Chapter 147 - 125: Only Fierce Fire Can Refine True Gold
The seats in the very center of the stands were actually rather low, offering a mediocre view.
But for the sake of appearances, this was where the leadership had to be seated.
Academician Zheng Liyan was chatting with Lin Zhenhua, the minister of the provincial health department.
Lin Zhenhua spoke with great respect. "Elder Zheng, we’ve troubled you by having you make the trip to Yangcheng today."
Academician Zheng replied gently, "It’s no trouble. To be honest, I came because there’s a member of the younger generation who has caught my interest."
Lin Zhenhua said, "Oh?"
Academician Zheng didn’t elaborate, instead changing the subject. "The snowstorm at the beginning of the year and the earthquake mid-year exposed the shortcomings of our frontline personnel and the younger generation when dealing with complex trauma. How many more years can we stay in the spotlight? The operating rooms of the future will belong to them, after all. It’s no hardship for me to come see the promising young talents of our South China Region, to see what the next generation is made of."
This sentiment resonated deeply with Lin Zhenhua, who nodded in agreement. "Exactly. A new wave of medical reform is about to be rolled out. What we’re most desperate for right now is talent—people who can make decisions, dare to make decisions, and most importantly, make the *right* decisions in critical and life-threatening emergencies."
As they finished speaking, their gazes simultaneously fell upon the competition floor below.
Among the crowd was a particularly ostentatious uniform... a flash of legendary gold.
Sitting diagonally behind the two men was Gong Nian, the head of the South China Region competition’s organizing committee.
Overhearing the two VIPs’ conversation, Gong Nian immediately leaned forward. "Minister Lin, Academician Zheng, please rest assured. To put into practice the province’s emphasis on trauma and emergency care, our organizing committee has put a great deal of thought into this year’s final."
Academician Zheng’s interest was piqued. "Oh? Do tell."
Gong Nian pointed to the floor below, where Zone A had been partitioned into a series of small, independent cubicles. "In past years, the first round was always a theoretical multiple-choice exam. This year, we’ve combined clinical thinking with practical application. It’s a two-in-one. Zone A is the clinical thinking station, and there are no actual questions."
Lin Zhenhua arched a brow. "How do you test them without questions?"
"Inside each cubicle is an unprocessed case file," Gong Nian explained. "These files were sourced from actual rescue records from this year’s earthquake zone and then adapted by a panel of our experts."
"After a student enters, they have fifteen minutes to identify the true life-threatening condition, write down their diagnosis, issue emergency medication orders, and outline the subsequent surgical plan. It’s the equivalent of throwing them directly into a frontline emergency tent in a disaster zone."
After listening, Academician Zheng nodded slightly. "Simulating a real-world environment to test clinical judgment—that’s the right direction. But isn’t this level of difficulty a bit too advanced for undergraduates?"
"Elder Zheng, that’s precisely the effect we’re aiming for," Gong Nian said with a self-satisfied smile. "Our committee tested this scenario internally. Even a junior resident from a top-tier hospital would need at least ten minutes to figure it out. Any student today who can logically map out the correct rescue procedure will be a rare find indeed. That’s the only way to make this a true training exercise."
"A higher difficulty is good," Lin Zhenhua said softly, his gaze profound. "It takes a blazing fire to forge true gold."
...
「At the same time.」
On the second floor of the venue, at the very edge of the stands.
Shen Yu was leaning against the wall, one hand clutched tightly over her chest.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP... Her heart was pounding!
She gasped for breath, her cheeks burning.
’That was too close!’
To avoid being spotted by Jiang He, she had deliberately worn a hat and mask today.
’She thought she’d be able to blend in perfectly with the crowd.’
But the moment her eyes met Jiang He’s.
Shen Yu knew instantly.
’He’s going to recognize me!’
Thankfully, she had reacted quickly and slipped away...
"Does he have radar installed on him or something..."
Shen Yu muttered under her breath, readjusting her mask.
Peeking out, her gaze went over the railing and back down to the competition floor.
The teams from the various schools were now being led by guides toward the Zone A assessment area.
Jiang He walked in the middle of the Southern Medical University team.
Despite the cast on his leg and the crutch in his hand, his back was ramrod straight. He showed no signs of awkwardness from his injury.
The white coat he wore, paired with the golden name ’Jiang He’ emblazoned on the back, gave him an air of almost detached calm amidst the crowd of nervous students.
Shen Yu watched him quietly.
The person she’d been longing to see for so long was right there in front of her.
’Hehe.’
Shen Yu’s eyes curved into crescents, and the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but lift into a smile.
She said silently in her heart:
’Dr. Jiang, you’ve got this.’
’When you win the championship, I’ll give you the Jingtai Lan I made with my own hands. It’ll be a happy occasion on top of a happy occasion. You’ll be so happy, hehe...’
’And if you don’t win, I’ll give you the Jingtai Lan I made. It’ll be a little something to cheer you up. You’ll still be happy, hehe...’
...
"BEEEEEP—"
A whistle blew.
The Zone A assessment officially began.
The faculty advisors retreated from the floor as the student competitors filed in, directed one by one into the independent assessment cubicles.
Lin Han walked into his assigned cubicle, number 7.
The cubicle was spartan, containing only a table, a chair, a pen, and a manila file folder on the tabletop.
Lin Han pulled out the chair and sat down, taking two deep breaths to calm himself and enter his most focused state.
As one of the top students from Zhongda Medical College, he knew the drill for this kind of large-scale competition.
The more complex the problem, the more absolute calm was required.
Lin Han undid the string closure on the folder and pulled out the case file within.
He had only glanced at the first page when his brow immediately furrowed.
[Patient, male, 45 years old. Lower body crushed under a prefabricated concrete slab for over 8 hours following a heavy truck rollover. Rescued by firefighters and transported to the emergency department 30 minutes ago.]
