35: Chapter 35 Lu Chen, Emergency Department Resident Physician!
Forty minutes later, the vehicle stopped.
They had arrived at Guangfu Hospital.
Lu Chen pushed open the car door and stepped out.
He looked up and saw that the facade of Guangfu Hospital was indeed larger than that of Central Hospital.
The main building had over twenty floors, with a dark gray glass curtain wall, and overall, it looked much more imposing.
A huge sign hung at the entrance, with "Guangfu Hospital" written on it, and a line of red characters below it reading "Grade 3A Comprehensive Hospital."
There were already people waiting at the entrance.
A Middle-aged man in a white coat was followed by three or four young doctors.
The Middle-aged man was in his fifties and not very tall, but he had a very imposing presence while standing there.
Seeing the commercial vehicle stop, he stepped forward a couple of paces.
"Director Wang, welcome, welcome. It must have been a tiring trip."
Director Wang got out of the car and shook his hand.
"Director Qian, I am sorry to trouble you to come and greet us personally."
Director Qian.
Lu Chen felt a stir in his heart.
Director Qian Fangxu, Director of the Emergency Department at Guangfu Hospital.
He was the very person Zhao Yaqin had mentioned.
Director Qian Fangxu exchanged a few pleasantries with Director Wang, then his gaze swept over the members of the delegation who had gotten off the vehicle behind them.
His gaze lingered on each person for about the same amount of time, roughly half a second.
But when it reached Lu Chen, it paused for an extra two seconds.
"And who is this?"
Director Wang introduced him.
"This is Lu Chen from our Emergency Department."
Director Qian Fangxu looked at Lu Chen's face, then his gaze shifted down to the ID badge on his chest.
The badge read: Trainee Physician.
Director Qian Fangxu's eyebrows raised slightly.
"A Trainee Physician?"
"Yes."
Director Wang added.
"President Zeng specifically requested him to come this time. During the large-scale emergency rescue for the highway accident a few days ago, his performance was outstanding."
Director Qian Fangxu gave an acknowledging hum and didn't press further, but the expressions of the few young doctors behind him were quite interesting.
One male doctor, who looked to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight, was clearly snickering.
Another slightly older female doctor had a calm expression, but the curve of her lips suggested that she also found the idea of bringing a Trainee Physician to an exchange program a bit laughable.
Lu Chen saw it all but said nothing.
This reaction was within his expectations.
If it were him seeing another Hospital bring a Trainee Physician to a technical exchange, he might also find it quite amusing.
Director Qian Fangxu ushered everyone inside.
"Let's go to the Conference Room to rest and have a drink of water first, and then we will arrange a brief welcome ceremony."
"We will officially start the exchange activities in the afternoon."
The group followed Director Qian Fangxu into the Guangfu Hospital building.
The several attending physicians walking in front were chatting with Director Qian Fangxu, and the atmosphere seemed quite amicable.
Lu Chen walked at the very back.
He Wenbin walked over and stood beside him.
"Did you see that?"
"See what?"
"Those young ones behind Director Qian Fangxu are laughing at you."
"I know."
"Aren't you angry?"
"Wait until they finish laughing, and then I'll let them see if there's any reason to laugh."
He Wenbin glanced at him and suddenly felt that the tone of this Trainee Physician did not quite match his age.
At twenty-four, the words he spoke sounded like someone who had been in this industry for ten years.
The Conference Room was on the third floor of the Administrative Building of Guangfu Hospital.
Fruits, tea, and some snacks were placed on the table.
People from both sides sat down facing each other.
There were eight people from Central Hospital, and over ten from Guangfu Hospital; besides Director Qian Fangxu, there were also several deputy directors of departments and key doctors.
As the host, Director Qian Fangxu started with a few pleasantries.
"Central Hospital is our sister institution, and we have had deep cooperation in medical technology and academic research for a long time."
"For this technical exchange, I hope both sides can learn from each other and make progress together."
After saying this, Director Qian Fangxu's expression changed.
It didn't become serious; rather, it became a bit intrigued.
"However, just sitting in the Conference Room and talking empty words is boring."
"I have always felt that the best way for doctors to communicate is through hands-on practice."
"So this afternoon, I would like to arrange a small segment."
He turned his head to look at the young male doctor of twenty-seven or twenty-eight behind him.
"Zhou Wenjie from our department just won the silver award in the Suturing category at the Provincial Young Physician Skills Competition last month."
"His Suturing level is considered top-tier among our batch of young doctors."
"I would like him to have a friendly exchange with the young doctors on your side—not a competition, just to look at each other's work and exchange techniques."
When Director Qian Fangxu said this, his tone was very casual, as if he had just thought of it on the spot.
But Lu Chen could tell that this was not impromptu.
From the expressions of the several young doctors behind him, he knew they had been prepared for a long time.
A provincial competition silver award.
Bringing it up specifically at this moment, the meaning was very clear.
We have an expert on our side; do you have one on yours?
After hearing this, Director Wang's smile didn't change, but his eyes narrowed slightly.
He turned to look at the people on his side.
The several attending physicians looked at each other. Suturing was something they all knew how to do, but whether their level reached the standard of winning a provincial award was not certain.
He Wenbin lowered his head and pretended to drink water.
He was from the Cardiology Department, and Suturing was not his strong suit.
Wu Fan did have a background in surgery, but he was already in his forties, and competing with a young person on hand speed was not quite appropriate.
The air was silent for about three seconds.
The corners of Director Qian Fangxu's mouth curled up slightly.
He thought Central Hospital would decline, or just send someone up to handle it perfunctorily.
But what he didn't expect was that a voice came from the corner seat on the opposite side.
"I can do it."
Everyone's gaze turned simultaneously to the source of the voice.
Lu Chen sat there with a calm expression.
Director Qian Fangxu looked at him, his eyebrows raising again.
"You?"
"Yes, I can."
Director Qian Fangxu's gaze fell once again on the ID badge on his chest.
Trainee Physician.
There was silence for two seconds.
Then Director Qian Fangxu laughed.
It wasn't mockery, but it wasn't a kind laugh either; it was the kind of laugh that found something interesting.
"Young man, you have guts."
"But are you sure?"
"Zhou Wenjie's Suturing level is unmatched in our department."
"You, a Resident Trainee, competing with him in Suturing, don't you think it's a bit..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already very clear.
Director Wang coughed softly from the side, trying to smooth things over.
But Lu Chen had already stood up.
"Director Qian, a Resident Trainee is also a doctor, and Suturing is a basic skill."
"Since it's an exchange, let's have an exchange."
When he said this, his tone was not aggressive or hurried, even carrying a hint of a polite smile.
But it was precisely this steady demeanor that made the few people from Guangfu Hospital opposite him change their attitude toward him slightly.
It was no longer purely about watching the fun; there was a bit more scrutiny.
Director Qian Fangxu looked at Lu Chen and was silent for a few seconds.
Then he turned his head and said to Zhou Wenjie.
"Wenjie, get ready."
Zhou Wenjie stood up and smiled.
His smile contained confidence, as well as a bit of disregard for Lu Chen.
A Resident Trainee coming to compete with him in Suturing?
He had won a provincial silver award, had worked in surgery for five years, performed hundreds of surgeries, and the wounds he had sutured could circle this Conference Room.
Competing with a Resident Trainee?
This wasn't an exchange; this was a free win.
But he wouldn't say that out loud; he still had to save face.
"Very well, Director."