107: Chapter 107 Tomorrow, Chen Minghao will let his academic work speak for itself.
Meanwhile, in a bachelor apartment at the Provincial Peoples Hospital, Associate Chief Physician Chen Minghao sat before his computer.
On the screen was the page with his own comment. It had over twenty thousand likes.
A satisfied curve tugged at the corner of his mouth. He refreshed the reply section.
There were many voices supporting him, but also quite a few opposing ones. Especially those few that directly retorted at him, making him feel somewhat uncomfortable.
"An Associate Chief Physician who can't publish papers and can't secure the position of Department Director."
"The pot calling the kettle black."
"Jealous that a 24-year-old Resident Physician is more popular than himself."
These words pierced his heart.
He was forty-one this year. He had worked in the Cardiology Department of the Provincial Peoples Hospital for over a decade. He had been an Associate Chief Physician for five years. The position of Department Director had never come his way.
In the past two years, he had submitted three papers; two were rejected, and the remaining one was still in the long review process.
It wasn't that he lacked ability. His Puncture skills were indeed ranked among the best in the province.
However, ability and position were sometimes not the same thing. It required resources, connections, achievements, and opportunities. He was lacking a little bit in all of them.
Then he saw that video. A 24-year-old Resident Physician. He had performed a Puncture procedure that even he himself might not be able to do. It even hit the trending searches. It had over eight million views.
That feeling was complicated. It wasn't pure jealousy. It was a mix of the fear of being left behind by the era and anger at the unfairness of talent.
It had taken him fifteen years to climb to the position of Associate Chief Physician. This young man had become the focus of internet attention in less than two months.
He knew that his comment was a bit excessive, but he couldn't control himself. He needed to make his voice heard. Otherwise, it would feel as if his fifteen years of work had been for nothing.
His phone rang. An unknown number. He picked it up.
"Is this Director Chen? I am Section Chief He Zhongfeng from the Medical Affairs Department of Jiangcheng City Central Hospital."
"Hello, Section Chief He."
"I have already sent the agenda for tomorrow's consultation exchange to your email. Have you seen it?"
"I have. There is a discussion on a typical case."
"Yes, it's that case of loculated pericardial effusion that has been quite popular online recently. The operator is a Resident Physician from our Emergency Department named Lu Chen."
Associate Chief Physician Chen Minghao's fingers tightened slightly.
"I know this person."
"Director Chen, to be honest with you," Section Chief He Zhongfeng's voice lowered slightly, "This young man has been put on too high a pedestal in our Hospital recently. There are people above deliberately pushing him, making many people uncomfortable. You are a provincial-level expert with authority in the field of Puncture. If you could provide some objective comments and corrections from an academic perspective tomorrow, it would be a good thing for our Hospital's academic atmosphere."
Associate Chief Physician Chen Minghao was silent for a few seconds.
"Section Chief He, rest assured. I am an academic; I will critique as I should and stick to the facts."
"That's good, that's good. Director Chen, I won't disturb you any further. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
He hung up the phone. Associate Chief Physician Chen Minghao leaned back in his chair.
He had certainly understood the meaning behind Section Chief He Zhongfeng's words. He wanted to use his hand to suppress that young man. But he didn't care.
Because he really wanted to see. That 24-year-old Resident Physician. Was he truly a genius, or was he just a bubble blown up by the internet?
He turned off the computer, pulled out several of the latest articles on loculated pericardial effusion from the bookshelf, and began to read them word for word. No matter what happened tomorrow, Associate Chief Physician Chen Minghao would speak with academic authority.
At the same time, in Vice President Peng Zhao's office, Section Chief He Zhongfeng had just finished the call and was standing in front of the desk reporting.
"Vice President Peng, the communication with Associate Chief Physician Chen Minghao is settled."
Vice President Peng Zhao held his teacup without looking at him.
"Don't go too far."
"Rest assured, I only suggested that he provide an objective critique from an academic perspective; I won't leave any handle for others to grab."
"That shift scheduling matter last time almost dragged me down with it."
A layer of sweat broke out on Section Chief He Zhongfeng's back.
"That time was an accident. This time is different. This time it follows the normal academic discussion process completely. Even if President Zeng Dayang wants to find fault, he won't be able to."
Vice President Peng Zhao put down the teacup.
"That Lu Chen, his recent limelight is too bright."
"Yes."
"President Zeng Dayang is using him as a trump card, first pushing the Emergency Operating Room, then building up his image, and now he's even started helping him manipulate his papers."
"I heard that Director Li Sen is personally guiding him in writing it, and the target is the Chinese Journal of Emergency Medicine."
Vice President Peng Zhao's eyebrows twitched.
"A core journal?"
"Yes."
"A Resident Physician submitting to a core journal? Can he pass the reviewer's stage?"
"With Director Li Sen as the corresponding author, and given that the case itself is indeed rare, it is very possible that he could pass."
Vice President Peng Zhao was silent for a while.
"Then we must not let things go too smoothly for him."
"After Associate Chief Physician Chen Minghao arrives tomorrow, I won't step forward directly. Just have Section Chief He Zhongfeng provide some guidance on the agenda arrangement, steering the focus of the discussion toward the standardization of the Puncture procedure and the grasp of indications, giving Associate Chief Physician Chen Minghao room to perform."
"Understood." Section Chief He Zhongfeng nodded and exited the office.
Vice President Peng Zhao sat alone in his chair, taking a sip of tea that had already gone cold. He had heard the name Lu Chen too often recently.
He had already lost one round regarding the Emergency Operating Room. He couldn't lose a second round.
If Associate Chief Physician Chen Minghao could pick out problems in Lu Chen's operation from an academic standpoint tomorrow, then the trump card President Zeng Dayang had built up wouldn't be as effective, and he could also use this to relay words to President Sun.
Young people shouldn't be built up too quickly; otherwise, who would be responsible if something went wrong? This card was much smarter than attacking President Zeng Dayang directly. Hitting Lu Chen would hurt President Zeng Dayang; it was very stable.
Vice President Peng Zhao put down the teacup and picked up tomorrow's meeting agenda. His gaze lingered on the "Typical Case Discussion" section.
The night grew deep. Jiangcheng City Central Hospital quieted down. The Red Zone of the Emergency Department was still operating. The night shift doctors and Nurses were on duty.
The light in Lu Chen's Duty Room had long been extinguished. He was sleeping very deeply. His breathing was steady.
The system panel sat quietly in the corner of his consciousness. All the skill progress bars were slowly advancing.
Tomorrow, there would be a new battlefield. But for Lu Chen, every battlefield was a Shura field. And the Shura field was his favorite place.
[system panel Update]
[Host: Lu Chen]
[Identity: Resident Physician (Jiangcheng City Central Hospital · Emergency Department)]
[Skill Panel]
[Suturing (perfect level): Progress 87 / 100]
[Basic Surgical Operations (Master Level): Progress 58 / 100]
[Internal Medicine Diagnostics (Proficient Level): Progress 42 / 100]
[Manual Hemostasis (Master Level): Progress 58 / 100]
[Laparoscopic Appendectomy (Master Level): Progress 93 / 100]
[Basic Theory of Emergency Medicine (Skilled Level): Progress 37 / 100]
[Tracheal Intubation (Master Level): Progress 46 / 100]
[Closed Thoracic Drainage (perfect level): Progress 31 / 100]
[Comprehensive Trauma First Aid (perfect level): Progress 0 / 100]
[Ultrasound-Guided Puncture (Master Level): Progress 38 / 100]
[Current total gratitude points: 1438]
[Available lucky draws: 1]
[Title Slot]
[Currently equipped: enemy of yama (Beginner), newcomer: surgical blade, one needle to settle the world]
[Emergency Surgery Skill Enhancement Card activated, effect in progress, remaining time: 4 days 18 hours 12 minutes]
[Physical enhancement status: genetic enhancement serum (Beginner) has taken effect, stamina cap +20%, energy recovery +15%, sleep efficiency +25% (permanent)]