991 Beating Around the Bush (1/2)

Ling Ran got off work on time. He returned home for dinner and prepared to start operating on patients again.

For the past few days, Ling Ran had been alternating between working in the hospital for two days and taking a day off. He would be away for the hospital for two or three days a week, and during these off days, he would either be working in his family clinic or going for freelance surgeries.

This was normal for ordinary senior doctors, especially those who were rather renowned. Not only could they earn some extra income by performing freelance surgeries on their off days, but they could also put in some practice so that their skills would not get rusty.

Ling Ran agreed with this way of life. When it came to hepatectomy, which was the surgery he most commonly performed, he was able to reach a new level courtesy of his own efforts. As for other surgeries such as finger replantation surgery, Achilles tendon repair, splenectomy, and orchiectomy, there were very few ways for him to level those skills up.

Compared with other surgical methods, Ling Ran was relatively skilled at Achilles tendon repair surgery. Hence, by continuing to bring in patients with damaged Achilles tendons to Lower Groove Clinic, Ling Ran was able to continuously improve his skills.

”Doctor Ling, you're back.” Miao Tansheng was the first one who headed out to welcome Ling Ran when he heard the engine of Ling Ran's Volkswagen Jetta.

”Yeah. Have you gotten the patient ready yet?” The first thing Ling Ran asked Miao Tansheng about when he saw him was the surgery that would be carried out soon.

”About that… Doctor Ling, do you want to have some soup first? Madam Tao made a huge pot of okra soup today and treated all of us to it…”

Ling Ran stopped in his tracks. He knew very well that Miao Tansheng was beating around the bush. Back when he was in school, there were often girls who beat around the bush and talk about irrelevant things before revealing their true intention by giving him gifts or even love letters.

It only took one glance at Miao Tansheng for Ling Ran to know that Miao Tansheng was hiding something from him.

”Just get straight to the point.” Ling Ran was a straightforward person. ”Be brief,” he said.

Miao Tansheng looked rather exasperated as he said, ”In short, the patient ran away.”

”Ran away?” Ling Ran did not expect things to turn out this way. He asked, ”Isn't the patient a sixteen-year-old teenage girl?”

”Yes.”

”Does this count as running away from home?” Ling Ran did not expect Miao Tansheng to give an answer to this question. He continued, ”Has the patient been found yet? Did you guys make a police report?”

”Yes.” Miao Tansheng shrugged and sighed. ”But that's the problem.”

”Yeah?”

”Now, the patient's family members are saying that they intend to consult doctors from other hospitals to get a second opinion.” After Miao Tansheng told Ling Ran everything, he felt a little more relaxed. He added in an obsequious manner, ”I reckon that the patient wants a small incision and a strong Achilles tendon at the same time.”

Ling Ran did not comment on this. He merely asked, ”Did you explain things to them?”

Miao Tansheng explained anxiously, ”Yes, over the phone. Because I was only able to communicate with them over the phone. I've also warned them that they should not consult doctors the same way they go shopping and that they could not just keep making comparisons between different doctors. But they insisted upon it. They were pretty polite, but they refused to send their daughter over for surgery.”

”It's okay if she doesn't want to receive surgery.” After listening to what Miao Tansheng said, Ling Ran understood what was going on. He whipped out his phone and said, ”If there're no more patients arranged for tonight, I'll start gaming.”

”Sure… About this… are you angry?” Miao Tansheng shut his eyes, and he was prepared to receive a scolding.

If the patient chickened out two days before the surgery, he could have arranged for another patient to receive surgery tonight.

However, because the patient only opted out right before the surgery, there was nothing that Miao Tansheng could do.

Ling Ran shook his head. ”It's normal for patients to change their minds. Aside from this, it's also very risky for this sixteen-year-old to undergo surgery with a large incision. She might not have made a wrong choice by opting out of it.”

”Huh? It's very risky?”

”Yeah. The patient's Achilles tendon is relatively short, and her bones and muscles aren't exactly well-positioned either. Hence, she's certainly not a very talented dancer. It would be quite risky for her to attempt to reach great heights when it comes to dancing.” As Ling Ran spoke, he tapped on the icon for Kings of Glory on his phone. He then continued, ”It might be a more suitable choice for her to opt for minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair so that scarring can be minimized. She can then develop a new hobby.”