CHAPTER 131: 131 TEACHING THE BIG BOSSES (EXTRA UPDATES FOR EMPTINESS AND LONELINESS 4/6)

Although he’d been confusingly labeled a bad person earlier today, Liu Banxia was actually in high spirits. Becoming Zhou Shuwen’s student was his first piece of good news. Then, getting to hold the newborn baby he had delivered was his second.

For lunch, he generously treated everyone to chicken drumsticks.

After resting a bit from lunch, and seeing that there wasn’t much going on in the emergency department, he said goodbye to Shi Lei and headed straight for the anorectal department.

Upon entering the anorectal department’s office, he was dumbfounded. Zhou Shuwen, Zhou Zhiyong, and Chen Zhenxing—all three of them were here.

"Hello, leaders," Liu Banxia greeted, feeling quite formal.

"Director Jiang mentioned that you were going to do a dressing change tutorial, so we thought we’d come watch since we weren’t busy. Not feeling too nervous, are you?" Chen Zhenxing asked with a laugh.

"No, not nervous at all," Liu Banxia hurriedly replied. However, as he spoke, his gaze continually sought out Zhou Shuwen.

This was soon to be his teacher, essentially a parental figure for him. Given his current confusion, Zhou Shuwen was the only one he could rely on.

But Zhou Shuwen, his quasi-parent, was just there to watch the show, maintaining his usual cold expression, making him impossible to read.

"Now that Liu is here, let’s start the dressing changes a bit early. Guan Wei, call in the patients. Some are old friends of Liu’s, complex anal fistulas, healing slowly," Jiang Tao added jestingly.

Guan Wei flashed a grin at Liu Banxia and then scurried off.

As Chen Zhenxing, who held the highest rank, stood up, everyone else quickly followed suit.

Had this been in the past, some of the anorectal department staff might have had their reservations. It’s just a dressing change, right? Why would these three senior figures come over? Are they giving Liu Banxia too much preferential treatment?

But after witnessing Liu Banxia’s skills previously, no one thought that way anymore. Actual skill didn’t lie; it wasn’t something you could simply refuse to accept.

"It seems Liu is quite popular here, seeing how quickly the patients came out," Chen Zhenxing remarked, observing the patients in the corridor.

"This just shows I couldn’t compete with Director Zhou for patients. Otherwise, I’d have definitely filled a few more beds," Jiang Tao remarked.

Upon entering the dressing change room, Guan Wei had already prepared everything for Liu Banxia.

When Liu Banxia first saw this setup, he felt a bit nervous. But once he put on his face mask and gloves, he quickly sank into his role.

The first patient had a low-position anal fistula, six days post-surgery. After Liu Banxia changed his dressing, he also helped tighten his seton.

Ding! Patient treated. Experience gained: 10 points. Dressing change skill proficiency: 3 points. Anal fistula seton ligation skill proficiency: 5 points.

It had been a while since he’d last done dressing changes. He had truly grown, even though the corresponding rewards had decreased significantly.

"As Director Jiang mentioned before," Liu Banxia explained while changing the second patient’s dressing, "whether it’s for anal fistula surgery, hemorrhoid surgery, or perianal abscess drainage, the wounds are in a delicate area. If our movements are quick, steady, and gentle, we can significantly reduce the patient’s discomfort."

"You all understand the techniques better than I do. The only crucial part is ensuring the motion is quick, steady, and light. When I have free time, I often practice by dabbing an iodine-soaked cotton ball on my own hand."

"How’s that working out?" Chen Zhenxing interjected.

"I’m not entirely sure, but I feel like it helps somewhat," Liu Banxia said, hesitating slightly.

He wasn’t lying, but he had reversed the order of events. He had first enhanced his attributes and then practiced on his hand to feel the difference.

"How about you give us a demonstration on our hands then?" Chen Zhenxing grinned, seeing that the patient’s treatment was complete.

Without hesitation, Zhou Zhiyong, Zhou Shuwen, and Jiang Tao all extended the backs of their hands.

Chen Zhenxing also extended his left hand. "Just like when you changed the dressing just now. Be quick, and control your force."

Liu Banxia was momentarily taken aback. He hadn’t expected these high-ranking officials to be interested in this sort of thing. Still, even if it was like demonstrating for the senior figures, he wouldn’t get stage fright. He picked up the tray holding iodine-soaked cotton balls and forceps, then flexed his wrist slightly.

All that could be heard was a rapid CLINK, CLINK, CLINK, CLINK as the forceps were returned to the tray after each swab. Then, four iodine streaks appeared on the backs of the senior doctors’ hands.

Everyone had clearly seen Liu Banxia grip an iodine-soaked cotton ball with the forceps, swab with it, discard the cotton ball, and return the forceps to the tray. They also knew that while performing this sequence once might be achievable, doing it four times consecutively with such precision was incredibly difficult.

And now, the four senior doctors were intently studying the iodine streaks on the backs of their hands. Chen Zhenxing, in particular, looked increasingly satisfied.

The streak wasn’t very long, about two centimeters, but it was wide enough, about one centimeter. For typical anorectal patients, a swab area of this size would be perfectly adequate.

Moreover, he had just carefully felt the pressure and had also paid close attention to Liu Banxia’s hand movements.

He still held the forceps at an angle, rotating the cotton ball, but Liu Banxia’s movements were indeed remarkably quick, steady, and light.

"If I were debriding a wound for a patient, the pressure would be slightly greater. Otherwise, I’m afraid the wound wouldn’t be cleaned thoroughly enough," Liu Banxia added.

"This technique is already excellent. Do you also do regular hand training?" Chen Zhenxing asked, nodding with satisfaction.

"Yes, mostly practicing standard knot-tying. When I used to rent an apartment, I also played a little game of picking up individual rice grains. It not only helps improve hand speed but also enhances concentration," Liu Banxia said.

"Director Zhou mentioned that the tendon suture you performed in Jinshui District last time was very well done. You hadn’t sutured tendons before then, had you?" Zhou Zhiyong spoke up again.

"Yes, that was indeed a bit impulsive of me," Liu Banxia replied honestly. "I had only practiced on pig trotters and chicken drumsticks before; that was my first time performing it on an actual patient."

"But that firefighter had saved my life, so I didn’t overthink it and just rushed into the operating room. Looking back now, it’s quite terrifying. I still worry if my suturing caused any negative impact."

"Director Xie called me yesterday. The firefighter is currently recovering well, with no complications, and the prognosis is very good," Zhou Shuwen said.

"Then..."

Just as Liu Banxia uttered the word "Then," he caught a dark blur flying towards him from the corner of his eye. His right hand was in the middle of an action with the forceps, so he instinctively shot out his left hand, reaching under his right arm to grab the object.

When he caught it, he realized it was a pen.

"See that? That’s the result of solid fundamental skills," Zhou Zhiyong said with a grin.

"His hands are very steady. His right hand exhibits excellent control, and his left hand is equally agile with quick reflexes. Everyone should strive to reach his standard. If you can achieve this level, you won’t be outshone by anyone, no matter which hospital you’re in."

Everyone now understood this was Zhou Zhiyong’s impromptu test. Liu Banxia hadn’t just passed; he had done so perfectly.