As the director of the Emergency Department at Bei City First People’s Hospital, Jin Yu was quite eloquent, and his overall demeanor made it easy for him to gain patients’ trust.
With Jin Yu’s explanation, Cai Xiaodong and his father agreed to proceed immediately with the Achilles tendon repair surgery.
Just as Jin Yu and Wu Ting were entering the operating room, Cai Xiaodong’s uncle, Cai Dongbao, also rushed to Bei City First People’s Hospital.
He was extremely fond of his nephew.
Along with him came Jiang Feng, the associate chief physician of Ankle and Foot Surgery from Fenglin Hospital, affiliated with Xuanshang University, whom he had invited.
Jiang Feng was an expert in the field of ankle and foot surgery, and his skill in Achilles tendon repair was considered top-tier in the country.
After Cai Dongbao and Jiang Feng entered the hospital, they found Cai Dongbei waiting outside the operating room.
"How is Xiaodong doing? I’ve brought Director Jiang from Xianglin City’s Affiliated First Hospital of Xuanshang University. Director Jiang is one of the best in the country when it comes to Achilles tendon repair."
"Director Jiang, it’s an honor to meet you."
Cai Dongbei was delighted to see Jiang Feng; one more expert meant a greater chance of success.
Cai Dongbao continued, "Where’s Director Jin? Now that Director Jiang is here, let’s get things arranged and start the surgery as soon as possible."
"Um, Director Jin just took Xiaodong in to start the surgery. Director Jin said they had a well-developed surgical plan, and the sooner they operated, the faster the recovery would be... so I agreed."
Hearing that the surgery had already started, Cai Dongbao was displeased. "Cai Dongbei, it’s not that I’m trying to criticize you, but this is a ruptured Achilles tendon—a serious condition. How could you let the school send him to a hospital in Bei City? How could the medical standards here possibly give Xiaodong the best treatment?"
"But even after he was brought here, how could you agree to let Director Jin start the surgery right away? Didn’t I tell you I was going to invite an expert over? It’s a good thing the operation just started. Otherwise, if anything went wrong, you would have ruined Xiaodong’s future!"
Cai Dongbao was incredibly disappointed in his younger brother, feeling he couldn’t live up to his potential.
If a quack doctor ruined his nephew’s future, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Cai Dongbao wasn’t targeting Director Jin specifically; he simply believed that the doctors at Bei City First People’s Hospital were incompetent.
"Director Jiang, here’s the plan. You go to the operating room first, let Director Jin know, and take over as the chief surgeon."
As the director of the city’s TV station, Cai Dongbao was used to acting swiftly and decisively. He truly looked down on the doctors at Bei City Hospital and would only feel at ease if Director Jiang himself performed the surgery.
"Alright, I’ll head to the operating room now. Director Cai, don’t worry. The surgery has just begun; there’s still time for everything."
Jiang Feng agreed this was the right course of action. He was all too aware of Jin Yu’s skill level; leaving this surgery to him was simply reckless. Fortunately, there was still time to set things right.
When Jiang Feng went to the operating room, the head nurse was already aware of the situation, as Director Jin had given her a heads-up in advance.
"Director Jiang, I’ll inform Director Jin right now. He’ll be out in a moment."
The head nurse went to contact Jin Yu.
Hearing the head nurse’s response, Jiang Feng was a bit baffled.
’Isn’t Jin Yu the chief surgeon? How does he have the time and leisure to come out and greet me?’
’Or did he realize the difficulty of the surgery and stop midway?’
Jiang Feng couldn’t figure out what Jin Yu was up to.
Meanwhile, Cai Dongbao gave Cai Dongbei another earful before the two brothers finally sat down to wait.
Cai Dongbei knew his older brother only meant well for Xiaodong, so he didn’t dare talk back. Seeing Director Jiang go inside put him more at ease.
Thinking back, a wave of fear washed over him. If Director Jiang hadn’t arrived in time, wouldn’t it have been a disaster?
A doctor from Bei City Hospital versus a director from Fenglin Hospital, affiliated with Xuanshang University in Xianglin City—any rational person would know who was superior.
"Brother, it’s all thanks to you this time. Otherwise, I really would have made a terrible mistake."
Cai Dongbao nodded. "Good, as long as you know. There’s still time for everything. With Director Jiang taking charge, there won’t be any problems."
Cai Dongbao closed his eyes to rest, completely trusting in Jiang Feng’s medical skills.
Seeing his calm and composed older brother, Cai Dongbei also relaxed.
’An expert from Xianglin City is on another level. My brother is really something, being able to invite such an amazing doctor.’
Just as the two brothers were feeling relieved, Jin Yu came out of the operating room to greet Jiang Feng.
Jin Yu had a high opinion of Jiang Feng’s skills.
"I didn’t expect Director Cai to invite you over, Director Jiang."
Jin Yu had once invited Jiang Feng to City First Hospital for a "freelance surgery," but Director Jiang had looked down on the offer.
Jiang Feng gave a slight nod. Although he was much younger than Jin Yu, his aura was that of the more senior physician.
"Director Jin, tell me about the patient’s condition. Aren’t you supposed to be the chief surgeon? Why are you out here?"
Jin Yu naturally sensed Jiang Feng’s disdain for his skills. This was quite normal; after all, the man was the associate chief of Ankle and Foot Surgery at Fenglin Hospital, affiliated with Xuanshang University. His abilities and techniques were top-class.
However, with Wu Ting backing him up today, Jin Yu was able to remain composed. He explained calmly and unhurriedly:
"The patient has a complete rupture of the Achilles tendon, and the repair surgery is already underway. Someone else is the chief surgeon—an expert from our own City First Hospital."
"An expert from City First Hospital?"
Jiang Feng was quite familiar with City First Hospital; after all, his cousin, Jiang Ming, worked in their emergency department.
But in his memory, City First Hospital didn’t have any noteworthy figures in the field of tendon repair.
"Lin Hu? Or Huo Yun?"
Those were the only two Jiang Feng could think of.
"No, it’s Dr. Wu Ting. Dr. Wu has a unique level of expertise in tendon repair. Originally, I was planning to wait for you, Director Jiang, to arrive so we could have a consultation and decide on a treatment plan. However, after examining the patient, Dr. Wu proposed a different, complete, and well-developed plan."
"Director Jiang, you’re also an expert in tendon repair, so of course you know that the sooner the surgery is done, the better the recovery. Dr. Wu convinced me and the patient’s family, so we started the surgery ahead of schedule."
"We’re all doing this for the patient’s best outcome. I hope you understand, Director Jiang."
Jin Yu certainly understood that Jiang Feng’s goal was to replace Wu Ting as the chief surgeon. And while Jiang Feng was also a top-tier surgeon in terms of skill, if Jin Yu were to grant his wish today and remove Wu Ting from the chief surgeon’s position midway through, he would deeply offend Wu Ting.
Compared to Jiang Feng, Jin Yu had a higher opinion of Wu Ting and hoped to maintain a good working relationship with him.
Besides, he had invited Wu Ting over today. If he let an expert from Xianglin City replace him midway, what would that make of Wu Ting?
Jin Yu just couldn’t bring himself to do something like that.
Of course, the most crucial factor was that Wu Ting’s technical skills were solid, and that was the source of Jin Yu’s confidence.
It was a rare moment for Jin Yu to stand firm in front of Jiang Feng, and he felt a thrill of satisfaction.
Jiang Feng frowned. Sensing Jin Yu’s firm stance, and with the conversation having reached this point, he couldn’t very well come out and say that he was planning to take over as chief surgeon.
"Fine. Then I’ll go and witness the skills of this Dr. Wu Ting for myself."
Jiang Feng planned to observe the situation first. If he could point out a problem with this Dr. Wu’s surgery, then he could take over under the pretext of acting in the patient’s best interest for recovery. At that point, Jin Yu would have nothing to say.
After all, Director Cai had invited him here today with the authorization of the patient’s family. As long as Wu Ting’s skills weren’t up to par, he would take his place as chief surgeon.
Jin Yu nodded, had Jiang Feng get prepped, and they walked into the operating room together.
At that moment, on the operating table, the patient had just been given a continuous epidural anesthetic. The patient was in a prone position, with a tourniquet applied to the upper third of the affected thigh.
After exsanguination, Wu Ting flexed the patient’s affected limb to 15° at the knee and plantarflexed the foot to 5°.
Centering on the point of the Achilles tendon rupture, he made an approximately 8cm posteromedial longitudinal incision, smoothly cutting through the skin and subcutaneous tissue to open the tendon sheath vertically.
Watching the fluid, seamless movements, Jiang Feng was slightly taken aback. ’Looks like this doctor has some real skill!’