Chapter 851: On Edge
On Thursday morning, Senior Brother Tian arrived at Lin Jie's office in the Affiliated Hospital, only to find Huo Guangheng and Ma Hongmin waiting at the door.
"Has the teacher arrived yet?"
Ma Hongmin replied, "Not yet, the teacher might have been caught in traffic."
She added excitedly, "Senior Brother Tian, Senior Sister Fang said she found a chef who specializes in making cured mountain delicacies. Tonight, we're going to have a big feast."
"You knew about this, right?"
Senior Brother Tian nodded and said, "I saw her posting pictures in her social circle yesterday, flaunting the delicacies she got from the teacher. I've been thinking about it ever since."
"I hope tonight, we can have plenty of free time to enjoy this Taotie feast properly."
Ma Hongmin asked worriedly, "Senior Brother Tian, do you know why the teacher called us here? What does he want to instruct us on?"
"It should be related to the two cases in the teacher's hands, the conjoined twins, and that patient in a vegetative state. I haven't heard of the teacher taking on any new patients."
At this point, Senior Brother Tian looked at Huo Guangheng and asked, "I heard that during Yao Henan's bone injury recovery surgery, you completed the repair of the patient's leg nerve damage?"
"I assisted the teacher in completing it, not on my own," Huo Guangheng explained.
Senior Brother Tian smiled and said softly, "We all know how high the teacher's standards are. Being allowed to perform substantial operations in the surgery indicates a form of recognition. Keep up the good work."
At this moment, they heard the elevator coming to a stop and turned to see Lin Jie stepping out of the elevator.
Those with sharp eyes noticed that Lin Jie's sleeve was stained with some blood.
"I encountered a traffic accident on the way, a bicycle was hit and got thrown off, so I got held up a bit," Lin Jie explained, as he entered the office and went to the bathroom to wash up.
After coming out, he directly said to Senior Brother Tian, "The separation surgery for the conjoined twins is a multi-doctor collaborative surgery. I am not very satisfied with the preparation progress of the other doctors."
Lin Jie took a glass of water handed to him by Ma Hongmin, placed it on the desk, and continued, "I've drafted a work schedule and will send it to you shortly."
"Senior Brother Tian, follow this schedule and oversee the daily work of those doctors."
"Tell them, if anyone falls behind schedule, don't blame me for being harsh. If anyone feels they can't complete it, they should withdraw voluntarily."
Senior Brother Tian replied earnestly, "Yes, teacher, I will urge them daily!"
He knew that the doctors participating in this surgery were all department heads, and in their departments, they were quite dominant figures.
Only the teacher could be so straightforward with them, dismissing them as he pleased.
After instructing Senior Brother Tian, Lin Jie turned his gaze to Huo Guangheng and Ma Hongmin, saying, "I've reviewed the physical examination data of the person in a vegetative state, as well as the 24-hour EEG monitoring."
"Although the physical maintenance is alright and the functions of various organs are so-so, the brainwave activity level is too low, basically showing little possibility of awakening."
"However, since the patient has been brought to me, we have to give it a try, treating a dying horse as if it were alive."
He instructed, "You two, use deep stimulation to check if the various functional areas of the patient's brain are still active."
Upon hearing this, Huo Guangheng confirmed by asking, "Teacher, using deep stimulation can cause some harm to the body or organs, especially given the patient's current vegetative state and low physical resistance."
"This..."
Lin Jie waved his hand and said, "Don't worry about it, we've already obtained the consent of the patient's family."
"In addition to that, I need you to test the brain responses to pain, itching, and the most sensitive areas of the body to these stimuli, as well as the reactions of the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth to light, sound, and taste."
He paused and said, "Also, test the patient's response to sexual stimuli."
"This... this..."
Huo Guangheng hesitated for a moment and asked, "Teacher, conducting this aspect of the test can be difficult."
Lin Jie snorted and said, "Difficult? Doesn't the patient have a devoted fiancé? If necessary, you can also use equipment."
Huo Guangheng had no choice but to agree and noted down the tests Lin Jie had instructed.
After Lin Jie finished giving instructions, Senior Brother Tian couldn't help but say, "Teacher, judging from the brainwave activity level of that vegetative patient, such a low value makes the chance of awakening minimal."
"Moreover, she has been in a coma for nearly three years. Although her various physical values are fine, they are just barely above the passing line."
He reminded worriedly, "Teacher, the intensity of the tests you've instructed will cause significant harm to the patient's body and likely lead to a rapid deterioration of their condition."
"This consequence could be very severe..."
Lin Jie said softly, "I understand what you are saying."
"Given the patient's current condition, there is still a slim chance of awakening. After some more time, even this slim chance will disappear."
"Therefore, I will adopt a very intense stimulation method to awaken the patient."
"This is basically a method of either succeeding or perishing."
Lin Jie said quietly, "For the patient, whether she passes away now or continues to sleep unknowingly for several more years before passing, the result is not much different. It could also be considered a form of relief."
Senior Brother Tian said anxiously, "Teacher, there may be no difference for the patient, but for the patient's family, it's a world of difference."
Lin Jie waved his hand and said, "I know your concern."
"I'll have the lawyer handle the family's signature authorization and related matters first, so there won't be any risk of litigation."
Seeing that Lin Jie had already made the necessary preparations, Senior Brother Tian stopped persuading him and could only secretly pray that the teacher would continue to be blessed by heaven and create another miracle...
After the students left, Lin Jie dialed a phone number and contacted Water Buffalo.
Upon learning that the plastic surgery patient was recovering well without any special occurrences, he asked, "Water Buffalo, I've seen in spy movies that there's a kind of potion that can increase a person's sensory sensitivity several times, even dozens of times."
"That is to say, after injecting this potion, a little pain can be amplified to ten times."
"Water Buffalo, is there really such a potion?"
"What do you want to do?" A cautious voice came from Water Buffalo on the phone.
When Lin Jie heard this question, he was delighted, "It seems there is such a potion after all."
"Water Buffalo, give me some. I have a vegetative patient; to awaken her, I need to give the patient some strong stimulus, and only this potion can provide the intensity I require."
After a moment of silence, Water Buffalo's voice slowly came through, "For this matter, I need to consult with the leadership; you wait."
"Okay, I'll wait."
Just as Lin Jie was about to hang up, Water Buffalo's voice continued, "I happen to have something to consult you about too."
"In a certain international organization, there's a position."
"Someone with a preference for our side took that position. However, within a few months, they encountered health problems, developed cancer, and eventually had to give up the position to someone else."
"Such cases have occurred more than once."
"We secretly investigated, and they have natural illnesses, unlike tampering."
"From your professional perspective, is it possible for such things to be manipulated?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Jie felt a chill from the top of his head, penetrating to the core, instantly engulfing him in cold, as if he fell into an ice house!
He wasn't sure if Water Buffalo was genuinely consulting him on this matter?
Or if he had suspected something and was trying to trap him?
In his mind, Lin Jie battled fiercely thousands of times, hesitatingly said, "This matter you speak of, it's too simplified for me to make a judgment."
"Perhaps some research institution might have developed a virus that induces cancer. It's possible."
"We have also considered this possibility."
Water Buffalo further asked, "If we provide all the conditions for you, can you research this cancer-inducing virus that can be undetectable to various institutions, making it seem like naturally contracted cancer?"
Lin Jie replied sternly, "Water Buffalo, I am a doctor, and my duty is to treat and save lives. I will not develop something that can harm others."
After saying this, he hurriedly hung up the phone.
Lin Jie picked up the slightly cool glass of water on the desk and drank it in one go, taking deep breaths to calm his pounding heart a little.
Damn, this call made Lin Jie truly understand the saying "on tenterhooks."
He went over the matter in his heart once more.
The body had already turned to ash, all material evidence was gone, except for Big Black and Monkey as indirect witnesses.
Even if they testified, as long as he denied everything, who could prove the causal relationship between those two bottles of car fragrance and the two people's cancer?
Nowadays, it's the era of presumption of innocence in doubtful cases.
The more he thought about it, the more Lin Jie felt at ease that he should be safe and sound.
"Buzz buzz..."
The sudden vibration of the phone startled Lin Jie, almost making him jump out of his chair.
He nervously picked up the phone to see, and instantly felt relieved—it wasn't an unknown call from Water Buffalo, but An Weize's call.
"Uncle An, good morning, do you have something to discuss?"
"Ah Jie, here's the situation. One of my old classmates reached out to me. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and with old and young dependents, he is scared to death and tearfully wants to consult you."
"Do you have time? If you're not available, I'll ask my brother-in-law to step in."
Lin Jie chuckled and said, "I happen to have some free time these days, and dealing with stomach cancer won't take much time. Uncle An, have your old classmate come to see me in the afternoon."
"Ah Jie, thank you, I will let him know."
As the call was about to end, An Weize's voice came through again, "Ah Jie, we are family now, and you don't need to prepare special New Year gifts."
"Just send some cured bacon or bamboo rats, that's enough."
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