Chapter 128 - 116: Hero 2
"This is a 24/7 special access pass for the surgical area and the critical care department. With it, you can freely access the physical and electronic medical records of all critical patients in the entire hospital. This key is for the private locker room next to the family waiting area on the third floor of the operating wing. Compete well in the competition. After it’s over, Affiliated Hospital No. 1 will always welcome you."
The authority to review medical records was, of course, a valuable resource.
A private locker room, on the other hand, was an even greater symbol of status.
In his previous life, Jiang He had worked for years, and even after returning from an exchange program at Northern Hospital, he had never received such treatment.
In this life, he’d managed to leapfrog ahead, achieving this much as a third-year. ’Not bad at all.’
"Thank you for your trust, Dean." Jiang He stood up and took the pass and key.
Dean Chen nodded. "Go on. Your foot is injured. You need to rest well for a couple of days."
After leaving the administration building, Jiang He arrived at the hospital lobby and saw the morning news playing on a TV.
The camera showed an aerial shot of the Ring City Expressway after the storm.
The news anchor was reporting:
"Late last night, heavy rainfall triggered a massive landslide on the mountain pass section of our city’s Ring City Expressway. A long-distance bus was trapped, causing a multi-vehicle pile-up behind it. In the wake of the disaster, the municipal party committee and city government responded with the utmost urgency, immediately activating the emergency response plan..."
"Firefighters, traffic police, and medical personnel worked through the night, braving the rain to conduct a joint rescue operation. Reports confirm all injured individuals were immediately transported to hospitals for treatment. Affiliated Hospital No. 1 has established a fast-track channel for victims, with all medical staff remaining at their posts to save lives..."
"In response to this sudden disaster, the municipal government has introduced special support measures. The Ministry of Health has issued a clear directive to apply a ’treat-first’ policy for all victims, ensuring the public’s safety and life are fully protected and relieving the injured of any subsequent worries."
A few family members of patients, who were passing through the lobby, also stopped to watch the news.
They listened especially intently to the part about the support measures.
Many of the injured from last night came from less affluent families.
In 2008, with comprehensive health insurance not yet fully implemented, they might have faced difficulties paying for medical care.
But thankfully, when faced with a major disaster like this, the nation’s number one principle was always to save lives. The issue of money came second.
Jiang He couldn’t help but think of his previous life.
He’d also heard those cautionary tales about America.
The stories went that in the United States of America, after a similar pile-up, the helicopters and ambulances would arrive quickly. But the moment you were sent to a private hospital’s emergency room, the bills would start printing out in long streams, pushing everyone past the brink of financial ruin.
The poor didn’t dare take an ambulance. Even with a broken bone, they’d grit their teeth and call a taxi to a clinic, because the base fare for an ambulance alone could bankrupt you.
’All things considered, it was a real blessing to be born in this country.’
Jiang He looked away and, leaning on his crutch, went to find Chen Hao.
...
...
「6:30 AM.」
He and Chen Hao got out of a taxi.
In the morning light, the gates of Southern Medical University looked beautiful and sacred.
The two of them, by contrast, looked rather disheveled.
Although Jiang He had changed into his own shirt, the hem and cuffs were still stained with blood.
So was Chen Hao.
So when they showed up, the security guard made a point of coming over to check their student IDs before letting them pass...
There was a main path that everyone had to take to get to the dormitories and Dining Hall No. 1.
At this hour, there were already quite a few people on campus.
Some were early risers heading to the library to save seats, some were on their way to the cafeteria for breakfast, and there were also fourth- and fifth-year upperclassmen getting ready for their internships at the affiliated hospital.
Jiang He and Chen Hao walked against the flow of people.
Their condition naturally drew a lot of attention.
At first, people were just shocked by their bloodstained clothes and disheveled appearances.
But soon, someone recognized Jiang He.
A boy holding a book under his arm stopped, turned to his companion, and said in a low voice, "Is that... Jiang He?"
His companion replied, "It’s him. He went to Affiliated Hospital No. 1 last night."
The events of the previous night had shaken not just the entire city, but also Southern Medical University, which was located very close to the hospital.
The wail of ambulance sirens had echoed for half the night, and medical students have a natural sensitivity to such events.
Jiang He continued to walk forward.
Ahead, three fifth-year male students in white coats were walking toward them. It looked like they were on their way to the hospital to start their morning shift.
Jiang He recognized the student in the lead. It was an upperclassman he had met once in an advanced course.
The upperclassman stopped in the middle of the path. His gaze traveled from Jiang He’s cast, up to his blood-smeared shirt, and finally met his eyes.
Jiang He gave him a slight nod.
The upperclassman froze for a moment.
A wave of complex emotions washed over him, finally culminating in a long sigh.
He clearly knew more about what had happened.
And because of it, he was filled with respect for Jiang He.
Suddenly, the upperclassman tucked the bag he was carrying under his arm and straightened his posture.
Then, with great solemnity, he began to clap.
Everyone froze for a second when the applause began.
The two students with him also stopped.
After a glance at each other, the realization slowly dawned on them, and they too began to clap.
The applause gradually grew.
On the roadside, girls on their way to buy breakfast stopped. Boys carrying thermoses to get hot water stopped. Students hurrying to the library stopped.
No one was a fool.
Seeing this, they all understood where the blood on the two of them came from...
’These are heroes. Heroes of our Southern Medical University.’
Immediately, one after another, a dozen, then dozens of people, all came to a stop.
Everyone’s gazes converged on Jiang He and Chen Hao as the applause swelled into a thunderous roar.
The sound echoed across the Southern Medical University campus in the early morning.
Students poked their heads out of the windows of the academic buildings, their curiosity quickly turning to stunned silence at the sight.
Others took out their cell phones to record the moment.
This was a ritual among medical students.