Surgery Godfather-Chapter 573 - 521: Dumplings

Li Zehui immediately gave way under Robert’s glare, while Robert skillfully aided Yang Ping in removing his surgical gown.

Then, this professor of sports medicine, who somehow acquired the skills of Tuina massage, followed Yang Ping’s lead, his hands beginning to massage Yang Ping’s shoulders.

As Yang Ping sat down, he took his place behind him, busying himself with kneading shoulders and patting backs, even adeptly pulling Yang Ping’s arms out to give them a shake.

Li Zehui, Marshall, and the nurse all watched in astonishment. Was this Professor Robert from the New York Special Surgery Hospital in the United States? To them, he looked more like Yang Ping’s tag-along junior doctor.

The anesthesiologist and perfusionist from the United States were also bewildered by this scene, not recognizing Robert.

"Alright, good technique!"

Yang Ping moved his neck and shoulder joints, and indeed the effect was good.

"Acupressure next!"

Robert indicated that the massage was not finished.

Acupressure, acupressure, Robert muttered, but struggled to proceed, as if he had forgotten something.

He asked the patrolling nurse, "Do you have a ruler?"

A ruler is a common tool in the operating room and needed often for registering incisions. The patrolling nurse hesitated but finally handed him a steel ruler.

The anesthesiologist was reviving the baby, and the instrument nurse began to put away the instruments.

The patrolling nurse paused her work to see what Robert was up to, as Li Zehui and Marshall also looked clueless.

Yang Ping, too, was confused about Robert’s intentions.

Robert began to use a ruler to make measurements on Yang Ping’s back, as if to locate a certain point. Once he found the spot, he gently prodded it with his finger to confirm its position before poking it forcefully.

Holy crap! Yang Ping almost jumped from the pain.

This was acupressure? It felt more like a heavy-handed finger jab.

"That’s enough, enough!"

Yang Ping immediately waved his hand, showcasing a pause gesture. Robert raised his finger and said, "I’m not done yet."

However, seeing that Yang Ping had signalled a pause, Robert dared not continue.

The monitor showed that the baby’s heart rhythm was staying normal.

After seeing Robert’s acupressure demonstration, Marshall also raised his finger and gently pressed it against his own back.

Li Zehui understood this as acupressure and told Marshall, "This is a very Chinese way of relaxation. I’ve seen it in Chinatown."

Marshall seemed to half-understand.

He wondered, did one have to learn this massage and acupressure technique to gain the friendship of this Chinese doctor?

The anesthesiologist let the baby regain automatic breathing, then absorbed the secretion in the respiratory tract and removed the tracheal tube.

The baby might feel irritated when the suctioning and tube removal happened, causing his limbs to flail about. He was completely unaware that his fate had been profoundly changed.

After observing for half an hour, all was well with the baby.

Everyone headed to the changing room. When the baby was transported out of the operating room, his waiting father was thrilled. He ran up and clutched the back of his head, watching his son. He was still alive.

Upon hearing that the operation was successful, the father was overcome, making indistinct noises in his throat and his eyes welling with tears. He wanted to touch the baby but didn’t dare.

The translator told him that the baby would need to be transferred to the intensive care unit next and would only be moved to an ordinary ward after he was stable.

On the way to the intensive care unit, the father continued to hold onto the railing, watching the baby. Several times he wanted to touch his child’s face, but he recoiled his hand every time.

Li Zehui had requested a doctor from the Cleveland Medical Center to oversee the baby’s post-operative care. This doctor was skilled in the post-operative care of paediatric heart surgeries.

Yang Ping felt more assured knowing this. As long as no complications occurred, the baby could safely overcome the critical post-operative period, especially with Li Zehui present.

At that moment, he only wanted to return to China as quickly as possible. However, there were not many flights from Saudi Arabia to China, so he could only leave the following day and had booked his ticket accordingly.

Yang Ping checked the time; it was just past eleven. In China, it would be around six in the morning. He excused himself from Li Zehui and began to make calls and send messages on WeChat in a meeting room in the intensive care unit.

At this time, Xiao Su should be exercising.

They have a gym at home equipped with a treadmill. Xiao Su had a habit of exercising and would spend an hour working out every morning. If she had the time to develop a side business, Xiao Su would make a fine fitness coach for white-collar women.

Tennis, swimming, and fitness — those were Xiao Su’s favourite sports.

Running was a shared hobby. Yang Ping has persistently run from his high school days to his university years and even now. He was determined to do pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, and single-leg stands every day.

He sent a message on WeChat and Xiao Su responded immediately.

Xiao Su was at home on Shuangsha Island. Yang Ping remembered that today was the eve of Chinese New Year, a day of reunion, but he was far away in Saudi Arabia.

He had promised to celebrate Chinese New Year at her home, but he was still abroad performing surgeries. Fortunately, all members of Xiao Su’s family were doctors, and they understood.

He had a video call with Xiao Su for about ten minutes.

Next, Yang Ping called his parents. Upon receiving a call from their son, they were both overjoyed, taking turns talking, even though it was always his father letting his mother go first.

Previously, they were most worried about Yang Ping finding a girlfriend. Now they need not worry about that, his mother has started asking about marriage and grandchildren.

Now that Yang Ping’s financial condition has improved, he has tried multiple times to send money back home, but his parents refuse. They said they recently ran into debt building a house but insisted it was their responsibility. They wouldn’t let their children repay their debts, as each generation should do their own things.

Before the Chinese New Year, Xiao Su sent gifts from Japan and some special southern products, as well as several sets of nice clothes, all packed and shipped back home.

Yang Ping’s parents were thrilled. His mother proudly wore her new clothes and when people asked, she proudly replied, "My daughter-in-law bought it," which earned her envious glances.

After calling his parents, he called his sister. Since he was working outside and could only meet his parents once a year, the task of taking care of them fell on his sister.

His sister and brother-in-law were both country teachers. A few years ago, his brother-in-law quit his job to start a business, and Yang Ping was unsure about the situation now.

Every time he asked about their situation, they both said everything was fine.

Now, it was Chinese New Year. After sending his greetings went around, Yang Ping sat down to rest.

The handover on Li Zehui’s side was also almost complete. It was now lunchtime.

Robert, who knew Yang Ping better than Li Zehui, cancelled the lunch reservation at the restaurant near the hospital that Li Zehui had made and booked a private room at a Chinese restaurant instead.

The restaurant was called Jixin Yuan, a famous Chinese restaurant in Jeddah. They would have both lunch and dinner there.

Dumplings, authentic Chinese dumplings!

The tables had to be round and the tablecloths red, and ideally, models of firecrackers would be hung at the entrance.

Robert emphasized these details repeatedly and confirmed them with the restaurant before feeling at ease.

It was the eve of Chinese New Year, and no dumplings would mean disrespecting Dr. Yang. This joke would have gone too far.

Robert was greatly dissatisfied with Li Zehui’s arrangement. Although Li Zehui was westernized, he understood some Chinese culture, but he still overlooked things.

Fortunately, Robert stepped in, and the issue was resolved smoothly.

After the baby was settled in the intensive care unit, the group went to eat lunch together.