In the afternoon, the humidity in the air was a little lower. The sun was golden and bright as if someone graceful was dancing about, even though that person could not be clearly seen.
Two dirty off-road vehicles made noises so loud they did not care about who they bothered. They drove slowly from the other end of the street, swaying from side to side as if they were office workers who were really exhausted after a dayâs work.
When the SUV stopped at a board that stated âThe Bazhaixiang hospital branch, Cangping District Hospital, Yun Hua Cityâ, a row of six people got off the vehicle one after another. They were also swaying from side to side. Everyone looked pale as if they could immediately be sent to an emergency treatment room.
âThe patient is fine. Donât worry. Letâs go ahead and have a look.â One of the people who came down from the first car was an associate chief physician from the provincial hospital. He was dressed in a white coat, and it was a little dirty.
The road from the township hospital to Bazhaixiang was not far, but the journey was incredibly challenging. The people in the vehicles had to get down to help the vehicles get through the mud on the roads more than once.
The clothes of the patientâs family members were stained with mud. Their expressions and gazes were very anxious.
âThe surgery went well. Let me lead you up,â Zuo Cidian, who was in charge of reception, also did not speak much. He took the crowd to the special care unit, which was reconstructed on the first floor.
Compared with the other rooms, where six patients in one room, only three patients were placed in the special care unit. A nurse sat at a corner, writing records while she took care of the patients.
âThe patient is okay, you can rest assured.â The associate chief physician from the provincial hospital looked at the patientâs condition, and his expression changed slightly. Then, he smiled and comforted the patient and his family members. His attitude was very amiable.
When the patientâs family members saw that the surgery was completed and the patient was lying down safely, they naturally became happy.
âThank you, doctor. Thank you, Associate Chief Physician Deng.â
âI thank you and your family on behalf of my family.â
âEverything is okay now. At least, you didnât waste all the money you spent to send the patient over via helicopter.â
Associate Chief Physician Deng from the provincial hospital wore a kind smile no matter what the patientâs family said.
He even spoke highly about Yun Hua Hospital. âIt is fine as long as everything is okay. You all may come out after having a look at the patient. Look, this room has been changed into a special care unit. We all should abide by the rules, and the same goes for the patient. Abide by the rules, and he will recover soon.â
The senior nurse in the special care unit looked at Associate Chief Physician Deng and nodded at him.
They were not from the same hospital, and what she did was already considered polite behavior.
The patientâs family members agreed reluctantly.
Associate Chief Physician Deng was still smiling, but he said to Cai Qiong, who was next to him, âOld Cai, come with me.â
Cai Qiongâs expression changed. He followed him out of the special care unit with an unyielding attitude.
âFind a smoking area.â Although the associate chief physician was only one rank higher than Cai Qiong, he was the leader of his treatment group and Cai Qiongâs superior.
Also, the other directors did not want Cai Qiong, who talked too much and was unskilled. Hence, Cai Qiong was placed under him, as he had a lower qualification.
Cai Qiong guessed that he was going to be scolded, but now, he had no interest in speaking. He walked forward without uttering a word and stood still as soon as he found a corner.
Associate Chief Physician Dengâs expression slightly changed. He thought to himself, âWhy is he not speaking when he should?â
He then followed Cai Qiong in the corner, took out his cigarette, looked up, and saw the word âsupply roomâ.
Associate Chief Physician Deng felt anger burn in him, but he suppressed it and put away his cigarette.
âYou arenât going to smoke?â Cai Qiong frowned instead. âIf youâre not smoking, then whatâs the point of coming this far?â
âYouâre asking me to smoke near the supply room? Are you crazy?â Associate Chief Physician Deng said, then waved his hand. âLetâs not talk about thisâ¦â
Cai Qiong never really thought twice about what he said. He casually provoked Associate Chief Physician Deng, âSmoking is also forbidden in the office, yet you still smoke in there every day.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âItâs not the same.â
âIt looks the same for those of us who donât smoke.â
Associate Chief Physician Deng gritted his teeth as he recited in his heart that he would not argue with idiots. Then, he asked the key question slowly, âDidnât I ask you to transfer the patient back to Yun Hua Hospital itself? Why did Ling Ran perform the surgery?â
âYou told me to follow the patient to Bazhaixiang hospital branch to see if the doctors from Yun Hua Hospital can perform this surgery. If not, I was to send the patient to Yun Hua Hospital itself. Turns out, the doctors from Yun Hua Hospital were able to perform the surgery. Thereâs nothing I can doâ¦â Cai Qiong spread his arms to show that he did not want to take the blame.
Associate Chief Physician Deng nearly snorted. âDonât you understand human language? Is that what I meant?â
âI basically repeated what you said, I also have a few witnessesââ
âIâ¦â Associate Chief Physician Deng gritted his teeth and said, âI asked you to come to the Bazhaixiang hospital branch and performed some formalities before transferring the patient to Yun Hua Hospital itself, donât you understand that? Who asked you to give the patient to the people of Yun Hua Hospital?â
Cai Qiong called out, âDonât push the blame on me! You didnât say that in the beginning. Whatâs wrong? Doctor Ling already completed the surgery. Now that you feel so embarrassed, youâre thinking about me causing trouble?â
Associate Chief Physician Deng would have thrown a punch if punching did not hurt his hand.
It was too tiring to talk to a simple-minded person.
After catching his breath, Associate Chief Physician Deng held back his anger and asked, âDid they send in a lot of equipment?â
âYes, didnât I take a picture of them?â Cai Qiong answered every question, but he always did so in a manner that would make a person unhappy.
âSo⦠the surgery went well?â
âOf course, heâs Doctor Lingâ¦â Cai Qiong suddenly felt a bit sentimental, but because of his pride as someone from the provincial hospital, he was not willing to praise someone from Yun Hua Hospital.
Associate Chief Physician Deng could understand what he was trying to say, but he did not think about it much. He just smiled slightly. âHe went to Beijing as a freelance surgeon. If he worked in an operating theater with a full set of equipment, thereâs no way heâll slip up when he performs a hepatectomy.â
Cai Qiong chuckled and looked at Associate Chief Physician Dengâs expression. It was somewhat intriguing.
Associate Chief Physician Deng suddenly found the brat really annoying. Not only was he chatty, but he just had an annoying face.
âOld Cai.â Associate Chief Physician Deng squeezed his cigarette box, and his smile faded.
âYes?â Cai Qiong had a mirthless grin on his face. He was quite experienced and knowledgeable, so he was not afraid of unimportant things, especially unimportant scoldings.
Associate Chief Physician Deng revealed a daring smile that belonged to those who feared nothing after they had done dirty work for years. âThe higher-ups have requested for us to go to the rural areas to work. Our group will send you there.â
Cai Qiong was taken by surprise. âWhere?â
âHuang Village.â When Associate Chief Physician Deng said the words, he suddenly felt so refreshed.
Cai Qiong was stunned. Huang Village was in the mountains of Bazhaixiang. He was a doctor who worked in operating theaters. What could he possibly do when he was sent to a place where an infirmary did not even exist?
âWork hard when youâre there,â Associate Chief Physician Deng said nothing more and turned away to leave.
Cai Qiong stared at Associate Chief Physician Dengâs back as he gritted his teeth, and he said slowly, âDoctor Ling is twice as strong as you during surgeries just by the way he sutures.â
Associate Chief Physician Dengâs greatest pride was his suturing skill. After he heard this, he stopped moving for a while before he continued to walk away as if nothing had happened.
Cai Qiong felt refreshed, but after that, he felt hollow again.
âI said something wrong again.â Old Cai sighed, and he suddenly wanted to smoke.
Ahead of Cai Qiong was Associate Chief Physician Deng, who turned into a corner before he slowly stopped moving. After thinking about it, he decided to go to the ward on the first floor.
The patientâs family members had been convinced to leave by now. The nurse, who remained, greeted Associate Chief Physician Deng politely when they saw him.
âLet me look at your wound,â Associate Chief Physician Deng continued to smile amiably and lifted the hem of the patientâs clothes.