Chapter 2921: 2721 Revisiting the Old Grounds

Director Miao changed his clothes slowly; everything here was very familiar to him, yet he seemed to have long forgotten it. His movements while changing were somewhat clumsy, like a novice who had just entered the operating room, careful and restrained.

"Director Miao, returning to our 912, do you feel familiar? A wave of hometown accent hits you, the kind that could bring tears to your eyes." Su Yun asked in the changing room.

Director Miao changed his clothes in silence, not answering Su Yun's question.

"Director Miao, we shouldn't be so literary." Su Yun said with a chuckle: "Things that have passed are over; you're back to take on an apprentice. What's wrong with me and the Boss being your lackeys? Don't rush; wait another ten years, by then we'll have become academic scoundrels."

"Don't keep saying 'academic scoundrel'." Zheng Ren was dissatisfied with that term.

"You won't become academic scoundrels." Director Miao understood Su Yun's meaning, and while slowly putting on the isolation gown, he said.

"Director Miao, you've gained a lot of weight over the past six months at home; you can tell as soon as you take off your clothes." Su Yun continued.

Director Miao didn't respond to Su Yun's words, but said: "Only those who lack ability and merely copy papers become academic scoundrels, because they have no confidence. As for you, you can pull out mature surgical techniques at a moment's notice—why would you fear others' challenges? In clinical work, we ultimately rely on genuine skill, on the work of our hands."

"How do you know that?" Su Yun asked.

"During the video just now, you went to make a call, and Zheng Lao Ban took the phone and spoke directly with He Jun Jin. Are you two both suspecting a gas embolism?" Director Miao asked softly.

"Wasn't it you who first said it? How could you forget when you get tense?" Su Yun said casually: "Don't argue; if you say no, we'll install a monitor at your place, have proof, and we'll sort it out later."

Director Miao smiled, took the mask and cap handed by Zheng Ren, and put them on neatly. He instinctively wanted to open a familiar cabinet to check in the mirror whether his cap was straight, but that cabinet was locked.

"As doctors, some are skilled at surgery, some at writing papers; even among professors, those with great reputations can mess up surgery." Director Miao said, "Zheng Lao Ban, little Su, if you could conquer cancer……"

"No way!" Su Yun quickly interrupted Director Miao's words, "Director Miao, you're praising us to death; we don't go for that. Conquering cancer—is that something humans can do? How many big groups pour money into it desperately, yet see no ripple."

"Are you still putting in effort? At your age, as long as you have a goal, that's good." Director Miao adjusted his cap and mask; since he hadn't looked in the mirror, he felt a bit uncomfortable.

"Go see, guess why Director Liu sought you out."

"Little Liu is usually cautious, but the good thing is that after experiencing something once, he'll figure it out completely." Director Miao said, "He's probably unsure what complications a patient might have after experiencing an air embolism once."

"Director Miao, you've put a lot of thought into the team-leading professors below." Su Yun laughed.

"You think being a director is easy?" Director Miao snapped: "Everyone has their little schemes; as long as they don't delay treatment, I don't care about them—just do your job well. But I don't scheme about them; they also have to scheme about me."

Saying that, Director Miao smiled and said, "Now looking back, it's all nonsense."

"Yes! Or it's easier to just do square dance."

"Easier my ass!" Director Miao swore, "You'll observe the square dance dancers later: those with high skill never stand at the front. Some go to another square dance team, rally the group and fight back. Others just dance on, living without conflict."

"Even square dance involves intrigue; being a director brings even more matters." Director Miao said, "Retirement is better; my square dance isn't professional, like an intern—I don't mind if people say a couple things, I just do it for fun."

Zheng Ren smiled; Director Miao, having experienced that once, has lived this life with clarity. Many things he couldn't let go of before are now let go; looking back, the scenery is naturally different.

"You say why I don't return to 912 for follow‑up checks?" Director Miao asked.

"Coward, just like the Boss." Su Yun said, "Saying that, you really shouldn't be unhappy—do you feel that coming back and seeing anything will stir up bad memories?"

Zheng Ren kicked Su Yun from behind, telling him not to bring that up.

"There's that reason, but more importantly… forget it, let's not think about the messy stuff in the department." Director Miao said, "Coming back to take a look, I feel this hurdle is past."

Saying that, several people walked into the operating room.

"Director Miao, you've arrived." Director Liu immediately stood up, speaking respectfully, just as half a year ago.

"Hmm." Director Miao didn't look at Director Liu, but walked straight to the anesthesiologist, picked up the anesthesia record, and began reading it.

The anesthesiologist felt the strong aura emanating from Director Miao; he stood sheepishly beside him, thinking how fortunate it was that he had recorded everything in clear, orderly chronological order.

Otherwise, Director Miao would have given him a dressing‑down, possibly even throwing the half‑filled anesthesia sheet at his face—how embarrassing.

"Stethoscope." Director Miao reached out.

"First Time," Su Yun handed over a stethoscope from somewhere, as if he had anticipated Director Miao's need and had already prepared.

"Both lungs have heavy rales; suction the sputum." Director Miao said.

The anesthesiologist immediately put on gloves and began suctioning. Under Director Miao's direction, the suction point was deep; the patient's irritating cough brought up a lot of pink, foamy sputum.

"Blood gas analysis."

The anesthesiologist hurriedly drew blood, used the operating room's machine to perform a blood gas analysis, and handed the test sheet to Director Miao.

"Considering pulmonary edema, it's a normal reaction, nothing to worry about."

"The patient's condition is still okay; proceed with the big incision. Have you informed the patient's family?" Director Miao gently placed the anesthesia record on the cart before the anesthesiologist and said lightly.

"Open the abdomen?"

"What else would we do!" Director Miao said sternly: "Pneumoperitoneum has already gone wrong; we can't do laparoscopy anymore—first go communicate with the patient's family, then come back and perform an open abdomen."

"All right, Director, I briefly explained pre‑op; I'll go say it again now." Director Liu stood ramrod straight and instinctively agreed.

Having said that, Director Liu turned and left; he needed to personally inform the patient's family.

Everything was just as before; everyone was familiar with the scene, and no one expressed doubt.

Director Miao had his hands behind his back, patrolling his territory like an old lion king.

Zheng Ren remained silent; if he could, he really wished Director Miao would just keep patrolling like that.