Chapter 29 Hello Auntie

"After I graduated from college, I returned to Shuangchuan County People's Hospital in my hometown and became a doctor. Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Emergency; I've worked in all departments. This job has lasted for fourteen years, from an intern to now a chief resident doctor at the hospital. If nothing goes wrong, next year I should be able to qualify for the rank of associate senior title."

Jin Mingxi spoke of his past for the first time.

"Wait, you're 35 years old this year, right?"

Dr. Xu's penchant for detail seemed to have kicked in again.

"Yes, I've just turned 35 this year. If I don't qualify for the residency program at Tuya this year, I'll never have another chance in my lifetime." Jin Mingxi was making his final push right at the age cutoff.

There are actually quite a few doctors in society like him.

Because the qualification for Tuya's residency program is really difficult to obtain.

Just like the old scholars or bachelors in ancient society who, despite their white hair, never gave up on the hope of passing the imperial examinations.

Many community doctors who failed to qualify for Tuya's residency program this year, try again the next. As long as they are not over 35 years old, they will persist.

"You must have been at least 23 when you graduated from college. You've worked for fourteen years, so you're actually 37 years old?" Dr. Xu's piercing gaze was fixed on him.

This was a significant inconsistency.

Not long ago, Dr. Xu had looked at Zhou Can with that same scrutinizing gaze.

"Hey, I skipped Level 3 when I was in elementary school. I was known as a child prodigy for quite some time." Jin Mingxi explained with a smile.

These kinds of prodigies are found all over the country.

There are even special classes for young geniuses.

It was unexpected that Jin Mingxi was so exceptional as a child, being able to skip Level 3.

"Why, after working so many years at the county People's Hospital in your hometown, did you decide to come to Tuya to be a resident?" Dr. Xu asked curiously.

In one more year, he would qualify for the rank of associate senior title, and would have made it through the hardest part.

Even as a deputy chief physician at a county-level People's Hospital, life could be very comfortable.

At this level, there is absolutely no need to go through the hardships of Tuya Hospital's residency program.

"How can I put it? From my personal interest, indeed, there is no need to travel all the way to Tuya Hospital to become a resident doctor. My hometown, Shuangchuan County, is located in a remote mountain area, poor and underdeveloped, unable to retain top talent. This also leads to an especially backward overall medical level at the county People's Hospital."

"In my work, I often encounter patients who end up dying due to the limitations of local medical standards and healthcare conditions. Whenever this happens, I feel particularly distressed. Because I know that these diseases would certainly be curable at a big hospital like Tuya."

"Later on, I had an idea: to become a doctor at a top hospital, learn all the necessary skills, and then go back to teach the doctors at my hometown People's Hospital. Only in this way, can we gradually raise the medical standards of my hometown and save more people."

After hearing Jin Mingxi's words, everyone fell silent.

Such a spirit of sacrificing personal interests for the greater good is particularly noble.

Many people may have the sentiment, but those who dare to give up their personal benefits and wholeheartedly serve the people, and contribute to the medicine of their hometown, are truly few.

Whenever the nation or the hometown faces difficulties, the heroes who appear are often the 'fools' like Jin Mingxi.

At critical moments, they dare to stand up, unafraid of sacrifice.

Throughout China's thousands of years of history, whether it was the disorder at the end of the Jin Dynasty or the invasion of the Eight-Power Allied Forces at the end of the Qing Dynasty, whenever the Chinese nation faced the danger of extinction, countless heroes would stand up.

They bravely protected their country, not hesitating even to sacrifice their lives.

This is the fortitude and courage ingrained in the Chinese people's very bones.

"Dr. Jin, I believe that your wish will definitely come true." Zhou Can blessed him sincerely.

He would be happy to help if he had the chance in the future.

"Thank you!"

Jin Mingxi responded with a grateful smile to Zhou Can.

"Remarkable Dr. Jin! Remarkable dream! If you ever have any medical questions, you can always come and ask me." Dr. Xu was also moved by Jin Mingxi.

Giving him a thumbs up.

"Definitely! Thank you!"

Jin Mingxi nodded emphatically.

"Heh, Dr. Jin's idea is indeed great, but I think it's better to let those who are more capable do these things. If it were me, I definitely wouldn't do such foolish things."

Dr. Lu did not agree with Jin Mingxi's approach.

"Maybe! Some things have to be done by someone. I know my abilities are limited, but even if I can only serve as a catalyst, that's still a good thing."

Jin Mingxi's conviction was firm, unmoved by others' opinions.

People like Dr. Lu, who are refined egoists, simply cannot understand.

Just then, another patient was wheeled in.

"Ouch, ouch! Hurry up and operate on me, I'm about to die..." The patient moaned ceaselessly on the gurney.

Zhou Can felt the voice was somehow familiar.

"You two go and take over!"

Dr. Xu instructed Zhou Can and Jin Mingxi.

"Dr. Xu, this patient has been here since this morning. She registered for the gastroenterology department, and after examination, it was found that she has a cecal lithiasis. So, internal medicine directed her to register for surgery at the colorectal surgery department. She stood in line for a long time and really couldn't bear the pain, so she heard from others that the Emergency Department doesn't require queuing. That's why she ran over here. Dr. Luo Yong's intention is to operate on her if possible."

The nurse briefly described the situation.

Big hospitals, due to their high reputation, attract patients from all over the country and have an especially large number of people seeking treatment.

Queueing is a torturous experience that every patient must endure.

There have even been cases where patients died because the queuing time was too long, and they couldn't be treated in time.

The woman patient on the stretcher is quite pitiful; after being shuffled between the internal medicine and surgery departments in the hospital for nearly a day, she finally had no choice but to rush to the Emergency Department to plead for the doctors' treatment.

The Emergency Department doesn't mean you can avoid queueing either.

Patients with critical conditions can be prioritized for emergency care.

Furthermore, because the Emergency Department is merely an emergency aid station that accepts all kinds of patients and has a tremendous intake, it results in the department's trait of being broad but not specialized.

For some difficult cases or those not urgent, patients are still eventually directed to see specialists for treatment.

Zhou Can took the stretcher from the nurse's hands and looked down at the woman on the stretcher, who was wailing in pain.

He couldn't help but laugh.

No wonder the voice sounded so familiar.

Isn't this the same lady who accused him of being a hospital tout in the outpatient hall this morning?

After a day of running around in the hospital, the auntie's makeup on her face had become a total mess, and her hair was disheveled as well.

She looked frightening, like a ghost.

If Zhou Can's impression of her wasn't so deep, he almost wouldn't have recognized her.

"Is there any family with you?" Dr. Xu asked.

The lady was too focused on crying out in pain and seemed not to have heard Dr. Xu's question.

Zhou Can only repeated once more.

"The attending physician is asking if you have any family with you?"

This time the auntie heard clearly.

"There isn't anyone with me! I can sign the documents myself; I've already signed the consent form for the surgery, and the money has been paid too."

The auntie is so seriously ill, and it's a mystery why she didn't call any family members to accompany her?

"This is a Level 2 surgery you're undergoing, and if it's done by a specialist as a laparoscopic surgery, it would even be classified as Level 3 surgery; it's not allowed to proceed without a family member present!" Dr. Xu said while looking through the auntie's examination records.

The final decision on whether or not the surgery can be performed is his to make.

Dr. Luo Yong, who is in consultation, can only make suggestions.

"If you had come to the hospital for treatment earlier, it's possible that you wouldn't even need surgery!"

After reviewing the abdominal ultrasound and CT images, he sighed softly.

Cecal lithiasis is actually caused by fecaliths falling into the appendix cavity.

If it's not severe, conservative treatment is possible.

The lithiasis can be expelled through medication.

But once it develops into intestinal obstruction, or even approaches necrosis, that's serious.

It requires the appendix to be removed along with the cecum.

When the auntie heard that she needed to find a family member to accompany her, she seemed very troubled.

Her eyes turned towards Zhou Can.

"Young man, your voice sounded a bit familiar earlier; could you take off your mask so I can have a look? We might know each other."

She must be thinking that if she and this young doctor are acquainted,

if she pleads a little, perhaps she won't need to get a family member over.

Zhou Can took off his mask, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

"Hello, Auntie!"

That's exactly how Zhou Can greeted her this morning.

"Ah... how could it be, it's you?" The auntie thought this young doctor might be someone she knew, that through some connection, a few nice words would make it more convenient to get cared for.

But when Zhou Can took off his mask, and she clearly saw his face, she was dumbfounded.

Talk about enemies on a narrow road—wasn't this the young man she had berated as a hospital tout this morning?

"Ha-ha, it's a small world, we meet again."

Zhou Can's smile was particularly content.

Having been on the receiving end of a bellyful of annoyance from this lady in the outpatient hall this morning, now she's the patient, and he's the doctor. She probably feels like she'd rather die.

What worries her the most is Zhou Can taking revenge on her.