Chapter 3 — The Patient I Saved Twice

"Tieu To, Chu Chi Minh's family is telling the other patients that you ruined the surgery. Be careful."

I tightened my grip on the phone. Standing in the middle of the hallway. On the left is the surgical area. On the right is the boarding area. Finally, I walked towards the boarding area. When he pushed open the door of the hospital room, Chu Chi Minh was sitting against the headboard of the bed, munching on an apple. Right hand holds an apple. Left hand scrolls through phone. As soon as he saw me enter, he immediately changed the apple to his left hand. The right arm hangs down. The facial expression also changed in the blink of an eye.

“Doctor To…”

He winced in pain.

“My hand hurts a lot.”

I looked at him. Say nothing. Just picked up the file at the end of the bed and looked at it. Today's examination notes are completely normal. There weren't any unusual signs. I put down the file.

"Mr. Chu, your recovery is very good. If nothing unexpected happens, you will be discharged from the hospital in about two days."

He was stunned.

"Huh? That fast?"

“I feel like I'm not completely healed yet.”

"All indicators are within normal limits. He has met the hospital discharge standards."

Having finished speaking, I turned and walked out of the room. As soon as the door closes. From inside came Tran Phuong's voice. She deliberately lowered the volume. But I can still hear it clearly.

“You're acting too much.”

“At least put the apple down before people come in.”

The complaint quickly spread throughout the department. No one said anything in front of me. But everyone's eyes were different. In the past, every time I scheduled a surgery, everyone was willing to go into the operating room with me. And now, on the duty roster, my surgical partner has been changed three times. Some people deliberately avoid it. Fear of being implicated. This industry is like that. When someone is in trouble, the first reaction of others is often to protect themselves. Thursday afternoon. Chairman Co called me to his office. Mr. Co, about to retire, has been a surgeon for more than thirty years. He poured me a cup of tea.

“Tieu To, I have seen all the complaints.”

“There's nothing wrong with you.”

I immediately raised my head.

“Director Co, can you help me talk to the Vice Principal?”

He raised his cup of tea. But then I put it down again.

“I have already met the Deputy Director.”

“His meaning is very clear.”

“This matter must be resolved as soon as possible.”

I clenched my fists.

"I have a surgery commitment letter, a pre-operative discussion record, and the dates on the complaint don't even match."

“Clearly this is slander for blackmail.”

“I know.”

Headmaster Co looked out the window. The voice carried helplessness.

“But you also know what the current environment is like.”

“If someone posts a video online, title it: ‘Female surgeon leaves patient disabled’…”

“How many people do you think will read my surgery commitment form?”

I don't answer. Because you're right. The deputy director does not care about right or wrong. He only cares whether the hospital is affected or not.

“What the Deputy Director means is…”

“The hospital spent 150,000 yuan, and I spent 50,000 yuan.”

“A total of 200,000 yuan, completely resolved the case.”

I raised my head.

“I have to spend 50,000 yuan?”

“That is the exact words of the Deputy Director.”

“He said this was his surgery you, so you have to bear part of the responsibility.”

I laughed. The cold smile even made me feel strange.

“What responsibility?”

“Responsibility to save people?”

Director Co sighed.

“Tieu To…”

“I have worked under you for six years.”

"What your abilities are, I know better than anyone."

“But this time it's not a technical matter.”

“So what's the problem?”

He looked at me for a long time. Then say each word:

“It's a matter that the hospital doesn't want something to happen.”

I sat quietly on the chair. Look at the tea leaves in the sinking cup of water floating in the hot water stream. After a while, he asked:

“What if I refuse to spend 50,000 yuan?”

“Your surgery schedule will continue to be suspended.”

“The clinic may also be transferred.”

“Until the matter is resolved.”

I looked at him.

“Is this a threat?”

Director Co shook his head.

“This is reality.”

I stood up. Walked to the door and stopped again.

“Director Co.”

“Have you ever encountered anything like this that year?”

He did not answer. I don't ask anymore. Quietly leave. As soon as I got back to the department, my phone showed a new message. It was sent by my mother.

"Daughter, I received this month's money. Don't work too hard."

Every month I send home 3,000 yuan. In my salary card... A total of only 28,000 yuan left in savings. I opened the drawer. Take out the compensation agreement and put it on the table. Sit and look at it for ten minutes. Finally... I signed. That afternoon, I went to the finance department to check in. 50,000 yuan is deducted in two installments from the salary account. The young lady in the finance department knew me. When you see the deduction slip. She raised her head to look at me. Lips moved slightly. Want to say something. But in the end still didn't say it. I smiled at her.

“It's okay.”

“Just follow the process.”

Leave the finance department. I stood alone in the stairs for a long time. Don't cry. I just felt like I was choking on a block of ice in my chest. Can't swallow. Can't take it out either. The day Chu Chi Minh was discharged from the hospital. I was just sitting at the nurse's counter writing medical records. He was dressed neatly. Tran Phuong carried his luggage next to him. When passing by the duty counter. He stopped. Smile politely at the nurse on duty.

“Thank you everyone for taking care of me during this time.”

“It's been hard for everyone.”

Bright voice. The mood is rosy. The right arm carries a large luggage bag. So steady that it doesn't even tremble. It's the right arm... The arm he said he couldn't lift. All the nurses saw it.