Super Doctor - Chapter 53

Xu Ze had planned to simply coast along, earning just enough to cover his living expenses. However, Old Doctor Zhang had other ideas. Entrusted by an old friend to properly mentor Zhao Qilong, he also needed Zhao’s help in handling potential trauma cases. Naturally, he couldn’t afford to neglect this duty. But Xu Ze was also his personally taught apprentice—he couldn’t just let him waste his potential.

Thus, Doctor Zhang made careful arrangements. Ordinary patients were first seen by Zhao Qilong, allowing him to familiarize himself with common internal medicine cases. For more serious or complex cases, Xu Ze was called in to assist with examinations.

Though Zhao Qilong sometimes felt dissatisfied that Doctor Zhang wasn’t focusing entirely on him, he couldn’t complain. The first few days passed without incident.

Despite his background as an orthopedic doctor, Zhao Qilong had a solid foundation—after all, any licensed physician needed basic knowledge across multiple disciplines. After a few days of observing Doctor Zhang, he handled simple colds and fevers competently enough to earn frequent praise from the old doctor. This filled Zhao with pride.

Xu Ze, however, found it amusing. Treating such cases was straightforward—anyone with basic training could prescribe antivirals or anti-inflammatories after seeing a few examples. Even an orthopedic doctor could manage it without training under Doctor Zhang. He couldn’t understand why Zhao was so smug about it.

Unable to stand Zhao’s smug expression, Xu Ze often slipped away to help Sister Luo with injections and cleaning or assisted pharmacist Luo Xiao in the pharmacy, keeping himself happily busy.

Soon, Zhao Qilong figured out Xu Ze’s situation. Seeing him perform menial tasks like injections, fetching medicine, and cleaning, he smirked inwardly. So, Doctor Zhang called him a “trainee doctor” just to save face—he’s clearly just an apprentice and errand boy. From then on, Zhao looked down on Xu Ze even more, growing increasingly arrogant in front of him.

Whenever a patient needed an ECG or other troublesome tests, Zhao would boss Xu Ze around, ordering him to handle it.

Xu Ze didn’t mind—these tasks were part of his duties anyway. While performing the tests, he’d also observe the patients and compare Doctor Zhang’s prescriptions with the knowledge in his head, learning in the process.

He ignored Zhao’s attitude. After all, it was Doctor Zhang who paid him. If he felt like it, he’d humor Zhao; if not, he wouldn’t bother. But when it came to clinic matters, he was always diligent—everything else depended on the situation.

However, Xu Ze had built a reputation at Huimin Clinic, especially after his solo emergency interventions, including saving a shock patient from a fall. His skills had earned him significant local recognition.

Though Zhao Qilong disdained him, many patients were warm toward Xu Ze. During busy hours, familiar patients would skip the queue and specifically ask Xu Ze—who seemed less occupied—to examine them, ignoring the haughty Zhao.

This infuriated Zhao. Are these people bewitched? Choosing an apprentice over a licensed doctor like me?

But his frustration grew. With the clinic packed, Doctor Zhang no longer had time for Zhao’s preliminary examinations—it was too time-consuming. Instead, he handled patients directly, relegating Zhao to menial tasks like taking blood pressure, temperatures, or ECGs.

Watching Doctor Zhang and the “apprentice” Xu Ze busy with patients while he was reduced to grunt work, Zhao finally snapped. Glaring at Xu Ze, he barked, “Xu Ze! Go do an ECG for this patient!”

Xu Ze was currently prescribing medicine for a regular patient, with two others waiting. He didn’t have time to comply. Without looking up, he replied, “Doctor Zhao, I’m swamped here. Could you do it yourself?”

Zhao’s face darkened. How dare this lowly apprentice ignore me? He stormed over and slammed his hand on Xu Ze’s desk with a BANG!, startling both Xu Ze and the patients.

“Did you not hear me?!” Zhao snarled, eyes blazing.

Xu Ze was taken aback. Is this guy insane? Who does he think he is, slamming my desk? But with patients watching, he suppressed his anger to avoid a scene. Frowning, he said calmly, “Doctor Zhao, I have patients right now. Please handle it yourself.”

Seeing Xu Ze’s indifference and the strange looks from the patients, Zhao’s humiliation turned to rage. He pointed at Xu Ze’s nose and shouted, “You have patients? A mere apprentice like you has no right to treat anyone! Are you trying to kill someone? Move! Go do the ECG—I’ll take over!” He stepped forward, attempting to shove Xu Ze aside.

Xu Ze’s eyebrows shot up, fury rising—but before he could react, a burly man accompanying his elderly father (a satisfied past patient of Xu Ze’s) stepped in.

The man, angered by Zhao’s disrespect toward Xu Ze and the scare he’d given his father, shoved Zhao back hard. “What the hell’s your problem? We’ll see whoever we want! Dr. Xu is skilled—who do you think you are, yelling and slamming things? If you scare my dad or Dr. Xu again, I’ll beat you senseless!”

Staggering, Zhao initially thought Xu Ze had pushed him. But when he turned, he found himself facing a towering, furious man. His face paled, then flushed with rage.

“You—you—” he sputtered before forcing himself to explain, “Sir, Xu Ze is just an apprentice. I’m the licensed doctor here. He has no right to treat patients—they should only come to me—”

Before he could finish, a sharp voice cut in: “Doctor Zhao!”

Zhao turned to see Doctor Zhang approaching, his face stormy. “Do not spread nonsense,” the old doctor said coldly. “Xu Ze is a trainee physician here. He is fully qualified to prescribe under my supervision—there is no issue.”

Realizing his blunder, Zhao’s face drained of color. I’ve crossed a line. Even if his argument had merit, as a clinic employee, he couldn’t undermine his own workplace. Worse, such remarks violated professional ethics—only rival clinics would stoop to such tactics.

If his mentor found out, he’d be severely reprimanded—or even kicked out of Huimin Clinic. And without this position, his chances of getting close to Xingda University would vanish.