Chapter 2063: Chapter 1783: Passing the Torch

Yang Ping said, "Change the assessment method. Instead of testing formality, test ability. Can they independently complete routine surgeries? Can they handle common complications? Can they independently be on duty? These need to be tested one by one, and if they don’t pass, they can’t move on."

He paused for a moment and then said, "The people conducting the assessments are also crucial. We can’t just have the same department assess themselves, that’s just going through the motions. There needs to be cross-examinations, inviting experts from other hospitals for assessments. Those who don’t pass will have their training extended and will advance only when they pass."

Director Zhou asked, "What about the standards for the assessments? Who sets them?"

Yang Ping said, "I’ll set them."

Director Zhou was momentarily taken aback and looked at Yang Ping.

Yang Ping said, "I’m not saying the whole country has to follow my standards. I’m saying Sanbo can be a pilot. We’ll set the standards, test the methods, and once proven feasible, then promote them."

Director Zhou was silent for several seconds, then smiled, "Professor Yang, you’re taking this task upon yourself."

Yang Ping shook his head, "I’m not taking on the task; it’s just that you’ve traveled such a distance, I can’t let you leave empty-handed."

After chatting for more than half an hour, Director Zhou finally asked all he wanted to ask.

He closed his notebook and looked at Yang Ping, "Professor Yang, it wasn’t in vain coming here today. We’ll study what you’ve said as soon as we get back. We might need to trouble you to help us review it."

Yang Ping said, "Feel free to reach out anytime."

Director Zhou stood up and suddenly asked, "Professor Yang, could I take a tour of your institute? I’ve heard you have a unique approach to training young doctors; I’d like to see it for myself."

Yang Ping glanced at Dean Xia, who nodded.

Yang Ping said, "Sure, I’ll show you around."

They left the office and walked towards the institute.

On both sides of the corridor were offices and laboratories. Through the glass doors, people could be seen reading, discussing, or watching images.

Director Zhou observed as he walked and suddenly stopped.

Pointing at a plaque on the wall, he asked, "What is this?"

Yang Ping glanced at it; it was an honor board with a row of photos. Below each photo were the person’s name and destination.

"These are people who have left our institute," Yang Ping said, "Updated annually."

Director Zhou moved closer and examined the photos one by one.

"... Were these people guided by you?"

Yang Ping nodded, "Some were directly trained by me, others were trained by students of my students."

Director Zhou looked for a long time and then turned to Yang Ping, "Professor Yang, you haven’t just trained doctors; you’ve nurtured a generation."

Yang Ping shook his head, "It’s not that exaggerated."

"It’s not exaggerated," Director Zhou pointed at the honor board, "Each of these individuals trained others after going independent. Just count how many people this sums to."

Yang Ping said nothing.

Director Zhou said, "This is what we call legacy."

They reached the end of the corridor where there was a large classroom. The door was open, and it was full of people.

Director Zhou peeked in and found it full of young doctors attending a lecture. The lecturer was also a young doctor.

Yang Ping whispered, "This is the weekly case discussion, attended by everyone in the institute. They organize and discuss it themselves."

Director Zhou stood at the doorway listening for a while.

Inside, they were discussing a complex case, doing so in detail and at a slow pace. After completing a point, they would ask, "Did you understand? If not, raise your hand."

Someone raised their hand, prompting the lecturer to pause and explain again.

After watching for several minutes, Director Zhou quietly stepped out.

He said to Yang Ping, "Professor Yang, today I realize why the people trained here are so capable. It’s not just the system; it’s because you genuinely teach."

Yang Ping was quiet for a moment, then said, "Actually, it is about the system. A system should motivate people, encourage good behavior, constrain bad actions, and engrain itself in people’s minds to form a consensus."

After the institute tour, it was already noon.

Director Zhou checked his watch, "Professor Yang, I should be going, I have a meeting this afternoon."

Yang Ping walked him downstairs, where Director Zhou’s car was waiting at the institute’s entrance, the driver already nearby.

Before getting in the car, Director Zhou shook Yang Ping’s hand, "Professor Yang, I’ll organize the suggestions you made today when I get back. We might need your help to review them later."

Yang Ping said, "Sure!"

Director Zhou got in the car but suddenly rolled down the window: "Oh, by the way, Professor Yang, I brought you something."

He gestured toward the trunk, where Secretary Xiao Zhou had already opened it and took out a cardboard box.

"It’s a specialty from our side, Daoxiang Village pastries," Director Zhou said, "Since you’re in Nandu, you might not get to eat these often, just a little token for you to try."

Yang Ping was momentarily surprised; he wanted to say there was no need for such courtesy, but Director Zhou had already waved and signaled the driver to leave.

The car slowly drove out of the hospital gates, and Yang Ping stood there watching it disappear into the traffic.

Secretary Xiao Zhou brought the box over and placed it by his feet, "Professor Yang, should I take it upstairs for you?"

Yang Ping said, "No need, I’ll do it myself."

He bent down and looked at the box of pastries. It was a traditional pastry box, red, with the words "Daoxiang Village" printed on it, along with a few lines of small text: Beijing Eight Kinds, Osmanthus Cake, Ox Tongue Pastry, Date Flower Crisp...

He picked up the box and walked towards the office, keeping some and sharing the rest with colleagues at the institute.

In the evening, he returned home and took out the pastries, placing them on the coffee table.

Xiao Su glanced at them and asked, "Who sent these?"

He replied, "The director from the Ministry of Health, brought it from Beijing."

Xiao Su seemed surprised, "A director from Beijing sending you Daoxiang Village pastries?"

Yang Ping smiled without explaining.

Xiao Su tried one piece and said, "It’s quite authentic."

Yang Ping nodded.

He sat on the sofa, recalling his conversation with Director Zhou during the day.

He suddenly felt it was rare for someone to come such a long way just to hear the truth and be so invested in something.

He recalled Director Zhou’s parting words, "I’ll organize the suggestions you made today when I get back."

He didn’t know how much of those suggestions would eventually be implemented, but at least someone listened, someone remembered, and someone was willing to try.

That was enough. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The next morning, Yang Ping arrived at the hospital at seven-thirty.

He had just entered the office when there was a knock at the door. Chen Xiao stood at the doorway, holding a stack of materials, with faint dark circles under her eyes.

"Professor Yang, I’ve prepared the case for cervical spine tumor."

Yang Ping invited her in, and Chen Xiao placed the materials on the table and began her report.

She spoke in detail, from imaging to anatomy, from surgical approach to potential complications, from literature review to her own reflections. She talked for over an hour without pause.

Yang Ping listened and asked questions. Chen Xiao answered every query, hesitating only on a few occasions but ultimately providing her judgments.

After concluding, Chen Xiao looked at Yang Ping nervously.

Yang Ping nodded, "Approved!"

Chen Xiao sighed in relief.

Yang Ping stood up, "Let’s head to the operating room."

The surgery lasted six hours.

Yang Ping was the chief surgeon, with Chen Xiao assisting. Every step of the way, Yang Ping explained to her, "The vertebral artery passes through here; make sure you see it clearly." "This cut needs to be close to the tumor, don’t go deep." "Now, while peeling the dura mater, watch my technique closely."

Chen Xiao watched, noted, and questioned. At critical points, Yang Ping stopped and demonstrated again.

After six hours, the tumor was completely resected. Both vertebral arteries remained intact. Blood loss was controlled at 1600 milliliters.

While closing the wound, Chen Xiao’s hands were shaking, a mix of exhaustion and excitement.

Yang Ping glanced at her, "Well done."

Chen Xiao was taken aback for a moment, then her eyes reddened.

Yang Ping said nothing further and exited the operating room.