Chapter 19: The Unforeseen Art of Surgery

“The reexamination essentially determines whether you stay or go. Not checking again?”

“We’ve already checked!”

“Alright then!”

The Examiner said no more as an assistant approached with a special marker, writing ’50’ on the White Mouse before handing it to the Evaluators.

Several Evaluators immediately sprang into action.

“I’ve finished too,” announced a man in his mid-thirties.

It was clearly a working medical professional.

In the preliminary exam, this individual likely ranked in the top three.

“Mine is done as well!”

Gao Jian was the third to submit his paper.

Shortly after, another seven or eight candidates handed in their results.

Those who wrapped up their exams half an hour early were generally the stronger surgeons.

……

Time flew by as Zhou Can waited listlessly for the results, meanwhile watching his neighbor perform surgery.

It seemed that his neighbor’s White Mouse had already died.

Yet, he persisted, completing the vascular anastomosis on the mouse’s tail.

Watching his clumsy suturing, Zhou Can felt as if he were witnessing his pre-experience self.

“Time’s up! All candidates, cease your surgeries. Staff will now collect your White Mice. Please remain seated.”

Two hours felt interminably long for Zhou Can.

But for some candidates, time was far too short – their surgeries still unfinished.

As the White Mice were collected and submitted for unified evaluation, the Evaluators began assigning scores.

“Now, let me announce the scores. Number 50, Zhou Can, scored 30 points.”

The room erupted in astonished murmurs.

For such a difficult procedure, someone achieving a perfect score was simply astounding.

Moreover, Zhou Can had been the first to submit.

Just how formidable was his surgical skill?

Many candidates gazed at him not just with admiration but almost with reverence.

Had they known he had even completed an extra complex nerve anastomosis, they would have been utterly awestruck.

“Number 14, Jin Mingxi, scored 29.6 points. Number 5, Gao Jian, 29.5 points. Number 47, Yang Chan, 29.4 points…”

The Examiner publicly announced the scores of all 50 candidates.

Astonishingly, the top score went to the fastest submitter, Zhou Can – completely unexpected by everyone.

And he was so young as well.

Over a dozen candidates ended up with zero points because their White Mice had died.

Class Monitor Yang Chan proved impressive, second only to Gao Jian.

She was considered a benchmark among the female intern doctors.

It was no wonder she had won the favor of Director Zhang Bihua of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department – truly exceptional.

“Respected Evaluators, may I ask why candidate 50, Zhou Can, received a perfect score?” Gao Jian, who was confident of clinching first place, could hardly believe that Zhou Can had achieved full marks while he himself had only scored 29.5.

He was desperate to know what set Zhou Can apart.

Not just him – every candidate was immensely curious.

“Everyone curious?”

The Examiner smiled slightly.

“Then let me explain why Zhou Can’s surgery earned a perfect score. First, candidate 50’s procedure resulted in the least amount of blood loss. For instance, the second, Jin Mingxi, and the third, Gao Jian, were mainly docked points due to excessive bleeding.”

With that, the Examiner played Zhou Can’s surgical performance on the big screen.

Turns out, the exam hall had secretly recorded the entire procedure.

All the candidates watched in rapt silence.

They saw Zhou Can make a clean, precise incision along the White Mouse’s abdominal skin. Just as blood began to spurt, he reacted instantly, using electrocautery for hemostasis.

His technique was both precise and swift – stopping each bleeding point in barely half a second.

And remarkably, he made not a single mistake.

It was truly as if he had mastered the art – every point, perfectly controlled.

Such impeccable hemostasis left every candidate in the room feeling inferior.

“His dissection of the left lung, tissue excision, and subcutaneous suturing were all flawless. Moreover, he successfully reconnected all four vascular cords in the tail, maintaining nearly identical blood flow to pre-surgery levels. These alone warranted a perfect score from the Evaluators.”

Gao Jian sensed a hint of implication in the Examiner’s words.

In disbelief, he asked, “Could it be that beyond what you’ve mentioned, Zhou Can’s surgery had another, even more outstanding aspect?”

The highlights mentioned already were enough to leave many candidates in awe.

More highlights? The room buzzed with astonishment.

“You’re sharp. Now, everyone, take a look,” the Examiner said as he simultaneously retrieved three cages, each containing a White Mouse.

They had all just awakened from anesthesia.

The numbers on their backs were clearly visible.

“This cage contains the White Mouse operated by candidate 50, Zhou Can. This one belongs to candidate 14, Jin Mingxi, and this is candidate 5, Gao Jian. As you can see, candidate 50’s mouse is vibrant and lively; candidate 14’s shows slow movement; while candidate 5’s barely moves at all.”

The more successful the surgery, the less trauma the patient suffers.

Conversely, a poorly executed surgery results in significant harm.

That is why, before a procedure, patients try every trick to slip a red envelope to the lead surgeon, hoping for a more meticulous operation.

A post-op White Mouse alone could easily reveal who possessed the highest surgical skill.

“Now, for a small demonstration to show you just how far you are from Zhou Can,” the Examiner continued.

He took out a long-nozzled lighter and burned the tail of candidate 5’s White Mouse.

The mouse, lacking pain receptors, showed no reaction.

He repeated the act on candidate 14’s mouse with the same result.

Finally, when he reached candidate 50’s White Mouse’s tail…

“Screech!”

The White Mouse cried out in pain, its tail retracting sharply.

The candidates couldn’t help but gasp.

“Oh my, not only did Zhou Can successfully reconnect the tail’s blood vessels, but he also reconnected the nerves!”

When comparing, someone like Zhou Can left the others in the dust.

Only then did they finally grasp the immense gap between them and Zhou Can.

“Zhou Can, you’re such a fraud! With first-rate skills, how can you claim you merely stumbled into the reexamination?” A female intern who had mocked Zhou Can earlier pouted and rolled her eyes in anger.

A man’s words, they say, are nothing but deceit.

She vowed never to trust Zhou Can, the ‘big fraud’, again.

Zhou Can made her rethink what it meant to be humble.

Yang Chan, sitting just beside him, watched him intently.

“Hey, Zhou Can! I thought you used to be so clumsy with your technique? Even the Class Monitor wouldn’t be fooled. Once work is over, I’ll give you a piece of my mind,” she teased, her tone laced with an attempt to save face.

She had always been the standout student of class 512.

Interning at Tuyu Hospital, everything had come easily for her – she was even praised by the Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

In contrast, Zhou Can, who had been average in school, had gone almost unnoticed during his nearly year-long internship at Tuyu Hospital.

Until today’s recruitment exam for standardized training, Zhou Can exploded onto the scene like a shooting star, dazzling all with his brilliance.

His radiant performance made every other candidate seem dim in comparison.

Even formidable talents like Gao Jian and others were completely left behind by Zhou Can.

Her longstanding pride was thoroughly trampled under Zhou Can’s overwhelming prowess.

Embarrassed and frustrated, she resorted to asserting her authority as the Class Monitor against him.

Yet, from another angle, there was a hint of coquettish charm in her act – a typical tactic used by beauties to ease awkwardness.

“Alright then, pick any of the top five-star hotels in the city. Whatever you fancy, just let me know when it’s time to order.”

Zhou Can came from a wealthy family and was never short on money.

Not just for one dinner – even ten would be no problem.

Dining with a beauty was something he savored.

“Oh, I almost forgot – you’re a rich kid who doesn’t mind spending, right? I was thinking of making you work up a bit of a tummy ache, but never mind, another time,” Yang Chan said with a frustrated wave of her hand.

For most people, a lavish meal would be hard on the wallet.

But for someone like Zhou Can, it was all too easy – choosing a five-star hotel and eating whatever he liked.

Faced with such a request, she felt utterly defeated.

“Any questions now?”

The Examiner asked with a warm smile.

Those who had questioned earlier now lowered their heads.

Even the proud Gao Jian admitted, “There are always higher mountains and brighter stars. Today, after witnessing Zhou Can’s surgical prowess, I am truly convinced. Although my reexamination score is 0.5 points shy of his, and I probably scored higher in the written pathology test, I am still first in my heart.”

Gao Jian still thought he alone had aced the pathology diagnosis.

“Heh, Dr. Gao, you sure have confidence! The overall score ranking is still being tallied and will be announced shortly,” the Examiner replied with a noncommittal smile.

Over 1,500 candidates anxiously awaited the final overall results.

The recruitment notice from Tuyu Hospital stated they would only select 11 general trainees, meaning over 99% of the candidates would be eliminated.

Of course, the final number would depend on the hospital’s actual intake.

With so many outstanding candidates this year and double the number of applicants than previous years, it was likely the quota might be increased slightly.

Zhou Can’s chance at a training spot was all but secured.

Whether he clinched first place, however, remained uncertain.

But he certainly aimed for the top.

Not only was it a huge honor, but it would also significantly boost his future prospects.

“Now, please remain silent as I announce the top 20 overall scorers,” the Examiner declared.

Silence fell over the room.

Everyone waited in anticipation for fate’s final pronouncement.