Chapter 454: A Stand for Safety

Over two hours later, Zhou Can finally stepped out of the operating room.

Nurse He Juan had been rushed to the ICU for further intensive care.

The surgery was a clear success, but the number of damaged organs was high, with intestinal contents contaminating the abdominal cavity and massive blood loss requiring heavy transfusion. The odds of postoperative complications were alarmingly high.

If too many complications arise or she develops an infection in the abdominal cavity afterward, it could easily turn deadly.

Whether she makes it through this most fragile period of her life depends on her own strength and fortune.

But there were two things worth hoping for. First, all the major blood vessels and wound repair were done by Zhou Can himself. His surgical skills were renowned, and in the midst of the emergency, he’d entered a state of effortless focus. The procedure had gone exceptionally well.

Every wound he handled stood a high chance of full recovery.

All the blood vessels he’d sutured were flowing smoothly without narrowing, clotting, or leaking. The wounds he cleaned and stitched were top-notch—the healing time would be shorter and infection risk much lower.

Second, her will to live was fierce. With a child at home waiting for her return, she had a powerful reason to hold on.

Medicine is full of miracles, and they’re often tied to belief.

For instance, there was once a comatose patient the doctors had nearly given up on. But then her son kept playing recordings of her grandson speaking with his grandmother by her bedside. Miraculously, the patient eventually woke up.

Or during certain rescue situations, especially complicated childbirths, husbands are allowed in to cheer their wives on, boosting their resolve.

All to provide the mother with a wellspring of faith and willpower.

When Zhou Can returned to the Emergency Department, he felt like a ghost—utterly drained.

Every time he pictured the scene—the family member viciously stabbing the nurse while two security guards stood watching, even backing away—anger blazed in his chest.

Even though things had been cleaned up and the Emergency Department mostly returned to its routine, the terror still lingered on every healthcare worker’s face.

When dealing with families or patients, everyone tiptoed around them.

No one dared say the wrong thing, worried a simple misunderstanding in treatment would have someone suddenly pull out a blade.

Instead of going to the OR, Zhou Can walked straight to the Chief’s office.

He knew he couldn’t stay silent anymore—this kind of tragedy would only keep happening.

He knocked on the Chief’s door.

“Back already, Zhou? How’s He Juan doing?”

Director Lou asked.

“The surgery’s done. She’s in intensive care now. I honestly don’t know if she’ll make it through the danger period.” Zhou Can’s tone was grim.

“Let’s hope she pulls through! Now, get back to the OR—there are plenty of patients waiting.” Director Lou waved him off, weary. All these violent incidents were putting enormous pressure on him as department head.

But Zhou Can didn’t move. He just stared straight at Director Lou.

“Something else on your mind?”

Director Lou’s voice was gentle.

“This tragedy is our wake-up call—we can’t stay silent anymore,” Zhou Can said, his tone resolute and eyes unwavering.

He looked like a man set in stone, impossible to sway.

“What are you planning?” Director Lou narrowed his eyes, his expression turning serious.

“I want to call on everyone in the Emergency Department to strike, to protest to hospital leadership and demand an immediate solution. If nothing’s done, today it could be Ye Tingting or He Juan, tomorrow it might be any one of us.”

Zhou Can wasn’t just speaking for himself, but for everyone in the Emergency Department.

In fact, it was a voice for all frontline clinical staff.

“Zhou, the causes behind doctor-patient conflict are complicated. The hospital has been trying to fix things—for example, when the Medical Department receives patient complaints, they immediately dock doctors’ or nurses’ pay without even investigating. It’s a tactic to push clinical staff to improve service awareness. But that’s just how things are right now, and it’s not something you or I can change overnight.”

Director Lou’s perspective was much broader than Zhou Can’s.

After Zhou Can protested last time about the Medical Department docking pay without cause, the hospital had already addressed it.

Back then, he’d only seen things from the front-line perspective.

It’s true—the Medical Department had over-corrected, taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

Now things were a bit more fair.

This benefited staff, patients, and families alike.

“At the very least, we can protest the security’s inaction. Healthcare workers deserve basic safety.” That was the issue that angered Zhou Can most.

He couldn’t help wondering who in Security had so much pull.

The way they kept stringing Emergency along was maddening.

“Beyond that, by putting the issue of medical staff safety in the spotlight, we’ll force hospital leaders and even higher-ups to take it seriously and make improvements. Only then will doctors and nurses ever feel safe—and then patient care can move forward. Otherwise, everyone will turn to defensive medicine as their main work style.”

He meant every word.

He genuinely wanted to do something for his colleagues.

“Go back to work for now. I’ll discuss this with Han later. After work tonight, we’ll decide. My feeling is, keep the impact low if possible. If it blows up, it might affect your career.”

Director Lou sounded worried.

“If they punish us, it won’t be the whole crowd—just whoever leads. I’ll take the risk this time. Let me be the lightning rod!” Zhou Can wasn’t concerned for his future.

He was already financially secure. Medicine was a passion for him now.

Whether he got promoted didn’t matter at all.

“Nonsense! You’re our backbone in the Emergency Department—we can’t let you be the sacrificial pawn! Remember, you represent more than yourself. You carry the department’s future with you.”

For once, Director Lou lost his temper.

He smacked the table, stood up, and glared at Zhou Can fiercely.

There was love in his anger.

He’d put a lot of hope into Zhou Can. Ever since Zhou was first chosen for Emergency, Lou had placed his trust in him.

Every year, the Emergency Department brought in a couple of comprehensive trainees—most switched jobs after training. Director Lou hardly batted an eye.

But not with Zhou Can.

For example, when Zhou trained in Orthopedics and was bullied by Director Xie, Lou personally stepped in—even sparring with Deputy Director Ye for Zhou’s sake.

That kind of move surely infuriated Director Xie.

But he didn’t hesitate for a moment.

Unless he highly valued Zhou Can, why stick his neck out like that?

None of the department’s other trainees ever got this treatment. A little help behind the scenes was already rare.

Now Zhou wanted to put himself on the line. How could Lou not worry?

“I’m not being reckless. Sometimes, someone just has to stand up. I never wanted to play the hero—if it was up to me, I’d keep my head down forever. But watching Ye Tingting collapse before my eyes and seeing He Juan stabbed again and again while security did nothing—I can’t stay quiet. Yes, my future matters, so does the department’s, but if our basic safety isn’t protected, how can Emergency ever grow stronger?”

His words struck Director Lou like a hammer.

Lou fell silent, deeply affected.

“It’s peak outpatient and emergency hours right now. Get back to work. After five-thirty, we’ll discuss this.”

Director Lou waved him away.

He looked exhausted—a mountain of problems still waited for him.

And now his strongest ally was about to lead a strike. Zhou’s question had shaken his soul and his conscience.

It brought out the sense of justice in his heart too.

…

At five-thirty sharp that evening, Zhou Can clocked out right on time.

He posted directly in the Emergency Department work group: “How many times can we watch tragic violence against medical staff go unchecked? The hospital security stands by and watches. I’ll be the first to strike and protest this. I demand the hospital solve it now and guarantee clinical staff’s safety.”

Posting this in the group was putting action before discussion.

Not even Dr. Xu was told in advance.

“Dr. Zhou, you have guts! I’ve had enough of living in fear every day. I’ll join you in the strike.”

“Count me in!”

“Where should we gather? There’s strength in numbers. We have to stand together!”

…

It was after work, and Zhou’s words hit the nerve everyone cared most about.

The chat instantly flooded with replies.

Not even five minutes later, Director Lou called directly.

“Zhou, what on earth are you doing? I told you not to be rash! Now you’ve said this in the group, I can’t protect you no matter what…”

He sounded both anxious and furious.

Zhou’s boldness surprised even him.

Zhou acted so fast, he never even gave Lou the chance to shield him.

“You and Dr. Xu have always cared for me—let me stand up for Emergency this time. If the hospital still won’t act, or tries to crush me instead, then this place is rotten to the core.”

He didn’t say more.

If Tuyu Hospital was so careless with its staff’s lives, it wasn’t worth staying.

He’d only grow more bitter the longer he stayed.

The hospital could never truly thrive with this attitude.

As unfair as the world is, Zhou knew there were better places for him.

A smart bird always finds the right tree—there’s no need to settle.

“You—you really don’t play by the rules! Wait in the emergency hall!”

With that, Lou hung up.

Just as he ended the call, Deputy Director Han posted in the group: “All medical staff who support the strike and protest, assemble in the emergency hall now. You can write your own banners.”

Zhou Can froze for a second, then realized what was happening.

Apparently, Lou and Han had been discussing the strike all along—Zhou just happened to be the first to act.

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No wonder Dr. Xu hurried off right after surgery.

She was probably rushing to join the meeting too.

Director Lou stayed quiet in the group and let Deputy Director Han make the announcement. That’s the subtlety between being chief and deputy.

The head’s stance is often constrained from all sides.

Deputies are much less restricted.

When Zhou arrived at the emergency hall, only a handful of patients remained—most had already been seen.

Still, the ED never truly quieted down. Even at night, some urgent cases would always arrive.

Soon as he walked in, more and more staff joined him.

Deputy Director Han hurried in with a handful of protest banners.

“Of course you’re the eager one. Here—you hold the flag!” Han shot Zhou a mock glare, but his eyes were full of care, with a bit of helplessness underneath.

Zhou hesitated, then took it.

No way those banners were made so quickly—they must’ve prepared in advance. Which meant Lou and the others had started seriously planning for a strike.

Zhou gave a small, wry smile.

He realized he was still young after all.

More and more staff began gathering.

“Zhou, you really are both a joy and a headache. Next time, control your impulses, will you?” Head Nurse Niu Lan had joined the protest and stood beside him at the front.

“Sorry for making you veterans worry. I promise I’ll keep my impulsive side in check.”

He said it, but inside, he didn’t really plan to change.

Old habits die hard.

Logic can only go so deep—passion is in the bones.

“Look at you, all lip service. I know you’re impossible to talk out of this. Once leadership arrives, don’t say anything rash. Us old-timers haven’t fallen yet—we don’t need you charging into the line of fire for us. Higher-ups might show too.”

Head Nurse Niu Lan wasn’t actually that old—just forty-seven or forty-eight.

Her calling herself an old-timer just showed how tough nursing was.

Most nurses over thirty-five switched jobs or moved to the sidelines. The heavy workload and pressure were just too much.

Qiao Yu and Ma Xiaolan silently joined Zhou at his back.

Yang Zhi showed up too.

Even Luo Shishen, who’d already finished her internship, rushed over to join when she heard.

Everyone followed their own conscience.

When someone leads the charge for everyone, anyone with a sense of justice will follow and show support.

Director Lou and Dr. Xu stayed behind the scenes.

One was the chief, the other recently in trouble—both with sensitive positions.

So they didn’t openly join the protest.

Most likely, they were supporting things from behind the curtain.

Without Lou’s approval, those banners would have been halted before they ever got made.

Sometimes, success requires brains and careful planning.