My Medical Skills Give Me Experience Points Chapter 1359 - 538: Feast at Hongmen, the Chief Director Shows Up in Person (Part 2)

The cousin spoke excitedly about the matter.

She probably didn’t anticipate how renowned this cousin truly was. Even the Vice Dean of the Third Hospital sought a favor from Zhou Can.

Her previously proud network of connections seemed insignificant when compared to Zhou Can's.

At most, she only knew a handful of doctors and nurses with slightly higher positions, connections she had actively cultivated. Whether they truly acknowledged her was uncertain.

But look at Zhou Can; the Vice Dean of her hospital directly requested him for a dinner.

"Vice Dean Zhang approached me with an unprecedentedly friendly attitude, asking for a favor: to have you dine with him. He promised future promotions and salary increases for me. Cousin, this time I genuinely wasn't trying to use you. I just felt that as your cousin, asking you to dinner wouldn’t be difficult and wouldn’t cause you any harm. Can you help me out just this once?"

She pleaded over the phone.

"Why didn't you mention this from the beginning? You clearly intended to conceal the truth initially; isn't that what using someone means?"

Zhou Can was not a naive child.

He didn't play mind games, but it was best if others didn't attempt to manipulate him.

His cousin's assumption that he was a fool to be manipulated naturally angered him.

Had she been upfront from the start, he might have considered assisting.

"I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry. I was afraid you would refuse! Last time, I caused you significant trouble trying to get an autograph from your spouse, and I feared that being truthful would make you suspect malicious intent, leading to your refusal. Vice Dean Zhang personally asked me to do this; if I fail, he will undoubtedly be displeased. Cousin, I'm begging you, please help me out!"

His cousin implored bitterly once more.

"I might consider other requests, but this particular one, I cannot assist you with."

Zhou Can refused definitively.

"Furthermore, you should operate within your own capabilities and refrain from making decisions on my behalf in the future. You can directly inform Dean Zhang that my relationship with you isn't close and decline the dinner invitation. You could even state directly that it would be best for him to adhere to the righteous path and be wary of the consequences of alienating so many doctors."

These words were already quite stern.

When it came to voicing his stance, Zhou Can had no fear of offending others.

Especially towards individuals like his cousin and Vice Dean Zhang, he would not hold back his politeness.

He ended the call once more after speaking his mind.

It was utterly preposterous; the Third Hospital had already wronged numerous doctors to the extent that Deputy Director Lu was forced to jump from a building. Would Zhou Can agree to a private dinner with Vice Dean Zhang? It was remarkably audacious of his cousin to assume it incurred no risk for Zhou Can.

She hadn't considered Zhou Can's interests at all.

If Zhou Can were to actually dine privately with Vice Dean Zhang, how would Tu Ya’s hospital management perceive the situation?

His cousin did not call again this time.

Instead, she sent numerous WeChat voice messages.

Zhou Can couldn't even be bothered to listen to them.

Arriving at Cardiothoracic Surgery, he immersed himself in the demanding work.

He felt genuinely drained at this point.

The workload was relentless every single day.

He truly envied those doctors in auxiliary departments who could depart immediately after their shifts concluded. There was virtually no scenario where they would be summoned back to the hospital for emergency patient rescues in the middle of the night. Enjoying regular meals and finishing work on time — that was the coveted lifestyle of clinic doctors.

The Cardiothoracic Surgery Department currently faced multiple complex patient cases and high-difficulty surgical procedures awaiting Zhou Can's consultation.

Or they directly involved him in the operations.

Ultimately, his rate of growth far surpassed that of Director Xue Yan and others. Coupled with a certain general practice advantage, whether in diagnosing cases or performing difficult surgeries, he gradually emerged as the leading figure.

Vaguely, he had become the new prominent figure in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

...

Around eleven forty at night, Zhou Can finally left work, his body weary. His heart brimmed with a sense of accomplishment, having successfully concluded two surgeries and accurately identified the underlying causes of three complex cases.

This meant five lives potentially could be saved.

For Zhou Can, the profoundest meaning of his daily hard work wasn't in accumulating wealth, but in preserving lives or alleviating patients' suffering.

"Cousin, cousin!"

As he exited the hospital premises, Zhou Can was hailed by someone.

His cousin, waving from a black Audi, quickly emerged from the vehicle and hurried towards him.

"I have already stated clearly that I will not attend the dinner; there's no point in persistently bothering me."

Zhou Can stated firmly.

He wasn't intimidated by persistent individuals and felt no shame in refusing them.

Only those new to society, young men and women, might feel awkward refusing and consequently suffer disadvantages.

"Dr. Zhou, please do not place the blame on your cousin! It was I who requested her assistance in persuading you."

Vice Dean Zhang emerged from his vehicle, a pleasant expression gracing his features as he approached Zhou Can.

"I understand that Dr. Zhou might harbor some reservations towards me, especially following Deputy Director Lu's recent fall. It is only natural to feel resentment and perceive me as a villainous figure."

From the outset, Vice Dean Zhang engaged Zhou Can with an open and direct approach, demonstrating a social adeptness that far surpassed Zhou Can's cousin by a considerable margin.

Individuals of their standing were expected to be forthright in their dealings; a lack of candor served only to erode respect.

Often, conversations that lacked alignment were promptly concluded.

"Dean Zhang, you are mistaken. I harbor neither dislike nor fondness for Dean Zhang. We have encountered each other only twice, and unless circumstances dictate otherwise, our paths are unlikely to cross again in this lifetime," Zhou Can replied impassively.

His response was definitive, treating the other party as a mere acquaintance and clearly signaling a lack of future connection, effectively preempting any proposals the Vice Dean might have intended to make.

"Since Dr. Zhou does not hold me in disdain, would you grant me a moment of your time? I promise not to impose for long, just a brief private conversation. Would that be acceptable?" Vice Dean Zhang implored.

"Please proceed," Zhou Can said, glancing at his wrist.

He generally eschewed wearing a watch, as his profession frequently placed him within the confines of the operating room. Standard safety protocols for surgeons prohibited the wearing of rings, watches, or similar accessories during procedures.

However, the watch he wore was a cherished gift from Su Qianqian, imbued with personal significance.

Cherishing the sentiment behind the gift, he bore the minor inconvenience and wore it daily.

"Might we perhaps step into the car for our discussion?" Vice Dean Zhang inquired after a brief hesitation.

"Very well," Zhou Can agreed.

Addressing Zhou Can's cousin, Vice Dean Zhang, who had previously shown little direct attention to her, now extended significant courtesy. "Xiao Chen, would you mind waiting outside for a short while?"

He perceived cultivating a connection with Zhou Can through Chen Shangmei as a prudent strategy.

Upon entering the car, Zhou Can observed another man occupying the rear seat.

This gentleman, appearing to be in his fifties, possessed neatly styled hair and exuded an air of dignified presence. He was of an average height, likely around 1.65 meters, and had a slender build.

Even through his spectacles, his eyes held a sharp, penetrating gaze.

Most distinctively, his facial hair bore a resemblance to that of Japanese officers often portrayed in media.

Zhou Can was uncertain of the gentleman's nationality.

"Allow me to introduce our Third Hospital's Chief Dean, Zhang Qilian," Vice Dean Zhang announced.

The Chief Dean held the highest position within a hospital structure.

While a hospital might appoint numerous Vice Deans, it would only have one Chief Dean.

This individual commanded the utmost authority within the medical institution.

"Greetings," Zhou Can acknowledged with a nod.

"Dr. Zhou, good evening! My sincerest apologies for the late hour and any inconvenience caused. Please forgive our intrusion," the Chief Dean expressed, his tone exceptionally polite.

He even performed a ninety-degree bow in Zhou Can's direction, a gesture that reminded Zhou Can of Japanese customs, noting the apparent influence of Japanese culture on the man's demeanor and etiquette.

"Dean Zhang, your courtesy is most appreciated. Please, do not hesitate to speak plainly regarding your concerns," Zhou Can responded.

Given that the individual was the Chief Dean of the Third Hospital and had shown him such respect, Zhou Can felt it only appropriate to reciprocate with politeness.

This was the expected way for adults to conduct themselves.

Even in the presence of disagreement, maintaining a cordial atmosphere was paramount.

"Our Third Hospital is currently facing significant challenges, with our operations facing a precipitous decline, pushing us to the brink of closure. It is my sincere desire to extend an invitation to Dr. Zhou to join our institution. We are prepared to offer an annual post-tax salary of five million, along with a position equivalent to that of major department directors. Should you have additional stipulations, we are open to discussion," Dean Zhang stated.

This was undeniably an aggressive proposal.

An offer of five million yuan represented an exceptionally high salary, comparable to that of directors in surgical departments at top-tier hospitals who lead substantial teams.

It was, in essence, the apex of physician compensation within the country.