Chapter 15 — Emergency Night Watchman

“Shen Yen.” Chu Yen Binh's voice pulled me back.
"Yes."
"There's something I told you before—the speed at which you've come to this point is too fast. So fast that it makes others uncomfortable."
My hand stopped.
“What do you mean…”
"You know in your heart. That year when Phuong Chinh Thanh led me like that, I was stabbed a lot in the back. Jealousy in the hospital spreads faster than a virus. There are things that other people can't take - if you take it, they won't feel that you're elite, they will only feel that you went through the back door."
"I know."
"It's good to know. Work humbly, use your achievements to silence others. Okay, no more talking, see you tomorrow."
Hang up the phone. I finished the bowl of noodles, washed the dishes, and lay on the bed looking at the ceiling. Work humbly, using achievements to silence others. I understand the morality. But there are people—it's not just achievements that can silence them. December twenty-sixth. Third day of publication period. At noon on the way to the cafeteria, I received a message in the faculty group. Trieu Due Minh sent.
"@Everyone Regarding the fast track registration, I personally doubt the authenticity of comrade Tham Yen's registration dossier. According to my understanding, part of the operation notes she submitted lacked the on-site signature of a superior doctor. Reported to the Training Department, requesting further inspection."
I stopped in front of the cafeteria door. Passersby passed by my side. I stared at the text on the screen, watching it over and over twice.
“The operation notes lack the superior doctor's signature at the scene.”
He just opened that cricothyroid membrane. That night, he did not arrange a resident doctor to be on duty with me. The entire Emergency Department only has one doctor, me. The five year old child was about to suffocate, I completed the operation alone. On that operation record, there was indeed no signature from the superior doctor. Because there was no superior doctor at the scene at that time. That's a gap in shift division that he himself caused. But now he uses this to attack the "authenticity" of my file. I took a deep breath. Turn off the phone screen and put it in your pocket. Don't go to the canteen anymore. Turn around to the EICU. Phuong Chinh Thanh was there. He also saw the group messages—his phone was on the table, the screen still on. When I pushed the door open, he was pouring tea with his back to me.
“See?” He did not turn around.
“I see.”
“Are you afraid?”
“Not afraid.”
“Should be a little scared.” He turned to look at me, his expression calm but his eyes sharp, "Someone like Trieu Due Minh, I understand. Normal ability, not a lot of heart. This message was not sent out of temporary excitement—but with a plan."
“What do you mean…”
"If he raises a question during the announcement period, the Training Department is required to accept it. Once accepted, it must be verified. During the verification period, your announcement will be frozen. If the verification time extends past the announcement deadline—this slot will be cancelled."
My stomach sank a bit.
"His goal wasn't to prove you were faking it—he knew you weren't. His goal was to drag it out. It lasted until you missed the time window."
“So what should I do?”
Phuong Chinh Thanh held a cup of tea and sat down.
"You don't need to do anything. I'll do it."
He picked up the phone and dialed a number.
"Training Department? I'm Phuong Chinh Thanh. Regarding the question about the route registration dossier Tham Yen's quick—yes, I saw it. Now I verbally announce: first, all the images of the cricothyroid membrane opening operation that day are on the emergency room camera, I have extracted them and saved them, and can be provided at any time. Second, this operation was performed in an emergency situation due to an unusual shift division leading to no superior doctor at the scene, and was later confirmed by the ENT doctor on duty that the quality of the operation was satisfactory. Third, the responsibility for assigning unusual cases belongs to the main treating doctor Trieu Due Minh, who scheduled the appointment that day. I will submit these evidences in writing within thirty minutes.”
“In addition…” His voice cooled a degree, “I suggest that the Training Department also check to see if Trieu Due Minh's duty schedule that day violates Article 7 of the hospital's Regulations on night shift management of compensation staff - compensation doctors are not allowed to be on night duty alone. If violated, this is a teaching incident.”
The other end of the line said something I couldn't hear clearly. But when Phuong Chinh Thanh hung up the phone, there was an extremely cold smile at the corner of his mouth.
“Teacher…” I looked at him, not knowing what to say.
“I saved a copy of the camera a long time ago. Just waiting for him to jump out.”
Phuong Chinh Thanh took a sip of tea.
“Shen Yen, there are two rules to survive in the hospital. First, strength is the foundation. Second, someone covered her with an umbrella. The first thing she already has. The second thing—now you have it too.”
I stood there, my nose stinging again. But I don't cry. Doctors do not cry.
“Thank you, Headmaster Phuong.”
“Don't thank me. She deserves it. Go to work.”
Three days later. Verification results of the Training Department are available. Tham Yen's registration documents are genuine, valid, and contain no falsification.