Chapter 34

After returning from the rehabilitation department, I just entered the elevator when I received a call from Su Yixuan.

“Brother Ping, where are you? I’m in the Pediatrics outpatient clinic, outside Room 17. My cousin’s child is having issues with his arm. Can you come over and help?” Su Yixuan asked anxiously.

This was an emergency!

Yang Ping immediately parted ways with Old Han and Song Zimo, rushing to the pediatric clinic. Old Han and Song Zimo were left confused by the urgency, not knowing what had happened.

On the way, they ran into Zhang Lin who was carrying snacks and fruits. He was also heading to the pediatric clinic. His girlfriend had fainted in the examination room in the morning. After receiving an intravenous infusion, she had gone back to work. He was worried and wanted to check on her.

Zhang Lin looked haggard and kept applying vapo rub throughout the journey. Both men were shocked when they arrived at the pediatric clinic. It was noisy and chaotic, resembling a meat market.

There was a long queue for appointments, starting from the information desk, winding out the door and into the parking lot, where it continued in a large loop.

Noise from the children echoed all around: wailing, adults coaxing kids, and families arguing — all intermingling with each other. You would see discarded diapers and fever patches everywhere, and a baby bottle with half-filled milk, rolling on the floor.

Some entire families were stationed here, each doing their part. Some kept their places in the queue while others set up floor bedding in corners with their children, using fever patches on their foreheads.

A parent even brought a camping tent and set it up in one corner of the clinic’s hall. The woman sat inside the tent feeding her child formula while the man was negotiating with the security guard. This man looked quite unkempt and held a steamy bowl of instant braised beef noodles in his hand. He argued, “I’ve been queuing since midnight and it’s been more than ten hours now. Can’t you show some humanity?”

While the security was having a heated debate with him, the crowd suddenly erupted in noise. People pushed their way to the front to see a specialist who couldn’t bear the load anymore and was helped out of an examination room, pale and gasping for breath.

The sign for “Temporarily not seeing patients” was hung, anger ran high amongst the crowd.

“What’s the matter?”

“My child isn’t seen yet.”

“Such an irresponsible doctor!”

“You can’t leave!”

The substitute specialist waved his hand: “The old professor really couldn’t stand it any longer, but I will finish seeing the rest of his patients.”

“What do you mean? I paid for an appointment with the specialist to see him, not just to be told that someone else will see us instead.”

The crowd was outraged.

Others sighed and said: “Just change the doctor. The professor was dragged out. How can he be expected to see patients?”

“Change the doctor? There’s no room in any of the clinics!” It was a hard truth.

Yang Ping rarely visited Pediatrics and was surprised by the chaos; it was overwhelming. His ears buzzed from the noise and his head spun.

The hallways of the patient wards and the elevator spaces are full of extra beds that you’d have to squeeze your way through,” Zhang Lin remarked.

“You’re familiar with this pediatric outpatient clinic, right?” Yang Ping wanted to ask where Consultation Room 17, the one that Su Yixuan mentioned, was located.

To his surprise, Zhang Lin waves his hand off: “Bro, not to be unhelpful, but my phone has been blowing up these days with requests for specialist appointments connections. I really can’t manage to help anymore.”

“No, you see—”Yang Ping tried to explain.

Zhang Lin waved him off and took off: “Bro, I’m so sorry.”

Yang Ping shook his head. This kid doesn’t even let others finish their sentences. He decided to look for Consultation Room 17 among the crowd on his own.

Pediatric doctors are always busy, paid less and are prone to getting scolded occasionally. Even in a major three-tiered hospital like Sanbo, they still struggle to retain staff. Other hospitals are facing the same situation. Many doctors have left over the years and it’s difficult to hire more. As a result, when the flu season peaks, scenes like this occur with patients far outnumbering doctors. Some hospitals have no choice but to close down due to the lack of pediatricians.

The higher-ups commanded: it must remain open!

Must be open?

If a cow can’t produce milk and you don’t feed it, shouting “It must produce milk!” will not make it produce milk.

Some hospitals had no choice but to have their internists fill in. Once a problem arose—internists treating pediatrics—that’s illegal practice! It’s so confusing, these poor doctors were just trying to support their colleagues and ended up being accused of breaking the law.

At the railing on the second floor, Dean Xia was talking to the Director of Pediatrics: “Divert it, don’t let it all block here.”

“Divert?” The Director said, “People have to rush to tertiary hospitals even for a sneeze now. You can’t drive them away. Go and see the Children’s Hospital in the city, it’s even more crowded than here. I pulled out all the new residents to see patients. I can’t hold on any longer if this continues. I have been seeing patients for a month straight. A few of our comrades have already collapsed, one yesterday and two today. Even with the diapers on, not eating or drinking, we still can’t finish seeing all the patients. To be honest, I’m also wearing a diaper now.”

Dean Xia’s tall figure stood out. He looked down and muttered to himself: this could be lethal. Not limiting the number of patients could be lethal.

“Limit the number of patients,” he suddenly said in a louder voice, “fucking limit the number of patients.”

The Department Director of Pediatrics was taken aback, “You’re not kidding, are you? It’s a clear rule set by the higher department to meet demand. It doesn’t allow number limits.”

“Tomorrow I will bring them to the outpatient clinic with me.” The rage Dean Xia felt was sky-high.

Dean Xia had a unique personality. He had before been a national model worker, a representative in the National People’s Congress, one of the country’s excellent Deans, and had even received awards at the People’s Hall.

He dared to be domineering, others did not.

The Department Director of Pediatrics gave a soft agreement, then quickly added, “Dean, you said it. I’m just following orders.”

He then promptly called the reception desk: “Limit the number. Damn it, limit it! Yes, I am the one who said it. No, it was Dean who said it.”

The Department Director of Pediatrics had never been so domineering before. After hanging up the phone, he felt a wave of relief washing over him. His right hand reached up to touch his hair, like in his youth when his hair was thick and his spirit was high.

Dean Xia glanced at the Department Director’s bald head, “Next week we will need to discuss the Pediatrics again at the weekly meeting. We will discuss the special subsidies policy.”

“Didn’t we discuss it last week? Many Department Directors disagreed.” The Department Director of Pediatrics felt upset at the recalling.

“If they disagree, they can come and help in Pediatrics and try the feel of “padding diapers.”

What Dean Xia said, he would do.

“Let’s go and see where those colleagues of ours are staying.”

Dean Xia strode off, leaving the Department Director trailing behind.

—

Yang Ping enquired around a bit before rushing to Room No. 17. Finally, he saw Su Yixuan’s graceful figure standing by a small slide outside the consultation room.

On seeing Yang Ping, Su Yixuan waved to him as if he was her savior.

“Sis, this is our Doctor Yang. He’s really capable, he can help.”

“How old is the child? What happened?” Yang Ping asked, bending over.

The little girl just cried, timidly dodging away. Her right arm was semi-bent and hanging loose, and she was guarding it with her left hand, not allowing anyone to touch it.

“She’s four. She fell from the slide. When I pulled her up, she was like this.” Her pretty and noble cousin looked anxious and regretful.

“Don’t worry, let me take a look.” Yang Ping soothed the little girl, gaining a bit of her trust, then gently rolled up the girl’s sleeve. There was no swelling, the forearm was rotated forwards and the elbow joint was half bent.

He had a clue of the problem.

The child continued crying while Yang Ping comforted her, “Uncle is just going to have a look, don’t be afraid, it’ll be over after a quick touch!” His expression was serious thereafter.

“Is it broken?” The cousin asked worriedly.

With a snapping sound, the child’s partially dislocated radial head was relocated.

“Can you move it?” Yang Ping encouraged the young girl.

Initially, she dared not try. However, upon being encouraged, she slowly attempted to move and realized it didn’t hurt anymore. Thus, she boldly moved, completely normal. She instantly stopped crying, joining the others in playing on the slide.

“Nothing to worry about, she is fine.” Yang Ping straightened up his back.

The cousin joyfully said, “Xiaoxuan, your colleague is really good. He made it better with just a touch, he’s really magical.”

“I told you he is powerful,” Su Yixuan said proudly, holding her head high.

“Thank you so much.” Su Yixuan’s smile revealed two charming dimples.

Yang Ping casually replied, “It’s nothing!”

“You guys stay busy, I have some other stuff to handle.” Yang Ping didn’t want to stay too long.

Su Yixuan quietly showed her phone.

Meaning: Contact on WeChat!