134: Chapter 134 Lottery! Obtained: Emergency Medicine Theory Knowledge Enhancement Card (Normal Level)!
Lu Chen closed the door to the Duty Room and sat back down on the bed.
He opened the system panel.
[Current total gratitude points: 1194 points]
[Available lucky draws: 1 time]
He had decided last night to use this lucky draw before today's assessment.
"Lucky draw."
The system's lucky draw interface unfolded in his mind, and the light wheel began to spin.
It spun for about three seconds before coming to a stop.
[Congratulations to the host, you have drawn a blue quality reward!]
Blue, Rare grade.
It wasn't exceptionally high, but it wasn't low either.
[Reward content: Emergency Theory Knowledge Enhancement Card (Common Grade)]
[Effect: The host's experience gain efficiency for Basic Theory of Emergency Medicine is increased by 30%. Duration: 7 days]
[Activate immediately?]
Lu Chen glanced at the effect description.
A theory enhancement card that increases theory experience gain efficiency by 30% for seven days.
It wasn't anything world-shaking, but it happened to patch up his shortest board.
"Activate."
[Emergency Theory Knowledge Enhancement Card activated. Effect in progress. Remaining time: 7 days 0 hours 0 minutes]
Alright, not a bad deal.
Lu Chen closed the system panel, stood up, and straightened his white coat.
He headed out.
...
6:55 AM.
At the Hospital's main entrance.
Zhao Yaqin was already standing there, holding a document folder containing the assessment registration forms and related materials.
She was wearing a dark coat today, looking a bit more formal than usual.
"You're here?"
"I'm here."
"Did you eat breakfast?"
"I did. Nurse Shen made dumplings."
Zhao Yaqin glanced at him, her lips twitching slightly, but she said nothing.
A Hospital official car was parked nearby, and the driver was already waiting inside.
The two of them got into the car.
As the car started, Zhao Yaqin turned to look at the back seat.
"Deputy Section Chief He didn't come?"
The driver replied.
"Section Chief He said he'd drive himself and meet you at the assessment site."
Zhao Yaqin's expression didn't change, but Lu Chen noticed her brow furrow slightly.
Section Chief He Zhongfeng was going too.
Now this was interesting.
The Medical Affairs Department sending someone to keep an eye on the provincial assessment site was technically justifiable, as they were representing the Hospital.
But with He Zhongfeng going personally, his motives were clearly not pure.
Lu Chen leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.
Zhao Yaqin glanced at him.
"You certainly are relaxed."
"Worrying won't help. It's better to conserve my energy."
"True. Then rest for a while, I'll wake you when we arrive."
"Mm."
Lu Chen actually did close his eyes to rest.
He wasn't faking; he really was resting.
Zhao Yaqin shook her head.
Among the peers she had seen, there truly wasn't a second one with this young man's psychological fortitude.
...
7:40 AM.
Provincial Medical Association Academic Exchange Center.
The car stopped in the plaza in front of the building.
Lu Chen got out and looked up.
It was a twelve-story building with a red banner with white characters hanging over the main entrance.
[Provincial Emergency Medicine Skills Assessment and Academic Exchange Event]
Many cars were already parked at the entrance, and signs from various Grade-A Hospitals could be seen.
Provincial Peoples Hospital, Guangfu Hospital, Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangbei Medical College Affiliated Hospital, and several other city-level Grade-A Hospitals Lu Chen hadn't heard of.
Zhao Yaqin led him to the registration desk and handed over the materials.
The staff member in charge of registration glanced at the registration form and looked Lu Chen up and down.
"Jiangcheng City Central Hospital, Resident Physician, Lu Chen?"
"Yes."
The staff member looked again.
"How old are you this year?"
"Twenty-four."
The staff member's gaze was a bit subtle, but they didn't say much. They checked a box on the form and handed over a contestant number plate and an assessment guide.
"Written exam at 9:00 AM, practical assessment at 2:00 PM. Lunch break is from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. The cafeteria is on the third floor."
Lu Chen took the number plate.
Number 17.
Zhao Yaqin leaned in to take a look.
"Number 17, not bad. Lucky."
"Sister Zhao, you believe in that?"
"I don't, but there's no harm in a bit of good luck."
The two of them walked inside.
The first-floor lobby of the building had been set up as a check-in and rest area, with many chairs and refreshment tables. Contestants and team leaders from various Hospitals were already sitting in small groups, chatting.
Lu Chen scanned the room and did a rough count.
There were about thirty contestants, all in white coats, with ages generally ranging from late twenties to mid-thirties.
He was the youngest.
And conspicuously so.
After he sat down, the gazes of several people nearby swept over him.
A male doctor in his early thirties leaned over to look at the number plate on Lu Chen's chest.
"Jiangcheng City Central Hospital?"
"Yes."
"You're a Resident Physician?"
"Yes."
The male doctor sized him up.
"How long have you been in the Emergency Department?"
"Less than two months."
The male doctor's expression instantly became quite colorful.
He turned to exchange a look with his companion. The meaning of that look was very clear.
Less than two months?
What is he doing here?
Just to make up the numbers?
Lu Chen ignored them.
Zhao Yaqin sat down beside him and said in a low voice.
"Don't mind them. This kind of assessment is usually attended by senior residents. Your seniority is indeed too young, so it's normal for people to have doubts."
"I don't mind."
"I know you don't mind, I'm just telling you in advance."
Zhao Yaqin paused.
"There might be even more unpleasant things said later, just be prepared."
"Mm."
Just as she finished speaking, several more people walked into the lobby entrance.
Leading them was a male doctor around twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, tall and with very regular features.
He walked with his chin slightly raised, carrying a very strong aura.
The number plate on his chest read: Provincial Peoples Hospital, Zhou Haoran.
Two people followed behind him: an older man who was the team leader, and a younger Resident Physician traveling with them.
Zhao Yaqin saw him and whispered.
"That's Zhou Haoran from the Provincial Peoples Hospital. He was second in the practical assessment last year, and he's aiming for first place this year."
"He's been in the Provincial Hospital's Emergency Department for five years. They say his skills are very well-rounded."
Lu Chen nodded and glanced at Zhou Haoran.
Zhou Haoran seemed to sense the gaze and also turned his head to look over.
Their eyes met for a moment.
Zhou Haoran's eyebrows twitched, his gaze lingering on Lu Chen's face for about two seconds before he looked away.
He walked to the other side of the rest area and sat down, speaking in a low voice with his team leader.
Not long after, another group arrived.
Guangfu Hospital.
The one leading them was actually Qian Fangxu.
He had personally led the team here.
Lu Chen recognized that face at a glance.
Qian Fangxu scanned the lobby as he entered. After locking onto Lu Chen, his mouth curled into a grin, and he strode over.
"Little Lu!"
Qian Fangxu patted Lu Chen on the shoulder quite loudly.
"You're here for the assessment too?"
"Hello, Director Qian."
"Hello? What's so good about it? That Suturing job you did at our Guangfu last time... my subordinates are still talking about it. They said the blow was too great; their hands were shaking during Suturing practice for several days."
Zhao Yaqin, who was next to him, stood up and greeted Qian Fangxu.
Qian Fangxu waved his hand.
"No need for formalities, Attending Physician Zhao. We met during the last exchange."
He looked at Lu Chen again.
"Perform well today. Don't lose face for Old Li."
"I'll do my best."
Qian Fangxu laughed heartily, patted his shoulder, and turned to leave.
Behind him followed a young doctor in his late twenties. The number plate on his chest read: Guangfu Hospital, Lin Zhuo.
As Lin Zhuo passed by Lu Chen, he glanced at him and gave a slight nod as a greeting.
Zhao Yaqin leaned in.
"Guangfu's contestant is Lin Zhuo. He's one of Qian Fangxu's people, been working for four years. I heard he's quite formidable too."
Lu Chen gave an affirmative grunt.