Chapter 621: Sparks of Rivalry in the Surgery Department

“Haha, Director Zhou, you’re welcome to visit anytime as long as you have time. But I have to admit, the technology’s still a work in progress. I just hope you won’t be disappointed after seeing it.”

Du Leng’s proudest achievement is launching the digital operating room project.

He came up with this clever idea after realizing he couldn’t compete with Zhou Can in traditional surgical techniques.

It’s a bit of a sad story, really.

When Du Leng first joined Tuyu Hospital, his impressive background made him shine. For a long time, he had high expectations but little hands-on ability. He never really settled down to truly learn and practice, so in those early days, Zhou Can and others left him far behind.

On top of that, Zhou Can has a system boost, works hard, and isn’t lacking in surgical talent either.

So the outcome was pretty much set in stone.

Du Leng faded into the shadows, while Zhou Can rose as the new star of Tuyu Hospital.

With things like that, it was almost impossible for Du Leng to catch up to Zhou Can in diagnosis or surgical skill.

Still, he didn’t waste his natural intelligence. After some bitter reflection, he decided to compete with Zhou Can using technology.

It’s like how even a top chess master can be bested by a low-level AI.

He believes that once the digital operating room is perfected, he can once again stand toe-to-toe with Zhou Can.

After facing setbacks and hard knocks, Du Leng has become noticeably more grounded and humble.

“Don’t sell yourself short. ‘A tower nine stories high begins with a single pile of dirt; a tree a thousand feet tall grows from a tiny sprout.’ Dr. Du, your digital operating room is some of the most cutting-edge tech around. As far as I know, only a handful of major hospitals in the whole country are working on something like this. We all need to keep up with the times. I need to learn from you or I’ll be left behind!”

Zhou Can said this with complete sincerity.

Right now, digital surgery is still rare in China. Even abroad, it’s not fully refined.

It’s being improved and upgraded all the time.

If it can be put into clinical use, big breakthroughs are just around the corner.

It’s like when surgical robots first hit the market; at first the prices were sky-high. But look at them now, it’s much more affordable.

“No wonder you’re Tuyu Hospital’s youngest and most promising doctor. Your way of thinking is very good!”

Du Leng gave Zhou Can a big thumbs up.

This was probably the first time he’d lowered his guard and started to admire and learn from Zhou Can.

“I don’t dare claim to be the most promising. There are so many talented young doctors at Tuyu Hospital. At best, I’m just one of many in the crowd—and honestly, probably closer to the bottom.”

After finishing, Zhou Can glanced over at Wu Baihe.

He’d come specifically to consult Wu Baihe—no point leaving the main expert on the sidelines just to exchange compliments with Du Leng.

“Director Wu, I brought along the case file for that child. Could you take a look when you’re done with the lecture?”

Even with an appointment, Zhou Can wasn’t about to steal the spotlight.

“I’m just having a normal discussion with them about some cases today. We’re almost done. Don’t stand around—sit down and have some tea. I’ll look over the case and then we can talk. The others can learn something from it too.”

Wu Baihe took the file and began reviewing it with a serious expression.

A petite female medical student got up to pour Zhou Can a cup of tea.

“We’re drinking green tea today. I wonder if it suits your taste, Director Zhou?”

She placed the cup in front of Zhou Can with a smile.

“I’m not picky. Thanks!”

Zhou Can smiled and nodded his thanks.

Clearly, this young doctor hoped to use the tea-pouring as an icebreaker with Zhou Can.

After pouring the tea, she didn’t hurry back to her seat.

Instead, she asked, “I overheard your chat with Senior Du. Director Zhou, you must be that famous young doctor at Tuyu Hospital. Are you the Zhou Can everyone calls the jack-of-all-trades?”

Hearing that nickname, Zhou Can almost spat his tea out.

Who came up with that one, really?

Jack-of-all-trades—is it really that exaggerated?

“My name is Zhou Can, but I’m no jack-of-all-trades.”

Becoming a general practitioner isn’t much to brag about.

To call someone a jack-of-all-trades? No doctor would be confident enough for that.

Many spend their entire lives digging deep into one tiny field, and still feel like there’s too much to learn. To master every field would take ten lifetimes at least.

Most people live into their eighties or nineties if they’re lucky.

Truth is, plenty don’t even make it past their sixties.

“Ah, so it really is you! I’ve heard all about your legend. A lot of us young doctors see you as a role model and quietly learn from you. Since we’re meeting, can I introduce myself?”

See, people who know how to connect always get more chances than those who don’t.

With a series of bold moves, this young doctor managed to make an introduction—at the very least, Zhou Can would remember her face now.

“It’s my honor to meet such a talented and beautiful doctor like you!”

Zhou Can nodded with a bright smile.

“Haha, you really are smooth! Talking to you is truly refreshing. Oh, right—my name’s Cheng Yaxin. I just graduated this year and was lucky enough to get a specialist training spot thanks to Director Wu. Now I’m working under him to learn neurosurgery. If I get the chance, I hope you’ll look out for me in the future.”

She reached out her right hand, wanting to shake hands with Zhou Can.

As their hands met, Zhou Can noticed she had six fingers on her right hand—all long and slender.

Polydactyly is fairly common in hospitals—a congenital abnormality.

Zhou Can just glanced at it, a little surprised but didn’t ask further.

After all, that’s a personal physical defect.

From clinical experience, polydactyly comes in many forms. If it’s just an extra malformed finger, or webbing between fingers, it can actually cause lots of trouble for patients.

Not only is there no benefit, it can actually hinder hand or foot movement.

In this case, Cheng Yaxin’s extra finger was just like the others. Zhou Can could feel the bone when they shook hands. Sometimes extra digits don’t have bones at all.

Sometimes it’s just a fleshy lump.

But her extra finger was fully functional, which probably made her hand even more dexterous.

With more fingers, you actually have more power. It’s basic logic.

Same goes for hands.

An extra finger actually makes it easier to grip things.

Most people have heard stories of the legendary six-fingered musician.

Zhou Can glanced subconsciously at Wu Baihe.

To be personally chosen by Wu Baihe for special training, you have to be exceptionally good at neurosurgery.

Maybe her six-fingered hand was one of the reasons she was picked.

Neurosurgery is known as the “ceiling” of surgical procedures—requiring extreme precision.

He was genuinely curious what someone with six fingers might achieve in this field.

After a brief exchange, Cheng Yaxin showed she knew when to advance and when to step back, quietly returning to her seat.

Her goal was simply to get acquainted—no ambitions for anything major on their first meeting.

Trying to score huge gains or ask for Zhou Can’s phone number right away? That was wishful thinking.

Wu Baihe finished reviewing the case file.

“Did the child’s pupils dilate at all?”

“No. Are you checking the pupil response to judge if the sympathetic nervous system is intact?”

As he answered, Zhou Can immediately understood what Wu Baihe was getting at.

The sympathetic nerve is part of the autonomic nervous system, playing a crucial role in the spinal cord.

“Exactly.”

Wu Baihe looked at Zhou Can with an appreciative gaze.

When it comes to talent and skill, Zhou Can really stands out. Unfortunately, his path will never lead him to neurosurgery now.

Back then, Director Xie picked Du Leng—looking back, that might’ve been a mistake.

Digital surgery is a cool idea with lots of potential. Still, in ten or twenty years, achieving major breakthroughs and widespread clinical use will be very tough. Plus, many neurosurgical procedures must still be done by hand.

They require a surgeon’s tactile sense, experience, and keen instincts.

These are things current AI can’t even come close to replacing.

At the end of the day, whether it’s digital or robotic surgery, their strength is in stability and precision—nothing slips through the cracks. That’s a real advantage.

But when it comes to flexible judgment, tactile feedback, and quick diagnostic intuition—digital systems can’t compete.

“This child has a spinal tuberculosis infection—there’s definitely some damage to the spinal cord. I think a two-pronged approach should yield good results. First, anti-tuberculosis treatment. Second, surgery.”

Wu Baihe explained his thoughts in detail.

“So you also believe the child’s spinal nerves are damaged?”

That was the exact issue Zhou Can was hoping to clarify.

If there’s a TB infection, surgery is out—you have to start with anti-TB treatment first.

Judging from various factors, Zhou Can still couldn’t be sure if there was traumatic damage to the child’s spinal nerves.

“Based on what you tested, I’m confident there’s an injury to the cervical spinal nerves—although the trauma seems relatively mild, so some function remains. Let me put it this way: the paraplegia is still due to nerve trauma. The gradual loss of sensation down from the neck, though, is caused by the TB. The way to check is straightforward: start anti-TB treatment, then retest nerve function later.”

That’s what you’d expect from a top specialist.

He nailed the diagnosis Zhou Can was struggling with, and made it sound easy.

“After anti-TB treatment, will the child still need surgery? Or is there a risk of missing the best window for surgery?”

Zhou Can asked another question.

“Whether or not it delays surgery, it can’t be done right now anyway. Focus on the TB first. A spinal nerve doesn’t have to be completely severed to cause issues. If it’s stretched to the limit or struck hard, it could develop conduction blockages. That’s likely the case here, so be ready mentally.”

“One more thing—if surgery is required, it’ll be a hell-level difficulty.”

Wu Baihe gave Zhou Can a grave warning, gazing at him intently.

“I know you want to help Dr. Xu clear his name. You’re throwing yourself into this child’s care to boost your standing in neurosurgery and build a foundation of spinal surgery success.”

Who knew that, for all his focus on medicine, Wu Baihe understood the situation so clearly.

Zhou Can had never told anyone he wanted to help Dr. Xu regain his reputation.

But Wu Baihe figured it out anyway.

Everyone who becomes a doctor is ridiculously smart.

It’s a fierce competition to get into med school. If you’re not sharp and disciplined, you get weeded out fast.

Right now, the most respected high-IQ careers are doctors, civil servants, and researchers.

Teachers are up there too, but it’s a bit more flexible.

For example, doctors eventually take on education duties themselves.

Zhou Can is about to be promoted, but Director Tan has already roped him into teaching—forcing him to work with grad and doctoral students.

And those are the students he teaches.

“I also have a deep connection with Dr. Xu. I can’t step in for the tough battles up front. At my level, any small move has ripple effects—I’m sure you get that. But I can offer backup and support behind the scenes whenever you need.”

Wu Baihe said this in front of all the students.

It showed how much he trusted them—and also wanted them to see how tough and risky a doctor’s life can be.

Every clinical doctor, on their first day, gets taught this one thing by a responsible mentor: how to protect themselves.

Wu Baihe used this moment to give his students a taste of how harsh society is.

He’s the chief neurosurgeon now—the face of the department.

He also represents Tuyu Hospital as a whole.

You could say he’s got a lot to lose.

The patient at the center of Dr. Xu’s trouble is extremely high-status.

If Wu Baihe were to treat them and succeed, it’d be a big win. But if he failed, it’d be disastrous.

It could even end with the dissolving of Tuyu Hospital’s neurosurgery department.

No exaggeration.

There are some powerful people out there—for regular folks, they’re basically untouchable.

Honestly, it’s been this way since ancient times.

Even with his lofty position at Tuyu, Wu Baihe is nothing compared to those people.

That’s why he wants to help Dr. Xu but can’t risk stepping in directly.

Spinal cord surgery is called the ‘forbidden zone’ for a reason—it’s insanely risky.

The odds of failure are frighteningly high.

With Zhou Can stepping in, though, it’s a different story.

Even if the worst happens, only Zhou Can would take the fall—not the whole department. Of course, for Tuyu Hospital, that’d still be a huge loss.

Top talents like Zhou Can are irreplaceable—it’s nearly impossible to find another like him.