White armor

Chapter 732 What? Even the nurses want a refund?
"Director, it's published! It's published!!"

A doctor at Changnan People's Hospital held his phone in his hand, his face flushed with excitement.

Fang Xiao smiled slightly and said calmly, "I've already told you that if you work hard, you can publish papers. What's there to get excited about?"

"SCI, Director, this is an SCI! Two years ago, someone offered me 8 yuan to publish one, but I couldn't bear to spend the money. I never expected this..." The man's face was already red with excitement, and Fang Xiao was afraid that he would have a brain hemorrhage from being too excited.

"No need." Fang Xiao took the phone, glanced at it, and saw that the contact author's name was "Chen Yong".

Professor Luo really spoils his subordinates. An assistant he brought out from Donglian has become a core journal member so casually, Fang Xiao thought to himself.

"I thought Dr. Chen would be listed as the first author, but I didn't expect him to be listed as the corresponding author."

"You know nothing," Fang Xiao retorted. "The corresponding author bears full responsibility for overseeing the entire creative process of the paper, especially ensuring the authenticity of the content, the reliability of the arguments, and that it meets the standards for publication."

If a paper encounters problems, the corresponding author bears primary responsibility. Journals and other researchers will contact the corresponding author directly when they have questions or seek collaboration.

"They're the ones who have to take the blame. Do you think the corresponding author is just someone who gets listed? There's no such thing as a free lunch."

"Huh? There are so many things?" The doctor was stunned.

"Of course, get back to work," Fang Xiao said with a smile. "Working with Director me will bring you plenty of success. With all that research and publications you have, you'll do better than others even if you want to go to the south in the future."

"hey-hey."

Seeing his doctors grinning foolishly, Fang Xiao felt a little smug.

He could win people's hearts simply by publishing papers. In just six months after taking over as director, the department had been completely transformed.

Such a good thing was something I never dared to dream of before, but now it's within my grasp.

"Director, the hospital has issued a document." The head nurse pushed open the door and shouted angrily.

She actually yelled at him. Fang Xiao was taken aback. The head nurse had always been very respectful to her, but there was a hint of fear in that respect.

What's wrong with me today? Why am I so irritable?

"What document is it that made you so angry?" Fang Xiao asked, puzzled.

"The hospital demands a refund from the medical staff!"

"Uh, really? Holy crap!" Fang Xiao was also stunned.

A meeting was held some time ago where they talked about refunding money, but it was just an intention. I never expected that the institute would suddenly decide to refund the money so quickly, completely disregarding the opinions of those at the grassroots level.

Fang Xiao reached out, took the document, and opened it to read.

All performance appraisals and night shift pay from 16 to 22 must be refunded, and it is specifically noted that those who are tenured staff and those whose monthly performance appraisal score is above 1500 are eligible for a refund.

This is just bullying honest people.

If you ask someone who isn't on the payroll to refund their money, they'll just resign and say goodbye.

Those with official positions have an extra constraint and consideration; if they have to return tens of thousands of yuan, they'll probably have to grit their teeth and accept it.

"Head Nurse, have you settled it? How much money do you want to refund?" Fang Xiao asked.

"I want a refund of 96,000 yuan!" the head nurse said angrily and bewildered.

Changnan City is not like the provincial capital or other major southern cities; 96,000 yuan is a sum that would make any family's heart ache.

Fang Xiao was quite troubled, realizing that the money he had earned was about to disappear.

Fang Xiao knew that other hospitals across the country had been refunding money in recent years, starting with doctors with prescription-writing authority and continuing to this day, even nurses.

Fang Xiao just didn't expect that Changnan, a city ranked near the bottom in the country, would also come to this point.

Doctors and nurses in big cities and big hospitals can afford to retire, but it's not necessarily the case at Changnan People's Hospital.

"What if we don't withdraw? What will the academy say? Will they refuse to promote us?" Fang Xiao asked.

The head nurse looked at Fang Xiao with a strange expression.

"What kind of look is that?" Fang Xiao asked, puzzled.

"Director, you're just like them, all full of bad intentions... uh, I'm talking about them, not you. You're honest and kind, unlike those from the bureaucracy."

Fang Xiao waved her hand dismissively, somewhat annoyed, "You can go back now."

“Well…” The head nurse hesitated for a moment.

"What can I do about the institute's regulations? Unless most of the people resign." Fang Xiao placed the document on the table and tapped it lightly with her finger. "But it also says that those who are not on the payroll don't need to get their money back. This is a divisive tactic, a way to divide and conquer, to take some people down and then take others down."

“If you’re not going to do it, there are plenty of people who are willing to. There are ways to do it.” Fang Xiao pondered.

"Huh?" The head nurse's eyes lit up.

“A few years ago, the oilfield had a branch hospital in Weihai, mainly for retired oilfield employees to receive medical care and retirement services there. At first, they said that the hospital would continue to operate indefinitely and that they would not withdraw their investment, in order to appease the new doctors. But later, when the policy changed, the hospital went out of business.”

"???" The head nurse, unaware of this gossip, was intently watching.
"When they were selling the hospital, someone brought a gas cylinder directly to the dean's office. At the time, Dean Yonggang immediately took sick leave because of a herniated disc and stayed at home for three months."

Fang Xiao smiled and gossiped.

"..."

“If any of you can hang yourself at the dean’s doorstep, this matter can be dropped. But none of you have the mindset of planting trees for future generations to enjoy the shade. You’re all just a bunch of rabble, so I say there’s no way.”

Fang Xiao shrugged, spread his hands, and looked up at the sky.

The head nurse was both amused and exasperated.

What Fang Xiao said is definitely true, but the people are not united, and the hospital has taken advantage of this.

This document was carefully considered; it wasn't just something I came up with and issued to the staff. Those working in administrative offices are the most cunning; they're masters of manipulation and backroom deals.

Moreover, the refund amounts are manageable; they hurt but aren't so bad that you'd want to die.

"Damn it!" the head nurse cursed. "Director, how dare those bastards do that?!"

Fang Xiao shook her head and smiled.

The head nurse raised her hand and pressed her thumbs against both temples, rubbing them vigorously. Fang Xiao was indeed right; after thinking about it carefully, no one would hang themselves in the hospital office building.

If people are not of one mind, they are just a mob.

She then said with a mournful face, "Director, what will we do if we run out of money in the future?"

"You're still planning to make me pay for it? I've already told you the solution: if you really don't have the money, then get involved and make a big scene. But it hasn't come to that yet, it's not that bad," Fang Xiao retorted to the head nurse.

"Sigh." The head nurse sighed, took a strip of medicine from her pocket, picked out a pill, and popped it into her mouth.

"What are you eating?" Fang Xiao asked, noticing that the medicine was labeled with foreign words.

“My daughter is studying in France. When she came back last time, she brought back some medicine, saying it was a miracle drug from France that could cure all diseases.”

"A miracle drug?" Fang Xiao glanced at it curiously.

"Yes, I take one when I have a cold, fever, headache, or other minor ailments, and I feel better after taking it."

"Let me take a look."

Fang Xiao reached out her hand, and the head nurse handed her the medicine.

Fang Xiao didn't recognize any of the characters on it, so he handed the medicine to "Xiao Meng" across from him.

"Xiao Meng, see what kind of medicine it is."

“Director, it’s acetaminophen,” Xiao Meng replied.

"Isn't this just the old paracetamol? Is this some kind of miracle drug?" Fang Xiao looked at the head nurse with a mocking expression. "You, the 'River Elegy Generation,' are exactly the kind of people who think foreign things are better. The moon is rounder in foreign countries, and foreign medicines are also more effective."

The head nurse felt wronged by Fang Xiao's words and retorted, "Director, it really works well; it's not just my subjective opinion."

"Oh? Xiao Meng, what do you think?"

"Director, this is acetaminophen from France. It has a particularly high concentration of active ingredients, with each tablet containing 1000mg of active ingredients."

"???"

Fang Xiao was taken aback and asked, "What about paracetamol?"

“It’s usually 100-150mg,” Xiao Meng replied.

6-7 times the dosage!

Such a large dose!!
"How could it not work?" Fang Xiao was taken aback.

Acetaminophen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and overdosing can still cause some side effects.

Damn, how come foreigners dare to put so many drugs in their mouths?

Fang Xiao cursed inwardly.

“My daughter said that in France, if someone is not feeling well, taking this medicine is as common as telling people to drink more hot water in China. She has never seen anyone have any problems with it.”

"Don't be reckless," Fang Xiao sighed. "Taking in 6-7 times the normal dosage, what disease won't get better? Isn't this just like how rural clinics administer hormones to every patient? I don't even think pig farmers in the countryside would give their pigs such a large dose, let alone humans."

"..." The head nurse couldn't tell if Fang Xiao was telling the truth or implying something. She was a little worried and annoyed by the money, so she hesitated for a moment and could only leave dejectedly.

After complaining to Director Fang, the head nurse's mood not only didn't improve, but actually got worse.

The days are getting harder and harder.

I knew before that economic crises were tough, but I never imagined they would be this tough, with all the money I earned being returned.

Is this the legendary Great Depression?

After the head nurse left, Fang Xiao picked up the document and read it carefully, finally shaking her head helplessly.

It's true that I want a refund, but my income is high.

Adding up the white and gray items, this amount of money is nothing; compared to the nurses, my situation is much better.

That's what they say, but that's not how things actually are.

Fang Xiao shook her head, putting her unhappy thoughts aside.

If you can't change something like this, why bother thinking about it?

"Xiao Meng, is it really okay for Europeans and Americans to take so many painkillers?" Fang Xiao chatted casually with "Xiao Meng".

"Director, Professor Luo said that people over there wear very little clothing in winter, especially their lower bodies, because they don't have internal organs and don't need to keep warm. So many people get rheumatism and arthritis, and then they can take medicine like this."

"Xiao Meng" replied.

"Didn't they say they're tough and healthy?" Fang Xiao was taken aback. He didn't even know if the AI ​​robot was being sarcastic or not.

The tone of his voice really sounds just like Dr. Chen Yong's.

"Sigh, aren't we all just people?"

???

Fang Xiao was stunned. Something seemed different about "Xiao Meng" today. It actually said "hai," using that interjection.

He's really starting to look more and more like Chen Yong.

“Many people there take painkillers before going to bars,” Xiao Meng added. “Why?”

"It's probably because the painkiller is OxyContin. Drinking alcohol after taking it can make you feel more emotional. It might also be related to OxyContin addiction, but I don't have any specific data, so I won't speculate."

Fang Xiao remained silent.

He knew exactly what OxyContin was. A few years ago, a shocking case broke out in the United States; it was probably because the manufacturer of OxyContin had offended someone, and their decades-long money-making methods were exposed.

Oxy Condin was one of them, and a TV series was even made about it.

Seriously, how can you not get addicted to taking medicine like this?
Fang Xiao couldn't understand what they were thinking; perhaps it was related to the memories ingrained in the Chinese people.

Some patients with advanced cancer, both their families and the patients themselves, worry about the possibility of addiction.

Even in the late stages of cancer, does addiction still matter? But this is a question that patients and their families often ask.

But the situation is completely different overseas, and it's incomparable to that in China.

As the saying goes, a man is a boy until he dies.

Fang Xiao's phone rang.

"Brother Fang, Brother Fang~~~"

The voice grew softer and softer, as if someone was choking the other person.

Fang Xiao was taken aback and glanced at her phone.

It's someone I know. What happened? Was he kidnapped and extorted for money?

That can't be right. The public security in China is very good. Just a few days ago, Fang Xiao had dinner with his buddies from the branch office. That guy begged Fang Xiao to call him if there were any medical disputes, because they hadn't even met their targets for the anti-gang campaign this year.

If this were a kidnapping, wouldn't that be a major case?

"What's wrong with you?" Fang Xiao asked, her mind filled with all sorts of random thoughts.

"I...I...I just did 20 push-ups and I can't breathe."

"???"

Fang Xiao realized she had misunderstood and laughed, "Cheating? Once a middle-aged man starts working out, that means he's cheating."

“Fang~~~Hoohoohoo~~~” The man’s throat began to make a hoohoohoo sound.

???

Fang Xiao was taken aback. "Where are you?"

After hesitating for a long time, the other person finally said, "Home."

"Lie down however you're comfortable, don't rush, breathe steadily, I'll call 120 for an ambulance. We're still in Longhua Community, right?"

"Yes~~~ Hoo hoo hoo~~~"

Fang Xiao quickly hung up the phone and dialed 120 for emergency medical assistance.

After finishing her work, Fang Xiao felt something was off and got up to go to the emergency room to wait.

"Xiao Meng" also went with Fang Xiao.

"Xiao Meng, the person who just called is my friend. He's two years younger than me, and we get along quite well. He's usually in good health. He's not feeling well today because he did 20 push-ups."

Fang Xiao chatted with "Xiao Meng" as she walked toward the emergency department.

“Oh, I heard the other person had airway spasm when you were on the phone. If there are no other medical histories, I think pneumothorax is the most likely possibility,” “Xiao Meng” replied, giving Fang Xiao the diagnosis directly.

"pneumothorax?!"

The diagnosis for "Xiao Meng" was too hasty; how could it be pneumothorax?

Spontaneous pneumothorax is more common in adolescents, especially tall, thin boys aged 14-18 who are still growing.

But my friend is so old, how could he get a pneumothorax from doing just a push-up?
"Director, many people's lung tissue has changed after the pandemic a few years ago, making it more brittle. If they do push-ups, they have to hold their breath, which increases the pressure inside their lungs and can cause their lung tissue to rupture."

"Of course, pulmonary bullae are the most likely possibility."

"Simply put, it's like doing push-ups that suffocated your lungs."

"Xiao Meng" described it.

Fang Xiao paused, turned around and glanced at "Xiao Meng".

Xiao Meng's square face still had the same gentle smile as before, showing no signs of change. However, Xiao Meng spoke a little more "humanly" than before.

The idea that doing push-ups will cause your lungs to burst is more like something a self-media outlet would do.

There were all sorts of shocking scandals, and then there was the story of a man who was alone at home and his lungs felt like they were going to burst – apparently, it was because of this.

Years ago, some genius on UC Browser pioneered this sensationalist headline style, and it's been around ever since.

Has "Xiao Meng" also become a clickbaiter?
No, Fang Xiao then realized something—"Xiao Meng" said that many normal people's lung tissue has changed after the pandemic, which is why such strange things happen.

"Xiao Meng, tell me in detail."

"Director, there is no more scientific explanation yet; this is just my own analysis and guess," "Xiao Meng" replied.

"What? You guessed?" Fang Xiao was stunned.

"Yes, because the incidence of spontaneous pneumothorax has increased sharply nationwide after the pandemic, especially in terms of age, with a tendency towards older people, which is clearly different from the previous data."

"!!!"

Fang Xiao was speechless. "Xiao Meng" must have leveled up, otherwise he wouldn't be like this.

The previous "Xiao Meng" could only make diagnoses or give some advice, but could not talk about such subjective things.

But today's "Xiao Meng" seems like a different person, actually expressing her subjective thoughts.

Fang Xiaohao didn't doubt that what "Xiao Meng" said was true, but she was surprised that it could analyze things. She just didn't know what other functions "Xiao Meng" had added in this "update".

Recalling "Xiao Meng" today, Fang Xiao felt that it seemed a little more alive, but apart from that, there didn't seem to be any special signs.

"Xiao Meng, what do you think we should do to treat this?" Fang Xiao asked Xiao Meng.

"Xiao Meng" suddenly turned her head and glanced at Fang Xiao.

Fang Xiao vaguely sensed the complex gaze behind the sunglasses: three parts mockery, three parts incomprehension, three parts surprise, and one part indifference.

"Director, you?" Xiao Meng asked in confusion.

Fang Xiao sighed and turned to head straight for the emergency room.

What else can be done? Closed thoracic drainage, then observation. If it heals on its own, that's good. If it doesn't, thoracoscopic surgery will be necessary for repair.

The way I asked that question is truly awful.

No wonder the AI ​​robot looked down on him. Fang Xiao felt helpless, just feeling that he was being looked down upon by the robot... no, it was "Xiao Meng's" gaze just now!

Fang Xiao pondered this with a sense of confusion, planning to leave a message for Professor Luo when she got home, telling him about what had happened that day.

When Fang Xiao arrived at the emergency department, she wasn't in a hurry. The distance was considerable, and the ambulance wasn't going to fly; it was impossible to get the person there so quickly.

"What are you all busy with?" Fang Xiao asked as she noticed the nurses in the emergency department chatting together.

"Zhang Jie's child has a good chance of getting into a top high school!" the emergency room doctor said with a smile. "A few years ago, we were saying that this appointment was worn out and we were going to open a new one. Look at that, they're really good at it."

"It's all thanks to Sister Zhang's excellent teaching!"

"Oh? How did you teach him?" Fang Xiao asked.

A nurse laughed and said, "Director Fang, I didn't teach him much. A few years ago, the child was disobedient and would fight with me over an iPad. Kids these days are well-developed, and I can't beat him."

Fang Xiao was speechless.

“I was depressed at that time. But then I thought, a husband who is worse than a son is better. Let my husband, Lao Fan, go and earn money. Whether the child is successful or not is just a matter of life and death.”

"They can get into top high schools, right?"

“Listen to me, Director Fang, after I laid down, I gave my son whatever he wanted. He could play games whenever he wanted, and our relationship was incredibly harmonious. Later, when he wanted to get a dog, I bought him a Samoyed. And let me tell you, he really loves dogs. I thought he would get tired of it after a few days and give it to me.”

One day I realized, "Isn't this my Achilles' heel?"

Fang Xiao was taken aback. A weakness?!
That makes a lot of sense... though.

“I bought regular dog food for March and told my son that our family’s financial situation is like this, and we need to save the remaining money for his future. To be honest, we definitely can’t afford good dog food, good toys, a good dog bed, or clothes.”

"Is this the reward?" Fang Xiao asked.

"Well, later the child asked me how I could buy it for him, so I made a detailed reward system for him. And you know what? The child wouldn't study for even a minute for his own sake, but for March, he studied like crazy."

"!!!" Fang Xiao regretted not knowing this method sooner.

This method is absolutely brilliant!

"He went from almost the bottom of the class to the top ten. I hope he doesn't underperform in the high school entrance exam."

Fang Xiao laughed and, seeing the nurse's worried and anxious face, offered a few words of comfort.

Just then, the sound of an ambulance came from outside.

Fang Xiaowei tensed up slightly. Ambulances rarely use their sirens; they only do so in the most urgent situations.

Unlike 20 years ago when I first started working, when I would drive an ambulance and turn on the siren to show off some kind of privilege.

Pneumothorax, could it be tension pneumothorax? Fang Xiao tensed up immediately.

Whether or not they knew each other had little to do with it; tension pneumothorax is life-threatening. As a veteran doctor, it was inevitable that Fang Xiao would be nervous after diagnosing tension pneumothorax.

Soon the ambulance arrived at the door, and several people hurriedly lifted the patient onto a stretcher and took him to the emergency room.

"Call the thoracic surgery department! Call them!" The doctor accompanying the ambulance sounded tense.

"Xiao Meng!" Fang Xiao called out to Xiao Meng subconsciously.

Unbeknownst to him, "Xiao Meng" had become Fang Xiao's last trump card.

"Xiao Meng" rushed forward with a stethoscope in her hand. After a few examinations, "Xiao Meng" retreated to Fang Xiao's side.

"Doctor, tension pneumothorax. The patient is already unconscious and has significant hypoxia."

Hey!
Why use "Xiao Meng"? Fang Xiao's friend's lips turned cyanotic, he was unconscious, his limbs were twitching, and he was about to suffocate and die.

These are all obvious symptoms, requiring no diagnosis at all. Fang Xiao's hand felt a little numb.

suddenly!

Fang Xiao stuffed something into her hand, making a rustling sound.

Looking down, I saw it was a 50ml syringe still in its packaging. And the person who inserted it was "Xiao Meng".

Gan!
Fang Xiao understood immediately.

(End of this chapter)