Chapter 654: The Hospital Power Shift

Last time when Director Gao tried to suppress Hospital Assistant Qin, he casually planned to push Zhou Can down as well.

But a hospital-level leader stepped up for Zhou Can and put in a good word.

At that time, only Deputy Director Bai and Deputy Director Ye spoke up. Director Gao noticed Zhou Can seemed to have some connections but didn’t think much of it.

He expanded the team by four new hospital assistants, replaced Director Fang in Administration, got a new Vice-Director on his side—Director Lou. With such a big force behind him, Director Gao felt he now fully controlled the hospital.

He never imagined that trying to win over the Song Family—by targeting Zhou Can for real this time—would lead him to discover that this clinical department deputy director was ten or even a hundred times scarier than Hospital Assistant Qin.

Right now, Director Gao’s face looked a little pale. Deep down he felt even more threatened by Zhou Can.

Today, getting rid of Zhou Can was pretty much impossible.

But after mobilizing everyone for this meeting, and making such a big show out of Mr. Song’s treatment issue, he couldn’t back down anymore.

He’d already received instructions from higher-ups, so he couldn’t go against them either.

He had to save face and maintain authority, but couldn’t touch Zhou Can. So, he decided to sacrifice Director Lou instead.

He’d always thought Director Lou was loyal to him, supporting him in public time after time. Who would’ve thought Lou’s heart was elsewhere? When it mattered most, he just flipped overnight.

Messing with Zhou Can was like threatening Director Lou’s very lifeline.

That made Zhou Can’s influence seem even more terrifying to Director Gao.

“Thank you, leaders, for your valuable advice. Mistakes must be punished, achievements rewarded. What happened caused serious consequences for the patient and the family. Taking everyone’s suggestions, Dr. Zhou Can will not be held responsible for this incident. All responsibility lies with Vice-Director Lou, who led the surgery. I propose removing Lou from his position as Vice-Director…”

Surprisingly, when it was time for the vote, Director Lou’s prior push for Emergency Department expansion and splitting it into sub-units had drawn fury from other clinical directors and leaders.

Even though he just stood up for Zhou Can and was willing to sacrifice himself, that alone couldn’t erase everyone’s resentment.

The vote was nearly unanimous for removing him.

Director Gao accepted the result reluctantly. The higher-ups were just as satisfied.

All that mattered to them was appeasing the Song Family.

Whose position was suspended—no one really cared.

Removing a Vice-Director only made the message to the Song Family stronger. This suited them perfectly.

“Very well, the disciplinary measure against Director Lou has passed unanimously. Next, let’s discuss the selection of the new Emergency Vice-Director. The hospital, like a home or a country, can’t go a single day without a leader. The Emergency Department handles critical cases—more than ever, it needs someone at the helm.”

Director Gao was a little too eager making this next move.

He probably felt Zhou Can’s roots ran too deep. His own authority was being challenged, so he rushed to seize this chance to control the Emergency Department.

“I strongly support Director Gao’s proposal. Let’s elect a new Emergency Vice-Director right here, right now.”

Several hospital assistants quickly chimed in with their support.

Of course, only those few people actually backed Director Gao.

In reality, Director Gao didn’t have it easy.

He’d been at Tuyu Hospital for so long, yet not a single leader had given him genuine loyalty.

Especially in the clinical departments—no one knew why, but everyone seemed to keep him at arm’s length.

Maybe it was just the natural conflict between clinical and administrative departments.

Director Zhu had to earn respect step by step by working from every angle.

“The Emergency Department is a lifeline for critical patients. Its vice-director must have strong management experience and enough emergency expertise. Vice Section Chief Ying from the Medical Department is a great candidate. She’s handled all kinds of major incidents with diligence and distinction. Her experience, ability, and professionalism are recognized by everyone. I nominate her as Emergency Vice-Director.”

Director Gao couldn’t hide his intentions any longer.

Now it was clear to everyone that Vice Section Chief Ying from the Medical Department was his pick.

From now on, people would be wary of her.

“I’ve made mistakes, and I accept punishment. But by department tradition and rules, even if I’m removed, I have the right to recommend my successor.”

After being dismissed, Director Lou didn’t fall apart.

Instead, he stepped up at this crucial moment and spoke with conviction.

Everyone could feel he’d woven the Emergency Department into his very being. Everything he’d done was for its sake.

Zhou Can, Deputy Director Han, and the others couldn’t help but feel admiration for him.

The tears dry only when the candle’s completely spent.

Even stripped of his title, Director Lou wanted to do one last thing for the Emergency Department—giving it everything he had left.

“It’s true—by hospital tradition, Lou Jingshan does have the right to recommend his successor, and that right carries weight.”

Unexpectedly, the first to back Director Lou was actually Chief Xin Wanshan from the Medical Department.

He’d always had a good relationship with Zhou Can.

In terms of ability, Xin Wanshan was strong—just a bit unlucky.

Back when Director Zhu was in charge, there’d been little movement among upper management. Zhu liked stability.

Director Fang, Deputy Director Ye, Deputy Director Bai—they’d all held their roles for years.

Under those circumstances, Xin Wanshan barely had any chance to move up.

When Director Gao arrived, chances to rise did appear, but Xin Wanshan was too upright—he had too much integrity to suck up to Director Gao.

That meant he missed out on several promotions.

Vice Section Chief Ying from the Medical Department, on the other hand, had somehow cozied up to Director Gao.

“Yes, that’s the tradition here.”

Deputy Director Ye confirmed.

Other vice-directors in the clinical departments also voiced their support.

That tradition had to stand—everyone’s interests depended on it.

If it was broken, any clinical department could see an outsider parachuted in as deputy. That was something the doctors and nurses would never stomach.

Every clinical department is like a little fiefdom.

Its leader has to be one of their own.

No one would want a stranger handed the crown from above.

“Tradition is not to be broken. Lou Jingshan, who’s your pick?”

Left with no choice, Director Gao had to agree.

Public opinion can’t be ignored.

Even the director has to respect everyone’s voice.

If he tried to rule alone, what would higher authorities think? How would they see him as director?

“I recommend Zhou Can as Emergency Vice-Director. In terms of qualifications, he’s already the department’s deputy. As for ability and professionalism, there’s no need to say more. When it comes to emergency care and critical rescue, Vice Section Chief Ying can’t compare to Zhou Can—not even a thousandth.”

Director Lou still kept things civil.

The blunt version: Vice Section Chief Ying isn’t even fit to carry Zhou Can’s shoes in emergency surgery.

Zhou Can was stunned to hear himself nominated as vice-director.

“Director Lou, I’m still young—my qualifications can’t match Deputy Director Han or the others…”

Zhou Can declined in public.

A faint, barely visible smile appeared on Director Gao’s face.

Director Lou’s nominee wasn’t willing to accept the job—now things just got interesting.

Looked like the opportunity would come back around to him soon.

“Xiao Zhou, have you heard the saying, ‘when the country is in trouble, every citizen has a responsibility’? From the day you joined the Emergency Department, you became part of the team. Now, our department has no leader—and you’re the one everyone’s looking to. Only you can take Emergency to the next level. Director Gao said Tuyu Hospital doesn’t need lone heroes, but I say Emergency can lose me, Han Changqing, or even Niu Lan, but it can never lose you, Zhou Can.”

Director Lou’s words shook Zhou Can to his core.

The hall fell silent. Everyone turned to watch Director Lou.

No one could miss his dedication and determination to the Emergency Department.

Director Lou looked first at Director Gao on the dais.

Then he swept his gaze across everyone—before finally locking eyes with Director Gao again.

“Tuyu can lose me. It can even lose the entire Emergency Department. But it can never lose Zhou Can. Let me remind you, Director Gao—real authority comes from earning people’s respect, not playing power games. If Tuyu Hospital loses Zhou Can, things may carry on, sure—but it’ll never take off.”

This was Director Lou’s final piece of advice for Director Gao.

He’d worked closely with him and knew his ways inside out.

After today, Director Gao would likely see Zhou Can as his top enemy. Crushing him would become his number one obsession.

Power can make someone go mad—selfish, cold, and ruthless.

“Lou Jingshan, watch your words. When have I ever abused my power? Don’t throw baseless accusations! You—this is just revenge, slander in broad daylight.”

Director Gao slammed the table in anger.

“If you’re innocent, why get so worked up, Director Gao?”

Right now, Director Lou had nothing left to lose.

He’d probably put up with plenty just to get Director Gao’s support these days.

Now he was taking this last chance to vent his frustration.

The old, straightforward, passionate Director Lou was back.

All his masks and burdens dropped away—his true self returned.

“Enough, everyone, no more personal attacks. Lou Jingshan, no matter what, Director Gao is head of Tuyu—you must show the proper respect. You’re out of line right now. Go cool off outside for a while.”

A higher-up leader scolded Director Lou.

Director Lou was soon escorted out of the conference room.

As for the new vice-director vote, it went just as expected—almost everyone supported Zhou Can.

His promotion was pretty much sealed.

……

After the meeting, the official announcement for Zhou Can’s new position still hadn’t come, much less an appointment letter.

The Director’s Office just said they’d deal with it later.

It made sense, since Mr. Song was still in the ICU, trapped in a vegetative state.

Promoting the lead surgeon Zhou Can to vice-director right now—how would the Song Family react?

Though he didn’t have the title yet, Zhou Can was already acting as vice-director.

All major Emergency Department decisions went through him.

Niu Lan, Han Changqing, Dr. Xu—everyone deferred to Zhou Can. Any big matters were left for him to decide.

The days passed, one after another.

Jiang Wei and Zhou Can never gave up on treating Mr. Song.

Their own futures were tied to it—even Dr. Xu and Jiang Wei couldn’t avoid being affected.

They worked together to develop rehab and nutrition plans for Mr. Song, with Zhou Can footing the bill for extra recovery help.

Luckily, Han Hun Pharmaceuticals had started turning a profit, and Jin Yu Interactive was growing fast—the income was considerable. Covering Mr. Song’s treatment costs, which would be a fortune for most, was nothing for him.

ICU bills—even after insurance—still ran four or five thousand a day.

But that was pocket change to Zhou Can.

The Song Family never came looking for trouble, but their family head never reached out, either.

Ever since Mr. Song’s operation left him in a vegetative state, the Song Family’s attitude toward Zhou Can went cold.

There was probably some lingering resentment.

One day, Zhou Can was sleeping at home when Director Liu from the Critical Care Department called unexpectedly.

“Vice-Director Zhou! Quickly come to the hospital—there’s a change in Mr. Song’s brain signals. They’ve suddenly become active!”

Zhou Can glanced at the clock. It was 1:25 a.m.

He’d still been groggy, but the good news jolted him awake.

“Okay, okay, I’m on my way!”

He rushed to the hospital. Director Liu waited for him in the ICU.

“Just a short while ago, Mr. Song’s brainwaves grew active. Experience tells me this could be a sign of waking up.”

Director Liu knew how much this patient mattered to Zhou Can’s future.

He sounded just as excited delivering the news.

“But now the brainwaves are calm again. Could something have triggered the change?”

From experience, Zhou Can knew patients in vegetative states often woke in response to outside stimuli, especially loving voices from family.

Human emotion is deep—at the core, there are connections to those closest to us and the things we care about most. These are the keys to waking someone.

“We didn’t do anything special. Rehab training only happens in the mornings and evenings. At this hour, unless it’s an emergency, nothing else is done here.”

Director Liu shook his head.

“Could it have been music from outside that triggered the brainwaves?”

A young doctor nearby brought up the idea.

Director Liu and Zhou Can’s eyes both lit up.

“There was a faint bit of music just now. It was a corpses worker’s phone ringtone.”

Someone must have passed away in the ICU a short while ago.

When it happens, an orderly is called in to remove the body.

Hospital rules for orderlies are relatively loose. It’s impossible to require them to mute phones before entering the ICU.

Even if you tell them, they may not listen.

“Do you remember which song was playing?”

Zhou Can asked, excitement bubbling up.

“It went… ‘You guys can still lift me up—yeah, that’s the lyric.’”

Director Liu thought for a moment and confirmed.

“Let me check it out.”

Just then, a nurse turning a patient cut in: “Director Zhou, no need to check. I know that song—it’s ‘Ten Thousand Loves, A Thousand Graces.'”

Women love music and have sharp memories.

“Thank you for that valuable info.”

Zhou Can decided to try playing the song.

He downloaded ‘Ten Thousand Loves, A Thousand Graces’ on his phone, slipped it in a sterile pouch, and played it right by Mr. Song’s ear in the ICU.

If Mr. Song could hear the music, then his auditory function was intact.

At least his hearing was there.

“Look, look! Brain activity’s spiking again!”

Director Liu was thrilled—Zhou Can even more so.

Clearly, this song triggered something deep inside Mr. Song.

The song was only released in the last couple of years, and Mr. Song’s accident was ten years ago. He’d never have heard it.

Most likely, the moving lyrics touched something in his heart, causing him to respond.