Chapter 222: Developing New Technology

"Doctor Xiao Ji, I just spoke about the dangers of courting death, what do you think?" Commandant Wang said hoarsely.

"Teacher Wang, I think it's a bit different from courting death," Ji Xiang said very calmly. "I talked to the patient yesterday, and I also talked to General Manager Wu. Total excision surgery is a huge blow to the patient; they are depressed and low-spirited, and the patient's quality of life is affected."

"Indeed, that is true," Commandant Wang said, "But!"

Commandant Wang looked at Ji Xiang with a rare, serious expression. "Doctor Xiao Ji, tell me what you are thinking."

Ji Xiang was puzzled.

Commandant Wang's expression and question were both very strange.

"Mo once thought the same way." Seeing Ji Xiang's surprise, Commandant Wang tried his best to smile. "But he called it off very quickly."

"Why?"

"I eat breakfast at KFC every morning." Commandant Wang suddenly steered the topic to a vague and ethereal corner.

Ji Xiang was speechless; this guy Commandant Wang never had anything serious to say.

"One year, a young boy was working there. You could tell at a glance he was a student who had just graduated or someone working a part-time job during the holidays to earn money for school."

"I saw it a few times. One time, a girl said, 'I want a cola, extra ice.' The young boy said very naturally, 'It's not good for a girl's body to drink things that are too cold.'"

"Then, he just gave her a regular cola."

"..." Ji Xiang spread his hands and looked at the sky.

Commandant Wang's train of thought was eccentric, but what he said was somewhat reasonable.

"Soon after, that young boy was fired. I reckon he didn't even know why himself; perhaps he even thought he was a big 'warm man' for all I know."

"Teacher Wang, I..." Ji Xiang thought, then sighed.

"Mo Chenggui was very interested in similar projects and had done them before, but because the angle after surgery wasn't right... you know, once the ligament is cut, it won't stand up, and the angle will always be problematic."

"The patient sued Mo because of this to the Medical Affairs Department."

Just as they were talking, a hearty voice came in.

"Commandant Wang, I didn't say anything that time."

It was Bai Chuzhang; Ji Xiang still remembered his voice.

During the grand competition, he had thrown himself into the nursing group... Ji Xiang had always remembered that. Although he didn't hold a grudge, he had a deep impression of Bai Chuzhang.

"It was a good thing to begin with. If the patient didn't understand, you should have explained more. Did I criticize you, or did I fine you? Or did I give you a disciplinary talk? It's not right to badmouth me behind my back like that."

As he spoke, Bai Chuzhang walked in.

Commandant Wang stood up immediately, greeting him with a face full of smiles. "Director Bai, why are you here? What kind of major surgery requires you to oversee it?"

"I'm here to find Xiao Ji." Bai Chuzhang looked at Ji Xiang with a smile. "Don't always instill bad things into young people."

"Yes, yes, yes." Commandant Wang instantly lost his arrogance and nodded repeatedly.

"Director Bai," Ji Xiang greeted him politely.

"What are you two talking about?" Bai Chuzhang wasn't in a hurry; he sat down, crossed his legs, and asked leisurely.

Ji Xiang didn't speak, so Commandant Wang smilingly recounted what had just happened.

He didn't hide anything, but told the truth.

"Oh, if you want to do it, then do it. It's not like Professor Mo can't perform it. Talk more with the patient before surgery and be sure to reach a consensus," Bai Chuzhang said. "Go ahead and do it; if something goes wrong, come find me."

"!!!" Commandant Wang's bald head radiated a dazzling light like an incandescent bulb.

Since when was Bai Chuzhang so easy to talk to?

Although he came from a clinical background, he dealt with all kinds of disputes every day. Every time he saw him at the Dispute Handling Office, his face never looked good, as if someone owed him a million and refused to pay it back no matter what.

A good attitude didn't explain the issue; Bai Chuzhang's seemingly casual remark carried the implication: "Do whatever you want, I'll cover for you if something goes wrong."

For a doctor, this promise was no less than a get-out-of-jail-free card, and it was even more effective than the Dean's word.

After all, a local official is not as effective as the one in charge; Commandant Wang admitted that Bai Chuzhang's ability to handle medical disputes was top-notch.

Commandant Wang was full of suspicion and scanned Ji Xiang with the corner of his eye.

He had his guesses.

"Xiao Ji, you're quite busy," Bai Chuzhang said with a smile, not regarding the Partial Resection + Lengthening Surgery for total penectomy as a big deal. "Liu Zhuren and Director Zhao proposed a new technology. I inquired about it and heard it has something to do with you."

"I'm just learning along," Ji Xiang said. "Regarding the research, Doctor Zhao Zhe from the Yuanliao City Central Hospital has accumulated over ten years of data..."

Bai Chuzhang waved his hand. "I've watched the recent surgery recordings; they're very good. I've helped push the project through, so just go ahead and do it."

Commandant Wang immediately knew who Bai Chuzhang was doing this for and why he had opened such a wide door.

But the fact that Ji Xiang's face was worth more than his and Mo's combined was hard to understand. Actually, it wasn't hard to understand, just hard to accept.

"Phew," Bai Chuzhang said. "It's all a good thing. If you have the ability to carry it out, then do it. Young people need to have vitality; don't be as lifeless as Commandant Wang."

"Director Bai, is there some happy event at home?" Commandant Wang asked cheekily.

"I support new technology," Bai Chuzhang said in a professional, official tone. "Commandant Wang, do you know what I worry about most regarding you guys in Urology?"

"Bleeding, I suppose," Commandant Wang said. "As long as there is bleeding in patients after Partial Resection Surgery, the complaint rate is as high as 80%. Usually, when patients go to the Imperial Capital or Shanghai for surgery, the probability of bleeding is just as high, but you rarely see them go there to complain."

"Exactly," Bai Chuzhang retorted. "If it's possible to prevent trouble before it happens and save me a lot of trouble, why wouldn't I support it?"

"Furthermore, there's the total penectomy. Damn it, the surgeries you guys in Urology perform are just not meant for humans," Bai Chuzhang cursed. "Do you remember the patient who jumped off the building five years ago?"

At this, Commandant Wang fell silent.

Ji Xiang was curious. "What happened?"

"A young patient with total penectomy couldn't accept it after the surgery. He hugged a gas canister and broke into Liu Zhuren's office in the ward. He had a death wish; he turned on the gas canister and threw a lighter when he jumped off the building."

"..." Ji Xiang couldn't imagine what kind of scene that was.

"Since then, how many total penectomies have you performed? Haven't you pushed all the others to the Imperial Capital? The dignified Second Affiliated Hospital can't even perform such a small surgery; you should be ashamed." Bai Chuzhang said with disdain.

"Director Bai, that incident was truly terrifying," Commandant Wang said with lingering fear. "It was only because the patient was inexperienced; if he had been experienced, at least a dozen people would have died."

As they spoke, both Commandant Wang and Bai Chuzhang had serious and grim expressions. It seemed that although they appeared indifferent to that incident from many years ago, they still had lingering fears.

Ji Xiang felt a different kind of empathy, but he could vaguely understand the mindsets of the patient, Bai Chuzhang, and Commandant Wang.

(End of chapter)