Chapter 155: Autistic Patients!
Inside Tian Yue Residential Area, Peng Kun and Peng Haibo sat opposite each other. After taking a deep drag from his cigarette, Peng Kun exhaled it directly into Peng Haibo’s face.
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible.”
Peng Kun’s tone was certain: “Professor Tong Yuan’an must have just found an excuse to brush me off.”
Peng Haibo looked at Peng Kun’s stunned, almost grotesquely contorted expression and inwardly sighed that this child, though possessing some intelligence, had a limited processing speed.
“If Professor Tong were truly just trying to brush me off, he wouldn’t have come up with such an absurd reason.”
“You find the explanation itself unrealistic; doesn’t Professor Tong know how ridiculous this sounds?” Peng Haibo asked in return.
Following this, Peng Haibo extinguished his cigarette butt: “Regarding research projects, how would Lu Cheng even get involved?”
“He’s not even a graduate student, and he brought back a research project?”
Peng Kun’s expression returned to normal. After thinking for a good while, he slowly calmed his mood.
The more bizarre the reason, the more unreliable it sounds, and sometimes, the closer it is to the truth. Otherwise, there would be no reason for Tong Yuan’an to find such a shoddy excuse.
“Dad, didn’t you say that Lu Cheng’s enrollment in the advanced study class was arranged by his girlfriend?”
“Since when did Lu Cheng have a girlfriend like that?” Peng Kun asked.
After Lu Cheng started working, Peng Kun was assigned to pursue his postgraduate studies. He stayed in Shashi City for three years and had only recently returned.
Peng Kun had undergone standardized training and was studying for an academic postgraduate degree, but he had always learned in clinical practice and had never been in a laboratory.
However, as part of the research group, he would attend group meetings daily and had a general understanding of how difficult it was to apply for research projects. Even a provincial-level project was not something an attending physician like Lu Cheng could secure.
Tong Yuan’an would not be interested in some provincial-level project; he must have applied for a National Natural Science Foundation General Project himself, otherwise, he wouldn’t have been promoted to associate professor.
A research project that even Tong Yuan’an would actively join to work on must be extraordinary.
Peng Haibo shook his head: “I had never heard Lu Cheng mention it before. I always thought he was single, with high standards…”
“Hanshi City, Xiehe Hospital, advanced study class.”
“The training class doesn’t teach research projects, does it?” Peng Haibo had also attended such advanced study classes and knew they generally focused on clinical technology. How could it teach Lu Cheng how to conduct research projects?
To be honest, research projects are too distant from a county hospital.
In prefectural city hospitals, there aren’t many directors who have research projects. This is not a field that ordinary doctors can access; only top teaching hospitals are the main participants in this race.
Of course, being distant from a county hospital does not mean it is unimportant.
County hospitals naturally want to break into this field, but more often than not, they are not allowed to.
Peng Kun suddenly asked again: “Then Professor Tong Yuan’an has wanted to leave for a long time, and the incident last time was just a trigger?”
Lu Cheng’s collaboration with Tong Yuan’an on a research project could not have been a sudden decision; they must have been planning it for a while.
Peng Haibo did not refute Peng Kun’s suggestion, only countered: “Even if these two matters are related, you were the trigger!~”
“You?”
Peng Haibo didn’t know how to address Peng Kun. He could understand Peng Kun’s panic and concerns; Peng Kun was very resentful that he couldn’t compare to Lu Cheng.
They are all the same age, so why is one more excellent than the other? Why can’t I catch up to you?
After being far surpassed by Lu Cheng, Peng Kun would try various ways to catch up, which was a normal thought. Furthermore, in Peng Haibo’s opinion, Tong Yuan’an was being too literal.
“Is there any conflict between you and Lu Cheng?” Peng Haibo suddenly asked again.
Peng Kun replied: “There’s no conflict, but Lu Cheng… he has always been quite guarded around me.”
“He used to teach me things, but he never opened up.”
“Now, he probably doesn’t even want to teach me things anymore.”
“Then find an opportunity to get in,” Peng Haibo said.
Peng Kun glanced at Peng Haibo, his expression astonished: “Can I squeeze in?”
“Even if you can’t, you have to find a way to squeeze in. A research project that Professor Tong Yuan’an actively participates in is certainly not a small one.”
“If you can get in, it will greatly benefit you.”
Peng Haibo crossed his legs, his tone hesitant: “It would have been good if I had had some prior connection with Lu Cheng. Now, I’m completely unprepared.”
“Moreover, if the few people in the department find out about this, you won’t have time to get involved even if you wanted to,” Peng Haibo said with a dejected expression.
Peng Kun closed his eyes, let out a long sigh, and gave a bitter smile that shook his entire body.
He did not hide his bitterness from his father, but now, Peng Haibo could not soothe the turmoil within him.
…
In the Emergency Department’s observation ward, Tian Zhuang diligently followed Lu Cheng, holding a notebook and meticulously recording.
The observation wards in the Emergency Department were not like the three-bed rooms in specialty wards; they were six-bed dormitory rooms. The Internal Medicine department even had larger eight-bed dormitory rooms…
“Doctor Lu, didn’t my father say you had already made rounds?” At bed 2, Doctor Han Rong from Internal Medicine saw Lu Cheng and appeared slightly surprised.
Bed 1 was a patient with appendicitis. Surgery was performed while Lu Cheng was away. He said with a smile, “Doctor Han, you might not know this, but Doctor Lu makes rounds several times a day when he’s on duty.”
Lu Cheng replied, “Doctor Han, I was called to the Medical Affairs Department in the middle of my rounds this morning, and I’ve only just returned. Although other doctors have already made their rounds, I still want to check in.”
Lu Cheng had only checked on bed 1 in the morning before heading to bed 2 where Han Yongshan was. “Uncle, how are you feeling today? It’s not too painful anymore, right?”
“If it’s still very painful, we can postpone functional rehabilitation for another day. Your brace hasn’t arrived yet, either.”
Han Rong replied with a smile, “Doctor Lu, my brother said he would help my father order a custom brace, and it should arrive this afternoon.”
Han Rong had fair skin, but there were some acne scars on her face. She looked young, had a slender figure, and long legs, but she was perhaps too ‘slender’!
Lu Cheng nodded, “A professional hand brace will be more conducive to recovery. As Doctor Han, an orthopedic doctor, he would understand the cost of a custom brace.”
“Then I’ll make a call to have someone come over later.”
Han Yongshan then asked, “Doctor Lu, is this custom brace a bit expensive?”
“It’s around a thousand yuan, designed according to your body shape and hand circumference, which is better than a generic one. I’m not entirely sure of the exact price; you can deal directly with the merchant later,” Lu Cheng replied truthfully.
Han Yongshan looked at Han Rong, “Why buy something so expensive? You won’t be using it for long.”
Han Rong put her hands behind her back, “Dad, why are you concerned about this? You always say you’re getting old and will listen to me and my brother’s advice!”
“Now you want to make your own decisions? Just don’t worry about these things.”
“I’m not asking you to pay for it.”
After speaking, Han Rong looked at Lu Cheng, “Doctor Lu, you told my dad yesterday that he could start functional exercises today, so he started making a fist this morning. Does that affect his recovery?”
“Isn’t that a bit too rushed?”
Han Rong’s brother was in orthopedics, but that didn’t mean Han Rong herself was. She could understand such a rapid postoperative recovery plan.
Lu Cheng replied cautiously, “We can also go slower. The main thing is that your father’s muscle strength is still good, and his function before the surgery was quite good. With a strong tendon foundation, rapid recovery is possible.”
“If you’re still worried, we can postpone it for two or three days; it won’t make much difference.”
Han Rong knew she had spoken out of turn and quickly explained, “Doctor Lu, I didn’t mean to question your treatment. I was just asking casually.”
“I think the surgery’s outcome for my father is excellent. Thank you so much, Doctor Lu!”
“I wonder if there’s a chance I could invite Doctor Lu to a simple meal.”
After speaking, Han Rong casually turned to help her father get up.
“Doctor Han, you don’t need to be so polite. Uncle choosing to travel all the way from Jishi City to our Long County to see me is already more than I could ask for.”
“I just did what I was supposed to do. There’s no need for a meal,” Lu Cheng politely declined, then said to Tian Zhuang:
“Discontinue the intravenous pain medication for this patient and switch to oral. Also, prescribe another box of calcium tablets and vitamin D. Elderly people often take these. He asked me to prescribe them yesterday, but it was too late to get medication at night.”
Tian Zhuang said, “Doctor Lu, I’ve already prescribed the calcium and vitamin D, and two boxes of Meiziling for swelling.”
“However, during the morning rounds, Doctor Xiao didn’t mention stopping the intravenous medication.”
Lu Cheng replied, “Then stop the evening dose.”
Han Rong escorted her father, Han Yongshan, to the restroom door before letting him go in alone. She turned back, “Doctor Lu, inviting you for a meal was just a gesture. You’re too polite; it’s really been a bother.”
“If you hadn’t come to the department last night, I would have definitely called to bother you to come in person.”
Lu Cheng smiled and said, “That was just fate; I happened to be here. It wasn’t a bother at all.”
“Doctor Han, you don’t need to be so formal. I’m going to continue my rounds. Your Internal Medicine department must be quite busy, so you should attend to your work.”
Lu Cheng then moved on to bed 3. Chen Nanlan in bed 3 was the second patient to undergo tendon suturing after Han Yongshan’s surgery yesterday.
Chen Nanlan immediately smiled and asked, “Doctor Lu, you must not be very old, right? You look so young. Do you have a girlfriend?”
Lu Cheng replied, “I’m thirty years old. Do you think I have a girlfriend?”
“Sister, how is your sports rehabilitation going?”
“Come, let me take a look…” Lu Cheng bent down to carefully examine Chen Nanlan’s finger flexion and extension.
Meanwhile, Han Rong’s expression dimmed slightly before she said, “Doctor Lu, a meal among colleagues, your girlfriend wouldn’t misunderstand, right?”
Lu Cheng turned back and smiled, “Doctor Han, how about this: after your father is discharged, I’ll treat you to a meal. We can consider it a colleagues’ gathering.”
“And to thank you for your trust in me.”
Han Rong suddenly realized that besides being colleagues with Lu Cheng, she also had a relationship as a patient’s family member and a healthcare worker. If she were to betray him, Lu Cheng wouldn’t be able to escape.
Han Rong knew she would never do such a thing, but Lu Cheng was the attending physician, and he had to proceed cautiously.
“That works too. It’s settled then,” Han Rong casually agreed, not taking it too seriously.
She just felt a slight regret. As she got older, there were fewer good young men around. She finally found someone she liked, but he was already taken.
It’s normal; it would be strange if Lu Cheng didn’t have a girlfriend…
Why hasn’t anyone introduced Lu Cheng to me? Han Rong felt a bit conflicted internally but quickly let it go.
Lu Cheng turned to look at Chen Nanlan, “It looks good for now, but your situation is different from Uncle Han’s. You sustained more tendon damage, and the incision was deeper.”
Lu Cheng explained, “Therefore, your range of rehabilitation should be shallower, and the recovery period should be extended to avoid rupture or tearing during the rehabilitation process…”
Chen Nanlan was frightened, “Then will the few movements I made this morning have any impact?”
Lu Cheng comforted her, “I’m just afraid you’ll be anxious about not recovering as quickly as Uncle Han. Don’t be anxious. Delaying a few days won’t make a difference.”
“That won’t happen,” Chen Nanlan quickly replied with a smile.
【Through verbal communication, appropriately pacified a patient with mild anxiety, gaining 0.1 Skill Points 】
Lu Cheng did not expose Chen Nanlan’s lie, “That’s good if it won’t happen… There’s nothing else to be mindful of, just the usual advice: quit smoking, quit drinking, you must quit smoking…”
Chen Nanlan knew these words were directed at someone specific, “Don’t worry, Doctor Lu, we’ll keep an eye on Uncle Han together.”
Bed 4 was discharged this morning and was currently empty. Lu Cheng then walked towards bed 5.
The Elder Sister in bed 5 smiled at Lu Cheng and said, “Doctor Lu, Professor Tong also came to see me this morning and said my recovery is going quite well.”
The Elder Sister had a very positive attitude, a radiant smile, and a kind voice. This brought a hint of melancholy to Lu Cheng’s heart.
But he couldn’t express it, so he just smiled and said, “Then I don’t need to examine you; Professor Tong must have already given you more professional guidance.”
“However, Elder Sister, you should pay attention to losing weight!~”
“Haha, okay.” The Elder Sister, a little embarrassed, patted her belly.
Lu Cheng added, “I’m serious. Losing weight is not only good for your health but also for your appearance, and it makes buying clothes much easier.”
Hearing this, the Elder Sister, for some reason, took it to heart.
【Persuaded an obese patient to commit to weight loss, planting the seeds of perseverance, and to a certain extent helping the patient reduce the probability of disease occurrence, gaining 0.3 Skill Points! 】
This Elder Sister is quite cute…
“Doctor Lu, I’m serious too,” the Elder Sister nodded emphatically.
After finishing his rounds, Lu Cheng rubbed his hands with hand sanitizer and glanced at Tian Zhuang, “Fifth Brother, how are you managing with meals now?”
Tian Zhuang lowered his head slightly and said vaguely, “Brother Lu, I still have some money on hand.”
“Then your brother?” Lu Cheng’s expression was conflicted.
Yesterday, Tian Zhuang was again asking him how to learn suturing techniques. Lu Cheng was even hesitant about continuing the conversation with Tian Zhuang.
“My mother called me several times asking me to come back, but I refused. As for my eldest and second brothers,” Tian Zhuang said, appearing somewhat embarrassed.
Lu Cheng said, “Forget it. If it’s difficult to talk about, then don’t.”
Lu Cheng walked away. This was Tian Zhuang’s family matter, and Lu Cheng was too lazy to get involved.
Tian Zhuang knew Lu Cheng was a little angry and quickly caught up, “Brother Lu, they mainly want to borrow money from me, nothing else.”
“They said they need to pay the mortgage, otherwise it will be overdue, so I didn’t agree either.”
“Brother Lu, I really want to learn the techniques, and I promise not to cause you any more trouble,” Tian Zhuang guaranteed.
【Through a special method, helped a patient with timidity restore confidence, overcome psychological shadows, rebuild some self-esteem, and find direction in life, gaining 2.2 Skill Points 】
