Chapter Four: A New Beginning
The next day.
Six thirty in the morning.
Zhao Heng got up early. Having suddenly acquired the ability to pick up attributes, Zhao Heng hardly slept well all night.
After a simple wash up, Zhao Heng was ready to go to work.
Before leaving, Zhao Heng looked around his rented room, less than twenty square meters, small like a pigeon cage, and silently made a decision.
Quickly, leaving the rented urban village, and after taking a subway for an hour, Zhao Heng arrived early at Eastern Hospital.
Entering the operating room, Zhao Heng checked the time. It was only eight o'clock, and there was still half an hour before official work time at eight thirty.
After changing into his work clothes, Zhao Heng went to Director Xu Wenqiang's office.
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Heng gently knocked on the door and entered Director Xu Wenqiang's office.
He didn't come to this place often before. The director of the operating room at Eastern Hospital was more influential than many department directors because all surgeries at Eastern Hospital relied on Xu Wenqiang for coordination.
The hospital's resources were extremely tight, especially at a top-tier hospital like Eastern Hospital – it was getting rather outrageous.
If not an emergency, registering a patient would take at least a week. Once registered and hospitalized, it takes another week for surgery – and that's at the fastest.
So, being an expert in managing surgical resources, Xu Wenqiang is considered a hot figure at Eastern Hospital.
"Ah, Zhao, you're early," he said, slightly surprised to see Zhao Heng entering.
As a director, he must oversee the entire operating room's allocation, so he's always an early bird.
But he knew the young people these days – they wouldn't come to work a minute early unless necessary.
So, someone who arrives early, at least in Xu Wenqiang's eyes, has a commendable work attitude.
"Habits, Director."
Zhao Heng was somewhat nervous, but seeing Xu Wenqiang's amiable demeanor, which differed from his usual stern and solemn reputation, he relaxed.
But the older generation of experts was generally like this – strict, even harsh, at work but very gentle in life.
"That's a good habit, keep it up," Xu Wenqiang nodded approvingly.
Zhao Heng, though young, had a work attitude and method like those of the older generation – very earnest and down-to-earth, which made Xu Wenqiang quite satisfied.
He was someone who hardly broke the rules. Typically, operating room equipment setups were only made available to assist in surgery when there was a severe shortage of doctors, and even then, it was just passing instruments to the lead surgeon.
However, someone like Zhao Heng, who was valued by the surgical department director and directly transitioned from being an equipment assistant to a dedicated surgery assistant in Eastern Hospital's operating room, was unprecedented.
So while Song Siming was observing Zhao Heng, so was he.
"Director, about my future work?"
Zhao Heng asked the question he was most concerned about.
Although Song Siming had already hinted at it yesterday and Xu Wenqiang agreed, Zhao Heng was still a bit apprehensive.
After graduating, he'd hit too many walls.
He once thought that as long as he graduated and passed the medical licensing exam, he could become a surgeon and reach the pinnacle of his life.
But reality proved him wrong. In North City, he sent out so many resumes, yet he couldn't even secure a position as a community doctor.
In such a city, there was no shortage of talent, and opportunities were the hardest to come by.
"I discussed this with Song yesterday. From now on, you'll be a dedicated third assistant for emergency surgeries. Is that okay?"
Xu Wenqiang looked at Zhao Heng and slowly spoke.
According to his old friend's opinion, Zhao Heng's skill level exhibited in surgery could easily qualify him not just as a third assistant but even a second or first.
But Xu Wenqiang had various considerations. At Eastern Hospital, even official resident doctors often started as third assistants, gradually moving up as their skills improved over the years.
So, giving Zhao Heng a starting role as a dedicated third assistant was already quite good in Xu Wenqiang's view.
"No problem, Director."
Zhao Heng quickly nodded in agreement.
For him, as long as he could stay in the operating room and assist in surgeries, he could utilize his abilities.
Imagine, if Zhao Heng could integrate and learn from the experience of all these top experts at Eastern Hospital...
By then, Zhao Heng's skills, combined with so many top medical experts, who knows to what level they would ascend.
Once his skills were honed, with the world so vast, there would be no place he couldn't fit into!
So, Zhao Heng had patience for this opportunity.
"Mmm, work hard."
Xu Wenqiang nodded. For Zhao Heng, this was a rare opportunity, but for Xu Wenqiang, it was just a minor matter.
Exiting the director's office, Zhao Heng returned to the large office of the operating room.
Calling it an office was a stretch; it was basically a large resting area. At this hour, everyone had just arrived and was preparing to start the day's work.
As soon as he entered, he saw everyone looking at him.
Especially Wang Qiang, Zhao Heng's classmate, whose glance was filled with envy and loss. They had come to apply together.
"Congratulations, Zhao Heng."
Wang Qiang stood up, looking at Zhao Heng with a complex tone.
We agreed to fail together, yet you secretly worked hard...
"Mmm."
Zhao Heng just nodded. Back in school, he and Wang Qiang had a decent relationship.
The other people in the rest area, who were also doing equipment setups, looked at Zhao Heng with envy.
This was unprecedented. Just getting onto the operating table, even as an assistant, was a big leap from the equipment setup role, and quite an opportunity.
Everyone wanted such an opportunity.
Just as he sat down in his spot, Xu Man Ni walked over with a cup of coffee, smiled, and said, "So, how does it feel to have turned things around overnight?"
"I wouldn't say it's turned around, Xu."
Zhao Heng looked at Xu Man Ni, somewhat helpless.
To be honest, Xu Man Ni, standing in front of him, definitely qualified as a beauty. If he were to rate her, Zhao Heng felt she'd score at least 85, making her quite pretty among average people. Anything above 90 is star-level beauty.
However, Xu Man Ni's features were too sharp, very angular – the kind of big woman's look.
This kind of appearance, Zhao Heng felt, typically belonged to successful women in various fields, easily making men feel daunted, thinking only extraordinary men could handle her.
"Why not? Although Eastern Hospital has high academic requirements, if one day your skills reach Director Song's level, plenty of hospitals would pay to hire you."
Xu Man Ni said indifferently.
In truth, the medical profession is highly specialized and technical; as long as one's skills are up to par, numerous private hospitals offer high salaries.
Take a doctor like Song Siming with his skills and influence; if a private hospital tried to recruit him, his starting salary would be in the millions.
After a pause, Xu Man Ni added, "The director mentioned that you'll be specifically assisting with emergency surgeries from now on, so we're technically on the same team."
"Huh? On the same team with you, Xu?"
Zhao Heng sounded surprised.
Honestly, working with such a beautiful colleague would be nice for the eyes too.
"Why? You don't want to?"
Xu Man Ni smiled and said.
"Oh no, working with you, it's definitely something I want a thousand times over."
Zhao Heng quickly replied.
He'd heard gossip that Director Xu Wenqiang and Xu Man Ni were related, but he wasn't sure how.
Moreover, he'd noticed that everyone treated Xu Man Ni with the utmost respect, more than just a circulating equipment nurse level.
"Okay, get ready. Today's surgeries won't be fewer than yesterday."
Xu Man Ni nodded.
She had noticed Zhao Heng's performance in the operating room and, considering her typically high standards, approved of partnering with him.
Xu Man Ni held a master's degree in nursing, which was still rare in the medical world, and she specialized in surgical care and assistance. Her strong connections suggest she could dominate the operating room in the future.
Inside hospitals, the food chain is everywhere, and even nurses are categorized into several types.
The highest status and best-treated are nurses inside operating rooms, practically akin to half-doctors.