Chapter 691: [(691)] Senior Cao’s Name Chapter 691: [(691)] Senior Cao’s Name But Xie Wanying’s answer missed the point, leaving the group a bit dumbfounded.
“Do you know the story behind your Senior Cao’s name?” Tao Zhijie asked, making the question more precise.
Xie Wanying was puzzled: “Isn’t Senior Cao’s name given by his mom and dad?”
She really didn’t know Cao Yong’s story, which surprised Tao Zhijie and the others. Tao Zhijie had no choice but to tell her, “His name wasn’t originally Yong; it was changed when he was three.”
“Huh?” Xie Wanying truly didn’t know, as Senior Cao had never mentioned it.
“His original name was elegant and refined, but his family soon realized that his temperament didn’t match. He always ran faster than the other kids, he dared to touch things that other children were afraid of–it seemed he feared nothing. So, with a stroke of his grandfather’s pen, his name was changed to Cao Yong. His family once thought he might become an athlete, an Olympic champion, or join the military because he was physically very strong. But unexpectedly, he ultimately chose to become a surgeon.”
As Senior Tao narratively unfolded Senior Cao’s life story, the image in Xie Wanying’s mind split into two: a gentlemanly Senior Cao and a three-and-a-half-year-old little warrior called Senior Cao.
What she found even more unexpected was when Senior Tao suddenly “stabbed” her with the remark: “Out of everyone here, you’re the only one who doesn’t know this.”
Everyone knew except for her? Xie Wanying blinked, sensing this was a bigger deal than she thought.
The origin of Cao Yong’s name was hardly a secret. With Cao Yong’s reputation being what it was, various interviews had already been conducted. This story had even been featured in the newspapers, information gathered from an interview with Cao Yong’s mother and written into articles.
Even those who hadn’t read the newspapers would know the story, as it would be passed on by word of mouth among those who talked about Cao Yong. It was almost unheard of for a surgeon or medical student in the Capital not to know it.
Senior colleagues surrounding her couldn’t help but want to laugh at her bewildered expression: It was strange that somehow no one had ever mentioned it to her, causing her to mistakenly believe that Cao Yong was some Mr. Bean character.
The case discussion involving Zhao Zhaowei came to a temporary close. As the meeting dispersed, Xie Wanying quietly followed Song Xueling, wondering if she should thank him. At the crux of the heated debate, if it weren’t for Song Xueling stepping in to support her and Student Zhao, by herself, she couldn’t have turned the tables.
As if sensing what she was about to do, Song Xueling glanced back at her silently.
Xie Wanying received the look and immediately turned to leave. Doctor Song didn’t want thanks, because he hadn’t spoken for Student Zhao or for her; he simply had spoken the scientific truth as a doctor.
Watching her walk away, a quiet smile seemed to play at the corners of Song Xueling’s lips.
In the afternoon, there was a particularly difficult surgery for pancreatic cancer. The Chief Surgeon was He Jiuliang, and the First and Second Assistants were resident doctors from the team. The two newbies could stand by to observe and learn. Tao Zhijie popped in during the critical phase of the surgery to make sure everything was going smoothly, then left. At the suturing stage when the surgery was nearing its end, Song Xueling was called up to the stage to show off his skills for the seniors to see.
The seniors were impressed by his calm movements and the neat and tidy results of his suturing. They didn’t forget to tease the other newbie: “Next time, we’ll let you do the suturing.”
“Yes, teacher,” Xie Wanying replied promptly and decisively.
After following the surgery and returning to the ward, it was time to clock out.
At that moment, Zhao Huaming appeared in the Hepatobiliary Surgery Department with someone in a hurry.