Chapter 76: Medicine, Miracles, and Micro-Innovations

Compared to the advanced Western countries, our pharmaceutical progress is truly stifling.

China’s medical history boasts thousands of years of tradition, yet it gets outmatched by Western medicine that’s only two centuries old.

Thankfully, in recent years, Traditional Chinese Medicine has cleverly adopted a blend of Eastern and Western practices to survive.

In fact, it is slowly rising in prominence.

It is now widely accepted that TCM treats the root of the disease while Western medicine merely addresses the symptoms.

Internationally, the status of TCM is also gradually improving.

Many of its treatment philosophies are even being studied abroad.

For instance, the latest cancer drug works by unsealing the patient’s immune T-cells, harnessing the body’s own immunity to attack cancer cells.

This concept is essentially rooted in TCM philosophy.

With China’s grand rejuvenation, I truly believe that Chinese medicine will once again flourish.

At the very least, many recognize that Chinese herbs carry hardly any side effects while Western drugs can trigger a range of severe complications.

Herbal remedies are milder and considerably safer.

“Advanced Western nations have mastered minimally invasive surgery, making significant strides in preoperative evaluation, surgical planning, postoperative care, medication, and technique. Meanwhile, our country is only scratching the surface—we lag behind in nearly every aspect. We can catch up in theory by learning from them, but honing surgical skills requires relentless practice over time.”

Dr. Xu finished speaking and turned to Zhou Can.

“Our hospital has plenty of doctors skilled in traditional surgery, each one competent. But only a handful excel at minimally invasive procedures. Observations show that while many have an innate talent for traditional techniques, very few show promise in mastering skills like grasping technique and device implantation required for minimally invasive surgery.”

To put it vividly:

Traditional surgical skills are like martial arts, while minimally invasive skills are akin to celestial arts.

In martial arts, anyone with a bit of talent and hard work can succeed, but mastering celestial arts demands divine aptitude—a rarity even among ten thousand martial experts.

“If this were the only criterion, it wouldn’t be such a problem. After all, as a populous nation, we would eventually find some high-talented surgical prodigies.”

Zhou Can listened, his face etched with confusion.

Could there be even higher, tougher requirements?

“Minimally invasive surgery is an advanced evolution of traditional techniques. To train a surgeon capable of these procedures, they must possess talents in both traditional and advanced methods—a combination that is extraordinarily rare.”

Being a doctor is a unique profession.

Talented individuals are scarce, and the training period is long.

This makes doctors with both traditional and minimally invasive surgical skills extremely rare.

“Our country’s doctors have tried many strategies to reverse this trend. For example, Internal Medicine doctors have taken up the scalpel to perform various interventional procedures. Even so, our reserve of minimally invasive surgical talent remains woefully inadequate. Elite practitioners are nearly nonexistent.”

In recent years, the Internal Medicine Department has indeed pioneered many minimally invasive procedures,

what we now call interventional surgery.

But to successfully perform a minimally invasive surgery, one must first master traditional surgical basics and also develop advanced operative skills.

Both are absolutely essential.

Otherwise, even a simple appendectomy could go disastrously wrong.

As for more complex minimally invasive surgeries, many are beyond our current domestic capabilities.

Such procedures require both traditional surgical basics and advanced operative skills to be at the chief level.

Dr. Xu looked at Zhou Can with an earnest, almost pleading gaze.

“You uniquely possess talents in both traditional and advanced surgical methods. Our country still lags in minimally invasive surgery, with top-tier expertise nearly nonexistent. If you’re willing, I hope you can set mastering these advanced techniques as your ultimate goal.”

As a mentor, he was merely guiding him.

Dr. Xu had only explained the domestic situation to him,

steering him toward specializing in minimally invasive surgery.

“I will work twice as hard,”

Zhou Can replied matter-of-factly, not resorting to empty boasts about outdoing renowned foreign specialists.

He always scoffed at slogans and empty hype.

He preferred proving his resolve through concrete actions.

“Let’s head to the Operating Room! I’ll focus on sharpening your traditional surgical skills. Today, you’ll have plenty of Level-One procedures.” Zhou Can was overjoyed at Dr. Xu’s words.

He figured he’d rack up a hefty amount of surgical experience today.

Every operation was a chance to learn invaluable skills.

……

Entering the operating suite, Nurse Tang Ling and Jin Mingxi were already there.

The sight of Zhou Can immediately lit up Tang Ling’s eyes, a broad smile spreading across her face.

“Dr. Zhou, Dr. Zhou! I heard that Su Qianqian gifted you a new album yesterday— is it true?”

She was clearly concerned about Su Qianqian’s situation.

“Yes, that’s right!”

Dr. Zhou nodded in confirmation.

“Oh, I’m so jealous!” Tang Ling exclaimed sourly once she got the confirmation. “Mind if I listen to it for a couple of days? When I left work yesterday, I spotted that box and immediately knew it was her latest album. After her concert stage collapsed, she was deeply affected. Now, her album release will surely be delayed. I even heard she’s selling her house and car to compensate the injured fans.”

Hearing that Su Qianqian was selling her house to pay the injured fans, Zhou Can was taken aback.

His first thought was that it was just another publicity stunt.

After all, entertainment companies do whatever it takes for attention.

“If her new album hasn’t been released yet, I really can’t lend it to you. You know how it is—if the content leaks before the official release, bootleg copies will flood the market.”

Dr. Zhou declined her request.

Su Qianqian’s gift of the album was both a token of gratitude and a sign of trust.

Right now, she was in the most difficult phase of her career. If Zhou Can were to leak her new album, causing bootlegs to swarm, it would only make matters worse for her.

“Alright then!”

Tang Ling looked visibly displeased, pouting slightly.

“In most concerts, insurance is bundled into the ticket price. If something goes wrong, wouldn’t the insurance company cover it? And even if they don’t, her company should be responsible for compensation. As for her selling her house to pay fans, I believe it’s just a gimmick—an attempt to win sympathy and boost free publicity.”

Zhou Can offered his own perspective.

“That… doesn’t seem possible! I heard in Su Qianqian’s fan group that the insurance only covers a part of the cost—sometimes not even enough for medical bills. And her agency, Beihai Wolf Star Media Co., Ltd., is notorious for dodging responsibility.”

Tang Ling was clearly doing her best to defend Su Qianqian.

Zhou Can, who rarely paid attention to celebrity or media companies, refrained from commenting further without knowing the full story.

At that moment, Dr. Xu, now suited up in his surgical gear, reentered.

The atmosphere grew considerably more serious.

His eyes swept over the three of them, and he frowned.

“Which resident is on duty in the Operating Room today?”

“It seems to be Dr. Lu’s early shift!”

Tang Ling flipped through the duty roster.

“This little Lu is chronically tardy—it’s become a real habit,” Dr. Xu grumbled, clearly exasperated with his junior. “Never mind him; with Zhou and Jin Mingxi assisting, a Level-One or Two surgery is a breeze. Now, call in the first patient!”

No sooner had he spoken than the Operating Room’s door swung open.

Dr. Lu, his hair a disheveled mess, hurried in.

He then dashed to the Changing Room, fumbling as he changed into his surgical gown.

“Sorry, sorry—I had a bout of diarrhea this morning. I hope I’m not too late?”

Dr. Lu burst in, apologizing repeatedly.

“Just two minutes late. The attendance record will cover you. But seriously, if you’re having diarrhea five or six times a month, you should see a gastroenterologist.”

Dr. Xu, though visibly displeased, refrained from exposing his junior’s excuse outright.