Boss, It's My First Time Being Your Resident - Chapter 8

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 8. The Leech Keeper, A-gang

The hospital director and professors at Cheonwoo University Hospital who hemmed disapprovingly whenever she crossed their paths, colleagues whose cryptic laughter followed her down the corridors—

All of it had driven her to flee her alma mater and land here, at Sein University Hospital.

“I studied at Cheonwoo, but my bones will rest at Sein! Thank you for taking me on, Professor.”

A-gang drew a short breath.
She forced the furrow from her brow and managed a smile toward Professor Park.

“I like your spirit, at least. But you—”
“Yes?”
“What’s wrong with your hands? A doctor, no less.”
“I was injured, sir.”
“And now a first-year is missing. You really came here to work?”
“I’m very sorry.”

A-gang curled her bandaged right hand and tucked it behind her back, cold sweat beading on her skin.

“What are hands to a doctor?”
“Hands are—”
“You ever see a soldier march into battle without a rifle? A soldier needs a gun, a doctor needs hands! You understand?”
“I’ll be more careful going forward.”
“Starting today, until your hand heals, you’re in charge of all our Plastic Surgery Department leeches!”
“L-leeches?”

Indifferent to A-gang’s alarm, Professor Park tilted his chin toward Sung-jin, who was organizing charts nearby.

“Sung-jin, brief our new resident on the leeches, will you?”
“Yes, Professor!”

The moment the order left his lips, Sung-jin darted to the Doctor’s lounge refrigerator and pulled out a large plastic container, moving as if he’d been sprung from chains.

His face bore the expression of one welcoming a small hero who might finally liberate him from the leeches.

“You know they run 70,000 won each, right? Lose even one and I’m docking it from your paycheck! Keep them healthy!”
“Professor—”
“What, today’s interns don’t react to that? Then how about this: any leech lost or dead means one extra day before you return to regular duty. Per leech.”

Professor Park delivered his parting words like thunder from a cloudless sky and left the lounge.

This can’t be real. A-gang’s face sagged.

Assigned to leeches on day one.
When she still needed to observe in the O.R., practice techniques, build her surgical skills—

Every fiber of her being wanted to chase after the professor and grab him by the waist, begging forgiveness.

“Junior, please take really good care of our leeches! These are premium livestock—treat them with proper respect!”

Sung-jin set the large container down in front of A-gang with a soft thunk.

“Yes, senior.”

A-gang answered with something between a sigh and a whimper, staring blankly at the rectangular container on the table.

Dozens of black leeches, each the size of a pinky finger, writhed and tangled against one another inside the transparent vessel.

“Ugh.”
“I couldn’t do it even if ordered.”
“Neither could I. I’d rather kneel and beg. The professor’s clearly trying to teach someone a lesson.”
“But Sung-jin, why were these coming from the vegetable drawer of the lounge fridge? I’m about to throw up.”
“Oh, I had them in the treatment room fridge but they kept dying. Something about this lounge agrees with them—they do better here.”

Sung-jin still beamed, his smile stretched ear to ear.

He couldn’t contain the tune humming from his lips.

“Gross, I’m never eating anything from that fridge again!”
“I already moved the food to the Orthopedic Surgery lounge across the hall.”

The other residents, making faces and muttering, drifted away one by one.

That’s when—

“A-gang! Hey! Nice to see you!”

A woman with voluminous, wavy curls flowing down to her chest pulled her hair into a high bun as she approached A-gang’s side.

“There are only two female residents in Plastic Surgery—you and me. Let’s be friends, okay? Drop the formality.”
“Oh, yes! Of course!”
“I’m So-dam.”
“Great to meet you!”
“Here, eat this for strength! I need to check on the professor. Fighting!”

So-dam fished a handful of chocolates from her coat pocket and placed them gently beside the leech container, then trotted out of the lounge.

Her crescent-moon eyebrows drew together with genuine sympathy.

“That poodle has some serious people skills, I’ll give her that. A-gang, come with me!”

Sung-jin muttered as he watched So-dam leave, then beckoned to A-gang.

“I’m going to handover a patient currently undergoing leech therapy.”
“All right.”
“By the way, I’m Sung-jin Kwak. Second year. You’re not from our school, so this is our first meeting, right?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
“Having a junior come on board is so nice! Haha! You know we use a lot of leeches in Plastic Surgery, right?”
“I’ve read about them in textbooks, but this is my first time seeing them in person.”
“These leeches do the work of several interns. Little things, but serious professionals! They’re valuable assets.”

Sung-jin glanced over his shoulder as he led the way, grinning.

His stride down the hospital corridor seemed remarkably light.

“The patient is 83 years old. He got his hand caught in a bean thresher while working the fields—lost his index and middle fingers. Three days ago he underwent Finger Replantation.”
“I see.”
“If congestion develops, you’re dead meat in the professor’s eyes, so manage it carefully! Especially the leeches! The professor absolutely hates losing them, so be extra cautious!”

Sung-jin knocked twice, briefly, then opened the door to Room 1208.

Beneath a window where long sunlight streamed, an elderly woman with her white hair neatly pinned up sat conversing quietly with a man who appeared to be her son.

“Did you sleep well, Grandmother? This is our new resident who just joined us. Starting today, she’ll be helping with Dressing and Leech Therapy.”

The grandmother and her son stopped talking and turned to look at A-gang simultaneously.

“My, what a pretty young lady! So pale and fair.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m A-gang. Would it be all right if I had a look?”

As A-gang carefully unwound the bandage, two leeches distended with blood tumbled onto the sterile gauze with soft thuds.

“Eek!”

A-gang let out a short cry.

They were swollen to several times the size she’d seen in the lounge—bloated like oversized sausages.

“Can’t concentrate? The patient’s here—you’re scaring them even more!”
“I apologize, sir.”
“Oh, don’t worry about me. It can look unsettling! Young people these days don’t usually see leeches like this.”

At the scolding, A-gang’s face fell, and the grandmother gently patted her uninjured shoulder over and over.

“Such a delicate flower doing such rough work. Shame on you. Don’t strain yourself—find a good husband, live a comfortable life, precious and cherished.”
“Mom! That’s not the issue. And it’s not ‘young lady’—it’s ‘doctor’!”
“I just feel sorry for her. Our village headman’s third son runs a big cattle business—over eighty head. Why don’t you meet him? He’s just past fifty, and if you marry him, you won’t lift a finger—”

The son sitting beside her caught A-gang’s eye and nudged his mother.

“What! Did I say something wrong again? I just feel bad seeing such soft hands touching these disgusting bugs.”
“I’m fine, really! I hope you get better soon!”

A-gang used forceps to pull a fresh leech from the container and forced a bright smile.

“But how much longer do I need to do this leech therapy, Doctor?”
“Mom, didn’t we agree to follow the treatment plan?”
“These leeches swarm all over our rice paddies back home, and here in Seoul they’re worth their weight in gold.”
“The world’s changed—leeches are medicine now. And these are medical-grade, so they’re expensive. Right, Doctor?”

The son added his explanation carefully, worried his mother’s concerns might burden her heart.

“Thirteen or fourteen a day, they said, and in four days we’ve already used over three hundred. My heart sinks just thinking about it.”
“Mom, don’t worry about the cost. Getting better is what matters.”
“My Dong-i’s breaking his back to earn that money, and now it’s pouring into this place. I haven’t done anything for you, couldn’t even build you a house before I went—and now you’re spending it like this. I’m sorry, son.”
“I can earn more! Let’s do whatever the professor says!”
“I should just die soon so you don’t have to spend more—so my Dong-i won’t lose money—”
“Mom raised us with these hands. Even if restoring your fingers costs thousands, it’s worth every penny.”

I’m sorry you have to think such thoughts because I haven’t done well enough, Mother.

The son caressed each of his mother’s calloused fingers one by one, his head bowed.

“Leeches look scary, but they help so much. You’ll get better soon!”

Sung-jin tilted his head toward A-gang and continued in a low voice.

“Watch carefully. You attach the leech here to the transplanted tissue area so fresh blood keeps flowing, keeps it nourished. If blood pools, the transplanted skin will undergo necrosis—it’s only a matter of time. What happens to you then?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re dead meat! Get it?”

“Check every hour—verify skin color. Squeeze out any pooled blood immediately, and if you see dark red discoloration, run straight to the professor and report it!”
“Yes, sir.”

A-gang nodded weakly.

“Don’t even think about sleep until this patient’s better. Twenty-four-hour checks continue through the night. Remember that!”

As Sung-jin turned to leave after the handover, his shoulders looked light enough to take flight.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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