Chapter 368: Root Cause Investigation

Director Zhang left with his head lowered.

If he stayed to listen to the ongoing conversation between Zheng Ren and Professor Rudolf, he would be too ashamed to invite them to the Secondary Hospital for the TIPS surgery.

Department Chief Xia found nothing amiss and bid Zheng Ren goodbye before bringing the patient back to the gastroenterology department.

The patient did not have any complications after this round of surgeries. The portal hypertension had subsided. All that was left was the ascites, which required a simple abdominal tap.

In the silence, Zheng Ren watched the mission counter on the System display change from zero to one. His heart beat expectantly.

Initially, accomplishing ten TIPS surgeries in a month had seemed difficult due to the lack of patients.

However, with the help of Director Zhang from the Secondary Hospital, the limiting factor was addressed.

Zheng Ren thought of the hefty mission reward awaiting him and one-month mission duration, then smiled.

“Boss, we’re going to the other place to perform how many procedures?” Professor Rudolf Wagner asked.

“I don’t know, but it sounds like we’ll get however many we want.”

“That’s great. Research requires supporting evidence—” The professor’s words were cut off by another voice.

“Lil Fugui, I’m responsible for the boss’s research,” Su Yun said darkly, his jet-black hair ruffled with his sudden movement.

Professor Rudolf stared at Su Yun, his excitement dampened.

‘The research can’t be monopolized by one doctor!’ the professor thought.

In the future, other surgeons would be using the Zheng-Rudolf method to perform TIPS surgery. It was what Professor Rudolf had envisioned.

“Quit fighting. We’re making the rounds,” Zheng Ren said.

Su Yun smiled at Zheng Ren, who had little concern about the proprietary rights of his research.

Trailing behind Zheng Ren, Su Yun and Professor Rudolf discussed under their breaths, occasionally looking up to check on Zheng Ren.

After the surgery, the first thought that came to Zheng Ren’s mind was the octogenarian whom he saw in his morning rounds.

Physically, nothing was amiss, but the old man complained of pains and discomfort in different parts of his body.

Why would the old man be faking illness? His children were a filial bunch who came and stayed by his side. He was not faking it for attention.

There was no clinical indication of a disorder. Even the System did not provide a diagnosis.

Odd.

As they reached the emergency department observation unit, an idea struck Zheng Ren.

He would need Chang Yue’s help. She was familiar with every patient’s family and was better at unearthing information.

The flurry of thoughts in Zheng Ren’s head abated as they entered the observation unit.

The old man’s son was peeling an apple by the bed while he laid in bed, whistling a tune as his foot tapped to the music. The old man looked to be in peace.

Was he even sick?

Zheng Ren was sure the old man was faking sick.

He walked up to the hospital bed and said gently, “Sir, I am the chief resident in the emergency department. I’m here to check up on you. Can you tell me where you feel discomfort?”

The old man’s eyes popped open and saw Zheng Ren standing before his bed. A frown appeared on his forehead, then he held an arm over his stomach and said, “Doctor, my stomach hurts.”

Zheng Ren adjusted the old man’s legs so that he was in a supine position. He rubbed his hands to warm them before proceeding with the physical check up.

The old man’s acting was not a match for Zheng Ren’s expert palpation assessment.

After a round of examination, Zheng Ren found nothing concerning.

Although his mind arrived at that conclusion, Zheng Ren hesitated to order a hospital discharge for the old man.

Arguments about the elderly taking up public resources were often seen online, made by keyboard warriors who hid behind a screen of anonymity. A man in his eighties could theoretically pass on at any moment and thus, could be said to deserve the medical care and attention.

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A forceful removal could elicit an emotional outburst that would cause an unpredictable outcome… Zheng Ren would ideally want to sidestep this potential landmine.

They would move the old man to the emergency wards, just to be sure.

Leaving him in the observation unit was a risk, as patients that were wheeled in at night were usually from brawls or car accidents. The old man might experience a heart attack from all the commotion.

Zheng Ren explained their plan to the family members. There was no need to proceed with admissions just yet, but they would arrange for the old man to be under observation in the emergency wards.

Once the old man was transferred upstairs, he was infinitely grateful for the peace and quiet of the emergency wards.

Chang Yue approached Zheng Ren without prompting. “Chief Zheng, who’s the patient?”

“I believe he’s faking ill, but I’ve yet to find out why. I’m leaving the case to you; identify the root cause,” Zheng Ren said.

Chang Yue stared at him. Her eyes narrowed as she said, “Root cause? And how do I do that? Why don’t you teach me some techniques, O wise one?”

Zheng Ren tolerated Chang Yue’s impudence. It was expected that she was not too happy about an additional task.

He patiently explained his theory to Chang Yue.

Zheng Ren’s calm demeanor was a contrast to her attitude and she quickly quelled her temper. His explanation also made her curious as to why the old man was faking ill.

Was the hospital more comfortable than his own home?

Impossible.

From the records of post-surgery patients, it was clear that many would rather spend the night home than in the hospital. Patients would leave the hospital as soon as they were mobile.

Regardless of the doctors’ advice or the medical insurers’ warning, patients would up and leave their hospital beds as soon as they could.

However, this patient was the total opposite.

Zheng Ren only relaxed after the briefing was done.

The morning surgery was complete and Yang Lili’s breathing tube was removed. In the coming few days, Zheng Ren planned to remove the inferior vena cava filter from the pulmonary embolism patient. Once that was done, there would be no time-sensitive surgeries on his schedule.

All that would be left were emergency surgeries that came in, the Secondary Hospital TIPS surgeries, and the surgeries arranged by Department Chief Kong in Imperial Capital.

Zheng Ren sat at his table and contemplated the upcoming surgeries.

Minutes later, he retrieved The Fundamentals of General Surgery and continued reading. Reading had become an integral part of Zheng Ren’s daily life.

He had his phone next to the open book. His ongoing chat with Xie Yiren slowed his reading to a snail’s pace.

The next thing he knew, it was lunchtime.

As Zheng Ren and Xie Yiren discussed lunch options, an unknown call came in.

“Hello?”

“Office Director Ding, hi.”

“Yes, I’m at the wards.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for you here.”

Zheng Ren hung up the call.

What did Ding Zhongtai want with him? And to call him through a private line instead of the hospital landline?

As someone who had infrequent contact with Ding Zhongtai, the phone call made Zheng Ren uneasy.

Soon, Ding Zhongtai appeared at the doorway to the office in the emergency wards. He looked around the office, spotted Zheng Ren, and waved.

Zheng Ren walked out and asked, “Office Director Ding, what happened?”

Ding Zhongtai pulled Zheng Ren to a corner. With a low and stern voice, he said, “Little Zheng, did you go ahead and find someone to settle that rear-end collision?”

Collision? Rear-end? What was that?

Zheng Ren looked confused.

“The ambulance,” Ding Zhongtai clarified.

‘Huh. Rear-end collision was a whole new take on the accident,’ Zheng Ren thought.