Chapter 568: The Weight of Currying Favor and the Burden on Shoulders

“Morning!”

Zhang Mingxing forced a stiff smile onto his face.

If it weren’t for his career hanging in the balance, he’d never set foot in Tuyu Hospital again.

A man’s got his pride, just as a tree has its bark.

He was, after all, a figure of some repute. Getting dragged out by Tuyu Hospital’s security guards in broad daylight last time had left him seething with rage.

Yet, since he was in the wrong to begin with, he couldn’t exactly pick a fight with Tuyu Hospital over it.

In terms of social standing, reaching the position of Vice-Director meant he was essentially at a departmental cadre level. But Tuyu Hospital dwarfed Third Hospital in both scale and status, outranking it by a wide margin. He couldn’t throw his weight around here, nor could he win any arguments. So, he had no choice but to swallow his pride.

Every adult has eaten humble pie at some point.

“Has Director Zhang Qilian woken up yet?”

Zhou Can cut straight to the point.

“I don’t know.”

Zhang Mingxing instinctively stepped back, keeping his distance to avoid those hospital security guards—sharper than a dog’s nose—from coming after him again.

Twice he’d come to Tuyu Hospital looking for Zhou Can, and twice he’d been chased off by security. The experience had left a deep mark on him.

He wasn’t eager to go through that again.

Tuyu Hospital’s guards were stubbornly relentless. They wouldn’t hesitate to lay hands on him, and he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of fear.

As the saying goes, the bold fear the reckless, and that’s the truth of it.

“You don’t even know if Director Zhang Qilian is awake? You’re here to visit a patient, so at least put some effort into it. This is just too perfunctory. I get it—you must’ve heard something. You know Director Zhang Qilian’s health might not allow him to continue as Director, so you rushed over to show your loyalty…”

When dealing with adversaries, Zhou Can never bothered with gentlemanly etiquette.

If he could get under their skin, that was a win in his book.

“My dear ancestor, my living legend, I’m begging you—stop trying to ruin me, alright?” Zhang Mingxing couldn’t let Zhou Can keep talking. He quickly clasped his hands and pleaded for mercy.

This little menace really had no filter.

And worse, he’d seen right through Zhang Mingxing’s little schemes.

Director Zhang Qilian’s health had taken a severe hit. On the surface, Zhang Mingxing acted deeply concerned, but inwardly, he was practically dancing with joy.

Anyone who’s been in a leadership role knows that unless the higher-ups step aside or retire, those below have no chance to climb the ladder.

Zhang Mingxing dreamed of shedding the ‘Vice’ in his title and becoming the official Director of Third Hospital.

Even if Third Hospital was a sinking ship, teetering on the edge of collapse, he still craved that top position.

To smoothly take over Zhang Qilian’s role, one needed either a rock-solid background with powerful backers or someone pulling strings from above. Take Director Zhu of Tuyu, for instance—someone higher up had his back. When he competed for the Director position, Cao Guozheng pushed through all opposition to get him appointed.

If Zhang Mingxing had that kind of influential support, he wouldn’t have to grovel like a lapdog, coming to Tuyu Hospital time and again to poach Zhou Can.

It wasn’t that he wanted to be here; Zhang Qilian had given the order, and he had to obey.

Earning a leader’s favor and trust was no easy feat.

In a hospital, countless people sharpened their wits trying to curry favor with the Director. Why?

Because once you gained the Director’s approval and trust, your future would shine bright. The Director would be like the sun, illuminating your path with promotions and opportunities falling into your lap.

But those who actually succeeded in winning such favor were few and far between.

Zhang Mingxing had climbed to his current position without any powerful backing. He relied solely on his silver tongue and his relentless efforts to please Zhang Qilian.

Back when Zhang Qilian aimed to revitalize Third Hospital with grand plans, Zhang Mingxing was the first to throw his full support behind him.

That included shelling out huge sums to bring in a Japanese heart surgeon and state-of-the-art equipment. Decisions like that couldn’t be made by Zhang Qilian alone—they had to be discussed at the hospital’s leadership meetings.

Only with a majority in favor could such plans move forward.

Without Zhang Mingxing, a heavyweight Vice-Director, cheering and rallying for him, Zhang Qilian would’ve struggled to pull off those major initiatives.

Over the years, Zhang Mingxing had poured everything into his efforts, doing all he could to win Zhang Qilian’s favor.

He couldn’t afford to drop the ball at this critical moment and let Zhou Can, this unpredictable wildcard, mess things up for him.

Sowing discord was a dangerous game.

A few well-placed words could easily plant seeds of doubt in a leader’s mind about a rival.

Plenty of people in office settings played that game.

Even if Zhou Can’s words had just a one percent chance of stirring up trouble and making Zhang Qilian suspicious of him, Zhang Mingxing couldn’t take that risk.

Left with no choice, he bowed and begged Zhou Can for mercy.

“Look at you, trembling like a coward. You’re the Vice-Director of Third Hospital, soon to be promoted to full Director. Do you really need to be this scared?”

A verbal stab to the heart.

Zhou Can tossed out that parting shot before stepping into the ward, leaving Zhang Mingxing drenched in cold sweat once more.

This little ancestor was truly someone he couldn’t afford to cross.

His promotion to Director wasn’t even close to being finalized, yet Zhou Can spoke as if it were a done deal. That was far from a good thing.

He could only hope it wouldn’t rub Director Zhang Qilian the wrong way.

Zhou Can pushed open the door to the ward. It was a high-end room with two beds.

Clearly, Zhang Qilian’s family had pulled some strings to secure such treatment. Otherwise, there’s no way they’d get accommodations this nice.

Medical resources were among the scarcest in society these days.

For ordinary folks, finding a bed was like striking gold.

But for patients with status or influence, nothing less than special care or premium wards would do.

Zhou Can glanced at the patient on the bed. The other bed held a frail old man with white hair and a matching beard. Staying in a ward like this, he was unlikely to be just anyone.

Ordinary people had only two options.

If their condition was mild, they’d stay in a standard ward. If it was critical, straight to the ICU.

Only the elite or high-ranking officials could access premium medical resources like these.

“Oh, it’s you!”

Zhang Qilian’s wife, who’d been keeping watch by the bedside, spotted Zhou Can entering. A warm smile spread across her face as she stood up, showing her respect.

In premium wards like this, nurses and caregivers were on duty around the clock.

If the patient’s condition was stable, family didn’t need to stay by the bedside constantly.

Of course, the costs here were significantly higher.

Patients in these wards often had over ninety percent of their expenses covered by insurance, so they didn’t worry much about the bill. Even if a hospital stay cost a hundred thousand, they might only pay ten thousand out of pocket.

In some cases, everything was fully reimbursed.

“Hello! I finished my rounds and thought I’d stop by to check on your husband. Has he urinated yet?”

Zhou Can could tell at a glance that Zhang Qilian was awake.

But his complexion still looked terrible.

There was a grayish pallor to his face.

The aftereffects of a myocardial infarction were brutal. Even with meticulous care, he’d never return to his former self.

If it were intestinal surgery, a doctor might ask if the patient had passed gas.

In other words, had they farted.

Because if a patient passed gas post-surgery, it generally meant their intestines were functioning and unobstructed.

Patients undergoing intestinal surgery had to fast before the procedure, leaving their intestines empty. They couldn’t eat right after surgery either.

From eating to forming and passing stool, it took about ten hours at the fastest.

For those with stronger digestive systems, the process could be quicker.

On the other hand, the elderly often had weaker digestion, so it took longer from eating to bowel movement.

“He’s urinated twice. The nurse and attending doctor checked and said his condition isn’t bad.”

“Did any doctors come for rounds this morning?”

“Chief Surgeon Ling from Cardiology already brought a team to check on him.”

“Did anyone listen to his heart sounds?”

“Yes, they did. Chief Surgeon Ling personally listened and said to keep him in the hospital for a couple of days for observation. Judging by Chief Surgeon Ling’s expression, my husband’s condition doesn’t seem very promising.”

Zhang Qilian’s wife was clearly well-educated. Her responses to Zhou Can’s questions were logical and always on point.

Moreover, her attitude toward Zhou Can remained friendly and respectful.

She didn’t look down on him for being young.

“No need to worry too much. Just take it as it comes. For now, his cardiovascular system is clear, but a portion of his heart muscle may have suffered necrosis due to prolonged lack of blood flow. That’s something to watch out for. If the necrotic area is too large, surgery might be necessary.”

Zhou Can offered a bit of advice.

His goal was to ensure the family stayed vigilant and kept a close eye on any changes in the patient’s condition.

Even in a premium ward, nurses couldn’t be by the bedside twenty-four hours a day. Plus, with nurses working in shifts, oversights during handovers were common.

“Thank you for telling me this. Chief Surgeon Ling said something similar. The doctors at Tuyu Hospital aren’t just skilled—they’re also incredibly dedicated to their patients. It really touches me. If only we could’ve gotten my husband here sooner.”

She couldn’t help but think of the time wasted at Third Hospital when her husband first fell ill, leading to the severe consequences now. Regret and self-blame weighed on her heart.

This was a case of reaping what you sow.

Zhang Qilian had spent a fortune hiring a Japanese heart surgeon, whose skills weren’t as impressive as expected, harming many in the process.

Now that he was the one lying sick, it felt like poetic justice that he’d suffer for it.

Surviving at all was already a stroke of luck.

“Don’t blame yourself too much. What’s done is done. Focus on finding solutions. As long as he’s alive, that’s the silver lining in this misfortune.”

Zhou Can offered some comfort.

“I’ll stop by again tomorrow. While you’re here keeping watch, if you notice any significant changes in his breathing, heart rate, or blood pressure, make sure to press the call button for medical staff right away. Based on my clinical experience, the critical danger period for him will likely be between thirty-six and seventy-two hours post-surgery.”

After a myocardial infarction, even if the blood vessels are reopened, there’s still a medical phase known as the ‘malignant onset period.’”

It could also be called the tissue necrosis phase.

It can manifest as early as twenty-four hours post-surgery, though for most, clear symptoms appear after thirty-six hours.

When Zhou Can assisted in Zhang Qilian’s surgery yesterday, he didn’t feel anything particularly off.

At that point, the infarction hadn’t lasted too long.

Plus, if most of the heart muscle only experienced temporary ischemia, emergency reopening of the vessels and restoring blood flow could potentially ease or reverse the damage.

“Alright, thank you!”

The family member thanked Zhou Can once more.

“See you later!”

Zhou Can waved and stepped out of the ward.

Zhang Qilian, lying on the bed, kept his eyes closed the entire time.

If he wasn’t pretending to sleep, he must’ve recognized Zhou Can’s voice. But having recently schemed to drag Zhou Can into a lawsuit, he likely didn’t have the face to meet him.

As evening rolled around and Zhou Can finished his shift, he got a call from Director Tan of the Internal Medicine Department.

Normally, Director Tan rarely called him.

“Zhou Can, are you working overtime tonight?”

“I’ve got two surgeries to assist with in Cardiothoracic Surgery.”

The two had a good personal rapport, so their conversations were often candid.

“Did your wife bring you dinner tonight?”

“You’ve heard about that too?”

Zhou Can couldn’t help but smile.

“Haha, your little displays of affection with your girlfriend are hardly a secret around the hospital anymore. A lot of the younger staff are taking notes from you two. If a man wants to be steady, he’s got to work hard at his career while also taking care of his family. Only when your personal life is stable can you truly focus on your work.”

Director Tan was surprisingly supportive of Zhou Can and his girlfriend’s public affection.

A successful man needed a stable marriage.

Only then could he project an image of reliability and responsibility in the public eye.

That was also a prerequisite for competing for many leadership roles.

“I’m guessing you’ve got something to discuss with me. How about I swing by your office after dinner?”

Zhou Can knew Director Tan too well.

“Haha, alright, alright. I’ll be waiting in my office. I was thinking if your wife didn’t bring you dinner today, I’d treat you to a meal and we could chat over it.”

Director Tan let out a hearty laugh.

“No problem. I’ll be there in about forty minutes. Eating doesn’t take me long, but rounds in the emergency department eat up more time.”

Zhou Can explained.

“As a doctor in internal medicine, I’ve got to remind you—eat slowly and chew your food. Rushing through meals can harm your body. No matter how busy you are, your health has to come first.”

Director Tan’s concern was genuine.

Many people, swamped with work, barely had time to eat properly. Sometimes, they were so busy they skipped meals altogether.

That kind of lifestyle took a serious toll on the body.

But often, there was no other choice.

“Got it. I’ll keep your advice in mind.”

Zhou Can agreed.

“Don’t just pay lip service to it—make sure you follow through! I’ve got high hopes for you, young man. The greater someone’s talent, the heavier the burden on their shoulders. Do you realize? You’re no longer just representing yourself. You’re the brightest hope of Tuyu Hospital’s younger generation. Our hospital is brimming with talent across every department, but you stand out as the most exceptional. Many of us old-timers are rooting for you, hoping that one day, you’ll lead Tuyu Hospital to even greater heights.”

Director Tan’s heartfelt words left Zhou Can feeling both flattered and overwhelmed.

All he’d ever thought about was honing his medical skills and saving as many patients as possible.

He hadn’t realized the weight on his shoulders had grown so heavy.

It was like how many men in their thirties, looking back at their twenties, saw themselves as immature kids, carefree and full of youthful spirit. Back then, as long as they were fed, their whole world was fine. But after marriage and kids, hitting their thirties, they suddenly felt the crushing weight of responsibility bearing down on them.

With elders above and children below, they could no longer live as freely as they did in their twenties.