After the knee replacement surgery ended, Zhang Fan simply typed the medical report on the computer in the operating room so that he wouldn’t have to return to orthopedic department #2 and compete over a vacated computer. There really was a large difference between performing surgeries by himself in his System and performing surgeries in real life. In his System, he was able to perform surgery as quickly as he wanted, along with having the System’s programmed surgical assistants show him any place that he wanted in the patient’s body almost instantly.

But in reality, the surgical assistants were quite human. The primary surgeon and primary surgical assistant would need to get used to each other. But in the System, Zhang Fan had a perfect practice platform, with conditions and programmed assistants that were absolutely perfect.

Due to the old patient’s advanced age, he would need to spend a night in ICU. When Zhang Fan returned to orthopedic department #2, the old man’s eldest son was waiting for him. “Doctor Zhang, the surgery is over? How’s my father doing? Where are the two directors?” Zhang Fan couldn’t be bothered to explain that he had actually been the primary surgeon, rather than the director or vice director. He simply smiled, and said, “I think the directors are in a meeting. Is there anything I can help you with? I’m the primary doctor in charge of your father’s care. Feel free to discuss anything related to his surgery with me. If I’m unable to take care of it on my own, I’ll report it to the directors.”

“It’s not much, just…”

“Relax, feel free to say whatever you like. It’s my job to take care of your worries as well.”

The old man’s son looked around and only spoke after seeing that nobody was around to listen. “Could you please use only the best medicine? Both directors also know about my father’s circumstances.”

“It’s not a problem. The directors have already given the command, rest assured.” Zhang Fan managed to get rid of the old man’s son after a few words. Actually, the most appropriate medicine would always be the best for a patient, not the most expensive medicine. Zhang Fan didn’t want to have to explain this to the patient’s son, as he still needed to finish writing the post-surgery record. Wang Yanan hadn’t been allowed to participate in this surgery, so she was really pouting. Thus, he couldn’t count on her helping him to write the post-surgery record.

After Wang Dehua finished with the surgery and told Chen Qi that he was going to take a vacation, he really did act immediately, instantly going to find Superintendent Ouyang and requesting vacation time. Chen Qi had no regrets, as his son was getting older and needing more money, so he wanted to make as much money as possible. Chen Qi was also 50 years old, the final golden period for a surgeon before his physical abilities would decline. He wouldn’t have any more opportunities to make additional money after this.

The medical equipment used in this surgery had all been of the very highest quality, which meant that there were also significant kickbacks. Chen Qi gave Zhang Fan half of the kickbacks. Since Wang Dehua was now on vacation, it meant that Chen Qi now had the authority to decide such matters.

As for why Chen Qi gave Zhang Fan half, that was because he still needed Zhang Fan’s help. Although Chen Qi had participated in major surgeries hundreds—even thousands—of times before, that had only been as the primary surgical assistant under Wang Dehua. No matter how many times one watched surgery, personally performing surgery would always be different. Thus, Chen Qi wanted another experienced surgeon by his side to help him out. Since Wang Dehua was now on vacation leave, this meant that only Zhang Fan could fill in this role.

Chen Qi had already figured out what he wanted to do. For any future major surgeries like joint replacement surgery, he would arrange for himself to be the primary surgeon, and Zhang Fan would be his primary surgical assistant. He would also share the kickbacks with Zhang Fan equally. Chen Qi fully intended to take advantage of Wang Dehua’s vacation time to personally perform as many major surgeries as possible with Zhang Fan’s assistance. This would mean that Wang Dehua would no longer be able to suppress him when he returned from vacation.

Chen Qi had spent much hard work on crafting his schemes. In Chinese work society, there was no right or wrong about this.

There was a huge commotion in orthopedic department #2. The two attending physicians Yuan Tao and Luo Jin had incredibly dark expressions when they returned to the department after assisting in the surgery. All of the other attending physicians had been waiting to hear the results. Yuan Tao and Luo Jin returned before Zhang Fan did as the latter was still busy in the operating room with writing the medical report at this time.

“How were things? Did Director Wang get angry at the youngster?” an attending physician asked.

What everyone expected was that Wang Dehua would get angry at the inexperienced Zhang Fan for incompetent surgical techniques, and kick Zhang Fan off the surgery. That seemed like the obvious result. This was because knee replacement surgeries were so difficult that not a single attending physician in orthopedic department #2 had sufficient knowledge to be the primary surgeon for such a surgery. Only the director and vice director were experienced enough with knee replacement surgeries.

“No. Director Wang didn’t say a single word from start to finish. I’m in a really bad mood right now. I’ll only say one thing. Zhang Fan is incredibly skilled, even to the point where he completely suppresses me.” Luo Jin then took off his white doctor’s coat and instantly left the department.

The other doctors then all looked at Yuan Tao, who only nodded. He also took off his doctor’s coat and left the department. Luo Jin had left to return home and stew in his frustration. However, Yuan Tao was different as he had left because he wanted to find a way to improve himself further. How was he going to improve himself? A study program! He wanted to go study at an even larger hospital. This would mean that he needed to find someone to convince Superintendent Ouyang to let him go on a study program. As for who could do that… Yuan Tao naturally needed to go find a high-ranking government official.

The two most skilled attending physicians in orthopedic department #2 had been absolutely suppressed by Zhang Fan’s skills. Luo Jin and Yuan Tao had seemed so wretched. Some doctors in the department felt delight at their condition, while others felt sympathy. However, most simply watched coldly without a care. If Wang Dehua didn’t do anything soon, the morale and unity in orthopedic department #2 would soon become critically low.

Zhang Fan didn’t know a single thing about any of this, and even if he did, there would be nothing he could do. People would always be selfish. Zhang Fan wouldn’t be able to abandon his own chances at improving his status for the sake of everyone else’s feelings and benefits. Moreover, even if he did know, Zhang Fan would work even harder to perform as many surgeries as he possibly could. Resources would forever be limited at a hospital. If you didn’t work hard and fight for resources, you would never have a chance. You couldn’t rely on others’ pity.

Chen Qi immediately gave Zhang Fan the medical equipment kickbacks on the day following the surgery. Normally, this would have needed to wait for a month as Wang Dehua’s medical equipment supplier Niu Hailing preferred to settle the account once a month. However, Chen Qi was in urgent need of money right now, so he absolutely insisted on getting paid immediately. Since Wang Dehua was on vacation leave, Chen Qi was fully in charge, so the merchant could only pay him immediately.

“Doctor Zhang, yesterday you really showed me what skill really is. I can only describe you like this.” Chen Qi flashed Zhang Fan a big thumbs-up.

“Vice Director Chen, you’re joking with me again.”

“You’re humble, far too humble. This is the pay for your hard work yesterday. Please take it. I learned much from observing your surgery yesterday. If there’s another joint replacement surgery soon, please give me some pointers, Doctor Zhang.”

“Haha, Vice Director, you’re making me feel awkward here.” Zhang Fan squeezed the envelope while trying to guess how much money was inside. He barely even heard Chen Qi’s words as he was only thinking about the money.

Chen Qi didn’t really have any other way apart from sharing the money with Zhang Fan. He wanted to practice and improve himself at major, difficult surgeries as quickly as possible as he wouldn’t have a chance to do so anymore if Wang Dehua regained his confidence and returned from vacation. Thus, Chen Qi was prepared to act as shameless as he needed to be. He then said, “Sorry to trouble you with extra work while the director is on vacation. You might have to perform some extra surgeries. Don’t worry, you’ll definitely be paid well for your hard work.”

The last sentence was the only one that Zhang Fan heard clearly. “Rest assured, I’ll work on any surgery that you want me to.”

“Haha! Alright, then.” Chen Qi immediately knew how he should deal with someone like Zhang Fan as he patted the latter on the shoulder. This was because Zhang Fan’s eyes had obviously lit up at the mention of money, while he stared at nothing but the money envelope in his hands, unfocused on the conversation.

After Zhang Fan finished his work shift, he counted the money he received from the knee replacement surgery. It was a significant amount! With just a little more, he would be able to pay for finishing the kitchen renovations in his new unfinished house.

Li Xiao’s third massage treatment was more than half finished now. The effects were quite obviously excellent. She barely had any more back pain these days. She now highly valued Zhang Fan’s medical advice and heeded everything he told her to do. If Zhang Fan told her to keep up a training regimen for her back, she adamantly persisted at exercising. Her previous experience with back pain made Li Xiao pay extra attention to her personal health.

“Have you started renovating your new home?” Li Xiao had Zhang Fan drink tea together with her at her home after today’s massage treatment.

“Yeah! I’ve started.” Zhang Fan couldn’t tell good tea from bad tea. He felt that all tea tasted the same.

“You didn’t even mention anything to me. I could have my own company’s construction team do the renovation for you as they’re professionals, after all. They’re capable of renovating it in any style you want.”

“There’s no need, as I’m not in a rush to move in. Slow renovation is fine to me. I’d feel bad about always troubling you.”

“Haha! You, you’re a little too mature. You lack youthful passion. You don’t need to be so reserved with me. That Jeep Grand Cherokee I previously gave you isn’t a new car. How about I give you a brand-new car as a present? What type of car do you like? I heard from Wang Qian that you’re really fond of cars.”

“You truly don’t need to do so. It’s not much use for me to have a car. I’m at the hospital every day, and almost never go out,” Zhang Fan hurriedly refused. He felt that he had already received so much by being able to purchase an apartment home at base price, and that it would be too much if he also received a brand-new car.

“How could you say that it’s no use? If you don’t want the new car, then let’s deal with the paperwork for me to legally give the Jeep Grand Cherokee to you as a gift. Don’t refuse this, as there’s still things that I want to request from you in the future.”

Just as Zhang Fan and Li Xiao were chatting, Chen Qifa phoned Zhang Fan at this time. “Teacher Zhang, are you busy right now? I’m intending on sending Li Liang to your hospital for a study program. Due to Superintendent Zou’s corruption, we haven’t received a single surgery patient in the past month.”

“Alright, I’ll go make the arrangements for him tomorrow. Have him come over to Chasu City.”