Chapter 27

A spacious private room, large enough to host several tables.

“Come, come, come! Xiao Yang, sit here.” Old Han called out as he saw Yang Ping come in.

He had left a chair next to him. It was supposed to be for Yang Ping, who had no choice but to sit there.

This central table was entirely filled with directors such as Director Han, Director Tian, Director Ouyang, Director Bai, Director Xiong of the Emergency Department, Director Pan of the ICU, the Anesthesiology Director, and the head nurse of the Operating room.

Neither Dean Xia nor Dean Sun had come. Probably this was just a casual gathering amongst doctors. It could get too formal with the leaders around. Director Han would probably meet them individually.

Yang Ping felt uncomfortable in such an environment, but there was little he could do. He sat silent, listening to their conversation.

“Old Han, you’ve got this Italian cannon under you. Why don’t you let him blitz often? I’ve never seen him in the operating room.” The Anesthesiology Director wondered.

“Xiao Yang is new here, right? The infant fingers replantation last time was his handiwork.” The head nurse of the Operating Room had some insights.

“Infant surgeries are the most difficult. How old? Maybe it’s a world’s first.” Director Pan of the Trauma ICU wondered.

Director Han responded, “A one-month-old infant, with a blood vessel diameter of just 0.05 millimeters. Suturing blood vessels of this diameter represents the pinnacle of microsurgical techniques. Infant finger replantations are rare, for an infant older than one month, maybe it is the first in the world.”

Director Xiong of the Emergency Department, sitting like a giant on a chair that seemed too small for him, said, “This five-section replantation is impressive, emergency reconstruction no less! It was live-streamed on the National Trauma Orthopedics Network. Old Han, you must be feeling proud. How’s the blood flow now? Any issues?”

“Very good indeed! I just checked.” Director Pan said.

“Xiao Yang, you came from People’s Hospital, right?” Director Xiong inquired.

Yang Ping nodded, “I joined People’s Hospital right after graduation and just recently moved over.”

“People’s Hospital is headed by Wu Siwen, isn’t it?” Director Bai asked, his overweight body risked toppling the chair as he turned towards Yang Ping.

“Yes! Director Wu.”, Yang Ping confirmed.

“Wu Siwen and I are alumni. He’s a year junior, so technically my junior. Is Director Wu easy to work with?” Director Bai asked with a smile.

Yang Ping replied, “Director Wu is quite nice.”

“Nice? That man is notorious for being stingy, and can be cunning too.” Director Bai stated bluntly.

The medical circle in G city was not too big. Everyone regularly met in meetings and knew each other quite well.

“He’s preparing to become the Vice-Dean now. He saved Jiang Baicheng’s son once. This Jiang Baicheng’s influence spans politics and business. His Vice-Dean position might have something to do with Jiang Baicheng’s maneuvers.” Director Bai seemed to know it all.

“I’m not sure about that. I was just a temporary worker over there, a junior doctor, and had very few interactions with him. Over the years of work, we hardly exchanged a few words.” Yang Ping explained.

“People’s Hospital ignored such a gem. They trained a talent for us! Coming to our Sanbo is indeed right.” Director Ouyang interjected.

“What’s going on here? Serve the dishes! We’ve been busy chatting. Serve the dishes and pour the drinks!” Director Xiong exclaimed.

Several bottles of Feitian Moutai were laid out on the table. The waitstaff began opening the bottles, pouring the liquor into miniature bottles, and then serving everyone’s drinks.

Other than this central table, there were several others around with doctors from Orthopedics, Operating Room, Emergency Department, and Trauma ICU – everyone who had participated in the rescue operation.

Yang Ping sneakily glanced around to see if Su Yixuan was present.

The dishes were served quickly, and soon the table was full.

Director raised his glass, “This successful rescue of the five-segment amputation was the result of everyone’s concerted efforts. Under everyone’s hard work, our Trauma Emergency Center will definitely grow stronger!”

Drink up! Drink up! Drink up!

Orthopedic doctors certainly didn’t beat around the bush when it came to drinking. None of them flinched, except for Yang Ping.

“Xiao Yang–come now–” Director Xiong lifted his glass with his left hand and his miniature bottle with the right. After toasting Director Han, he moved on to Yang Ping.

Director Han stood up and stopped Director Xiong, “Xiao Yang can’t hold his liquor. Today he indulged a bit in the spirit of the day, but we can’t let him drink anymore. Let him stay aside while we have a blast, ok?”

“If you say so, then it is. Come, let’s drink up.” Director Xiong emptied his glass.

Immersed in drinking and noise, the ambience of the room was chaotic and lively.

Yang Ping slipped into a couch, away from the chaos, but with a view of the Operating Room table to see if Su Yixuan was there.

The girl really looked charming. Her delicate features, black shoulder-length hair, pink t-shirt that accentuated her youthful vibrancy, and shapely figure. Her dimples appeared when she smiled, and her clear and black eyes sparkled under long eyelashes.

Su Yixuan glanced over, and Yang Ping wanted to avoid her gaze, but it was too late, he got caught. He smiled awkwardly, as Su Yixuan got up from the table and walked over.

She had a cup of fruit juice in hand and was bouncing around with joy, “Brother Ping, come on, have a drink. You’re the big hero today.”

Little Five handed him a cup of fruit juice, deliberately pressing the cup heavily into his hand, signaling him to seize the opportunity.

“Thank you! You did a great job assisting in the operation. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.” Yang Ping didn’t know what to say, he was a bit uneasy.

Get a grip, Yang Ping! He scolded himself – not afraid of reporters, yet scared of this young woman, stuttering in her presence.

Su Yixuan grinned, “The head nurse arranged for me to assist your team in the future. Please take care of me.”

She made a bowing gesture, looking extremely adorable.

Yang Ping replied, “Let’s look out for each other.”

“Do you want more juice? I can pour it for you. I like coconut juice, do you like it too? You’re not drinking with them?” Su Yixuan asked.

Coconut juice, Yang Ping didn’t usually like it. But at that moment, he immediately replied, “I also like coconut juice.”

There really was no bottom line.

As for the alcohol, admitting poor tolerance would be embarrassing, so he said, “I’ve had enough, just need a break.”

What does ‘enough’ mean? He barely even finished a glass, only wetting his lips.

“As microsurgeons, you should drink less alcohol, or better yet, none at all! Here, fruit juice.” Su Yixuan poured more juice for Yang Ping.

“Let me pour it.” Yang Ping said.

“You’re the hero today, let me do it.” Su Yixuan insisted.

The directors were busy toasting each other, it was very lively. A few bottles of Moutai had long been replaced. Song Zimo brought a cup of tea over, “Big brother, let’s have a drink. Yesterday was so thrilling!”

Song Zimo, a man of high self-discipline who didn’t touch alcohol, Yang Ping had long heard.

Both men drinking tea or coconut juice, toasted each other, creating a drinking atmosphere.

Song Zimo put his arm around Yang Ping’s shoulder, “You must teach me more when you’re free. How did you master your microsurgery skills? You mustn’t hold back.”

“We learn from each other, practice makes perfect!” Yang Ping responded.

Little Five, Zhang Lin, and Fang Yan all came over to toast with Yang Ping. He had to use coconut juice as a substitute, and Su Yixuan sat next to him, constantly pouring juice for him.

The scene was chaotic, and the atmosphere was very high. Su Yixuan asked, “Don’t you like crowds?”

Yang Ping nodded honestly, the thing he feared the most was social occasions like this. They gave him headaches, made him dizzy and had trouble breathing.

Su Yixuan shook her head, “Me neither.”

“Should we go out for a walk to get some fresh air?” Su Yixuan suggested.

That’s exactly what Yang Ping wanted. In his heart, he kept encouraging himself, “Don’t be nervous, behave normally!”

The private room was on the first floor. As they left the restaurant, they found themselves on a street lined with trees.

“Do you really like performing surgeries?” Su Yixuan asked.

Yang Ping replied, “I feel apart from performing surgeries, I can’t do much else. Once I start operating, I’m totally absorbed.”

“Me too! I love performing surgeries.”

And so, the two of them chatted under the trees.

The wind was gentle, and traffic bustled outside.

Their conversation was incredibly illogical, intermittent and disjointed.

Yang Ping thought, if only there was a ‘pick-up chicks crash course’ in the system, he would definitely spend all of his remaining points.

Suddenly, he regretted not learning more from Little Five, who was even forced to get married.

He was seriously lacking a learning attitude.