Outpatient Hours – Gong Yi's Solo Show
As a seasoned associate professor, chief physician, and master's supervisor at Hengda First Affiliated Hospital, Gong Yi had spent nearly two decades conducting outpatient consultations. His expertise and depth of knowledge left little room for Zhou Yanqing to contribute meaningfully during consultations.
At most, Zhou was occasionally quizzed by his teacher after Gong finished seeing a patient. Gong would ask about diagnostic and treatment principles, surgical options, or the latest research breakthroughs in the field. Zhou answered what he could and humbly sought guidance when stumped. Fortunately, he could respond to most questions, albeit with varying depth.
Thus, their time passed with Zhou assisting and learning, Gong diagnosing and teaching, and both engaging in an ongoing exchange of knowledge.
5:35 PM, Monday Afternoon
Five minutes past the scheduled end of the clinic, Gong Yi finally saw his last patient. He issued an admission slip, handing it to the patient and their family, while Zhou sternly advised them:
"Surgery is the only effective treatment for muscle contractures. Medications won't help, no matter how many you take—it's just a waste of money."
"If you want to resolve the issue, hospitalization and surgery are necessary. Of course, you can also consider better hospitals, such as Xiangya Hospital or Xiangya Second Hospital."
After the middle-aged couple left, Zhou escorted them to the door and checked the waiting area outside. Even the triage nurse had clocked out.
"Master, there are no more patients waiting outside," Zhou reported.
"No patients? Then we're done. We're already past overtime," Gong said.
This time, Gong didn't bother with his usual stretches. Rising immediately, he removed his white coat and handed it to Zhou with a light pat. "As always, have your junior apprentice film a full video of your incision practice and take a clear picture of the completed incision for me."
"Advancing your skills is good, but as your teacher and the primary physician for our patients, I must take responsibility for both."
"Nowadays, communication is easy. Back when I started teaching, I had to personally visit the training room to check on students."
"Got it, Master!" Zhou cheerfully replied, folding Gong's coat neatly.
This permission to perform flap incision techniques was a reward—a formal acknowledgment of Zhou's progress. Though it wasn't tied to a task panel, Zhou was delighted. It marked a milestone in his development, granting him access to this coveted skill in the operating room.
"Still," Gong added as he prepared to leave, "you must balance your doctoral pursuits and job prospects. Adults can't afford to be single-minded; always leave yourself a backup plan."
With that, Gong headed down to retrieve his electric scooter for a quick ride home—a mere five minutes compared to a 20-minute walk.
After returning Gong's white coat to the department's senior office, Zhou washed his hands and rushed to the training room to resume practicing incisions. A focused effort could complete 10,000 incisions in just seven or eight days.
Tuesday – Surgery Day
In the operating room, Gong Yi and Associate Chief Physician Tao Yubin had just debrided a skin defect. They were designing the flap incision based on the shape of the defect, which was relatively regular—a fan shape.
Flap design depended on the type of defect. Choices included full-thickness flaps or pedicled flaps, decisions made by senior surgeons—not Zhou.
The first step in harvesting a flap was outlining its perimeter. This was purely an incision task.
"Yanqing, take the scalpel," Gong instructed. "Carefully follow the fan shape I've outlined. Pay close attention to turning the blade at curved sections, and keep the incision depth strictly within the subcutaneous fascia."
This task closely mirrored the incision techniques Zhou had practiced in the training room.
Zhou nodded, grasping the scalpel confidently. After scanning the room and seeing everyone waiting for him, he began.
Once he started cutting, Zhou's nerves settled. Compared to the intricate patterns he'd practiced, this flap design was relatively simple.
Straight edges meeting at regular angles made blade turns challenging, but the curved and straight intersections of today's fan shape were easier to navigate. Gong had deliberately chosen this straightforward design to ease Zhou into the process, giving him a sense of control.
Like someone with the strength to lift 300 pounds tasked with moving just 100, Zhou handled the incision effortlessly. In about 40 seconds, he completed the cut, bringing the blade back to its starting point.
As Zhou withdrew the scalpel vertically, Attending Physician Li Zhong couldn't help but let out a sharp breath, grinning. "Well done, Yanqing! Are you planning to perfect the art of being a 'pressure king'? First, you pressured your classmates, and now you're coming for me? I'll tell you, women are better!"
Gong coughed sharply, cutting him off. "Li Zhong, you seem to think your slow progress is something to be proud of? This is surgery time, not joking time!"
Zhou's rapid progress in hand surgery had even put pressure on senior colleagues like Li Zhong.
Taking the scalpel from Zhou, Gong handed him a pair of forceps. "That's it for your trial. The rest of the flap harvest is too critical to risk errors. A single misstep could render the flap useless."
"This isn't like being a 'pressure king,' where you can just flop down and start pushing," Gong quipped.
Zhou, initially attentive to Gong's serious tone, was caught off guard by the humor. His face flushed with confusion, feeling like he'd been run over by a truck.
Li Zhong and another attending, Tian Zeguang, nodded ingratiatingly, while Tao Yubin chimed in, "Exactly! Director Gong's technique is unmatched. You've got a lot to learn."
Gong seized on the wordplay. "What was that?"
Tao remained unfazed. "I said Director Gong's hands are so skilled, he doesn't even need pressure."
A sharp rap landed on Tao's wrist. "Director Gong, your strength is unreal!" he whined dramatically, his voice cracking.
The jovial atmosphere lightened the room, but the anesthesiologist, a female doctor, raised her chin. "Are you going to finish the surgery or not?"
At her words, everyone quickly resumed their positions, refocusing on the task at hand.