Every year, many excellent medical students choose not to stay at their alma mater. Like Uncle Zhang and Doctor Song, they are labeled as "traitors" to their alma mater. Why is that? Do they dislike their alma mater? Do they think their alma mater is not good?
There is no conflict; the alma mater is definitely good, itâs just perhaps not good enough. The very best medical students have the right to choose. They go to the hospital that is most suitable for them.
Guo Zhi Hospital specializes in cardiovascular diseases, unlike Guoxie which is a comprehensive tertiary hospital. It doesnât have to compete with other departments for funding to develop its cardiology department because the entire hospital is dedicated to this specialty and its research. Specialized hospitals have the advantage of specialization, delving deeper into their field, and can pioneer new techniques in specialties that comprehensive hospitals have yet to develop. For instance, in terms of interventional cardiology, pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, and minimally invasive surgery for aortic dissection, Guo Zhi Hospitalâs technology is second to none in the country.
If one aims to further their career in cardiothoracic surgery and aspires to be an exceptional cardiothoracic surgeon, leaving personal feelings aside and speaking purely from a place of reason and medical dreams, choosing Guo Zhi Hospital is a perfectly normal decision.
Itâs just that Zhang Yuqing and his wife Teacher Lu find it hard to accept this emotionally. Itâs just like how Doctor Songâs teachers in Beidu felt they had selflessly given away someone they had nurtured, leaving them upset.
"Dr. Xie, donât you agree?"
Suddenly, this new boss of cardiothoracic surgery asked her for her opinion. He probably thought she would come to the same conclusion.
Heâs likely to be disappointed then.
She is a person with self-awareness, knowing that she isnât a hotly pursued talent like Doctor Song. Medical students must be humble about their position. The medical field is highly competitive, with graduate and PhD students prevalent everywhere. Essentially, itâs not the medical students who choose the hospitals, but the hospitals that choose the medical students. Therefore, whether one can stay at a particular hospital is not for the medical student to wish, itâs for the hospital to decide.
Without a second thought, Xie Wanying repeated her usual response: "The choice is not mine to make."
If not her, then who decides? Zhang Huayao and Teacher Lu looked at her in astonishment.
Teacher Lu remembered what her adopted son had said, asking him, "How did you know her surname was Xie?"
"I had the honor of observing her assist in a surgery during the previous conference," Zhang Huayao said.
"You were at the conference?"
"How could I not be there, Mom?" Zhang Huayaoâs gaze held profound meaning as he looked at his mother.
It was as if he knew she would be at the conference and had gone there specifically for that reason. Teacher Lu, realizing this, asked in surprise, "When did Cao Yong tell you?"
"He didnât need to tell me; youâre my mom," Zhang Huayao said seriously, his voice lowered in his throat as if he was affirming something with gravity, his deep-set eyes shining with extraordinary light like torches in the pitch darkness.
Confronted with her adopted sonâs intense look, Teacher Luâs heart shrank, saying, "Thereâs no needâ"
"I was wrong about Dadâs situation. I thought Guoxie had the means to save him. Youâre choosing to be treated at Guoxie again, I must personally oversee it," Zhang Huayao stated, essentially formalizing his intention to get involved to his mother.
"What are you planning to do?" Teacher Lu asked nervously.
"Theyâre having a discussion meeting this afternoon to specifically talk about your condition. I will attend."
"They wonât let you attend, youâre not even a doctor at Guoxie."
"Donât worry about that, Iâve spoken to him already, and he has agreed," he assured her.
"Who?" Teacher Lu asked.
Who do you think it could be? Zhang Huayao gave his mother a smile filled with meaning.