CHAPTER 485: 485 DOES LIU BANXIA WANT TO MAKE A BLIND GUESS?

(Thank you to "Lonely Alien 671112" for the reward, and to "Northwest Flying Wolf" for the monthly votes)

"Teacher Liu, the CT results are out. I’ve given them directly to Doctor Liang to take to the operating room."

Li Hao came back with his small group.

"Just because you all deserted your posts without permission, I was penalized with extra duty here. Wait until they come back, then we’ll go eat," Liu Banxia said.

"Now, you all can report on this patient’s condition. I refuse to believe you didn’t ask the patient any relevant questions after the examination."

"He has a history of coughing, especially when exposed to secondhand smoke or cold air; the cough becomes quite intense. Today, secondhand smoke triggered it, and he coughed so hard his alveoli ruptured," Xu Yino said.

"His coughing history is quite long, with a previous diagnosis of bronchitis. He’s tried various medications and folk remedies, but nothing has helped," Li Hao added.

"And then?" Liu Banxia asked, hands clasped behind his back.

"We plan to perform a bronchoscopy on the patient after his surgery. With such a long history of coughing, there must be some underlying issues," Li Hao said.

"He just had an alveolar resection, and you’re already targeting his bronchi. You’re quite ruthless," Liu Banxia said seriously.

Li Hao grimaced; it was true. They had focused only on the patient’s cough and had forgotten about the alveolar resection.

"So, you still need to be meticulous. Knowing that secondhand smoke and cold air can trigger coughing isn’t enough. Are there no other potential causes?" Liu Banxia continued.

"Does the coughing start gently and then intensify, or is it the other way around? Is there phlegm when coughing? Does it continue into summer? Is there any discomfort in the throat?"

Faced with this barrage of questions, the interns couldn’t provide answers. They hardly had time for such detailed questioning when the patient was waiting to be rushed to the operating room.

"So, you still need to be more meticulous. After all, many conditions can cause coughing," Liu Banxia said with a smile.

"Inhalants, infections, food, seasons, psychological factors, exercise, allergic reactions, and so on, can all cause coughing symptoms. If we overlook even one possibility, this patient will definitely continue to cough."

"Of course, it could also be bronchitis. But judging from the patient’s medical history, his underlying condition hasn’t been resolved. The bronchial issues might be a complication of, or a manifestation of, that primary illness."

"No need to rush. After the patient’s surgery, you’ll have more time for diagnosis. Just make sure you don’t scare him, understand?"

The interns nodded in unison. They had initially paid attention merely because Liu Banxia showed curiosity about this patient. But now, after hearing all his questions, they truly began to take this patient seriously.

The patient’s condition was indeed intriguing. Such a persistent, unresolved cough definitely meant the true cause hadn’t been found.

"Let me make a blind guess. I’ll write it on a slip of paper later and leave it at the triage desk. We’ll see if I’m right," Liu Banxia said with a grin.

The interns exchanged glances and made a decision. They couldn’t go it alone anymore; otherwise, they’d just end up being ridiculed by ’Demon King Liu’. They decided to pool their thoughts and investigate together.

After waiting a while longer, Shi Lei and the others who had gone to eat earlier hurried back.

With no detailed patient information available in such a short time, they could only keep it in mind for now. They’d look into it after finishing their current tasks. Besides, even with Demon King Liu’s skills, he couldn’t possibly guess it blindly.

On this matter, at least, the six interns were united. Even though the Demon King had to teach them medicine, they felt it was sometimes necessary to resist his "tyranny."

"Banxia, what’s up today? Did your little protégés abandon you?" Zhou Qiang asked with a smile.

"They’re planning to rebel, I suppose. Just wait. I’ll deal with them properly and show them who’s boss," Liu Banxia replied.

"You guys are really something," Zhou Qiang said.

"The food’s all ready for you. We couldn’t prepare it fresh right now; prices for ingredients would soar this time of day. But the taste is guaranteed; it’ll still be good."

Liu Banxia nodded. "So, during the New Year, the Emergency Center’s food is all in your hands. We need to make sure everyone has a good holiday celebration."

"Don’t you worry. With Vice Director Zhou overseeing things, would I dare be negligent?" Zhou Qiang said with a broad smile.

Liu Banxia was taken aback. "Is it already settled?"

"Didn’t Vice Director Zhou tell you? It’s already settled. Zhou Zhiyong is being transferred back to the college, and a new vice director will be transferred from the First Affiliated Hospital. Director Zhou will become the Vice Director in charge of the Emergency Center and its teaching and training programs. That’s a significant step up!" Zhou Qiang said.

"The Emergency Center’s status is really high now. So, you work hard, kid. When you become Chief Director in the future, just let your old buddy here keep running the cafeteria."

Liu Banxia rolled his eyes. "You’re already successfully running the cafeteria here. You’re counting on *me*? Aren’t you kidding?"

"Brother, the bitterness I feel... I can’t even talk about it. What would you think if I told you I initially got this gig through Old Wang’s connections?" Zhou Qiang said with a bitter smile.

"If my cafeteria wasn’t run well enough, do you think I’d still be operating it? I just managed to muddle through this time. Who knows if a more powerful competitor will show up in the future."

"My contract expires this October, and I have to negotiate a new one in July. The contract fee and everything will have to be renegotiated. Although the profit here isn’t huge, it’s stable, which is better than running a restaurant outside."

Liu Banxia frowned. "I really didn’t know that; I’d always been curious. But I don’t think it’ll be an issue. The food in your cafeteria is very hygienic, and you always help everyone out when something comes up. It should be fine, right?"

He could only offer this much consolation. He had no influence over the cafeteria contract. What promises could he make to Zhou Qiang? Any promise would be empty talk anyway.

He was confident he could get a dormitory room for Su Wenhao; he had enough influence for that. But for something as significant as the cafeteria contract, he simply didn’t have the clout.

"Hearing you say that makes me feel a lot better. We’ll leave it to fate then. If I really can’t get the contract, I’ll find a spot for a restaurant nearby. You’ll have to give me some business then," Zhou Qiang said.

"Why worry so much? Anyway, I genuinely think your food is great. Even if the hospital considers the contract fee, they also have to consider reputation, right?" Liu Banxia responded.

"Besides, after what just happened with Old Wang, who would dare try any funny business with this? It will all come down to reputation and skill. As long as you maintain your standards, everyone will recognize it."

"I hope so. It’s hard to say in this day and age." Zhou Qiang shook his head and went back to the serving window.

Life isn’t easy for anyone, Liu Banxia sighed internally. However, if it were up to me, I’d genuinely choose Zhou Qiang. There’s no need to even talk about raising standards; just maintaining the current situation would be enough.

After dinner, he returned to the Emergency Center. There weren’t many patients at the moment, so everyone was gathered around chatting.

It was a rare moment of respite, common in the old Emergency Department but very infrequent in the current Emergency Center. Liu Banxia wouldn’t interfere; they had been working hard for several months and deserved a breather.

He approached Wang Chao, poked him, and led him aside.

"Kid, are you holding out on some inside information?" Liu Banxia asked.

"What information?" Wang Chao was confused.

"About Director Zhou’s matter, of course," Liu Banxia said.

"Heh, well, since *someone* extorted me earlier, I wouldn’t know," Wang Chao said, looking a little smug.

"Heh, if I’m asking you about it, don’t you think I already know something?" Liu Banxia chuckled.

Wang Chao was thoroughly exasperated; it was true. He figured that as long as he was around Liu Banxia in this lifetime, he’d always be completely outmaneuvered by him.

"Teacher Liu, a patient who fell from a height is on their way. A fall from the third floor."

The dispatch nurse announced.

"Xu Yino, you take the lead on this admission," Liu Banxia called out.

Right now, he had to thoroughly evaluate these few interns. He also needed to prepare for the training in the second half of the year. Teaching and training were indeed challenging responsibilities.

"Fall from the third floor. Blood pressure 80/120, heart rate 100, conscious. Suspected fracture of the distal right tibia and fibula," the paramedic reported, pushing in the emergency gurney.

This patient looked somewhat odd, wearing very little. To be precise, he only had an emergency blanket from the ambulance wrapped around his entire body. With a police officer following behind, everyone could roughly guess the situation.

"Family members, please wait outside. Let’s take him to Resuscitation Room One. Do you feel any pain in your neck or pelvis?" Xu Yino said after a brief pause.

The woman who had followed them in quickly waved her hand. "I’m not family, I’m his colleague."

"Officer, please try to ensure no further disputes occur here. Have you been able to contact the patient’s family?" Liu Banxia asked, approaching the officer.

"We’ve contacted them. They’re on their way and should be here in about ten minutes. Could you have a doctor check her as well? She was also beaten up at home," the police officer said.

"Liu Yiqing, take this lady for an examination," Liu Banxia instructed.

After saying that, he walked into Resuscitation Room One. After all, a fall from the third story could easily involve serious dangers.

By this time, Xu Yino had finished taking X-rays of the patient in the resuscitation room. He was relatively lucky; it was just a distal fracture of the right tibia and fibula, and not very severe.

"Next, let’s do an ultrasound. After that examination, we’ll do a head CT," Xu Yino said.

After applying the couplant, Xu Yino began to examine the patient’s abdomen.

After a few sweeps, Xu Yino frowned, "Do you still feel abdominal pain?"

The patient nodded. "It seems a bit more severe than just now."

"Pay attention to the recesses and pouches," Liu Banxia reminded.

With his reminder, Xu Yino’s scanning movements were a bit slower this time.

"There’s free fluid in the abdominal cavity. CT first, then to the OR. Call Doctor Wu from Orthopedics for a consult," Xu Yino said after a few more sweeps.

After speaking, she shot Liu Banxia a grateful look. If it hadn’t been for his reminder, she would have missed the diagnosis. That was something that could have had serious consequences.