Chapter 1315: Doctor Dong
Morning.
Heping Hospital.
Dong Xuebing yawned and woke up. He was sitting on a chair in the dark, windowless operation theater. He stretched and looked around. Dimmed light shone into the operation theater through the door crack. He looked at the blanket on him and patted his forehead. He took out his phone and checked the time. It’s after 7 am.
I fell asleep.
I slept immediately after last night’s operation.
Why didn’t anyone wake me?
Dong Xuebing had gooseb.u.mps when he thought about how he had spent the night in the eerie operation theater.
Suddenly, the door was opened from outside.
A nurse entered and switched on the lights.
The sudden brightness blinded Dong Xuebing, and he covered his eyes.
The nurse was shocked when she saw someone standing two meters away. She jumped. “Oh, you are awake.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Sorry. I slept in the operating theater for so long.”
The nurse replied. “I thought of waking you. It’s late, and we received a call for an emergency operation soon. We need to prepare the room.”
Dong Xuebing straightened his clothes. “Ok. Carry on.”
The nurse walked in front. “Please come this way, Doctor Dong. I will bring you to Teacher Sun’s ward on the third floor.”
“Doctor Dong?” Dong Xuebing was speechless and quickly waved his hand. “What, Doctor? I am not a Doctor.”
The nurse smiled sweetly. “You are modest. You completed a surgery that even the top surgeon could not. You are a doctor.”
Dong Xuebing replied. “Don’t call me that.”
The nurse thought for a second. “Then… I will call you Teacher Dong.”
Dong Xuebing asked. “How is Teacher Sun? Has he woken up?”
“He woke up around 6 am. Beijing TV Station’s people are here.” The nurse replied.
Dong Xuebing followed the nurse out. He narrowed his eyes to get used to the brightness outside. “The TV station is here?”
The nurse nodded. “Yes. Teacher Sun saved his students from a few criminals and did not go down after getting stabbed. He continued to fight against them and protect his students. Most people would not do this. The TV Station came last night to wait for him. They were interviewing Teacher Sun’s colleagues and students.”
At the end of the corridor.
They turned into the stairwell.
A Doctor saw Dong Xuebing and stopped. He looked at the nurse. “Is this Doctor Dong?”
The nurse nodded. “Yes.”
The Doctor smiled and shook Dong Xuebing. He looked at him respectfully. “Good morning. Which hospital are you from?”
Dong Xuebing shook his hand. “I am not a Doctor.”
The Doctor thought Dong Xuebing did not want to say. He smiled and did not ask again.
They exchanged some pleasantries, and Dong Xuebing continued upstairs. Many nurses saw and greeted him.
“Doctor Dong.”
“Good morning, Doctor Dong.”
Dong Xuebing blushed and felt helpless.
How can he be a Doctor with his skills?
The nurse smiled and explained. “Your surgery last night was too impressive. Doctor Zhang and Doctor Li regretted not recording it on video after the surgery. They were whining about it throughout the night, and everyone in the hospital heard you made seven sutures in a second. They were impressed.”
Dong Xuebing mumbled. “Record it?”
The nurse replied. “It can be used as teaching material if it was recorded.”
Dong Xuebing thought to himself. Luckily, it was not recorded. He knows where he stands. He had only read a few medical books in the past two days.
Third-floor.
Intensive Care Unit.
Maybe Sun Kai had touched many people, and the hospital arranged a single ward for him.
“Doctor Dong, we are here.”
“Is this the ward?”
“Yes. I am going back to get ready for the operation.”
“Ok. Thank you for bringing me here. Carry on with your work.”
The door was locked and could not opened. Dong Xuebing saw Sun Kai inside with his parents and Xie Jing through the small window in the door but could not hear what they were talking about.
Beep… beep… beep…
Dong Xuebing pressed the bell.
A nurse walked to the door and paused momentarily when she saw Dong Xuebing. She opened the door immediately. “You must be Doctor Dong. Please come in.” Sun Kai was not out of danger, and the hospital did not allow visitors other than his family. But Dong Xuebing was special. He operated on Sun Kai and is his friend. He could visit.
The door closed.
Dong Xuebing asked softly. “How is he?”
The nurse replied. “His condition is stable. His heart rate and blood pressure are normal, and he woke up around 6.05 a.m. Doctor Zhang asked us to lower the dosage.” The nurse spoke as if she was reporting the patient’s condition to a Doctor. She did not treat Dong Xuebing as the patient’s family and friends. She treated him as a Doctor.
Xie Jing saw Dong Xuebing. “Brother-in-law.”
Sun Kai’s Sister quickly stood up. “You woke up.”
Dong Xuebing smiled. “I just woke up. Why didn’t you all call me?”
“The nurse tried waking you after the surgery.” Xie Jing walked over. “But you did not wake up even after she shook you a few times. They know you are exhausted and did not disturb you.” She paused for a second and asked the question she waited to ask since last night. “Brother-in-law, how… how do you know surgery suddenly?”
Dong Xuebing replied. “I can do surgery all this while.”
“Didn’t you learn Chinese Medicine? I heard it from my Sister.” Xie Jing said.
Dong Xuebing cleared his throat. “I know a bit of Western medicine. Ah… It’s about the same.”
Xie Jing was speechless. “How can Chinese and Western medicine be the same? I had never heard you say you know about surgery.”
Dong Xuebing tried to brush her off. “I know some basics.”
Xie Jing replied. “You know many things. Is there anything you don’t know?”
Sun Kai opened his eyes weakly and looked at Dong Xuebing. “Brother Dong.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yes. Much better. Thank you.” Sun Kai knew Dong Xuebing had operated on him.
Dong Xuebing said. “What’s there to thank? We are a family. Stop talking and rest. I am relieved to see you are fine.”
Sun Kai’s mother walked over and held Dong Xuebing’s hand. Her eyes were red. “Thank you… thank you…”
Dong Xuebing quickly helped her up. “Don’t mention it, Aunty. You fainted last night. Try not to get agitated again. Hurry and sit.”
Sun Kai’s mother refused. Sun Kai’s father held Dong Xuebing’s hand and started thanking him.
A while later, the nurse in the ward said. “Sorry to bother you all. The visiting hours are almost up. You all can remain here for five minutes more. The patient still has a few more checks later.”
Dong Xuebing replied. “Ok. We will leave now.”
The nurse said. “There’s no rush. I am going out to get the patient’s medication. Call me if you need me.”
Sun Kai’s mother said to her son. “Xiao Kai, have a good rest. I will be outside.”
Sun Kai replied. “Mum, go back with Dad and Sis. I am fine.”
Xie Jing said. “Aunty, Uncle, go back first. You all did not sleep last night. I will stay with Xiao Kai. Don’t tire yourselves out.”
Sun Kai’s Sister said. “I will stay to accompany you.”
The nurse who left earlier returned to the ward and said. “A lady, Xia Yanzhen, Ms. Xia, is waiting outside. She is here to visit the patient. Is she your relatives?”
Ms. Xia?
Xia Yanzhen?
Xie Jing was shocked.
Sun Kai tensed up and panicked.
Sun Kai’s parents were confused and looked at Xie Jing. “What happened, Xiao Jing?”
Xie King replied softly. “My Mum is here.”
“Ah? Your mother?” Sun Kai’s family gasped. They heard from their son that Xie Jing was not from an average household. Her family are high-ranking government officials. They also know Xie Jing’s parents and family oppose their relations.h.i.+p. Xiao Jing’s parents even used their connections to kick Sun Kai out of the school he taught. He might not even be a teacher if it weren’t for her Brother-in-law’s help.
Sun Kai’s mother said. “This…”
Sun Kai’s father said. “You should go back, Xiao Jing. Your mother must be here for you.”
“I am not leaving.” Xie Jing clenched her teeth and said to the nurse. “Let my Mum come in. Thank you.”
The nurse did not ask anything and let Xia Yanzhen in. She left and closed the door.
Xia Yanzhen entered.
Dong Xuebing greeted. “First Aunt.”
“Oh, Xiao Bing. You are here.” Xia Yanzhen nodded and looked at Xie Jing. She turned and looked at Sun Kai and his family.
Sun Kai’s family was nervous. This was the first time they met Xiao Jing’s mother. They heard she is a Deputy Sub-Provincial (Ministerial) level official.
Sun Kai’s mother patted Xie Jing. “Xiao Jing, go back with your mother. Hurry… we will take care of Xiao Kai. You did not sleep last night.”
Xie Jing refused and sat there without moving. She did not even look at Xia Yanzhen because her parents strongly opposed her relations.h.i.+p with Sun Kai. Her relations.h.i.+p with her parents these few months was not good. She lived alone and seldom returned home.
Sun Kai’s father said. “Go back, Xiao Jing.”
Suddenly, Xia Yanzhen said. “Xiao Kai had just escaped danger, and his condition is unstable. Let Xiao Jing accompany him. She is young, and it’s fine to sleep less.” She walked over to the bed and patted Sun Kai’s hand. “Xiao Kai, Aunty is here to visit you. I heard what happened this morning and rushed here without getting anything. How are you feeling?”
Xie Jing was stunned.
Sun Kai’s family did not expect Xiao Jing’s mother to say this.