Chapter 337: Reunion Beneath the Old Lanterns

“How do I fix it?”

Of course Zhou Can was eager to get rid of these major risks.

“The answer’s simple, but I’m not sure you’re willing to learn,” Dr. Hu Kan flashed a sly, fox-like grin.

“You mean, study your Steady Scalpel Technique?”

Zhou Can wasn’t slow on the uptake—he caught on to Dr. Hu Kan’s intentions right away.

“Smart as ever! If you want to fix the biggest flaw in your Fast Scalpel Technique, you have to master the Steady Scalpel. You can ask Dr. Xu if you don’t believe me.” Dr. Hu Kan could see his bait had been taken and settled into his seat, looking every bit the seasoned angler.

Tuyu Hospital had its share of talented doctors, but very few ever truly caught Dr. Hu Kan’s eye.

Out of everyone, Zhou Can was the one he liked most.

In his view, no one held a candle to Zhou Can.

Whether it was traditional surgical skill, mastery of endoscopic procedures, or psychological strength, moral character, learning ability, or rate of improvement, no one else even came close.

On top of that, Zhou Can had saved his life twice. Their bond went deeper than most.

Plus, Zhou Can was grateful and always treated his mentors with sincere respect. Dr. Hu Kan really appreciated that.

Naturally, he wanted Zhou Can to become his successor.

If he taught him, he’d hold nothing back.

“So after all that beating around the bush, you still just want me to be your apprentice. But I really can’t agree to that.”

Zhou Can declined outright.

“Don’t box yourself in too soon! Give Dr. Xu a call right now—get his opinion,” Dr. Hu Kan refused to give up, no matter how Zhou Can pushed back.

There were countless talented young doctors desperate to be his apprentice, but he didn’t care about them.

Yet for Zhou Can, who refused no matter what, Dr. Hu simply wouldn’t let go.

“Back when I first started, Dr. Xu told me: the Fast Scalpel, Steady Scalpel, and Precise Scalpel techniques—you can only master one. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.”

Zhou Can explained.

“Never mind that—just call Dr. Xu. He’ll give you a different answer. Times change. What he taught you before was too one-sided.”

But Dr. Hu Kan still insisted Zhou Can call Dr. Xu.

Unable to win against this stubborn old man, Zhou Can had no choice but to dial Dr. Xu on the spot.

The phone barely rang before Dr. Xu’s steady voice came through, “Zhou, did you mess something up again?”

There were others nearby, too. That kind of blunt question—even though it was out of concern—had Zhou Can’s cheeks burning.

Every time he screwed up, it was Dr. Xu cleaning up his messes.

“No, no! I’m just here in Cardiothoracic Surgery with Dr. Hu. There’s something he insists I ask you about!”

“Dr. Hu? So it’s just you two there?”

“And Jin Mingxi!”

“Put me on speaker—let’s talk together.”

Dr. Xu, sharp as ever, seemed to have already guessed what Dr. Hu Kan was up to.

Following instructions, Zhou Can switched on speakerphone. Before anyone else could speak, Dr. Hu Kan greeted Dr. Xu first.

“Old Xu, let’s discuss something!”

“Nothing to discuss. You just want to snatch my student, don’t you?”

Dr. Xu sounded exasperated.

Jin Mingxi, sensing the two might break out into an argument, quickly stood up and said to Dr. Hu Kan, “Dr. Hu, I still have patients to see. I’ll come report to you tomorrow. Also, could you help with my department transfer paperwork?”

As a trainee, all Jin Mingxi could do was keep his head down and work hard.

A department transfer wasn’t something he could pull off just because he wanted it.

At the very least, he needed to finish his current rotation and find a new department willing to take him before HR would approve.

“Go on!”

Dr. Hu Kan waved him off.

Suddenly, only Zhou Can and Dr. Hu Kan remained in the office.

“Old Xu, it’s not stealing. You’ve got to get rid of this outdated thinking. Why don’t we teach Zhou Can together and help him become even better? Wouldn’t that be great?”

Normally, Dr. Hu Kan would never humble himself to talk to Dr. Xu like this.

But for the sake of finding a pillar for Cardiothoracic Surgery, he was willing to set pride aside.

“Let’s hear your thoughts.”

Dr. Xu paused for a few seconds, then spoke.

“Just now, I had Zhou Can do a paper-cutting test. He’s already touched the threshold of unity between hand and scalpel—two sheets of paper are no problem now. But your Fast Scalpel Technique has a major hidden flaw. When you finish a cut, you drag the scalpel—it’s a serious safety risk.”

After finishing, Dr. Hu Kan paused, waiting for Dr. Xu to think it over.

“Back then, after your medical incident, you probably blamed it on moving too fast—your hand outpacing your mind. I know you’ve spent years in Emergency Department honing your mental calm, hoping stillness could tame the wildness of the Fast Scalpel. But let me tell you directly—no amount of tranquility will get rid of that dragging flaw.”

Dr. Xu fell silent again on the other end.

Which meant Dr. Hu’s argument held water—Dr. Xu couldn’t refute it.

“Habits die hard. That dragging flaw in the Fast Scalpel can’t be fixed—it would break the laws of physics. Yes, the accident was partly because of speed, but the real root was the drag at the end of the cut. Even if you master inner peace and rein in the technique’s wildness, the hidden danger remains.”

Dr. Hu Kan spoke with a trembling body, but his eyes sparkled with wisdom.

When it came to steadiness and composure, no one rivaled him—the nation’s master of the Steady Scalpel.

Wisdom springs from stillness. Only those who quiet their minds and cultivate true composure gain real insight. People in a hurry seldom get far.

“Can’t deny you make sense. Go on.”

Dr. Xu’s voice was tinged with fatigue and resignation.

After years of effort, his calmness and surgical skills had dramatically improved.

He’d thought that once he broke his mental chains, he could return to surgery and shake things up again. But hearing Dr. Hu Kan’s analysis, he realized Fast Scalpel’s flaws ran deeper than he thought.

Calm alone might heal the wildness, but it couldn’t fix the dragging flaw.

“My Steady Scalpel can fix this major problem.”

Seeing that he had momentum, Dr. Hu Kan pressed his advantage.

“The Fast and the Steady Scalpel can’t be reconciled. They’re like water and fire.” Dr. Xu dismissed the idea.

“I used to think so too. But after practicing Steady Technique for years and learning from the principles of Tai Chi, I realized there might be a way to blend them together—like yin and yang. At least, I think Zhou Can should give it a try. Maybe he can blaze a path broader and farther than either of us ever did.”

Dr. Hu Kan’s eyes shone with excitement when he said this, unable to hide his eagerness.

Listening to these two surgical giants debate, Zhou Can found it all rather mysterious.

Most of it went right over his head.

But at least he understood the fusion of yin and yang in Tai Chi.

On the other end, Dr. Xu’s breathing grew noticeably rapid—his short, heavy breaths were clear even through the phone.

“Tai Chi? Old Hu, you really have something there. If your theory pans out, Zhou Can’s future will far outstrip yours and mine. I’ve spent these years honing the Fast Scalpel, trying to cut its weaknesses. Thought I’d finally caught up to you, but you’re still stronger.”

Dr. Xu let out a long sigh.

Admitting defeat with dignity.

He’d spent years striving to surpass Dr. Hu, hoping for a comeback. Yet even now, with Dr. Hu’s health failing, he still found himself one step behind.

In terms of wisdom, he couldn’t compete with Dr. Hu Kan.

Thinking about it, it made sense.

Every time Dr. Hu practiced the Steady Technique, it was like a monk meditating for hours. Years of this had surely made him as wise as any old master.

Pulling from Tai Chi’s philosophy to fuse the Fast and Steady Scalpel—most people wouldn’t even dream of it.

“Old Xu, you’re wrong again!”

Dr. Hu Kan said.

“Huh…? What did I get wrong this time?” Dr. Xu’s voice came with a tinge of frustration.

No doubt he was grumbling—this old Hu, always pushing his luck.

Even being praised had to be wrong?

“You’ve lived more than half your life and still don’t get it? There’s no point comparing people. Compare apples to apples, people to people—someone’s always left behind. You made me your rival the moment you met me, always focused on beating me. That was your mistake. Don’t compare to others—compare to yourself. If you’re better than yesterday, that’s enough.”

Dr. Hu Kan’s lecture was blunt but absolutely right.

Dr. Xu went silent again.

“Hah—guess I really am convinced! After a lifetime of competing with you, Old Hu, today I finally admit defeat. Wait, I’m coming over to see you!”

A moment later, Dr. Xu sounded as though he’d gained some new understanding.

Maybe he’d just let go of a lifelong attachment.

He’d left his burdens behind after being scolded and now, instead of anger, he felt nothing but joy as he said he’d come over right away.

Normally, the two barely greeted each other even when passing by.

They had always been rivals.

But now, the ice seemed broken. Things were unmistakably warmer between them.

Reading between the lines, Zhou Can guessed Dr. Xu was coming over for drinks and maybe a night of reminiscing.

Watching all this, Zhou Can couldn’t help worrying about Dr. Hu Kan’s health.

If this were back in the day, Dr. Hu could drink a few rounds without a problem.

But now, his health was fragile—freshly recovered from serious illness. A night of drinking might finish him off.

“Dr. Xu will probably want to drink with you. You really shouldn’t agree.”

Zhou Can shuddered at the thought—what would happen to Cardiothoracic Surgery if Dr. Hu Kan was gone?

Even if Dr. Hu Kan couldn’t operate anymore, his name still carried weight. As long as he was alive, the department’s reputation would survive.

Right now, Cardiothoracic Surgery needed time more than anything.

Until a new star surgeon emerged, they needed Dr. Hu Kan to keep the golden reputation alive and help this celebrated department through hard times.

“Don’t worry—I know my limits.”

Dr. Hu Kan beamed with joy.

Having convinced Dr. Xu, the matter of taking Zhou Can on as his apprentice was finally gaining traction. Once settled, he’d never have to worry about the department lacking a pillar again.

A house needs a support beam. Before you replace the old, the new must be ready, or the whole thing collapses.

Soon, Dr. Xu arrived—face glowing, brimming with cheer.

Finally letting go of that old grudge had clearly lifted his mood.

“Old Hu, after hearing you today, it’s like I’ve learned more than I have in a lifetime of books! Let’s head over to a barbecue stall—you love those lamb skewers and peanuts, right? We’ll have a few drinks on the side!”

Just as Zhou Can suspected, Dr. Xu dashed over only wanting to share a drink.

Men show emotion differently than women.

Dr. Xu even remembered all of Dr. Hu’s favorite foods—a sign they’d probably shared many drunken nights in years gone by.

“Haha, after all these years, can’t believe you remember our youth. It’s been what, more than thirty years since we’ve sat down for drinks like that?”

Dr. Hu Kan burst into happy laughter.

“Exactly thirty-two years. I used to be too obsessed with winning, way too narrow-minded. Now I think—even if you had beaten me back then, so what? Because I lost, I cut you off completely. Looking back, that was wrong.”

Dr. Xu had come to apologize.

Those long-buried memories of their youth surfaced between them.

Now that the knot in their hearts was untied, the handshake to make peace felt harder than it sounded.

Seeing his mentor and the esteemed Dr. Hu reconcile filled Zhou Can with happiness for both of them.

“Takes two to tango. If I hadn’t rubbed it in after winning, you wouldn’t have held that grudge all these years. When I think back, I regret it deeply. We were all young and reckless, not knowing how to behave. Remember those nights after work—drinks and barbecue in the alley behind the hospital? Those were the days.”

Dr. Hu Kan looked back on their younger days with nostalgia.

“The lights are on and night’s falling—perfect timing. Let’s go! How about the old spot, Qing Shi Alley?”

Dr. Xu could hardly wait to relive those memories.

“Let’s head out!”

Dr. Hu Kan braced himself on the table and stood.

Zhou Can hurried over to help him up.

“Are you sure you’re up for it?”

Realizing Dr. Hu wasn’t the man he used to be, Dr. Xu spoke up as well.

“Who do you think you’re doubting? A man’s got to stay strong!”

Dr. Hu Kan shot him a look and, with Zhou Can’s support, left the office.

The three made their way to the hospital’s back entrance—Qing Shi Alley.

By that time, the night market stalls had sprung up along the alley.

Only after dark, when city inspectors clocked off, did vendors throng the alleys.

“That’s Fat Wang’s Barbecue right there—still in business after thirty years. Amazing.” Dr. Hu Kan pointed out the stall up ahead.

“Every time I passed this way these years, I’d glance at Fat Wang’s, but I never stopped in again.”

Dr. Xu felt a wave of emotion.

Life is short—decades pass in a blink.

Each had spent their lives fighting for excellence in medicine. Now Dr. Hu’s body had worn out, Dr. Xu was still shackled, unable to shrug off invisible burdens.