August 1st, Saturday, the sun is bright, the morning sun spreads its fiery glow.

The translucent red light spreads like a curtain over all beings, generously bringing light to Long County Orthopedics Ward One.

At seven in the morning, Peng Kun put down his pen after finishing the shift notes, stretched his whole body with his hands behind his head.

Upon hearing footsteps, Peng Kun turned his head sharply, then sat up straight upon recognizing the person: "Director Peng."

"Yesterday, I saw Professor Tong. He came to the countryside, but it seems he didn't really come. He said he'll spend half his time in the emergency department..." Peng Haibo, with his balding top, though not obese, had a face that somewhat sagged but upon closer inspection, his features were quite handsome.

"Director Peng, Brother Shan already told me, Professor Tong was brought over from the emergency department by Professor Chen Song targeting Lu Cheng." Peng Kun's eyes widened a bit, he licked his lips.

His tone grew conflicted: "This Lu Cheng? Isn't it better for him to venture outside for his career? Why come to our hospital to stir things up?"

Director Peng might be Director Peng, but he was also Peng Kun's father, allowing Peng Kun to vent some of his inner frustration.

Lu Cheng had no opportunity in orthopedics, so he remained ordinary.

However, after transferring to the emergency department and spending just a month with Professor Chen Song, his 'fox tail' was exposed!

He wasn't someone who would stay idle, nor did he seem that ordinary.

Just as Peng Haibo had always known, if Lu Cheng received the same opportunities, Peng Kun would find himself pressured unless he took action.

That's why Peng Haibo sent him to pursue a master's degree, although improving qualifications didn't change the 'fundamental'...

Peng Haibo stepped forward and patted Peng Kun's shoulder: "You think Lu Cheng doesn't want to go out?"

"In the years he's been cold-shouldered, he never let his zeal for learning die down. Do you think he doesn't want to leave? It's just that initially, I didn't expect him to be this extraordinary."

Speaking of this, Peng Haibo took a deep breath and said: "Don't overthink it, encountering such a person is beyond your control, just accept he's skilled."

"Anything beyond its limit leads to problems. Since he's opened up a gap and established himself, let him through, and build connections when possible."

"Moreover, the path Lu Cheng is on now is also suitable for you to follow." Having said that, Peng Haibo led Peng Kun to the director's office.

The director's office was his territory. Though other senior colleagues held significant influence, they wouldn't dare to intrude casually in the department.

Special connections might offer advantages during promotions and hiring, but they wouldn't allow unchecked arrogance within the hospital.

"Director Peng, is your idea that I should specialize in hand surgery and seize chances to overtake them?" Peng Kun asked Peng Haibo.

"Otherwise, if you follow trauma, sports medicine, spine routes, can you really bypass those few?"

"How many lead surgeon opportunities can I offer you? Privately assigning such chances, any slight error and they can cause trouble..." said Peng Haibo.

"When they're in the way and more skilled than you, you can't bypass them."

"So, you must take a path others can't, leveraging your learning ability, maneuver ahead, making hand surgery a routine orthopedic procedure, so when you become a director, others won't object."

"In our county hospital, whether it's leadership or higher authorities, they prefer seeing business expansion, otherwise you could hide away in a Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital with skills and be quite relaxed." Peng Haibo analyzed meticulously.

"My arrangement for you is to follow Professor Tong Haibo closely, do whatever he does, follow his instructions..."

"When you were pursuing your master's, Xiangya Second Hospital couldn't provide a specialized path from entry to growth, but Professor Tong Haibo's countryside visit could."

Peng Kun was a special master's student, but Xiangya Second Hospital's sports medicine cases wouldn't change for him. The surgeries were too advanced, too complex, he could only gain insights, hone skills, and understand the routine treatments of rare diseases...

To perform those complex surgeries like rotator cuff repair or large rotator cuffs, even State People's Hospital's sports medicine director wouldn't confidently operate.

Peng Kun lowered his head: "That's all I can do."

He knew that the reason he could be arranged by his father to follow Tong Yuan'an constantly, without objection from other seniors, was fundamentally due to his learning capability and qualifications.

Qualifications are certainly useful, providing opportunities and a stepping stone, but whether these can correct the fundamental issue depends on personal fate.

If fate isn't enough, qualifications are useless.

...

August 1st, 8:20 AM, Long County People's Hospital Emergency Department Comprehensive Ward Surgical Team.

Lin Qianlong clapped his hands, announcing: "It's the beginning of the month, so let's have a uniform shift handover."

"Here, I'm announcing two things, the first being the schedule changes."

"I still feel last month's schedule wasn't very scientific, so this month, cancel all of Lu Cheng's shifts, changing to follow-shifts and second-line shifts."

"Others will rotate ward duty, outpatient duty, and surgery standby."

"What is Lu Cheng's follow-shift? It means Lu Cheng will always follow Professor Chen Song, who will decide which surgeries Lu Cheng will assist or rest, adhering to alternate day duties to ensure Professor Chen Song's rest time..."

"What's Lu Cheng's second-line shift? It's where Lu Cheng can be the lead surgeon for certain surgeries, such as appendectomy, gallbladder removal, tendon repair, and is on standby 24 hours."

"He may need to operate anytime, these shifts are parallel."

"Zeng Huanqi, Zhang Tiesheng, Han Xiaoping, do you guys have any objections?" Lin Qianlong looked at them.

Zhang Tiesheng beamed as if photoshopped, very approachable: "Director Lin, Xiao Lu is working so hard, adding ordinary shifts would be inconsiderate."

"If Xiao Lu were in a company, he'd be called a sales champion!"

Zeng Huanqi, well-built and heavyset, with striking white teeth against dark skin, also spoke wisely: "Director Lin, can I suggest something?"

"I feel if Xiao Lu is on call 24/7 for all routine cases, it's too taxing, so for smaller cases like appendicitis, gallbladder stones, let me and Zeng Huanqi handle them."

"For tendon injuries and splenectomy, assign them to Xiao Lu."

"After all, Xiao Lu is solely responsible for upper limb tendon injury surgeries and learning other operations with Professor Chen; being too exhausted could affect efficiency."

Lin Qianlong nodded lightly, looking at Lu Cheng: "Xiao Lu, can you really handle all upper limb tendons? This seems different from the information you gave us earlier."

Facing everyone's gaze, Lu Cheng didn't falter: "Director Lin, I will always consult Professor Chen and Orthopedics Professor Tong for confirmation; if they say I can handle it, I will. Currently, Professor Tong has already endorsed this."

"For tendon repair in Ward Two, I haven't done it yet, but it should be fine, as long as the key parts are clarified with the patient's family and let them choose."

Claiming he can handle all cases felt reassuring.

Since Tong Yuan'an has acknowledged this, Lin Qianlong naturally wouldn't doubt, suppressing his inner surprise while encouraging: "Do well!"

"A top student is truly a top student, everything becomes tangible."

Lin Qianlong chuckled and clapped again:

"Alright, the handover ends here, everyone to their positions..."

Lin Qianlong finished speaking, saw Chen Song, and immediately approached with a flattering grin, squinting: "Professor Chen, didn't you say you're off today?"

"Yes, I'm resting, but coincidentally Tong Yuan'an came to work, so I thought I'd come by..."