This doctor is already middle-aged, and he's only just started practicing medicine.

Chapter 172 A Shrewd Person
From Lu Cheng's and Du Qiang's perspectives, neither could convince the other. Zhang Tiesheng also couldn't respond to Lu Cheng's words, and instead comforted him, saying, "Try to take it easy."

"Just do your job well."

Lu Cheng, of course, wouldn't let Du Qiang's sudden visit disturb his composure. He sat down again and said, "Brother Zhang, why don't you go to the ward too? Also, check on the blood supply to that limb replantation case today."

"If there are any problems, they are discovered and dealt with in a timely manner."

Zhang Tiesheng rolled his eyes and said jokingly, "Working with you is the worst luck imaginable."

After subtly implying that Lu Cheng's ink-like behavior would turn everyone into ink-like seeds, Zhang Tiesheng turned and left.

But after leaving the consultation room, Zhang Tiesheng, with a cryptic look in his eyes, decided to call Director Lin Qianlong.

"Yes, Director Lin, Director Du from the general surgery department just came to the consultation room and got angry with Lu Cheng."

"I slammed the table until it was smashed; I was quite angry. I think it would be better if you handled this personally," Zhang Tiesheng reported, then put his phone back into his white coat pocket.

He murmured to himself, "That person Lu Cheng was able to save... Lu Cheng's abilities need to be reassessed..."

……

When Lu Cheng called the equipment department to report the desk being repaired, he didn't mention that Du Qiang had broken it; he simply said that it had been in disrepair for years and had cracked after someone pushed it.

It was already evening, and the equipment department staff only came over for a quick look. They determined that the desk was only slightly twisted and that it wouldn't affect normal use, so they didn't arrange for repairs immediately.

Before Lu Cheng could see the next patient, Director Lin Qianlong hurriedly entered the room in casual clothes.

Upon first seeing the wrecked table, his expression hardened: "Xiao Lu, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Director Du has restrained himself. I reckon Director Du might have something to do now." Lu Cheng knew the quality of the desks in the hospital; they couldn't be cracked by ordinary force.

Forces are reciprocal, and Lu Chengdu suspected that Du Qiang might have suffered a fracture in his hand at this moment.

“After Zhang Tiesheng called me, I also contacted Du Qiang.”

“But Du Qiang didn’t answer my call. We are not in the wrong in this matter. That day, the general surgery patients were basically taken directly to the operating room by the general surgery department without going through our emergency department.”

"The people on duty at the time didn't have time to take over, so naturally they didn't know the specifics. You don't need to take it to heart," Lin Qianlong continued to reassure him.

Lu Cheng shook his head and said, "Director Lin, I didn't take it to heart..."

After hesitating for a moment, Lu Cheng explained, "If I heard about a life-threatening emergency and volunteered to take a look at it, that would be a sign of a problem with my brain."

"No one can say that hospitals around the world have the highest mortality rates."

The emergency room is very urgent; it's a matter of life and death.

Even in the most advanced hospitals, people die in the emergency room every day; it's beyond human control.

"Okay, focus on your shift."

"I'm relieved you're alright. I still need to go out for a bit." Lin Qianlong looked around and didn't see any reason for him to stay any longer.

Since Lu Cheng was not injured, he didn't need to arrange for someone to take over Lu Cheng's shift.

It's normal to get yelled at. If getting yelled at meant you could switch shifts and not be on duty, then all the people in the emergency room would have to be ready to take over shifts every day.

The emergency department has the highest rate of medical disputes.

However, after Lin Qianlong left, Hu Shuo, who was on duty in the internal medicine emergency room, gently knocked on the door of the room.

"Xiao Hu. Is something the matter?" Lu Cheng looked up at the petite, loli-like girl.

Hu Shuo is a new emergency internal medicine doctor who joined the department in June of this year. She is 26 years old, about 1.52 meters tall, petite, and has a cute face...

Hu, who had only recently joined the company, blinked his almond-shaped eyes and offered a rather direct, comforting remark: "Dr. Lu, would you like to get some milk tea together?"

"Sure? Should you order or should I order?" Lu Cheng asked.

We're all colleagues in the emergency department, so we see each other all the time. It's common for us to eat and drink milk tea together.

Occasionally, when there is a shortage of staff in the department, the internal medicine and surgical staff will help each other.

"I'll order." Hu Shuo quickly walked in. "How about Shuyi? They have a nice jasmine milk tea... It's cheaper for two people to order together than ordering on the spot..."

Lu Cheng nodded, not insisting on treating, "I'm fine with anything."

Before Hu Shuo could pay the bill, he heard coughing coming from next door, so he quickly put on a smaller mask and went out.

"Dr. Lu, I have a patient here."

"Okay, you can go ahead and get busy. Thanks, Xiao Hu," Lu Cheng replied politely.

If someone thinks of comforting you when you've been wronged, it proves that you're doing well in the department.

If no one shows interest in you under these circumstances, you should consider whether there's something wrong with your character.

Before long, Lu Cheng was overwhelmed by the newly arrived surgical emergency patients.

Most cases are simple, involving stones, minor trauma, or people who accidentally discovered small lumps and came for a quick check-up.

Without special emergency injuries, the medical care I see is mostly quite trivial...

The skill points that can be mentioned are also trivial; Lu Cheng, who only sees patients and gives treatment advice, can only get 0.1 to 0.2 skill points.

In one night, Lu Cheng treated seventeen patients, but his total skill points were only 4.1, which was less than what he gained while working the operating room...

The next morning at eight o'clock, Lu Cheng left work as usual, and Du Daihua came to take over.

However, Lu Cheng did not go home immediately after getting off work. Instead, he rushed to the ward to make rounds.

After confirming that the patient who underwent limb replantation yesterday afternoon had no blood supply issues, Lu Cheng returned to the doctors' lounge to pack his backpack.

Just then, Director Lin Qianlong led Xie Liao, the deputy director of the medical affairs department, into the room.

At this moment, only Lu Cheng and Tian Zhuang, two doctors who had just finished their night shift, were in the break room.

"Director Lin, Director Xie," Lu Cheng and Tian Zhuang called out together.

Lin Qianlong's tone was formal: "Xiao Lu, come to my office. Director Xie is here on behalf of the hospital today."

Lu Cheng paused slightly, while Tian Zhuang muttered somewhat unconvinced, "Director Lin, Director Xie, Brother Lu did nothing wrong!"

Lu Cheng was surprised that Tian Zhuang would speak up for him.

Lin Qianlong looked at Tian Zhuang with a complicated expression and said, "You should go back and rest. You can't figure this out with your brain. Get some rest."

Lu Cheng put down his bag and followed behind Lin Qianlong and Xie Liao. Although Xie Liao didn't say a word throughout the whole process, he had a smile on his face, so it probably wasn't anything bad.

After entering the director's office, Lin Qianlong said, "I'll go arrange tea. Director Xie, you must have a good talk with Xiao Lu and try to clearly convey the hospital's message."

"This is a talent in our ward, and one of my most trusted lieutenants."

After Lin Qianlong set the tone, Lu Cheng knew that Xie Liao probably didn't come for Du Qiang.

“Dr. Lu Cheng, I am Xie Liao from the Medical Affairs Department. Actually, in principle, I shouldn’t be the one talking to you. The person who should be here is from our hospital’s Human Resources Department…” Xie Liao said.

Lu Cheng was silent for a moment, then suddenly realized: "Director Xie, do the hospital leaders have any ideas or other arrangements regarding my participation in the selection exam?"

Lu Cheng had previously expressed his intention to leave to the medical department. Although he managed to smooth things over in another way, the decision had already been made, and many people knew that he was leaving.

In this process, some leaders might get angry and make things difficult for him, but Lu Cheng is not afraid of these repercussions.

Seeing that Lu Cheng had spoken so bluntly, Xie Liao didn't dwell on it: "The institute leaders have some other ideas, so they asked me to come and sound them out first."

Xie Liao sat down and gestured for Lu Cheng to sit down as well: "Dr. Lu, you just finished your night shift, so I shouldn't bother you, but it won't take up too much of your time."

"I'm here today to accurately convey Dean Peng's message: um... do you have any thoughts about continuing to stay at our hospital?"

"Ever since you mentioned in the medical affairs department that you were going to take the selection exam, our hospital leaders have held several meetings specifically to discuss your matter, Dr. Lu."

Lu Cheng's eyes flashed.

Other realizations began to emerge in my heart.

If it weren't for Du Qiang from the general surgery department coming to him with trouble, Lu Cheng would have thought Du Qiang was just a brainless, greasy middle-aged man.

However, the things he said to Lu Cheng in private, along with his wife Wei Cheng's apology, gave Lu Cheng a new understanding of Director Du Qiang.

This guy is a real socialite, efficient, has his own way of doing things, and you can't judge him by appearances alone.

"Director Xie, could you explain it more clearly?" Lu Cheng asked.

Xie Liao said, "Lu Cheng, you are a talented person, and you know that very well. Our hospital is located in a remote area, and in fact, we are even more short of talent than the state people's hospital."

"We are especially lacking in talent like you, so the institute leaders wanted me to come and talk to you."

"Performance coefficients, promotions, and overseas training opportunities are all negotiable."

"Of course, it also depends on your own wishes. We dare not delay your pursuit of a better future."

Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents; ruining someone's future is like digging up their ancestral graves.

Without absolute hatred, no one would dare say that Lu Cheng cannot go to the state to participate in the selection exam.

What makes you say that?

Lu Cheng said, "Director Xie, the selection exam is about to start... Aren't you putting me in a difficult position?"

Xie Liao patted his chest and joked, "That's exactly why other leaders are hesitant to speak up in person."

"To put it bluntly, they're too snobbish."

"However, considering the medical conditions of the people in Long County, I was still assigned to come and find out Dr. Lu's own thoughts."

"If you are interested in this, our hospital is willing to offer our sincere support."

"Our initial plan is to raise Dr. Lu's performance coefficient directly to the associate chief physician level, which is 1.5. Your current coefficient is 1.1, so it will be increased by 0.4."

"Regarding promotions, our hospital will definitely give you priority in training, including opportunities for further study and participation in advanced training courses. As long as Dr. Lu signs up, you'll be given priority!"

Xie Liao didn't just talk about sincerity; he made it concrete.

Xie Liao continued, "Or, Dr. Lu, if you're willing to transfer from the emergency department to a specialist department, that's not out of the question."

Lin Qianlong happened to come out of the inner room of the office at that moment, and upon hearing Xie Liao's words, he immediately objected.

"Director Xie, I kindly prepared tea for you and treated you with great hospitality, and you stab my back door with an ice scalpel?"

"What do you mean that it's not impossible for Dr. Lu to go to a specialist clinic?"

Xie Liao said, "Director Lin, this is also for the sake of the overall situation."

Lin Qianlong shook his head and approached: "Stop talking about the big picture. Du Qiang from the general surgery department thinks he can just use some tricks to lure Lu Cheng away from me? Is it really that easy?"

"If this is how you can steal someone, I can do this every day." "Let Du Qiang cause a scene, let you see Lu Cheng's true strength, and then we'll give him the person in general surgery!"

"How can there be such a shameless person?"

Lin Qianlong directly exposed Du Qiang's pretense and act.

Lu Cheng's mind was in turmoil at this moment.

He had considered that Du Qiang's insults last night might not have been just for venting his anger, but he never expected Du Qiang's plan to be so ingenious.

The reason for scolding Lu Cheng was to force him to return to the general surgery department.

Tell me, would an average person even think of this...?

However, upon closer examination, it does make sense.

It was precisely because others didn't know enough about Lu Cheng that Du Qiang happened to realize that Lu Cheng's abilities were extraordinary.

What's the best way to get Lu Cheng out of the house faster? Imagine a general surgery director confronting Lu Cheng, asking why he wouldn't help him, why he wouldn't save his patient.
He smashed the table to pieces. Is that heavy enough?
If you, Lu Cheng, have such abilities, why don't you come?
This questioning, seemingly mindless, seemingly angry, seemingly blaming Lu Cheng, is actually the best defense of Lu Cheng's abilities.

Longxian People's Hospital is a grassroots hospital. Grassroots hospitals don't lack a hand surgeon, but they absolutely lack doctors who can save more lives.

Because the primary responsibility of a county hospital is simply to keep people alive. As long as they don't die, whether they're transferred to another hospital or become paralyzed, it doesn't matter...

The primary task of the county hospital is to save lives. As long as a person is saved, regardless of whether they live well or not, the task entrusted to society has been completed.

This task is not easy to complete.

Ninety-nine percent of county hospitals have patients they could save but can't.

"Director Lin..." Xie Liao was about to say something more.

Lin Qianlong immediately cut off Xie Liao's words: "Director Xie, this fundamental point will absolutely not change."

"Dr. Lu can only be most effective in the emergency department; everything else is nonsense."

"If you really care, the proper thing to do is to give Lu Cheng more surgical authorizations from the hospital level."

"The rest is nonsense."

Lu Cheng is only an attending physician and can only perform level two surgeries in principle, but most life-threatening surgeries in the emergency department are level three procedures.

Surgical authorization is something that hospitals can grant.

Even if it cannot be granted through the regular channels, the hospital's medical affairs department can apply to the health bureau for special approval.

In a county hospital, this is something that can be done in order to save more lives.

Lin Qianlong's suggestion was direct and pointed, and Xie Liao, who happened to be from the medical department, nodded: "This is something to consider, but it depends on Dr. Lu's own opinion."

"If Dr. Lu Cheng is determined to develop into a specialist doctor, Director Lin, you can't be too harsh on him."

Lin Qianlong has powerful backers and connections, but Longxian People's Hospital is not his private domain, where he can do whatever he wants.

The relationships within any organization are intricate and complex, and cannot be solely determined by one person.

Even the county party secretary, SJ, wouldn't dare to say something like "it has to be this way" in the People's Hospital; he could only say that the hospital would fully respect his decision.

And we must ensure that his decisions do not contain any major flaws.

For example, his decision to shut down the ICU directly is a terrible decision. If you issue a document, the hospital can do that, but that's the end of the road...

Someone will automatically match him with BO1.

Of course, many people can easily decide whether Lu Cheng stays or leaves.

"Director Xie, thank you for your kindness, but my choice has already been made clear."

“I’m going to take the exam, but it’s not like I can just leave after passing it. To be frank, if I fail, I would be very grateful to the hospital for their kindness if they still want me to go.” Lu Cheng’s reply was rather tactful.

This is actually one of the last resorts.

Lu Cheng could certainly fail the exam. The selection exam is not a legitimate social recruitment; there are many more ways to cheat and take shortcuts than social recruitment.

The key point is that outsiders have no idea that the selection exam exists, and there might not even be an announcement.

This is a stepping stone for many people.

It's just a stepping stone for many people, not for everyone, since everyone is afraid of backlash.

The Great Way is fifty, the Heavenly Cycle is forty-nine; leave a glimmer of hope. This principle is vividly demonstrated within the system.

Lin Qianlong said confidently, "Director Xie, we have already discussed it with Dr. Lu. From now on, Dr. Lu will only conduct clinical research in our emergency department."

“If you move to another place, Dr. Lu won’t recognize you.”

How could Lin Qianlong tolerate Lu Cheng's impulsiveness? He had clearly stated that he wanted to go to the State People's Hospital, yet he was still treating him so well?

There are reasons for that.

If you put a research topic into the emergency department of Longxian People's Hospital, you can imagine how impressive the head of the emergency department is.

When you're promoted to vice president, wouldn't this be a definite plus? Can your colleagues bring research projects to the county hospital?
"Director Xie, to be honest, if our county had the resources to conduct research projects, I really wouldn't have chosen to take the selection exam," Lu Cheng stated again.

"If you can find a suitable laboratory in Long County, I won't take this exam."

Xie Liao is an administrator; he should be more aware of the benefits the research project can bring to the hospital and individuals.

Let alone Longxian People's Hospital, even in the state-level People's Hospital, if any department can win a research project, that would be a benchmark achievement for the hospital.

As a result, the hospital will also feel that this department is developing very well and is something they can show off.

Doing research in a top-tier comprehensive teaching hospital is the norm; not doing so would be falling behind.

However, in the current atmosphere in China, not all prefecture-level city hospitals are carrying out research projects. Once you do, your department will stand out among many prefecture-level city hospitals.

The county hospital has even launched research projects… Well, let's not even go there. It's not just the only one in the province, but it's definitely among the top five, even top ten, county hospital specialties in the province—no one would dare object…

In particular, what lies behind clinical research projects are original technologies and techniques.

You can learn it first, and you can even bring it to provincial academic conferences for exchange.

The tendon suturing technique that Lu Cheng was going to implement in the emergency department was a technique that Lin Qianlong assessed and felt his department staff could learn.

It's something to look forward to.

Xie Liao frowned slightly, thought deeply for a moment, and then said, "How about this, Dr. Lu, if you still want to go out, then we can only improve your treatment."

"Other priorities? It wouldn't be appropriate to give them to you as well."

Xie Liao changed his form of address, replacing "you" with "you" (formal).

They were more polite, but also more exclusive.

Once Lu Cheng passes the selection exam and goes to the State People's Hospital, it's entirely up to him whether he chooses to conduct his research at Longxian People's Hospital, Fengxian People's Hospital, or Yongxian People's Hospital.

Verbal promises are unreliable.

If you don't make friends with people, why would they give you any benefits on their own?

If we can't offer more promotion opportunities, giving more money is also a way to build good relationships.

"Thank you, Director Xie and the hospital leaders. I personally express my sincerest gratitude for the hospital's decision." Lu Cheng knew that this was the sincerity of the county hospital.

……

Lu Cheng finally got off work.

I had just gotten home and hadn't even had a sip of water when I received a message from Director Du Qiang on my phone.

"Xiao Lu, your Uncle Du won't go into too much detail about what happened yesterday. If you don't understand today, you should understand by tomorrow or the day after at the latest."

Some things are already set in stone and there's no way to reverse them.

"But if something that has already happened can be used, then it can be used as material to develop something new."

"Come over for a drink some time later." Du Qiang's tone wasn't cold, but it conveyed an unquestionable attitude.

After reading the message, the phrase "old fox" floated into Lu Cheng's mind.

Then, she chose to delete the message history and the chat interface with Du Qiang.

These things can exist, but they cannot leave a trace.

If you really wanted to check, you could definitely check the WeChat message history, but how could an average person possibly check the message history for such a trivial matter?

Just because Du Qiang put on a show to give Lu Cheng more leverage and let the hospital know how capable Lu Cheng is, and Lu Cheng got some performance bonuses, people felt it was unreasonable to conduct such a thorough investigation.
Lu Cheng narrowed his eyes.

At this moment, I felt as innocent and naive as a child. Compared to a shrewd person like Du Qiang, I still had so much to learn.

After a while, Lu Cheng opened his eyes again.

"Ruthless!~"

"We can't be friends, but we shouldn't make enemies with him either!" Lu Cheng labeled Du Qiang in this way.

Just then, Tong Yuan'an called to ask, "Xiao Lu, were you alright last night?"

"I heard from people in the department that you got fucked last night?"

Tong Yuan'an's voice was full of concern and care.

It's obvious they took this seriously.

Tong Yuan'an has no problem with intelligence or emotional intelligence, but he is still a young fox who is not yet forty years old. He simply cannot understand the methods of an old fox like Du Qiang, a senior director who has been working his way up in the county for many years.

The complexities of society cannot be fully understood simply by reading books and having high IQ.

"It's alright, Professor Tong. Aren't you off today?" Lu Cheng asked politely.

"I had nothing else to do, so I came to check on the patients who had surgery yesterday."

“I should head back now. You weren’t too busy last night, so let’s meet up this afternoon after you’ve had a good rest,” Tong Yuan’an invited.

The research topic is there, and it definitely needs to be planned and arranged; it cannot produce results on its own.

"Okay, Ms. Tong, I'll contact you when I get back this afternoon."

At least Tong Yuan'an isn't withdrawn anymore.

(End of this chapter)