Chapter 53: The Burden is Heavy and the Road is Long

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: The Burden is Heavy and the Road is Long

After being "kidnapped" by a group of beautiful women and whisked away to the Obstetrics and Gynecology department, Yu Zhiming hadn’t had a moment’s rest all day, save for a decent takeout meal at noon and a half-hour break.

Yu Zhiming performed fetal position adjustments for one fetus with a mild case of umbilical cord torsion and another six with nuchal cords wrapped one to four times, averting the risk of premature birth for all of them.

In addition, Yu Zhiming skillfully adjusted the positions of seven fetuses in presentations that would have caused difficult deliveries, helping the expectant mothers who were hoping for a natural birth.

Yu Zhiming had often done similar work at the county hospital, just never with such a heavy workload in a single day.

For Yu Zhiming, this was all familiar territory. It was the kind of work that’s easy for an expert, second nature to him, and presented little difficulty.

But this time, in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Huashan Hospital, Yu Zhiming couldn’t help but feel a little nervous, and his forehead was often beaded with sweat.

One reason was that every time he worked, a crowd of doctors from the department would gather to watch.

After all, this was his first official demonstration of his medical skills at Huashan Hospital.

Being stared at with sharp, scrutinizing gazes by the department’s many senior experts, Yu Zhiming, who had never liked crowds, felt genuinely inhibited.

The second, and most important, reason was...

Whenever he had a break, sweet-voiced female doctors and nurses would swarm him enthusiastically, massaging his arms and shoulders and plying him with snacks and drinks.

What left him even more speechless was that someone would occasionally make a sly move, copping a feel of his pecs or poking his abs.

’They’re a bunch of female hooligans!’

The simple and innocent Yu Zhiming had never experienced anything like this.

He didn’t dare say a word even when he was being so openly felt up, and his face remained perpetually flushed...

"Alright, all of you, out."

That one sentence from the Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Liu Yun, was Yu Zhiming’s salvation. With a chorus of giggles, the pack of "hooligans" swept out of the examination room.

"Dr. Yu, did any of those women just now catch your eye? None of them have boyfriends, you know."

"Dr. Yu, just say the word if you think one of them is a good match..."

Liu Yun promised grandly, "Leave the rest to me. I guarantee that in less than three months, I’ll make your wish come true and you’ll have a beauty in your arms."

’This Director Liu,’ Yu Zhiming thought, ’is grinning like a brothel madam. She has none of the dignity a department director should have. There’s definitely a knife hidden behind that smile, full of cunning.’

He said warily, "Director Liu, I’ve just arrived here. My main focus is on learning and improving myself. I’m not looking to date anyone right now."

"Um, Director Liu..."

Yu Zhiming changed the subject. "It’s almost the end of the workday. If there are no other patients, I should get going."

"It’s my first day, so I really should check in with Teacher Qi."

"Hey, don’t be in such a rush to leave."

Liu Yun reached out and grabbed Yu Zhiming’s arm to stop him from leaving. "Dr. Yu," she coaxed, "have you ever considered it?"

"With your skillset, you were practically born to be an obstetrician."

Liu Yun explained persuasively, "Fetuses and expectant mothers are so fragile, and the mothers themselves have so many concerns. Our available diagnostic methods are limited."

"As you know, Dr. Yu, among all the imaging techniques, ultrasounds are the least precise."

"In situations like these, Dr. Yu, your skills in auscultation and percussion would be invaluable."

"Not to mention your unparalleled skill in fetal position adjustment..."

’Even if you talk until you’re blue in the face,’ Yu Zhiming thought, ’I wouldn’t be caught dead in Obstetrics, or Pediatrics for that matter.’

’No other reason. They’re just too noisy.’

With an exaggerated expression, Liu Yun said, "Dr. Yu, to have such a god-given talent and not become an obstetrician... that’s practically inviting divine retribution!"

"Just give me the nod, and I’ll go talk to Director Qi. You won’t have to worry about a thing..."

Just as Yu Zhiming was trying to figure out how to refuse her, he heard familiar, striding footsteps approaching.

’It’s Teacher Qi.’

Sure enough, his voice arrived before he did.

"Director Liu, borrowing him for a while is one thing, but getting greedy and trying to claim him for your own is going a bit too far."

"Do you think I, Qi Yue, am a pushover?"

With those words, Qi Yue pushed the door open and strode in, followed closely by Zhou Mo, who took quick little steps to keep up.

Qi Yue first looked at Yu Zhiming and said, "Zhiming, you and Xiaomo go wait for me in the car."

"I need to have a word with Director Liu alone."

Yu Zhiming obediently answered, "Okay." He quickly gathered his things and hurried out of the department with Zhou Mo.

The two of them walked to the temporary parking area outside the gynecology building and got into a Porsche Cayenne hybrid.

Zhou Mo got into the driver’s seat, and Yu Zhiming sat in the passenger seat.

Yu Zhiming kept his gaze fixed forward, but an alluring, subtle fragrance kept wafting into his nose.

After a moment of silence, Yu Zhiming finally found something to talk about.

"Teacher Qi is driving this Cayenne hybrid again. Did the report on the one that caught fire a while back come in?"

Zhou Mo hummed in affirmation. "I heard Director Qi mention it. He said it was caused by someone, not a quality issue with the car."

"Oh," Yu Zhiming said. Then, grasping for another topic, he asked, "Last time I was in Binhai, how come I didn’t see you?"

"I had some family business to attend to, so I took some time off."

Another silence fell between them.

This time, Zhou Mo was the one to break it.

"Dr. Yu, Director Liu from Obstetrics was clearly using a honey trap on you."

"I happen to know they have quite a few gorgeous doctors and nurses in that department."

"Did you like any of them?"

Yu Zhiming shook his head so hard it was a blur. "I wouldn’t dare. They’re all way too aggressive. I can’t handle that."

Zhou Mo let out a snort of laughter, then quickly suppressed her smile.

"Director Liu probably gave them mandatory orders, which is why they were all being so forward."

"Besides, Dr. Yu, you’re so handsome and exceptionally talented. It’s understandable that they couldn’t help themselves."

The praise made Yu Zhiming a little embarrassed.

He instinctively demurred, "I wouldn’t say I’m ’handsome’ or ’exceptionally talented.’ I’m just a cut above average, that’s all."

Zhou Mo turned to look at Yu Zhiming and saw that his cheeks were actually flushed with embarrassment. She found him quite interesting.

’An innocent young man. What a rare species.’

Just then, Yu Zhiming saw Teacher Qi walk out of the gynecology building in the rearview mirror.

He quickly got out of the car.

Yu Zhiming noticed the faint smile on Teacher Qi’s face and the lightness in his step. He figured the conversation with Director Liu must have gone quite smoothly.

Yu Zhiming proactively opened the rear door, and got in with Teacher Qi.

Zhou Mo started the car and drove slowly toward the hospital exit.

"Zhiming, a few of us from the center are getting together tonight so you can all get to know each other."

Qi Yue explained, then asked, "I hear your eldest sister and niece came to Binhai with you. Should we invite your Fourth Sister and have them join us?"

"No, that’s not necessary," Yu Zhiming refused.

"They went to the suburbs to see my eldest brother-in-law. They won’t be back for a day or two."

Qi Yue let out a soft "oh" and changed the subject. "Zhiming, that patient you referred came early this morning. He’s already been admitted to a room."

"This morning, I questioned him in detail about his medical history, the progression of his condition, his course of treatment, how he’s been feeling, and so on."

"I’ve emailed you the relevant information. Make sure you take a look tonight."

Yu Zhiming nodded, then said sheepishly, "Teacher, I’ve been studying his case files for the past few days."

"But I haven’t gotten anywhere. I don’t have any leads."

Qi Yue laughed. "The Provincial Hospital in Lu Province is one of the top five hospitals in the province in terms of overall capability."

"They couldn’t even get a diagnosis, and you think you can find a lead just by looking at a pile of files..."

Qi Yue looked at Yu Zhiming teasingly. "Zhiming, are you overestimating yourself a little?"

"And underestimating the experts at the Provincial Hospital?"

Yu Zhiming scratched his head in embarrassment. "Teacher, I wasn’t underestimating anyone. I just thought that since I’m new here, I should try to perform well and not disappoint you."

Qi Yue’s smile vanished. He said in a serious tone, "Zhiming, I understand why you would think that."

"But as a doctor, you need to have a clear understanding of your own abilities. You either can or you can’t."

"You can’t be impetuous, and you certainly can’t overestimate yourself."

"You have to remember that our every decision affects a patient’s health, and even their life."

Seeing Teacher Qi’s expression grow increasingly solemn, Yu Zhiming quickly reflected on his attitude and straightened up.

He sat up straight, looking like a student being properly lectured.

"Teacher, things have been going pretty smoothly for me recently. I admit I was getting a bit full of myself."

"I’m just an attending physician with a weak foundation, limited experience, and a narrow perspective."

"What I need most right now is to be humble and study diligently, not to try and make a big splash by solving some complicated case!"

Qi Yue nodded in satisfaction and instructed, "Zhiming, your skills in fetal position adjustment, auscultation, and percussion are abilities others don’t possess. But in the end, they are just minor techniques. They just make you a useful tool."

"If you want to become a renowned physician, a truly great doctor, you have a long and arduous road of hard work ahead of you..."