Chapter 390: Poaching

"Why are you losing such a big temper?" Sui Zhuren asked calmly after the other party finished venting.

"Sui Zhuren, we had a gentleman's agreement back then, it was clearly settled that we wouldn't poach each other's clients," Shi Zhuren said grimly. "Today, a player from the provincial football club was already prepped for surgery, but his coach insisted on discharging him, saying he was coming to your side to have it done."

"Hm?" Sui Zhuren was taken aback.

"Our First Affiliated Hospital is second to none in the province for Sports Medicine. Do you, Sui Zhuren, want to stick a foot in this area too?"

"Let me ask, this isn't my affair." Sui Zhuren was completely unaware and denied it flatly.

"It's not you... heh."

"Shi Zhuren, give me some time." Sui Zhuren suppressed the anger in his heart; more importantly, he remembered the silk banner at the entrance just now.

That Nezha person seemed to be from a sports team too; there should be a connection.

After Sui Zhuren figured it out, he chuckled, and his previous unhappiness vanished into thin air.

If your skills aren't up to par and the patient comes looking for us on their own, how can you blame others? That's like blaming constipation on a lack of gravity.

After finding Deng Chaohong to clarify the situation, Sui Zhuren was even more delighted.

Before going into surgery, he made a phone call to Shi Zhuren at the First Affiliated Hospital.

"Shi Zhuren, I've asked about the matter."

"Hmph!" Shi Zhuren let out a cold snort.

"More than a month ago, there was an athlete from the weightlifting team who looked like Nezha. Do you know her?"

"I remember her. Rotator Cuff Injury, had surgery, and developed Knot Impingement Syndrome post-op. I suggested going to Jishuitan," Shi Zhuren replied.

He might not remember other things, but the term Nezha was simply too vivid and too deeply ingrained; he wouldn't forget it.

"Right, that patient had the surgery at our hospital, performed by Deng Chaohong," Sui Zhuren frowned. "So what? A patient needing a second surgery, is there a problem with that?"

"The patient is said to have already recovered motor function, bench pressing 110 kilograms, completely back to pre-injury levels."

"..."

The other side of the phone fell silent instantly.

"Shi Zhuren, it really isn't me poaching. The patient didn't have the means to go to Jishuitan and found our Attending Professor to perform the surgery. You tell me, with results like this post-op, could their circle of coaches not know about it?"

Sui Zhuren's tone grew increasingly playful, and he felt a sense of satisfaction.

This matter couldn't be considered poaching at all; it was Deng Chaohong performing above expectations and slapping the face of the hospital next door.

Emm, it feels just right.

"Impossible, that was a Rotator Cuff Injury, and a second surgery at that," Shi Zhuren muttered to himself.

"What's impossible about it? If you don't believe me, go ask. Alright, I've looked into the situation here. The patient came to deliver a silk banner early this morning, and another coach insisted stubbornly that his player stay for surgery."

"..."

"It really has nothing to do with me, Shi Zhuren. I'm hanging up; I have 6 Joint replacement surgeries today. You know our Orthopedics Department—I can't even keep up with my own Joint replacement surgeries, why would I poach your patients, right?"

"..."

The other side of the phone remained silent.

Sui Zhuren hung up the phone and hummed a tune as he went into surgery. As for the matter of finding Deng Chaohong, he didn't take it to heart at all.

He wasn't interested in Sports Medicine; it was a chicken rib—tasteless to eat but a pity to discard—how could it compare to the appeal of Joint replacement?

Shi Shuo was silent for a long time. Half-doubting, he found Coach Zhang's number and called him.

After confirming the information again, Shi Shuo was completely bewildered.

Rotator Cuff Injury, Knot Impingement Syndrome, second surgery—these related terms echoed in Shi Shuo's mind.

No matter which term it was, it was a headache; it was absolutely impossible for athletic ability to recover to pre-injury levels.

Yet Sui Zhuren and Coach Zhang said the patient could already bench press 110 kilograms, was fully recovered, and showed no issues at all.

Shi Shuo didn't believe it.

Let alone the Provincial Hospital, even Jishuitan, the Guojia Yundong Zhongxin, or even world-renowned Sports Medicine Experts couldn't reach that level.

His state wasn't good today, and the surgery was done in fits and starts. After barely finishing today's surgery, Shi Zhuren called Sui Zhuren to arrange to go see the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair surgery.

The night was already deep. Winter in the Northeast gets dark early, and the clouds in the sky were turned a dark red by light pollution, looking exceptionally oppressive.

Zhao Dali lay on the hospital bed, silently watching the light outside the window, feeling empty inside.

From heaven to hell, it only takes one injury.

He had kept the invitation letter from Borussia Dortmund with him at all times, but it no longer had any meaning.

Early this morning, he was supposed to go to the operating room for surgery, but his coach called a halt and refused to let him have the surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital no matter what.

Coach Feng "forcefully" processed an automatic discharge, and even though the Second Affiliated Hospital wasn't a designated hospital and couldn't be fully reimbursed, he preferred to pay out of his own pocket to transfer him over.

Was there any difference between the First Affiliated Hospital and the Second Affiliated Hospital?

Zhao Dali didn't understand. He was only interested in herding sheep and playing football; his understanding of this world was still a blank slate.

If only he could still run around herding sheep with his dog without a care in the world, how good that would be. But now, his left leg hurt as soon as he moved it; he was afraid he wouldn't be able to run that fast for the rest of his life.

Zhao Dali was a bit dejected, but he hadn't seen prosperity, nor had he seen success. His dejection was dejection, but not as deep as Coach Feng's.

He mostly just didn't want the coach to be disappointed in him.

"Zhao Dali, right?"

A young Doctor appeared at the head of the bed.

"That's me, who are you?"

"I already said, my name is Ji Xiang, I am your attending Doctor," Ji Xiang said with a smile. "The test results are all ready, we'll prepare for surgery tomorrow. Don't eat or drink anything after 12 o'clock tonight."

The preoperative examination was done at the First Affiliated Hospital; copying the results could save a lot of money. Regarding this child, Deng Chaohong did not make things difficult for him and accepted the First Affiliated Hospital's examination to prepare for emergency surgery early tomorrow morning.

The reason it is an emergency surgery is because Sui Zhuren decided it, saying that Shi Zhuren from the First Affiliated Hospital wants to come and observe.

"I understand," Zhao Dali said.

"Don't worry, I heard you run very fast," Ji Xiang said with a smile.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to run anymore in the future."

"The surgery is very minor and won't affect your future sports."

"The Doctor at the First Affiliated Hospital said my ligament is already torn, and even if it's reattached, it's very easy to get injured again."

"It depends on how it's done."

Feng Jiaolian heard Ji Xiang comforting Zhao Dali; he felt a bit uncomfortable and anxious inside, so he ran out to smoke a cigarette.

When he returned, he heard that Zhao Dali's mood had improved a lot and he was gossiping with Ji Xiang.

"A while ago, an old pervert kept stalking our team doctor, and calling the police was useless."

"That stinking pervert is nearly 70. The police said there was no good way to handle it, so a bunch of us 13 or 14-year-old kids went to his house, tore down his door, and beat him up. He relied on his age to act entitled, so we relied on our youth to act out. You have no idea how strong those animals on the weightlifting team are; he really didn't know what he was getting into."

Zhao Dali was spitting as he spoke, and Zhang was stunned.

This child is naturally unsociable; how does it look like he has become friends with this young Doctor?

(End of chapter)