Everyone’s assessment took place at a different time. The specific arrangements depended on the actual circumstances of each department; as long as it was completed within the stipulated period, that was all that mattered.
Zhong Yu had adjusted well. During the few days she had not gone to the hospital, she had not been idle either. She had deliberately gone to the anatomy lab at the school to practice, and by now, she no longer felt rusty.
As soon as she received the notice about her assessment, Zhong Yu went straight to the hospital.
Director Ni saw her looking spirited and eager to try her hand, and could not help raising an eyebrow.
“This is the patient’s medical record. Take a careful look.”
The patients were assigned at random. Zhong Yu accepted the documents and quickly scanned them.
The patient was a young man who had undergone excision and suturing of a forehead lesion five months earlier. The horizontal incision scar was 3.0 centimeters long and light in color, but within one centimeter of both ends, the skin was slightly raised and hardened.
Director Ni sat upright, looking at her sharply.
“Analyze the cause. How should it be treated surgically?”
The question was not difficult. Zhong Yu answered with precise wording:
“This type of scar does not follow the skin creases. Therefore, even if the wound is sutured and heals by primary intention after the trauma, the scar will still be obvious. Muscle contraction can also cause a depression to appear, with the skin or subcutaneous tissue on one or both sides becoming slightly raised. Z-plasty, continuous Z-plasty, W-plasty, V-Y plasty, and other techniques may be used, combined and applied flexibly as appropriate.”
Director Ni’s expression relaxed slightly. He rose and strode forward, reminding her in a deep, resonant voice:
“Remember the surgical procedure. I’ll be your first assistant.”
Zhong Yu felt a weight lift from her heart and hurried after Director Ni. She was finally going to step into an operating room again.
By the time the two of them arrived, everyone else was already waiting.
The anesthesiologist was Deputy Director Yi from the department.
The moment he saw her, his eyes crinkled as he smiled.
“Don’t be nervous, eh. Old Ni and I both have high hopes for you. You’re the most promising female doctor in our department.”
Zhong Yu’s eyes curved as she smiled and nodded obediently in thanks.
There were no other female doctors in their department, so the title truly belonged to her.
This was a minor operation and required only the primary surgeon, a first assistant, an anesthesiologist, a circulating nurse, and a scrub nurse.
Apart from Director Ni, Deputy Director Yi was also one of the examiners grading her.
Before the operation, everyone involved in the surgery and everyone handling the surgical instruments and supplies had to complete the necessary sterile procedures.
Zhong Yu worked carefully and thoroughly, paying close attention to every detail. She followed each step of the procedure and did everything to perfection.
Once she had finished, she first went to the patient.
She began by asking him to smile, close his eyes, and raise his forehead, carefully observing the wrinkles.
She then analyzed which sections of the linear scar followed the skin creases and which intersected the wrinkles to form angles of varying degrees. After that, she marked out the design lines for a continuous Z-plasty.
As she drew the lines, Director Ni watched her strictly but did not offer any verbal reminders.
Once the lines were drawn, she administered local anesthesia and first excised the scar.
Her hand rose and the blade fell. She dissected along both wound edges from the superficial layer of subcutaneous fat, keeping the thickness uniform.
Zhong Yu was intensely focused. Her fingers were light and nimble. She did not look as though she were performing surgery; rather, she seemed to be completing an important work of art.
Director Ni and Deputy Director Yi exchanged a glance, admiration in both their eyes.
Oblivious to everything around her, Zhong Yu continued with the movements of her hands.
She carefully incised along the designed lines, then sutured the individual triangular flaps in alternating layers.
As soon as she placed the first stitch, she suddenly felt the back of her hand grow faintly hot. A dim green light rose from her hand.
Damn it!!!
The Rebirth Vine, which had shown no reaction all this time, had chosen this moment to cause trouble.
Her heart sank, and she instinctively glanced at Director Ni.
Director Ni had been watching her movements the entire time. Thinking that she was seeking his approval, he said blandly:
“Good work. Continue.”
Zhong Yu relaxed slightly. She could be certain now that no one except her could see the Rebirth Vine.
Being reborn was no easy matter. She did not want to be treated as some kind of anomaly and studied.
She quickly composed herself and continued working.
Because the tissue was asymmetrical after the scar was excised, she formed a triangular flap on one side, pulled it to the transposition site, and made another incision to create a second triangular flap.
This kind of continuous Z-plasty was the ultimate test of layered suturing technique.
Each small triangular flap had to be spread flat and properly aligned. She also had to prevent the local tissue from becoming uneven in the long term because of contraction in some of the triangular flaps, leaving the flap area high and the incision’s suture line low.
While Zhong Yu worked, the Rebirth Vine was busy as well. One vine seemed to be sucking up the foul blood energy from the scar, while another released a blue-green mist from the incision.
She sensed no danger, and the patient’s expression remained relaxed and comfortable, which eased her mind somewhat.
Director Ni was somewhat stunned. He bent down slightly and leaned closer to look. The sutured incision was so flawless that it could only be seen clearly through close-range examination with the naked eye.
She continued calmly and skillfully tying the knots, maintaining balanced tension at both ends of the suture. Her knot-tying was quick and steady.
There had been almost no bleeding throughout the entire procedure. It was practically perfect!
She began applying a pressure dressing after the operation, which would be very helpful in ensuring smooth healing in the surgical area.
Ni Hui asked himself honestly: he might not have been able to achieve the same level of precision as Zhong Yu.
The Plastic Surgery Department needed a doctor like Zhong Yu—one whose technique, aesthetic judgment, and attention to detail were all taken to the utmost level.
When the operation ended, the nurse escorted the patient out.
Zhong Yu went out first to wash her hands.
Behind her, Deputy Director Yi muttered quietly:
“Old Ni, Doctor Zhong’s technique is extraordinarily refined. With her in our department, she’ll definitely be a tremendous asset. And I’ll say this even if it makes you unhappy: that girl’s future achievements may surpass yours.”
Ni Hui was not the kind of person who resented the capable. If his student surpassed her teacher, that was a good thing as far as he was concerned.
“We probably won’t be able to keep her. She wants to return to Hai City. Do you think she was deliberately hiding her abilities before?”
She had been outstanding before, but never as astonishing as she had been today.
Deputy Director Yi’s eyes widened, and he growled in a low voice:
“We’re not keeping her at our hospital? Old Ni, what the hell are you doing? She’s a genuine talent. You’ll regret letting her leave. Damn it, no—I have to go talk to her.”
Ni Hui grabbed him and held him back.
“What are you going to say? Go find the Director. His word will carry weight.”
Deputy Director Yi slapped his forehead.
“You’re right. A talent like this deserves a high-level effort to retain her. I’ll go find the Director.”
After all, the Director was like a brick: wherever he was needed, that was where he went.
After leaving the operating room, Zhong Yu followed Director Ni silently to his office.
Because of the extraordinary reaction from the Rebirth Vine, she had remained somewhat unsettled.
She did not know whether the patient would be affected, and she was very worried about his recovery.
As soon as Director Ni entered the office, he placed the assessment form on the desk.
He pulled out a chair and sat down, then glanced at her.
Seeing that she looked preoccupied, he assumed she was worried about the assessment results.
He tapped the desktop with one finger, indicating that she should look at the form.
Zhong Yu immediately came back to herself, gathered her spirits, and picked up the assessment form.
Director Ni took the opportunity to caution her:
“Don’t think that getting a perfect score means you’re truly invincible. Medicine is constantly advancing. Mastering the most advanced techniques of today doesn’t mean you’ll remain ahead in the future.”
Zhong Yu deeply agreed with him and nodded calmly.
“You’re right, Teacher. Don’t worry. I’m only an ordinary physician. I won’t become complacent or stop moving forward.”
She spoke solemnly, and it was clear that her attitude was perfectly proper.
Director Ni was very satisfied. He raised his wrist and checked the time.
“I still have a little time now, so let’s talk first. Have you discussed things with your mother? What are you planning to do?”
Zhong Yu felt a little listless. She had been back for so long, yet she still had not contacted her mother. There were simply too many things she did not know how to say.
When she was ten, her father died from a work-related injury. Three years later, her mother started a family of her own.
Her mother had always been strong-willed and demanded a great deal from herself and her children.
She had been dissatisfied that Zhong Yu had failed to become a clinical doctor and remain at a major hospital—even if she had stayed at the school as a teacher.
On top of that, Zhong Yu had continued not to marry or start a family. Her mother called every few days to pressure her about marriage. Their conflicts had accumulated over the years until, in the end, they simply stopped contacting each other.
Fortunately, Zhong Yu had a younger half-brother. She transferred a fixed amount of money to her mother every month, and the two of them managed to coexist peacefully enough.
She had failed to become a daughter her mother could be proud of, and she still felt somewhat guilty about it.
That was why, after repeatedly weighing things over these past few days, she had ultimately decided to return to Hai City. Some regrets could only be mended by her.
In her previous life, she had settled in the capital and lived well enough, but she had always lacked a sense of belonging.
Now that she had made up her mind, there was no need to drag things out.
“Teacher, I want to go to Fuda University Affiliated Nanshan Hospital. They’ve just established an independent Plastic Surgery Department. I should have the opportunity to encounter different kinds of cases there, and I’ll also be able to communicate and learn from colleagues at other universities.”
Director Ni was not surprised by her decision. Suppressing the disappointment in his heart, he said seriously:
“Fuda University Affiliated Nanshan Hospital is quite capable as well, and it’s a good place for a young person to develop. If you need one, I can write you a letter of recommendation.”
Zhong Yu was deeply grateful. She answered honestly:
“Thank you, Teacher. I won’t stand on ceremony with you—I really do need your letter of recommendation. If I’m assigned through the normal process, I may not be able to go there. I want to enter the workforce as soon as possible and avoid taking unnecessary detours.”
She had no connections within Hai City’s medical system and could only wait for an opening to be advertised. If she did that, she had no idea how long she might be left without work.
“Then I’ll send the letter of recommendation directly to the Director there. Leave me an address, and they can contact you directly.”
Zhong Yu instinctively gave him the address of the house her father had left her. After her mother remarried, the house had been transferred into Zhong Yu’s name with the help of one of her father’s unit leaders.
When she was young, she could live with her mother at her stepfather’s home, but now that she was grown, it would not be appropriate to continue living there.
Ni Hui put the address she had written into a drawer and stood up.
“Since you’ve made your decision, you don’t need to come to the hospital anymore. There are still related procedures to handle at the school, and they’ll take quite some time.”
Zhong Yu obediently nodded. She had originally wanted to stay a while longer and continue following up on today’s patient, but since her teacher had spoken, she said no more.
“If there’s any problem with today’s patient, please be sure to let me know, Teacher.”
Ni Hui appreciated her sense of responsibility toward her patients.
“Don’t worry. I’ll tell you how he recovers. Go say goodbye to the others.”
Although she no longer remembered much about most of the people in the department, she still went to say goodbye out of courtesy.
Since it was working hours, she could not stay for long and only exchanged a few brief words with everyone.
Nurse Lin was quite reluctant to see her leave, but she was too busy and only had time to give Zhong Yu a hurried hug.
When she returned to the dormitory, Zhong Yu decided to call her mother first.
Her mother was still an accountant at the No. 12 Cotton Textile Mill. There was a telephone in her office, so Zhong Yu found the number and called directly.
As it happened, her mother was the one who answered.
Although her voice was much younger, Zhong Yu could still recognize it.
“Mom, are you busy right now?”
Zhou Qin was working on the budget and was so busy that she was practically beside herself.
Her daughter rarely called. Even if she had no time, she had to squeeze some out for her.
She always had to nag her daughter a little; she was thinking about her, after all.
“No matter how busy I am, I can still find time to talk to you. Are you busy at the hospital? I remember your residency training is about to end, isn’t it?”
Zhong Yu hummed in response and explained softly:
“I just finished my assessment today. That means I’ve officially obtained the title of attending physician.”
Zhou Qin was delighted to hear that. “That’s wonderful news! You’ll be able to stay on at the hospital, won’t you? I remember your hospital is a top-tier one—a major hospital.”
Zhong Yu answered with a subdued hum. She had no idea whether her mother would object to her returning to Hai City.
She ventured cautiously, “Mom, I’m not planning to stay at this hospital. I still want to return to Hai City for work.”
Zhou Qin frowned slightly, looking conflicted.
“Of course it would be good if you could come back. Hai City has some excellent hospitals too, but our family doesn’t have the connections to get you assigned here. If you ended up at some shabby little hospital, you’d be better off staying in the capital.”
Zhou Qin had only two children, a son and a daughter. She was shrewd and formidable; even as someone’s stepmother, no one dared to bully her.
Having her daughter nearby would also give her and her son someone to rely on.
But she was not short-sighted. She did not want her own selfish desires to hold back her daughter’s future.
Hearing her mother say that, Zhong Yu felt a pang of sadness, and her voice softened further.
“Mom, don’t worry about the job. I may be going to Fuda University Affiliated Nanshan Hospital. My supervising professor will write me a recommendation letter. My academic record, qualifications, and performance at the hospital are all good, so it shouldn’t be difficult to arrange.”
Zhou Qin was overjoyed to hear this.
“Are you serious? There’s an old employee at our factory whose sister-in-law works as a nurse at Nanshan Hospital. She says the monthly salary is incredible. If you can really get in, that would be wonderful.”
Her daughter, Zhong Yu, had started school early. Even after completing the eight-year direct PhD program, she was only twenty-four—young, with a bright future ahead of her.
Later on, Zhou Qin would also be able to look after her more in her daily life. It truly solved several problems at once.
Zhong Yu was seventy or eighty percent confident, but she remained cautious in the way she spoke.
“In any case, nothing has been finalized yet, so please don’t tell anyone about it for now.”
Zhou Qin laughed. “Don’t worry. Mom knows how to keep her mouth shut. So when will you be coming back?”
“Probably in about a week. When I return, I’d like to stay at the old house on Weihai Road. It’s close to the hospital, and I’ll feel more at ease there. You can also bring my brother over to keep me company whenever you like.”
The smile faded from Zhou Qin’s face. No matter how capable she was, she could not control everything.
The people in the Song household were not related to her daughter by blood, so there was no need to force them to grow close.
“Then in a few days, Mom will clean up the house and prepare the bedding for you. You’ll be able to move in as soon as you get back. As for Uncle Song, you should still go see him when you return. He’s always treated you well, and you should also do it for your brother’s sake.” Zhou Qin said.
Zhong Yu readily agreed. Although Mom had another son now, she was still looking out for her.
“As for those two siblings from the Song household… don’t take them to heart. The factory hasn’t been doing well these past few years, and Uncle Song doesn’t have that much money or influence to throw around anymore. Those two won’t be able to act so high and mighty now.”
During the wave of layoffs in the 1990s, even though the No. 12 Cotton Textile Mill held on longer than some others, it was still far worse off than before.
As Zhong Yu remembered them, Uncle Song’s son and daughter were both quite incapable. They had only managed to secure their jobs because Uncle Song had pulled strings for them.
Before, she had received child support from her father’s machinery factory every month, so her life had been relatively comfortable.
Because she had lived with Mom, she had also spent several years under the Song family’s roof. Uncle Song’s two children had schemed against her more than once.
Fortunately, Mom was fiercely protective of her children, and Zhong Yu herself did not depend on Uncle Song for support. Every time, she had fought back directly.
All in all, she had not suffered any serious losses. She just did not know whether her younger brother had ever been bullied.
She would be living in her own house and would not need to worry about anyone else’s attitude. There was truly no reason for her to pay those two any attention.