Chapter 96: The Art of Transfer and the Surgeon’s Journey

He began his game of left-hand to right-hand, right-hand to left-hand passing.

That tiny soybean bounced back and forth between the two long forceps.

His transfer experience points were steadily climbing as well.

As his movements grew more fluent, his mastery over the art of passing the soybean improved too. Where he once had to fail about 25 times for every success, he now succeeded after roughly 18 failures.

After practicing until 11:42 in the evening, he finally amassed 10 experience points in transfer.

【Congratulations! Your Transfer Technique has reached Level 2! Current Experience: 0/100. Your passing skills are at the basic residency level.】

He had leveled up.

At long last, he had reached the residency standard.

He was delighted to find that all those bits of surgical passing knowledge he had learned from books and lectures suddenly flooded back. His application and understanding of them now were far clearer than his previous half-understanding.

It was an incredibly strange sensation, much like relearning something old and discovering something new.

Beyond his theoretical improvements, his surgical skills had also improved qualitatively.

He tried picking up a soybean with the forceps and then passed it to the long forceps held in his left hand.

His left hand naturally adjusted the long forceps to just the right gap to catch the soybean coming from the right-hand forceps. The coordination between his hands was remarkably seamless.

The moment the right-hand forceps opened, it gently pushed the soybean forward.

It was as if a hidden force was at work.

Meanwhile, the left-hand forceps inched forward, tightened, and clamped down.

What seemed like a simple pass required an extraordinary level of coordination between both hands controlling the long forceps. The angle, force, timing, and distance all had to be perfect.

This progress was tangible.

After spending most of the evening, he had levelled up his passing technique and felt overjoyed.

Although it was unlikely he’d use this particular medical skill much, having more abilities never hurt.

Acquiring another skill was definitely not a bad thing.

Besides, he was set to pursue minimally invasive surgery later on. Perfecting his advanced techniques early would allow him to build momentum and surge ahead when the time came.

……

Days passed by in this steady routine.

Zhou Can never mentioned working overtime with Dr. Fu again. One must have a certain pride.

He appeared modest and unassuming, yet inside he was remarkably steadfast, carrying an air of unyielding dignity.

Dr. Fu was an honest man with a good heart.

But a few rumors were enough for him to immediately distance himself from Zhou Can. Such people, inwardly selfish, were not worth deep friendship.

Take Dr. Xu, for instance. Quiet as he was, he had the nerve to cause a commotion in the Medical Department, even going to the dean’s office to argue on Zhou Can’s behalf. He came off as a bit clumsy, a little foolish, yet genuine—a hot-blooded man.

He was someone worth befriending.

Zhou Can didn’t hold a grudge against Dr. Fu. Everyone had the right to choose how to live.

It was unrealistic to demand that everyone revolve their life around him and devote everything for him.

That simply wasn’t practical.

Survival instincts, honed over millions of years of evolution, ensured that one always steered clear of misfortune.

However, if Dr. Fu ever ran into trouble again, Zhou Can knew he couldn’t always step in for him.

But if Dr. Xu were in trouble, he’d risk everything to lend a helping hand.

People always reciprocate.

If someone treats him well, he repays that favor. If not, he wouldn’t meddle unnecessarily.

In recent days, Zhou Can’s routine was as simple as the pattern of the operating room and his apartment—a two-point line of existence.

In all aspects, his surgical skills steadily improved.

It was a pity that to qualify as a licensed physician one needed to work for a full year.

Otherwise, once he obtained the license and transformed from a clinical assistant to a full-fledged doctor, he’d be allowed to do much more and develop faster.

For now, he quietly honed his surgical abilities.

He also made a conscious effort to bond with the on-call doctors in the Emergency Department.

All in an effort to build up his experience in pathology diagnosis.

Currently, he was capable of independently performing almost all Level 1 surgeries and some Level 2 surgeries.

Dr. Xu was also deliberately increasing his share of Level 2 surgeries while cutting down on Level 1 cases.

Compared to Zhou Can, Jin Mingxi looked rather inferior.

Yesterday, on a whim and unable to resist Jin Mingxi’s persistent requests, Dr. Xu assigned him the task of separating the omental intestinal tube during a Level 2 appendectomy.

Perhaps it was because Zhou Can had recently successfully performed a dozen or so appendectomies.

He had been consistently doing well.

Dr. Xu believed that with over a decade of experience and his usually steady performance, even if Jin Mingxi slipped, he wouldn’t be far behind Zhou Can.

Only then did he agree to give Jin Mingxi a chance to train.

But no one could have predicted what Jin Mingxi ended up doing.

Halfway through the dissection, he accidentally nicked the patient’s intestine.

Fortunately, the wound was shallow and did not lead to a perforation.

However, it did send a jolt of cold sweat down Dr. Xu’s spine—his face went pale instantly.

He quickly halted the procedure and unleashed a furious tirade on Jin Mingxi.

His roars were as thunderous as a storm.

This was the fiercest outburst Zhou Can had witnessed from Dr. Xu since he began working with him.

It was like watching an enraged lion, so forceful that everyone froze in fear of speaking.

Jin Mingxi, already 35, hung his head and dared not utter a word.

That day, the atmosphere in the operating room remained particularly oppressive until closing time.

In any operating room, the chief surgeon’s mood sets the tone for the place.

If the chief surgeon was in a bad mood, no matter how favored you were, it was best to keep silent, work diligently, and be even more cautious than usual.

Otherwise, you would soon find yourself being berated to the point of losing all dignity.

And that would seriously diminish your standing in the chief surgeon’s eyes.

From then on, asking for advice or seeking opportunities for surgical practice would become much harder.

Yesterday, Zhou Can had been out of luck because of Jin Mingxi.

Until the end of the day, Dr. Xu didn’t assign him any Level 2 surgeries, only a few Level 1 procedures.

Jin Mingxi fared even worse; he wasn’t allowed to perform even a single Level 1 surgery independently.

He spent nearly four hours sitting idle on the bench.

Later, back at the apartment, Zhou Can comforted Jin Mingxi. Maybe by the next day, Dr. Xu’s anger would subside.

……

Early in the morning, Zhou Can and Jin Mingxi stuck to their routine morning run without fail.

“Old Jin, you’re usually so steady in surgery. What went wrong yesterday?”

Zhou Can hadn’t dared ask yesterday, knowing that Jin Mingxi was already feeling low.

Pressing the issue would only make Jin Mingxi feel worse.

“Sigh, I guess I shouldn’t have tried to show off. Back at the County People’s Hospital, I’d done my share of appendectomies and thought I had some experience. I was certain I could easily separate the omental intestinal tube. At first, everything went smoothly. But midway, a particularly tricky section appeared. I should have stopped and let Dr. Xu take over, and nothing would have happened.”

Jin Mingxi spoke about the incident as if he wanted to slap himself.

“I was as blinded as if I’d eaten lard, clinging to a sliver of hope to prove my ability in front of everyone. I thought that if I saved face, Level 2 tasks would be easier to come by later. But then my hand slipped, and the scalpel cut into the normal section of the intestine. Luckily, the quick blade fundamentals we practiced together really sharpened my control over the scalpel. At that critical moment, I swiftly lifted the blade, and only a superficial strip of the intestine’s skin was nicked.”

Only Jin Mingxi knew how dangerous that moment truly was.

Zhou Can was standing by watching, but he didn’t feel much at that time.

All he heard was Jin Mingxi cry out, then put the blade away, standing dumbfounded with a look of dread.

Accidents often happen in a split second.

“Zhou Can, when you’re in surgery from now on, remember my lesson. Never try to be a hero when you’re not sure of the outcome.”

“I will!”

Zhou Can nodded resolutely.

After their run, the two headed to the hospital for work.

After breakfast, they arrived at the Emergency Department. Jin Mingxi still appeared quite uneasy.

Dr. Xu emerged from his office, his face as stern as ever.

“Good morning, Doctor Xu!”

“Good morning, Doctor Xu!”

Jin Mingxi joined Zhou Can in greeting him.

Aware of his mistake yesterday, he hoped that leveraging Zhou Can’s special status might help ease Dr. Xu’s anger.

“Let’s head to the Operating Room!”

Dr. Xu said this with an impassive look.

Once they entered the operating room, Nurse Tang Ling was already there.

It was around 7:55 when Dr. Lu, uncharacteristically early, arrived. Usually he was either exactly on time or late.

He must have been worried that arriving late would earn him another scolding.

After all, no one really knew if Dr. Xu’s anger had subsided.

Around 8:00, after checking the duty room, Dr. Xu walked in.

His face showed no hint of expression.

“Zhou Can, today you can perform a Level 1 surgery independently. As for Level 2, I’ll supervise. But let me say this upfront: if another mishap like Jin Mingxi’s occurs, I’ll revoke that privilege.”

Dr. Xu stated coldly.

“Understood!”

Zhou Can proceeded with extreme caution.

Jin Mingxi’s qualification for independent surgery had been revoked. He couldn’t afford to follow the same path.

Most of his surgical skills had reached Level 4 now; he could no longer gain experience from simulation tools and had to earn it in the operating room.

If his qualification for independent surgery were taken away, his progress would come to a halt.

To avoid mishaps, one must neither be overconfident nor careless.

“Jin Mingxi, for now, assist me from the sidelines.”

“Okay!”

Jin Mingxi quickly agreed.

“Dr. Lu has been performing well lately—positive attitude, diligent work. I can assign you some Level 1 tasks that you can lead independently,”

Dr. Xu was clearly setting up an internal competition system in the department to rigorously enforce surgical safety.

Anyone who wasn’t careful would end up sidelined.

“Thank you, Doctor Xu!”

Dr. Lu couldn’t hide his delight upon hearing this.

Ever since the last mishap, Dr. Xu hadn’t let him operate alone for a long time.

This time, thanks to Jin Mingxi’s mistake, he finally had a chance to move up.

“Call in two instrument nurses and get ready for the procedure!”

Soon, Tian Tian and Qiao Yu walked into the operating room together.

Dr. Lu’s face lit up when he saw Qiao Yu enter.

Today, it seemed he was blessed with a string of good luck!

“Qiao Yu, why not be my instrument nurse on this one too?”

Dr. Lu boldly made his request, trying to claim her for himself.

In these times, the timid starve while the bold with thick skin thrive.

Qiao Yu replied, “If Dr. Lu takes you as his instrument nurse, then I’ll assist Dr. Zhou instead.”

Tian Tian preferred to be near Zhou Can; perhaps she had a liking for handsome young men.

Unfortunately, Zhou Can detested her.

“No way—Qiao Yu has always been my assistant. I’m perfectly accustomed to that. I think Tian Tian and Dr. Lu make a perfect match. You two would work better as partners,”

Zhou Can, usually easygoing, could be stern when necessary.

Qiao Yu rarely got an early shift and had come specifically to assist him today.

There was no way he could simply stand by and watch Dr. Lu snatch her away.

Dr. Lu was a hypocrite, and Tian Tian was cunning—the two made a match made in heaven.

Pairing them up would be nothing short of a boon!

“Hehe, with Dr. Zhou holding me in such high regard, I simply must be your assistant!”

Qiao Yu cheerfully stepped up beside Zhou Can.

This drew an exasperated eye roll from Tian Tian, her face turning rather sour.

Dr. Lu, thwarted in his attempt to claim Qiao Yu, was clearly disappointed.

“Qiao Yu, next time you’ll be my assistant!”

He was scheming, already planning to pre-book the next opportunity and get a head start.

“Sorry, my schedule isn’t fixed. Tian Tian and the others are far more skilled. Having them assist you is far better!” Qiao Yu tactfully declined.

A woman with both high EQ and IQ typically uses gentle refusals when turning down unwanted advances.

She would never speak so harshly as to provoke someone.

Some overly aggressive men clearly had issues.

In a fit of indignation, they’d do just about anything.

Qiao Yu and Dr. Lu worked in the same department. Besides worrying about physical harm, she also had to contend with various workplace hassles and potential reprisals.

Dr. Lu’s little schemes had once again been thwarted, and he gave a sheepish smile.

“I admit, I used to be somewhat slothful. But I’m changing—I’ll prove that my surgical skills and talent are no less than Dr. Zhou’s.”

Dr. Lu wasn’t just blowing hot air. He had truly transformed.

His tardiness in the mornings had decreased, and he was now proactive and focused during surgeries.

Everyone could feel the difference these changes made.

It was assumed this guy’s fervor would last only a few days, but he had persisted until now.

It was indeed a surprise.

At this point, surgical patients were already being wheeled into the operating room.

Another tense day of work had begun.

Both Dr. Lu and Zhou Can were in full throttle, performing surgeries with wild, relentless energy. One patient after another was successfully treated.

In terms of speed, Zhou Can, with his refined rapid surgical technique, was even more astonishing than before.

In under three hours, Zhou Can had completed seven Level 1 surgeries.

Dr. Lu managed only four.

The difference was nearly double.

Moreover, all of Dr. Lu’s Level 1 surgeries were extremely low-risk and very simple.

Of Zhou Can’s seven Level 1 surgeries, three were of significant difficulty.

Due to the earlier incident with Jin Mingxi, Dr. Xu hadn’t scheduled any Level 2 surgeries for him today.

Not long ago, Dr. Lu had even declared in front of everyone that he would prove that his surgical aptitude and talent were as good as Zhou Can’s.

Yet Zhou Can had left him far behind—his pressure was immense.

Admittedly, Tian Tian had played her part in that.

Whoever teamed up with Tian Tian was bound to have a rough time.

At that moment, a golden-haired, blue-eyed foreign man was wheeled into the operating room.

Tuyu Medical College was well-known nationwide and led several disciplines in the province, its comprehensive strength unrivaled as the top in the region.

Occasionally, foreign guests would be admitted—by then, most doctors and nurses were unfazed by it.

As China steadily rose to prominence and prospered, more and more foreigners came to work here. Especially in provincial capitals, one could see people of all skin colors.

“What’s wrong with him?”

Dr. Xu paused the surgery and looked up to ask.

“All I know is he injured his arm and knee. According to his colleague, he’s a foreign teacher at a bilingual school who fell off his bicycle.”

A bicycle accident usually isn’t too severe.

Dr. Xu personally checked the wound and examined the X-ray. Thankfully, no bones were broken.

The Emergency Department could handle it.

“Little Zhou, this patient is in your hands now.”

Considering Zhou Can’s steady and meticulous nature, Dr. Xu entrusted the foreign patient to him.

When it came to foreigners, everyone tread carefully—both to avoid a poor international image and to grant them certain privileges, as most government agencies favor them.

It wasn’t out of blind worship of the West but rather an effort to attract more foreign investment and talent to China.

Understood.

“Alright!”

Zhou Can took over the treatment of the foreign patient.

Dr. Lu watched with envy; treating foreign patients was a matter of pride, a significant achievement.

Not only was it prestigious, but it also added to one’s credentials with potential overseas connections.

It might even pave the way for future international opportunities.

Zhou Can remained unfazed, treating the case with his usual calm demeanor.

“Hello, can you speak Chinese?”

Since he was a foreign teacher, he likely had some Chinese proficiency.

“Yes, yes!”

The man nodded repeatedly.

Zhou Can noticed that his body was trembling and his eyes betrayed deep-seated fear.

He couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly—foreigners sure were timid.

It was just a bicycle fall—why be so scared?

Was it really necessary to be this frightened?

“Mr. Chloe, please don’t worry. You haven’t broken any bones. A simple debridement and suturing, and you’ll be on your way,” Zhou Can reassured him.

“Alright! Thank you!”

The man’s body continued to tremble.

Zhou Can observed that a large patch of skin had rubbed off on his arm, the deepest area reaching the dermis.

This didn’t require sutures; just cleaning and bandaging the wound would suffice.

However, the injury on his right knee seemed more serious.

He was wearing athletic shorts, clearly revealing a bleeding gash on his knee that continued to ooze blood.

“Let’s treat his knee first!”

This instruction was directed at Qiao Yu.

But when she brought over the disinfectant for cleaning, the foreign man visibly resisted.

“Mr. Chloe, please don’t be afraid. Cleaning the wound is a necessary procedure. It will reduce the risk of infection and wash away any debris in the wound,”

Zhou Can quickly reassured the man.

“No! No!”

After administering local anesthesia, as he was about to clean the knee wound, the man suddenly screamed.

He even jerked backwards in shock.

This unexpected behavior left Zhou Can rather surprised.

Was he perhaps terrified of the pain associated with cleaning a wound?

“Rest assured, with the anesthesia it won’t hurt,”

Zhou Can patiently soothed him.

Under Zhou Can’s calming influence, the man seemed to settle down a bit.

Yet as Zhou Can prepared to clean the wound again, the man once more resisted, nearly toppling the tray Qiao Yu was holding.