24. One Must Always Be on Guard Against Others

Wen Youren felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Could his master really be...?

The others in the operating room were equally bewildered by Wang Guohua’s remark, falling into a tense silence. Lin Yuming, in particular, remained expressionless, though a tidal wave of turmoil was rising within him.

Wen Youren was easy to handle, but Wang Guohua was a different story. The old man was a master of surgery, a figure of prestige even at the provincial level, and unlike Wen Youren, he didn't resort to underhanded tactics. If Wang Guohua truly decided to back Luo Hao, things would become incredibly difficult.

Luo Hao remained focused on the surgery, seemingly oblivious to the praise.

"Ding!"

As Luo Hao finished the final stitch, the sound of a completed system task echoed in his ears.

【Emergency Task: Benign or Malignant – Completed】
【Task Content: Diagnose the cause of the intussusception and perform a successful surgical treatment.】
【Task Duration: 8 hours.】
【Task Reward: 10,000 EXP, Auxiliary Diagnosis AI Fragment ×2.】

With three fragments now in his possession, Luo Hao was eager to see what the AI would look like once he collected them all. If only he could see everyone’s health bars like in a game, or better yet, gain the god-tier ability to see buffs and debuffs—that would be perfect.

However, after some time, Luo Hao had come to understand the system: it could be incredibly generous one moment and stingy the next. It seemed to depend on its mood, if a system could even have such a thing.

With Wang Guohua’s assistance, Luo Hao completed the surgery. Feeling great after receiving the rewards, he turned to the elder.

"Xiao Luo, you’re not in a rush to head home, are you?" Wang Guohua asked while peeling off his sterile gown.

"Director Wang, if you need me to stay, I’m not going anywhere," Luo Hao replied with a smile.

Wen Youren stood to the side like a ghost, bearing the brunt of his master’s blatant disregard. This indifference from Wang Guohua was far more stinging than anything Lin Yuming had said the other day, even though Wang Guohua hadn’t pointed a finger at him or uttered a single reprimand.

"Tell me about how you handled that patient from twenty years ago. I heard you didn’t perform surgery, yet the patient was discharged and home within three days," Wang Guohua said, his voice booming and resonant, echoing through the operating room like a deep valley.

But emptier than any valley was Wen Youren’s heart. Had his master turned against him? Shouldn't his master be standing on his side at a time like this? Wen Youren thought in a daze.

Lin Yuming’s heart also sank; he was worried that Wang Guohua was here to stir up trouble.

"One moment, Director Wang," Luo Hao said, stepping aside to whisper a few words to Lin Yuming.

"Understood, I’ll get on it right away," Lin Yuming replied, taking his phone and stepping out of the operating room.

"Where is Section Chief Lin going?" Wang Guohua asked.

"There’s an imaging record of the ERCP. It’ll be easier to explain with the visuals."

"Before I retired, I heard that the South had begun developing ERCP technology. Later, two second-tier professors at the Provincial Medical University’s Second Hospital established a gastrointestinal endoscopy team to handle related procedures. I’d always longed to see it, but I was getting old, my learning pace had slowed, and with my retirement looming, I never saw it here at the Mining Hospital."

"Ding!"

As Wang Guohua reminisced, another system prompt sounded.

【Long-term Main Task 2: Promote to Grade 4 Professor.】
【Task Content: Reach the rank of Grade 4 Professor as soon as possible.】
【Task Duration: 3 years.】
【Task Reward: Surgical Level +1, Attribute Points +5.】

*Holy crap!* Luo Hao was stunned. Surgical Level +1! Five attribute points! These were real, tangible rewards.

Professors were graded, too. In affiliated hospitals of medical schools, associate chief physicians qualified to lecture students were associate professors, while chief physicians were professors. This rank was the Grade 4 Professor level. Grade 3 professors could mentor Master’s students, Grade 2 could mentor PhD candidates, and there were only a few dozen Grade 1 professors nationwide—all of them academicians.

Promoting to a Grade 4 Professor... it seemed... it seemed like something he could actually achieve!

But what did this task have to do with Wang Guohua wanting to see the ERCP? Luo Hao was puzzled.

"They were researching appendectomy via colonoscopy. When I first heard that news, I scoffed. I thought it was nonsense, just messing around!" Wang Guohua sighed. "During these years of retirement, I’ve been reading, and I’ve come to realize there’s actually some merit to it. My previous assessment was too shallow."

"Director Wang, performing an appendectomy with a colonoscope is just showing off; it’s largely meaningless," the anesthesiologist chimed in. "I personally think your initial opinion was correct."

"There is a fundamental difference between being able to do something and not being able to do it. If you can do it but choose not to, do you understand the implications?" Wang Guohua asked.

The anesthesiologist nodded, then shook his head. Wang Guohua didn’t explain further. "I’ve reviewed some literature and became very interested in ERCP, but some aspects are hard to grasp. It’s perfect! Xiao Luo, you can explain it to me."

Luo Hao glanced at the time. "Director Wang, why don’t I take you home to rest? It’s getting late. I’ll come pick you up first thing in the morning."

"What’s the point of sleeping?" Wang Guohua said dismissively. "My bones are rusting from sleeping at home every day."

Luo Hao wanted to persuade him—the old man was over sixty, after all—but when he saw the glint of excitement in Wang Guohua’s eyes, he let it go. Wang Guohua had spent his whole life performing surgeries and treating patients. Even after retirement, he didn't spend his days square dancing or shopping for groceries; he spent them reading. He was constantly summarizing and reflecting on his life’s successes and failures, leading to new insights into techniques like ERCP. To deny him this would be a form of torture.

"Director Wang, let’s go to the gastrointestinal endoscopy room," Lin Yuming said upon returning.

"First, take the patient back... what’s-your-name... Youren, you take the patient back. Report to me immediately if there are any issues." Wang Guohua still held the air of a veteran director.

Wen Youren gritted his teeth and replied, beginning to help transport the patient. He was no longer mentioning his own heart condition or his hospitalization; he was moving with incredible efficiency.

Luo Hao and Lin Yuming accompanied Wang Guohua to the endoscopy room. The doctor on duty didn't know how to operate the machine, so Luo Hao stepped in, quickly pulling up the day’s images to explain them to Wang Guohua. He covered everything: from the surgery twenty years ago to complications, the timeline of technological advancement, diagnostic imaging, and the specific process of the ERCP. He left no detail untouched.

Wang Guohua asked questions from time to time, and Luo Hao answered them patiently. Lin Yuming stood silently in the back, watching them discuss the procedure. "Little Trumpet" had really grown up; Lin Yuming almost felt like he was experiencing an illusion. Only recently, he had thought Xiao Luo was wasting his eight years of combined Master’s and PhD training at Peking Union Medical College, coming back with nothing but connections. Now, he realized Xiao Luo’s connections weren't just from schmoozing; he had the technical prowess to match. Only those who truly understood technique could respect it. A kid who could get into Union’s eight-year program was never going to be mediocre.

"Good!"
"Marvelous!"
Wang Guohua exclaimed repeatedly. By the time Luo Hao finished, the elder’s face was glowing with excitement.

"Dr. Xiao Luo, you can perform this, right?"
"I can do the simple ones, but the overly complex ones are still beyond me," Luo Hao said modestly.

Wang Guohua’s right pinky finger twitched; he pondered for a few seconds. "Next time there’s a surgery, call me immediately!"

Luo Hao just smiled. Wang Guohua was sharp—he realized instantly why Luo Hao hadn’t given a definitive answer.

"In that case, I’ll go to the hospital administration tomorrow."
"Director Wang, why are you going to the administration?" Lin Yuming asked, surprised.

"This field is lucrative, yet neither the Gastroenterology nor General Surgery departments are willing to touch it. If they won’t do it, I will!" Wang Guohua said, his spirit high. He waved his hand dismissively. "Dr. Xiao Luo isn’t married yet and shouldn’t be exposed to radiation. I’ll take care of it."

"You..."
"Don't talk nonsense," Wang Guohua cut him off. "I don’t believe that wearing a lead apron will do me in. Look at the first generation of interventional surgeons—Xu Ke is the Dean of the TCM University now, and he didn’t die young."

"Professor Xu fell ill a few years ago," Lin Yuming reminded him.
"Does that have anything to do with radiation?" Wang Guohua countered. "To talk about harm without mentioning dosage is just nonsense."

Lin Yuming didn't press the matter. Wang Guohua had been a man of his word back in the day; once he made up his mind, there was no changing it.

On the way to drop Wang Guohua off, the old man kept chattering about the technical details of ERCP and ESD. Having spent a lifetime in surgery, he knew anatomy inside and out, and his questions were incredibly sharp. If Luo Hao’s surgical level hadn't been boosted to Grade 4 by the system, he might not have been able to satisfy the old man’s curiosity.

They stood at the doorstep for another ten minutes before Wang Guohua’s wife finally pulled him inside. Declining the invitation to stay, Lin Yuming left with Luo Hao, feeling a sense of relief.

"Uncle, I think there’s something wrong with the way Director Wang treats Director Wen. It’s not what I expected," Luo Hao said once they were clear.

"That’s ancient history," Lin Yuming said, lighting a cigarette. He didn't offer one to Luo Hao. "Rumor has it that Wen Youren’s parents helped Director Wang back when he was being persecuted. He’s repaying the favor by bringing Wen Youren along and teaching him everything he knows. It’s a pity that Wen Youren... he really hasn’t lived up to the opportunities."

*So that was it.* Luo Hao nodded.

"Little Trumpet, I’m warning you—it’s fine for Director Wang to do interventional surgery, but you’re still young, so absolutely do not touch it!" Lin Yuming warned sternly.

"I know, I know," Luo Hao nodded obediently.

"Also, be wary of Director Wang’s attitude. Don’t trust others too easily. They are master and apprentice with decades of history. You are my nephew, and you just pulled a fast one on Wen Youren, so keep your guard up."

Luo Hao nodded. "Do not have the intent to harm, but do not lack the intent to defend."

After a few more words, they went their separate ways. When Luo Hao got home, Lin Yuejuan was already asleep. He changed quietly, washed up, and fell into a deep sleep.

Early the next morning, Luo Hao was awakened not by his alarm, but by the voice of Auntie Wang next door. "This is rice from Xiangshui, it’s delicious..."

*What’s going on this early?* Luo Hao wondered.

"Mom, say less," Zhou Tianci said with an embarrassed chuckle.

*Oh, it’s Zhou Tianci.* Luo Hao walked out in his pajamas.

"Luo Hao, you're up," Zhou Tianci said, looking awkward. "I meant to come over last night, but I saw your car wasn't back, so I didn't want to disturb you."

"I had an emergency surgery; I was busy late."

Zhou Tianci held a bag of rice in one hand and a crude cardboard box in the other, a sheepish smile on his face. "I went on a grassroots inspection a few days ago, and they gave me some local produce. We can’t finish it all, so I brought some for Auntie Lin to try."

"You’re too kind. Is Section Chief Zheng’s grandson back?" Luo Hao asked.

"Yes, the surgery went very smoothly. He was discharged in three days. Regarding the follow-up... Director Cui said to just come to you directly."

*Director Cui.* The name felt unfamiliar. After a few seconds, Luo Hao realized he meant Cui Mingyu, the godson.

"You mean Mingyu? He got promoted to Director?"
"Deputy Director of the ward, just promoted."

*Oh?* He hadn’t even told him! Cui Mingyu’s depth was becoming harder to fathom, Luo Hao thought.

"Luo Hao, when should the kid come for the check-up?"
"Half a month post-op. Contact me in advance, and we’ll do an echocardiogram. It’s a minor procedure, don't worry too much," Luo Hao explained. "Recovery after an occluder procedure is usually excellent; rare complications are very few."

Luo Hao’s last sentence came out a bit awkwardly because he saw the tension on Zhou Tianci’s face at the mention of "complications."

"Don't worry, it’s fine," Luo Hao said, switching to a more affirmative tone to reassure him.

"Half a month, that would be..." Zhou Tianci "casually" set down the gifts, took out his phone to make a note, and confirmed the time with Luo Hao. He didn't linger; he knew that overstaying his welcome was counterproductive. After setting the date, he pulled Auntie Wang away before she could keep chatting.

Once they were gone, Lin Yuejuan asked, "Is that the patient you mentioned before?"

"Yes. He saw Cui Mingyu. I didn't expect him to be a deputy director now." When Lin Yuejuan looked confused, Luo Hao added, "The classmate who stayed at our place for over half a month, ate a whole bag of rice, and acted like a starving ghost."

"Oh, him! He’s a director now? Time flies."

"Even if it’s just a deputy director, it’s too fast. It’s strange," Luo Hao mused.

Luo Hao’s "fast" and Lin Yuejuan’s "fast" meant different things.

"You’ve all got bright futures. Tell Mingyu to come over for a meal when he has time; I’ll make his favorite braised pork."
"You got it."

Luo Hao brushed his teeth, washed his face, sent a message to Cui Mingyu, and rushed to the hospital. After changing, he checked on the intussusception patient from the day before. The patient was awake and doing well. Some illnesses, once diagnosed clearly and treated promptly, were just simple matters. If he hadn't made the immediate diagnosis, the patient would likely have undergone a more invasive surgery, requiring more of the intestine to be removed and leading to a slower recovery.

With time before the shift change, Luo Hao changed the patient’s dressing and checked the incision. As he walked out, he ran into Chen Yong.

"Why are you here so early?!" Chen Yong asked in surprise.
"Shift change is in half an hour," Luo Hao said.

"I asked, why are you here *so* early?" Chen Yong pressed. "I’ve noticed you’re very good at changing the subject."

Luo Hao smiled. "When I was at Union, my teachers were strict. If I couldn't answer their questions during morning rounds, the consequences were severe. To save face, we all got into the habit of arriving at least an hour early."

"..."

"I guess that’s how the rumors about Union students having solid foundations got started." Luo Hao looked at Chen Yong with a gaze that said, *I didn't want to say it to hurt your confidence, but you insisted.*

"Damn it!" Chen Yong cursed under his breath and reached for the dressing kit.
"No need to get your hands dirty, I can do it."
"From now on, leave the dressing changes to me," Chen Yong said, struggling to get the words out.

Dressing changes were typically the work of junior doctors. Only for difficult or infected cases would a senior doctor check the incision. Chen Yong’s request was something Luo Hao couldn't immediately accept.

After finishing, Luo Hao washed his hands and went to the office to write medical records. As time passed, the office filled up. Because Wen Youren was hospitalized, everyone was quite relaxed. They figured they’d just check on their own patients; there wouldn't be any formal rounds. But after the "hospital-wide consultation" incident, the way everyone looked at Luo Hao had changed. Some avoided his eyes, some were fearful, and some wanted to get close but didn't dare. Luo Hao didn't care; he never wasted brainpower on such trivial matters.

At 7:55 AM, the office was noisy, everyone waiting for the head nurse. Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared at the door: Wen Youren.

The office went silent. Seeing Wen Youren enter without a hospital gown, looking somber, everyone shut their mouths.

"Shift change!" Wen Youren said, standing by the window. His voice was hoarse, sounding like a broken gong. Luo Hao noticed Wen Youren ignored him entirely, never even looking his way.

*Is he chickening out?* All his previous arrogance was just a facade. If a real iron fist came down, someone like Wen Youren would be the first to cave. Luo Hao felt a bit disappointed—if Wen Youren hadn't known when to quit, it would have been great to give him another slap before the new year.

The shift change was sloppy. Wen Youren was present, but his mind was elsewhere. After the change, he didn't offer any opinions and began rounds. But as soon as he stepped out of the office, he saw Wang Guohua and Lin Yuming walking toward them, chatting and laughing. Wen Youren’s face turned as black as a soot-covered pot.

"Director Wen, if you’re sick, get some rest. You’re the pillar of our General Surgery department; don't let a small illness become a big one." Lin Yuming greeted him with a tone that sounded concerned yet laced with reproach.

Wen Youren felt a lump in his throat, as if he’d choked on a chicken bone. Every time Lin Yuming had sent Luo Hao to General Surgery, the old fox had called him a "pillar," yet when he’d thrown the medical records in his face, he hadn't shown a shred of mercy.

*Damn it!* Even after tearing off the masks, he could still smile to his face! Wen Youren cursed internally. Lin Yuming was a fox, and not a single word he said could be trusted.

*But!* What was Director Wang doing here? Wen Youren ignored Lin Yuming and approached Wang Guohua.

"Director, you pulled a long shift yesterday, why aren't you resting today?" Wen Youren asked solicitously. He didn't wait for a response. "The post-op patient from yesterday is fine. I’ll report to you immediately if anything happens."

Wang Guohua glanced at him. "I’ve submitted an application to the administration to be rehired."

*Rehired!* Wen Youren’s blood turned to ice. For a retired director to be rehired was a life-altering event for the new director. There were countless examples of the "old master" returning to become the power behind the throne, leaving the new director as a mere figurehead.

"Why? Not happy about it?" Wang Guohua asked.

"Master, how could that be! How could that be!" Wen Youren rubbed his hands, forcing a smile. But his hands were cold, and his heart was colder.

"You’ll still handle the surgeries; I’m not here to steal them. I’m back to learn how to perform ERCP with Xiao Luo. You stay hospitalized and focus on recovery; I’ll handle the department. Don't worry."

The entire department was stunned, their jaws hitting the floor. Chen Yong, standing in the back, heard Wang Guohua’s words and recalled Jiang Wenming’s assessment of Luo Hao. *So the master really does have keen eyes!* Chen Yong felt a newfound, overwhelming respect for Jiang Wenming.

"You all go ahead with rounds. I need to discuss something with Xiao Luo."

"Master, the endoscopy room... it’s under Director Li of Gastroenterology," Wen Youren said, his smile strained.

"I want to perform a surgery. Do you think Gastroenterology would say no? I performed the surgery on Director Li’s father fifteen years ago, and he’s still fit as a fiddle," Wang Guohua snapped. When the old director pulled rank, Wen Youren couldn't even let out a peep.

"Master, then please... let's talk in my office," Wen Youren suggested.

"A director should act like a director. I’m just a retired old man; what would I be doing in the director’s office? Go on, do your rounds." Wang Guohua waved him off like he was shooing a fly.

"Xiao Luo!" Wang Guohua, always an impatient man, walked through the crowd. "I thought about the surgery you described all night. When using the basket to retrieve the stone, what happens if it doesn't break?"