Chapter 14: The Emergency Department Just Can’t Measure Up

Lin Nan’s words immediately captured everyone’s attention.

“What did you say?” Bai Yunxiao asked in surprise. “No surgery needed?”

“Yes,” Lin Nan nodded. “Surgery is truly unnecessary.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Zifeng’s previously gloomy face suddenly brightened with joy, almost ecstatic. If the ping pong balls inside his body could be removed without surgery, that would be more than ideal.

“Doctor, are you serious? I really don’t have to undergo surgery?” Ji Zifeng asked with trembling excitement, barely able to believe it.

“Absolutely,” Lin Nan smiled.

Cai Heping frowned slightly, his mind racing to find a method to remove the ping pong balls without surgery. But after thinking it through, he couldn’t come up with any solution and shook his head silently.

Li Qin was also stunned, his face full of astonishment. Lin Nan really had a knack for making bold claims.

The young doctor raised an eyebrow and said, “We are specialists in colorectal medicine. Director Cai is an associate chief physician, and I’m an attending physician. Our diagnosis—are we really less qualified than you, an emergency department resident?”

Though his tone was calm, his words dripped with disdain for the emergency department doctors. Despite Lin Nan’s outstanding performance during the recent emergency rescue, he still regarded emergency doctors as inferior, only capable of handling simple first aid. Experts like them in specialized departments were the true pillars of medical care.

Li Qin looked at him with displeasure. This guy clearly looked down on the emergency residents.

Bai Yunxiao’s face also darkened at the other’s disdain for the emergency department, but out of respect for Cai Heping, he held back his anger.

Lin Nan said calmly, “I’m just stating the facts. This patient really doesn’t need surgery.”

“Both of our associate chief physicians present insist surgery is necessary. And now you say it’s not? Are you questioning their diagnosis?” Wu Wenxuan asked leisurely.

“I’m not questioning it. Surgery would indeed solve the problem, but it’s not the best treatment,” Lin Nan shook his head.

“If there’s a way to solve it without surgery, why not use it?”

“You must understand the side effects of surgery. Out of responsibility to the patient, we avoid surgery whenever possible,” Bai Yunxiao said.

“Lin Nan, on what basis do you say that?” Cai Heping looked at Lin Nan, wanting to hear his rationale.

“Well then, I’m all ears. Let’s hear your brilliant idea,” Wu Wenxuan smirked, pulling at his ear with a skeptical look. He’d watched Lin Nan’s performance during the gas explosion rescue and assumed Lin Nan might have some skill in thoracic surgery, but colorectal medicine was a completely different field. Could this kid possibly be more professional than them here?

He didn’t believe it.

So he thought Lin Nan was just putting on a show without real knowledge.

Lin Nan shook his head. “There’s nothing more to say.”

Bai Yunxiao was momentarily taken aback, clearly not expecting Lin Nan’s terse response.

Wu Wenxuan, however, was not surprised and a cold smile flickered across his face. He was convinced Lin Nan couldn’t provide a solid explanation.

Lin Nan then said, “No need to talk. Let’s proceed directly.”

“Proceed directly? How?” Cai Heping frowned. He couldn’t imagine any method other than surgery to remove the ping pong balls inside the patient.

“Director Cai, you don’t really think he has a way, do you?” Wu Wenxuan sneered.

Ji Zifeng looked at Lin Nan with a mix of excitement and nervousness. “Doctor, whatever you decide, I’ll fully cooperate.”

As long as it meant avoiding surgery, he would accept any procedure.

Lin Nan smiled and nodded, then turned to Li Qin. “I need your help.”

“What can I do?” Li Qin looked puzzled.

Lin Nan smiled mysteriously, then whispered something into Li Qin’s ear.

After hearing it, Li Qin’s eyes widened in shock. This was unexpected. How did Lin Nan come up with such an idea?

He quickly put on medical gloves, stepped in front of Ji Zifeng, and pressed upward on the lower abdomen.

“Ah—” Ji Zifeng suddenly felt an indescribable pain and cried out, his face contorted in agony.

Bai Yunxiao and Cai Heping watched Li Qin’s movements intently, puzzled and unsure what he was doing.

Wu Wenxuan folded his arms, watching the scene like a spectator, eager to see what Lin Nan was up to.

“Bear with it, it does hurt a bit. That’s normal,” Lin Nan comforted.

Ji Zifeng gritted his teeth. “How long will this pain last?”

“Not long,” Lin Nan smiled. “Relax as much as you can. The more relaxed you are, the better—especially that area.”

Ji Zifeng nodded through the pain.

“I’ve pushed the top ping pong ball into the rectum,” Li Qin said to Lin Nan.

“Good. Now push the next one into the rectum as well,” Lin Nan nodded.

Li Qin complied.

After about thirty seconds, Li Qin said, “The second ball is in.”

Lin Nan looked at Ji Zifeng’s lower body. With two ping pong balls pushed into the rectum, there was suddenly much more space inside. It was no longer as packed and cramped as before.

Bai Yunxiao and Cai Heping, both associate chief physicians with keen insight, immediately understood Lin Nan’s intent and were deeply impressed.

They hadn’t expected Lin Nan to come up with this method. Impressive.

However, Wu Wenxuan saw no special technique, just thought Lin Nan and Li Qin were fumbling around, and mocked, “I don’t know what you’re messing with. Save your energy and don’t waste the patient’s surgery time.”

Lin Nan and Li Qin ignored him.

But Wu Wenxuan, convinced they were wasting time, grew impatient. “Enough. Don’t hold up the surgery. If the patient’s condition worsens, will you take responsibility?”

“Quiet,” Cai Heping turned to him with a cold glance, disappointed in his prized student.

Lin Nan and Li Qin’s intentions were clear, but Wu Wenxuan remained blind, babbling on and becoming a joke.

He glanced at Bai Yunxiao, who showed no expression, and inwardly sneered. Perhaps old Bai was secretly amused.

Wu Wenxuan was stunned when his teacher reprimanded him. “Teacher, they’re clearly just fumbling. It’s useless.”

Bai Yunxiao glanced at Wu Wenxuan and generously smiled at Cai Heping. “It’s alright, Old Cai. Young people are inexperienced and lack understanding. Doubt is natural.”

Cai Heping’s mouth twitched slightly.

Now Bai Yunxiao was the one sarcastically mocking them.

Seeing his student still confused, Cai Heping sighed and explained, “Their approach is simple. The patient’s lower half is stuffed full. Normally, it’s impossible to remove the ping pong balls inside.”

“But if one or two balls are pushed into the rectum, that area will free up much space below, no longer jam-packed. Then, the remaining ping pong balls can be removed from below.”

After hearing his teacher’s explanation, Wu Wenxuan’s face changed, his mind buzzing. How did he never think of this method before?