A spacious private room, large enough to host several tables.
âCome, come, come! Xiao Yang, sit here.â Old Han called out as he saw Yang Ping come in.
He had left a chair next to him. It was supposed to be for Yang Ping, who had no choice but to sit there.
This central table was entirely filled with directors such as Director Han, Director Tian, Director Ouyang, Director Bai, Director Xiong of the Emergency Department, Director Pan of the ICU, the Anesthesiology Director, and the head nurse of the Operating room.
Neither Dean Xia nor Dean Sun had come. Probably this was just a casual gathering amongst doctors. It could get too formal with the leaders around. Director Han would probably meet them individually.
Yang Ping felt uncomfortable in such an environment, but there was little he could do. He sat silent, listening to their conversation.
âOld Han, youâve got this Italian cannon under you. Why donât you let him blitz often? Iâve never seen him in the operating room.â The Anesthesiology Director wondered.
âXiao Yang is new here, right? The infant fingers replantation last time was his handiwork.â The head nurse of the Operating Room had some insights.
âInfant surgeries are the most difficult. How old? Maybe itâs a worldâs first.â Director Pan of the Trauma ICU wondered.
Director Han responded, âA one-month-old infant, with a blood vessel diameter of just 0.05 millimeters. Suturing blood vessels of this diameter represents the pinnacle of microsurgical techniques. Infant finger replantations are rare, for an infant older than one month, maybe it is the first in the world.â
Director Xiong of the Emergency Department, sitting like a giant on a chair that seemed too small for him, said, âThis five-section replantation is impressive, emergency reconstruction no less! It was live-streamed on the National Trauma Orthopedics Network. Old Han, you must be feeling proud. Howâs the blood flow now? Any issues?â
âVery good indeed! I just checked.â Director Pan said.
âXiao Yang, you came from Peopleâs Hospital, right?â Director Xiong inquired.
Yang Ping nodded, âI joined Peopleâs Hospital right after graduation and just recently moved over.â
âPeopleâs Hospital is headed by Wu Siwen, isnât it?â Director Bai asked, his overweight body risked toppling the chair as he turned towards Yang Ping.
âYes! Director Wu.â, Yang Ping confirmed.
âWu Siwen and I are alumni. Heâs a year junior, so technically my junior. Is Director Wu easy to work with?â Director Bai asked with a smile.
Yang Ping replied, âDirector Wu is quite nice.â
âNice? That man is notorious for being stingy, and can be cunning too.â Director Bai stated bluntly.
The medical circle in G city was not too big. Everyone regularly met in meetings and knew each other quite well.
âHeâs preparing to become the Vice-Dean now. He saved Jiang Baichengâs son once. This Jiang Baichengâs influence spans politics and business. His Vice-Dean position might have something to do with Jiang Baichengâs maneuvers.â Director Bai seemed to know it all.
âIâm not sure about that. I was just a temporary worker over there, a junior doctor, and had very few interactions with him. Over the years of work, we hardly exchanged a few words.â Yang Ping explained.
âPeopleâs Hospital ignored such a gem. They trained a talent for us! Coming to our Sanbo is indeed right.â Director Ouyang interjected.
âWhatâs going on here? Serve the dishes! Weâve been busy chatting. Serve the dishes and pour the drinks!â Director Xiong exclaimed.
Several bottles of Feitian Moutai were laid out on the table. The waitstaff began opening the bottles, pouring the liquor into miniature bottles, and then serving everyoneâs drinks.
Other than this central table, there were several others around with doctors from Orthopedics, Operating Room, Emergency Department, and Trauma ICU â everyone who had participated in the rescue operation.
Yang Ping sneakily glanced around to see if Su Yixuan was present.
The dishes were served quickly, and soon the table was full.
Director raised his glass, âThis successful rescue of the five-segment amputation was the result of everyoneâs concerted efforts. Under everyoneâs hard work, our Trauma Emergency Center will definitely grow stronger!â
Drink up! Drink up! Drink up!
Orthopedic doctors certainly didnât beat around the bush when it came to drinking. None of them flinched, except for Yang Ping.
âXiao Yangâcome nowââ Director Xiong lifted his glass with his left hand and his miniature bottle with the right. After toasting Director Han, he moved on to Yang Ping.
Director Han stood up and stopped Director Xiong, âXiao Yang canât hold his liquor. Today he indulged a bit in the spirit of the day, but we canât let him drink anymore. Let him stay aside while we have a blast, ok?â
âIf you say so, then it is. Come, letâs drink up.â Director Xiong emptied his glass.
Immersed in drinking and noise, the ambience of the room was chaotic and lively.
Yang Ping slipped into a couch, away from the chaos, but with a view of the Operating Room table to see if Su Yixuan was there.
The girl really looked charming. Her delicate features, black shoulder-length hair, pink t-shirt that accentuated her youthful vibrancy, and shapely figure. Her dimples appeared when she smiled, and her clear and black eyes sparkled under long eyelashes.
Su Yixuan glanced over, and Yang Ping wanted to avoid her gaze, but it was too late, he got caught. He smiled awkwardly, as Su Yixuan got up from the table and walked over.
She had a cup of fruit juice in hand and was bouncing around with joy, âBrother Ping, come on, have a drink. Youâre the big hero today.â
Little Five handed him a cup of fruit juice, deliberately pressing the cup heavily into his hand, signaling him to seize the opportunity.
âThank you! You did a great job assisting in the operation. Otherwise, it wouldnât have gone so smoothly.â Yang Ping didnât know what to say, he was a bit uneasy.
Get a grip, Yang Ping! He scolded himself â not afraid of reporters, yet scared of this young woman, stuttering in her presence.
Su Yixuan grinned, âThe head nurse arranged for me to assist your team in the future. Please take care of me.â
She made a bowing gesture, looking extremely adorable.
Yang Ping replied, âLetâs look out for each other.â
âDo you want more juice? I can pour it for you. I like coconut juice, do you like it too? Youâre not drinking with them?â Su Yixuan asked.
Coconut juice, Yang Ping didnât usually like it. But at that moment, he immediately replied, âI also like coconut juice.â
There really was no bottom line.
As for the alcohol, admitting poor tolerance would be embarrassing, so he said, âIâve had enough, just need a break.â
What does âenoughâ mean? He barely even finished a glass, only wetting his lips.
âAs microsurgeons, you should drink less alcohol, or better yet, none at all! Here, fruit juice.â Su Yixuan poured more juice for Yang Ping.
âLet me pour it.â Yang Ping said.
âYouâre the hero today, let me do it.â Su Yixuan insisted.
The directors were busy toasting each other, it was very lively. A few bottles of Moutai had long been replaced. Song Zimo brought a cup of tea over, âBig brother, letâs have a drink. Yesterday was so thrilling!â
Song Zimo, a man of high self-discipline who didnât touch alcohol, Yang Ping had long heard.
Both men drinking tea or coconut juice, toasted each other, creating a drinking atmosphere.
Song Zimo put his arm around Yang Pingâs shoulder, âYou must teach me more when youâre free. How did you master your microsurgery skills? You mustnât hold back.â
âWe learn from each other, practice makes perfect!â Yang Ping responded.
Little Five, Zhang Lin, and Fang Yan all came over to toast with Yang Ping. He had to use coconut juice as a substitute, and Su Yixuan sat next to him, constantly pouring juice for him.
The scene was chaotic, and the atmosphere was very high. Su Yixuan asked, âDonât you like crowds?â
Yang Ping nodded honestly, the thing he feared the most was social occasions like this. They gave him headaches, made him dizzy and had trouble breathing.
Su Yixuan shook her head, âMe neither.â
âShould we go out for a walk to get some fresh air?â Su Yixuan suggested.
Thatâs exactly what Yang Ping wanted. In his heart, he kept encouraging himself, âDonât be nervous, behave normally!â
The private room was on the first floor. As they left the restaurant, they found themselves on a street lined with trees.
âDo you really like performing surgeries?â Su Yixuan asked.
Yang Ping replied, âI feel apart from performing surgeries, I canât do much else. Once I start operating, Iâm totally absorbed.â
âMe too! I love performing surgeries.â
And so, the two of them chatted under the trees.
The wind was gentle, and traffic bustled outside.
Their conversation was incredibly illogical, intermittent and disjointed.
Yang Ping thought, if only there was a âpick-up chicks crash courseâ in the system, he would definitely spend all of his remaining points.
Suddenly, he regretted not learning more from Little Five, who was even forced to get married.
He was seriously lacking a learning attitude.