Chapter 112: Little Brother Isn’t ‘ordinary’
The 12th floor of the Functional Experiment Building, 1215!
13:47 PM.
Lu Cheng and five other elder brothers sat alternately. After looking around for a moment and not seeing any “teachers” enter, the eldest-looking person took the initiative to greet them:
“The teachers all look unfamiliar. Shall we exchange WeChat contacts? Let me introduce myself, I’m Han Gongqiang from the Hand Surgery department of Enshi Municipal University Hospital.” Han Gongqiang had broad shoulders, solid muscles, and was quite talkative.
“Hello, Brother Han. I’m Lin Bin from the First Affiliated Hospital of Three Gorges University. I’m thirty-nine this year, and I should be the oldest besides you, Brother Han?” Lin Bin was tall and thin, looking scholarly. He squeezed out a smile while wearing glasses.
“I’m Ding Mengzhuo from HS City People’s Hospital. Bin Ge and I are the same age, born in May.” Ding Mengzhuo touched his prominent belly. He was slightly overweight and looked like a little chubby fellow.
“Provincial People’s Hospital, Dong Qiaoshan.” Dong Qiaoshan had a serious and aloof appearance with a standard square face. Even with a smile on his face at this moment, he exuded a subtle sense of pressure.
As soon as Dong Qiaoshan spoke, both Liu Qiming and Lu Cheng fell silent. The Provincial People’s Hospital was one of E Province’s top hospitals, and its Orthopedics department was not much weaker than Xiehe Hospital.
Dong Qiaoshan noticed that his words had cooled the atmosphere. He smiled again, “We are all classmates here. I’m also here to brush up on my skills due to my lack of talent. There’s no need to be nervous, everyone.”
Liu Qiming had thick eyebrows and immediately smiled fawningly, “Hello, Teacher Dong. I’m Liu Qiming from XN City People’s Hospital. I’ve heard your name for a long time, but unfortunately, I’ve never had the chance to visit you.”
XN City People’s Hospital was closely allied with the Provincial People’s Hospital, being part of the medical alliance.
“Hello, Teacher Dong.”
“Hello, Teacher Dong…” The other people, including Lu Cheng, also politely greeted him.
Given Dong Qiaoshan’s age, he was either an Associate Professor or a senior Attending Physician, and his strength should not be underestimated.
In fact, everyone had noticed Lu Cheng at first glance, as he looked too young. Dong Qiaoshan then looked at Lu Cheng and asked, “What’s this brother’s name? Where do you work?”
Lu Cheng quickly replied truthfully, “Teacher Dong, my name is Lu Cheng, Lu for land and Cheng for success. I’m from Long County People’s Hospital in Xiang Province…”
Lu Cheng’s statement left the others utterly confused. They even started looking at each other.
The awkward atmosphere lasted for about three to four seconds before Dong Qiaoshan proactively extended his hand, becoming even more polite, “Doctor Lu, you’re not very old, are you?”
“I just turned thirty this year,” Lu Cheng said with a smile.
“Excellent, excellent. Then you are truly young and promising. When I was as young as you, I was still playing with mud. It’s you youngsters who understood things early on.”
“If you have the chance in the future, you must give me some pointers, older brother.” Dong Qiaoshan was unusually enthusiastic.
A doctor from a small county in Xiang Province, with the full buff of connections, must have understood things early and come from a family of shareholders.
Lu Cheng quickly replied, “Teacher Dong, you flatter me. It is I who should be looking to you and the other teachers for guidance!~”
“See, young Lu is still sensible. The way he speaks and acts is so gentle and delightful.”
Dong Qiaoshan naturally asked, “But why did you choose a county hospital as a stepping stone, young Lu?”
Lu Cheng said, “Teacher Dong, I’ve been muddling along in a county hospital for many years without making much of a name for myself. That’s why I thought of coming here to learn something.”
“I hope to learn some skills to enrich myself.”
Lu Cheng understood the implied meaning of Dong Qiaoshan and the others but dared not play along.
Dong Qiaoshan’s expression became somewhat contorted, like twisted dough—
Having “muddled along” in a county hospital for many years implied a low academic qualification, so how did he get into this advanced class?
However, Dong Qiaoshan did not press further, “Your desire to learn, young Lu, is something we should all emulate.”
“It’s fate that we’ve all gathered here. I’m practically a local of Hanshi City, so I dare to overstep and suggest we all have dinner together tonight to get to know each other better.”
“Brother Han, please don’t mind me being young and ignorant.” Dong Qiaoshan looked serious, but when he started talking, he was the most verbose, as if he had a loose tongue.
Dong Qiaoshan’s position at the Provincial People’s Hospital was undeniable. How could Han Gongqiang think Dong Qiaoshan was ignorant? “Teacher Dong, you know the place and the people best, so it’s most appropriate for you to arrange it.”
“However, let’s make it clear beforehand, I’ll be paying for the meal…”
“Then I’ll be in charge of the drinks. I’ve already brought them.” Liu Qiming immediately volunteered.
Han Gongqiang took out his Yellow Crane Tower 1916, handing out cigarettes, “Shall we go out and have some fun?”
Dong Qiaoshan and the others accepted their cigarettes naturally. Lu Cheng didn’t say he couldn’t smoke, so he followed along out of the classroom and then into the restroom.
The five veteran smokers all lit their lighters and started puffing clouds. Lu Cheng held a cigarette but no lighter. Ding Mengzhuo next to him immediately lit it for him.
Lu Cheng took a puff and started coughing uncontrollably, immediately revealing his status as a novice smoker.
Han Gongqiang, being the oldest, didn’t pay much attention to Lu Cheng’s social graces and asked softly, “Teacher Dong, this training class organized by Professor Xie and the others, does it really have something special?”
“Six months ago, our department director urged us to sign up. Do you know anything about the inside story, Teacher Dong?”
Dong Qiaoshan nodded, “I heard from our director that Professor Xie has invited two cadavers this time!”
Dong Qiaoshan emphasized, “It’s two whole cadavers, not just parts of a cadaver. I came for this reason, and there’s also a chance for hands-on nerve suturing. It’s the highest-spec and most detailed training class…”
Dong Qiaoshan finished speaking and glanced at Lu Cheng, “Originally, there were only five spots. I didn’t expect there to be an extra brother. This must be fate.”
Ten pairs of eyes simultaneously shifted to Lu Cheng, and they immediately understood Dong Qiaoshan’s meaning.
Lu Cheng felt a bit embarrassed under the gaze of these elder brothers, but for some reason, he could only feign ignorance.
An advanced training class was not a fair admission test. If the teacher was willing and the student was willing, any outcome was justified.
Han Gongqiang and the others were experienced veterans. They knew that some things were better left unsaid once understood, so he proactively smiled, “Young Lu, you still need to practice your smoking skills?”
Lu Cheng: “I’m sorry, Brother Han, for wasting your good cigarettes.”
Han Gongqiang waved it off, “What good is there in cigarettes?”
“They are harmful things.”
As the group was talking, someone walked into the restroom entrance. It was Cao Kong, who was in charge of registration earlier.
“Teachers, Teacher Xie has arrived. Please hurry inside and pay attention to discipline,” Cao Kong, who was only a Doctorate, urged.
“Professor Xie will also be arriving soon.”
Upon hearing this, everyone quickly and decisively threw their cigarette butts on the ground, took a few deep breaths, and filed out, including Lu Cheng.
Xie Yuan’an looked at the group of old hands entering the classroom with sheepish smiles, feeling helpless.
She knew long ago that she, as a lecturer, was a bit of a slacker and couldn’t control the situation. If it weren’t for the need for class experience to get a promotion, she wouldn’t have been able to do this.
After everyone was seated, Xie Yuan’an cleared her throat softly, “All the colleagues have arrived. On behalf of the Hand Surgery department of our hospital, I welcome all of you.”
“I hope we can spend this five-day training class together, learn from each other, and gain something. Below, I will briefly introduce you all to the curriculum of this training class…”
…
