Chapter 42 (1/2)
Chapter 42: Postsurgery Ward Round
Zheng Ren instinctively pulled Old Chief Physician Pan aside, believing the sudden movement to be an attack from a patient’s family.
As a doctor in the hospital, not knowing a self-defense might get yourself killed.
Half a second later, Zheng Ren realized that it was an old lady kneeling before him and Old Chief Physician Pan.
“Uh…”
“Old lady, what are you doing? Come, get up.” Old Chief Physician Pan bent over to help her stand.
“Both of you are my saviors!” the old lady said as she gripped Chief Physician Pan’s hands tightly. Tears were flowing down her cheeks.
Zheng Ren quickly scurried away into a corner. He was a mere chief resident who did not deserve an elderly person’s fervent grat.i.tude.
He did not want to push his luck. The System might give him another moronic life or death mission to complete.
“You living buddha, you saved my granddaughter,” the old lady spoke through tears as she stood with the help of Chief Physician Pan.
Zheng Ren studied the old lady curiously.
When he spoke to the family prior to the surgery—including the parents of the pregnant patient—no one expressed much concern over the patient’s wellbeing. In their eyes, the unborn son was the priority.
Now, this old lady here was thanking them for saving her granddaughter.
Zheng Ren suddenly felt that his surgical work was worth it in the end. He felt appreciated.
Old Chief Physician Pan was fl.u.s.tered but had dealt with such situations before. He ushered the old lady into the room with a few words. Zheng Ren carefully followed, wanting to check on the patient’s recovery status.
A round of questioning informed Zheng Ren of the patient’s wellbeing. A day after the surgery, she had already pa.s.sed gas and was able to consume porridge.
Her complexion was much better than the last time Zheng Ren saw her. She was half-p.r.o.ne on the bed.
When the patient saw Old Chief Physician Pan walk in, she tried to sit up to convey her heartfelt grat.i.tude.
Old Chief Physician Pan pushed Zheng Ren ahead. “This man is who you should thank. He was your surgeon.”
Realizing her mistake, the young pregnant patient became sheepish.
The husband, grandparents, and parents were all crammed into the small hospital room. Multiple hands shot out to help the patient when she tried to sit up. They avoided eye contact with Zheng Ren and their movements were stiff.
Their help was unceremoniously driven away by the old lady.
Perhaps in the old lady’s eyes, only she could care for her granddaughter. The others were just ingrates and though she might be old, she was not oblivious.
Zheng Ren instantly got the patient to lie back down. Being able to pa.s.s gas and eat just a day after surgery was good progress. Zheng Ren did not want to chance her getting on her knees.
The information on the right corner of his vision stated that she showed no signs of infection or other complications. The threat of miscarriage had also vanished and she was on the path to a speedy recovery.
All was well. Zheng Ren gave a few words of encouragement to the patient and promptly dragged Old Chief Physician Pan out of the room.
“Not used to the thanks? This sort of expression is common for rural folks.” Old Chief Physician Pan was in a good mood after witnessing the pregnant patient’s recovery.
“I just don’t like the family… Except for the old lady,” Zheng Ren confessed. The incident with that particular family was a sore point and he wanted to get that off his chest.
Zheng Ren did not need to elaborate. Old Chief Physician Pan understood what he had experienced that day.
Anyone with at least five years of clinical experience would have had to handle similar scenarios. As for Old Chief Physician Pan, he had had it down to an art.
“You’ll get used to it.” Old Chief Physician Pan gave Zheng Ren a faint smile, unbothered by it all.
One had to have an open mind or be prepared to resign.
After completing their rounds in the first general surgery department, Old Chief Physician Pan took Zheng Ren to the second general surgery ward.