A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 427

Chapter 83: Field Rations (3)

Pfc. Jung-min from the medical supply unit was in the storage room attached to the treatment room.

At Jung-min’s feet was a huge, bulging plastic bag.

“Let’s see…”

Jung-min hummed as he sorted out only the medicine containers from the bag.

Like a convenience store using the FIFO (First In, First Out) method [a method of inventory management where the oldest stock is used first], he pushed the newly received medicine containers to the back and pulled the ones that were already in use to the front.

Since the medical unit usually grabbed medicine as they saw it, FIFO was essential.

After finishing organizing the medicine cabinet, Jung-min stretched, feeling refreshed.

He didn’t do much, but his back hurt, and fatigue washed over him.

It was an occupational hazard for medics.

Compared to soldiers in other units who trained or worked from morning to evening, medics spent most of their time in the treatment room without much to do.

So, their physical strength was terrible.

The reason why medics were comfortable was…

Medics were always on emergency standby.

Let’s imagine a critical patient appearing.

If the medic was away or not in good condition to treat or transport the patient, it would be a big problem.

For that reason, medics were excluded from almost all work and training.

The best event in the military.

The same was true for winter and *Yugyuk* [obstacle course] training.

There was a reason why soldiers called medics ‘mangoes’.

(Here, ‘mango’ means a unit as sweet as a mango.)

“Whew~ All done.”

After finishing the organization, Jung-min stretched, feeling refreshed.

It was the longest organization ever.

It took a whopping 30 minutes!

It was thanks to the company commander bringing so many supplies from the division medical unit.

Jung-min’s eyes scanned the medicine cabinet.

The medicine containers were neatly arranged and quite well stocked.

Screech.

Screech.

The medicine cabinet drawers were also well stocked with various ointments, patches, and bandages.

Jung-min was once again impressed by the company commander’s resourcefulness.

The company commander who stormed into the division medical unit and got medicine was probably the first company commander ever.

Usually, company commanders didn’t care whether there were few or many supplies in the company.

If there weren’t any, they did without.

If there were any, they used them.

No one was as proactive in managing the medical unit as Jun-hoo.

Perhaps that’s why.

Jung-min felt that Jun-hoo wasn’t just a medical officer but a real doctor.

“Jung-min.”

A voice calling Jung-min was heard from the treatment room. It was a familiar voice.

“Yes, *Byeongjang* [Corporal] Lee Tae-won.”

Jung-min approached the storage entrance and peeked his head out the door.

“Do we have any *Hosidine* [a brand of antacid] left?”

Tae-won from the treatment unit was seeing a patient.

The patient had a scraped knee, probably from falling.

Tae-won was disinfecting the knee with a cotton ball soaked in hydrogen peroxide, drawing circles.

Fizz.

Bubbles rose from the wound.

Wasn’t it said that you should disinfect from the inside out to remove foreign substances?

“Yes, we received it from the division medical unit yesterday.”

“Did those guys give it willingly?”

“The company commander spoke directly to the division medical company commander and got it.”

“Wow! Our company commander’s spirit is no joke.”

Tae-won chuckled.

The conversation ended there.

Quick-witted Jung-min took the Hosidine and came out of the storage room. He placed the Hosidine ointment on the dressing cart next to Tae-won.

“What? You said you got a new one, so why are you giving me the old one?”

Tae-won’s eyebrows narrowed.

The Hosidine ointment was rolled up like a used tube of toothpaste.

“Shouldn’t we use up what we have?”

“You’re really stingy. Scrooge would want to be friends with you.”

“You see right through me. I actually became friends with Scrooge a few months ago.”

“Oh, if only you couldn’t talk back.”

Tae-won shook his head.

After the disinfectant dried, he put Hosidine ointment on a cotton swab.

He rubbed the patient’s wound with the cotton swab and put a rectangular bandage on the wound.

As the patient left, only the two of them remained in the treatment room.

“Did it take a long time to clean the storage room today?”

“We received a lot of supplies yesterday. I feel good just going into the storage room. Are you still unhappy with the company commander, *Byeongjang* [Corporal] Lee Tae-won?”

“Not anymore.”

“Is there a reason?”

“I haven’t experienced it for many days, but he seems like a good person. The soldiers who received treatment all like the company commander, and more than anything…”

“More than what?”

“He offered his arm to practice inserting IVs. Not just anyone can do that.”

When Tae-won received medical training in the rear, his fellow soldiers lent each other their blood vessels.

The feeling of a needle piercing raw flesh was simply terrible.

He felt miserable, like he was being experimented on.

But the medical company commander, not even a soldier, willingly offered his arm.

At this point, it was self-sacrifice.

“To think I’d see a medical officer who is so sincere about treating soldiers in my military service. I’ve lived a long life.”

“Anyone would think *Byeongjang* [Corporal] Lee Tae-won is in his 30s.”

“This kid is getting out of hand.”

The two joked and laughed.

“By the way, is today the day for that?”

Tae-won’s gaze rested on the calendar hanging on the wall.

“Yes, it is.”

“Take Seung-beom and have fun. You know I’m on emergency standby, right?”

“Shouldn’t you use your body a little?”

“No way. I won’t do it.”

Tae-won said firmly.

Today’s afternoon schedule was completely incompatible with Tae-won.

When the conversation was briefly interrupted.

Creak.

The company commander’s office door opened with an irritating hinge sound.

“Guys.”

“Yes, Company Commander.”

“We have to practice inserting IVs today too. Bring the IV set to the company commander’s office. I’ll use the catheter instead of you guys.”

“But your arm… Are you sure you’re okay?”

Tae-won’s voice was filled with concern.

It hadn’t been long since Tae-won and Seung-beom had poked Jun-hoo’s arm.

The blood vessels probably hadn’t recovered yet…

“It’s okay, just bring it.”

The company commander said in a relaxed voice.

Tae-won had no choice but to call Seung-beom.

He set up the IV set on the IV stand and entered the medical company commander’s office with Seung-beom.

‘Huh? What’s going on?’

Tae-won’s eyes widened.

Tae-won’s mouth dropped open.

The company commander had already rolled up his combat uniform sleeves and revealed his forearm, but his skin and blood vessels were fine.

The forearm, which had been a mess like a drug addict’s just two days ago, was clean without a single blemish.

Could a person’s recovery be this good?

* * *

1 PM that day, the medical company commander’s office.

Jun-hoo was sitting at his desk, drinking coffee.

It was truly a leisurely routine.

It wasn’t for nothing that doctors called their time as military medical officers a ‘vacation’.

There were no seniors above him to nag.

There were no juniors to take care of.

Nor were there any patients to manage intensely.

Jun-hoo’s routine was leisure itself.

Leaning back in his chair, Jun-hoo stared blankly at the ceiling.

The phone call he received from Min-seok in the morning wasn’t an emergency call.

It was the story that Min-seok would be helping Jun-hoo with shadow surgeries from now on.

It was the story that he could contact Min-seok regarding shadow surgeries from now on.

“How is the patient who had surgery yesterday?”

-The progress is fantastic? He regained consciousness around noon today.

In the case of brain surgery patients, it usually took 2-3 days to wake up.

But the patient woke up in less than a day.

This was because Jun-hoo’s surgery was so fast and accurate.

And because Jun-hoo visited the intensive care unit and helped the patient recover with internal energy IV fluid therapy.

-The patient was looking for Dr. Seo.

“Me?”

-Yes. He wants to repay you somehow, but what should I do?

Jun-hoo stroked his chin and pondered for a moment.

How should he use his newly acquired one-star connections to make it known that he did well?

“First of all…”

-First of all? Can’t it be second of all?

“…”

-…I’m sorry.

It was Min-seok, suddenly embarrassed after throwing out a silly joke.

Well, that’s also Min-seok’s charm.

“Please tell him that I will contact him separately later.”

-Did you get his contact information?

“Yes. I got it before entering the emergency room. By the way, how are you going to explain the shadow surgery to that patient?”

Jun-hoo tilted his head.

The shadow surgeries he would be performing in the future were relatively less risky.

Because the hospital director and Min-seok would coordinate with Jun-hoo in advance.

But the one-star patient was shadow surgery number one. The system for shadow surgery hadn’t been established yet.

-Don’t worry about that issue.

“Do you have a way?”

-We’ve made it up that Dr. Seo is also working for the *Yeondae* [Regiment] company commander and the *Dosu* [a fictional hospital] hospital. Even if he’s a one-star, he probably doesn’t know much about how the hospital works.

Listening to it, it made sense.

Unless there was a problem during the surgery.

Now that the surgery was successful, he probably wouldn’t want to dig up more information about Jun-hoo.

The call ended weakly as they exchanged simple greetings.

As his thoughts ended, he finished his coffee.

Jun-hoo opened an Excel file and reviewed the progress of the patients he had seen yesterday.

There were 9 soldiers who he had told to monitor their condition, combining the division medical unit and the Korean Dosu Hospital.

There were 3 soldiers who had scheduled follow-up appointments.

Among them, there was a soldier who stood out.

It was a soldier who had a gastroscopy due to chronic heartburn and heard the results yesterday.

The soldier’s name was Song Hee-cheol.

The test result was chronic gastritis.

Hee-cheol was one of the soldiers who was in Jun-hoo’s car during the outside patient visit.

Before returning to the unit after finishing the one-star surgery.

He bought the soldiers pizza, and he remembered him because he was a big eater who ate 6 slices of pizza by himself.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sound of knocking at just the right time.

“Company Commander. The operations officer is here.”

Jung-min’s voice was heard from beyond the door.

If it was the operations officer, wouldn’t that be an officer?

It was the first time an officer had come to the medical company commander’s office in person.

Was it for treatment?

Or was it for other business?

Curiosity raised its head.

“Tell him to come in.”

Soon, the door opened, and the operations officer entered the medical company commander’s office.

The operations officer’s name was Lee Hoon.

He looked to be in his mid-30s.

His figure was so slender that it felt frail.

His skin was white and flawless.

His name sounded strong, but the image he projected was weak.

“Hello, Company Commander.”

“Hello. Have a seat there.”

As Jun-hoo offered a chair, Lee Hoon sat down.

“How is it living in the unit? Isn’t it stifling?”

“The military unit is also a place where people live. I’m personally doing various research.”

After exchanging everyday small talk, Jun-hoo immediately got to the point.

“Did you come because you’re feeling unwell somewhere?”

“Ah… that’s…”

Lee Hoon scratched the back of his head and looked embarrassed.

“I have something on my thigh… It’s irritating because it rubs against my pants every time I walk. I was wondering why.”

“It’s a skin problem.”

Jun-hoo nodded.

Although he was a newly appointed medical company commander, there was something he commonly saw while treating soldiers.

One of them was that there were surprisingly many patients with dermatological diseases.

Atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, athlete’s foot, etc.

Perhaps that’s why.

He had a desire to properly study dermatology for the soldiers.

“First, I need to see what’s on your calf. Please take off your pants.”

“My pants?”

“I don’t have the ability to see through things, do I?”

Lee Hoon shyly took off his pants.

He pointed to something like a pimple on the side of his thigh with his index finger.

“This is it.”

Jun-hoo’s eyes narrowed as he examined the area in question.