"Zhang Tiesheng, is today your deputy shift?" Zhang Tiesheng was dining with others outside, and after leaving the private room, he answered a call from Director Lin Qianlong.
The noon sun was blazing, and the enlarged pupils struggled with the light, causing Zhang Tiesheng to feel bouts of dizziness: "Yes, Director Lin. I'm just near the hospital."
Lin Qianlong's tone was formal: "Zhang Tiesheng, Xiao Lu has been with our emergency department for nearly a month, and you've seen his diligence, progress, and capabilities."
"We've got an appendicitis case. If you're too lazy to handle it, let Professor Chen take Xiao Lu to the operating room, okay?"
"Xiao Lu has independently conducted more than a dozen tendon sutures this month, which has brought a lot of work to our department. The patient feedback for Xiao Lu has also been quite positive."
Zhang Tiesheng adjusted his glasses, pondered for a few seconds, and sighed: "Okay, Director Lin, I understand."
"Since Xiao Lu can routinely do over a dozen tendon sutures, there should be no problem with an appendectomy."
In the County Hospital, ultimately, it's about earning your living with your skills.
Moreover, relying on skills to earn a living not only allows yourself to eat more but also helps the 'team' eat better.
With more convenient transportation, many patients have the opportunity to seek medical treatment elsewhere, and the current environment allows easy referrals, leading to insufficient patient volume in most county hospital departments.
The fate of not raising the average level in County Hospitals results in fewer and fewer patients over time.
"Hmm, it's good you understand this, Tiesheng!"
"The tendon suture cases could be said to be individually taken over by Xiao Lu from the orthopedics department; he has that ability."
"But you also know that envy is an issue. The orthopedics department hadn't thought about doing tendon sutures for so long, and now, seeing Xiao Lu doing it smoothly, Director Peng from orthopedics wants to invite Director Xiang from the State People's Hospital."
"Starting next month, the ownership won't be easy to define."
"Xiao Lu's learning efficiency is good. With his qualifications, by following Professor Chen and gaining more exposure to surgeries, it's definitely more beneficial than harmful for our department as a whole," Lin Qianlong explained.
Zhang Tiesheng understood what Lin Qianlong meant but said nothing, only walking back and forth at the restaurant door with a tense face, preoccupied.
The silence lasted for about twenty seconds before Lin Qianlong said, "Tiesheng, I know your concerns, but we're ultimately doctors."
"Xiao Lu is talented, learns quickly, and can learn more techniques from Professor Chen Song."
"Ultimately, we're all about doing work. Even if we don't consider the bigger picture of serving more patients, we must consider our income level, right?"
"With more than two months left, if Xiao Lu really learns surgeries that even several specialties can't perform from Professor Chen."
"The cumulative income, over time, will definitely not be less than what you earn after becoming a director, right?"
"And there's no need for arguments."
The current range of surgeries in the emergency department was gained through Director Lin Qianlong's arguments with surgical specialty directors, like debridement and suture, or appendicitis.
The only uncontested case currently is the tendon suture being handled by Lu Cheng.
The orthopedics director also wants to do it but can't. If you keep on hassling, it's purely clownish, even if they have opinions and ideas!
They can only find ways to learn, to learn how to do it.
This is the 'rule' at County Hospitals!
Capability is fundamental.
Zhang Tiesheng exhaled softly: "I understand, Director Lin!"
"What can we do when we meet such a person?"
"Xiao Lu certainly isn't an ordinary person. Giving him more opportunities can make life better for us and extend the period of surgical learning."
"I understand the pros and cons."
"But about Zeng Huanqi?"
"I can't speak on his behalf." Zhang Tiesheng reluctantly conceded.
Those working in County Hospitals generally don't consider any reputational status, or the comprehensive influence within the profession; it's unrealistic.
A County Hospital director, when attending a meeting in the State, is mainly a supporting act. It's more about holding power to increase one's 'income' more, as you have more opportunities to learn surgery and obtain more resources…
Ultimately, 'income' dictates everyone's thoughts.
Providing more healthcare services to patients and offering above standard medical services to patients that other specialties can't treat to increase one's income is straightforward, not at all disgraceful.
"I also just called, and Zeng Huanqi has no objections. In fact, Xiao Lu is quite a straightforward and easy-going person," Lin Qianlong hinted to Zhang Tiesheng.
If Lu Cheng can become the surgical group director in the future, he'd certainly be easier to work with than Zeng Huanqi.
"Director Lin, the future is still far ahead."
"If we truly talk about it, I quite hope Xiao Lu learns some more skills." Zhang Tiesheng's tone was quite sincere.
He also felt helpless, wanting to earn Professor Chen Song's favor, but alas, Lin Qianlong had set the stage, and he was simply not up to it.
The reason Professor Chen Song favored Lu Cheng has now become evident.
In less than a month, he initiated over a dozen tendon sutures that even orthopedics couldn't handle, from having none to having some nearby.
If tendon sutures were so easy to learn, Director Peng Haibo from orthopedics would long have conducted them routinely.
"Then I'll just call Xiao Lu directly."
"If there's really a chance, our emergency surgery department may become the strongest in the surgical area. Even if Xiao Lu leaves, his legacy remains," said Lin Qianlong.
Zhang Tiesheng's throat tightened: "Huh."
"Xiao Lu would leave? Director Lin? That's not a fun joke to make, is it?"
Lin Qianlong said: "Professor Chen can't wait to hold Xiao Lu in his hands every day. What kind of plan is that?"
"Educational qualifications may be Xiao Lu's constraint, but qualifications can only change a person's attributes, not the fundamental talent."
"Academic qualifications are one expression of learning ability but not absolutely representative, as a person's learning ability doesn't fundamentally change with higher qualifications."
"We don't need to doubt Professor Chen's ability to judge people."
"Even if he doesn't leave now, I believe Professor Chen will find a way to let him venture out, and what we need to do is make sure Xiao Lu learns as much as possible while he's here."
"Then extend our surgery learning window length."
"Ultimately, he doesn't block your path."
"You do understand the difference between teaching someone to fish and giving them a fish, right?" said Lin Qianlong.
Lin Qianlong continued: "Moreover, Xiao Lu has been obsessively checking details in the department lately, making it more academic-theoretical than some teaching hospitals. Why, neither of us knows, but he surely has a goal."
Zhang Tiesheng nodded: "Hmm... That's true. If Xiao Lu only plans to stay long-term at the County Hospital... there's indeed no need to pick at those details."
"Is there a reason behind this?"
"Director Lin, would you be willing to let Xiao Lu go?"
Lin Qianlong chuckled: "Tiesheng, work is work. We're here together by chance for some things only."
"Everyone has their fate, and we shouldn't do things that hinder someone else's future."
"Xiao Lu is a smart person; he will also know when it's time to leave, I am confident of that."
Having thoroughly analyzed it, Director Lin had recognized that Zhang Tiesheng stepping back temporarily would do more good than harm, and there was no need to worry about Lu Cheng learning surgeries and threatening his 'status'.
'Status' is 'status.' Income is income. Once the income is up, 'status as the ward director' becomes less of a concern.