Chapter 405: Winning Three in a Row

"Doctor Xiao Ji, this... the recovery is too fast, isn't it?"

"Normally, the capillary network can be re-established in about 14 days, and in a few more days, the ligament will regain its original function," Ji Xiang explained to Feng Jiaolian. "It is the biggest surgery in the former Surgery Department, now the Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, aside from organ transplants—the pancreaticoduodenectomy."

Feng Jiaolian listened intently to Ji Xiang's words.

Facts proved that Ji Xiang's level and ability were extremely high; Feng Jiaolian even vaguely felt that after the surgery, Zhao Dali was even a little bit stronger in both running and feints than before.

In the past, Feng Jiaolian's understanding of surgery was that after the operation, an athlete's professional career was basically over; wanting to return to the peak was almost like a dream.

Worldwide, countless geniuses have fallen because of this, and only a handful of people can return to their original level.

Yet Zhao Dali's performance told Feng Jiaolian that the surgery Zhao Dali received was different from the surgery in his own understanding.

Dali not only recovered but could also run and score goals on the field without any restraint.

"In the past, when performing a pancreaticoduodenectomy, the patient would lie in bed for at least a week after surgery, suffering terribly, and it was unknown if they would even survive."

"If they survived, it was luck; if they didn't, the family would accept and acknowledge it."

"But in the last ten years, on the first day after surgery... we mean the first day, not the day of the surgery, as that counts as day zero," Ji Xiang explained to Feng Jiaolian before continuing. "On the first day after surgery, the patient gets out of bed for rehabilitation training. Even for elderly patients over 70, even in critical condition, they are required to get out of bed and walk."

Feng Jiaolian was stunned. He knew a little about this surgery; a friend's father once had a pancreaticoduodenectomy, and the post-operative recovery was nothing short of hellish torture.

Now, they can get out of bed and move around on the first day after surgery?

Feng Jiaolian did not quite understand.

Ji Xiang had broken his perception of this world time and time again.

"In the past, we had to worry about whether the patient could survive; now, we worry about low-probability post-operative lower extremity deep vein thrombosis and things like post-operative rehabilitation and quality of life."

"Even if I say more, Feng Jiaolian, you might not understand. For a doctor, this is very normal."

Ji Xiang said earnestly.

Most of his understanding of surgery came from the System Operating Room and the personal instruction of the System NPC, so for Ji Xiang, being able to gallop on the field one month after an anterior cruciate ligament repair was a relatively normal thing.

"Click~"

Feng Jiaolian's worldview shattered, falling all over the floor, impossible to piece back together.

"Doctor Xiao Ji, you... how do you see Dali's situation?" Feng Jiaolian was still worried and asked again.

He didn't realize that he had already asked this question countless times tonight.

"Dali is fine, he has recovered," Ji Xiang gave Feng Jiaolian a definitive answer.

Out of a doctor's psychology, Ji Xiang shouldn't have answered this way, but seeing Feng Jiaolian worried and looking like he had Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, he said it anyway to comfort him.

"Phew~" Feng Jiaolian's anxious heart finally relaxed.

"As for how far he can go in the future, it depends on Dali himself, but the matter of the left anterior cruciate ligament is already in the past," Ji Xiang gave Feng Jiaolian another reassurance.

"That's good!"

Ji Xiang found Feng Jiaolian interesting and asked, "Feng Jiaolian, let me say something that might sound unpleasant."

Feng Jiaolian looked at Ji Xiang cautiously. Could there still be a problem with Zhao Dali's left anterior cruciate ligament?!

"After Zhao Dali goes abroad, he should have nothing to do with the country anymore, at most with the General Administration of Sport. As for you..."

"Oh, it's about that," Feng Jiaolian said candidly. "Being a coach, while making a living, one always wants to do something."

"Dali is a genius with a lopsided talent, but I think very highly of him. I'm not asking for any benefits; if I can see Dali compete on live TV in the future, my heart as his mentor will feel good, won't it?"

"When the time comes, I'll find a few buddies to drink and brag at my house. When those bastards see Dali score a goal, I'll say, 'This little brat was raised by me!' Hahahaha."

Thinking of that scene, Feng Jiaolian felt wonderful and laughed out loud.

But then he remembered he was at Ji Xiang's house, immediately restrained his laughter, and sheepishly reached out to pet the half-asleep Sha Paozi.

*Seems quite interesting, * Ji Xiang thought, looking at Feng Jiaolian's happy expression.

Doctors are the same; first, it's about making a living, but beyond that, there is still a pursuit.

"Feng Jiaolian, that's it then. Dali's debut in Germany was great, you can rest assured now."

"Rest assured, rest assured," Feng Jiaolian said repeatedly.

……

……

Borussia Dortmund head coach Marco Rose sat in the stands. He was not immersed in watching the game or enjoying the football, but was writing something in a notebook.

"Marco, that damn kid plays really well!" Marco Rose's assistant said excitedly. "It's just that he looks a bit thin; a gust of wind could blow him away. If he could gain some weight and be a few years older, we could call him up to give it a try."

Marco Rose shook his head, staring blankly at the profile on his tablet.

After a long time, Marco Rose said in confusion, "That young man just finished an anterior cruciate ligament repair surgery on his left knee, yet he can have this kind of performance. It's very surprising."

"I suspect they are lying. If he had surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament, could he still perform such agile feints? It's completely impossible; even Matthäus couldn't do that."

"That young man is great," Marco Rose praised, looking at the profile of Zhao Dali on the panel. "17 years old, runs as fast as a rabbit. Our team lacks this type of player."

"Mr. Marco, he is only 17, and he is either a liar or an athlete who has suffered a major injury. No matter how I look at it, I have already excluded him from the candidates."

"Let's observe for two more games." Marco Rose watched the second half begin. Seeing that Zhao Dali was not on the field, he stood up. "Let's go back."

"He definitely won't be able to adapt to the physical confrontation of the top league, no matter how fast he runs. With an anterior cruciate ligament injury, I'm afraid he'll hear a 'pop' after just a few feints."

"Dieter, you just saw his three goals—high-speed running, volleying. Don't you find it strange? I mean, assuming his resume is all true. To be honest, I've never seen a madman who insists on saying he has an anterior cruciate ligament injury before coming to Borussia Dortmund," Marco Rose asked.

The assistant coach shrugged his shoulders.

"You go find Zhao Dali's team and ask which hospital the surgery was performed at. Our front office should have more options."

Marco Rose said vaguely.

(End of chapter)