Healing Doctor

Chapter 293 Deformity

"I can come," Zhao Zhe managed to squeeze out.

Director Liu looked at Zhao Zhe, who was constipated, and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

This guy was too excited to speak, not because he couldn't come, which is why he had that expression.

"Does your spouse agree?" Director Liu asked.

"I've been divorced for a long time, and I only have my own brother," Zhao Zhe said. "My parents are in good health, so I don't need to ask anyone else. I just think it's okay for me."

This was the first time Director Liu had inquired about Zhao Zhe's family situation, and he learned that Zhao Zhe was still single.

Looking back, when I went to Zhao Zhe's house in Yuanliao City to look at his research materials, they were indeed a mess, completely disorganized, and I didn't see Zhao Zhe's wife either.

However, these are all private matters and have nothing to do with Director Liu.

"Then go and complete the formalities," Director Liu said. "Tell Xiao Ji to give instructions regarding the surgeries here."

"Yes!" Zhao Zhe nodded vigorously.

As Zhao Zhe left Director Liu's office, he still felt like he was in a dream, his feet felt unsteady, as if he were walking on cotton, completely lacking strength.

He was no longer young and had long since resigned himself to his fate.

My destiny is to be an attending physician in Yuanliao until retirement. As for whether others respect me or not, or whether my papers can be published, those are minor matters.

Zhao Zhe was only interested in new things, and he felt a moment of satisfaction when the patient smiled and bowed to him in gratitude after receiving treatment.

For just one fleeting moment, Zhao Zhe felt like he was the protagonist.

He never imagined that he would be transferred to the Second Affiliated Hospital because of a research project he had been working on for more than ten years!

Seeing Ji Xiang changing clothes and getting ready to go home, Zhao Zhe excitedly grabbed Ji Xiang's hand.

"Xiao Ji, Xiao Ji, I'm coming to the Second Affiliated Hospital!"

"I know, I just heard it from Director Liu," Ji Xiang said. "Congratulations, Brother Zhao."

"..." Zhao Zhe held Ji Xiang's hand, having long since lost his talkative nature.

Ji Xiang smiled, withdrew his hand, and said, "I'm going home now."

"Xiao Ji, I need to ask for leave." Although Zhao Zhe was excited, he didn't forget himself and said respectfully, "I need to go back to Yuanliao to handle some formalities, so please come back as soon as possible."

"Just talk to the director." Ji Xiang was a little embarrassed.

"The director asked me to say hello to you." After Zhao Zhe finished speaking, his lips moved quickly as if he wanted to speak, but no sound came out.

Zhao Zhe knew perfectly well who was in charge of this invisible medical team.

Ji Xiang patted Zhao Zhe on the shoulder and left the department.

Today is Meng Qingfei's shift, and he needs to go to the emergency room to take a look.

The emergency department is a major window into the hospital, and all kinds of emergency patients are valuable clinical experiences for Ji Xiang.

Meng Qingfei is an interesting person, and Ji Xiang is willing to have more contact with him and learn more from him.

The two got along quite well.

Although it was already late, there were still many people gathered at the elevator entrance. Ji Xiang glanced at them and decided to take the fire escape.

Walking up the stairs is much faster than taking the elevator.

As Ji Xiang went downstairs, he suddenly heard a sobbing sound.

It was like the cold winter wind blowing in through the cracks in the window.

As Ji Xiang walked down the stairs, he saw a man burying his head in his knees and weeping bitterly with his hands covering his head.

Ji Xiang subconsciously touched his pocket; there were no cigarettes.

In the future, I should prepare a pack of cigarettes. When communicating with patients' families, especially those who are deeply grieving, having a cigarette is the best option.

Ji Xiang didn't know what had happened, but the man's suppressed sobs were heartbreaking. But crying in a hospital was normal.

He wanted to leave quietly, but hesitated for a moment and then stopped, standing in front of the man and patting him on the shoulder.

"Dude, what's up?" Ji Xiang asked, trying to sound "street smart."

The man's shoulders shrugged, but he didn't look up.

Ji Xiang glanced at the floor number; it must be a family member of a patient in the obstetrics ward.

Generally speaking, the obstetrics department is the most festive department in a hospital.

In hospitals, birth, aging, illness, and death occur, but only the families of patients in the obstetrics ward arrive with smiles. Yet, precisely because of this expectation, any incident in the obstetrics ward becomes a momentous event.

Could it be amniotic fluid embolism?

Ji Xiang hadn't rotated through the obstetrics and gynecology department, so his understanding of the emergency department was limited to this.

But he didn't think about any nonsense like saving the mother or the child.

"Dude, don't cry," Ji Xiang comforted him gently. "You're the pillar of the family, you have to hold on right now. What happened?"

"What can we do?" the man said, choking back tears.

"What happened?" Ji Xiang asked again.

"My daughter... my daughter... her head is so flat and long, like a winter melon... what am I going to do with her...?"

The man spoke haltingly.

Ji Xiang was taken aback. He almost burst out laughing when he recalled seeing a newborn baby during his internship.

In the past decade or so, a new service has gradually emerged in China—husbands accompanying their wives in the delivery room during childbirth.

Some newborns do have flat and long heads, which looks strange, but they will get better soon.

Ji Xiang suppressed a laugh and asked, "What did the doctor say?"

"The doctor said I'd be fine soon, but I know they were just trying to comfort me." The man was still deeply immersed in grief. "I had all my prenatal checkups on time, and no one told me the baby was deformed. But it's my child, even with a disability... Waaah..."

"All naturally born babies have that kind of head," Ji Xiang explained, sitting next to the man.

He felt a little regretful; if he had a pack of cigarettes at that moment, he could have explained things to the weeping patient's family.

Next time for sure.

"Dude, it's like this," Ji Xiang explained to the man, "because of humans..."

Ji Xiang started by explaining physiology and anatomy, all the way to natural childbirth. Although he knew many details might be inaccurate, he figured it didn't matter since it was just to comfort him.

After speaking for about ten minutes, the man gradually raised his head. Although his eyes were still brimming with tears, the sadness had vanished. He stared blankly at Ji Xiang and asked, "Really?"

"Of course, I'm a doctor." Ji Xiang smiled. "Didn't the obstetricians and nurses tell you?"

"There are a few others who can't conceive, and they're all busy; they don't have time to explain to me. I thought you were just trying to comfort me, are you sure you're not?"

"Of course, I'm off work now, why would I comfort you?" Ji Xiang said with a smile. "Three days. Generally speaking, the child's head will return to normal after three days. Look here."

Ji Xiang lowered his head and pointed to the fontanelle on the top of his head.

"These pores on a child's body aren't closed yet; they gradually close as the child grows. Don't worry, you were crying so sadly, I thought something had happened."

The man was somewhat suspicious and a little embarrassed.

He only vaguely understood Ji Xiang's explanation, but it sounded somewhat professional, and he unconsciously believed about 80% of it.

"I'm going back to see my wife and kids. I'm leaving now." Ji Xiang stood up and smiled. "Don't scare yourself. Everything will be fine."

(End of this chapter)