Mrs. Si Peijing: "2 residents? Am I not meant to be seen by The Dr. Li? I've heard that in places like Emerald hospital the consultant comes and speaks to their patient's before operating. Is that not the same here?"

Wu Quon stared at her in confusion: "Eh?" 'What is this woman talking about?'

Mrs Si Peijing sighed on seeing Wu Quon's reaction. She shook her head in sympathy: "Not only is this hospital second to Emerald hospital; even the doctors here are second rate."

Mrs Si Peijing then spoke slowly and loudly: "I would like to be seen by Dr Li Xiuying. She is the person who is going to be doing my surgery. Dr Li Xiuying. Off you go I'll wait here."

Li Xiuying unclipped her ID from her scrubs top and held it, in front of Si Peijing.

Si Peijing started to berate Li Xiuying: "Why are you showing me your... Dr Li Xiuying General surgeon." She mumbled out the name on the ID card.

Si Peijing looked at the ID card and then at Li Xiuying's face. 'Even the look of indifference is the same.'

Si Peijing's face quickly morphed from one of exasperation to one of respect. She awkwardly tried to smooth the situation over: "Oh Dr Li I apologize for not recognizing you. You look so young I thought that you were also a resident like Dr. Lu here. You must tell me the secret of your youthful appearance hehe."

Wu Quon maintained a straight face even though he was now 'Dr Lu'.

Li Xiuying looked indifferent: "My age."

Si Peijing choked a little on her laugh at the blunt response that she had received. Even Wu Quon felt the whiplash from Dr. Li Xiuying's response.

Li Xiuying: "Carry on Dr Wu."

Wu Quon: " Ah yes." He continued asking a few more questions which Mrs Si Peijing answered compliantly.

Wu Quon: "Mrs Si Peijing do you have any questions for us?"

Mrs Si Peijing: "Yes just a few small questions for Dr Li." She then took a small black book from the bedside drawer.

Mrs Si Peijing flicked a couple of pages before stopping: "Dr. Li how many of these procedures have you done?"

Li Xiuiyng: "229"

Mrs Si Peijing: "How long will the procedure take?"

Li Xiuiyng: "On average 20 minutes if no complications arise."

Mrs Si Peijing: "How would you rate yourself as a surgeon?"

Li Xiuying quirked a brow: "Competent"

Mrs Si Peijing: "What about your surgical skills? On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being best in the Country? Or on a scale of the best surgeon to the worst surgeon?"

Li Xiuying: "Competent and qualified." She wasn't going to stand here and try to sell herself, others may have and will continue to treat her as a commodity but she would never reduce herself to one. Additionally, Si Peijing probably has a laminated folder detailing her career, awards and achievements courtesy of Jiang Huan.

Mrs Si Peijing could tell she wasn't going to get a straight answer to this particular question: "Where did you previously work? I've heard that you haven't been at Unity hospital for very long, did something happen with your previous work place? How long do you plan to stay at this hospital?"

Li Xiuying frowned.

Mrs. Si Peijing quickly followed up: "I only ask because I'm worried that if anything happens in the future I won't be able to see you."

Li Xiuiyng: "For the foreseeable future."

Mrs Si Peijing: "What is your mortality rate?"

Li Xiuying: "Below the national average."

Mrs Si Peijing: "Why did your patients die? What did you do wrong?"

Li Xiuying: "Confidentiality." Her surgical mortality rates were mainly attributed to operating on people who where in traumatic accidents and had their lives hanging by a thread and late referrals of patients.

Mrs Si Peijing: "Will there be someone more experienced present during my operation?" Her husband and son wanted her to deliberately aggravate Li Xiuying before the operation. They didn't elaborate on their plans but they said she played an important role. She felt a little dubious about antagonizing the surgeon who would be performing her surgery however her husband's a.s.sociate had a.s.sured them that Li Xiuying did not allow her personal feelings effect her work.

Li Xiuying: "I'll put you on Dr Hao's list. He is an upper GI surgeon with 33.5 years of experience."

Si Peijing: "I , what No I.."

Li Xiuying: "It is important for the patient to have confidence in their surgeon. They should feel safe and happy with the procedure. You are unhappy for me to conduct this surgery and also are visibly worried about the procedure itself."

Si Peijing: "Well No I wasn't saying I was unhappy with you. I'm just an anxious person. I would like you to do my surgery. I've been waiting a very long time and I can't deal with the waves of pain." Her husband and son would be very displeased if she had her surgery done by someone else. That was the whole point she came to Unity hospital instead of going to Emerald hospital where her son had connections.

Li Xiuying: "You will be taken off my list for today." Li Xiuying and Wu Quon began to walk away.

Si Peijing was stunned for a moment before she tried to convince Li Xiuiyng: "Dr Li I have been waiting for the surgery for a very long time. It also took me forever to gather my courage to have this procedure. I know that you are one of the most talented surgeons available and I really want you to do the procedure. I'm just worried about going under the knife."

Li Xiuying turned to face Si Peijing. She could see the anxiety on Si Peijing's face; there was even a bead of sweat on her forehead. Li Xiuying: "Fine."

She walked away feeling a little disappointed by her adversary. 'Is this the best he has?'

Wu Quon trailed behind Li Xiuying.

When they were away from the patient area Wu Quon broke the silence: "Dr Li may I ask, in general how should we deal with patients that are being difficult?" What he really wanted to ask was why she would operate on a person who had questioned her surgical ability. Surely, that's just asking for trouble.

Li Xiuying quirked her brow: "Everyone should be treated as an individual. You should try and address their individual concerns if you're still unable to resolve the situation then seek senior help. If the situation still can not be resolved and you believe that you would not be able to perform your duties as a doctor then transfer their care to someone who can."

Wu Quon nodded. He still wanted to ask the burning question 'Why was she still operating on Si Peijing?' Even he could clearly see that Si Peijing was being deliberately antagonistic when asking her questions.

Wu Quon watched as Li Xiuying called someone.

Li Xiuying: "Dr Hao could you please be in theater 6 by 11:45?"

Wu Quon frowned in confusion, 'Why is Dr Li asking Dr Hao to come? And why does it sound like this was something that was pre- planned? '

Li Xiuying and Wu Quon made their way to theater 6. Li Xiuying could see someone waiting outside the doors of theater 6. As she got closer, she could see him looking directly at her with eyes full of expectation.

Mao Yi Hui: "Good morning Dr Li. I'm Mao Yi Hui, I'm a third year surgical resident. I've been timetabled to a.s.sist you in theaters today."