Chapter 106: Using a Borrowed Knife to Kill
Dean Gou paused in his steps.
When he turned around and saw Zhou Hairong's face, his expression darkened, revealing a hint of impatience and confusion.
How did this woman arrive at such a perfect time?
Did someone tell her?
That's impossible; only people at their hospital know about this...
In the few seconds of hesitation, Zhou Hairong had already walked up to him.
"Director Zhou, didn't we agree on the division of tasks this morning?"
"You'll be in charge of developing treatment plans for the younger comrades; Ning Tang can handle the consultations."
Zhou Hairong pretended not to understand the refusal in the dean's words.
He strode up to the two of them, a stiff, fake smile plastered on his face.
"What the dean said is true. We need to understand the patient's condition before we can prepare a treatment plan. What if I write it based on old experience and it doesn't match the patient's actual situation? Wouldn't that delay things?"
As Zhou Hairong spoke, he paused, glancing at Ning Tang with particular interest.
She added with a grin, "Besides, Ning Tang is young and inexperienced. I'm here to help and keep an eye on things. It's all for the patient's good, right, Dean?"
These words, ostensibly for the greater good, were actually a dig at Ning Tang's lack of experience.
Anyone standing here now who is unaware of the situation would not be swayed by Zhou Hairong's words.
Subconsciously, I felt that Ning Tang was not up to the task, which greatly diminished my impression of her.
Ning Tang's lips curled into a cold smile.
She didn't say anything.
In any case, the final decision can only be made by Dean Gou.
Even if she and Zhou Hairong argue fiercely here, it won't affect any decisions.
Dean Gou had a somber, aged face.
Just as he was about to retort, the ward door opened from the inside.
A nurse in a white coat poked her head out and asked urgently, "Are you doctors here for a consultation?"
"The patient's family is already urging you to come in. Please come in quickly."
As she spoke, the nurse stepped aside to make way for the entrance into the room.
Zhou Hairong reacted quickly and immediately rushed ahead.
She replied, "Coming, coming, I'll go in now."
He then walked into the ward.
He even turned back to Ning Tang and raised his chin, as if to show off that he had gained the upper hand.
The person has already gone inside.
If we bring her out now, it will cause a mess.
Dean Gou was at a loss and could only glare angrily at Zhou Hairong's back, which seemed to want to fly away.
He lowered his voice to Ning Tang: "Ignore her."
"Ask whatever you want. With me here, she can't cause any trouble."
Ning Tang nodded and followed him into the ward.
The ward was quiet.
It was dark all around because the curtains were not drawn.
A middle-aged man lay on the hospital bed by the window, his face pale.
A well-dressed woman, presumably a family member, sat next to him.
Upon seeing someone enter, the woman immediately stood up.
Their gazes first fell on Dean Gou, who was at the front.
Then his gaze swept over Zhou Hairong and Ning Tang.
He frowned slightly, his expression very critical.
They clearly hadn't expected so many people to come, especially seeing how young Ning Tang was.
Zhou Hairong was quite perceptive; as soon as he entered, he smiled and stepped forward to introduce himself.
"Hello, I am Zhou Hairong, the director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of the Military Region, and the doctor in charge of your spouse this time."
"This is our Dean Gou, and this is Dr. Ning next to him, assisting with the consultation."
Zhou Hairong deliberately emphasized the word "assistance".
He even moved closer to Ning Tang, using his body to block half of hers.
It's as if they're wary of something.
Ning Tang didn't pay attention to these little actions.
When she first came in, her attention was focused on the patient.
First, observe the other person's complexion, breathing rhythm, and the color of their lips.
I found a ceramic cup and a lunchbox on the bedside table.
He didn't move at all; it seems the patient probably has no appetite.
Moreover, the room was very dark, with not a single ray of sunlight shining in.
Ning Tang was certain that this person had psychological problems.
At this moment, Dean Gou cleared his throat and shoved Zhou Hairong aside.
"Hello family member, let us first understand the patient's condition."
"Besides chest tightness, shortness of breath, and pain near the surgical wounds on both legs, have you experienced any other discomfort lately?"
Just as the woman was about to speak, Zhou Hairong interrupted again.
She circled the hospital bed several times, jumping around like a clown.
The man in the hospital bed was already on the verge of collapse due to the pain from his wounds.
Seeing Zhou Hairong made him furious.
Staring with a pair of terrifying, scarlet eyes, he couldn't help but roar, "Get out!"
Zhou Hairong was startled by the sudden roar.
The fake smile on her face vanished instantly, and she subconsciously took a few steps back, almost bumping into the IV stand behind her.
The atmosphere in the ward was somewhat awkward.
Even the nurse standing at the back froze in place. Thinking about how the patients had become irritable at the drop of a hat lately, she subconsciously moved closer to the door.
She was the first to run out as soon as they started to act.
Dean Gou's face darkened further, and he glared at Zhou Hairong as if he wanted to tear a piece of flesh from her body.
If she hadn't been wandering around and interrupting, the patient wouldn't have lost control of his emotions!
He quickly stepped forward and said to the man on the bed:
"Comrade, don't get agitated. We're here to help you check the situation."
"Speak slowly and calmly; getting emotional is not good for wound healing."
The woman quickly grabbed the man's arm, her face beaming with affection.
She gently comforted him, "Yes, don't be angry. The doctor is only doing this for your own good."
Once the man's breathing calmed down a bit.
The woman turned to look at Dean Gou, her tone carrying some apology, but mostly dissatisfaction.
"I'm so sorry, his wound has been hurting a lot these past two days, and he's become quite irritable. Please don't take it to heart."
Zhou Hairong finally came to her senses, her face flushing red and then turning pale.
In all her years of life, when has she ever been yelled at to get out by a patient in public?
He completely lost face, especially in front of Ning Tang!
Zhou Hairong wanted to explain further, but seeing the man's still bloodshot eyes, she swallowed her words.
This person is like a rabid dog; what if they suddenly jump up and bite you?
Zhou Hairong quickly stood aside and stopped talking.
Let Ning Tang go instead.
That man is so fierce, she'll probably get yelled at too.
Just thinking about this possibility made Zhou Hairong immediately happy; it was like a petty person getting their way.
Ning Tang quickly stepped forward.
Her gaze fell on the man's legs, which were wrapped in gauze.
The voice was gentle, without a hint of interrogation: "When your wound hurts, is it a stinging pain or a throbbing pain?"
Is the pain worse at night or during the day?
Perhaps it was Ning Tang's gentle tone, or perhaps it was because Zhou Hairong's gaze was too piercing.
The man took a deep breath and actually answered.
He said, "It's okay during the day, but it hurts when I lie down at night. It feels like there are needles inside, and it's difficult to even turn over."
"So, are you able to sleep at night?" Ning Tang continued to ask.
At the same time, it was noted that the man's wound had clearly scabbed over, so it was unlikely that he was in as much pain as he claimed.
It's very likely that it was caused by psychological factors.
But that's only part of the reason; the bigger reason might be just as she had guessed before.
The bullet grazed the sciatic nerve. Although the shrapnel was removed during surgery, the local blood circulation was definitely affected.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that pain arises from obstruction.
When blood and qi are blocked in the joints and meridians, it is necessary to clear the blockages from the root and nourish the meridians.
"How can I fall asleep!"
"I can only doze off for half an hour at most before waking up in pain, and I can wake up more than ten times a night."
The woman noticed that Ning Tang was different from other doctors, perhaps because her husband had spoken to her properly for the first time.
The way she looks at Ning Tang now is like she's seen hope.
"I have no appetite. The rice porridge from yesterday is still sitting next to me. I've become so thin."
As she spoke, the woman pointed to the untouched lunchbox.
Ning Tang nodded, feeling somewhat more confident.
Her gaze fell on the tightly closed curtains again, and she lowered her voice even further.
She's from the South, and she usually speaks in a soft, gentle voice.
Now they deliberately soften their tone, so that it sounds like singing to others, and they don't feel any resistance.
Ning Tang asked, "Do you not really want to see the light?"
"Does drawing the curtains make the room darker and make me feel more at ease?"
These words seemed to strike a chord with the man.
He paused for a moment, then lowered his head and hummed in agreement.
The woman chimed in, "Yes, he said he gets irritated whenever he sees the sun, and he hasn't opened the curtains since he was hospitalized."
Dean Gou listened from the side and got a sense of what was going on.
This is not just a problem of wound pain.
The patient must have been holding back anger, and the post-operative anxiety amplified the pain.
He was about to speak when Zhou Hairong couldn't hold back any longer.
He stepped forward and immediately began showing off his knowledge:
"I understand. This is a blockage of qi and blood. We need to use safflower to clear the blockage and add jujube seed to calm the mind!"
When speaking, Zhou Hairong deliberately spoke loudly, trying to make the people in the room think he was more reliable.
But no one even glanced at her.
The man glanced at Zhou Hairong, feeling annoyed, and frowned.
Ning Tang ignored him and continued to say to the man, "Try taking some deep breaths."
"Inhale slowly for three seconds, then exhale slowly for three seconds. Do this a few more times when it hurts, and it can slightly relieve the discomfort in your body."
This was something she had seen on her social media before.
I've never had the chance to experiment before, but now I finally have one.
The man hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, but looking into Ning Tang's sincere eyes, he actually did as she said.
After a few rounds of breathing, his complexion improved considerably.
He was somewhat surprised: "It seems... it really doesn't hurt as much anymore."
The woman was both surprised and delighted: "Really? Then keep doing it this way whenever it hurts!"
Seeing this, Ning Tang also relaxed, a faint smile always on her lips.
Dean Gou was overjoyed.
Their hospital has produced a real gem.
Unexpectedly, Ning Tang could tell what was wrong with other people's difficult and complicated illnesses just by taking a few glances at them.
Dean Gou couldn't help but praise the man, saying, "Oh my, our Dr. Ning is really amazing."
"She is very skilled in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at our hospital; most people are not at her level."
These words made Zhou Hairong's face darken even more.
It's as black as the bottom of a pot.
This made her even more dissatisfied with Ning Tang.
The following consultation will be much more convenient.
The man was truly capable when he saw Ning Tang; he cooperated fully throughout and even took the initiative to explain why he was feeling down.
Seeing her husband finally open up, his wife's eyes quietly reddened.
Even the way he looked at Ning Tang and Dean Gou showed a growing fondness for them.
Only Zhou Hairong.
No one in the room paid any attention to her, and she looked very embarrassed.
*
Two hours later.
The consultation has ended.
Dean Gou led Ning Tang away first.
Zhou Hairong followed behind, feeling resentful, as if he had been abandoned.
I ran into Pei Yanning on the way.
Pei Yanning, seemingly oblivious to the situation, immediately caught up and asked.
The implication was that Zhou Hairong was asking when he could make Ning Tang lose face completely.
Zhou Hairong was already angry because Ning Tang had stolen the limelight earlier, and now Pei Yanning was buzzing around his ear like a fly.
She exploded on the spot and vented all her anger on Pei Yanning.
Zhou Hairong couldn't help but sneer, "Instead of wasting time asking me questions, you might as well deal with Ning Tang yourself."
"What, aren't you afraid of Ning Tang? Don't you dare?"
Pei Yanning was genuinely frightened after being bullied by Ning Tang and Wang Yingying last night.
But in front of Zhou Hairong, she stiffened her neck and feigned disdain, saying:
"Me? Afraid of her?"
"I'm just too lazy to bother with her. If it really came down to a fight, she wouldn't stand a chance against me."
Zhou Hairong sneered.
He looked Pei Yanning up and down several times, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Too lazy to bother? I think you're just not capable enough."
"Yesterday I tried to find Ning Tang, but in the end I was targeted by her and Wang Yingying. I didn't even dare to say a word in my defense. Now I'm trying to act tough in front of me."
The moment the words fell.
Pei Yanning's face flushed red, her eyes wide with disbelief that Zhou Hairong actually knew about this.
She retorted, "I wasn't on guard!"
"If I had known they would pull such tricks, I would never have let them succeed."
"Really?" Zhou Hairong raised an eyebrow. "That's perfect. Ning Tang is riding high right now, and Dean Gou is protecting her. If you're really capable, go and cause her some trouble."
Pei Yanning's heart skipped a beat.
She wouldn't dare to mess with the powerful now.
Anyone with eyes can see that Ning Tang is now the darling of several leaders. If she goes there to cause trouble, isn't she just digging a hole for herself?
But what I just said was too forceful, and it's already out of my mouth. It would be too embarrassing if I didn't agree.
Pei Yanning could only nod reluctantly, "I know! It's just a small matter, I can definitely handle it. Just watch the show!"
Seeing that she had taken the bait, a calculating glint flashed in Zhou Hairong's eyes.
Without saying anything more, he chuckled a few times and strode away.
Pei Yanning was left standing there alone, her back drenched in cold sweat.
Her expression immediately changed.
Bah, Zhou Hairong isn't a good person either!
She hated Ning Tang for not doing it herself and instead making her do it!
Pei Yanning wasn't stupid. She agreed first, and then kept quiet until the time came, since Ning Tang wasn't in the same hospital as her anyway.
Zhou Hairong was afraid that Ning Tang would become too successful and take away her position as director, so she wanted to use someone else to do her dirty work.
After pondering it over, Pei Yanning skipped away again.
On the other side.
After Ning Tang and Dean Gou parted ways halfway, she didn't eat much in the morning and is now suddenly hungry.
Thinking I'd just grab something to eat at the hospital cafeteria, I got to the first floor and saw a crowd gathered not far away.
A woman was lying on the ground in the crowd, seemingly injured, and was shouting loudly.
Ning Tang frowned and suddenly stopped.
That voice sounds so familiar...
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