When Ye Xiu returned to the outpatient department from the inpatient area, it was already almost time for the afternoon shift to start. Fortunately, he wasn't late. As he passed by the reception, he took a moment to remind the nurses of his midday decision: to limit his patient count to 60.
The reception nurses, who hadn't paid much attention before, were shocked to discover that Ye Xiu had already seen an astounding 63 patients that morning, breaking a new record for the outpatient department. The previous record holder, Director Wang Yanchao, had also seen over 60 patients, but unlike Ye Xiu, he only worked in the mornings.
The nurses were dumbfounded and silently amazed. They couldn't help but admire Ye Xiu, not just for his tireless work ethic, but more so for his medical skills. Despite having been in the outpatient department for less than a month, Ye Xiu had already gained such a reputation, proving his exceptional medical expertise.
That afternoon, the nurses' respect for Ye Xiu grew even deeper. They initially thought limiting the patient count to 60 would be simple since Ye Xiu was new and neither a director nor an expert, just an ordinary doctor with a bit of fame. They assumed the morning's 63 patients were a fluke.
However, the reality was quite different. By 4:30 PM, the number of patients specifically requesting Ye Xiu had already reached 60, and more continued to arrive. The nurses had to repeatedly explain that Ye Xiu's slots were full and persuade patients to see other doctors. While some patients understood and cooperated, others insisted on seeing Ye Xiu, making the nurses' jobs even harder.
By the end of the day, the nurses were exhausted and hoarse.
"Sister He, maybe we should ask Dr. Ye to see a few more patients each day," suggested Nurse Lin, glancing wearily at Sister He.
"Dr. Ye already sees a lot—60 is more than enough. Any more, and he won't be able to handle it," Sister He replied with a sigh. She understood Nurse Lin's perspective and wished Ye Xiu could see more patients to ease their workload. However, as an experienced and professional nurse, she knew that 60 was already a considerable number, likely Ye Xiu's limit given his intense work ethic.
Thinking of the chaotic scenes and the patients who refused to switch doctors or even chose to wait until the next day to see Ye Xiu, Sister He couldn't help but feel a mix of helplessness and bitterness. She realized this was just the beginning, and they would likely face many more exhausting days ahead.
If it became too overwhelming, they could only report the situation to higher authorities and seek a solution. Sister He smiled bitterly at the thought. Having a good and famous doctor in the department was undoubtedly beneficial, enhancing their pride and income. However, it also brought challenges, like increased workload and potential issues with patients trying to get preferential treatment.
Unaware of the trouble his popularity was causing the reception nurses, Ye Xiu sat in his office, focused solely on his patients. Seeing 60 patients had left him physically exhausted, and he was grateful for his decision to limit the number.
Each patient was different, with varying conditions. Simple cases of upper respiratory infections could be managed quickly, but complex cases required much more time and effort. For instance, a patient with persistent coughing took Ye Xiu over half an hour to diagnose, and even then, he couldn't pinpoint the exact cause without further tests.
Despite the challenges, Ye Xiu preferred these complex cases as they pushed him to improve his skills. His goal in joining the respiratory department was not to become a doctor who only prescribed cold medicine but to gain a deeper understanding of respiratory diseases and enhance his medical expertise.
After finishing his shift, Ye Xiu left the hospital, had dinner at a nearby restaurant, and drove home. He lived in Bihua Garden, a large residential area developed by Bihua Group. The older phases were relatively cheaper and more dated compared to the newer, more expensive villas, but even these older units were costly by Beijing's skyrocketing real estate standards.
Driving along the familiar Guanghua Road, Ye Xiu felt a sense of relaxation and belonging, as if he was truly home.
However, his mood quickly changed. A dark van suddenly accelerated and swerved in front of his car, forcing him to stop. Ye Xiu knew trouble was coming. He couldn't help but smirk at the audacity of the Zhang family.
He stopped his car, not wanting to damage it, as he still needed it for work. As soon as he did, five or six burly men with intimidating tattoos and iron rods jumped out of the van, followed by Zhang Peng, whom Ye Xiu had encountered at the mall.
Seeing these men, the few pedestrians nearby quickly fled. Ye Xiu eyed the men coldly, a glint of determination in his eyes.
"I suggest you don't damage my car, or you'll face serious consequences," Ye Xiu warned as he calmly unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out of the car.
The thugs were taken aback. This pretty boy, whom they were about to beat up, was actually warning them? They hesitated, almost doubting what they had just heard.
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