CHAPTER 160: THE SIMPLE JOY OF 160 DOCTORS

This joint operation was not very difficult in terms of operational requirements, but the reality of the situation on-site complicated matters. The surgery involved the variable of "time"; there was no leisure for the procedure, and time had to be seized. Some might view this surgery as routine and unremarkable, yet experts in the field could appreciate its nuances differently. Indeed, it was not as stunning as Liu Banxia’s previous small-incision appendectomy; this operation merely served as an evaluation of the lead surgeon’s fundamentals. Whether it was Shi Lei’s femoral artery thrombectomy and endarterectomy or Liu Banxia’s subsequent debridement, the critical element remained the basics.

Debridement was a fundamental surgical skill, something even intern doctors could handle. However, among the onlookers, no one could confidently claim they could perform to Liu Banxia’s level. Forget 25 minutes; even an additional 20 might not have sufficed. This was not as simple as an ulcerous hole in the thigh that could be easily expanded and posed no further complication afterward. The sole of the foot was quite thick, containing numerous tissues and nerves. Furthermore, the patient’s diabetes added another layer of difficulty to the debridement. If the operation was too forceful, it might damage healthy nerves or tendons. If the surgical field was expanded too much, it could prolong healing, especially in diabetic patients, resulting in longer recovery times and potentially leading to further complications. In addition to these considerations, the time constraint also played its part. For someone less psychologically resilient, this operation might have been abandoned.

Those unfamiliar with the medical field might have only perceived it as Zhou Shuwen pompously promoting his two disciples. The professionals knew better; Zhou Shuwen’s two disciples had truly made him proud that day.

"I thought you were quite relaxed, but you’re drenched in sweat too," Shi Lei said with a laugh after exiting the operating room.

"Oh dear, I should have paid more attention to Dr. Liu, but I was too entranced," Qing Kewa said regretfully.

"Fortunately, you didn’t wipe it. The sweat wasn’t excessive, and if you had, it might have disrupted my rhythm," Liu Banxia replied with a smile. "I was worried too," he continued. "I was afraid that if the debridement was too slow, we would miss our window, potentially putting Grandpa Cao’s life in danger. Managing vital signs in a diabetic patient is incredibly difficult."

"Yes, this was just a femoral artery thrombectomy. If it had been an artery in the cardiothoracic region, wouldn’t managing the surgical time be even more challenging?" Liang Xiaolin added thoughtfully.

"That’s hard to say. Diabetes is an underlying condition. Although we can measure a patient’s physical indicators through various tests, there are still many factors we currently can’t control," Wang Lei answered. "I was a bit too optimistic with my time estimation today, allowing for about ten minutes more than needed. Fortunately, Banxia completed his part in 25 minutes. If a real problem had occurred, we would’ve had to perform an on-the-spot resuscitation."

"It was Brother Wang’s reassurance that gave me confidence. Moreover, Grandpa Cao’s ulcer wasn’t a primary one; it was caused by an external infection. So, I took a small gamble," Liu Banxia said with a chuckle.

"Don’t be modest, or you’ll mislead your two pretty assistants. If you weren’t absolutely confident, I doubt you would’ve proceeded. Such success today definitely calls for an extra chicken leg, doesn’t it?" Wang Lei joked gleefully.

If this conversation had happened a few days ago, Liang Xiaolin might have blushed. Now, however, she could face this kind of teasing comfortably and maintain a straight face.

"The operation was very successful. However, for Grandpa Cao’s safety, we think it’s best to assign him Level One nursing care," Liu Banxia said to the Cao family members after the operation.

"Does he need to be sent to the ICU?" Grandpa Cao’s eldest son asked.

Liu Banxia chuckled. "There’s no need. For anyone else, this would be a routine operation. But because Grandpa Cao has diabetes, his vitals and wound condition need to be monitored constantly."

"In the future, when you have time, make sure to visit Grandpa more often and at least supervise his medication. Or perhaps you could consider switching him to insulin injections; it would be less worry for everyone."

The two brothers felt somewhat embarrassed. Liu Banxia didn’t elaborate, but they understood his underlying meaning. If it hadn’t been for this incident, they would have continued to believe they were very filial, especially since they gave their father a considerable allowance each month. But for the elderly, is money really what’s most important? No, it’s the companionship of family.

"Dr. Liu, how long will it take for me to become as skilled as you?" Qing Kewa asked on the way to the Emergency Department.

Liang Xiaolin also perked up her ears, curious about this herself.

"Me, skilled? I’m not really," Liu Banxia said with a laugh. "I just have quicker hands and a bit more nerve, that’s all."

"For today’s vascular suture, I wouldn’t have done as good a job as Dr. Shi. You two keep working hard; you won’t be any worse than me. Especially a certain someone here, who will be dealing with blood vessels a lot in the future."

Liang Xiaolin glared at him, realizing he was referring to her. This guy is really too much, she thought. She had felt a flicker of admiration for him earlier, but now? Forget it.

"Dr. Liu! Dr. Liu..."

"My goodness, what’s wrong? Please, get up!"

Just as he walked into the Emergency Department, Liu Banxia saw a shadow flash before his eyes as someone knelt in front of him. Even though his physical conditioning had improved, he was still startled. He still had some trauma from the last time someone knelt before him; he’d barely managed to avoid a major incident then. Was he being set up again?

"Dr. Liu, thank you! My mom woke up! She woke up!" the kneeling young man cried, tears of joy streaming down his face.

Only then did Liu Banxia recognize him as the young man who had been faithfully keeping vigil outside the ICU. He quickly pulled him up. "When did she wake up? Is she conscious? Can she come off the ECMO machine?"

"She woke up about half an hour ago. She still needs the machine for another two days, though. The doctor said now that she’s awake, she should be fine. The blood clot in her head will slowly be absorbed," the young man said, wiping his tears.

"Good, that’s great! As long as she’s awake, that’s wonderful. That’s truly wonderful," Liu Banxia said, so thrilled he was almost at a loss for words.

At the same time, he felt fortunate that he hadn’t given the patient’s family any superfluous advice back then. Even one extra word could have influenced their decision. It was also a good thing the young man had persisted. Perhaps it was that very persistence that moved the heavens, allowing the old lady to awaken.

"If it weren’t for you, my mom would have passed away that day. Thank you," the young man said, bowing deeply to Liu Banxia once more.

Liu Banxia patted his shoulder. "Now that your mother has awakened, you should get some proper sleep and clean yourself up. Don’t you think she’d be heartbroken to see you like this?"

"Right! I’ll go home and wash up immediately. Thank you, Dr. Liu," the young man said before quickly dashing out of the Emergency Department.

"Doctor Liang, why are you crying?" Qing Kewa asked curiously.

Liu Banxia turned his head and saw Liang Xiaolin frantically wiping away her tears. He had been about to tease her but swallowed his words when she glared at him.

"What were you going to say?" Liang Xiaolin asked after finishing wiping her eyes.

"Nothing much. Just a bit tired today," Liu Banxia replied, sinking into a chair.

"Dr. Liu, let me give you a shoulder massage." Qing Kewa rolled up her sleeves and, without a second thought for their surroundings, began to knead his shoulders.

"Alright, alright, you can rest. I’ve always been curious, where did you learn all this?" Liu Banxia asked, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

"A friend told me. They said you have to take good care of your mentor if you want to learn properly from them," Qing Kewa replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Liu Banxia shook his head helplessly. So that’s why Qing Kewa was so keen on making him breakfast and acting like his personal assistant. She’s either been seriously misled, or this is just how things are done in some cultures. As far as he was concerned, he didn’t need any of that. Not causing him trouble and not stirring up incidents—that was enough to be a good student in his book.

Still, he had to admit, Qing Kewa’s massage felt surprisingly good. Even though the actual operating time today hadn’t been very long, the intensity had been high.

"If you two don’t have anything urgent, you should use this time to get in some suturing practice," Liu Banxia suggested.

"How should we practice? Buy chicken legs again?" Liang Xiaolin asked curiously.

"Just buy a bunch of grapes and practice suturing the skins. When you feel like practicing vascular sutures, then you can get chicken legs to try," Liu Banxia explained. "Dr. Shi’s dissection today was so perfect. While I might be faster, I’m still a bit lacking when it comes to precision compared to him. So, I need to work hard too, read more, and expand my knowledge."

Listening to Liu Banxia speak so seriously, Liang Xiaolin didn’t particularly take it to heart. Qing Kewa, however, nodded earnestly. She had already decided: understand what Dr. Liu said if possible, but if not, just nod along enthusiastically. That was the key.

In truth, Liu Banxia was speaking from genuine conviction. Ever since acquiring the System, he had firmly believed that surgery was king. Only through surgery could he gain massive amounts of experience and skill points. But the reward for today’s surgery wasn’t just stingy—it was pitifully small. The most probable reason, he figured, was that the System hadn’t judged this surgery to be very difficult. Considering his current skills in suturing, wound dressing, and diagnostics, today’s procedure was actually below par for him. His original idea of grinding low-level surgeries to level up quickly? It seemed he needed a new strategy.

Although his path to rapid leveling had been shattered, he was still genuinely happy. This joy stemmed from the success of the day’s surgery and the old lady’s awakening. A doctor’s happiness was often simple, built upon the relief and joy of their patients. Whether it was a minor ailment or a major illness, any chance of recovery was a reason to be happy. Diagnosing complex conditions also brought a sense of accomplishment, but that satisfaction was often tinged with too many other emotions. Many times, he wished he could feel purely happy about such diagnoses, but he just couldn’t.