Chapter 52: Critical Moments in the Emergency Room

For a man, the pain of an injured testicle can be as excruciating as childbirth.

According to the WHO, pain is classified into five levels, from level 0 to level 4.

Childbirth, heavy blows to male vital organs, burns… all of these injuries rate a level 4 pain.

Dr. Xu carefully reviewed the X-rays and performed further tests on the patient, eventually ruling out testicular rupture or dislocation.

Fortunately, it was merely a hematoma and a blunt trauma injury.

No surgery was necessary; medication and further observation would suffice.

In that respect, the difference between the on-call doctor and Dr. Xu was stark. Even setting aside surgical skills, Dr. Xu’s diagnostic acumen far surpassed that of the on-call doctor.

The patient was quickly transferred out.

Only one patient remained.

This was an eleven- or twelve-year-old boy who had a cut on his left eyebrow. Although the bleeding had stopped, his left forehead was severely swollen, and his left eye had been narrowed to a slit.

Despite his injuries, the boy was remarkably mature—he neither cried nor fussed.

Under the guidance of a nurse, he obediently made his way to the operating table.

“Good boy, you’re so well-behaved! Come over to see Grandpa the Doctor!”

Dr. Xu beckoned the boy with gentle words, his eyes warm and kind, a soft smile gracing his face.

This was a far cry from his usual strict and aloof demeanor.

The boy timidly stopped about two meters in front of him, silently bowing his head and staring at the floor.

“Don’t be afraid! Let me check your injury,” he reassured.

Dr. Xu stepped closer, bending slightly to examine the boy’s wound.

He wiggled three fingers before the boy’s left eye.

“Can you see them?”

“Yes!”

The boy responded in an almost inaudible whisper.

“Show me the X-rays,” Dr. Xu instructed.

The nurse quickly handed the examination bag to him.

He scrutinized the images carefully.

“Oh dear, the left orbital ridge is fractured—thankfully, the eyeball remains unharmed.”

The skull mainly exists to protect vital organs like the brain, cerebellum, and brainstem.

Eyes are far more fragile than we imagine; any damage to the cornea, vitreous humor, or optic nerve might lead to blindness.

“Zhou Can, explain your treatment plan,” Dr. Xu requested.

After completing his examination, Dr. Xu suddenly sought Zhou Can’s diagnostic opinion.

“It’s simple—reconstruct the eyebrow bone and suture it up!”

Dr. Lu eagerly chimed in.

Perhaps sensing the threat of being overshadowed by the newcomer, Dr. Lu suddenly became more proactive.

But his enthusiasm was rather odd.

Typically, a doctor would focus on studying and diligently improving his medical skills.

Yet he chose the dumbest tactic—rushing to show off and claim credit.

Such individuals exist in every workplace; those who don’t work hard yet constantly fantasize about impossible promotions, feeling bitter when others succeed.

They always believe the leadership is unfair.

Zhou Can replied calmly, “I believe the fracture in the left eyebrow bone is not severe. Children recover quickly; given the short timeframe, we can forgo addressing the fracture. A simple debridement and skin suture will do.”

Repairing the eyebrow bone isn’t as straightforward as one might think.

If the eye were to be injured,

the risk would far outweigh the benefit.

“Jin Mingxi, what’s your take?”

After listening to both Zhou Can and Dr. Lu’s suggestions, Dr. Xu remained impassive.

His gaze then shifted to Jin Mingxi.

“I lean towards Zhou Can’s plan, but we must ensure the fracture isn’t compressing the optic nerve. If it is, intervention becomes necessary. Additionally, if the fracture is significant, it might even affect the patient’s bowel movements, which needs to be addressed.”

Jin Mingxi’s detailed proposal reflected his over ten years of experience.

Experience like this is only gained gradually.

It is believed that Zhou Can, with over a decade of work under his belt, will eventually surpass Mingxi.

“Indeed, Jin Mingxi’s diagnostic opinion is thorough and pragmatic. Dr. Lu’s view suits cases with severe eyebrow fractures,” Dr. Xu evaluated. “Zhou Can, you’re in charge of the debridement and suturing.”

The teacher’s instructions were not in vain—he sought to give Zhou Can as much hands-on experience as possible.

“No problem,” Zhou Can responded enthusiastically.

This suturing, involving subcutaneous bone fragments near the upper left corner of the eye, would provide invaluable experience for a newcomer like him.

Dr. Xu nodded in approval as he watched Zhou Can finish the procedure.

“Now, bandage the wound and remind the family to take extra care of the boy’s forehead. The wound must remain dry and free from any pressure. Some parents, upon seeing the swelling, tend to massage out the bruising to reduce it—but you must stress that no massaging is allowed!”

After giving detailed instructions, Dr. Xu glanced at the clock—it was already past 4 PM.

Everyone was busy attending to numerous patients, leaving no time for lunch. Dr. Xu, Zhou Can, and the rest had been at it non-stop since around 7 AM.

Almost a full nine hours had elapsed.

During this time, neither the doctors nor the nurses had taken a sip of water.

It was no wonder Dr. Xu was utterly exhausted.

“Alright, wrap up your tasks and get some food! You’ve all worked incredibly hard!”

Dr. Xu addressed the team.

“Finally off duty! I’m starving!” Dr. Lu was the first to cheerfully head outside. As he passed by the nurse assisting Zhou Can, he flashed a mischievous smile. “Qiao Yu, we’re off at the same time today. Since no one’s eaten yet, how about I treat you to some French cuisine?”

Dr. Lu was at least in his thirties.

Qiao Yu appeared to be about twenty-three or twenty-four. Like Zhou Can, she was in her residency, currently working as a resident nurse at Tuyu Hospital.

Based on Dr. Lu’s tone, it was evident they were quite familiar and interacted regularly.

“Hehe, thanks for the offer, but I still need to go home and work on my thesis. Maybe another time!” Qiao Yu smiled and politely declined.

In terms of both appearance and professional skill, she was outstanding among the nurses. Dr. Lu might be a slacker at work, but he certainly had an eye for talent when it came to choosing a partner.

He had chosen her from among the numerous female nurses and doctors.

Zhou Can finally understood why Dr. Lu had been glancing over during the surgeries—he was actually sneaking peeks at Nurse Qiao Yu.

At first, Zhou Can thought Dr. Lu was simply checking on his progress, but it turned out he was covertly admiring Qiao Yu.

Zhou Can didn’t interfere with other people’s relationships.

However, he was still rather pleased that Qiao Yu had turned down Dr. Lu’s invitation—not because he had a crush on her, but because someone as exceptional as Qiao Yu deserved a more dependable partner.

Indeed, it was quite insightful.

Dr. Lu, who was so lazy and irresponsible with his patients at work, was likely even more lackadaisical in life.

Marrying such a man would hardly lead to a happy life.

“Qiao Yu, I’ve asked you out several times over the past two months. Whether you’re busy with your thesis or out with friends, just give me a chance, will you?”

Dr. Lu was clearly unwilling to give up easily.