61: Chapter 61: The General Meeting Begins! Vice Dean Zeng Directly Attacks the Opposing Faction!
After breakfast, Lu Chen returned to the Emergency Department and ran into Zhao Yaqin at the Nurse Station.
"Lu Chen, you know about the 8:30 meeting, right?"
"I know."
"Come with me in a bit; don't be late."
"Okay."
Zhao Yaqin hesitated for a moment before adding another sentence.
"At today's meeting, no matter what the leaders say, just sit there and listen. Don't try to stand out, and don't speak up."
"Sister Zhao, do you also think there's a problem?"
"It's not that there's a problem, but you're too conspicuous right now. The more you stand out, the easier it is for people to target you."
Lu Chen looked at Zhao Yaqin.
Since he entered the Emergency Department, Zhao Yaqin had been teaching and mentoring him.
"I understand. Thanks, Sister Zhao."
"No need for thanks. Hurry up and get ready."
...
8:20 AM.
Lu Chen followed Zhao Yaqin into the large Conference Room on the third floor of the Administrative Building.
The Conference Room was very large, capable of seating over two hundred people.
At this moment, it was already more than half full.
Directors, deputy directors, Attending Physicians, and Resident Physicians from various departments formed a dense crowd.
Lu Chen found a seat near the back.
Zhao Yaqin sat next to him.
The front few rows were occupied by department directors and deputy directors.
Lu Chen scanned the room and saw Director Li Sen sitting in the Emergency Department section, with Zhou Ze beside him.
Over in the General Surgery Department area, Deputy Director Qin sat in the second row, his expression calm and unreadable.
Five nameplates were set on the rostrum.
The names of the President, Vice President President Zeng Dayang, and the other three vice presidents.
One of them read Vice President Peng Zhao.
Lu Chen glanced at the name.
Vice President Peng Zhao, the vice president in charge of logistics and administration.
Logically, the General Surgery Department didn't fall under his jurisdiction, but Deputy Director Qin was one of his people.
Factions in the Hospital were never divided strictly by administrative lines; they relied on interests and connections.
...
Exactly 8:30 AM.
The President and several vice presidents entered the room one after another.
The President was an old man in his early sixties named President Sun. He wore reading glasses and walked at a measured pace.
President Zeng Dayang walked to his right. Today, he wore a deep blue suit and looked very energetic.
Vice President Peng Zhao walked at the very back. He was in his fifties, tall and thin, with an expressionless face.
The meeting began.
The President first spoke about the overall operation of the Hospital, including quarterly targets, medical quality scores, and patient satisfaction.
This content had no direct relation to most people, so many in the Conference Room were looking down at their phones.
Lu Chen wasn't really listening either; he was thinking about other things.
After about twenty minutes, the President changed the subject.
"Next, I'll ask President Zeng to speak about a few recent matters regarding medical business."
President Zeng Dayang stood up and walked to the front of the podium.
He first mentioned a few routine matters before getting to the main point.
"Recently, several things in our Hospital deserve praise."
"First, regarding last week's heavy rain emergency rescue, the Emergency Department, under the leadership of Director Li Sen, successfully completed the treatment of a large number of casualties from the multi-car pileup on the Chengnan Expressway with zero major medical accidents. This deserves praise."
A round of applause broke out in the Conference Room.
Director Li Sen nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
"Second is our technical exchange activity with Guangfu Hospital."
President Zeng Dayang scanned the room.
"During this exchange activity, our doctors demonstrated a very high level of professionalism."
"Especially in the Suturing technique competition, which left a deep impression on our colleagues at Guangfu Hospital. Director Director Qian Fangxu specifically called to express his high praise."
Another round of applause.
President Zeng Dayang paused.
"The third matter."
His voice slowed down slightly.
"Yesterday afternoon, Lu Chen, a Resident Physician from our Emergency Department..."
"...at the invitation of the General Surgery Department, performed a Laparoscopic Appendectomy in the General Surgery Department's Operating Room."
The Conference Room went quiet for a moment.
Many people's gazes swept toward the back rows.
Lu Chen sat there, his expression unchanged.
"This surgery was completed under the observation of the entire General Surgery Department. It took 21 minutes, had zero bleeding, and the surgical evaluation was excellent."
At this point, President Zeng Dayang glanced in the direction of Deputy Director Qin.
"What does this show? It shows that the young doctors in our Central Hospital have strength and skill. It also shows that our talent cultivation mechanism is effective."
Applause rang out again.
But this time, the applause was mixed with various complex emotions.
Some were genuinely clapping for Lu Chen, while others felt forced to clap to save face.
Deputy Director Qin was also clapping.
But his expression was very subtle.
President Zeng Dayang's words seemed to be praising Lu Chen, but in reality, he was taking a jab at the General Surgery Department.
A Resident Physician from the Emergency Department went to your General Surgery Department's territory, performed a surgery under the observation of the entire department, and did it better than your own people.
What does that show?
It shows that your General Surgery Department couldn't even diagnose appendicitis and had to rely on someone from the Emergency Department to clean up the mess.
Vice President Peng Zhao sat on the rostrum, his face maintaining that expressionless look.
But his finger moved slightly on the table.
The meeting continued for another half hour, covering other matters, before the President gave a concluding speech and adjourned the meeting.
The crowd began to file out.
As Lu Chen followed Zhao Yaqin out, he passed by Deputy Director Qin.
Deputy Director Qin was talking to an Attending Physician nearby. When he saw Lu Chen approaching, his gaze lingered on him for a moment.
He didn't say anything, just gave him a look.
There was a lot in that look.
Some of it was recognition of his skill, while some was something else entirely.
Lu Chen didn't shy away; he gave a slight nod as a greeting.
Deputy Director Qin also nodded.
Then they went their separate ways.
Zhao Yaqin walked ahead, and after Lu Chen caught up, she whispered.
"See that? Vice President Zeng is using you as a pawn."
"I know."
"As long as you know. Be more careful when you do things from now on."
"Sister Zhao, I'm just a doctor treating patients."
"You think you're just a doctor, but in the eyes of others, you're a chess piece on President Zeng Dayang's side."
Lu Chen fell silent for a moment.
"Then what can I do?"
"Do your job well and don't proactively lean toward any side. As long as you have the skill, no one can touch you."
This was similar to what Director Li Sen had said before.
Skill is the foundation.
Lu Chen took these words to heart.
As the two of them walked out of the Administrative Building, they ran into He Wenbin, a Resident Physician from the Cardiology Department.
"Brother Lu!"
He Wenbin greeted him warmly.
"Brother He."
"Don't call me Brother He. You're much better than me; just call me Wenbin."
"Is something up?"
"Nothing, just wanted to let you know that President Zeng singled you out at yesterday's meeting. The people on Vice President Peng Zhao's side didn't look very happy."
"I already know."
"It's good that you know. Be careful lately. Several department directors are very close to Vice President Peng, so don't let them catch you making a mistake."
Lu Chen looked at He Wenbin.
"How do you know all this too?"
He Wenbin laughed.
"I've been in the Cardiology Department for three years; what haven't I seen? Just chat with any veteran Nurse and you'll know all about the Hospital's petty drama."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. That myocardial infarction patient you saved last time is recovering very well. The family even came to deliver a Silk Banner yesterday."
"That's good."
He Wenbin patted Lu Chen's shoulder and left.
Lu Chen stood at the entrance of the Administrative Building, watching the white coats passing by.
A Resident Physician who hadn't even been on the job for long was already caught in the Hospital's factional vortex.
He didn't want to be involved.
But sometimes, you don't have a choice in the matter.
Forget it, no use thinking about it.
Skill is the ultimate truth.