The Surgeon's Studio

One pot was stewing catfish and eggplant, while the other had mushrooms and chicken.

When they entered the room, the aroma itself was enough to make anyone salivate in hunger.

Professor Rudolf Wagner was particularly interested in this idea of taking off one’s shows and eating while sitting on the floor. He simply sat there and looked around, curious about everything.

Charcoal and iron pots were just one of the shop’s characteristics. Old newspaper clippings covered the wall. Their dark yellow color seemed to be evidence of their passage of time. The vats used for drinking water were made from enamel used decades ago. They had already flaked in so many parts, weathered to a point that it made rich kids who were used to drinking from goblets feel like this was a new novelty.

Old Chief Physician Pan and Department Chief Kong sat down and began to chat. Since they had both started out in the army, they referred to each other by their number during their time in service. Although one now worked in the Capital’s Tertiary Grade-A hospitals and the other was simply a military doctor from a basic general hospital, they still communicated at ease with each other.

With their interests in their conversation high, one vat of white wine was quickly consumed.

Su Yun did not have any intention of stealing the limelight. He just followed suit and took small sips. As such, no one paid attention to him.

The taste of stewed catfish and eggplant was completely different from the taste of normal Cantonese cuisine. It was heavy in oil and taste but was still especially fragrant. The food was delicious.

After three rounds of drinking, Old Chief Physician Pan and Department Chief Kong were both slightly tipsy. They stopped drinking and began to talk about serious business.

The so-called serious business was the Capital’s first-aid department sending in people to replace Zheng Ren in the name of supporting the local community.

Things like these were done with a sort of tacit understanding as saying it directly would leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouths.

Department Chief Kong was a good person but once he got down to business, his conviction was like a long speech that would never end.

First of all, he understood the significance of supporting the local community for someone like Old Chief Physician Pan who had retired from the army. Zheng Ren only heard that small bit before he started to feel sleepy.

In Zheng Ren’s opinion… Well, forget it. Department Chief Kong’s drunk self was simply bragging, but he was still a decent guy when he was sober.

On the other hand, Professor Rudolf Wagner was very curious about everything. He looked across the room and was not drinking then. In fact, no matter how much Old Chief Physician Pan tried to get him to drink, he shook his head like a rattle-drum and refused.

It was probably because of how drunk he had gotten drinking with Chang Yue the last time.

Zheng Ren felt very bored. After eating for almost twenty minutes, he ate a few large pancakes stuck to the side of the pot at the end and became very full.

He listened to the two old chiefs reminiscing about their bittersweet memories together, talking about the army’s glorious traditions… Although Zheng Ren respected Old Chief Physician Pan from the bottom of his heart, even he could not bother to listen to Department Chief Kong’s flattery of Old Chief Physician Pan.

Zheng Ren did not know what Little Yiren was doing at that moment. In front of the two chiefs, Zheng Ren was too embarrassed to take out his phone and chat with her.

On the other side, Su Yun was like a fish in the water. He took every opportunity to make the two department chiefs very happy. He even took the time to teach Professor Rudolf Wagner how to eat a big pancake stuck to the side of the pot.

Zheng Ren was in a daze. While waiting for the party to end, Old Chief Physician Pan and Department Chief Kong suddenly spoke louder.

It was about…

He listened carefully. It turned out that Old Chief Physician Pan thought that the emergency department was very busy and needed more than the number of people Department Chief Kong was going to provide. Department Chief Kong assumed that since Sea City General Hospital was only a small local hospital, there would not be so many emergency cases.

They were discussing their bargaining chip and Zheng Ren knew that it was him.

However, he did not have the right to say anything. Both Department Chief Kong and Old Chief Physician Pan were sincerely doing all of this for his own good.

Everything was a favor for him. Zheng Ren leaned his cheek against his palm and started daydreaming again.

“I’ll observe Boss Zheng’s TIPS surgery in the next two days and also check the volume of emergency cases that go through. I don’t believe that there’d be so many emergency cases in Sea City when it has such a small population!” Department Chief Kong downed his drink and said straightforwardly.

When Zheng Ren heard the first half of the sentence, goosebumps appeared all over his back. He wanted to stop Department Chief Kong but was lost in thought then. Before he could speak up, Department Chief Kong had already made such bold remarks.

“Don’t…” Zheng Ren swallowed the rest of his words as it was already too late.

An ominous premonition enveloped Zheng Ren’s heart.

“Huh?” Department Chief Kong did not know what Zheng Ren was going to say. He looked at him in surprise.

Su Yun smiled bitterly. He put down his chopsticks and whispered, “I’m afraid I’ll be busy tonight.”

In the clinic, they were most afraid of such headstrong personalities. The night shift god specialized in treating all kinds of incurable diseases and was filled with divine wisdom.

It could probably be guessed that Department Chief Kong had not been the one to receive emergency cases over the last few years. Even if emergency surgery was needed, his chief resident would probably be able to handle it. Every year, he would be brought outstation and the task was primarily handled by the healthcare team there. Furthermore, there were also very few emergency treatments needed in most major hospitals.

After being away from the emergency department for so long, he had lost his respect for the night shift god.

Zheng Ren and Su Yun looked at each other and smiled bitterly.

“Boss Zheng, what’s wrong?” Department Chief Kong asked, puzzled.

To be honest, the few glasses of wine that Old Chief Physician Pan and Department Chief Kong had between them was not much as Old Pan himself was old and Department Chief Kong did not want him to drink too much.

He was not drunk at all and knew the fact very well. Therefore, Department Chief Kong did not understand Zheng Ren’s expression. Had he said something wrong just then?

“It’s nothing.” Zheng Ren stretched his legs and was ready to return to the hospital.

He was afraid that things would be non-stop tonight.

Zheng Ren’s cellphone suddenly rang, breaking the awkwardness at the table.

Because he was mentally prepared, Zheng Ren’s blood pressure and heart rate did not suddenly increase. He took a glance and saw that it was the emergency department calling.

“Chief Zheng, there’s a time-sensitive case that needs to be looked at and all nearby first-aid ambulances are out,” said someone from the other end of the call.

“Got it. I’ll be back right away.” After Zheng Ren said that, he hung up the phone.

Zheng Ren raised his head helplessly and looked at Department Chief Kong with a hint of bitterness.

Department Chief Kong laughed and said, “Old Chief Physician Pan, thank you for your hospitality. I’ll go and check on the situation at Sea City General Hospital. If there are more emergency cases, I’ll apply with the hospital to send over more people. ”

Zheng Ren called a cab and rushed straight back to Sea City General Hospital with Su Yun and Department Chief Kong in tow.

Su Yun drank some wine. Although he was not of old age, he did not want to show himself in such a state in front of the patient. Because of that, he went straight to the operating theatre and asked Zheng Ren to call him if there was anything.

Zheng Ren and Chief Kong went straight to the emergency room.

The patient had not arrived yet so the emergency department was still quiet for the time being. Zheng Ren took the time to change his clothes and waited at the emergency room’s entrance.

“Boss Zheng, are there many emergency rooms here?” Department Chief Kong asked this while in his casual wear.

“Department Chief Kong, if you didn’t say anything then everything would have been alright.” Zheng Ren was still in a bad mood. He had been eating well when Department Chief Kong had insisted on making that comment. Well, now he was going to see it for himself.

The shrill sound of the first-aid ambulance came from afar. Zheng Ren was prepared like a soldier ready for battle.

Since he did not receive a call from the first-aid ambulance, Zheng Ren knew that it probably was not that big of a deal but still, he did not relax. Instead, he waited attentively.

The paramedic had already pushed the stretcher trolley to the door to wait, but Zheng Ren saw him quickly push the empty stretcher trolley away as a group of middle-aged men in disheveled clothes immediately exited the ambulance.

What the hell was going on? If there were blood and screams, Zheng Ren would have been used to it.

However, when such a quiet group of people walked in, Zheng Ren was somewhat unsure of how to proceed.