Chapter 3179: with translation of chapter title

Zheng Ren could not believe that number was real.

The 100% Shou Bing completion rate was surpassed; now, based on 110%, it suddenly jumped another 17.2 percentage points!

He hesitated a moment, then immediately realized it might be the effect of organ transplant specialization.

Each point of organ transplant specialization could increase Shou Bing completion rate by 10%; so the original Shou Bing completion rate was 96%, plus 10% makes 106%, plus another 20% specialization bonus gives this shocking number.

Zheng Ren felt he was invincible; with the Medical Team working together, they wildly piled up the original Shou Bing completion rate, and obtaining this result could only be described as satisfactory, very satisfactory.

"Boss, I feel like ECMO can be weaned off—is that just an illusion?" Su Yun turned and stepped down, looking at the latest blood gas analysis values, asking doubtfully.

"Su, if this were my patient, I definitely wouldn't take them off ECMO." Charles glanced at the lab report and stated his opinion.

Zheng Ren hesitated a moment, then said, "Still take it down; I'll watch the situation, a little bit of shutdown."

Su Yun looked worriedly at the various machines.

Ventilator, monitor, neck Artery, radial Artery-connected five micro-infusion pumps, plus three-way-connected infusion lines; below that are two chest bottles, ECMO, and a liver dialysis device.

This point was previously overlooked, and Zheng Ren had never practiced it in the System Operating Room. After all, the System Operating Room is just pure training—success is success—unlike reality, which still has so many troubles.

Shou Bing succeeded, with so much equipment, how could we send Xiao Shitou back?

An Elevator shaft definitely couldn't hold all this stuff; Zheng Ren could do nothing about it. Earlier they were only thinking about how to smoothly complete Shou Bing, but they didn't expect problems after Shou Bing was finished.

"Wait a moment, the plasma exchange device can be withdrawn first." Zheng Ren hesitated a while, then began giving orders.

Xiao Shitou had passed the acute liver failure stage; bilirubin had dropped to an acceptable level. One session of bilirubin adsorption plus plasma exchange makes weaning off reasonable. If it doesn't work after going down, we can put him back on; this is the best option.

Zheng Ren glanced around, wanting to find a small round stool to sit and watch.

Through the Lead glass, he was surprised to see the operating area already packed with people, densely packed—about twenty people standing, like sardines in a can.

The airtight Lead door opened; Zheng Ren walked out, and a wave of heat hit him.

"Zheng Lao Ban, congratulations!" Vice President Yuan said with a smile.

"President, why did you come?"

"Such a major Shou Bing, Lin Ge will surely report to me. I came to take a look and coordinate. Your preparations are truly thorough, with no surprises." Vice President Yuan laughed.

"Luckily, luckily, the luck was fairly good and the Shou Bing went smoothly." Zheng Ren removed his mask and exhaled.

"When will the patient be sent back?"

"We need to wait a bit; it might occupy the operating room for about two hours." Zheng Ren said, "There are too many tubes and machines on the body; we need to withdraw some before we can send the person to the ICU."

"It's fine; I only scheduled this one Shou Bing, Zheng Lao Ban, if you don't feel tired, you can wait here a few more hours, observe more—no one will compete with you for the operating room." Director Xu said with a chuckle.

Zheng Ren felt moved, smiled slightly, and said, "Director Xu, then I won't stand on ceremony."

"For such a major Shou Bing, Zheng Lao Ban, why be polite?" Director Xu laughed, "What matters most is that the patient gets down safely and recovers smoothly."

With Director Xu's words, Zheng Ren felt more assured, exchanged a couple of polite remarks, then turned and returned to the Operating Room.

"Boss, are you preparing to shut down ECMO before going down?"

"Mm, observe for six hours, right here in the operating room. If possible, we'll withdraw ECMO then go down." Zheng Ren said firmly, "There shouldn't need a second Shou Bing; the sterile conditions here are sufficient, resources ample, suitable for observation."

Everyone knows the Operating Room's Operating table is best for observation, but you also need those conditions. The 912 operating room—these are all resources. To ensure this Shou Bing proceeds smoothly, many people have worked silently.

Not mentioning other departments' needs, generally speaking, after Shou Bing if the patient doesn't leave the table, at least ten medical staff will be turning around, and it also occupies an operating room. Such a thing is only conceivable after the President and the Anesthesiology Department head give the green light. Before this, Zheng Ren had no such concept.

After he said that, he also found a small round stool to sit in the corner, watching Xie Yiren wiping the Surgical Instruments.

"Yi Ren, I plan to observe for six hours."

"I heard that; I won't go down, I'll tidy up first and disinfect the surgical case." Xie Yiren said crisply.

"Boss, when will the ventilator be removed after we go back?"

"No rush, let's keep it for 24 hours first, then talk." Zheng Ren said, "ECMO can be taken offline—already beyond expectations."

"Today's Shou Bing was truly well done." Su Yun said happily; he also felt today's Shou Bing completion rate was quite high, just without the System Panel giving specific numbers.

"Mm, it's not bad; the situation is better than expected. The 3D-printed organ had no rejection reaction, and post-op no oral immunosuppressants are needed—this is also an important point."

"Zheng, you really refuse to go to Mayo Clinic?" Charles glanced at the readings of all the equipment, having his own judgment that the Shou Bing would necessarily succeed. But the more so, the more regret he felt; the Doctor came to Zheng Ren's face for a final plea.

Zheng Ren quickly stood up, apologetically saying, "Doctor, if you want to watch me perform Shou Bing, if you have time I can fly straight to Mayo Clinic."

He refused bluntly; Charles let out a faint sigh.

Zheng Ren cheerfully saw the Doctor out of the operating room, but he didn't personally see him out the door; instead he asked Su Yun to see him off, and also told Wen Xiaonuan the news of the successful Shou Bing.

The Shou Bing went smoothly, completion rate extremely high, but Xiao Shitou still lay on the Operating table—absolutely cannot be careless.

If something really went wrong and I wasn't on site, causing a delay in rescue, there'd be nowhere to cry.

Sitting on the small round stool, Zheng Ren watched the various values; as plasma was exchanged bag by bag, Lao He continued monitoring blood gases and liver/kidney function.

Soon, Su Yun returned.

"Boss, when Wen Sister heard the news of the successful Shou Bing, she sat right down on the floor." Su Yun said.

"Oh, she was just too Tension." Zheng Ren's focus wasn't there; he was calculating numbers in his mind, then suddenly asked, "What did you and the Doctor mean by what you said?"

"Which remark? About population aging?"

"Yes."

"There's a game called Plague Inc.; have you played it?"

"Such an anti-human name?" Zheng Ren frowned.

"A strategy game on infectious diseases developed by the independent Yingguo Lun Dun studio NdemicCreations." Su Yun said, "I think it's not that simple; this game is interesting, if you have time go find it and play."

Zheng Ren stared at the various numbers, chatting casually with Su Yun about games—much better than driving in the Operating Room.

"Why isn't it simple?"

"Like you said, anti-human. I think those capitalists early on had the idea of using plague to change an aging society, just to get people used to and adapted. The game setting is somewhat interesting—like Ebola virus isn't strong, basically can't infect all humanity. Boss, if you were to design a virus, how would you prepare?"

"Definitely a super-long incubation period; whether the outbreak is violent or not is secondary. Better to have a slow onset, so people become complacent. But once it reaches a certain level, it erupts directly—then it spreads the widest." Zheng Ren said casually.

"Exactly, only this way can conquer Greenland. I have a contact at a friend in the United States P4 Experiment lab who studies various viruses there, but I always feel that the flu there each year is related to the research."

"Don't talk nonsense, impossible." Zheng Ren scolded.

"Hey." Su Yun rarely doesn't argue; if he were to argue, it would be too anti-human, that would be a criminal, not just a contrarian.

Let's change the topic, Su Yun is just guessing, not certain. Moreover, this idea is truly too anti-human; even if Su Yun used the most wild, darkest imagination, he couldn't sketch such a picture.

"Little Stone picked up another life again?" Su Yun looked at the various indicators, his tone light and delighted.

Pretty much. According to the current indicators, ECMO can be withdrawn in more than five hours.

"That's good." Su Yun wandered around, found the room boring, and ran out to find someone to chat with.

Blood gas and liver-kidney function are tested every half hour, with values continuously progressing toward improvement.

After four hours, the liver dialysis equipment was withdrawn.

After six hours, ECMO was withdrawn.

Accompanied by a ventilator, monitor, and a bed's micro-pump, the Medical Team escorted him back to the ICU.

Sitting in the monitoring room, Zheng Ren stared at the ventilator and monitor readings. Monitoring tests had already been reduced from every 30 minutes to once an hour.

Little Stone's various indicators were stable; the alarmingly high total bilirubin from surgery had returned to preoperative levels, and all kidney function indicators were fine, making dialysis unnecessary.

After ECMO was withdrawn, with ventilator assistance, the transplanted lung began to function, gas exchange was good, and oxygen saturation remained between 98-100%.

"Boss, do you no longer have to worry about smoking?" Su Yun asked with a chuckle.

"Can you do a lung transplant anytime? You're talking nonsense." Zheng Ren said, "Don't think about surgery, just take care of yourself. As for smoking, you should smoke less if you can."

"Who knows, maybe in a few decades the whole body could be replaced; looking at current neuroscience research, if even memory could be replaced, humanity would truly be immortal." Su Yun said.

"No, before tuberculosis was conquered, everyone thought there wouldn't be such a serious disease later, but look at cancer. Even after conquering cancer, other diseases will still appear. This is a battle that never ends."

"Don't think so much, shouldn't we celebrate this?" Su Yun laughed.

"Little Stone no longer needs ventilator assistance, leaving the ICU, we should return to Hai Cheng." Zheng Ren said, "I miss Director Pan."

"The New Year is coming, are you still planning to work day and night doing surgeries this year?" Su Yun asked.

"During normal holidays, who would come to the hospital for no reason during the New Year?"

"This New Year, are you going to spend it with Ning Shu?"

Su Yun is really annoying; he can't say something nice without ruining it! The surgery was a success, quite a happy thing, why does he have to bring up Ning Shu?

But whenever I think of Ning Shu now, the first thought isn't his composed, imposing image of controlling the whole situation at Pengxi Township Hospital; instead, it becomes that of a little old man who couldn't get medical treatment in Sweden.

It seems there's nothing to be afraid of either; Zheng Ren smiled.

Thinking about it, Zheng Ren spaced out a bit. Ning Shu, spending New Year together with him, everyone eating reunion dinner, setting off firecrackers… this feeling is really unfamiliar.

Unfamiliar as it may be, upon reflection it's still quite warm. Zheng Ren smiled; he had already subconsciously wanted to accept the concept of family.

"I'll go lie down for a while; call me if anything comes up." Su Yun made a phone gesture, "If you're tired, tell me and we'll take shifts."

"Mm." Zheng Ren nodded.

Su Yun left, and Zheng Ren looked at Little Stone lying on the hospital bed, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. The ICU in room 912 is still relatively backward; said to be under renovation, it likely won't start until after spring arrives.

"By this time next year, will we be able to use the new ICU?" Zheng Ren looked at Little Stone, imagining in his mind the brand-new laminar-flow ICU for a single critical patient in one ward.

If it were that kind of ward, it could lead to a Reduction in postoperative antibiotic use in patients and a Reduction in cross-infection. It's estimated that using antibiotics for just one day after surgery for a critical patient would already be considered severe; normally they wouldn't be used.

Going to the Mayo Clinic, one could have first-rate diagnostic and treatment equipment, and wouldn't need to piece together a makeshift intraoperative liver dialysis machine before surgery.

But can that be the same?

Zheng Ren never even considered this matter; the focus of medicine is the patient, not the machine.

If all he had were principles on his lips and business in his heart, Zheng Ren would have gone to Hopkins already; the conditions there are not worse than those at the Mayo Clinic.

But Zheng Ren inwardly looks down on American medical practices, and even Sweden, which claims universal health care and free medical treatment, he also looks down on.

From a logical standpoint, the number of doctors determines everything. Given their working hours, could they possibly achieve all this? It's a joke.

The matter of Ning Shu removing a fish bone and Wu Hui's untreated perforated appendix, with conservative treatment waiting for a second-stage surgery, is something Zheng Ren has come into contact with.

That side's medical standard is high, but that… as Su Yun would say, it serves capital. The Mayo Clinic's doors are often open, with wealthy people constantly coming for check-ups, not lacking some domestic capital magnates.

Indeed, that is top-tier resources.

But all this has nothing to do with ordinary folks; people like Wu Hui, who are misdiagnosed and mistreated…

Just as he was thinking, his shoulder jolted with a slap.

"Boss, what are you pondering?" Su Yun asked.

"I'm looking at Little Stone."

"I'm asking what you're thinking about."

"Um, I'm thinking about refusing Doctor Charles." Zheng Ren said with a smile.

"Boss, have you ever thought about it before? Doctor Charles hasn't communicated with you. Your refusal is too decisive, leaving no room for maneuver."

"I haven't thought about it." Zheng Ren said flatly, "Perhaps it's just an instinct."

I guessed that given your nature, you'd definitely refuse, but I didn't expect you to refuse so decisively." Su Yun said, "What does 'instinct' mean?"

Do you still remember the day when Di Du felt tremors?

Yeah, I remember Fugui'er standing by the car asking what we'd do if we couldn't come back." Su Yun said with a squinting smile, "What to do, what else can we do?"

Yeah." Zheng Ren said, "Online these days, all kinds of voices feel like they're doomed. When something happens, they naturally gather together; maybe that's this kind of nature."

Ha." Su Yun chuckled softly, "What were you thinking back then?"

I didn't think of anything; I just felt that even if I had to die, I wanted to die in Rongcheng." Zheng Ren laughed, "But it's fine if I can come back alive; I hope for favorable weather and national peace. However, if it happens again and I'm not domestically, I wouldn't be able to go to the front line."

I thought you'd just repeat the old line, claiming domestic medical conditions of the same level are the best, spouting nonsense for truth. I'm telling you, saying that could get you beaten up.

Medical resources are scarce; to achieve fairness, we still need technological Progress. There are too many reasons here, I can't think them through." Zheng Ren shook his head slightly, "Besides, doctors are always the scapegoats; no matter how much injustice they suffer, if there's another time, there will surely be countless doctors and nurses rushing forward."

I recall a netizen named Xianyun Yehu zhi He saying something that still makes sense. Whenever there's a major disaster, medical personnel are present; this is a group worthy of praise and pity. Yet this group lacks presence like a painted fan, like a stray dog, like a rat crossing the street.

Hey, that description is quite apt." Zheng Ren chuckled without concern, "Panicked like a lost dog, hurried like a fish that slipped through the net."

Why do you say that?

They're taking the blame, and everyone feels… um, do you remember that old professor at Tsinghua who was swindled out of over ten million, and what everyone said about it?" Zheng Ren suddenly asked.

Well, back then the public opinion was, why would a teacher have so much money! Su Yun shrugged, saying helplessly.

Yeah, shouldn't that be the case?

Later, an old professor from Tsinghua went to Maryland, and public opinion shifted again to improving benefits to retain high‑tech talent. I actually think the two sides before and after are about the same—changing faces faster than flipping a book.

Everyone wants to be the best off, which is easy to understand. Just like in medicine, Ning Shu spent 24 hours in Sweden trying to remove a fish bone and couldn't. Most domestic voices say a fish bone should cost tens of dollars in medical fees?

Boss, I feel that since the fish bone incident you haven't been as respectful toward Ning Shu. Su Yun said with a smile.

Don't talk nonsense. Zheng Ren leisurely glanced at the various numbers on the equipment, chatting idly with Su Yun.

I actually think the US medical system's fees are quite reasonable. For example, a ureteral soft‑tube lithotripsy costs us a few hundred yuan. In the US it's tens of thousands—still in US dollars—you don't know until you compare, then you're shocked.

Don't compare, it's meaningless. Zheng Ren said lightly.

That's exactly the point—our domestic medical system can survive only because of this. Once private hospitals increase, they'll siphon people away with economic suction, hey! Su Yun gave a cold laugh.

A university is called a university not because of the school itself, but because of the masters. Zheng Ren said slowly, "The former president of Tsinghua University, Mr. Mei Yiqi, said something sensible. A hospital is a hospital because of this as well."

Speaking of that, back then Professor Yan Ning resolutely decided to resign from Tsinghua University and jump to Princeton University in the US, receiving the position of Shirley Tilman lifetime lecture professor in the Department of Molecular Biology. Following this logic, your going to Mayo Clinic is a natural progression.

Nothing is predestined—hasn't the saying 'advising someone to study medicine invites heavenly thunder' been popular for years?

Forgot—seems it's been popular for a long time.

Fewer kids are going into clinical work, pressure keeps rising, and someday someone will break. Although everyone's ability is limited, if I run to the emergency room a bit, I can also ease some of Manager Zhou's pressure.

Don't portray yourself as so noble.

Setting nobility aside, in school we had to memorize the Hippocratic Oath; medical capitalization itself is a rift. But facing the tide of the times, it's not something individual strength can reverse. The rift of the times, the rift of cognition—how does that saying go?

Which quote are you referring to? 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times'; or 'villainy is the villain's passport, nobility is the noble's epitaph'? Su Yun asked.

Zheng Ren chuckled; Su Yun, this guy is really sharp—he voiced all of Zheng Ren's thoughts directly.

Yun Ge'er.

The two were chatting when a little nurse came over and whispered.

Hmm. Su Yun narrowed her eyes, smiled, and said, "What's up?"

Our side has a bit of a problem; see if there's any way to fix it.

Zheng Ren saw several medical staff gathered around another ICU bed patient, discussing something. His view was limited, so he didn't see the patient's system panel. The 912 ICU's strength is strong, and Zheng Ren didn't want to worry about it.

Proactively going to check what's up and others coming for help are two different concepts.

Male patient, 56 years old. Admitted after a traffic accident causing loss of consciousness, diagnosed with severe traumatic brain injury, cerebral herniation, right frontotemporal parietal subdural hematoma—given full preoperative preparation. The emergency department, under general anesthesia, performed evacuation of the right frontotemporal parietal subdural hematoma and intracranial hematoma plus decompressive craniectomy. The little nurse began to softly report the history, professionally and skillfully.

The gastric tube wouldn't go in pre‑op, and post‑op we wanted to insert it, but the machine was stopped for only one minute—too short, too hard!

Uh…… Zheng Ren saw the girl who, when talking to Su Yun, involuntarily acted coquettish, and he also felt helpless.

It's normal for the gastric tube not to go in; the patient is unconscious, swallowing and cough reflexes weakened or lost, so they can't cooperate; the indwelling endotracheal tube and its balloon compress the esophagus, narrowing its lumen and hindering tube insertion; if the endotracheal tube is left in too long, removing it can cause laryngeal edema, esophageal spasm, or esophageal mucosal edema.

These are the reasons the gastric tube can't be inserted.

How much paraffin oil did you apply? Su Yun asked.

A lot…… the little nurse said a couple of sentences, her face turning red.

Let's take a look. Zheng Ren glanced at Xiao Shitou's vital signs and reduced the dopamine micro‑pump rate by 1 ml.

Arriving at the post‑cerebral‑hemorrhage patient's bedside, they paused the ventilator; Su Yun used a laryngoscope to take a look. Sure enough, esophageal spasm and edema were severe—worse than expected.

Because the gastric tube is soft, even with good lubrication, hitting a spasmic esophagus makes it fold, so it simply won't go in.

Su Yun pondered for a moment, then Zheng Ren said, "Deep venous puncture……"

Huh? You're thinking the same? Su Yun asked.

The ICU inpatient chief stared for a moment, wondering what relation there is between inserting a gastric tube and deep venous puncture.

Give it a try. Zheng Ren had no intention of reaching out; he just said it flatly.

Is the guidewire for the deep venous puncture still left in? Su Yun asked.

It's already been thrown away. The ICU inpatient chief said.

Just put in another one. Su Yun said, "If we use our own guidewire, it's more expensive."

The ICU inpatient chief didn't quite get it, but Su Yun's explanation was already clear: the deep venous puncture guidewire—he planned to first advance a slightly stiffer guidewire, then thread the gastric tube along it.

This is typical thinking of an Intervention Department doctor, yet no one thought it could be used in nursing work.

Seeing the ICU inpatient chief go to prepare the guidewire, Su Yun smiled and said, "Boss, if we were at Mayo Clinic, there would be professional equipment to solve this problem."

It's fine; in our 912 we can manage it too. Zheng Ren chuckled, "The principle is basically the same, just a bit more troublesome."

Su Yun raised her eyebrows, saying nothing.

Soon, the inpatient chief prepared a gastric tube, a nasal feeding package containing paraffin oil, cotton swabs, gauze, a 20 ml syringe, and a deep venous catheter guidewire; plus a stethoscope.

Su Yun also didn't explain; instead, she coated the gastric tube with paraffin oil, measured its length, inserted the guidewire into the tube, bent the tip into a small round shape, inserted it through one nostril, and advanced the gastric tube from the nostril to a depth of 14–18 cm.

Upon reaching the throat, before Su Yun could speak, Zheng Ren had already lifted the patient's head, bringing the jaw close to the sternum, setting the position.

The assistant was quite skilled; Su Yun muttered inwardly. Then the procedure continued, allowing the gastric tube to pass smoothly through the laryngeal edema, inserted to the planned depth, and then the guidewire was withdrawn.

The tube was secured; aspirating gastric contents or injecting air and listening for the bubbling sound confirmed successful placement.

There, all done. Su Yun said easily.

The ICU inpatient chief stared dumbfounded.

This patient's gastric tube had been attempted six times by her and the nursing team, basically spending the whole day running around the patient and the tube.

But nobody expected that once Su Yun took over, she'd solve the problem right away.

This time it was truly an eye‑opener; they not only can do lung transplants, but even this obscure little maneuver they handle well. A single deep venous puncture guidewire resolved a problem that had bothered them all day, and the inpatient chief could hardly believe it.

If there's nothing else, I'll head out first. Su Yun said breezily.

Yun Ge'er, Boss Zheng, you two are busy. The ICU inpatient chief hurriedly said.

Boss, if you don't need me, I'll lie down for a bit. Su Yun said, "When do you think we can extubate?"

About 24 hours. Zheng Ren said seriously, "It might even be less than 24 hours, depending on the situation."

"Really fast." Su Yun's tone was somewhat fleeting, as if he also found it hard to believe his own boss's judgment.

Su Yun left, and Zheng Ren sat quietly by Xiao Shitou's bedside, watching various values, drainage, urine output, constantly calculating in his mind.

He was like a hard, silent small mountain, standing beside Xiao Shitou, shielding from wind and rain.

This is a war; fortunately, we don't need to guard against cold shots from behind, Zheng Ren sometimes thinks. If we could wholeheartedly treat and save people, all patients would cooperate, without having to consider costs or patients' families' psychology—how good that would be.

Although this is impossible, Zheng Ren still occasionally thinks so.

All grand principles ultimately cannot compare to the four words "treat and save lives"; Zheng Ren also couldn't be bothered to think more, silently watching Xiao Shitou and the various machines and numbers nearby, his whole self like a computer, tirelessly inputting data, while the central processor turns cold, dull data into analysis of the condition.

Time passed second by second; five micro-pumps were withdrawn one after another; the urine bag contained about 50 ML per hour of clear urine; the ventilator's airway pressure values……

Night deepened, and Zheng Ren continued to keenly observe all values, showing no trace of fatigue.

As instruments stopped one by one, Zheng Ren meticulously calculated input and output, maintaining fluid balance, striving to make Xiao Shitou's condition as good as possible, then even better.

Adjusting the ventilator's parameters, watching the fluctuation of end-expiratory pressure. As Xiao Shitou's vital signs gradually stabilized, the sky also gradually brightened.

Zheng Ren refused Su Yun's request to change shifts, and he gently and attentively cared for Xiao Shitou.

The sky grew light, and as work hours arrived, more people appeared in the ICU.

ICU Director Cai entered, changing clothes, and at a glance saw Zheng Lao Ban still holding the posture he had when he left yesterday, motionless, watching the post-operative patient.

He walked over in surprise, first glanced at the various numbers, then asked softly, "Zheng Lao Ban, you didn't sleep all night?"

"Director Cai, it's time to work." Zheng Ren turned his head, saw it was him, and said with a smile.

"Hmm, is the condition still okay?"

"Pretty good, all indicators are normal." Zheng Ren said, "Estimated to be able to go off the ventilator by noon, breathing on his own."

"Noon……"

Director Cai stared for a moment, "That fast?"

Using a ventilator for three days after a lung transplant is normally the case; doing it this way, Zheng Lao Ban, wouldn't that be too rushed?

"Zheng Lao Ban, how about observing for another day? If you're tired, I'll watch here." Director Cai probed.

"I'm not tired; the condition's evolution already permits going off the ventilator. Try it; if it doesn't work, we can use medication to assist breathing for two more days." Zheng Ren said gently.

Director Cai still couldn't understand; he gave a look, summoned the Inpatient Chief, and asked softly, "How much was the early morning emergency test report?"

"Director Cai, I've been personally watching the patient. Yesterday, 15 minutes post‑operation……"

Zheng Ren saw Director Cai was uneasy, asked about the treatment process, and began to recount the post‑operative course.

Monitor 24‑hour input and output, record every 30 minutes; on average, every two hours perform an emergency check of liver and kidney function, blood gas analysis, blood routine, D2 aggregates, etc.; the time, reasons, and vital signs when various drugs were withdrawn……

Reached the utmost detail; as the ICU director, I felt something unusual. If my subordinate Inpatient Chief could achieve this level, reporting condition changes clearly along a timeline and precise to the minute—how good that would be.

However, Director Cai then gave an embarrassed laugh, knowing he was dreaming. Using Zheng Lao Ban as Inpatient Chief? Who in the 912 ward has that qualification?

Zheng Ren spoke for about twenty minutes, then smiled gently, "Director Cai, I think there's no problem."

"All right then." Director Cai said politely, "With you here, we won't worry about this patient; just let us know if anything is needed."

"Thank you for the trouble." Zheng Ren bowed slightly, expressing his gratitude.

Zheng Ren saw the ICU doctors start a new day's work, smiled faintly, sat down in a chair, and continued observing the condition's changes.

Xiao Shitou's chest rose and fell under the ventilator's action; the new lungs worked well, blood‑oxygen exchange perfect. Zheng Ren also thought there was no problem, after all, the surgery completion rate of 127% is there; having stayed up all night after the operation to care for him, if there were still any problems it would be hard to explain.

If Xiao Shitou could wake up and get past another hurdle, I hope his postoperative recovery could be a bit faster.

This child is very sensible; I also don't know, while under sedation he "floats" in boundless darkness, whether he is panicked or calm.

Stopping sedation is like lifting a seal; I also don't know whether, after he wakes, agitation or fear might cause violent restlessness.

Zheng Ren's mind began to wander; the closer to 24 hours post‑operation, the more tense he felt.

This tension is completely unfounded, and Zheng Ren knows it himself. All objective indicators are clearly laid out before him, reviewed countless times, yet nothing is found. But emotions are emotions; even an unshakable Zheng Ren finds it hard to suppress objective emotional shifts.

Time flowed second by second; Zheng Ren reduced the infusion rate of sedative drugs and began to promote awakening.

It's a simple operation, but Zheng Ren is very tense.

Many things to worry about; no one has full confidence. Zheng Ren fears any mishap, staring unblinkingly at Xiao Shitou's condition.

Slight restlessness, airway pressure spiked instantly.

"Xiao Shitou, don't panic when you wake, breathe steadily." Zheng Ren whispered in Xiao Shitou's ear.

Zheng Ren couldn't be sure his words reached Xiao Shitou; he faintly saw Xiao Shitou's eyelid twitch slightly, then Xiao Shitou calmed down, offering no resistance, unexpectedly smooth.

What a cooperative child; Zheng Ren let out a faint sigh.

Generally, waking up involves a struggle, since people aren't used to machine‑assisted breathing and instinctively resist it.

But after I said just one sentence, Xiao Shitou's slight restlessness vanished without trace, and his blood‑oxygen saturation rose from 92% to 99%.

If all patients were this compliant, it would be paradise for doctors; Zheng Ren's mouth curled into a faint smile.

A few minutes later, Xiao Shitou gradually adapted to ventilator‑assisted breathing, and as the sedative drug accumulated and its concentration decreased in his body, he gradually gained strength. His whole body was relaxed, only his eyelids kept twitching.

"Take it easy, don't rush, breathe more steadily." Zheng Ren patted Xiao Shitou's shoulder and said in his ear.

I don't know if Xiao Shitou heard it, but Zheng Ren merely felt vaguely that after he spoke, the breathing frequency steadied a bit more.

Zheng Ren stopped talking to Xiao Shitou, gazing at his eyes. He had promised that when Xiao Shitou opened his eyes he would see him, and he must fulfill that.

After another ten or so minutes, Xiao Shitou slowly opened his eyes; his gaze was clear and lively, completely free of the haze and confusion caused by sedatives.

Their eyes met; Zheng Ren let out a breath and smiled faintly.

"Recovery is excellent; now close your eyes and keep breathing steadily." Zheng Ren said softly, "In another hour I'll take off the ventilator so you can feel the fresh air."

Xiao Shitou obediently blinked twice, using his gaze to tell Zheng Renhe understood. But he didn't close his eyes; instead he blinked twice again.

"Can you move?" Zheng Ren asked.

Xiao Shitou's finger twitched slightly; he can move, but writing to communicate is definitely impossible.

"Do you want to go off the ventilator now?" Zheng Ren probed. After saying that, Xiao Shitou blinked again.

Zheng Ren hesitated a few seconds, then said gently, "All right, but if your respiratory function isn't up to it, we'll have to use the ventilator to assist for another 12 hours."

Only Zheng Ren was speaking; Xiao Shitou merely expressed his thoughts with simple blinking motions. But Zheng Ren felt he could understand what Xiao Shitou was thinking, and they communicated in this strange way without any hindrance.

His heartbeat quickened slightly, like when he was sound asleep in the middle of the night and his phone rang, prompting him to go for surgery. Zheng Renxian took a deep breath, steadied his emotions, and removed the ventilator connector from the endotracheal tube.

The ventilator alarm sounded, but Zheng Ren ignored it outright. His full attention was on Xiao Shitou; the blood oxygen saturation must not drop.

To Zheng Ren's surprise, without any complications, Xiao Shitou's eyes closed, and he took a deliberate "breath".

A gulp of fresh air, something ordinary people cannot even feel, was for Xiao Shitou the most precious thing.

The chest rose and fell, blood oxygen saturation at 98%, respiratory rate 22 per minute, heart rate showed no violent fluctuation, staying around 110 per minute.

Success! Zheng Ren shouted inwardly.

At this moment, after Xiao Shitou had taken two or three breaths, his face showed a complex expression. The inhaled air was unbelievably sweet; upon entering the lungs, it immediately participated in oxygen exchange, then followed hemoglobin to supply the body with a continuous stream of oxygen.

Incredulity and relief, among many complex emotions, were written on Xiao Shitou's face. Yet he did not become emotionally agitated, causing his condition to fluctuate; instead, he quickly closed his eyes and began to strive, greedily breathing.

The sound of air striking the walls inside the endotracheal tube with each breath was so pleasant—this was the sound of life. Zheng Ren listened closely, using his ears to judge how much secretion was in Xiao Shitou's lungs.

Fortunately, there wasn't much phlegm, but Xiao Shitou's expression was especially interesting.

Zheng Ren knew that the brand-new lung was certainly different from the previously severely fibrotic lung. But this was theoretical; after the lung transplant, he didn't know exactly how smooth the breathing would become.

After observing for a few minutes, everything was stable, and Zheng Ren finally relaxed.

It seems being offline for 24 hours is no problem; if everything goes smoothly, the tube can be removed early tomorrow.

The ventilator alarm was a bit noisy; seeing Xiao Shitou's condition stable, Zheng Ren turned around, hung up the tubing, and turned off the ventilator.

Outside sunlight streamed in, a bit glaring; Zheng Ren narrowed his eyes at the deep blue winter sky, feeling a sense of peace and joy.

He quickly packed up the equipment, and Zheng Ren turned back.

Xiao Shitou opened his eyes, struggling to raise his left fist; the IV tube hanging from his arm resembled the tattered clothing and armor after a great battle. Having survived a hundred battles, this child's life was still quite good, Zheng Ren recalled their meeting on the mountainside—this was his promise to Xiao Shitou.

With his left hand clenched into a fist, he gently tapped it against Xiao Shitou's frail fist.

In the afternoon, the sunshine was splendid.