Given the chance, you still prove useless.

Page (1/3)

“I won’t say much else. We’re all from the old mine hospital, and everyone here is my senior. We’ve all witnessed the changes over the years.”

“Speaking of medical care and treatment, Director Wen, you are a provincial-level esteemed doctor, appointed two years ago—the first in our mine hospital.”

“The patient’s medical history is not difficult to understand. The old director’s handwritten records have been gathering dust in the medical archive. Why did the old director insist on writing the medical record himself? I believe there were several reasons, one of which is this!”

Pausing briefly, Luo Hao scanned the attending doctors in the auditorium.

At this moment, all the department heads and responsible attending physicians in the lecture hall were somewhat dazed.

Luo Hao, standing at the podium, looked so young. Though every word was sharp and piercing, his smile remained bright and sunny.

His gaze just now was completely different from everyone’s fixed perception of Luo Hao. It was as if they saw a shadow of Lin Yuming in him.

No, even sharper than the young Lin Yuming, perhaps even rivalling the current Lin Director, who was seasoned and formidable.

“The old director was concerned that the patient might develop postoperative complications, possibly many years later, after he had retired or even passed away. So! He feared that the junior doctors might not document the surgery properly, so he personally wrote down the key points of the operation.”

“In case complications arise in the future, the incoming doctor would have targeted information to address them.”

After finishing, Luo Hao looked at Wen Youren. “The old director personally guided your surgeries. How come Director Wen never learned his caution and meticulousness?”

At this, Wen Youren’s face darkened, shifting from red to black.

Luo Hao smiled. “Director Wen, calm down. Now let’s return to the case. To be fair, the Medical Affairs Office believes that your opinion is correct.”

???

!!!

Except for Lin Yuming, everyone else was confused by Luo Hao’s words.

They had just verbally lambasted Wen Youren, almost desecrating his ancestral tomb and inscribing Luo Hao’s name in their family genealogy as a travesty—almost like a monkey urinating on their reputation.

Yet Luo Hao turned back and said Wen Youren’s opinion was right!

What was Luo Hao doing?

What was the Medical Affairs Office doing?!

“In the past, for sump syndrome, surgery was the primary choice, but times have changed.”

“The ERCP plus ESD procedure is now the first choice.”

Luo Hao then turned to Lin Yuming.

Lin Yuming slowly put down the enamel basin in his hands.

“Pfft~”

He quietly spat out some tea leaves.

“We’ve all heard the Medical Affairs Office’s diagnosis and treatment opinions. Any differing views?”

The lecture hall fell silent.

Luo Hao had just presented the diagnostic basis, differential diagnosis, and definitive diagnosis thoroughly, even citing the old director’s handwritten surgical records to prove his point.

Opinions?

There were none.

Who dared to offer opinions?

Some had already bowed their heads, searching for sump syndrome on their phones via medical databases.

Lin Yuming waited a few seconds, then slowly said, “ERCP hasn’t been performed in our hospital yet. The equipment was purchased years ago but lacks personnel. Director Wen, Director Li, you two decide—should the patient be admitted to General Surgery or Gastroenterology?”

Wen Youren’s face turned dark as liver.

“Director Lin, admit him to our department,” Director Li stood and said, “The endoscopy unit is under our management, and our specialties are closely related. It was my mistake to send the patient to General Surgery; I apologize to Director Wen here.”

As soon as Director Li finished speaking, he turned to apologize to Wen Youren.

Lin Yuming’s words were clear: whoever takes this patient will be responsible for developing ERCP surgery in the future.

Normally, Director Li might have pondered and weighed the pros and cons before deciding.

But after being harshly reprimanded by Wen Youren just now, with his anger still burning and the Medical Affairs Office backing him up, he was definitely going to accept this responsibility.

Even if it were a heavy burden, as long as it unsettled Wen Youren, Director Li was willing to take it.

“Director Wen?” Lin Yuming asked calmly.

Wen Youren remained silent, his expression darkening.

Seeing that Director Wen did not respond, Lin Yuming tapped the table and proceeded to arrange the subsequent matters.

“So the Medical Affairs Office has already contacted experts from Medical University One…”

In the lecture hall, a responsible attending physician whispered in surprise to their director.

The director’s face was serious, lips moving silently as he looked at Lin Yuming holding the enamel basin.

“Director, it looks like the Medical Affairs Office is really coming down hard on Director Wen.”

“So what if they are?” the director whispered back.

“Huh?”

“Director Wen has handled things unscrupulously; no wonder the Medical Affairs Office hit hard. After running amok for over ten or twenty years, he finally hit a wall.”

“How will Director Wen face people in the hospital from now on?”

“Cannot treat patients properly, yet blames others? For us doctors, incompetence is original sin!”

The lecture hall buzzed softly with whispers as doctors discussed and watched Lin Yuming and Wen Youren.

Lin Yuming’s arrangements were straightforward; the meeting was adjourned in less than two minutes.

This unprecedented hospital-wide consultation turned all department heads into monkeys, with Wen Youren as the sacrificed chicken.

The meeting ended, and everyone left.

“Old Wen, wait a moment,” Lin Yuming called out with a smiling face.

Wen Youren saw Lin Yuming greet him as if nothing had happened, the smile beneath that greeting was like a dagger stabbing his chest—his heart almost gave out.

Lin Yuming was definitely no good person; he hid a knife behind his smile and stabbed with ruthless precision.

The worst part was that after stabbing, he still cheerfully called Wen “Old Wen,” as if nothing had occurred.

“Old Wen,” Lin Yuming said, holding the enamel basin as he walked over, “Originally, I intended General Surgery to handle ERCP, with the endoscopy unit shared between your two departments. After all, surgery departments are better equipped to handle emergencies if complications arise.”

Director Li shuddered as if whipped.

“But you wasted the opportunity.”

Lin Yuming patted Wen Youren’s shoulder regretfully and left.

“You had the chance but were useless!”

Those words struck Wen Youren’s coronary artery like a heavy hammer.

Eighty~

Eighty~~

Eighty~~~

Thump~ thump~~ thump~~~

Wen Youren’s vision blurred, almost losing balance.

Chest pain and difficulty breathing overwhelmed him; he felt all three coronary arteries spasm simultaneously.

…

…

“小 Luo, you did well in the case discussion.”

In the Medical Affairs Director’s office, Lin Yuming was generous with praise.

“Not bad; I used to do similar things at school, so I’m used to it.”

“But some matters are better handled by an old-timer like me. You could be gentler. Just now, you were a bit sharp—too offensive. Insulting people should be my job,” Lin Yuming said.

“I thought about it, but I felt it was useless. Once the relationship is broken, worrying about offending others is meaningless,” Luo Hao replied calmly. “Besides, Wen Youren incited the patient’s family to sue Professor Liu from the flying knife department—such things I cannot accept. If I don’t scold him, my moral compass is unsteady.”

Lin Yuming looked up and down at Luo Hao, holding the enamel basin, smiling without speaking.

“By the way, Uncle, I have something to report.”

“Go ahead.”

“We have the ERCP equipment at our mine hospital, but no consumables.”

“I’ll contact Director Shi and have him bring them.”

Luo Hao nodded, not mentioning his arrangement with Manager Yin.

He just needed to supplement his side; Luo Hao always handled matters cautiously, carefully, and discreetly.

“Uncle, your last remark almost gave Director Wen a heart attack,” Luo Hao laughed.

“Speaking frankly,” Lin Yuming said, “If cardiac surgery doesn’t do interventional procedures, the circulatory department will. If general surgery doesn’t do gastroscopy, gastroenterology will. The boundaries between internal medicine, surgery, and non-surgical departments are increasingly blurred. You understand this better than I do. Times have changed.”

“Not seeing this twenty years ago was understandable, but what era is this now? Still not getting it? That’s stupidity.”

Luo Hao nodded.

Indeed, Wen Youren was given a chance but failed.

“That remark was also for other department heads—there will be more opportunities in the future, and I hope they seize them.”

“Uncle, what are you planning…”

“The pressure from medical insurance is too great. Many treatments can no longer follow old paths. Whether we want to change or not, we must.”

“Complaining is useless; better to change. The sooner the better, so we can enjoy the good days longer. As for the future, who knows? Maybe someday America will split into a dozen countries, and our lives will improve.”

Hmm, all responsibility on the Americans, Luo Hao thought with a smile.

…

…

“Master, you didn’t attend the hospital-wide consultation. Director Lin was amazing!!” Chen Yong excitedly told Jiang Wenming.

“Heh,” Jiang Wenming glanced at the outline in the document, distractedly smiling.

“Didn’t expect you were right, Master. Director Lin isn’t a coward; he just found a chance to really hit Director Wen hard.”

“I saw it,” Jiang Wenming said. “Just finished the meeting, and I received a pile of WeChat messages.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve worked in hospitals for over ten years, and I have a few friends and acquaintances. They told me.”

Jiang Wenming smiled. “Luo Hao is quite an interesting kid.”

Mentioning Luo Hao, Chen Yong fell silent.

Only this time, his neck felt a bit soft, not stiff.

“In such a short time, he made a PPT with solid reasoning that left Director Wen speechless. This is a medical knowledge steamroll—a dimensionality reduction strike. Director Wen has a bad temper, but Luo Hao pointing fingers and scolding him was really satisfying!”

“By the way, Chen Yong, did you try to get Luo Hao to go to the internet café?”

Chen Yong frowned and shook his head.

“Luo Hao doesn’t play games—he’s even more frugal than you, Master.”

“Me frugal? Not at all! I live as comfortably as possible,” Jiang Wenming said. “Besides, which young person doesn’t play games… So, what’s your relationship with Luo Hao?”

Chen Yong recalled scolding Luo Hao in the fire escape just now, bitterness in his mouth.

“You…” Jiang Wenming understood his young apprentice well. He sighed. “Trust me. Go find Luo Hao and try to join his medical team.”

“He’s still in the Medical Affairs Office. Where’s the medical team?”

“You’re just stubborn,” Jiang Wenming looked away from the document and stared deeply at Chen Yong. “First was cyst puncture, now Director Lin is pushing ERCP strongly. I guess it’s due to heavy pressure from medical insurance.”

“This is a good opportunity. When I was young, I never had such a chance. If a pie falls on your head, be prepared and know it’s a pie; otherwise… What did Director Lin say?”

“You had the chance but were useless.”

!!!

Chen Yong was stunned.

How did his own matters get involved?

Opportunity—is this really an opportunity?

…

…

Three days later, after anti-inflammatory and symptomatic treatment, the patient’s condition stabilized.

Lin Yuming contacted Director Shi from Medical University One to perform the surgery.

Because the mine hospital only had the machines but no consumables, Director Shi brought the manufacturer’s sales representative with him to Donglian City.

Bringing a manufacturer’s sales rep along for flying knife procedures was common years ago. But with intensified anti-corruption in healthcare, it was now rare.

Director Shi and the sales manager sat in the high-speed train’s business cabin, feeling uncomfortable.

If not for his attachment to Luo Hao’s potential, Director Shi wouldn’t have come. At most, he would have kept a bed for the patient and sent them to the provincial capital.

Getting off the train, Director Shi was greeted by Luo Hao’s radiant smile.

All his anxieties vanished instantly.

This kid Luo Hao was truly excellent, pleasant to look at.

“Hello, Director Shi,” Luo Hao greeted him.

He glanced around and didn’t carry the manufacturer’s sales rep’s suitcase but took Director Shi’s backpack instead.

“小 Luo, how’s the preparation?”

“Director Shi, our mine hospital last did ERCP five years ago, also inviting a professor for a single case. Now everything is starting anew. If you have any requests, just say them. We’ll do our utmost,” Luo Hao replied.

Director Shi knew Luo Hao’s fundamentals were solid. They had communicated extensively in the group chat. The patient’s information was detailed, with surgical indications and no contraindications.

Luo Hao’s main worry was the consumables.

“I brought the manufacturer’s sales rep with me,” Director Shi whispered, “Only this once, not again. If someone catches us, it’ll be hard to explain.”

“All right, Director Shi, rest assured,” Lin Yuming said.

Treating a patient and performing surgery while acting like thieves—Director Shi found this amusing.

He chatted lightly with Lin Yuming a bit, then took Luo Hao into the car.

“小 Luo, today you assist me so I can see your level.”

“I haven’t done this before,” Luo Hao replied humbly.

Lin Yuming’s expression darkened.

ERCP requires endoscopy and fluoroscopy for stone removal.

If Luo Hao had requested this, Lin Yuming would have firmly refused and scolded him.

But since it was Director Shi’s request, which seemed to carry additional implications, Lin Yuming said nothing.

“Never done it? I don’t believe it,” Director Shi laughed. “I saw your pre-op preparation; very detailed. If my doctors were half as careful, I’d go burn incense at the temple on New Year’s Day.”

“…” Lin Yuming was stunned.

He didn’t expect Director Shi to praise Luo Hao so highly.

“If not for you, I wouldn’t have come to do this surgery,” Director Shi admitted. “Though it’s about curing patients, others see it as medical corruption. Forget that. Prepare yourself, during surgery you assist me.”

“All right, Director Shi.”

Luo Hao did not object and agreed.

“小 Luo, we haven’t worked much together, but I have to say something. Consider it speaking frankly despite our shallow acquaintance.”

“Director Shi, you’re too kind. As a young person, I certainly need guidance from senior teachers.”

“Do you play games?” Director Shi asked suddenly.

Luo Hao was taken aback, then answered, “Yes.”

“Do you watch League of Legends matches?”

Page (2/3)

“Yes.”

“In 2018, the IG team won the League of Legends S8 championship held in Incheon, you know that, right?”

“Beyond this mountain, they will hear your story.”

Luo Hao immediately understood what Director Shi meant.

Lin Yuming and the manufacturer’s sales rep listened, utterly bewildered.

“Everywhere, it’s about curing patients. That’s true. But with great power comes great responsibility.”

Director Shi was even more pleased with Luo Hao; speaking to a smart person was effortless.

“I don’t know why you didn’t stay in the capital but returned to Donglian City. But beyond this mountain, they will hear your story.”

Director Shi advised.

“Thank you, Director Shi.”

“You’re welcome. If you have ideas, contact me,” Director Shi said. “If you feel uncertain, you can first apply for further training at Medical University One to adapt. By the way, what is your medical license scope?”

Luo Hao felt a bit embarrassed and scratched his head. “Director Shi, I have seven licenses.”

“!!!”

Director Shi was stunned.

He stared at Luo Hao as if seeing him for the first time.

Seven intermediate licenses, seven practice scopes—there must be countless stories behind this.

His casual remark—‘beyond this mountain, they will hear your story’—turned out to be true; Luo Hao was indeed a young man with a story.

“Good, good! Very good!”

Director Shi repeated three times.

Lin Yuming was also surprised. He would never believe Luo Hao was cunning and scheming, but otherwise, there was no reasonable explanation.

“Looks like the physician’s platform is essential,” Director Shi glanced at the manufacturer’s sales rep, cautiously saying, “Nowadays, not only do doctors avoid interacting with manufacturers, but manufacturers also avoid too much contact with doctors.”

“After all, to avoid conflicts of interest.”

“To be frank, finding another doctor in the province to bring manufacturers and consumables to Donglian City for surgery is basically impossible. Why can I do it?”

“Platform and skill,” Luo Hao said. “The platform of Medical University One and your expertise, Director Shi, are what manufacturers need.”

“Right, neither can be lacking,” Director Shi said. “Beyond this mountain, they will hear your story. Donglian City is small; you can easily get over it.”

Luo Hao pondered and nodded slightly.

Seeing Luo Hao’s vague response, Director Shi was not impatient. Lin Yuming cared even more and tried to inquire indirectly but Director Shi changed the subject.

Arriving at the hospital, they first examined the patient as usual.

Many experts and professors arrive when the patient is already on the operating table, but this is non-compliant and risky.

Preoperative patient assessment is essential.

After several days of symptomatic treatment, the patient’s condition eased. Director Shi examined the patient, then led his team to the operating room.

Luo Hao helped Director Shi put on the lead apron; Director Shi scrubbed in.

When Luo Hao donned his lead gear, Lin Yuming entered the changing room and scrutinized him sternly.

“Lead collar, lead cap.”

“…”

Luo Hao glanced helplessly at his passive skill “Energy Conversion,” feeling resigned.

Because Lin Yuming wouldn’t permit Luo Hao to perform interventional surgery, he hadn’t had the chance to test this ability and see if it was useful.

Today, at Director Shi’s request, Lin Yuming did not refuse but insisted Luo Hao be properly armored before entering.

Luo Hao did not argue with his uncle Lin Yuming and carefully put on the lead cap and collar.

“Director Lin, no need to worry so much,” Director Shi said. “The surgery is quick; the suturing takes less than five minutes.”

“Heh,” Lin Yuming gave a dry smile without any concession.

Under Lin Yuming’s watchful eye, Luo Hao entered the operating room.

The gastroscope passed smoothly through the esophagus and stomach, reaching the duodenum where they found the main right tract, shaped as RT (as noted in the surgical records… other shapes exist but no need to elaborate). The opening resembled gastric villi.

Standing beside Director Shi, Luo Hao’s eyes followed the scope on the screen, while his peripheral vision carefully observed Director Shi’s movements.

When Director Shi raised his hand, Luo Hao handed him the contrast catheter.

The movement was so smooth that Director Shi paused as if the image froze.

After inserting the contrast catheter, they injected 30% meglumine diatrizoate, visualizing the bile duct.

An X-ray showed the common bile duct diameter about 2.0 cm, with several filling defects, round and irregular shapes, the largest about 1.5 x 1.2 cm, all mobile.

Luo Hao, using his remaining surgical training time, attempted treatment. The patient had stones impacted in the intrahepatic bile ducts.

The imaging once again proved the system’s reliability.

Seeing Director Shi reach out again, Luo Hao handed him the prepared pull-type incision knife.

It was as if Director Shi always had a pull-type incision knife in hand—the movements were fluid and smooth, like a magician producing and vanishing the knife at will.

“小 Luo, look inside here,” Director Shi, confident that Luo Hao knew what was needed, spoke in a friendly tone.

“There’s a stone stuck in the common bile duct,” Luo Hao said.

“Few people in the province can remove such stones,” Director Shi smiled, watching the screen. “I’m one of them.”

Luo Hao watched expectantly.

Director Shi reached out and caught the three-pronged basket in his palm.

Without looking, he weighed it and frowned.

“小 Luo, I don’t want this one. Give me a…”

Halfway through speaking, Director Shi realized he wasn’t at home but at the mine hospital in Donglian City.

The smooth surgery stopped abruptly. Director Shi glanced back at the sterile table.

Only a three-pronged stone retrieval basket was available!

He thought for a moment, raised both hands to chest height, and turned to find the manufacturer’s sales rep.

He glanced but saw no one.

The smoothly progressing surgery was forcibly halted, and a hint of anger flashed across Director Shi’s kindly face.

“Director Lin, call Xiao Wei in here,” Director Shi said stiffly.

Lin Yuming realized the surgery had encountered difficulty, possibly needing special consumables. He didn’t adhere to the rule forbidding suppliers in the OR and turned to call someone.

Soon, the manufacturer’s sales rep whom Director Shi brought entered.

“Xiao Wei, where’s the Skylite stone retrieval basket?” Director Shi asked.

The sales rep hesitated, opening his suitcase and searching item by item.

Director Shi didn’t hear an answer but already understood the rep hadn’t brought the Skylite basket.

This was the most frustrating thing about flying knife procedures out of town.

Various equipment and consumables not fitting well, now not allowed to bring manufacturer reps meant any problem could disrupt the surgery.

Damn!

Director Shi cursed silently, his expression darkening further.

The three-pronged basket could be used but would drastically raise the surgery’s difficulty and create countless unpredictable risks.

“Didn’t bring it?” Director Shi asked impatiently.

“…” The sales rep remained silent.

Just as Director Shi was about to scold, a clear voice interrupted.

“Director Shi, if it’s the Skylite stone retrieval basket, I might have the consumables needed on my side.”