Zheng Ren’s words shocked Su Yun.
“You’re crazy!” Su Yun growled softly.
It was one thing to save a life on public transportation such as airplanes and trains.
Zheng Ren actually wanted to contact the control tower, and everyone knew what that meant.
“He needs surgery that Sea City can’t provide, and it’ll be quicker to seek treatment in Imperial Capital than heading to the provincial capital. More importantly, I don’t know anyone in the provincial capital,” Zheng Ren explained before whispering to the stewardess, “The patient could have a sudden cardiac death at any moment, so I need to speak with the doctors in Imperial Capital.”
The stewardess, who had not expected the situation to be so serious, immediately nodded and reported it to the captain.
Zheng Ren glanced at Cui Heming before he quickly returned to his seat and took his medical license and invitation letter for scientific research in Imperial Capital out of his luggage.
Every doctor had to have a medical license before they could attend scientific research and become a fly-in, fly-out surgeon.
Of course, only a copy of his medical license was required to work as a fly-in, fly-out surgeon, which would be kept on record by the medical administration division of the hospital where the patient stayed.
Zheng Ren had to bring his original medical license to attend scientific research in Imperial Capital, a prerequisite that had been agreed to in advance.
The medical license seemed to be the only thing Zheng Ren could use to persuade the captain.
This was a competition.
Against time!
Against luck!
Against fate!
In less than a minute, a square-faced captain in uniform came out of the cockpit, and at the same time, Zheng Ren ran back to the scene.
“Captain, my comrade,” Zheng Ren said seriously, “This is an emergency and the patient could go into sudden cardiac death at any moment. I request you contact the control tower in Imperial Capital regarding his special condition.”
Zheng Ren handed his medical license and scientific research invitation letter to the captain.
His tone sounded serious, and he even addressed the captain as “comrade”, a term rarely used nowadays.
The captain attentively read through the medical license and eyed Zheng Ren, comparing him to his photo before shifting his gaze to Cui Heming, who was ashen-faced and drenched in sweat.
“Follow me.” The captain was also a responsible man. Although what Zheng Ren mentioned was alien to him, Cui Heming’s condition made him believe the claim.
A life was at stake, so the captain decided to take risks.
After emergency protocol verification, Zheng Ren entered the cockpit.
The captain had already adjusted the frequency and began to contact the control tower in Imperial Capital.
“Imperial Capital International Control Tower, this is flight N2992. Good morning.”
“N2992, please speak.”
“There is a patient with a life-threatening condition on my plane, and a doctor amongst my passengers wants to speak with the air traffic controller.”
There was a startled silence on the other end of the phone. Evidently, the staff on duty had never encountered such an unconventional operation in his life.
The captain glanced at Zheng Ren and handed the intercom to him.
“Imperial Capital International Control Tower, hello. I’m a doctor onboard flight N2992.” Zheng Ren’s voice was deep and resonant with a sense of an indescribable authority. “A passenger is in critical condition, preliminarily diagnosed with type I aortic dissection. Please contact the medical staff in Imperial Capital and request an air ambulance.”
The captain was stunned. It was more than enough if the control tower sent an ambulance to stand by at the airport, but an air ambulance? This young doctor must be out of his mind.
Even in Imperial Capital, only a few large hospitals had access to an air ambulance, which would be deployed only in an emergency.
Moreover, he was asking air traffic control to develop a separate route specifically for a helicopter in busy airspace above Imperial Capital International Airport. Did he seriously think this was a simple task?!
The staff on duty in the control tower remained silent. They were unable to comprehend and comply with Zheng Ren’s request.
Zheng Ren blurted out a series of numbers. “This phone number belongs to Professor Pei Yingjie of the hepatobiliary hospital in Sorcery Capital. Please contact Professor Pei.”
He hesitated for a brief moment and said firmly, “Please inform Professor Pei Yingjie that I’m Zheng Ren and the diagnosis is confirmed. Ask him to request an air ambulance and inform Anzhen Hospital and Fuwai Hospital to prepare for emergency surgery!”
Anzhen Hospital and Fuwai Hospital offered the best cardiovascular treatment within the country. Zheng Ren had no idea which professor was proficient in performing an “elephant trunk” procedure, also known as aortic arch replacement, which was why he brought up both hospitals.
“Copy… Alright.” The staff of the control tower was flabbergasted. The caller had directly name-dropped and demanded a hospital in Imperial Capital send an air ambulance? How influential this professor must be! Perhaps he was a leading authority in the medical world between seventy to eighty years old.
The control tower terminated the conversation without going through regular protocol.
Puzzled, the captain’s muscles contracted as if entering a combative state, as he considered Zheng Ren a desperado hijacking his aircraft.
Zheng Ren detected the captain’s clear hostility and quickly returned the intercom, making an innocent face to indicate that he meant no harm.
“Are you sure Imperial Capital will dispatch an air ambulance?” The captain noticed Zheng Ren’s attitude and recalled the medical license he had seen previously. Deep down, he was awed by the angels in white, but remained doubtful about Zheng Ren’s behavior.
“Who knows.” Zheng Ren shook his head. “I’m just trying my luck. The rest will depend on fate.”
Zheng Ren then left the cockpit and returned to Cui Heming’s side.
The high dosage of antihypertensive drugs and a double dosage of analgesic reduced and stabilized Cui Heming’s blood pressure. He was currently lying on the flattened seat in the first-class cabin; his eyes were closed and he was trying his best to remain as calm as possible.
“How is his blood pressure?” Zheng Ren asked.
“180/110mmHg,” answered Su Yun immediately.
Enduring the agonizing pain in his chest, Cui Heming managed to open his eyes and asked, “Doctor Zheng, am I alright?”
“I’m here, so you’ll be fine,” replied Zheng Ren confidently.
Cui Heming slowly extended his sweaty hand, which Zheng Ren grasped while consoling him. “You know that I’m very good.”
“I trust you, Doctor Zheng.” Cui Heming gradually closed his eyes again and mumbled repeatedly, “Don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous. Doctor Zheng is here, Doctor Zheng is here…”
Xia Hua was astonished. Were there any well-reputed doctors at all in Sea City, a prefectural-level municipality this doctor named Zheng Ren came from? However, as an experienced doctor, he could detect an absolute sense of authority and security Zheng Ren radiated to the patient.
Where did this power come from?
Su Yun was stunned as well. Even though he was Zheng Ren’s “flawless” assistant, in terms of sense of authority… he had seriously considered himself much superior to Zheng Ren.
If he had another two years to practice, he would surely steamroll Zheng Ren without difficulty.
That had been his thought in the past, but the more he got along with Zheng Ren, the more uncertain he was about his beliefs.
Could he really surpass Zheng Ren?
Probably.
The fact that an unfamiliar patient had absolute trust in Zheng Ren further confused Su Yun.
How long had it been since he last received this sort of trust?
Apart from Zheng Ren’s superb medical skills, there was something else that the highly intelligent Su Yun failed to grasp.
A deadly silence dominated the cabin with the only sound being Cui Heming’s heavy, regular breathing.
More than ten minutes later, the captain opened the door and walked out of the cockpit.
“I just received news from the control tower stating that an air ambulance is en route to Imperial Capital International Airport.” The captain himself could not believe the words that just came out of his mouth.
