Surgery Godfather

Chapter 459: Chapter 420: Rain is Coming Chapter 459: Chapter 420: Rain is Coming Early in the morning, Yang Ping rushed to the department, feeling uneasy after not being back for a week.

Returning to the department, the familiar sense of security was quite comforting.

After the shift was over, Song Zimo reported the recent events of the week in the department, then Yang Ping led everyone on a round of patient rounds.

There were a lot of new interns in the department now, so the rounds were much larger than they used to be.

After the rounds, Director Han called to ask Yang Ping to go to Dean Xia’s office for a chat over tea.

When Yang Ping arrived at the dean’s office, Director Han was already waiting there.

“Yang, sit down!”

Dean Xia was pouring a few pills into his mouth and drinking some water. He gestured for Yang Ping to sit down.

Once Dean Xia had swallowed the water, he said, “Yang, Director Han and I have been discussing this. We’re thinking of upgrading your department to the Comprehensive Surgery Department. This will broaden the spectrum of patients you can treat. I’ll give you all eight floors for this purpose. If you need personnel, funds, or equipment, just say the word!”

Yang Ping was an orthopedic doctor. If his department was to become a comprehensive surgical department, it would mean breaking the limits of specialization, which was actually quite advantageous as many diseases crossed the bounds of their respective specialties. For example, Old Feng’s upper cervical spine tumor had grown upwards and invaded the medulla oblongata. Typically, this would require cooperation from the departments of Spine Surgery and Neurosurgery.

In major tertiary hospitals, such comprehensive surgery departments are probably a first. Even if small county hospitals have distinct specializations, major tertiary hospitals would typically not have such a comprehensive department.

Dean Xia was not going backward with this idea; he was looking at Yang Ping’s recent progress, and he had thoughtfully decided to establish this comprehensive surgery department for him.

Yang Ping, together with Song Zimo, had been pioneering compound trauma surgery, performing several high-difficulty surgeries. The most outstanding one was the emergency surgery for Shuilian—the ‘half-woman’. Both the emergency surgery and the subsequent restoration and reconstruction surgeries were top-notch worldwide.

Dean Xia and Director Han predicted that Yang Ping should not be confined to ordinary surgery in the future; it would be a waste of talent. Rather, he should focus on difficult medical areas such as tumors, transplants, reconstruction, and orthopedic deformities, many of which involved multiple departments.

Without a true interdisciplinary platform, it would be difficult for Yang Ping to fully utilize his talents.

This arrangement perfectly aligns with Yang Ping’s views. Specialization and non-specialization are relative concepts. For ordinary people, specialization is necessary, while for Yang Ping, interdisciplinary development is necessary to conquer difficult medical problems.

Yang Ping’s current research on stem cell muscle cultivation, once successful, will expand to the cultivation of hearts, livers, and kidneys with stem cells, which cannot be solved by orthopedics alone.

In short, this comprehensive surgery department will allow Yang Ping’s future research on the human body to be unrestricted and unrestricted by ethical and legal concerns.

“The leadership has considered this thoroughly. I will definitely fulfill this mission,” Yang Ping responded feeling relieved.

“Also, about the title, we’re helping you get promoted to Associate Senior Specialist. It will take some time, but for now, the hospital has appointed you as Associate Chief Physician,” Director Han added.

Yang Ping had recently become a resident physician. Now, the hospital had appointed him as Associate Chief Physician. This was an exceptional talent-utilizing method.

“Yang, feel free to operate. Your Comprehensive Surgery Department is like a microcosm of the hospital–independent in regards to finances, personnel, and supplies. For example, you have full independence in orthopedic consumables procurement,” Dean Xia said confidently.

“Also, we have applied for the research fund. Let’s show it to Yang,” Director Han added.

It felt like both of them wanted to announce all the good news at once.

“Here’s two million in research funds to start with. Kick off your research project, and I’ll source more in the future.”

Two million was substantial for any research project. Although it was a mere drop in the bucket for Yang Ping’s research project, it was what Dean Xia had managed to source after substantial effort. Dean Xia knew it wasn’t enough. He understood that resolving part of the problem was still progress. The hospital would resolve a part of the issue, and he would find some external funding to make do for the time being. Gathering the total research funding worth twenty million wouldn’t be tough.

“You should thank Dean Xia. He has put in a lot of effort for your research project, to the point of nearly being admitted to the Gastroenterology Department,” Director Han understood the challenges involved.

Dean Xia waved his hand dismissively, “You were equally concerned. There’s no need for thanks. We’re simply offering our services to Yang Ping. Although the money is less, there’s no rush. Let’s get the project started first while I try to figure out a way to get more financial support from the hospital. I’ll also try to secure some donations. You just concentrate on your research, and I’ll handle the money.”

Yang Ping looked at his research proposal, which had been approved by the country. The two million in funds represented the hard work of Dean Xia and Director Han.

With gratitude, Yang Ping said, “Thank you, Dean Xia. Thank you, Director Han. This funding is like a lifeline. When I was in the United States, I earned some money from surgeries and patent sales. The funds should suffice for my research project for now.”

Dean Xia objected, saying, “Your money is yours. Regardless of the amount, it’s for your personal use! How could it be used for the research project? Moreover, young people like you are at an age where they need money.”

Director Han agreed with Dean Xia’s opinion. It was improbable for Yang Ping to fund his research project.

“I managed to generate a considerable amount of funds during the trip. Even after buying a big house, I’ll have plenty left over. Money is just a number. If it is used for research, it’s a beneficial thing,” Yang Ping tried to explain to his superiors how he felt guilty watching them worry about funding.

Director Han noticed Yang Ping’s expressions and chuckled silently. The young lad hadn’t been whipped by society yet. “How much did you manage to generate? Hundreds of thousands? Millions? Buying a house wouldn’t leave much.”

Dean Xia spoke earnestly, “Xiao Yang, you should save your earnings to buy a house. Settling down is a major expense. You have saved some money now, and the hospital will give you a housing allowance. Hurry up and buy a house, get married, and you can focus properly on your career. The price of houses around the hospital rises year by year. If you hesitate, you will lose out. As for us old folks, we can still grind our bones. Don’t worry about us. What’s this amount of money? Ask Director Han. When Sanbo was established, there were more headache-causing issues than this. With a single slap of my hand, there isn’t a problem Old Xia couldn’t solve.”

Facing the two adorable middle-aged men, Yang Ping didn’t know what to say, how to respond?

“The funds I’ve raised this time are considerable and should be enough for the initial investment in this project.” Yang Ping had to reveal his financial situation.

Dean Xia and Director Han exchanged glances. Did this child have no concept of money? Did he think that a hundred or so million would be enough for this major project?

“Let me tell you, Xiao Yang, all your money would be used up just buying a single house,” Director Han reminded him.

Yang Ping said, “You must be talking about Thomson One in Shanghai. A single unit there could wipe out my savings. But for property near the hospital, it’s a drop in the bucket.”

Director Han and Dean Xia both looked surprised, “What did you say?”

“How much did I raise this time?” Yang Ping made a gesture with his fingers. It looked like the number eight.

Director Han showed a surprised expression, “Eight hundred thousand?”

Dean Xia shook his head, gathering courage,”Eight million?”

Yang Ping shook his head:
“Eighty million, in US Dollars!”

Oh my God!

Dean Xia’s jaw almost dropped, and Director Han leaned back on the sofa.

The poor kid’s been driving himself crazy, talking nonsense. Eighty million dollars, that’s a few hundred million RMB.

No wonder he’s like this. They were once in his shoes. When applying for national natural science research for the first time, they spent nights writing proposals, revising them over and over again. After the proposals were submitted, all they could do was wait anxiously for them to be approved. Just applying for one research topic could turn half your hair white.

Fearing for the funding of this project, the child thinks about it day and night. Plus with the exhaustion from the trip abroad, it’s no wonder he might be delirious.

Such a precious talent. God forbid anything happens. They’ve put too much pressure on him. This child is not even thirty and has so much to bear.

“Old Han, we can discuss this matter later. You should take Xiao Yang for a break. Let him and Xiao Su have a week off to relax nearby.” Dean Xia kept signalling with his eyes.

Old Han got the message, and immediately took Yang Ping. “Xiao Yang, we’ll talk about money later. Let’s have some tea first. Then we’ll give you and Xiao Su a week off, how does that sound?”

What’s wrong with these two today? They are behaving strangely.

“Dean Xia, Director Han–”
Director Han took Yang Ping and left.

Watching Yang Ping leave, Dean Xia felt sorry. The platform of Sanbo was perhaps not big enough.

Dean Xia couldn’t help but feel a bit desolate. He had done his best. As long as Xiao Yang remained in Sanbo, he would provide him with the best conditions.

The hospital had received notification that Yang Ping had just won the Golden Knife Award for assisting NASA in a successful astronaut rescue in the United States. Superior instructions were to transfer Yang Ping and his team to 301 in Beijing. The local health supervisor would join Dean Xia to do Yang Ping’s ideological work in advance. Soon, the 301 team will come to Sanbo to talk to Yang Ping face to face.

The offer was very generous: corresponding doctorates to military ranks, position as department director, tens of millions in research funding, a hefty housing allowance, settling employment for partners. The key was to dig out a whole team, not only to bring Yang Ping into Beijing, but also to invite him into the Medical Care Group.

Yang Ping’s recent surgery in the United States was kept quiet in domestic media, per the leaders’ suggestion. Protecting talented young people, since online public opinion has great influence now. It easily elevates someone but it could also easily destroy someone.

The leader’s consideration was justified. Once famous, one tends to attract attention. For a genius like Yang Ping, who could defy convention, exposure to the media could easily make him a target for malicious media.

Desire to retain him wouldn’t be of much use, Dean Xia thought as he walked to the window and looked down. Since Sanbo’s establishment, he had worked tirelessly, digging up talent everywhere. He had paid numerous visits to the humble thatched cottages of others.

Dean Xia still acknowledges his ambitious but mediocre ability. The hospital has not achieved his goal. Just when he was about to take a step closer to his dream, they want to dig out Yang Ping and his whole team. This would mean taking away his core technology, it would be like taking the firewood from under the pot.

When it rains, it pours!

Nobody could stop these things from happening. Maybe going to a better platform would allow Xiao Yang to truly demonstrate his talents.

Still, it caused Dean Xia heartache in waves.