Chapter 188: Striving Against the Odds

She not only teaches at the university but also possesses deep insights into the comprehensive physician qualification exam.

With her personally crafted study outline, Zhou Can is bound to achieve twice the results with half the effort.

He spent nearly forty minutes answering thirty questions. He couldn’t solve six, and his responses to over a dozen others were painfully inadequate.

This diagnostic assessment left him red-faced.

Beneath his smooth sailing exterior, he discovered glaring gaps in his knowledge.

Everyone has their own specialty.

Director Xue’s carefully chosen exam questions proved no simple task.

They forced Zhou Can to quickly identify the areas in which he needed to strengthen his fundamentals.

“I reviewed your performance—your weaknesses in Medical Microbiology, Immunology, Psychiatry, Psychology, and Health Regulations are severe. You’re also lacking in subjects like Infectious Diseases, Gastroenterology, Cardiovascular, and Biochemistry. With only about fifty days left until the first part of the comprehensive exam, making up for these basic knowledge gaps is going to be a tough battle.”

After an initial evaluation, Director Xue’s expression grew markedly stern.

Even she hadn’t expected that someone as talented as Zhou Can would be so lacking in basic medical knowledge.

“Director Xue, becoming a doctor has always been the greatest dream of my life. Even if this hurdle is impossible, I’m willing to risk everything to fight for it. Please, help me!”

Rome wasn’t built in a day.

It wasn’t surprising that Zhou Can, who spent his first four university years immersed in studies of Pathology, Neurology, and Anatomy lab work, ended up in this situation.

He still remembered never having missed any of his gross anatomy classes.

Every medical student holds their gross anatomy instructors in deep reverence and gratitude; thanks to their dedication, they can better understand the human body and study anatomy more intuitively.

He began to gradually overcome his subject imbalances starting from the year he failed the postgraduate entrance exam in his senior year.

Beaten down by society, he recognized his shortcomings and embarked on a long journey of remedial study.

During his internship year, his free time was extremely limited.

Sometimes, after a 24-hour shift, he would collapse into bed as soon as he returned to his dorm, and he devoted most of his time during his internship to practicing the four basic surgical skills in the Surgical Department.

He truly had little time left to research or read.

Over the course of his training year, he did manage to study extensively, plugging many of his knowledge gaps.

But with time so limited, significant deficiencies in basic medical sciences still remained.

One must eventually repay their debts!

Seeing the resoluteness in Zhou Can’s eyes and tone, Director Xue was moved by his unwavering resolve to pursue medicine, even at the risk of everything.

“For the next two weeks, focus on bolstering your Immunology knowledge. Immunology is the human body’s most potent weapon against disease. Mastering it will greatly benefit your future in Pathology Diagnosis, Pharmacology, and even in developing surgical plans. I will set aside time over these two weeks to select a series of comprehensive exam questions and key topics for you to tackle head-on.”

Her time was incredibly precious.

To help Zhou Can pass the comprehensive exam, she had to carve out ample personal time to pinpoint his most urgent knowledge gaps.

This favor was immensely significant.

Of course, Zhou Can was a man of deep feelings and gratitude.

Whenever she needed help in the future, he would undoubtedly be there for her.

……

Days flew by as Zhou Can juggled intense work and study. Even his girlfriend, Su Qianqian, stayed with him in his apartment to study together.

Jin Mingxi had long known that Zhou Can was dating someone, but he was utterly shocked when he discovered that Zhou Can’s girlfriend was none other than the sweet songstress Su Qianqian, who had recently taken the nation by storm.

Some tabloid news even claimed that the province’s richest son was wildly pursuing her.

Many young, accomplished heirs and affluent entrepreneurs showed great admiration for her.

Almost every time she streamed on Douyin, the richest son in the province and several high-level, mysterious benefactors would shower her with extravagant gifts.

It was unimaginable that an unassuming, little-known doctor like Zhou Can had managed to win over such a dazzling celebrity.

The shock this delivered to Jin Mingxi was beyond measure.

He could hardly have imagined that Zhou Can was not only Su Qianqian’s boyfriend but also one of her two major shareholders.

When Mr. Li and Zhou Can first set up their entertainment company, Zhou Can was given a 50% stake, not just 49%. That alone proved Mr. Li was a gentleman truly worth befriending.

In terms of profit sharing, even blood brothers might not be treated as well as he was.

Whenever Su Qianqian visited Zhou Can, Jin Mingxi would always tactfully step aside, leaving the space for the couple.

It’s worth noting that with Su Qianqian’s soaring popularity on various platforms, her safety had become Zhou Can’s top priority.

Luckily, his preemptive planning had paid off: Wei Fang, the girl rescued from the mountains with a costly treatment, had fully recovered.

Now, Wei Fang was solely responsible for ensuring Su Qianqian’s safety.

The company had also hired a team of twelve ex-soldiers as security.

They managed all the company’s security matters.

Whenever Su Qianqian had a major event, at least eight security personnel were deployed to protect her.

After Jin Yu Interactive earned its first profit thanks to Su Qianqian, and with Mr. Li—a master of entertainment operations—at the helm, the company expanded rapidly.

They had already established a preliminary system for training, nurturing, packaging, and promoting new talent.

Each signed artist’s image was crafted according to their unique strengths and characteristics.

At this point, Jin Yu Interactive had already taken shape.

Their top-tier star was Su Qianqian, with five mid-tier celebrities successfully nurtured, and over forty artists at the grassroots level.

When the operation is large, so are the expenses.

Of course, the company’s revenue was also climbing to astounding levels.

Zhou Can had mortgaged three properties back in the day, and the loans had long been repaid.

He had received nearly 30 million in dividends.

It goes to show that the entertainment industry burns money but also makes it.

At this rate, next year the dividends for the two shareholders might exceed 100 million—with each pocketing around 50 million.

Zhou Can had already achieved preliminary financial freedom, emerging as a true high-status, attractive man.

In this province, having a net worth of 20 million categorizes you into the early stage of financial freedom.

Pretty much, as long as you don’t recklessly put yourself in danger, even if you just park your money in the bank earning interest, you’ll live much better than most.

Su Qianqian’s salary and performance bonuses were equally impressive.

Zhou Can never even asked her for details.

She had bought the BMW 7 Series all by herself.

Then there were the watches, clothes, and even the razor she gifted Zhou Can—all bought with her own money.

Zhou Can had checked, and that watch’s market price was at least 300,000.

Each time Zhou Can would caution her that such luxury items were unnecessary.

Yet she would laugh and say, “I know,” only to gift him something expensive the next time.

Looking at herself, apart from driving that BMW, her clothes and jewelry were all mid-range.

In other words, she was very frugal with her own money, but extraordinarily generous to Zhou Can.

She had even openly admitted that when she was at her lowest, Zhou Can had not hesitated to sell his house to save her. Now that she had the means, it was her turn to spoil him.

What more could Zhou Can say in response?

He happily embraced these sweet, blissful days.

……

Zhou Can’s structured training in Cardiothoracic Surgery soon came to an end.

Three months wasn’t long, but it wasn’t short either.

During the final month, ever since he showcased his skills in that thymoma resection surgery, securing hands-on opportunities in Cardiothoracic Surgery became much easier.

Director Le, Director Xue, Deputy Director Lu, and others recognized his capabilities and gradually delegated more responsibilities until he was directly involved in the most critical surgical procedures.

Their efforts to mentor him were nothing short of relentless.

This might have been linked to the day when, determined to save Dr. Hu Kan, Zhou Can had hustled everywhere seeking consultations, tests, and emergency care.

After Dr. Hu Kan was transferred to the general ward, when Zhou Can visited him, not a single word of thanks was uttered.

But the look in Dr. Hu Kan’s eyes was as affectionate as that of a father watching his son.

Zhou Can suspected that Director Le, Director Xue, and the others had given him ample surgical practice at Dr. Hu Kan’s behest.

Of course, this was mere speculation—hardly any evidence backed it up.

No one could say for sure.

It was also possible that, following Dr. Hu Kan’s unexpected collapse, the workload of the Cardiothoracic Surgery team had simply increased.

Thus, the young, promising surgical talent, Zhou Can, seized this opportunity to rise.

There’s no faster way to grow as a surgeon than by getting real hands-on experience with patients.

Only through actual practice could one uncover issues and improve quickly.

In that final month, Zhou Can’s surgical skills in Cardiothoracic Surgery transformed day by day.

By the end of his training, he was capable of independently handling nearly all surgeries below level three in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Level four surgeries typically required teamwork.

He had played a key role in at least twenty level four surgeries.

These accomplishments were on par with what many deputy chief physicians achieve after two or three decades of effort.

Besides his rapid surgical advancements, his theoretical knowledge had soared as well.

During those intense weeks, he managed less than four hours of sleep per night.

Often, he’d arrive at work with two huge dark circles under his eyes.

Unaware colleagues even speculated that his excessive indulgence with his girlfriend was to blame.

Only he knew how those weeks were truly spent—immediately hitting the books and drowning in practice questions after every shift.

Even his Rapid Surgical Technique practice had to be put on hold.

There just wasn’t enough time.

If he failed the comprehensive exam and couldn’t obtain his medical license, it would be a devastating blow to his future.

It would also severely hinder his growth.

Prioritizing tasks is essential.

The most important issues must come first.

Once he passed the exam and secured both certificates, it would truly be a breakthrough.

Then, he wouldn’t be just a medic, but a full-fledged doctor.

With prescription privileges, the remaining year of his training would take on an entirely new dimension.

Right now—even issuing a medical order required the supervising doctor’s signature.

His status was barely above that of an intern.

Writing case reports for extra pay was out of the question. Trainees earned only a basic salary with minimal overtime pay; surgical bonuses were a distant dream.

If he failed this exam, at the very least it would delay his progress by two years.

And as many seniors have pointed out, if you fail the first time, passing the second attempt is equally difficult.

So even if it meant risking his life, he had to give it his all.

Passing this exam would truly repay Director Xue’s unwavering support.

She spent nearly two weeks selecting topics and key points for him, frequently guiding him through difficult concepts. Her help had been immeasurable.

……

After completing his Cardiothoracic Surgery training, Zhou Can moved on to the Gastroenterology Department.

Gastroenterology was precisely one of his weak spots, and two months in this department would greatly aid his second comprehensive exam.

Perhaps his reputation had grown considerably by then.

On his first day reporting to the Gastroenterology Department, he was immediately assigned to a group led by a Chief Physician surnamed Jia, who would personally mentor him.

Receiving such special treatment filled Zhou Can with joy.

In previous departments, every time he joined a new team, he had to start from zero, scrambling for opportunities to impress and earn the trust of senior doctors.

This time, entering Gastroenterology under direct mentorship saved him a great deal of time.

From day one, he was able to adopt an efficient learning approach.

Inside the office, Chief Physician Jia, a man in his sixties with a slender build, clear features, and kind, bright eyes, made a lasting first impression on Zhou Can.

Many senior doctors are rehired after retiring.

Training a doctor takes decades.

After three to four decades of honing their skills, just as they reach retirement age, it’s a tremendous loss for both the hospital and society.

So, it’s unclear who came up with the idea of rehiring.

Once retired, if a doctor’s skills aren’t too poor, the hospital usually arranges for them to return to their former positions.

After decades of dedication, most doctors develop deep affection for the hospitals where they spent their careers and willingly agree to return.

Chief Physician Jia called Zhou Can into his office, clearly with something important to discuss.

“Zhou Can, do you know why I had you transferred to my group on your first day in Gastroenterology?”

Chief Physician Jia asked with a smile.

“I have no idea. Please, enlighten me!”

Zhou Can replied respectfully.

“Because Deputy Director Liu of General Surgery is a good friend of mine. He personally recommended you, saying that you’re a promising talent with both surgical skill and strong medical ethics. He insisted that I nurture you well.”

Chief Physician Jia mentioned this not to make Zhou Can overly grateful to Deputy Director Liu,

but to remind him to truly cherish this rare opportunity.

“Mr. Liu has been extraordinarily kind to me! I never imagined that even after more than a year apart from General Surgery, he’d still remember me,”

Zhou Can said, deeply moved.

In the medical field, there might be those with ill intentions—those who sacrifice integrity for money and profit—but the vast majority of doctors are good at heart.

They dedicate their lives quietly to saving patients.