mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm.” Tong Yuan’an continued to nod in response.
Peng Kun knew Tong Yuan’an wasn’t taking it to heart and said, “Teacher Tong, think about it, why should the Emergency Department be receiving our orthopedic surgical procedures?”
“Lu Cheng is so aggressive, it makes our entire orthopedic department very awkward. That’s why I was so anxious.”
Tong Yuan’an glanced at Peng Kun, a hint of amusement in his expression: “So you think you’re great?!~”
“Daring to break through, dare to fight? Should I give you a medal too?”
“You were anxious, but what did the patient do to provoke you?”
“I…” Peng Kun’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.
Tong Yuan’an’s tone was indifferent: “Don’t talk to me about your department’s difficulties, that has nothing to do with me!”
“We are all adults.”
Tong Yuan’an waved his plump hand: “I’ve told you everything I should and shouldn’t say, and you didn’t listen.
“Then I can only refrain from being bothersome.”
Peng Kun raised his finger: “I’m sorry, Professor Tong, I will never make similar mistakes again. I promise you.”
Tong Yuan’an pressed Peng Kun’s hand down: “We are not primary school students anymore. This is modern society, there’s no need for oaths and pinky promises, don’t make so many gestures.”
Having said that, Tong Yuan’an extinguished his cigarette and patted Peng Kun on the shoulder: “Learning techniques is a gradual process that requires years of accumulation, not something achieved in a single day.”
“From now on, you will learn slowly and do things slowly.”
“But Teacher Tong still has a piece of advice for you: you are an adult. If you cannot discipline yourself, someone will surely step in to discipline you.”
“But by the time others force you to have self-awareness, you will only be left with self-awareness.”
Peng Kun suddenly asked again, “Teacher Tong, do you think I’m learning too slowly, and that’s why you want to find another student?”
“Is Lu Cheng’s fast learning worthy of your favor?”
Peng Kun was full of defiance, like those hardworking but average-achieving students in junior or senior high school questioning why the teacher favored the better students.
“This has nothing to do with how fast you learn.”
Tong Yuan’an said, “If you can’t figure it out, then don’t think about it. Why do you have to find a legitimate reason to excuse yourself?”
“The specific reasons for my department transfer are something we both know well.”
Peng Kun said, “Teacher Tong, but I explained the reason to you, I…”
Tong Yuan’an turned his plump face, his pupils widening in shock: “If you explain a reason you think is justifiable, does that mean it’s clearly explained?”
“Peng Kun, you’re not young anymore?”
“I ask you, why should I take on a student who is a ticking time bomb, and one with a prior record?”
“Will I, Tong Yuan’an, die if I don’t take this student, if I don’t teach surgery?”
Since Peng Kun had spoken to this extent, Tong Yuan’an didn’t mind clarifying further.
The teacher and student were not on the same path.
Taking advice leads to a full stomach; you don’t listen to advice, and now an apology is enough?
Where do you place others?
Peng Kun finally said, “Professor Tong, in our hospital’s orthopedics department, besides us, no one else does hand surgery.”
“We don’t even have the equipment, so how can we do it?”
Tong Yuan’an thought Peng Kun was truly too young: “If we don’t do it, we don’t do it. Wouldn’t it be better for me to take a vacation?”
“Don’t overthink it, your fate with me ends here!~”
“Let’s not burn any bridges, and each leave some face for the other.”
“Furthermore, the equipment in the hospital is the hospital’s wealth, not the property of your orthopedics department, nor is it exclusive to Ward One.”
Peng Kun stopped in his tracks and watched Tong Yuan’an leave. After a long time, he started walking again, his face full of exhaustion.
“Is it unreasonable? How can I grow without practicing? You give me no opportunity and just tell me to practice diligently…”
“If I just practice diligently, will I succeed? In the future, I’ll still be eating dust behind Lu Cheng!”
“Weren’t you impatient when you practiced surgery?”
“Did you never make mistakes when you studied? And you didn’t cause any major problems… Why are you making such a big deal out of it?”
Peng Kun’s muttering sounded extremely aggrieved.
…
In the Emergency Department’s doctor’s lounge, Chen Song was reclining in the corner of the lower bunk of a double bed, holding a cup of coffee in one hand and intently looking at his mobile phone with the other.
The light from the phone screen reflected off his receding hairline and high forehead, illuminating the somewhat dim corner.
“Teacher Chen,” Lu Cheng said, sitting on the lower bunk of the other double bed.
Chen Song’s eyes didn’t blink: “Mmm…”
“Take a look at this paper? I think it’s very interesting.” Lu Cheng leaned closer, wanting to share his phone screen with Chen Song.
Chen Song shifted his buttocks, his tone aloof: “I’m watching a drama! You can just read the paper yourself…”
“This paper discusses how with the combination of penile corpus cavernosum transection in urology and microsurgery for suturing, the corpus cavernosum can be well re-implanted.”
Lu Cheng added, “Teacher Chen… for spleen preservation surgery, isn’t it also about finding a way to suture it together?”
Chen Song’s voice remained calm: “Mmm…”
“Teacher Chen, what do you want to eat for lunch?”
“Just a lunch box is fine,” Chen Song finally raised his hand and checked the time—
“It’s not even eleven yet, still early.”
“Watching drama, watching drama.”
“Teacher Chen, I have something I want to tell you,” Lu Cheng said.
Chen Song looked up, seriously observing Lu Cheng, resting his chin on one hand: “Lu Cheng, you don’t need to be like this. I’m going home in three or four days.”
“I’ve taught you everything I can; anything beyond this, you won’t be able to learn anyway.”
“You’re already thirty years old, haven’t you seen through the truth that ‘separation’ is inherent in life?”
Lu Cheng replied, “Teacher Chen, those grand principles you’re talking about are suitable for philosophy. I’m just a common person, I don’t understand all that.”
Chen Song sighed upon hearing this, “Actually, everyone is a common person, no one should think too highly of themselves.”
“Before I knew you had been accepted by Xiehe Hospital, my plan for you was still to take you to pursue your doctorate and then try to get you a position here.”
“But now, I regret it. Damn it… I’m also someone who judges people by their abilities. The more excellent you are, the more I favor you.”
“Looking back now, it’s all useless.”
“We are all realistic people; it’s just that our perspectives on reality differ,” Chen Song’s voice was steady, revealing no particular emotion.
Where can people be unrealistically? Throughout history, in all countries, everyone has an innate admiration for strength deep down, it’s just a matter of degree.
There were many young doctors in the Emergency Department of Long County People’s Hospital, but Chen Song treated Lu Cheng differently.
The others were also people, also hospital staff. In the end, Chen Song only valued Lu Cheng’s talent, and this was also out of expectation.
Lu Cheng said, “Teacher Chen, no matter what, I still need to apologize to you face to face.”
“No matter how suddenly this happened, I still didn’t tell you.”
Chen Song then asked, “If I had told you in advance, could it have changed the final outcome? Would you give up your childhood sweetheart girlfriend?”
“Or, could you lure your childhood sweetheart away from Xiehe Hospital?”
Lu Cheng’s expression was calm, but he didn’t reply. Chen Song then understood Lu Cheng’s meaning: “Isn’t that right?”
“You couldn’t do it either.”
“Although the concept of karma is vague and elusive, it is truly wonderful.”
“We were destined to meet, but our destined path ends here.”
“I actually have no regrets. In just a few months, teaching you so much, I find it incredible.”
“But you achieved it.”
Their eyes met, not with tender affection, nor with deep animosity.
Lu Cheng saw calmness on Chen Song’s face, while Chen Song saw turmoil on Lu Cheng’s face.
Chen Song understood Lu Cheng’s expression and said, “The law is not taught to six ears; learning also depends on mutual willingness. The techniques I’ve taught you are not secret knowledge.”
“If you’re willing, you can find them online. There’s no need to feel guilty about me or anything.”
Chen Song waved his hand: “Don’t keep dwelling on it.”
“To put it bluntly, the gratitude owed to teachers and parents is endless.”
Chen Song owed Lu Cheng nothing, so he could face Lu Cheng calmly.
However, Chen Song had misunderstood Lu Cheng; Lu Cheng’s point of contention was not related to Chen Song: “Teacher Chen, I don’t recall you mentioning specialized suturing techniques for the spleen, liver, and gallbladder.”
Chen Song looked at Lu Cheng thoughtfully: “Is this what you’re thinking about? Then you have very high aspirations!”
