The first watch of the night had arrived.
----------
Noticing that Chuxia’s complexion was off, Luo Xiaoqiong beca sowhat anxious and asked, "Are you angry about Ye iru tattling, or are you upset because the director and I are leaving? Chuxia, why don’t I stay and keep you company? With by your side, you’ll be a bit stronger."
"You’re overthinking it..." Not wanting Luo Xiaoqiong to share her worries, Chuxia adjusted her emotions and smiled at her, "Parting is never a happy matter; you have to give so ti to adapt."
"Do you really not want to stay by your side?"
"How many tis do I have to say it before you’ll understand?" Chuxia sighed helplessly, "Xiaoqiong, you don’t owe anything. Don’t always treat with a mindset of repaying a debt.
Being with Director Xu is the best for your developnt. Think about it, how wonderful would it be if we could support each other one day?"
"Then why do you look so upset?" Luo Xiaoqiong frowned and scrutinized her, "There must be sothing bothering you. Don’t hide it from , Chuxia. I consider you my best friend, and I’ve told you everything. Can’t you trust in the sa way?"
"You..." Chuxia appeared helpless, "You really know how to worry people to death. Alright, it’s no harm telling you – I haven’t heard from Zhou Mikang for over half a month, so I’m a bit worried about him."
"No way?" Luo Xiaoqiong’s brows knitted together, "I just received a letter from Zhao Qiliang yesterday, and he said he would definitely be back for the New Year."
"Really?" Chuxia grabbed her eagerly, "Did my brother really say he could co back before the New Year? Did he say they’ve already started the journey back?"
"Yes, I thought you knew, so I didn’t tell you," Luo Xiaoqiong said, her cheeks flushing slightly, "He also said that he wants to spend the New Year with , wherever I am, he will be too." After saying that, she realized it wasn’t the ti to flaunt her happiness and quickly added, "I guess the commander wants to surprise you."
"Maybe that’s the case." Chuxia could only think of that reason. Since Zhao Qiliang was on his way back, Zhou Mikang, as the commander, couldn’t possibly not return. With that thought, she cald down, waved to Luo Xiaoqiong, and said, "I’m going back to work now. You should get busy too."
"Heartless!" Luo Xiaoqiong rolled her eyes at her and turned back to Director Xu’s office.
...
Halfway back, Chuxia was intercepted by Liu ijun and Yun Doudou, "Chuxia, are you alright?" Yun Doudou clutched her arm, her face full of concern.
"What’s going on?" Chuxia looked them over, "What’s with the secretive act? If you have sothing to say, say it quick. I have to get back to work."
"We got scolded, what else?" Yun Doudou gave her a look, "The whole hospital is buzzing about it – saying you didn’t help a pregnant woman and were called in for a lecture by the director.
ijun and I are well aware of your beef with that woman. Seriously, isn’t she shaless for snitching on you? Did the director really scold you? That’s too biased..."
Chuxia quickly interrupted her, "The director just talked to about interpersonal skills and didn’t scold . Moreover, I made it clear that if she tries to trouble again, I still won’t help." She deliberately lowered her voice, "Since she went to make a complaint, I have to put on a show, right? Don’t worry, go back to work. We’ll talk more at lunchti."
As she walked back, Chuxia realized why Liu ijun and Yun Doudou were so eager to find her. It seed everyone she was familiar with on the road would try to offer her words of comfort... Awkward~
Upon entering the office and seeing Wang Jing sizing her up, she quickly said, "I’m fine, really. No need to comfort ."
"Haha..." Wang Jing couldn’t help but laugh, "Who said I was comforting you? The professor asked to tell you to go see Professor Yuan as soon as you got back. Tomorrow, Professor Yuan has a surgery and has specifically requested you as an assistant. I was just curious about why you’re so popular, thinking too much, aren’t you?"
"Annoying!" Chuxia rolled her eyes at her and hurried out. Professor Yuan was using this opportunity to ntor her, and she couldn’t let him think that she didn’t take it seriously.
As she had anticipated, the surgery Professor Yuan planned to perform was a minor procedure to remove a hernia, but most importantly, Professor Yuan wanted her to be the lead surgeon.
"You-you’re... not joking with , are you?" In her haste, Chuxia began to stutter. She had only been studying for a little over seven months, after all. While she had assisted in surgeries with Song Xiaoyu, she was at most a second assistant. Now suddenly being asked to be the primary surgeon... Even for a minor procedure, that didn’t seem right, did it?
"Do I look like I have all this free ti to joke around with you?" Professor Yuan took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, "What, no confidence?"
"Well, professor, where does this great faith in co from?" Chuxia sat opposite him, staring intently, "Why do I feel like you have more confidence in than I do in myself?"
"Are you going to do it or not?" Professor Yuan put his glasses back on and stared at her, "Your choice. If you don’t, I’ll find soone else to assist. If you do, I’ll be your assistant."
"Not doing it would be foolish..." After speaking these words with bravado, Chuxia slumped again, "But Master, at least give so transition ti, like, let start as a first assistant or sothing. This is so sudden, my heart really... is nervous."
"Look at you, lacking ambition!" His words were harsh, but Professor Yuan’s tone softened, "Xiao Lin, do you think I want to take such risks? But, ti waits for no one.
Waiting for each of you to slowly complete your apprenticeship, you might have the ti, but an old man like doesn’t. While I’m still able to move, I want to teach as many as I can.
Of course, I’m not joking with the lives of patients. Your theoretical foundation is very solid, and your practical abilities are also very strong. For a student like you, focusing on intensive training, you can complete your apprenticeship in half the usual ti. So, what do you say, want to be the envy of others?"
"Master, you..." Hesitating for a mont, Chuxia said, "Could you be more explicit? What do you an by ’while you can still move’? Don’t... Don’t scare ."
"You know the condition of my legs as well as I do. There are so major surgeries that I simply don’t have the strength to perform. Even for minor surgeries, I’m just barely managing to stand through them. If this continues, there will co a day when I can’t operate anymore.
Theory and practice are entirely different things, Xiao Lin. It’s rare to find such a promising student as you, and I hope to pass on all my knowledge while I’m still capable.
I’ve already discussed this with Xiao Song, and she told to talk it over with you. If you’re willing, from now on, whenever there is a surgery on my side, I’ll have you co over to assist.
Once Old Liang arrives, I will discuss continuing this approach with him. If it weren’t for my leg being this way, it would’ve been leading you this ti. You know, back in the day, he was my apprentice!"
The people we cherish most are the likes of Elder Yuan, who have spent their lives dedicated to dicine. In his heart, there’s no struggle for power or money, fa or gain, only devotion to dicine.
Anyone slightly calculative of gains and losses wouldn’t entrust her to lead a surgery now. Bear in mind, whether successful or not, the person allowing her to step into the operating room will face controversy.
Such trust must not be taken lightly. Chuxia looked earnestly at Elder Yuan: "Master, rest assured, I will not let you down. I also won’t take the patients’ health as a joke. Right now, I will start with simulation."
"Good!" Elder Yuan’s face lit up with a huge smile, "Xiao Lin, that’s the spirit I want to see. Don’t worry, this kind of surgery is definitely within your capabilities now. As long as you believe in yourself, you are bound to succeed!"
Chuxia spent the entire day in the simulation practice room. At one point, Song Xiaoyu ca by, but Elder Yuan sent her away with a glare. What he wanted was for Chuxia to practice undisturbed.
After experinting with various hernia cases, Chuxia turned to Professor Yuan with full confidence, "Master, was that alright?"
"Not bad, you’ve achieved excellence on your first attempt. Do it again."
"Yes," Chuxia responded and repeated the previous experint.
After doing so three tis, Elder Yuan’s smile was practically splitting his face. His student’s talent had far exceeded his expectations, never having seen such skilled hands in any of his students, and even among the doctors he knew, few had such dexterity.
In his youth, he had been known for his skillful hands.
Later, due to an injury, compounded by age, his hands remained skillful but couldn’t compare to his younger days. Now, witnessing Chuxia’s nimble fingers, he felt a surge of youthful energy, as if the passion of his younger days had returned!
It wasn’t until six in the evening that Professor Yuan declared the practice session over.
The first thing Chuxia did after changing out of her clothes was to massage Elder Yuan’s legs. He had been sitting all day, and it was beyond the limit of what he could endure.
Elder Yuan didn’t refuse. There was surgery tomorrow, and he couldn’t afford to be stubborn. Despite his verbal confidence in Chuxia, he had to be fully prepared.
He wished to train her as quickly as possible, but as a true doctor, the health of the patients cos first. He couldn’t get his priorities reversed.
So now, he had to accept his pupil’s kindness, so that he could stand by her side tomorrow, to support her to the end.
Feeling the stiffness in Elder Yuan’s calf, Chuxia sniffed, "I told you not to overexert yourself. I said I would train on my own while you moved around, but you wouldn’t listen! Now, look at you, you’re the one suffering."
Elder Yuan laughed and drew back his legs, "Look at you, complaining after just a couple of massages? Alright, go ho, today is Little New Year’s Eve; don’t keep your family waiting too long."
"You know that’s not what I ant..." Chuxia said, increasing the strength in her hands, "Bear with it, it will feel better after a bit of pain."
Elder Yuan: "..." Who really is the apprentice here... (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to support it by voting for it or offering a monthly tip at Qidian (qidian). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian to continue reading.)
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