Chapter 172: Master Of Human Nature
From the perspectives of Lu Cheng and Du Qiang, neither could convince the other. Zhang Tiesheng couldn’t follow Lu Cheng’s lead and consoled, “Try to look at it more positively.”
“Just work your shift well.”
Lu Cheng’s state of mind wasn’t disturbed by Du Qiang’s sudden visit. He sat down again: “Brother Zhang, you go to the ward too, and while you’re there, check on the blood circulation of that limb replantation patient from today.”
“If there’s any issue, discover and handle it promptly.”
Zhang Tiesheng rolled his eyes and joked, “Teaming up with you is like bad luck from eight lifetimes ago.”
Zhang Tiesheng vaguely expressed that Lu Cheng’s indecisiveness would turn everyone into indecisive seeds, then turned to leave.
However, after leaving the clinic, Zhang Tiesheng, after a moment of veiled thought, decided to call Director Lin Qianlong.
“Yes, Director Lin, Director Du from General Surgery just came to the clinic to yell at Lu Cheng.”
“He slammed the desk so hard, he was quite angry. I think it would be best if you handled this matter yourself,” Zhang Tiesheng reported, then put his phone back into his white coat pocket.
He murmured to himself, “That Lu Cheng was able to save him… his abilities, I need to re-evaluate…”
…
When Lu Cheng called the equipment department to report the desk for repair, he didn’t mention Du Qiang’s actions. He just said it was old and cracked when someone leaned on it.
It was already evening. The equipment department staff took a look, confirmed the desk only had a damaged corner and wouldn’t affect normal use, and didn’t arrange immediate repairs.
Before Lu Cheng could see the next patient, Director Lin Qianlong, dressed in casual clothes, hurried in.
The first thing he saw was the damaged desk, his expression sharpened: “Xiao Lu, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Director Du restrained himself. I suspect Director Du might be the one with a problem right now.” Lu Cheng knew the quality of hospital desks; it wasn’t something that could be cracked with ordinary strength.
Force is reciprocal. Lu Cheng suspected Du Qiang might have a fractured hand.
“After Zhang Tiesheng called me, I also contacted Du Qiang.”
“But Du Qiang didn’t answer my call. We are not at fault here. That patient from General Surgery was directly taken to the operating room by General Surgery without going through our Emergency Department.”
“The person on duty at the time was too busy to take over, so naturally, they weren’t clear about the specific situation. You don’t need to take it to heart,” Lin Qianlong continued to reassure him.
Lu Cheng shook his head and said, “Director Lin, I’m not taking it to heart…”
After a moment of hesitation, Lu Cheng explained, “If I heard about a life-threatening emergency and volunteered to a senior physician that I could take a look, that would mean there’s something wrong with my brain.”
“All hospitals in the world are places with the highest mortality rates, no one can say for sure.”
Emergencies are urgent, life and death matters.
No matter how great a hospital, the emergency department has deaths every day; it’s beyond human control.
“Okay, finish your shift peacefully.”
“As long as you’re alright, I’m relieved. I need to go out for a bit.” Lin Qianlong looked around and saw no reason for him to stay any longer.
Lu Cheng was not injured, so he didn’t need to arrange for someone to cover his shift.
Being yelled at is normal. If one could switch shifts and not work just because they were yelled at, everyone in the Emergency Department would have to be ready to take over shifts every day.
The Emergency Department has the highest rate of medical disputes.
After Lin Qianlong left, Hu Shuo, who was on duty in the Internal Medicine Emergency Clinic, lightly knocked on the clinic door.
“Xiao Hu. Is something wrong?” Lu Cheng looked up at the petite, doll-like girl.
Hu Shuo was a new resident in the Emergency Internal Medicine department who joined in June. At twenty-six, she was about 1.52 meters tall, petite, and had a cute appearance.
Hu Shuo, having joined recently, blinked her almond-shaped eyes and offered in a direct tone, “Doctor Lu, would you like to get some milk tea together?”
“Sure? Do you want to order or should I?” Lu Cheng asked.
They were colleagues in the Emergency Department, and seeing each other often meant eating and drinking milk tea together was common.
Occasionally, when the department was short-staffed, internal medicine and surgery staff would help each other out.
“I’ll order,” Hu Shuo quickly entered the room. “How about Shuyi? They have a good Jasmine Milk Green… ordering for two is cheaper than ordering on the spot…”
Lu Cheng nodded, not vying to treat her: “Whatever’s fine with me.”
Before Hu Shuo could pay, a cough came from next door. Hu Shuo quickly put on a smaller mask and went out.
“Doctor Lu, I have a patient.”
“Okay, go ahead and be busy. Thanks, Xiao Hu,” Lu Cheng replied politely.
If someone thinks of comforting you when you’re wronged, it proves you’re doing alright in the department.
If you’re ignored in such a situation, you need to consider if there’s something wrong with your personality.
Soon after, Lu Cheng was overwhelmed by new surgical emergency patients.
Most of them were simple cases: kidney stones, minor injuries, or people who accidentally discovered a small lump and came in for a consultation.
Without specific emergency trauma, most of the cases were quite trivial.
The skill points that could be gained were also trivial. Lu Cheng, only making diagnoses and giving treatment advice, could only get skill points ranging from 0.1 to 0.2.
After a whole night, Lu Cheng saw seventeen people, accumulating only 4.1 skill points, which was less than when he was on surgical duty.
The next morning at eight, Lu Cheng finished his shift as usual, and Du Daihua came to take over.
However, Lu Cheng didn’t go home immediately after his shift. Instead, he rushed to the ward to follow the rounds.
After confirming that the limb replantation patient from yesterday afternoon had no blood circulation issues, Lu Cheng returned to the doctor’s lounge to pack his bag.
At that moment, Director Lin Qianlong entered with Deputy Director Xie Liao from the Medical Affairs Department.
Only Lu Cheng and Tian Zhuang, two doctors who had finished their night shift, were in the lounge at this time.
“Director Lin, Director Xie,” Lu Cheng and Tian Zhuang greeted them together.
Lin Qianlong’s tone was formal: “Xiao Lu, please come to my office. Director Xie is here on behalf of the hospital today.”
Lu Cheng paused slightly. Tian Zhuang, however, grumbled indignantly, “Director Lin, Director Xie, Brother Lu did nothing wrong!”
Lu Cheng was surprised that Tian Zhuang would speak up for him.
Lin Qianlong looked at Tian Zhuang with complex eyes for a few moments: “You should go back and rest. With your brain, you won’t understand this. Get some good rest.”
Lu Cheng put down his bag and followed Lin Qianlong and Xie Liao. Xie Liao remained silent throughout, but smiled, suggesting it wasn’t something bad.
Upon entering the director’s office, Lin Qianlong said, “I’ll go arrange some tea. Director Xie, you’ll have to have a good chat with Xiao Lu and clearly convey the hospital’s intentions.”
“This is a talent from our department, and also my favorite subordinate.”
With Lin Qianlong setting the tone, Lu Cheng knew Xie Liao was likely not here because of Du Qiang.
“Doctor Lu Cheng, I am Xie Liao, from the Medical Affairs Department. Actually, by rights, it shouldn’t be me talking to you. The person from our hospital’s Personnel Department should be here…” Xie Liao said.
Lu Cheng was silent for a moment, then realized: “Director Xie, do the hospital leaders have other plans for me to participate in the selection examination?”
Lu Cheng had previously expressed his intention to leave at the Medical Affairs Department. Although he had found a way to backtrack, the decision was made, and many people knew he was going to leave.
In this process, some leaders might get angry and make things difficult for him, but Lu Cheng wasn’t afraid of such obstacles.
Seeing Lu Cheng speak so frankly, Xie Liao didn’t dwell on it: “The hospital leadership does have some other ideas, so they sent me to probe your thoughts first.”
Xie Liao sat down and gestured for Lu Cheng to sit as well. “Doctor Lu, you just finished your night shift, and I shouldn’t be disturbing you, but it won’t take too long.”
“I’m here to convey President Peng’s intentions. So… do you have any desire to stay with our hospital?”
“Ever since you mentioned last time at the Medical Affairs Department that you were going to participate in the selection examination, our hospital leaders have held several meetings specifically about your matter.”
Lu Cheng’s eyes flickered.
He began to gain some other insights.
If it weren’t for Du Qiang from General Surgery coming to find him the other night, Lu Cheng would have thought Du Qiang was just a brainless, greasy middle-aged man.
But later, when Du Qiang brought his wife, Wei Cheng, to apologize and told him some things privately, Lu Cheng gained a new understanding of Director Du Qiang.
This guy is a true social operator, efficient, with his own methods. When he does things, you can’t just look at the surface.
“Director Xie, can you be more specific?” Lu Cheng asked.
Xie Liao said, “Lu Cheng, you are a talent, and you know this very well. Our hospital is located in a remote area, and we are even more in need of talent than the Prefectural City Hospital.”
“Especially people like you. So, the hospital leadership wants me to come and talk to you.”
“Performance coefficients, promotions, and external training are all negotiable.”
“Of course, it also depends on your own wishes. We wouldn’t dare to delay your future prospects.”
To block someone’s path to wealth is like killing their parents; to block someone’s future is like digging up their ancestors’ graves.
In the absence of absolute enmity, no one would dare say that you, Lu Cheng, cannot go to the prefecture to participate in the selection examination.
On what grounds could they say that?
Lu Cheng said, “Director Xie, the selection examination is about to begin… You… aren’t you making things difficult for me?”
Xie Liao patted his chest and joked, “Isn’t that exactly why the other leaders found it difficult to speak directly?”
“To put it bluntly, they are too opportunistic.”
“But considering the medical conditions of the people of Long County, I was still assigned to explore Doctor Lu’s own thoughts.”
“If you have such intentions, our hospital can show sincerity.”
“Preliminary consideration is to directly raise your performance coefficient to the level of Deputy Chief Physician, which is 1.5. You are currently at 1.1, so a direct increase of 0.4.”
“In terms of promotion, our hospital will definitely prioritize nurturing you. You will be the first to go for external training, advanced study classes, and other benefits, as long as you sign up!”
Xie Liao didn’t just speak of sincerity; he made it concrete.
Xie Liao continued, “Alternatively, if Doctor Lu is willing to transfer from the Emergency Department to a specialized department, that’s also negotiable.”
Lin Qianlong happened to emerge from the inner room of the office at this moment. Upon hearing Xie Liao’s words, he immediately objected.
“Director Xie, I kindly prepared tea for you and hosted you warmly, and you’re stabbing me in the back with a cold knife?”
“What do you mean, it’s negotiable if Doctor Lu wants to go to a specialized department?”
Xie Liao said, “Director Lin, this is also for the sake of the bigger picture.”
Lin Qianlong shook his head and approached. “Don’t talk about the bigger picture. Du Qiang from General Surgery is trying to poach Lu Cheng from me with some tricks, and you think that’s a good thing?”
“If people can be snatched away like this, I can do it every day.”
“He caused a scene, making you all see Lu Cheng’s true strength, and now you want to give him to General Surgery!”
“How can there be such a shameless person?”
Lin Qianlong directly exposed Du Qiang’s pretense and charade.
Lu Cheng’s heart was in turmoil.
He had considered that Du Qiang’s anger last night might not have been just about venting, but he never expected Du Qiang’s plan to be so peculiar.
Yelling at Lu Cheng was to get Lu Cheng to return to General Surgery.
Tell me, can ordinary people think of this?
However, upon careful consideration, it was also reasonable.
It was precisely because others didn’t recognize Lu Cheng’s abilities that Du Qiang happened to know Lu Cheng was exceptional.
What method could make Lu Cheng leave faster? A Director from General Surgery questioning him in front of him why he wasn’t helping his work? Not saving his patients?
Slamming the desk until it broke, was that enough weight?
You, Lu Cheng, have such abilities, why aren’t you coming?
This kind of questioning, seemingly mindless, seemingly angry, seemingly holding Lu Cheng accountable, was actually the best defense of Lu Cheng’s abilities.
Feng County People’s Hospital is a grassroots hospital. Grassroots hospitals don’t lack a hand surgeon, but they are definitely short of doctors who can save more lives.
Because the main responsibility of a county hospital is to keep people alive. As long as they are alive, it doesn’t matter if they are referred or paralyzed.
The primary task of a county hospital is to save lives. As long as a person can be saved, regardless of their quality of life, the social obligation is considered fulfilled.
This task is not easy to complete.
Ninety-nine percent of county hospitals fail to save patients who could have been saved.
“Director Lin…” Xie Liao still had something to say.
Lin Qianlong directly cut off Xie Liao’s words: “Director Xie, this basic point will absolutely not change.”
“Doctor Lu can only achieve his maximum effectiveness in the Emergency Department. Anything else is nonsense.”
“If you are truly sincere, granting Doctor Lu more surgical authorization from the hospital level would be the proper course of action.”
“Anything else is just fooling around.”
Lu Cheng was only an attending physician, theoretically only allowed to perform Level 2 surgeries, but most life-threatening surgeries in the Emergency Department were Level 3 procedures.
Surgical authorization could be granted by the hospital.
Even if routine authorization wasn’t possible, the hospital’s Medical Affairs Department could apply for special approval from the Health Bureau.
In county hospitals, this could be done to save more lives.
Lin Qianlong’s suggestion was direct, and Xie Liao, being from the Medical Affairs Department, nodded: “This can be considered, but it still depends on Doctor Lu’s own thoughts.”
“If Doctor Lu sincerely wishes to develop as a specialist, Director Lin, you cannot be too harsh.”
Lin Qianlong had his connections and background, but Feng County People’s Hospital was not Lin Qianlong’s private garden to do as he pleased.
Relationships in any unit are intricate and complex, not the absolute monopoly of one person.
Even the County Party Secretary wouldn’t dare to dictate terms at the People’s Hospital, only saying the hospital would fully respect his decision.
And that his decision wouldn’t have major flaws.
For example, a decision like directly shutting down the ICU would be an idiotic resolution. If he issued a document, the hospital could implement it, but that would be the limit.
Someone would automatically match him with BO1.
Of course, for the matter of Lu Cheng’s departure or stay, many people could directly make the decision.
“Director Xie, thank you for your kindness, but my choice has actually been made clear.”
“If I were to take the exam, it’s not guaranteed I’d pass. To put it shamelessly, if I fail, and the hospital is still willing, I would be very grateful for the hospital’s favor,” Lu Cheng replied tactfully.
This was also one of his fallback options due to helplessness.
It was indeed possible for Lu Cheng to fail the exam. The selection examination was not a regular social recruitment; it had many more crooked paths than social recruitment.
For one thing, outsiders didn’t even know about the existence of the selection examination; there might not even be any announcements.
This was a springboard for many people.
But it was only a springboard for many, not for everyone, as people were also afraid of backlash.
The principle of “the Great Way is fifty, Heaven’s Evolution is forty-nine, leaving one line of life” was vividly demonstrated within the system.
Lin Qianlong stated with certainty at this moment: “Director Xie, we have already discussed with Doctor Lu. From now on, Doctor Lu will only conduct clinical research projects in our Emergency Department.”
“If you move elsewhere, Doctor Lu won’t recognize it.”
How could Lin Qianlong tolerate Lu Cheng being so erratic? He explicitly said he was going to the Prefectural City Hospital and still wanted to be treated so well?
There was also a reason.
To set up a research project in Feng County People’s Hospital, especially in the Emergency Department, shows how formidable the Director of the Emergency Department is.
When promoted to Vice President, wouldn’t this be an absolute bonus point? Could others bring research projects to a county hospital?
“Director Xie, to be honest, if our county had the conditions to conduct research projects, I really wouldn’t have chosen to participate in the selection examination,” Lu Cheng explained again.
“If you can find a suitable laboratory in Feng County, then I won’t go for this exam.”
Xie Liao was an administrator, and he should be more aware of the benefits research projects could bring to the hospital and individuals.
Let alone Feng County People’s Hospital, even in the Prefectural City Hospital, any department that successfully undertakes a research project becomes a benchmark achievement for the hospital.
It would even make the entire hospital feel that this department is developing very well and is a showcase.
Conducting research projects in a top-tier comprehensive teaching hospital is expected; not doing so means falling behind.
But the current atmosphere in China is that not all prefectural city hospitals are conducting research projects. Once you have one, your department will be highly regarded among many prefectural city hospitals.
If a county hospital is also conducting research projects… Oh my, then there’s no need to say more. If not the only one in the province, it would be among the top five or even top ten county hospital specialties, and no one would dare to object.
Especially what lies behind clinical research projects is original techniques and skills.
If you can learn them first, you can even present them at provincial academic conferences for exchange.
The tendon suturing technique that Lu Cheng plans to develop in the Emergency Department is a technique that Lin Qianlong believes his department members can learn.
It is something to look forward to.
Xie Liao frowned slightly and thought deeply before saying, “Then how about this, Doctor Lu, if you still want to leave, then we can only improve your benefits.”
“Priority in other aspects? Giving you more would not be appropriate.”
Xie Liao changed his address from “you” to “you (polite),”
More polite, and also more exclusionary.
If Lu Cheng succeeds in the selection examination and goes to the Prefectural City Hospital, he will be free to place his research project in Feng County People’s Hospital, Feng County People’s Hospital, or Yong County People’s Hospital.
Verbal promises are unreliable.
If you don’t build good relationships with people, why would they voluntarily give you benefits?
If they can’t offer more promotion channels, giving more money is also a way to build goodwill.
“Thank you, Director Xie and the hospital leadership. I personally express my sincerest gratitude for the hospital’s decision,” Lu Cheng said, knowing this was the county hospital’s sincerity.
…
Lu Cheng finally finished his shift.
As soon as he got home and before he could take a sip of water, he received a message from Director Du Qiang.
“Xiao Lu, your Uncle Du will not offer an excessive explanation for yesterday’s events. If you don’t understand today, you should understand by tomorrow or the day after at the latest.”
“Some things are already set and cannot be reversed.”
“But if established events can be utilized, they can also be used as material for further development.”
“After some time, come to my home for a drink,” Du Qiang’s tone was not cold, but his attitude was undeniable.
After reading the message, a few words about “old fox” drifted through Lu Cheng’s mind.
Afterward, he chose to delete the message record and the chat interface with Du Qiang.
These things can exist, but they cannot leave traces.
If one were to investigate, WeChat message logs could certainly be retrieved, but how could an ordinary person investigate message logs for such a trivial matter?
Just because Du Qiang put on a show to give Lu Cheng some leverage, to let the hospital know how capable Lu Cheng was, and to increase his performance, and then you think it’s unreasonable to investigate so thoroughly?
Lu Cheng narrowed his eyes.
At this moment, he felt as naive and childish as a child, and compared to an old fox like Du Qiang, he still had so much to learn.
After a while, Lu Cheng opened his eyes again.
“Ruthless person!~”
“Cannot be a friend, and do not make an enemy of him!” Lu Cheng labeled Du Qiang with these words.
At that moment, Tong Yuan’an called to check in: “Xiao Lu, were you alright last night?”
“I heard from people in the department that you were yelled at badly last night?”
Tong Yuan’an’s voice was full of concern and care.
It was clear he took the matter seriously.
Tong Yuan’an’s intelligence was fine, and his emotional intelligence was also fine, but he was still a “young fox” not yet forty. He couldn’t truly understand the methods of an old fox like Du Qiang, a veteran director who had worked his way up in the county for many years.
Social matters cannot be fully understood through studying and intelligence alone.
“It’s nothing, Professor Tong, aren’t you off today?” Lu Cheng asked politely.
“I had nothing else to do, so I came to see the patients from yesterday’s surgery.”
“I’m heading back now. You weren’t very busy last night, so after you’ve rested well this afternoon, let’s meet.” Tong Yuan’an invited him proactively.
Research projects exist, and planning is necessary; they cannot produce independently.
“Okay, Teacher Tong, I’ll contact you when I get back this afternoon.”
At least Tong Yuan’an wasn’t reclusive anymore.
