Chapter 5 — People Who Live in the Middle of the Process

"After being discharged from the hospital, Deputy Director Tran specially sent Secretary Luu here... to convey his thanks."
“Yes, he is very polite.”
“It's not just a thank you.” Secretary Luu spoke up, took out an envelope from his pocket, "Vice Director Tran said, no doctor has ever seriously explained to him about consent after being informed so clearly."
“He said, this is exactly what the standard should look like.”
She placed the envelope on the tea table.
"This is a thank you letter written by Deputy Director Tran himself. He said that if the hospital needs it, he is willing to appear as a patient to prove that Dr. Trinh's diagnosis and treatment process is completely compliant and professional."
The meeting room was quiet for a few seconds. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tien Duy Minh's hand shaking slightly. The cup of tea he had been carrying had not yet taken a sip. The expression on Luu Duc Thang's face was exactly like someone who had been constipated for three days and finally got relief - pain mixed with relief.
"Good... this is a good thing. Trinh Lam, you see, this correct action of yours... is truly worth replicating."
Turning over is faster than turning over a book. Three days ago, he was still banging on the table asking me why I didn't take emergency care. Today it has become "worth replicating". I looked at him, neither smiling nor sarcastic. Just nodded: "Thank you, Director, for your recognition."
“So the previous complaint…” Luu Duc Thang glanced at Tien Duy Minh.
Tien Duy Minh immediately understood, put down his cup of tea, and smiled even more unsightly than crying: "That complaint... after review, we determined that Dr. Trinh followed the regulations throughout the entire process, and did not constitute a violation. Therefore, the complaint is dismissed."
"OH." I replied, standing up, "Then if there's nothing else, I'll get back to work."
“Wait.” Secretary Luu called me over, "Doctor Trinh, Deputy Director Tran also told me to ask you a question."
“Say it.”
"He said — 'I heard about what happened three months ago. You suffered a loss. Do you need me to help you say something?'"
The whole room froze. Luu Duc Thang's smile stiffened on his face. Tien Duy Minh's hands completely stopped shaking — because his whole body had turned to stone. I looked at Secretary Luu and was silent for two seconds.
“Send my thanks to Vice President Tran.”
“No need.”
“I have not suffered any disadvantages.”
“I'm just following the rules.”
After speaking, he turned around and walked away. Behind him was a long silence. Leaving the Director's room, I was alone in the hallway. Sunlight poured in from the window, shining on my faded white blouse. I bowed my head and looked. The left breast position of the white blouse, embroidered with my name. Trinh Lam. Small text below: Emergency Department. It's been eight years. I have worn this blouse for eight years. There was blood on it, tears on it, antiseptics on it, vomit on it. There have also been things that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Wrong, angry, unwilling, cold-hearted. But — I never took it off. Will not take it off later. It's just that the way of wearing it is different. Before, it was taking your life to bear the burden. Now it's time to take out the regulations to block it. This so-called regulation, people can say it's a chain, you can say it It doesn't matter if it's a weapon. Anyway — It was you who taught me. And I have learned. After Vice Dean Tran's incident, everyone in the department's attitude towards me had a miraculous change. No one talks about "I have a problem with my nerves" anymore. Instead there is a different type of evaluation —
“Trinh Lam's personality is too rigid.”
“But being rigid also has her reasons.”
"Actually, being on the same shift as her is very reassuring, at least there won't be any procedural errors."
When I heard these words, I was eating instant noodles in the duty room. The person who said those words was Mr. Truong in the Bone and Joint Department next door, the sound echoed from the nurse's counter. I took a sip of noodles, not showing any emotion. Assured? Nice word. Three months ago you wouldn't have said that. The way it was said three months ago was — "This person, Trinh Lam, is too brave, sooner or later something will happen." Something happened. Then I make modifications. After fixing it, people said I was rigid. Okay, anyway, you guys have a reason for saying things like this. I don't care anymore. There was a knock on the duty room door. Ton Le poked her head in.
"Are you eating? Sorry to bother you."
“Say it.”
She walked in, closed the door, and sat down across from me.
“There's something I want to tell you... The department has scheduled duty next month.”
"Yes."
“Dean Tran means… your night shift will be scheduled a little less.”
I raised my head.
"Why?"
"He didn't say it clearly. But I guess... he was afraid that the night shift lady would have an emergency and cause a commotion again."
I put down my chopsticks.
“Miss Le, please help me pass a sentence to Dean Tran.”
“Hmm?”
“Please schedule your night shift normally.”
“If my night shift is cut, I will submit a request to explain the reason in writing.”