Chapter 202: Scope Of Cognition!!
While Lu Cheng was eating, someone added him as a friend on WeChat.
And they even provided a note: （ Xiao Mingqi ）.
Lu Cheng simply accepted, but did not chat with him. After all, Professor Chen Song was confirming the specific experimental procedures and timeline with Lu Cheng.
Lu Cheng and Chen Song were both clinicians, and they both paid attention to their phones even while eating and discussing matters, so they understood each other.
The restaurant this time was recommended by Mu Leng, so the taste was naturally quite authentic.
No alcohol was consumed, so after Lu Cheng saw Chen Song back to his accommodation, he chose to get on the highway nearby for his return trip.
It was around 8 PM when Lu Cheng finally returned to the Emergency Department of Long County People’s Hospital and officially took over Du Qiang’s “emergency shift.”
A long time had passed since Lin Qianlong called Lu Cheng to report the cancellation of the penalty.
After Lu Cheng took over, Du Qiang immediately took him into the Director’s office and dropped his pretense of a stern face: “Xiao Lu, I originally thought that there would be no complications when you went to participate in the selection examination.”
“But I didn’t expect that with your excellent results, you chose the worst department, and still blocked someone’s path.”
Du Qiang instinctively thought this tactic was an underhanded move, a deliberate act by other competitors.
But after Tian Qi and the others arrived, the reasons they gave were ‘proper,’ and at first glance, it didn’t seem like competitors were causing trouble.
However, after going in circles, Du Qiang thought about it carefully, and the result led him back.
Lu Cheng glanced at the closed door and also let down his guard, sighing, “Uncle Du, I didn’t expect that by just normally participating in the selection examination, I would encounter such a problem.”
“Then, are we just letting this matter go?” Lu Cheng was still young, and felt that the outcome of this matter was not satisfactory.
Du Qiang did not fully understand Lu Cheng’s fundamental nature, but he still frowned slightly: “Xiao Lu, sometimes, matters in society are not about seeking satisfaction, our focus is only on solving problems.”
“I know you feel wronged, but after all, it’s not easy to investigate such things deeply.”
“The other party is very professional. If you investigate deeply, even if it’s a false accusation, they won’t be held responsible.”
“The things our hospital does are ‘misleadingly accused’!”
“Society today is completely different from before. There aren’t many people who act without thinking and only solve problems with violence. In most cases, it’s hard to find leverage or an opportunity to fight back…”
“This point is both good and bad.”
Du Qiang was reasoning with Lu Cheng from the perspective of an elder, so Lu Cheng naturally couldn’t get angry with Du Qiang.
Such is the sorrow and hardship of ordinary people, being manipulated with ease.
Originally, no one was targeting Lu Cheng, but someone wanted to use the opportunity of the inspection team in Xiangzhou to put pressure on Lu Cheng. What could he do?
It was already good enough that it could be explained clearly in the end.
“I understand, Uncle Du. I’m just complaining to you privately. You are experienced and knowledgeable, and should be able to give me a relatively good suggestion.”
Lu Cheng had seen the message from Xiao Mingqi. After Xiao Mingqi learned about the problem Lu Cheng encountered, he specifically inquired. He informed Lu Cheng that the current scope of work for the inspection team did not include investigating “medical violations.” However, medical corruption did fall under the inspection team’s purview.
If President Peng’s involvement was not “corruption,” then the inspection team would not handle it.
As for whether the surgery exceeded its scope or was an over-level surgery, as long as it did not involve “organ trafficking,” the inspection team would not handle it.
Such minor matters would be handled by the County Health Bureau.
“My advice is to swallow your pride and endure it, as if this never happened. Dwelling on it is useless and will only make you more agitated.”
“Conversely, your current safety will only make those with ulterior motives more agitated because they face more troublesome predicaments than you,” Du Qiang said.
“Mhm. Alright, Uncle Du.” Lu Cheng sighed and continued, “Uncle Du, Professor Chen told me today that the surgery we performed has a risk assessment form from a professional committee.”
“But it wasn’t filed.”
“Director Du, for this kind of surgery, shouldn’t it be filed to be better?”
“Actually, to be honest, although I’ve performed spleen preservation surgery with Director Lin, I’ve also done it with you, Uncle Du.”
“It’s just that not many people know about it.”
Du Qiang said, “Of course it’s better to file it if possible. We can talk about these things later…”
After speaking, Du Qiang knocked on the table.
Du Qiang then looked at Lu Cheng again before saying, “Director Huang Haibo of the Internal Medicine department has been working quite diligently on your matter. What’s going on?”
“Is there some unspoken relationship between you two?”
Lu Cheng shook his head: “No, I rarely interact with Director Huang.”
The conversation between Huang Haibo and Tong Yuan’an was something only the two of them knew.
Tong Yuan’an had not told Lu Cheng about Huang Haibo’s thoughts, nor did he intend to bring Huang Haibo in. Therefore, he would not relay Huang Haibo’s ‘demands’ to Lu Cheng.
If Huang Haibo truly had the ability to gain Lu Cheng’s trust and join the research group, that would be Huang Haibo’s capability, and Tong Yuan’an would certainly not introduce him.
This was an information blind spot that Lu Cheng was unaware of.
“Then that’s strange, but it’s not a bad thing!~” Du Qiang said, then waved his hand to signal Lu Cheng could leave.
As Lu Cheng pushed the door open, Du Qiang added in a stern voice: “This time, you were lucky that the higher-ups are not pursuing it further. If there’s a next time, no one will be able to protect you.”
Du Qiang was still acting.
Lu Cheng felt like laughing when he heard this. If the atmosphere in the department wasn’t so peculiar, Lu Cheng might have actually burst out laughing.
…
After the commotion surrounding this matter had somewhat subsided, Zhang Tiesheng, who was on the night shift in the ward, finally had time to congratulate Lu Cheng: “Xiao Lu, the selection examination should be settled for you now.”
“Do you know the news? When will your group be transferred to the selected unit?”
Lu Cheng shook his head: “Brother Zhang, I don’t know either. The skills assessment and internship assessment haven’t even started yet.”
“With your results, you don’t need to worry about the skills assessment or the internship assessment. Who would dare to create such a large discrepancy in the skills assessment scores? And you’re the benchmark group?”
Zhang Tiesheng said with some regret: “You’ve only just arrived in our Emergency Department and you’re already leaving. To put it bluntly, your Brother Zhang will truly miss you.”
After speaking, Zhang Tiesheng added: “However, working in the prefecture is better for your future prospects, Brother. I wish you more and more success in the future.”
Regardless of their personal relationship, Zhang Tiesheng knew that Lu Cheng was destined to work in a major hospital in the future.
Before participating in the selection examination, Lu Cheng had explicitly stated that he had discussed it with Xiehe Hospital.
Leaving sooner or later was still leaving.
Lu Cheng said: “Brother Zhang, how is your suturing practice going?”
“I can barely suture a tourniquet now!~ We can talk about teaching suturing techniques later; you should focus on the selection examination first, there will be plenty of time in the future.”
“At worst, I’ll just go to the upper-level hospital more often.” Zhang Tiesheng waved his hand indifferently.
He, Zhang Tiesheng, was the one learning. If Lu Cheng, the teacher, were to leave, he wouldn’t stay just because of his student.
Students who want to learn should actively seek out their teachers.
Seeing that Lu Cheng wasn’t replying, Zhang Tiesheng continued: “Oh right, Xiao Lu, according to what you said, the county health bureau’s visit to our hospital yesterday, the inspection team didn’t know about it and didn’t care?”
Lu Cheng nodded: “That’s what I understand so far. Not only did the inspection team not know, but Director Tan Li from the Emergency Office of the Zhou Health Commission, who contacted me, also didn’t know.”
“He’s the one who inquired about this information.”
Zhang Tiesheng pursed his lips: “It’s easier to deal with the king of hell than the petty officials. The ancient saying is indeed true…”
“So you finished your surgery in the morning and only returned at night, right? Did someone approach you privately?”
“If you take off in the future, Xiao Lu, please at least remember your Brother Zhang’s name. If one day I need your help, don’t pretend not to know me.”
Zhang Tiesheng had secretly gathered some information.
The incident of the inspection team being hospitalized must have had a significant impact, and many people knew about it.
It wouldn’t be spread widely, but it wasn’t information that Zhang Tiesheng couldn’t find out.
Lu Cheng was invited to perform a consultative surgery. Wasn’t this something that would be noted by high-level leaders?
Regardless of how those who were plotting behind the scenes characterized the spleen preservation surgery, the injured patient was undoubtedly the direct beneficiary of the new technology. Even if they couldn’t directly repay Lu Cheng, they would definitely remember Lu Cheng.
Otherwise, losing an organ is no small matter.
“I was contacted, but I didn’t go.” Lu Cheng replied.
Zhang Tiesheng was greatly surprised and instinctively retorted: “Then you’re being a bit foolish.”
Lu Cheng said: “Actually, it’s alright. As long as they know who performed the surgery, that’s enough. Whether they thank me or not is irrelevant.”
“I didn’t come to Jishi City for the sake of receiving thanks.”
Lu Cheng was actually not confused in his heart.
“That’s true. Sophisticated gift-giving, done at the right time, makes people owe a favor, which is better than a reciprocal exchange.”
Zhang Tiesheng’s eyes darted around, but they weren’t as obvious under his stern face: “Xiao Lu, your thoughts are quite deep.”
Lu Cheng said: “Brother Zhang, I really didn’t think that much.”
“However, I do think that before our technique is registered with the higher authorities, we should refrain from performing spleen preservation surgery again.”
“This time it was an accidental misunderstanding, but next time it might not be.”
Zhang Tiesheng nodded and said: “The county hospital is a constraint for you, Xiao Lu. You can’t fully utilize your skills here.”
Lu Cheng could tell that Zhang Tiesheng’s remark was pure flattery and didn’t take it to heart.
…
Meanwhile, in Jishi City, at Zhou People’s Hospital.
In a private room in a high-level ward, Xiao Mingqi had called his doctor friend to confirm that his current treatment was a narrow escape from death, and he felt considerable regret.
If he had known that the people in Xiangzhou were so hot-tempered, he wouldn’t have said anything.
Now, if things went badly, he might even be held accountable for violating discipline.
It was truly a mess.
Xiao Mingqi had no family members accompanying him, at least not at the moment. However, the news he received was that he would be temporarily removed from his work in the inspection team.
Firstly, he was injured and needed rest. Secondly, since the incident had occurred, the inspection team, for his safety, had also invited experts from outside the hospital for a consultation.
Although this minor incident would not affect his future prospects, he could probably forget about recent commendations.
Of course, this did not trouble Xiao Mingqi for long. At present, he was just grateful that at least his organs were intact.
There are many “king crabs” in shallow water.
Xiao Mingqi muttered, and then his WeChat message chimed again. Xiao Mingqi initially thought it was a message from his family, but upon opening his phone, he found it was Lu Cheng’s reply.
“You don’t need to be so polite. The surgery was performed by Professor Chen Song, and I mainly assisted. Moreover, my coming to Jishi City was also due to the assignment of higher-level leaders.”
“You should be more grateful to Professor Chen Song and the relevant leaders, otherwise, I wouldn’t have known you were injured and needed surgery,” Lu Cheng’s words were calm and polite.
After reading it, Xiao Mingqi tapped the phone screen with his right index finger, a smile appearing on his lips, and typed back: “Doctor Lu, you don’t need to be overly modest.”
“Although I am not a professional in the medical and health sector, my friend also said that it was purely luck that my spleen was saved this time.”
“After all, the medical standards in the place where I am currently located are indeed average, and even if a similar situation occurred elsewhere, it might not have resulted in a good outcome.”
“Therefore, I also want to thank you, Doctor Lu.”
What Xiao Mingqi did not expect was that Lu Cheng did not reply to his message immediately.
It was not until half an hour later that Lu Cheng replied: “I’m on duty and have a patient arriving. I need to go into the operating room. My apologies.”
This was entirely the communication style of a doctor with an ordinary patient, neither warm nor cold, which made Xiao Mingqi extremely unaccustomed to it.
But Xiao Mingqi did not dwell on it, put down his phone, and rested.
He still had many tubes inserted, and moving was not very convenient…
Long County, within a residential area.
Director Hu Qingshan called Director Tian Qi of the Health Bureau from his home to inquire about the follow-up of the matter and asked: “Director Tian, so, the higher-ups will not be pursuing this matter further?”
“Yes, Director Zhang Qiao of the Zhou Health Commission personally contacted me,” Tian Qi replied.
Hu Qingshan did not understand: “Director Tian, then who contacted you before?”
Tian Qi replied: “It was the Medical Administration and Management Section!”
Zhang Qiao was one of the deputy directors of the Health Commission, and the Medical Administration and Management Section was one of the offices managed by a deputy director, a position higher than the director of the Medical Administration and Management Section.
Hu Qingshan, being well-informed, immediately stated: “Alright, Director Tian, then I will accept the instructions from the higher-ups and will not pursue this matter further within the hospital.”
“But in the future, we will definitely further standardize the scope of clinical practice within the hospital.”
Some things, just because the higher-ups are no longer pursuing them, doesn’t mean you can continue doing them!
Tian Qi suddenly said: “Director Hu, the most important thing is that the procedures should be normal. Doctor Lu is also a talent in our county’s health sector. If his procedures had followed regulations this time, no one would have bothered him.”
“You should cherish talents like him, Director Hu.”
“This is also the intention of the bureau’s leadership.”
Hu Qingshan immediately replied: “Okay, Director Tian, I will contact Doctor Lu again to see his personal thoughts.”
“If there’s an opportunity, we’ll see if we can persuade Doctor Lu to continue working in the county.”
“Yes, Director Hu, in our county, sometimes we also have to arrange health and security reception for leaders.”
“The more skilled people we have in the county, the easier it will be to arrange such matters.”
Speaking of this, Tian Qi reminded: “However, we must still be mindful of the boundaries and fully respect personal wishes.”
“From what I know, Doctor Lu’s interpersonal relationships are a bit complicated.”
Hu Qingshan remained silent for a moment, not replying, but he understood Tian Qi’s meaning.
Lu Cheng’s interpersonal relationships were not only complicated due to his contact with teaching hospitals; this sudden incident had further expanded Lu Cheng’s network.
For doctors who are technically skilled and irreplaceable, their network can grow so widely and quickly.
This is an inherent advantage that cannot be replaced in any profession.
…
At 1:40 AM.
Lu Cheng completed a nearly perfect splenectomy and felt somewhat agitated.
He returned to the lounge, pulled the quilt over himself, and fell sound asleep.
He tossed and turned for a full half an hour before finally drifting off to sleep.
The next day, when Lu Cheng began his rounds, the patient from the early morning surgery and their family member, seeing the patient’s good condition, were very polite to Lu Cheng and those on rounds.
“Thank you, Doctor Lu, thank you, Director Du…” The sincere smiles on their faces were genuine.
The patient and family had no idea that spleen preservation was possible.
Even less did they know that Lu Cheng could preserve it, but also couldn’t.
Lu Cheng did not dwell on this matter for long. After carefully observing that the patient’s drainage was less than ten milliliters, he suggested: “Director Du, the patient’s drainage volume is not much. I think we can remove the drain and re-examine tomorrow.”
Du Qiang nodded and said in a stern tone: “Then let’s remove the drain tomorrow. The wound is also recovering well. Remember to have timely follow-ups.”
“We will inform you of the specific follow-up matters when you are discharged. After a splenectomy, immunity will decrease, so you must have long-term regular follow-ups, understand?”
The patient sighed: “Alas, there’s nothing that can be done. Doctor Lu and the others discussed this issue with me before the surgery yesterday.”
“Bad luck. I don’t have much pain right now, and that’s the important thing.”
“Mhm, rest well!” Du Qiang led the team away.
As Lu Cheng passed his bed, he looked back at him again, suppressing all complex emotions within.
The world is so unfair. In similar situations, some patients can preserve their organs, while others cannot.
Moreover, some hospitals can save a patient’s life, while in others, patients encounter misfortune.
This is not a rule that Lu Cheng alone can change, so he can only abide by it silently.
Because Lu Cheng would not gamble with his future and career. Gambling is life-threatening; one loss means losing everything.
One day, all his patients will be able to openly preserve their organs; this is Lu Cheng’s understanding!
Time passed like water, and it was Friday in the blink of an eye.
Lu Cheng was to depart to participate in the skills assessment and internship assessment for the selection examination…
