Chapter 133: Tumult at Tuyu Hospital

Zhou Can firmly held the boy’s upper body.

The little boy was wild—screaming, struggling, and the moment Dr. Fu Zhian’s hand moved near his dislocated arm, he would snap viciously.

Kids like him nowadays are spoiled rotten by their parents!

“Dr. Zhang, hold his head; don’t let him bite anyone.”

The young doctor wasn’t as strong as Zhou Can, so having him control the boy’s head was a smart move.

“Both of you, grab one of his legs each to stop him from kicking.”

A female nurse and the boy’s mother each grabbed one leg.

For now, the boy was seated as he underwent treatment.

This was also an ideal position for shoulder reduction.

Once the boy was fully restrained, Dr. Fu Zhian could finally perform the manual reduction.

He grasped the boy’s arm and gently rotated it to relax the shoulder muscles.

Zhou Can watched closely, noting every detail of Dr. Fu Zhian’s technique.

It was identical to the shoulder reduction Dr. Shan had performed in the operating room that day.

After pinpointing the bone alignment, with a sudden force, he pushed the arm upward.

“Crack!”

The shoulder joint was successfully set.

“Ah… it hurts…”

The boy writhed fiercely, his eyes burning with anger.

The boy’s mother, holding his leg, lost her grip or perhaps was overwhelmed by concern, and was thrown backward when he broke free.

The female nurse fared no better.

After escaping their hold, the boy delivered a swift kick to an unsuspecting Dr. Fu Zhian.

Thud!

Fortunately, Dr. Fu Zhian reacted quickly, shielding his lower body with his hand.

Otherwise, that kick might have ended his career—or worse.

“Ugh!”

A pained groan escaped Dr. Fu Zhian.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?”

Zhou Can roared at the boy.

Such a mischievous child was truly a rarity.

After all the doctor did for him, he still went all out.

That kick wasn’t aimed at a safe spot like the knee—it hit the most vulnerable spot of a man.

Absolutely malicious.

If his parents continued spoiling him, he was destined for trouble.

“The child doesn’t know any better, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

The boy’s mother quickly tried to shield him.

“You weren’t injured, were you?”

After ensuring her son was safe, she then asked about Dr. Fu Zhian’s condition.

She feared he might lose his temper and take it out on her child.

“The kid’s kick was pretty heavy!”

Dr. Fu Zhian rolled up his sleeve, revealing a large bruise on the back of his right hand.

He must have broken out in a cold sweat.

Thanks to his quick reflexes, he managed to block the kick; otherwise, the aftermath could have been disastrous.

“When we get home, I’ll definitely teach my son a lesson. He’s normally so well-behaved—maybe he just reached his limit from the pain. Why don’t you get yourself checked first? I’ll cover all the treatment costs.”

The fact that the boy’s mother voluntarily offered to pay showed she was well-mannered.

Her tone was also sincerely apologetic.

It’s baffling how spoiling a child can verge on limitless indulgence.

Dr. Fu Zhian, an orthopedic surgeon, examined his injured hand and decided it wasn’t serious.

He chose to let the matter drop.

After injuring someone with his kick, the boy seemed a bit frightened and hid behind his mother.

Worried that the freshly set shoulder might dislocate again, Dr. Fu Zhian had Zhou Can and Dr. Zhang fit a sling to secure the boy’s arm against his neck.

He also prescribed some medication.

Before leaving, the boy’s mother reluctantly handed over 200 yuan as partial compensation.

And just like that, the little episode was over.

A new patient then entered the manual reduction room.

It was a relatively young woman with a sprained right foot. X-rays revealed only a minor fracture.

The doctor advised her to wait in the manual reduction room for immediate treatment.

Dr. Fu Zhian reviewed her X-ray and recommended manual reduction followed by a plaster cast.

The woman agreed.

However, as Dr. Fu Zhian performed the reduction, a pained expression crossed his face.

“Your right hand was clearly injured by that boy’s kick. If I apply too much force, it might worsen the bruise. How about you guide me from over here while I set the bone and apply the cast?”

Zhou Can stepped forward eagerly to share the task.

“Alright!”

Dr. Fu Zhian made room for him.

The woman’s face hinted at reluctance.

But in a hospital, patients rarely dare to offend a doctor.

Noticing her worries, Dr. Fu Zhian smiled and explained, “Don’t worry—though Dr. Zhang may be young, he’s one of the top talents in our Orthopedics. Your reduction is simple; his work will be just as good as mine.”

In front of patients, doctors and nurses always stick together.

It’s basic professional courtesy.

Publicly undermining each other is unthinkable.

Department heads and hospital management would never allow it.

The woman’s doubts eased, and she accepted the treatment calmly.

Under Dr. Fu Zhian’s guidance, Zhou Can supported the woman’s foot, gently massaging before striking a firm, twisting motion.

“Ouch… it hurts… so much…”

Tears nearly welled up from the pain.

【Bone Setting Experience +1】

Zhou Can silently rejoiced—right on target.

“Good reduction. Dr. Zhang, help me apply the plaster and secure her foot,” he instructed.

Dr. Zhang’s casting technique wasn’t as refined as Zhou Can’s.

Even at best, it only reached a trainee’s standard.

Zhou Can was already at a junior resident level.

Their teamwork made the skill disparity obvious.

Seeing Zhou Can’s flawless plastering technique made Dr. Fu Zhian secretly pleased.

A capable assistant is always a blessing.

Soon, after the patient’s treatment, she departed.

Shortly after, another patient arrived.

This time, it was a dislocated wrist from a motorcycle accident.

Zhou Can eagerly took charge again, and with Dr. Fu Zhian’s guidance, after three attempts he successfully set the wrist.

The intricate wrist joint’s bone structure made it as challenging as setting an ankle.

For a novice like Zhou Can to achieve success in just three tries was impressive.

【Bone Setting Experience +1】

【First High-Difficulty Wrist Joint Bone Setting Experience Bonus +10】

【Congratulations! Your Bone Setting Skill has advanced to Level 2】

Zhou Can never expected to reach Level 2 so quickly.

After being sidelined by Director Xie earlier, sneaking into the reduction room turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

It was the perfect opportunity to push his bone setting skill past Level 3.

Any medical technique needs to at least reach Level 3 before it’s safe to use on patients.

Usually, interns and trainees are advised to observe more and practice with models at home.

For instance, bone setting can be practiced on dedicated skeletal models.

After advancing to Level 2, Zhou Can made great strides in both theory and practical skills.

He was confident that next time, he could achieve a perfect wrist reduction. Reviewing his previous attempts, he noted every minor flaw.

“Dr. Fu, does his case require external fixation?”

“It’s just a joint displacement; once reduced, external fixation isn’t needed.”

Dr. Fu Zhian was quite satisfied with Zhou Can’s performance.

“I’ll prescribe some medication to strengthen your bones. Just follow the instructions. Also, avoid lifting heavy objects or strenuous movements with this hand for a month or two to prevent another dislocation.”

He explained the precautions to the patient.

The patient nodded, committing the instructions to memory.

Tuyu Hospital’s daily caseload was immense.

Patients kept arriving, shoulder to shoulder.

Zhou Can was overjoyed to be learning bone setting techniques from Dr. Fu Zhian in the reduction room.

Sometimes, after a few challenging cases or after treating a couple of patients, Zhou Can would even volunteer to let Dr. Zhang take over so that he wouldn’t hog all the benefits.

His humble and eager attitude made him a favorite among Dr. Fu Zhian and Dr. Zhang.

Especially for Dr. Fu Zhian, who was impressed by how quickly the trainee advanced.

He often explained key points of the reduction technique, which Zhou Can grasped immediately, unlike Dr. Zhang, who struggled a bit more with insight.

However, Dr. Zhang, with his postgraduate education and deep knowledge of human anatomy, greatly benefited Zhou Can with theoretical guidance.

Zhou Can held Dr. Zhang in high regard.

Before he knew it, it was past noon.

Patients were endless.

The working hours of the reduction room coincided with the outpatient department, and the break was from 12:00 to 13:30.

“Everyone, go have lunch and take a break!”

Dr. Fu Zhian’s hand still sported a bruise, which later meant he couldn’t perform reductions personally.

“I need to buy some ointment— that kid nearly finished me off with his kick. Kids these days are just too spoiled by their parents.”

Shaking his head, he was the first to leave.

The nurses were the last to depart.

Zhou Can originally planned to have lunch with Dr. Zhang in the cafeteria,

but it seemed the young doctor deliberately avoided him.

Claiming he needed to use the restroom, Dr. Zhang vanished in the blink of an eye.

Self-preservation is human nature.

Zhou Can didn’t blame him.

Since being transferred to the outpatient side of Orthopedics, Dr. Zhang hadn’t been given any specific tasks.

Anyone with a bit of insight could tell: everyone kept their distance during off-hours to avoid trouble.

It was just smart survival.

After finishing his meal, Zhou Can had nowhere to go.

So he returned to the Orthopedics outpatient area to glance through some medical texts on his phone.

Given his sensitive position, staying in the doctors’ office would only create awkwardness.

Offending the higher-ups had severe consequences.

A mere display of disfavor from a superior would cause colleagues to shun you immediately.

“Hmm? Why hasn’t that woman been admitted?”

As Zhou Can entered the Orthopedics waiting area, he noticed the woman from the mountains sitting alone in the lounge.

“Wei Fang, have you had lunch?”

Zhou Can asked.

Though she looked like she was in her thirties, she was only twenty-one—quite young.

Women in the mountains often appeared older due to harsh living conditions, constant sun exposure, and strenuous farm work.

In contrast, women in big cities, who could afford proper care, might look half their age even into their fifties.

Wei Fang’s features were undeniably plain, far from being described as beautiful.

“No!”

She shook her head at Zhou Can.

“By the way, you still haven’t returned the lunch money you gave me earlier.”

She held out two crumpled banknotes in her left hand.

Clearly, she had been holding onto them for a while.

Was she waiting here all along just to repay Zhou Can?

“It’s just lunch money, don’t worry about it. Consider it my treat,”

Zhou Can refused to accept it.

He wasn’t short on money, and the poor woman probably struggled financially.

“You’re too kind, thank you. If you ever visit my hometown, I’ll treat you to the best food we have,” she said.

Seeing his firm refusal, she didn’t push further.

It was apparent that moving even her hand triggered pain from a broken rib.

“Have you completed the admission formalities?”

Zhou Can asked.

“Not yet. My surgery costs over 200,000 yuan—it’s far too expensive. I planned to go home and recuperate. I was waiting here to return the lunch money to you since I couldn’t find you anywhere,”

she explained. For her, 200,000 yuan was astronomical.

“Your injury is severe—you can’t just let it be, or it might lead to disability. Do you understand?”

Zhou Can saw these situations every day—a lack of funds or the high cost forcing families to forgo treatment.

Some children, hearing that treatment can cost tens of thousands, even request doctors to pull the plug immediately.

It’s a mix of helplessness and self-interest.

A mother of seven simply cannot afford the expense.

“Dr. Zhou, thank you for your concern. I really can’t come up with that kind of money. Dr. Chi mentioned that with proper rest, my fracture won’t be life-threatening,”

she said as she struggled to stand up.

“Goodbye!”

With her injuries weighing her down, she headed for the exit.

Zhou Can felt a pang of sorrow watching her.

Over 200,000 yuan—if she could muster that, it might work,

but she was a stranger to him. He wasn’t a savior; the hospital had too many patients to help them all.

Then a thought struck him.

“Wei Fang, wait up!”

She turned back weakly, looking at him.

“Do you need something?”

“What would you say if I advanced your treatment fees and, once you recover, you serve as a bodyguard for my girlfriend? Of course, the cost would be slowly deducted from your salary each month.”

Zhou Can, a man of tough experience, could tell that although she hadn’t formally trained, her physical strength was excellent.

Surviving an attack by a wild boar proved her mettle—she was incredibly capable.

A fully grown wild boar could scare off even the largest northeastern tiger.

The world’s top boxing champions are formidable, but in the presence of a tiger, they’re just snacks.

So never assume humans can outrun beasts.

Under normal circumstances, a single gray wolf could easily take down an adult man.

Zhou Can had long thought of hiring a bodyguard for his girlfriend.

Male guards were plenty strong, but he feared infidelity might rear its ugly head.

It was best to prevent problems before they started.

A female bodyguard was ideal. Security companies do train them, though costs are steep.

This mountain girl was an excellent candidate.

Her actions indicated she was pure, kind, and filial—qualities rarely found lacking regardless of gender.

Plus, she seemed quite agile.

Hiring her to protect Su Qianqian would be an excellent choice.

“I… I’ve got to take care of my grandmother, so I can’t be too far from home,”

she admitted, clearly moved by Zhou Can’s proposal.

At just over twenty, if given the choice, who would want to risk becoming disabled?

“Don’t worry. We can bring your grandmother to the city. That way, you can work and still care for her,”

Zhou Can said, waiting for her decision.

After a moment of thought, she finally resolved,

“Could you pay me a monthly salary of 3,000 yuan? City life is expensive—I’m afraid I won’t be able to support my grandmother otherwise.”

“Work hard and I’ll pay you a base salary of 5,000 yuan, with bonuses on top,”

Zhou Can said with a smile.

Since childhood, he had absorbed techniques from his parents on managing people.

For example, if you plan to offer 10,000 yuan in wages, the basic pay should not exceed 5,000, with the remaining 5,000 as performance bonuses.

This incentivizes employees to work diligently.

“That’s great! I agree,”

she exclaimed happily at the prospect of earning 5,000 yuan a month.

Money really does have a way of making people happy.

Not many can resist its allure.

“But… I’ve never been a bodyguard. What if I mess up and you end up losing your money?” she worried.

“The fact that you’re thinking about this shows you’re honest and kind. Don’t worry—I can teach you everything. As long as you learn and work hard, you’ll be fine,”

Zhou Can reassured her.

Seeing her agreement, he quickly drafted a contract, having her sign and stamp it.

Then, he advanced her treatment fees and arranged for a caregiver so she could be admitted.

……

Days passed by steadily.

After being admitted, Zhou Can sweet-talked Chief Resident Shen into swiftly finalizing her surgical plan. The next day, the surgery was performed by Chief Resident Shen, assisted by a Cardiothoracic surgeon.

Fortunately, the surgery was a resounding success.

Her recovery progressed rapidly.

Zhou Can’s learning in the Orthopedics outpatient area had been very fruitful.

His bone setting experience skyrocketed.

He learned a wealth about reducing fractures, dislocations, and spinal corrections.

Originally, he thought sixteen days would suffice to reach Level 3 in bone setting, but in less than five days, he soared to Level 3—real junior doctor level.

Dr. Fu Zhian, impressed by his quick progress and versatile reduction techniques,

even considered him more skilled than Dr. Zhang at times.

As a result, he granted Zhou Can more hands-on practice opportunities.

By closing his shift on the eighth day, Zhou Can had successfully completed bone setting on twenty-three patients.

Sometimes, after reducing a fracture, he earned an extra point in external fixation experience.

Director Xie’s previous criticisms ended up becoming a blessing in disguise.

“Dr. Zhou, at this rate, in just a month you’ll be able to handle nearly all bone setting procedures independently. You are the most naturally talented doctor I’ve ever seen,”

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A few days ago, due to an injured hand, Dr. Fu Zhian had avoided heavy lifting.

Most reductions were then entrusted to Zhou Can or Dr. Zhang.

Over these days, Zhou Can’s progress had not gone unnoticed.

Having such a capable assistant lightened Dr. Fu Zhian’s burden immensely.

Just then, Zhou Can’s phone rang.

Glancing at the screen, he saw it was Director Lou from the Emergency Department.

“Hello, Director Lou!”

Zhou Can, who respected him deeply, replied.

“Come to the Administration Office immediately,”

Director Lou instructed in an urgent tone.

Although his nature was always a bit impatient,

Zhou Can said, “Okay, I’ll be right there.”

Puzzled, Zhou Can wondered why he was being summoned to the Administration Office.

In his mind, that place was very high-ranking; not even an attending physician, let alone a trainee, usually ventured there.

Meeting a hospital executive in person was enough to make one’s knees weak.

The Medical Department was more like a local government office, but the Administration Office felt like a central command.

Although both were under the hospital director, their functions and divisions were entirely different.

One thing was certain—trouble was unavoidable when summoned there. Once there, the reason would be clear.