Chapter 429: Trouble in the Ward

This wasn’t the first time.

Ever since the Emergency Department started admitting patients to the inpatient ward, Zhou Can had uncovered more than a dozen cases where problems cropped up after Dr. Lu’s surgeries.

Postoperative complications were part of the game.

But with numbers this high? Honestly, it was a little alarming.

If things kept heading this way, it was just a matter of time before something went seriously wrong.

With a dark look clouding his face, Zhou Can walked out of the ward and straight to the nurse station.

“Ting, call Dr. Lu. The patient in bed 11 is complaining of bloating, abdominal pain, and has a fever. My first thought is a postoperative wound infection. Tell him to come deal with it.”

Zhou Can had covered for Dr. Lu a few times before.

But this time, enough was enough.

Dr. Lu needed to clean up his own mess.

Ye Tingting kept an eye on Zhou Can and noticed the stormy look on his face, so she didn’t ask any questions. She just pulled out the doctor duty roster and dialed Dr. Lu’s number.

The first call went unanswered.

“Maybe he didn’t hear it, or his phone’s on silent. No one picked up!”

Ye Tingting reported back to Zhou Can.

“Call again. And send him a message.”

Zhou Can’s tone was icy.

Normally, clinical doctors are supposed to keep their phones on twenty-four-seven. Whether it’s the middle of a freezing winter’s night or not, if there’s an emergency you have to crawl out of bed and rush to the hospital to help.

If you miss a call, you really can’t justify it.

Ye Tingting dialed again. The young nurse beside her quickly sent a text message update to Dr. Lu.

Three calls later, someone finally picked up.

Ye Tingting explained the situation to Dr. Lu.

“He says he can’t make it right now and wants you to take the call,” Ye Tingting looked at Zhou Can.

Zhou Can reached for the phone.

“Dr. Lu, this situation is pretty dangerous. You really need to get here and handle it yourself. Abdominal pain, bloating, and a fever—this could be peritonitis, and you can’t take that lightly.”

He made sure Dr. Lu understood how severe this was.

“It’s not that serious, is it? The patient was only stabbed in the abdomen, didn’t hit the intestines. I double-checked during surgery. Besides, Dr. Fu Chachun was there when we checked the abdominal cavity.”

Dr. Lu didn’t sound bothered in the slightest.

He even dragged Dr. Fu Chachun into it.

Zhou Can had spelled things out, but instead of dealing with it, Dr. Lu’s first reaction was to dodge responsibility.

Some people just never change.

“Dr. Zhou, I don’t think it’s a big deal. You’re so capable—why not handle it for me? I really can’t get away right now!”

On Dr. Lu’s end, Zhou Can could hear a young woman whining dramatically.

Through the phone, someone was calling for Lu: “Qingyuan, hurry up! We’re waiting for you to sing!”

Then the phone went suddenly quiet.

Clearly, Dr. Lu had muted it to talk to the woman.

This guy was obviously out having fun somewhere like a karaoke bar. No wonder he ignored the calls.

Doctors have their own time after work. Spending an evening at KTV isn’t a crime.

But if your patient’s in danger and you still put having fun first? That’s just disgraceful.

“Dr. Zhou, I’m busy here—gotta go! Please watch the patient for me, I’ll treat you to dinner next time, bye!”

Before Zhou Can could say a word, the call was cut off.

Zhou Can was so furious he nearly smashed the phone.

What kind of person does this?

“That bastard doesn’t care about his patient’s life. Don’t blame me for what comes next.”

Zhou Can’s face was thunderous.

“Ting, keep a close eye on the patient in bed 11. I’m going to report this up the chain. The patient’s at high risk, and things could turn dangerous real fast.”

“Okay, I’ll check his vital signs right now.”

Usually, Ye Tingting didn’t look after inpatient wards. She was busy most of the time in the observation area or in the resuscitation room.

But with Zhou Can giving a clear order, she didn’t dare slack off and hurried to the ward to check the patient.

Normally, it was the nurse’s job to monitor ward patients’ vital signs.

Any irregularities, and the nurse on duty would immediately inform the doctor.

Of course, for things like a swollen IV site or something small, the nurse would handle it—no need to bother the doctor.

Zhou Can then called Dr. Xu.

“Teacher, I need to report something…”

He laid out the situation for Dr. Xu.

He really wasn’t trying to snitch on Dr. Lu. He’d given him his chance. But since this wasn’t the first time, if Dr. Lu wouldn’t change, let harsh workplace competition take its course.

“Okay, I’ll handle it.”

With that, Dr. Xu hung up.

…

Zhou Can headed over to the Cardiothoracic Surgery department to help with a procedure.

They only had one major level-4 surgery scheduled for the day, so the timing wasn’t too tight.

Still, it was a complex case and the surgery would be a real challenge for the department.

Tough, complicated surgeries like this one come with sky-high risks.

The success rate for these procedures is usually under eighty percent—even for surgical teams with plenty of experience. For less seasoned teams, the odds are way lower.

Many patients don’t really grasp this. They assume that the risk statement in the consent form is just a formality, and everyone signs it before surgery.

Nothing but a routine box to check.

But in reality, signing that consent form is like handing your life over to the medical team. Especially the chief surgeon—inside the operating room, they quite literally decide the fate of the patient.

One wrong call from the chief surgeon during a crisis can put a patient’s life on the line.

Even in big hospitals like Tuyu, patients dying on the operating table or shortly after surgery happens all the time.

Any hospital capable of carrying out level-3 or level-4 surgeries can’t always prevent deaths.

So the surgery consent really isn’t just a form—it signals the very real risk in the operating room.

For the patient, every surgery is like walking through the gates of hell and back.

But Zhou Can left that matter alone.

After he finished assisting in surgery, he noticed several missed calls—all from Dr. Lu.

He didn’t have Dr. Lu as a WeChat contact. If anything came up, they used the phone.

Not everyone deserved to be on his friends list.

And as for giving patients his personal number? That was a strict no-go.

Some really strange patients would text or call in the middle of the night with bizarre questions, or even demand that the doctor make house calls.

Zhou Can had always guarded his personal contact info carefully.

Plenty of young doctors in the department didn’t know better and got burned by this. Giving out your personal number might seem kind—so patients can quickly check in if something changes at home.

But a good deed doesn’t always bring good results.

Most patients only think about their own interests and can’t imagine what it’s like for doctors.

Doctors work themselves ragged every day, drowning in pressure, and still have to answer endless questions from patients. If they’re in surgery or sleeping and don’t reply right away, some patients will lash out at them.

Some doctors can’t take it and just block those patients.

But do you think that solves anything?

No chance.

You’re just asking for trouble.

The patient then calls the Medical Department or higher-ups and complains: “That doctor is so irresponsible. My stomach was killing me, I asked what to do, but had to wait all night for an answer. I’d be dead if I weren’t tough enough.”

Then that doctor’s really in for it.

According to hospital rules, a complaint means a fine—at least fifty yuan each time.

Most hospital management has a zero-tolerance policy nowadays—a complaint is a complaint, and the fine comes down right away, no matter the circumstances.

If a doctor tries to defend themselves, the Medical Department’s officials shoot them right down with “Why would the patient complain about you and not someone else?”

So never give your personal number to patients lightly.

And don’t treat patients like family.

Otherwise, you’ll learn the hard way just what disappointment tastes like.

Glancing at the time, Zhou Can saw it was almost eleven. This surgery had lasted about three and a half hours.

Dr. Lu had called at around 7:40 twice, again a little after eight, and once just before nine.

After getting no answer, Dr. Lu even sent a text.

“You’re something else!”

Just four words, but dripping with resentment.

Clearly, Dr. Lu was mad Zhou Can had reported him to Dr. Xu—probably got chewed out for it and now wanted to take it out on Zhou Can.

Better to offend an honest person than a petty one.

Things between Zhou Can and Dr. Lu had gotten tense in the past over Qiao Yu. After Zhou Can’s career took off though, Dr. Lu had to swallow his pride.

Ever since Zhou Can officially returned to the Emergency Department, Dr. Lu’s attitude toward him had been nothing but polite.

But all petty people have the same trait.

Smiles and compliments when things are fine, sweet words and little gifts, always appearing friendly.

But the moment their interests are threatened or there’s something big at stake—if they see you as competition, they’ll turn on you in a heartbeat.

Thankfully, Zhou Can wasn’t some naïve rookie. Thanks to his parents’ guidance, he’d long ago learned just how rough the world could be.

When it came to Dr. Lu, he always kept things polite but superficial.

They did work together in the same department, after all.

Plus, with Dr. Lu buttering him up day in and day out, Zhou Can heard so many empty compliments, his ears practically went numb.

It’s hard to hit someone who’s always smiling.

So things had always remained cordial between them.

This time, Dr. Lu flying off the handle just meant he thought Zhou Can shouldn’t have reported him.

Zhou Can ignored the message and didn’t bother calling back.

Let him stew. People like that would dig their own graves eventually.

On the drive home, Dr. Lu tried calling again. If Zhou Can didn’t answer, the guy would probably call until midnight.

“Dr. Lu, what’s up?”

Zhou Can’s voice was flat.

“Oh, I see. Just over such a tiny thing, you went tattling to Dr. Xu! I told you I had an emergency and asked you to help. You could’ve just left it at that, but instead you ratted me out—never met a sneak like you in my life…”

Dr. Lu opened up with a tirade.

“Your so-called emergency was chasing women?”

Zhou Can cut in, firing the question back.

Busted, Dr. Lu wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. In fact, he doubled down: “So what if I was? We’re all men here. Don’t act like you’re some saint. You’ve got a girlfriend at home, but you’re still tangled up with Qiao Yu. I’ve even heard you and Yang Chan in Obstetrics have a thing going on. You’re not fit to judge me. Everyone’s just as bad. I finally had a chance to win this girl over tonight, but you ruined it. You really are a piece of work, you know that?”

When it came to arguing, hardly anyone could top Dr. Lu.

He was just pure self-interest—he saw—he thought—everything only from his perspective, never caring about anyone else.

“Anything else, Dr. Lu?”

Zhou Can really had no interest in trading insults and let it drop before it spoiled his mood.

He was already ready to hang up.

“Don’t think you’re all that just because you’re good with a scalpel and Dr. Xu appreciates you. Let me tell you, pride comes before a fall. Don’t fly too close to the sun.”

With that, Dr. Lu hung up first.

What could Zhou Can say? He’d just been cussed out by a jerk.

But Zhou Can didn’t take it to heart. From now on, best to steer clear of Dr. Lu.

For the next three days, whenever Zhou Can ran into Dr. Lu in the Emergency Department, Dr. Lu kept his face blank, all warmth gone.

All the better. Not having to deal with people like him was a blessing for Zhou Can.

On the fourth day, Zhou Can arrived at work and checked on the patient undergoing maggot therapy first.

The dead tissue had been completely cleaned away.

Miraculously, the wound wasn’t reinfected and had started to heal.

The patient’s vital signs were stable. Eating and bowel movements were all normal.

Zhou Can was truly delighted—soon, this patient could recover and be discharged.

This case also made him realize the wonders of nature. Sometimes nature itself can bring surprising results when treating illness.

The reporter, Mu Qing, now showed up in the ward every day.

She kept filming the patient’s progress. Apparently, the hospital had reached some kind of agreement with her.

As for the details, Zhou Can didn’t know.

“Dr. Zhou, when do you think this patient can be discharged?”

Mu Qing asked about the patient’s status.

“Sorry, can’t comment.”

Zhou Can gave her a cold look and moved on to the next bed.

“Hey, is that any way to treat a TV reporter? Where’s your gentlemanly spirit? And by the way—the hospital gave me clearance for this interview. The patient and family approved too. If you won’t cooperate, how am I supposed to finish the story?”

But Mu Qing didn’t get mad at his attitude.

She understood why Zhou Can kept giving her the cold shoulder.

He just wanted to protect patient privacy.

“Big-shot reporter, my job is to treat patients as best I can—not to help with your interviews. If you need answers, talk to the Medical Department or the Publicity Office.”

After quickly finishing rounds, Zhou Can headed for the exit.

It wasn’t really about privacy, though. He just wanted to keep Mu Qing at arm’s length—put any idea of romance out of her mind.

For some reason, Mu Qing had always been fascinated by Zhou Can.

Since they’d met, she’d pop up in his life from time to time.

Some women approach romance with their heads.

Take Qiao Yu, for instance—she kept her feelings under tight control and never made things hard for Zhou Can.

Yang Chan was rational, too.

She’d always been frosty around Zhou Can, but lately she seemed to have thawed out—a lot friendlier every time they met.

Whatever the case, neither Qiao Yu nor Yang Chan ever caused problems for Zhou Can.

But Mu Qing did.

She was like a wildfire—give her even a hint of interest and she’d stick to him like glue.

“Hold up!”

Mu Qing chased after him, out of the ward.

“What more do you want me to say, reporter? Please, let me go! I’m just a small-time doctor and I’ve got my hands full—I really don’t have time for interviews.”

Staring at the beautiful reporter blocking the way, Zhou Can couldn’t help but feel exasperated.