Chapter 24: Life, Hairy Crabs

The Endurance Value displayed on the System Panel in the upper right corner of the field of vision was already approaching zero.

Ji Xiang felt exhausted all over, even more tired than running two full marathons in one go.

Sleep for a while, he thought, as his eyes closed heavily as if filled with lead, but Ji Xiang instantly remembered something and opened his eyes again.

He laboriously fished out his phone and dialed a number without looking at the screen.

"Mom."

"What's wrong?"

A woman's voice came from the other side of the phone.

If one were to listen only to the voice, almost everyone would think it was a young girl; the sweet, soft, affected tone was very warm and youthful.

"I want a set of surgical equipment, and also a Skin Pouch Suturing Device."

"Equipment? Do you want an operating room?" Ji Xiang's mother asked very calmly, her tone just like someone asking what to have for lunch.

"No need for that much trouble, I can just do surgical training at home. I need the Skin Pouch Suturing Device; if I need anything else, I'll tell you." Ji Xiang's eyes were already unable to stay open, and he struggled to maintain his conscious awareness, "Mom, I'm going to sleep."

"Is being a doctor that tiring? Why do I feel like something is wrong? You've been..."

Before Ji Xiang's mother could finish her sentence, the call on this end had already been hung up, and Ji Xiang entered dreamland in almost the same second.

It really is exhausting, was Ji Xiang's final thought.

……

……

After work, Mo Chenggui and Wang Daxiao, who were in charge of the Outpatient Department this week, notified their families and invited Deng Chaohong.

The entrance exam for Standardized Training Students was just a small matter for the Attending Professors at the Second Affiliated Hospital; a word between them would suffice, but inviting someone to dinner was more formal.

However, neither Mo Chenggui nor Wang Daxiao wanted any slip-ups to occur regarding this matter.

The restaurant was small, with no storefront and no sign.

In previous years, they served things here that couldn't be spoken of directly, but over the last dozen years, as the animal protection laws were strictly enforced, the restaurant had indeed been in a slump for a period of time.

However, the customer base remained, and after hiring a top-notch chef, the restaurant's business picked up again.

A heated brick bed, a small dining table—taking off one's shoes and sitting cross-legged on the bed had a rather retro, nostalgic feel.

"Mo, you've made this so formal that I'm a bit unaccustomed to it," Deng Chaohong said with a chuckle.

"It's only right." Mo Chenggui handed Deng Chaohong a cigarette and lit it.

"That child you've taken a fancy to is too conspicuous," Deng Chaohong said directly, not hiding anything.

"Lao Deng, that's a harsh way to put it. 'Conspicuous' is followed by 'attracting butterflies'; Ji Yisheng Xiang is very serious," Wang Daxiao said. "It should be said that he stands out from the crowd, or that gold will always shine."

Deng Chaohong shook his head. "Let's put it this way: Zhao Yuanzhang's son is also in this batch of Standardized Training Students. You know that, right?"

"We know. Didn't I tell you? The first day he was allowed to go on stage to get a feel for it was just to give Zhao Tianjiao a chance," Wang Daxiao said. "Mo is stubborn and doesn't want to deal with Zhao Yuanzhang. I was the one performing the surgery, but I ended up seeing an uncut jade..."

When he mentioned the words "uncut jade," Wang Daxiao paused, and he and Mo Chenggui looked at each other.

Was he an uncut jade? It seemed like Ji Xiang had already become a finished product before they could even carve him.

"The first department Zhao Tianjiao is rotating through for his training is Orthopedics, and I am his Attending Teacher," Deng Chaohong said calmly.

Uh...

Mo Chenggui and Wang Daxiao looked at each other and nodded; it turned out their guess was correct.

This matter sounded a bit unreliable, but Deng Chaohong was indeed a big name in Orthopedics, and he had a reputation in the province.

Other provincial-level famous doctors were just a gimmick, but Professor Deng was a genuine provincial-level famous doctor.

But for Zhao Yuanzhang, there were many choices; why did it have to be Deng Chaohong?

"Lao Deng, when did you get on Zhao Yuanzhang's line?" Wang Daxiao's eyes became much more enthusiastic.

"Don't mention it. Originally, it was supposed to be led by our Department Sui Zhuren," Deng Chaohong sighed. "Later, they said Zhao Yuanzhang's spouse was very doting on their son and had someone calculate their birth dates. They said Department Sui Zhuren clashed with Zhao Tianjiao, and only my birth date was compatible with his."

"!!!"

"!!!"

Mo Chenggui and Wang Daxiao looked at each other, not knowing what to say about this.

This reason was too absurd; it wasn't a marriage, yet they had to check birth dates—this was truly off the charts.

However, Wang Daxiao laughed immediately. "Lao Deng, if you don't want to lead Zhao Tianjiao, you could buy him a pair of Nikes."

"If he doesn't want to wear Nike shoes, buying him a Buick would also work," Mo Chenggui added.

Deng Chaohong, who had originally harbored some thoughts of showing off, burst into laughter as the two of them bantered like a crosstalk act.

"You two, your coordination is quite tacit. No wonder you refuse to lead two groups and just huddle together."

"What's the benefit of leading two groups?" Wang Daxiao said dismissively. "There's a lot of work in the department, it doesn't pay well, and it hinders us from doing surgeries outside. Why bother? It's fine for me to be Mo's assistant."

"Unlike you guys in Orthopedics, who are rolling in dough," Mo Chenggui added.

Deng Chaohong sighed and shook his head. "That's all in the past..."

He only said half a sentence before stopping abruptly. "That child named Ji Xiang seems to have a wealthy family. I'm afraid they don't care about the little bit of surgical fees you earn from extra practice."

"Who would think money is too hot to handle?" Wang Daxiao curled his lip. "Besides, which child who just came to the Clinical department doesn't like performing surgery? I see Ji Yisheng Xiang is slick with his surgeries; I reckon he put in a lot of effort during his internship."

Professor Deng glanced at the two of them and saw they truly hadn't noticed. He didn't feel comfortable talking about such things, and he didn't believe that bicycle was really worth that much money, so he left it at that.

"Lao Deng, you said you're leading Zhao Tianjiao—are you going to let him perform many surgeries?" Mo Chenggui asked.

"Yes, that's inevitable. Once they leave our Orthopedics department, they must at least be proficient in skin suturing. For some minor surgeries, like a Clavicle Fracture or something, I have to let him do one or two. Specifically, it depends on the child's aptitude."

"And then send him for further studies?" Wang Daxiao said. "I'm thinking they didn't take a fancy to your birth date, but rather your resources in the Imperial Capital."

"Not necessarily. If there's anything, Zhao Yuanzhang can just say the word; would I refuse because of such a small thing? It's not worth dragging birth dates into it. Perhaps the two of us are just fated to get along? Right?"

Wang Daxiao and Professor Mo looked at Deng Chaohong at the same time.

Deng Chaohong didn't feel embarrassed; leading anyone's child was still leading. If he could become the teacher of Zhao Yuanzhang's son, his own path in the future would be smoother.

These were all facts; there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

"Orthopedics is good," Wang Daxiao sighed. "Everyone used to say Urology Department was easy, with no emergency surgeries, so I chose it, but it turned out I'd boarded a pirate ship."

"It's pretty good too. Saying there are no emergency surgeries is an exaggeration, but there are few, which is a good thing. Unlike us in Orthopedics, where emergency surgeries are flying off the charts."

As for Orthopedics, even if there are emergency cases, it is rarely necessary to go into surgery that same night; everyone knows the reason why.

It's boring to spell out such tacit things.

"You two think so highly of that young man; are you planning to work him like a horse or an ox?" Deng Chaohong asked.

"We had that intention at the beginning. With higher Comprehension and faster progress, he benefits and we benefit over these three years. Who knows, maybe he can become a colleague later?"

Speaking of this, Mo Jiaoshou felt a bit depressed.

Seeing Mo Chenggui speaking in a muffled voice, Deng Chaohong was a bit puzzled. "And then?"

"That kid's skill level is too high; I feel like we can't afford to use him..."

That a high skill level could actually become a source of confusion was something Deng Chaohong couldn't understand.

"Lao Deng, let me put it this way: Ji Yisheng's surgical skill is no worse than mine."

Deng Chaohong's eyes widened. Wang Daxiao's evaluation was more than just high; it was simply too high, to a degree that Deng Chaohong couldn't even believe.

"There are many surgeries on the private hospital side. Mo is old-fashioned; if it were me, I'd do any surgery," Wang Daxiao said. "Even just looking for indications, Circumcision is endless, and there's also Extension Surgery."

"Now, the trend has already started, and we two brothers are standing on the crest of the wave to make some money."

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about making money with your craft. Mo just has a stubborn brain; why can't you do Extension Surgery if you can do breast augmentation? If you don't do it, there are plenty of people who will," Deng Chaohong said. He was more interested in Ji Xiang.

"It's not easy to be a Doctor; everyone says you have to heal the wounded and rescue the dying, and make selfless contributions," Wang Daxiao said with disdain. "Like some hellish bees working hard to make honey for human contribution, but what is it really?"

"The person who says that is truly shameless. Why don't you go to a beehive and try to take honey without wearing a bee suit? Is that a selfless contribution? That's daylight robbery!"

As Wang Daxiao spoke, foul language had unknowingly crept into his words.

"We're just fated to work; actually, I think it's fine," Deng Chaohong advised.

"Working is fine, I just can't stand those bullsh*t words," Wang Daxiao said indignantly. "You have to be gossiped about just for making some money with your craft; where does that even come from?"

"Mo Jiaoshou, there's no one else, right? Shall I start preparing the hairy crabs?" The restaurant owner walked in carrying a basin, the basin filled to the brim with live hairy crabs.

They struggled, seemingly aware of their fate, wanting to escape from the tiger's mouth.

However, their fate had already been arranged, and it was not up to them to struggle.

"It's just the three of us, let's start," Mo Jiaoshou smiled.

"Just look at the hairy crabs," Wang Daxiao said cynically. "We are just like these hairy crabs."

"Before dying, they are put in clear water to starve for a few days to purge their waste, then tied up with five-flower binding, scrubbed with a big brush until they are covered in wounds, then drizzled with white liquor, sprinkled with salt, and placed on a steamer."

That's not even all; just for fear that the temperature difference will cause the crab legs to fall off, the owner won't use boiling water to steam them directly, but will choose to use cold water, letting the hairy crabs endure torture before the water boils, unable to struggle at all, dying without any dignity."

Deng Chaohong swallowed his saliva. "Wang Daxiao, stop talking, you've made me hungry. Add some aged vinegar, it'll be delicious."

"Hahaha," Mo Jiaoshou laughed awkwardly. "Let's not talk about this. Lao Deng, you did us a favor, so we're expressing our gratitude today."

Opening a bottle of Xifeng, Professor Mo filled the glasses.

"Mo, can that kid named Ji Xiang really perform surgery?"

"Mm," Mo Jiaoshou nodded. "Although my reason tells me it's impossible, I witnessed it with my own eyes. Circumcision with a stapler, Ji Yisheng does one in 5 minutes, like an assembly line."

"Tsk tsk, this is your lucky charm," Deng Chaohong said, feeling a bit envious after hearing Mo Chenggui say this.

5 minutes per surgery, performing surgery like an assembly line—this sounds like a myth.

But he knew Mo Chenggui's character very well.

Even when Zhao Yuanzhang's son came for Standardized Residency Training, he stayed far away from the matter of letting him go on stage to get a feel for it. This person is very upright and rarely lies.

It's not that no one can turn surgery into an assembly line, but those are all big shots who dominate their fields. A small Standardized Residency Training Student...

Deng Chaohong was full of interest in Ji Xiang, who was riding a bicycle.

(End of this chapter)