Chapter 70: Trials and Triumphs in the Emergency Department

Haha, it’s not just you—I nearly made the same mistake myself. Who would have thought a resident could be so remarkable?

Director Lou recalled Zhou Can’s two heroic feats in the Resuscitation Room and couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.

No one’s perfect, and underestimating someone with less experience is the easiest mistake to make.

“Now, tell us how you managed to stop that patient’s bleeding!”

That only intensified Director Lou’s interest.

For such a difficult case of hemostasis, knowing Dr. Fu well, he shouldn’t even have had that skill.

“After suspecting the patient of having a coagulation disorder, our first thought was to give him intramuscular Vitamin K1. Zhou Can pointed out that an IM injection might trigger local muscle bleeding, so we switched to an IV drip. But the medication didn’t work as expected. I was nearly ready to call in a specialist until Dr. Zhou suggested a combined approach…”

Dr. Fu recounted the whole incident accurately.

He made sure not to let pride erase Zhou Can’s achievement.

At the very least, it showed that Dr. Fu was an upright, honest man.

“Another triumph by Zhou Can?”

Director Lou turned to Zhou Can with a warm, affectionate smile.

“Kid, can’t you be a tad more modest? Three days in the Emergency Department and you’re making heroic achievements every day.”

Who would have thought such advanced hemostasis could come from a resident?

Director Lou felt more delighted than shocked.

“Hehe, that’s all thanks to you and the senior doctors for nurturing me and giving me the chance!”

Zhou Can’s reply was nearly perfect—easily scoring over 90.

The radiant smiles on Dr. Fu’s and Director Lou’s faces made it clear how pleased they were with Zhou Can’s versatile answer.

Director Lou then glanced at Dr. Lu, who kept his head bowed with an unpredictable expression.

If there were any crack in the floor big enough, Dr. Lu would have dove in immediately.

All his little schemes had been exposed under the harsh light of truth.

His carefully cultivated image had crumbled spectacularly.

Now, he looked as despicable as a clown.

“Little Lu, you’ve been with the Emergency Department for a few years now, haven’t you?”

Notice how Director Lou said ‘our Emergency Department.’

It clearly implied that he didn’t truly consider Dr. Lu one of his own.

That said a lot about how little respect he had for Dr. Lu.

“It’s been four years!”

Dr. Lu slumped slightly, his shoulders drooping and his back bending a little.

He knew his time for a beating had come.

At least a sincere attitude might earn him a lighter reprimand.

“When we first transferred you to the Operating Room, we nurtured you step by step because we hoped you’d succeed and contribute to the Emergency Department—not make it a battleground or use devious tactics to suppress newcomers.”

Director Lou’s tone grew harsher, and not a trace of a smile graced his face.

His gaze was as cold and piercing as a mid-autumn frost.

“Remember, this era won’t stop you from shining, but you can’t dim anyone else’s light.”

Dr. Lu’s mind scrambled like a chick pecking at grains.

“I won’t dare do it again next time!”

He didn’t even dare to lift his eyes.

He’d meant to hold Zhou Can back, but Zhou Can was too extraordinary; instead of being stopped, he soared even higher, growing ever more dazzling.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lu’s reputation was in ruins, turning him into a cautionary tale.

Every underhanded tactic he used against Zhou Can was brought to light.

He became nothing more than a complete clown.

“If it happens again, the Emergency Department won’t keep you. Initially, General Surgery kicked you out—you had no chance at Tuyu Hospital. It was Dr. Xu who begged me to put in a word with the hospital leaders so you could stay in the Emergency Department. All these years, Dr. Xu, Dr. Fu, and I have worked hard to teach you, hoping you’d become an attending physician to share our burden. But what did you do? You wasted time on superficial tricks while hardly improving your medical skills.”

Director Lou listed Dr. Lu’s shortcomings one by one.

They had all hoped he’d succeed.

With the Emergency Department’s team being so weak, nurturing new talent was the best way to grow stronger.

Dr. Lu’s talent wasn’t the issue—it was his poor work ethic.

Nor was it his inability to cherish opportunities.

That was what led to today’s situation.

Director Lou, Dr. Xu, and the others had always been patient, hoping he’d improve.

Yet instead of maturing, he went so far as to sabotage the top prodigy they had painstakingly recruited.

Director Lou’s decision not to slap him was, frankly, being generous.

But he made everything crystal clear, giving him one final chance.

If it happens again, he’ll be expelled from the Emergency Department immediately.

“I promise I’ll change. Please trust me, Director Lou and Dr. Fu—I will improve. If I become an attending next year, I’ll handle night shifts on my own so that you, Dr. Fu and Dr. Xu, won’t have to work so hard.”

Dr. Lu vowed to change.

Yet old habits die hard.

He couldn’t help but keep flattering Director Lou and the others.

“Hmpf, if you think you’ll be an attending next year, you’re dreaming! Focus on sharpening your surgical skills and diagnostic abilities—that’s the real path. Get to work!”

Director Lou replied in a deadpan tone.

Deep down, he probably thought Little Lu’s surgical skills were only on par with a first or second-year resident—nowhere near attending level. His hopes for promotion next year were laughable.

Of course, as head of the Emergency Department, he wouldn’t say something so brutal outright.

He merely hinted that Dr. Lu’s chances of becoming an attending next year were virtually nil.

“Alright, I’m off to check on that patient. You all get back to work!”

Director Lou hurried away.

Reaching the Operating Room door, he turned back to remind, “Dr. Fu, finding talent like Zhou Can in our Emergency Department isn’t easy. Make sure you nurture him well.”

“Understood! Even if you don’t mention it, I’ll ensure he gets the proper guidance.”

Dr. Fu nodded, smiling broadly.

Clearly, Zhou Can’s earlier stellar performance had completely won Dr. Fu over.

Which superior wouldn’t be fond of an outstanding newcomer?

With a little mentorship, when Zhou Can makes his mark, Dr. Fu will benefit too.

And if Zhou Can ever repays Dr. Fu’s nurturing support, that would be even better.

After Director Lou left, a new surgical patient was wheeled into the Operating Room.

It was a case of a fishbone stuck in the throat—a condition that had possibly persisted for days, leaving the throat visibly swollen and red, and causing breathing difficulties.

“According to the patient’s family, three days ago he attended a relative’s 60th birthday banquet. During the feast, a fishbone got lodged in his throat. Someone suggested drinking vinegar might help dislodge it, but that didn’t work. Later, they thought swallowing food might push it down, yet the fishbone ended up lodged even deeper.”

Hearing these folk remedies, Zhou Can just shook his head.

Such crude methods only cause harm!

If a fishbone is lodged in reverse, sometimes food can help push it out,

but that method is extremely risky.

It could easily puncture the esophagus, causing bleeding, abscesses, or even life-threatening complications.

And as for drinking vinegar—while it might soften the fishbone, the exposure is too brief. The embedded part can’t be softened, and swallowing large amounts of concentrated vinegar might burn the esophagus.

Thus, both of these folk remedies are unacceptable.

If you can’t remove the fishbone on your own, you must seek hospital treatment immediately.

Delays can lead to severe complications that even hospital intervention might not overcome.

“Open your mouth and let me see!”

Dr. Fu instructed the patient to open his mouth.

As the patient lifted his head, pain immediately etched across his face.

Breathing became even more difficult.

They observed that the patient’s swollen throat had compressed the airway to less than 0.5 cm in width.

Several medical staff gasped in unison.

When the airway is completely blocked, death can occur within minutes.