Chapter 139: Displaying Mastery on the Operating Table

After speaking, Wang Yingwu turned to enter the operating room, but suddenly felt as if he had forgotten something. He turned back to Zhang Shen and said, “Junior brother, I’ve long heard of your exceptional medical skills. Why don’t you let your senior brother witness them today?”

Hearing this, Zhang Shen wasn’t sure whether Wang Yingwu genuinely wished to assess his abilities or was deliberately trying to test him. Regardless of the reason, Zhang Shen knew he had to go in—after all, those three silver needles were still embedded in the director’s body.

“Since senior brother earnestly invites me, I’m eager to give it a try!” Zhang Shen replied.

With that, he patted Jiang Muyun on the head and followed Wang Yingwu inside.

Soon, with the help of professionals inside, Zhang Shen and Wang Yingwu changed into a set of clean, sterile surgical gowns. Yet, those present were somewhat puzzled by Zhang Shen’s presence. In their minds, anyone whom Director Wang brought in must be extraordinary, especially since this was a surgery to treat the director himself—there was no room for carelessness. Though confused, no one voiced their doubts.

When Zhang Shen and Wang Yingwu approached the operating table, everyone politely greeted Wang Yingwu, “Director Wang!”

Accustomed to this, Wang Yingwu simply nodded in acknowledgment. However, this time he didn’t rush to attend to the director’s condition. Instead, he turned to Zhang Shen and said, “Junior brother, the rest is up to you.”

Hearing this, Zhang Shen stepped forward and looked down at Tao Yang lying there. The others naturally overheard Wang Yingwu’s words.

“Junior brother?”

Those around began to reconsider the earlier discord; perhaps it was now making sense. Otherwise, why would Director Wang bring a stranger into the operating room?

Zhang Shen realized that since Wang Yingwu had entrusted him with the director’s treatment, this was the moment to reveal his true skills.

After all, Zhang Shen had already formed a preliminary idea about Tao Yang’s condition back at the barbecue stall.

Zhang Shen calmly stepped forward, pointing to the three silver needles near Tao Yang’s lips. “Senior brother, these three needles were inserted by me during the early stages of the director’s illness, in order to keep his condition under control. After all, the director’s allergy is one caused by something ingested.”

“And next?” Wang Yingwu asked.

“Senior brother, patience,” Zhang Shen replied confidently.

He carefully rotated and withdrew the three needles, placing them aside. Then he took a sterilized scalpel from the nurse and methodically made a small incision along Tao Yang’s esophagus. If Wang Yingwu hadn’t witnessed it himself, he would never have believed that Zhang Shen’s skill with the scalpel could be so refined. Whereas Wang Yingwu’s own cuts, even on the skin, usually left a large gash, Zhang Shen’s was barely visible to the naked eye.

“What is this…” Wang Yingwu wanted to ask more, but seeing Zhang Shen’s focused expression, he swallowed his words.

Zhang Shen, aware of Wang Yingwu’s unspoken question, explained, “When making an incision, one must control the depth precisely. Too deep, and recovery time is prolonged; too shallow, and the patient experiences more pain.”

Hearing this, Wang Yingwu’s faith in what Chen Rong had said about Zhang Shen only deepened, and he found himself growing genuinely impressed.

After making the subtle incision, Zhang Shen inserted a tube into the esophagus, then began pressing on Tao Yang’s abdomen to help expel the contents from his stomach through the tube.

Soon, Tao Yang’s body showed signs of reaction. Zhang Shen then removed the tube, sutured the wound, and told Wang Yingwu, “The director is out of danger; he just needs to rest for one night.”

“One night?” Wang Yingwu, a seasoned surgeon, found this hard to believe. Not just him—the others nearby also exchanged startled glances.

“Yes, please trust me, senior brother!” Zhang Shen said earnestly.

Though Wang Yingwu was still skeptical, the events he had just witnessed on the operating table lingered vividly in his mind. Seeing was believing, after all. Reluctantly, he said, “Then we’ll proceed according to your plan.”

Turning to the others, Wang Yingwu instructed, “Carefully monitor the director. If anything unexpected happens, come to me immediately.”

“Understood, Director Wang!”

Despite his acceptance, Wang Yingwu’s heart was still uneasy. To recover overnight with no trace of the surgery seemed like a fairy tale. Hence, he resolved to be cautious.

Under Wang Yingwu’s lead, Zhang Shen exited the surgical area and walked straight out.

Outside, Chen Rong and Jiang Muyun, anxiously waiting, rushed up to Zhang Shen as soon as they saw him.

“How is he? Is my old friend’s health restored?” Chen Rong asked eagerly.

For such a minor procedure, Zhang Shen was naturally untroubled. He confidently assured them, “Don’t worry, principal. By tomorrow morning, the director will be able to get out of bed.”

Having witnessed Zhang Shen’s visit to the mayor’s residence before, Chen Rong held him in high regard, so he believed every word.

While they were speaking, Jin Yuejin, also waiting outside for news, though having gleaned much from Zhang Shen’s conversation with Chen Rong, couldn’t help but ask Wang Yingwu himself, “Director Wang, how is the surgery going?”

At that moment, Wang Yingwu was at a loss for words. Zhang Shen’s claims were hard to accept, yet he was the one who had brought him in. Wang Yingwu could only wonder how he had been so reckless.

Before he could respond, a hoarse voice came from afar.

“How’s my old man?”

The voice was unfamiliar to Zhang Shen but well known to Chen Rong, Jin Yuejin, and Wang Yingwu.

“Sister-in-law, what are you doing here?” Chen Rong called out to the elderly woman approaching.

This woman was none other than Tao Yang’s wife, Tian Rong.

She had been waiting at home for Tao Yang, and as night deepened with no sign of him, she grew worried. She had already given Tao Yang strict orders: if he wasn’t home by ten o’clock, he must call her. Yet here she was, still waiting late into the night.

Tian Rong knew Tao Yang was good in many ways, but couldn’t control his eating habits, so she hurried to the hospital by taxi. Upon arrival, the nurse at the reception desk delivered shocking news.

“The director was just brought in by ambulance!”