Chapter 287 - Chapter 287: Chapter 288: Redeeming Honor

Chapter 287: Chapter 288: Redeeming Honor

“`

Tan Zhonglin has been in particularly good spirits lately!

He’s been devoutly practicing the Chen method these past few days, getting thoroughly lost in a sea of pig trotters—Heaven knows what he’s gone through.

As the saying goes, a sharp sword is forged by grinding, and tendon surgery springs from pig trotters!

The more bitter the toil,

the closer to the superior man one becomes!

Many a pig trotter he ate,

the deeper his understanding of tendons became.

The only thing souring Tan’s mood was the cost; with the rising prices of pig trotters, his pocket money dwindled.

Having finally dealt with the department’s work, Tan Zhonglin decided to go to the Provincial Second Hospital to show off his skills to Director An!

To go head-to-head with An Yanjun in the major leagues, and vie for that position as Chen Cang’s assistant.

Just thinking about An Yanjun’s surprised face when he saw him using the Chen method, Tan couldn’t help the surge of smugness.

In the midst of conversation, he arrived at the Provincial Second Hospital.

Luckily, the nurses there had gotten used to this visiting director from the Provincial People’s Hospital.

Tan first checked the office and found neither Chen Cang nor An Yanjun; his mouth twitched in disappointment, sighing, “The nearer to the water, the earlier the moon is seen.”

They must have gone to surgery.

With that thought, Tan decided to visit the operating rooms.

But just as he was about to leave, he unexpectedly bumped into An Yanjun who had just returned from a consultation.

Tan greeted him with a small smile, “Director An, it’s been a while!”

An Yanjun returned the smile cordially, “Yes, Director Tan, you look well-rested after the National Day break.”

Tan nodded and chuckled, “You’re looking rather fresh yourself, Director An!”

An Yanjun paused, “Huh? Well, now that you mention it, your skin’s been looking pretty good lately too.”

A chill went through both their hearts!

Had they been eating too many pig trotters recently?

Was it an excessive collagen boost?

But this was their secret weapon, to be used for showing off later, so naturally, it couldn’t be disclosed.

After exchanging pleasantries, Tan suddenly asked, “Where’s the young Chen?”

An Yanjun shook his head and asked Nurse Lin, “Lin, where did young Chen go?”

Lin replied, “A patient with a hand injury just came in; Dr. Chen took them, and now… he should be in the operating room.”

Their eyes brightened – an opportunity to strut their stuff had presented itself!

They exchanged a knowing smile, full of warmth.

Yet their hearts were brimming with drama!

An Yanjun had just made a breakthrough, his aura bold and strong.

Tan possessed deep understanding and was still vigorous despite his age.

As they talked, they arrived at the emergency room’s orthopedic operating room.

Upon entering, they found Chen Cang and Qin Yue completely focused on a surgery, so they crept up quietly, not wanting to disturb.

After moving closer, they realized it was a patient with a hand injury accompanied by a fractured phalanx.

A phalanx fixation was required.

Didn’t Chen say he didn’t know how to do this kind of surgery?

With this thought, Tan glanced questioningly at An Yanjun, who also shook his head, equally puzzled.

Chen had said he didn’t know phalangeal surgery last time, yet now he was doing it with Qin Yue?

With their curiosity piqued,

they watched silently, completely engrossed in Chen’s surgery.

The technique for a phalangeal fracture is extremely important because there are nerves, blood vessels, and tendons around the phalanges. Poor handling can easily damage the inherent nerves and blood vessels as well as the tendons.

Such damage is very detrimental to recovery. Particularly after tendon injury, it can lead to severe tendon adhesions, which impedes the functional recovery of the fingers.

Therefore, choosing the right surgical approach for the phalangeal surgery is crucial!

They saw Chen Cang carefully making an S-shaped incision at the joint above the fracture site, between these intervals, which involves lifting the surrounding skin flaps and pulling away the extensor retinaculum to reach the fracture.

Without long-term training, it’s tough to perform this process adeptly.

Yet… to Tan’s astonishment, Chen’s incision method was precise and swift, exuding the mastery of an expert.

At that moment, they were both dumbfounded.

“`

Chen Cang isn’t skilled at finger bone surgery, is he?

Tan Zhonglin’s heart skipped a beat as he recalled the time Chen Cang had allowed him to perform the surgery… Suddenly, Tan Zhonglin had a horrifying thought.

Could it be that Chen Cang was displaying false modesty?

To save face for him, deliberately giving him a chance to show off?

At this thought, Tan Zhonglin’s face turned red!

Look at Chen, so highly principled and morally upright.

You actually believed that Chen really couldn’t do it!

Tan Zhonglin, Tan Zhonglin, you can’t even compare to a twenty-something youngster!

The more he thought about it, the redder Tan Zhonglin’s face became.

And just at that moment, An Yanjun gave Tan Zhonglin a thoughtful look.

At that glance, Tan’s face suddenly flushed from his forehead to his belly button.

However, upon closer examination, the difficulty of finger bone surgery was indeed considerable.

After all, the incision method is just the first step!

The treatment of finger bone fractures focuses on accurately repositioning the fracture, achieving firm fixation, and starting rehabilitative exercises as early as possible to restore the dexterity of the finger.

For open fractures, open reduction and internal fixation should be done.

Repositioning is of utmost importance; Tan Zhonglin observed carefully with a discerning eye.

Chen Cang, after quickly and accurately repositioning the finger bone, took over the Kirschner wire and began fixing it meticulously!

This series of actions flowed smoothly like running water!

This doesn’t look like the work of a junior doctor, does it?

Such style!

At this point, Tan Zhonglin couldn’t help but sigh.

One should always remain humble in life!

Having just come to show off his skills, Tan Zhonglin couldn’t help but learn a lesson.

That is, when Chen Cang says he can’t do something in the future, he must humbly smile.

After the bone was set, Chen Cang began the suturing and repair work of the tendons, blood vessels, and nerves, step by step, methodically.

Qin Yue’s cooperation was also very much in sync.

Before long, the surgery was complete!

Chen Cang stretched lazily, looking at the admiration in Qin Yue’s big eyes signified by “666”.

Chen Cang was extremely satisfied.

Just as he was about to turn around, he suddenly noticed Tan Zhonglin and An Yanjun standing behind him and was taken aback, “You guys… why are you here?”

Tan Zhonglin awkwardly smiled, “Came over to learn a bit about tendon suturing from little Chen.”

An Yanjun also silently nodded.

How could he not be flustered, having thought that Chen Cang was only good at patching things up, and never expected him to be capable of finger bone fracture surgery.

This is such a blow…

Tan Zhonglin laughed awkwardly and said, “Little Chen, your finger bone surgery is really well done!”

Chen Cang, looking at Tan Zhonglin, was also somewhat embarrassed, after all, learning by stealth still made one feel somewhat shy.

“It was decent; Director Tan is a good teacher. I learned a lot from observing his surgery last time, and that’s what made today’s surgery possible.”

Chen Cang was telling the truth, but it sounded different to the two men!

An Yanjun suddenly remembered Tan Zhonglin’s surgery; he realized Chen Cang did bear a striking resemblance to it!

Even Tan Zhonglin was stunned…

Are you teasing me?

I spent so long trying to learn from you, practically running my legs off going back and forth to the Second Provincial Hospital, buying how many pig feet, only to have learned the basics…

And you just watch one of my surgeries and steal my finger bone fracture technique?

At this thought, Tan Zhonglin felt like he wasn’t getting the better end of the deal!

But there was nothing he could do about it, after all, the other guy had learned it fair and square. What could you say?

With that thought, a wave of desolation suddenly washed over him.

ps: Only three updates for today. I have to step out for something tomorrow, so there won’t be a noon update at twelve, but I will make it up in the evening. Don’t worry, when old hands promise something, they deliver.

Finally, thanks to Old Niu 88 for the 10,000 reward. Thank you!