5: Chapter 5 From today onwards, let's make money, build a career, and climb the ranks.
Lu Chen closed the panel and stood up.
He went to the restroom to wash his face, looking at his own face in the mirror.
His features were well-defined, his eyes clear; he was the kind of handsome that looked upright and honest.
Su Wan was right; he indeed wasn't ugly.
But Su Wan was also right; he indeed was poor.
Lu Chen wiped his face, clearing all thoughts of Su Wan from his mind.
"From today onwards, make money, build a career, level up."
"Everything else can wait for later."
He muttered a few words to himself and walked out of the restroom.
When he returned to the Nurse Station, Sister Wang was still there. She wasn't cracking melon seeds anymore but was looking at some message on her phone with a subtle expression.
Seeing Lu Chen come out, she waved him over.
"Xiao Lu, come here."
Lu Chen walked over.
Sister Wang lowered her voice and asked, "What happened in the Operating Room just now—was that you?"
Lu Chen glanced at her.
Sister Wang rolled her eyes.
"Don't play dumb; I watched the whole thing from the doorway."
"You were the one who pushed Resident Physician Zhang Lei aside and took over at the operating table."
"You were also the one who stopped those two bleeding points; Attending Physician Liu from start to finish just stood by and watched."
Lu Chen was silent for a moment, then said, "Sister Wang, about this..."
"I know, the surgical record written by Attending Physician Liu says he was the lead surgeon."
"You're listed as the second assistant, right?"
Lu Chen didn't deny it.
Sister Wang sighed.
"Xiao Lu, I won't judge whether this is right or wrong, but I'll tell you the truth."
"In a Hospital, no matter how good your skills are, if you don't have a license, a permanent position, or a backer, you'll always be stuck assisting others."
Lu Chen: "I know."
"It's good that you know. You're still young. Just grit your teeth through the residency training, get your license, and you'll have a long road ahead of you."
"Thank you, Sister Wang."
Sister Wang looked at his calm, unruffled face and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
If it weren't for this kid's poor background, with his skills and composure, it wouldn't be impossible for him to reach the director level.
What a pity.
A Hospital is a place where it's never just about skills.
...
Past three in the morning, the entire ward finally fell silent.
Lu Chen leaned back on the cot in the Duty Room, unable to sleep.
He was thinking about two things.
First: Director Mother was diagnosed with high blood pressure and some other minor ailments during her check-up last month and needed medication to control them; he had to hurry and make money to send back.
Second: The system had given him a brand new starting point, but where was the ceiling for this starting point?
He didn't know.
But he knew one thing.
From today on, he would never be looked down upon by anyone again.
Those who pushed him aside, he would make them realize their own place.
Those who stole his credit—he could endure it for a while, but he would never endure it for a lifetime.
As for Su Wan.
She chose a path she thought was better, so let her take it.
He chose a harder path, but he would see it through to the end.
Lu Chen closed his eyes and fell asleep on the cot.
There was no Su Wan in his dreams.
Only the operating table.
...
Early the next morning.
Lu Chen was woken up by a phone call.
It wasn't the Hospital's phone, but his own mobile.
Caller ID: Orphanage, Director Zhang.
Lu Chen snapped awake instantly and hurried to answer.
"Mom."
A middle-aged woman's gentle voice came from the other end.
"Xiao Chen, did Mom wake you? Were you on the night shift again last night?"
"Yeah, it's okay, Mom. Why are you calling so early? Are you feeling unwell again?"
"No, no, Mom's fine. I just received the two thousand yuan you sent back yesterday. How many times have I told you? You need to eat well and dress well out there; don't just think about sending money home."
"I'm eating very well, Mom. The food in the Hospital Cafeteria is quite good."
As Lu Chen said this, the image of a six-yuan vegetable rice bowl from the Cafeteria flashed through his mind.
It was good, indeed; six yuan to fill his stomach.
"What about your girlfriend? Su Wan, right? How is she doing?"
"Last time you said she was taking the exam for a permanent position. Did she pass?"
Lu Chen froze for a moment.
"She passed."
"That's great news! When are you two getting married? Mom wants to hold a grandson soon."
"Mom, let's talk about that later. I'm about to start work, so I'll hang up now."
"Alright, alright, go about your business. Remember to eat breakfast!"
The call ended.
Lu Chen stared at his phone screen, dazed for a long while.
He didn't tell Director Zhang about the breakup.
There was no need to make the elderly woman worry.
He got up, washed his face, changed into a clean white coat, and walked out of the Duty Room.
He ran into Resident Physician Zhang Lei in the hallway.
Seeing him, Resident Physician Zhang Lei's footsteps faltered.
Their eyes met, and the atmosphere was a bit awkward.
Resident Physician Zhang Lei had been pushed aside by Lu Chen in front of everyone last night, and he was feeling a bit humiliated.
But he had also seen Lu Chen's incredible surgical technique with his own eyes.
This left him feeling conflicted.
On one hand, he felt he had lost face; on the other, he had to admit that this intern's skills truly crushed everyone present.
Resident Physician Zhang Lei hesitated but eventually spoke up.
"Lu Chen."
"Brother Zhang Lei."
"About last night—you did the right thing. I don't blame you."
Lu Chen gave him a somewhat surprised look.
Resident Physician Zhang Lei coughed, his expression a bit awkward.
"But in the future, could you say something before you push someone?"
"I almost crashed into the instrument table last night. What if you had contaminated the sterile field?"
The corner of Lu Chen's mouth twitched slightly.
"Alright, Brother Zhang Lei. Next time, I'll give you a heads-up before I push."
"There's a next time?"
"No, no, no, slip of the tongue."
Resident Physician Zhang Lei glared at him irritably, turned around, and left.
After a few steps, he looked back at Lu Chen as if he wanted to say something.
In the end, he said nothing and strode away.
Lu Chen smiled.
Resident Physician Zhang Lei might be sharp-tongued, but he wasn't a bad person at heart.
...
At nine in the morning, after the General Surgery Department's morning meeting, Lu Chen received a notice from the Teaching Office.
It was a very brief document.
[Intern Lu Chen. Original rotation department: General Surgery Department. Rotation period completed. Next rotation department: Emergency Department. Reporting time: Next Monday. Please report to the Emergency Department Nurse Station on time.]
Looking at the notice, Lu Chen felt a sense of relief.
Attending Physician Liu Wenqiang had kept his word.
Emergency Department.
The place that all interns avoided like the plague, yet the very place he wanted to go most.
He tucked the notice away and continued writing his last few medical records for the General Surgery Department.
Near noon, Attending Physician Liu Wenqiang found him.
"Xiao Lu, come here for a moment."
Lu Chen followed him to the office.
Attending Physician Liu Wenqiang closed the door and handed him an envelope.
"This is my personal bonus from the surgical fee of last night's operation."
"It's eight hundred yuan in total. Take it."
Lu Chen looked at the envelope but didn't reach for it.
"Teacher Liu, I can't accept this."
"If I tell you to take it, take it. This is what you deserve. Even though the surgical record has my name on it, you did the work. I, Attending Physician Liu Wenqiang, am not so thick-skinned as to pocket this money."
"Teacher Liu..."
"Stop being so modest. You only earn three thousand yuan a month and still send money back home—it's not like I don't know. Take it; consider it me treating you to a good meal."
Lu Chen glanced at him and finally took the envelope.
"Thank you, Teacher Liu."
"One more thing." Attending Physician Liu Wenqiang leaned against the desk, his expression turning serious.
"After you go to the Emergency Department, you need to watch out for someone."
"Who?"
"The director of the Emergency Department, Director Li Sen."