Lu Hongchang was a military man, and fire burned in his heart. He couldn't bear the thought of lying paralyzed in a hospital bed, waiting for death. That was simply unacceptable to him. So, he outright rejected the conservative treatment plan.
Shao Gang and He Dongfang exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with surprise. The patient was insisting on surgery? That complicated things. Shao Gang hesitated before speaking earnestly, "Gentlemen, I must be honest with you. The location of this tumor is extremely delicate. While it hasn't compressed the conductive nerves, it's directly connected to the brainstem. Performing this surgery would be like lighting a match at a gas station. Conservative treatment is your best option right now."
Zhang Xiulian turned to Lu Hongchang, her red-rimmed eyes brimming with tears. But Lu Hongchang shook his head resolutely. "I'm going through with this surgery. If you're not confident enough to do it, I'll have Zhiyan perform it. He told me he's capable."
"Wait, what?" Shao Gang was stunned. Fang Zhiyan? A mere resident? He said he could do it, and you'd actually let him? Does this patient not understand what a resident is? Shao Gang was on the verge of losing his temper, but He Dongfang swiftly clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Dr. Shao, come with me for a moment. We need to discuss this." Then, turning to Lu Hongchang, he added softly, "Please wait."
Once outside the office, Shao Gang fumed. "He Dongfang, what's the meaning of this? Since when do residents take the lead in surgeries, let alone one of this complexity? The patient must be joking!"
He Dongfang shook his head. "I suspect Fang Zhiyan might actually have the skill."
Shao Gang's mouth fell open, his words dying in his throat. He stared at He Dongfang as if the man had lost his mind. "Fang Zhiyan was personally recruited by me and already has experience as a lead surgeon. Let's talk to him. Maybe he really can pull this off."
Shao Gang felt like the whole world had gone mad. Was this really the deputy director of the emergency department speaking? This was beyond absurd!
Ten minutes later, Fang Zhiyan walked in. He had just finished arranging the hospital room. Since Uncle Lu trusted him, he wouldn't let him down. Without Uncle Lu's five thousand yuan back then, Fang Zhiyan wouldn't have graduated, let alone become a doctor.
The office was now filled with the patient, his family, He Dongfang, Shao Gang, and others. This was a brief pre-surgery discussion. Since the patient was adamant, the hospital had to comply. But who would perform the surgery and how—that still needed to be decided.
"I can do this surgery. There won't be any issues," Fang Zhiyan stated firmly.
Of course, he couldn't just waltz into the operating room. He needed authorization, at the very least from He Dongfang. So for now, his words were merely a declaration of intent.
Shao Gang and He Dongfang meticulously reviewed the patient's scans again. Finally, Shao Gang exhaled slowly. "Even if I were to perform this surgery, I wouldn't have full confidence. The risks are enormous. And yet, you're handing it over to a resident?"
His skepticism was palpable, bordering on disbelief. Fang Zhiyan remained silent. He Dongfang glanced at him before addressing the patient. "I trust Zhiyan."
The others twitched their lips, unsure how to respond. With the patient himself agreeing, what more could they say?
He Dongfang sighed. "Since we're letting Fang Zhiyan lead, fine. I'll vouch for him. But Dr. Shao will oversee the procedure as backup."
Shao Gang nodded, unusually quiet. His presence would serve two purposes: assessing Fang Zhiyan's competence and stepping in if anything went wrong.
Fang Zhiyan accepted without objection.
Seeing the doctors' agreement, Lu Hongchang managed a faint smile. He grasped Fang Zhiyan's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Zhiyan, you've grown so capable. Now, my life is in your hands."
"Uncle Lu, don't worry. Everything will be fine." Fang Zhiyan's grip was firm, his gaze unwavering.
Lu Hongchang was escorted back to his room. Preparations began immediately, with the surgery scheduled in three days. During that time, Fang Zhiyan meticulously reviewed every step. He knew he had the skill, but perfection demanded relentless refinement.
He was so focused that he even turned down Xu Qiushuang's invitations. Though puzzled, she tactfully gave him space. Meanwhile, Jiang Xu visited Lu Hongchang several times. Lu Hongchang wholeheartedly approved of her divorce from Fang Jianjun. As their neighbor, he had witnessed Fang Jianjun's cruelty firsthand—how Jiang Xu's hands would crack from frostbite in winter, yet she still had to wash clothes and clean for the entire family. Helpless to intervene back then, Lu Hongchang could only feel relief now that she was free.
Three days passed in a blink, and the day of the surgery arrived. The operation drew attention from across the hospital. Neurosurgery was notoriously precise—a millimeter's deviation could mean life or death. So when word spread that an emergency department resident was leading such a procedure, the entire hospital buzzed.
Even Dean Wang Xuewen nearly erupted in anger—until he heard the resident's name. Fang Zhiyan.
This was a name that had repeatedly surfaced in the emergency department, often accompanied by astonishing feats. More importantly, he had left an impression on both Director Tang and Mayor Luo. With that in mind, was there any reason to stop him?
Wang Xuewen remained silent.
By the time the surgery began, the emergency department was abuzz with onlookers. But inside the operating room, an eerie silence prevailed, broken only by the steady beep of the heart monitor.
Lead Surgeon: Fang Zhiyan.
First Assistant: He Dongfang, Deputy Director of Emergency Medicine.
Second Assistant: Shao Gang, Deputy Director of Neurosurgery.
The lineup was nothing short of jaw-dropping.
Fang Zhiyan glanced at his team and spoke calmly. "Let's begin."