Chapter Nineteen: I'm Sorry, I Did My Best

The weather was growing colder, and the streets were filled with the festive atmosphere of the New Year. The heating in the department was so warm it made people restless. Since Director Gao left, Yang Chengming hadn’t made any more mistakes; reality had forced him to mature. He and Li Liang had also begun taking solo shifts. Although they both managed the patients, the distribution of medicine was still controlled by Old Chen, who never gave them any portions. Old Chen shared some with Zhang Fan, who couldn’t refuse. This was the way things were in the big picture; he couldn’t resist, nor did he want to. Who wouldn’t want extra money?

The house rented by the county committee was lively today—it was Wang Sha’s birthday. She and Li Hui had been in a cold war for some time, but after Li Hui signed many unequal agreements, Wang Sha temporarily forgave him. The dormitory had a kitchen, and to please Wang Sha, Li Hui planned to celebrate her birthday there. Zhang Fan had been invited early on. After treating Kang Hua, Zhang Fan hurried to the dormitory.

Upon entering, Zhang Fan saw that everyone except Chen Lulu, who worked at the hospital office, was helping in the kitchen. Zhang Fan couldn't come empty-handed to a birthday celebration. Now that he had a bit more money, he bought a bottle of red wine. Just as he stepped in, Chen Lulu arrived as well.

“You two arrived one after the other. Were you up to something?” Li Hui peeked out from the kitchen. Before Zhang Fan could respond, Chen Lulu, changing her shoes, said, “We went on a date. Need to report to you? Zhang Fan, can you grab my bag? I’m not free.”

Everyone, including Zhang Fan, was a bit surprised. Although Chen Lulu got along with everyone, she carried an air of arrogance. She hardly spoke and often looked down on people like Zhang Fan. Her family was well-off, with relatives holding leadership positions in the county. She went straight to the hospital office after starting work, which justified her haughty demeanor.

“What’s going on?” Li Hui asked in surprise.

“Better get cooking; everyone’s here,” Wang Sha nudged him and whispered, “Does it concern you?”

Actually, when Zhang Fan parked earlier, Chen Lulu had seen him. She wanted to greet him but held back, thinking, “Rich second-generation? Or a wealthy heir with some unusual obsession!” That was her judgment of Zhang Fan. She knew the price of his domineering car—her uncle had one just like it. A wealthy heir came all the way to a remote county in a frontier province to be a junior doctor, dressing like a laborer. Either he was sick or had some strange quirks! But considering his background, she didn’t mind having something going on with Zhang Fan.

Li Hui was skilled at courting women and was good at cooking. The dishes looked and tasted quite good. After singing the birthday song and blowing out the candles, the atmosphere was lively among the young people. He even brought a CD player so they could sing in the dormitory—he was thoughtful indeed. Just as everyone was urging Zhang Fan to sing, the phone rang. “It’s the director.” Hearing this, Li Hui immediately turned off the TV.

“Hurry to the emergency department—a critical patient. Quick!” Batu said before hanging up.

Being a doctor meant being on call at all times, always ready. Zhang Fan didn’t hesitate; he put on his coat and rushed downstairs. Seeing him leave in such a hurry, everyone lost their mood for singing. “I wonder what happened now.” Compared to Li Hui, the hospital never called him after hours to handle emergencies.

“Who exactly is Zhang Fan? The director seems to care a lot about him,” Chen Lulu asked, her curiosity piqued.

Li Hui sighed, looking at everyone. “We all came from Su Province, ordinary university graduates with no connections. In just a few months, Zhang Fan has already made a name for himself. His skills are top-notch; now orthopedics is basically under his command. The director’s nephew almost died, but Zhang Fan performed the surgery. He’s humble and never brags. He’s someone special.” Having arrived together, Zhang Fan had already surpassed them all; sometimes, Li Hui felt amazed.

Chen Lulu pondered to herself, “Really?” Zhang Fan had utterly captivated her curiosity.

After parking, Zhang Fan rushed to the emergency department. The corridor was crowded with police officers. Despite the numbers, it was eerily quiet, and the atmosphere felt heavy. “Zhang Fan, quickly check the scans. One of our county’s policemen was hit by a criminal’s car,” Batu said, standing at the ward entrance with some officials. The heads of internal and external medicine were already working on the patient.

“How is he?” Batu asked Zhang Fan, who didn’t reply immediately.

“I’ll check the patient first.” Zhang Fan grabbed an emergency coat and went inside.

“There’s a heartbeat now, but it’s unstable—he had none when he arrived. Severe hemorrhagic shock,” the cardiology chief said upon seeing Zhang Fan.

Zhang Fan quickly examined the patient and exchanged a glance with Shi Lei, who shook his head slightly. Zhang Fan grit his teeth and stepped outside. “The pelvis is shattered with massive bleeding. The bleeding is ongoing, and I’m not confident.” The bones were badly broken, and the patient had been transported over twenty kilometers, missing the golden hour.

“We have to save him. He’s our hero. Our county government will fully support you,” the officials urged.

“This is a high-ranking county official. Can he be saved without surgery?” Batu introduced.

“No chance without surgery, and even with surgery, it’s not guaranteed.”

“What are the odds?” the secretary asked.

“Ten percent,” Zhang Fan answered.

“Has the city hospital doctor arrived? Police cars should escort him with sirens on. Hurry!” The secretary barked at his subordinates, clearly disappointed with the county hospital’s doctors.

“Secretary, the phone from Senior Director Gao of the city hospital.” Taking the call, a few words were exchanged before ending. Turning to Batu, he said, “Which one is Zhang Fan? Director Gao recommended him. He’s already on the way. Zhang Fan’s decision is final.” Gao Shijun had great confidence in Zhang Fan. If Zhang Fan couldn’t handle the surgery, no one could.

“I’m the one. Multiple organ failures have begun; the chances are slim.”

“Do it. Slim chances are better than none. Absolutely, absolutely,” the voice cut off as the hand waved, urging them to prepare for surgery.

“Director, the heartbeat is gone!” the internal medicine chief shouted.

Zhang Fan rushed into the emergency room. “Prepare for defibrillation. Director Zhang, adrenaline, administer directly.” While performing chest compressions, he gave orders.

“It’s very weak. At this stage, the heart might stop once on the table,” the internal medicine chief worried.

“No surgery means death; surgery means hope. Proceed!”

In the operating room, “Blood pressure unmeasurable, heart rate 20!” Ma Lihua said, watching the ECG. She was under immense pressure—just the crowd of black-clad police outside the OR made her feel suffocated, let alone the patient was a hero.

“Start anesthesia! Wash hands.” Zhang Fan gritted his teeth. Gao Shijun arrived, quickly sterilized, and joined the operation. “Find the bleeding point quickly and stop it. Increase fluids and double the vasopressors.” The left pelvis was severely shattered, making the surgery extremely difficult. Sweat streamed down their faces like small rivers, and the circulating nurse struggled to keep up. “Heartbeat lost.”

“Adrenaline!”

“No use. It’s the maximum dose. Nothing more can be done.”

Chatu Township in Quark County had a gold mine, and the surrounding economy was quite prosperous. Along with it came vice—gambling, drugs, and prostitution. The county public security bureau had been tracking a drug trafficking gang for some time. Today was the day to close in. The criminals were armed with guns and homemade explosives. They drove recklessly, attempting to break through. Just as they nearly succeeded, the policeman lying on the operating table had rammed his patrol car into them. The criminals’ vehicles were modified, both sides moving fast. The thin-skinned police car blocked the way, but he was severely injured.

Zhang Fan gently covered him with a white sheet, his trembling hands whispering, “I’m sorry. I did my best.” Tears fell. “Charge! It’s like he heard the hero’s final battle cry!”