godfather of surgery

Chapter 1344 Mandatory Leave
The global storm that lasted for months, the intense cooperation negotiations, and the painstaking efforts to deal with complex cases were like a continuously pressurized furnace, forging the team's energy and spirit to be resilient, but also taking a huge toll.

Everyone's face showed signs of fatigue. Even Zhang Lin, who was usually the most energetic, couldn't help but chug two cups of strong coffee in the break room after finishing a reception for a medical delegation from a Middle Eastern country. He rubbed his temples and gave Tang Shun a wry smile: "I feel like my brain has been emptied out. Now I have a conditioned reflex when I hear the words 'system,' 'regulation,' and 'cooperation.'"

Tang Shun deeply sympathized. He not only had to handle the increasingly heavy international academic coordination of the research institute, but also share some of the work of Ruixing Medical in technology docking, and more importantly, he had to deal with the "pregnancy anxiety" that his wife Li Yingtong, whose due date was approaching, would suffer from from time to time.

Song Ziming is troubled by another "sweet burden." His relationship with Tang Fei has made a substantial breakthrough, and they have agreed to meet each other's parents. However, he has been busy lately, so this matter has been delayed.

Because Song Ziming has to focus most of his energy on the clinical part of the system regulation theory experiment, many major surgeries have been put on Xu Zhiliang's shoulders. Xu Zhiliang is like a hardworking old ox, working diligently. He has been working very hard lately.

Not to mention the young researchers, residents, and technicians who bear specific and heavy workloads while also facing the huge external halo and high internal standards.

A team, like a string stretched too long, needs to be relaxed.

This week, Lele's latest check-up report brought the most reassuring news. The boy's immune system indicators have remained stable within the normal range, the vasculitis activity has completely stopped, and his kidney function is intact. He is now fully capable of returning to school.

"That's fine." Yang Ping signed the conclusion "clinically cured, entering the long-term follow-up stage" on Lele's medical record and said to Lele's parents, "Continue the weekly phone follow-up, and come back every three months for a comprehensive and systematic evaluation. In terms of life, pay attention to a balanced diet, avoid overwork and infection, and ice cream... you can have a small one occasionally."

Lele cheered, while his parents' eyes reddened, and they held Yang Ping's hand tightly, a thousand words stuck in their throats.

Almost simultaneously, another, even thicker medical record was delivered to Yang Ping's desk: "Sisi..."

Yang Ping's memories were instantly stirred. Sisi, suffering from advanced osteosarcoma with multiple metastases, had relapsed after surgery and several rounds of chemotherapy, and was given a diagnosis of "almost no hope of treatment." She was the first volunteer in the K therapy clinical trial, and also the most critically ill and heartbreaking one. The treatment process was extremely difficult, and they were on the verge of death several times, but Sisi and her parents showed amazing resilience and trust.

The latest follow-up report shows that imaging examinations show no signs of residual or recurrent tumors; blood tumor markers remain negative; and physical development has basically caught up with that of peers.

Yang Ping closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. Lele's stable recovery and Sisi's long-term cure—these two weighty cases of healing, like the clearest spring water, washed away all the fatigue, stress, and disturbances of the past few days. They silently spoke of the ultimate meaning of all this struggle, perseverance, and resistance.

What could be more comforting to a doctor's heart than this?

He opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the mountain of medical records, draft academic collaborations, and conference invitations piled on the table... He then looked out the window at the courtyard where several young researchers, looking hurried and weary, walked by.

It's time for everyone to take a break.

During the team's weekly meeting in the afternoon, Yang Ping did not discuss any specific research topics.

"Today, we won't talk about work." Yang Ping's opening remarks surprised everyone. "I want to say that everyone has worked hard during this time."

He glanced around the conference room at every familiar face: Tang Shun's pale blue eyes, Lu Xiaolu's slightly furrowed brows, and the obvious weariness on the faces of Chu Xiaoxiao, Jiang Jitong, and the other young people.

"From returning from Stockholm, to the Three Kingdoms incident, to the patient alliance storm, and then to global cooperation negotiations, we've faced all sorts of challenges... We've been like a sports team that's been playing high-intensity games for several seasons in a row." Yang Ping's tone was calm and sincere. "A string stretched too tight will break. We need to rest, we need to return to life itself, and we need to recharge ourselves."

He announced the decision: "Starting tomorrow, the institute will enter a two-week 'mandatory break.' Non-urgent clinical work will be handled by the on-call team, all research projects will be slowed down, and administrative and external affairs will be suspended or minimized."

The meeting room fell silent for a moment, then a sigh of relief and low murmurs filled the air.

“Tang Shun, Song Ziming,” Yang Ping called out, “you two should finish up and hand over the work you can as soon as possible, and then you must spend time with your families. Tang Shun, Dr. Li’s due date is next month, you need time and energy to prepare. Song Ziming… go on vacation with Tang Fei.”

Tang Shun and Song Ziming exchanged a glance, both seeing emotion and relief in each other's eyes.

"Dr. Xu, you should do the same. Take your wife out for a walk and relax. The department will suspend surgeries for two weeks."

"Zhang Lin, turn off your phone, go hiking, or just sleep for a few days."

"Chu Xiaoxiao, Jiang Jitong, and you young people, if you want to go on a trip, please report it and the institute will subsidize the expenses; if you want to go home to see your parents, buy your tickets now; if you just want to stay home and rest, don't come to the institute, just relax."

Yang Ping rarely showed a gentle smile: "I don't want to see any of you in the research institute for the next two weeks, unless there is a real life-threatening emergency, that's an order."

The order was given, and the atmosphere instantly relaxed and became lively. Everyone began to whisper about where they wanted to go and what they wanted to do. Tang Shun was thinking about finally being able to accompany Li Yingtong to the prenatal yoga class she had been talking about for so long; Song Ziming planned to take Tang Fei and both families to a nearby resort for a few days of leisure; Zhang Lin clamored to go hiking in the mountains and completely disconnect from the internet; and several young researchers excitedly discussed forming a group to go to the beach.

"Professor, what about you?" Chu Xiaoxiao asked.

Yang Ping smiled and said, "Me? I also have my own tasks, to spend time with Xiao Su and my son. The little guy is one year old now, and I haven't spent enough time with him."

Yes, Yang Ping's own life was also forced to be simplified to the extreme during this turbulent period. His wife, Xiao Su, silently shouldered almost all the family responsibilities, taking care of their young son, managing the household chores, and shielding him from countless unnecessary disturbances. He regretfully missed many of his son Xiao Shu's first steps and his first babbling. Xiao Su never complained, but Yang Ping knew he owed her a great deal.

On the first day of his rest period, Yang Ping didn't set an alarm. When he woke up, sunlight was already streaming into the bedroom through the gaps in the curtains. Little Su was still fast asleep beside him, her breathing soft. From the crib came his son's babbling.

He didn't get up immediately, but lay quietly, savoring this long-lost, pure tranquility. There were no urgent emails, no international calls, no unresolved problems. Only the presence of his family and the occasional birdsong from outside the window.

When Xiao Su woke up, she was surprised to see Yang Ping still lying down: "Aren't you going to the institute today?"

“I’m not going,” Yang Ping said, turning to look at her. “I won’t be going much for the next two weeks; it’s a holiday.” Xiao Su’s eyes lit up immediately, then she deliberately put on a serious face: “Oh, so the great scientist has finally remembered he has a home?”

Yang Ping held her hand and said softly, "You've worked so hard. The family has been relying on you all these past few days. Now it's my turn."

Xiao Su's eyes reddened slightly, and she turned her face away: "Who cares... Go change your son's diaper, he's been awake for a while."

Yang Ping smiled and got up. One-year-old Xiao Shu was holding onto the crib railing, staring at his father with his big, dark eyes, making indistinct "ba...ba..." sounds. Seeing Yang Ping approach, he immediately stretched out his little arms, wanting a hug.

Yang Ping's heart melted instantly. He clumsily but gently picked up his son, feeling the warmth and dependence of that tiny body. Changing diapers, dressing, feeding breakfast… these were the chores usually done by Xiao Su, and he was a little flustered, but he did them with great pleasure. Little Shu seemed to enjoy his father's "service" too, giggling occasionally and scratching Yang Ping's face with his little hands covered in rice cereal.

After breakfast, Yang Ping pushed the stroller and took a walk with Xiao Su in the neighborhood. The autumn air was crisp and the sun was warm. Like any ordinary young parent, they chatted about their child's funny stories, planned where to buy groceries, and discussed whether to get a new plant for their home. There were no Nobel Prizes, no systematic adjustments, no global cooperation, only the mundane details of daily life and their child's laughter.

Xiao Su took Yang Ping's arm, rested her head gently on his shoulder, and whispered, "It's so nice, it feels like we've gone back to when you weren't so famous."

Yang Ping's heart stirred, and he tightened his grip on her arm: "In the future, I will try to make more time like this."

"I don't believe it," Xiao Su said, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up. "You forget everything as soon as you go into the research institute. But... I'm already very happy with these two weeks."

In the afternoon, Yang Ping played with building blocks on the living room carpet with his son, Xiao Shu. The little guy showed no interest in building anything, preferring instead to knock down the "castles" his father had built and then laugh triumphantly. Yang Ping didn't get annoyed; he played this "destruction and reconstruction" game with his son again and again, enjoying this parent-child time without any ulterior motives.

Yang Ping's phone vibrated on the coffee table; it was a few messages in the work group. He picked it up and looked at them. Zhang Lin had posted several photos of hiking in the deep mountains—lush greenery, babbling brooks—with the caption: "Signal is intermittent, don't worry!" Tang Shun had posted a profile picture of Li Yingtong struggling to strike a pose in a prenatal yoga class, drawing a flurry of "good luck" and "blessings." Song Ziming shared a group photo by the lake at a resort; under the setting sun, everyone's smiles were relaxed and content.

Yang Ping smiled slightly, didn't reply, silenced his phone, and put it back. His task at the moment was to be a good father to this little "destructive king" and a good husband to his wife who was humming a song in the kitchen while preparing dinner.

The days of rest and recuperation flew by, but were also incredibly fulfilling.

Yang Ping learned to skillfully bathe the sapling, prepare simple baby food, and tell it childish bedtime stories. He accompanied Xiao Su to a shopping mall they hadn't visited in a long time, watched a movie, and had a romantic dinner at a riverside restaurant.

He finally had time to sit quietly in his study, not to handle official business, but to reread several books unrelated to his current research that he had always wanted to read. One was about the philosophy of complex systems, another about interesting failures in the history of science, and a science fiction novel for pure entertainment. His mind was able to extend into broader and freer realms, sometimes sparking novel associations with his core research.

He even cooked a meal for his family himself. Although the result was less than satisfactory, Xiao Su tactfully commented that there was "room for improvement," but the process was full of fun, and Xiao Shu couldn't help but laugh at his father's flustered movements.

It's not just the body that relaxes, but also the mind. Those tense nerves, those brain circuits that are always on high alert, and those habitual vigilances formed from dealing with high pressure and complex situations for a long time, all slowly relax and repair themselves in the warmth of daily family life and the leisure of doing nothing.

The same applies to the rest of the team.

Tang Shun discovered that putting aside his work and devoting himself to accompanying his wife, who was about to give birth, and listening to her various hopes and worries about the future, the real feeling and responsibility of becoming a father touched him more profoundly than any academic achievement.

In the slow-paced life at the resort, Song Ziming temporarily put aside his precise thinking, strolled with Tang Fei on the stone path, planned their future married life, and experienced a different rhythm of life.

Exhausted in the mountains, Zhang Lin lay in his tent at night gazing at the stars. The clamor on social media and the sharp exchanges at the negotiating table all seemed distant and insignificant.

The young researchers rediscovered the joy of life and their initial passion for scientific research through travel, returning home, or simply taking a break.

Before the two-week break ended, Yang Ping sent a short message in the team group:

"We'll resume normal work tomorrow. I hope everyone is fully charged. Let's meet briefly at our usual spot at nine in the morning. We won't discuss specific work, just share our experiences and feelings from the past two weeks. Bring some snacks."

The next day, the conference room of the Sanbo Research Institute was filled with relaxed laughter and the aroma of food, a welcome change from the past.

Tang Shun brought cookies baked by Li Yingtong herself; Song Ziming contributed local specialty pastries given to him by his future mother-in-law; Zhang Lin, who had gotten a tan, brought a bunch of dried wild fruits from the mountains; and the others also shared their own.

As they ate, they chatted about the interesting things that had happened in the past two weeks: how Tang Shun was "amazed" by the prenatal yoga class; Song Ziming saying that she was setting a wedding date; how Zhang Lin almost got lost in the mountains but luckily found wild fruit to eat; who went on vacation and where, who caught up on how many dramas at home, and who finally got enough sleep...

No one talked about work. But everyone's face radiated a new glow, their eyes were clear, and their smiles were genuine. The weariness accumulated from long hours of intense work seemed to have been largely washed away by these two weeks of rest.

Yang Ping watched this scene with satisfaction. He knew that scientific research was a marathon, a long-term battle. A team that didn't know how to rest and adjust couldn't go far. The theory of system regulation emphasizes balance, and this balance applies not only to the human body but also to the research team itself.

“Alright,” Yang Ping clapped his hands lightly after everyone had finished chatting, and the meeting room quieted down. “The break is over, and we should return to our battlefield. But remember this feeling of relaxation. In the future, we will make this mandatory break a regular practice; we can’t keep things constantly on edge.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over each revitalized face: "Also, I have a suggestion. Sisi, our first volunteer for K therapy and the first late-stage patient to recover, wants to visit us after her exams. I think when she comes, we could hold a small, private celebration. Not open to the public, just the two of us, to celebrate the victory of life and remind ourselves of where it all began and what the end is."

The proposal was immediately approved by everyone. Celebrating healing and celebrating life is more effective in uniting people and rekindling their original aspirations than any award or commercial success.

“Now,” Yang Ping stood up, his tone relaxed yet firm with a sense of returning to normalcy, “everyone take your positions. The research data is still waiting for us to analyze, the charter of the Global Committee needs to be finalized, and new collaborative projects need to be evaluated… Our 'system' should be running efficiently again.”

Everyone laughed as they got up, tidied up the leftover snacks, and headed to their respective posts with renewed energy.

Outside the window, the sun shines brightly, and the leaves of the banyan tree sway gently in the breeze.