"Chao, bro, I've really given it my all. Can't you see my voice is hoarse? Brother Huan is on board, so your three-person fecal transplant team can officially hang out its shingle."
Liu Banxia sauntered over to Wang Chao's side.
"Is it true? I saw you talking to Wang Huan just now, but I didn't dare to step forward," Wang Chao said with surprise.
"Absolutely! Your business is my business. This also brings prestige to our Emergency Center, so we have to handle it properly. Should we arrange something for dinner tonight?" Liu Banxia asked.
"Arrange it, we definitely have to. It's just that Brother Hui and Brother Wang can't always be on duty together. But that's alright. We'll get through this initial period, and then things will be fine once Internal Medicine sends more people."
"Don't celebrate too early. Can you smooth things over with your mom at home?" Liu Banxia asked.
"I'll have to sweet-talk her. What else can I do? Anyway, now I can pursue this project openly," Wang Chao said.
"Then, think about it later and write a proposal. I think we need to hire at least two more people in the laboratory. I'll also ask Director Zhao about adding any necessary equipment," Liu Banxia said.
"The most important thing is that your plan needs to be solid, covering future treatment protocols, patient scheduling, and so on. That way, we'll have more confidence when we present it to the director."
"So, you don't have anything else for me to do?" Wang Chao blinked.
"Me? What could I possibly have going on? Helping you guys get this project off the ground is the biggest contribution I can make. You can't be so greedy, right? I'm incredibly busy." After Liu Banxia finished speaking, he slipped off to the side again.
Wang Chao looked at him and had that feeling of being bluffed again.
But on second thought, Liu Banxia arranging this was indeed helping him. Even though it was a bit tiring, he really didn't want to give up on this project.
However, relying on himself, or people he wasn't familiar with, to do this seemed too difficult.
Liu Banxia, who had slipped away, got some water and gulped it down.
He had talked a lot these past two days. He usually talked a lot, but to get this project off the ground, he'd had to at least double his efforts.
"President Liu, a car accident patient is on their way. Vital signs are stable, with symptoms of chest and back pain," the dispatch nurse called out.
Liu Banxia glanced over. No wonder they'd called him; it seemed only he and Wang Chao were free at the moment. Wang Chao was probably still mulling over the fecal transplant project, so he'd take this patient.
"Huang Bo will take the lead on this patient. I'll supervise," Liu Banxia announced.
"Alright!" Huang Bo responded.
He wasn't the rookie he used to be. This wasn't his first or second time being supervised by Liu Banxia. As long as he stayed focused and careful during the consultation, Liu, the "Monster King," wouldn't find any faults.
"The patient is 65 years old, knocked down by an opening car door while riding an electric scooter. Right arm fracture, chest pain, back pain. Vital signs stable, blood pressure 120/80," the paramedic who brought the patient reported.
"Let's use Resuscitation Room Three; he's quite old, after all. Has his family arrived?" Huang Bo said.
"We've notified them by phone, but they haven't arrived yet. The traffic police will be here soon," the paramedic replied.
"Alright, leave him to us. Sir, do you have high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes?" Huang Bo asked while pushing the gurney.
"I have high blood pressure, and I've had heart bypass surgery. No diabetes," the patient said.
"Sir, don't worry. We'll start the examination soon," Huang Bo comforted him.
"Alright... one, two, three, move him to the bed. Sir, aside from the chest and back pain, did you hit your head? Do you feel dizzy or confused? Does your stomach hurt?"
"My stomach doesn't hurt. Young people these days are just too careless about safety," the patient said.
"I'll listen to your chest first. After we complete the basic examination, we'll address your arm," Huang Bo said and then began to auscultate the patient.
Liu Banxia watched with satisfaction. It had been a while since he had supervised their emergency admissions. So far, Huang Bo was handling everything very well, understanding the patient's basic condition and calming his emotions.
"Bilateral breath sounds normal, heart sounds normal, airway clear. Abdomen soft, no tenderness. There's a slight depression in the left chest, indicating a fracture. Hmm... let's get an ECG, chest X-ray, right arm X-ray, complete blood count, and cross-matching," Huang Bo stated after the examination.
Once he finished speaking, Huang Bo instinctively looked at Liu Banxia.
Liu Banxia nodded. "Well handled. The ECG is definitely necessary. Given that he's undergone bypass surgery, the impact and shock could very well trigger cardiac issues."
Only with Liu Banxia's affirmation did the nurses begin to perform the ECG on the patient.
After all, Huang Bo was still an intern. He could make a diagnosis, but he didn't have the authority to issue medical orders; Liu Banxia or other attending physicians had to make the final call.
After the ECG was done, Liu Banxia also took a look. There were no immediate issues, so they could proceed with the instrumental examinations.
Just as he walked out, he saw Wang Chao chatting with Officer Ma Limin, the female traffic police officer he had met once before.
"Officer Ma, have the patient's family been contacted? Should we use the fast track for him, or will his family handle the regular admission procedures?" Liu Banxia asked earnestly as he walked over.
"Dr. Liu, the family has already arrived. They've completed the necessary procedures. However, resolving the compensation for this car accident might not be so easy," Ma Limin said.
"What's wrong? Did the old gentleman violate traffic rules?" Liu Banxia asked curiously.
Ma Limin nodded. "The electric scooter he was riding requires a motorcycle license, so he'll have to bear some responsibility."
"But the primary responsibility lies with the car, which was a taxi. The passenger didn't check before opening the door and knocked the old man over."
"Fortunately, there were no vehicles behind them, or this traffic accident would have been much more serious. Even so, we need to clarify the situation before determining responsibility. Is the old man's injury serious?"
"He has fractured ribs and a fractured humerus. Fortunately, his neck and spine are uninjured. However, due to his age, there could be other symptoms we haven't yet identified," Liu Banxia replied.
"People these days really need to be more careful when opening car doors. This isn't the first or second time something like this has happened. If there had been oncoming traffic from behind, I can't even imagine the consequences."
"Yeah, luckily it wasn't during peak hours, or it really would've been dangerous," Ma Limin agreed with a nod.
"Officer Ma, Wang Chao mentioned that you're quite skilled. It's almost a waste for you to be a traffic police officer," Liu Banxia said.
"What have you been saying about me?" Ma Limin asked, turning to glare at Wang Chao.
You think I would dare? Wang Chao shot Liu Banxia a wronged look.
"You probably don't have the guts," Ma Limin said.
"Dr. Liu, how has Wang Chao been performing here at work? He can be a bit lazy, so you need to keep on top of him."
"Wang Chao is very capable. He's currently spearheading a new project in our Emergency Center to help more patients," Liu Banxia said with a smile.
"His work ethic is also excellent. And I'm not just saying this to praise him in front of you. The work here is very demanding, and he puts in long hours."
"Really? That doesn't sound like him at all," Ma Limin frowned.
"What about me? Can't I turn over a new leaf for once?" Wang Chao looked even more dejected.
"It is a bit surprising. Tsk, tsk. That's quite something," Ma Limin remarked.
Liu Banxia found this quite amusing. He had a feeling these two had potential; otherwise, he wouldn't have chimed in.
However, he shouldn't disturb them too much here. He'd ask Wang Chao for the gossip after Ma Limin left.
After waiting a short while, the X-ray results came back. Their initial diagnosis was confirmed: a fracture of the left first rib and a proximal humeral fracture. Neither was very serious.
"Teacher Liu, can you directly reduce and externally fixate the arm fracture?" Huang Bo asked.
Looking at the films, Liu Banxia nodded. "Yes, the fracture line isn't very complicated. If it were a younger person, it probably wouldn't be a big deal. But since he's elderly, some degree of osteoporosis is normal."
"So... observe him for one day?" Huang Bo asked tentatively.
"Your reasoning," Liu Banxia prompted.
"The patient is elderly, and this is a long bone fracture, so we should be vigilant for pulmonary embolism. Moreover, the patient has a history of bypass surgery, so we also need to monitor his cardiac condition," Huang Bo explained.
"Alright, arrange it that way," Liu Banxia nodded in agreement.
DING! Consultation complete. Gained 200 Experience Points, +100 Orthopedic Skill Proficiency.
After Liu Banxia finished setting the old man's fracture, the system displayed the reward notification.
The reward was a bit meager, though. If it hadn't been for performing the bone setting, he might not have even received these few experience points.
"President Liu, tell me, what exactly was your motive just now?" Wang Chao, who had been waiting outside, asked fiercely when Liu Banxia emerged.
"You're asking me? I was trying to be your wingman. But now I'm worried it's a classic case of 'the king is interested, but the goddess isn't,'" Liu Banxia joked.
"Anyway, I think Officer Ma is quite good. Given your current standing, you're barely a match for her. But in terms of presence, she completely overshadows you."
"Then wouldn't I just be asking for a beating? I've been beaten up by her plenty of times before. That girl doesn't pull her punches," Wang Chao complained.
"So you have to work hard. How can you expect to succeed if you don't?" Liu Banxia said before wandering off.
Stunned for a moment, Wang Chao felt dejected again. Had Liu Banxia played him again?
He did harbor a little something for her; otherwise, Liu Banxia wouldn't have told him to work hard. When did that guy's eyes get so sharp? He thought he'd hidden his feelings quite well.
He couldn't figure this out. He wondered if he'd just gotten so used to Liu Banxia messing with him that he didn't even have the energy to resist anymore.
That Liu Banxia was a true "Monster King"—not only ruthless with the interns but even more so with his colleagues.
He decided to put it out of his mind for now. He still had to get this project sorted out; that was the priority.