Chapter 97 - Wrist Reconstruction \[4\]

Chapter 97: Wrist Reconstruction [4]
 

What?

Heo Jun blinked his eyes without an answer.
He could not understand why Gagnhyuk asked it.
He said he would like to teach the procedures of operation, and he was looking for a method.
Then suddenly, he asked where they could find corpses.
However, Heo Jun did not think of running away.
From his previous experiences, he had known Gagnhyuk as a peculiar man, but not a bad person.

The place where people die? Why?

However, he should know why Gagnhyuk wanted to go to such a place first.
It was not an easy task to accommodate his request if he wanted to kill someone.
Gagnhyuk was not that mad though.
He took Heo Jun out of the palace instead of giving an answer.

It is hard to answer here. Let’s go out.


Ah, yes.

Heo Jun did not finish his work, but he followed Gagnhyuk.
Gwanghae was treated and he did his duty somehow so he had no worries.

We are nearly out of the palace now. Hurry.


Ok.

Gagnhyuk urged Heo Jun to hasten his movement.
It seemed Ganghyuk kidnapped Heo Jun.
He walked swift so other fellows could manage to follow him with all their might.

Sir, may you please walk slowly.

Dolseok, carrying a big backpack on his bag, said breathlessly.
Gagnhyuk shook his head in refusal as always.
He did not slow down at all.

Ok. Ok.


I am dying, sir.

When Dolseok moaned, Makbong took his backpack.

You are a big man, but you don’t have the strength to carry this?


You were sleeping, but I was working…


But Yeoni is still good.


She…

Dolseok could not find an excuse.
Yeoni was smaller and slimmer than Dolseok, and she worked the entire time during the operation too.
Of course, his backpack was heavier.
However, the difference between the weight of what they carried was not significant.
Dolseok did not want to mention the difference of backpack weight because he was a man.

Okay. Let’s hurry up. He has something in mind now, and we have no choice but to just follow him quickly.


Yes, we must go fast.


Yes, let’s hurry up.

It was their responsibility now to follow him with all their might.
They were not entitled to ask questions to their master.
Dolseok followed Gagnhyuk, as if he had learned an important lesson.
They stopped at the entrance of a small lane.
Dolseok, as well as Gagnhyuk, had not been here before.
‘I need a place to tell him in secrecy.’
Gagnhyuk stopped and looked around to see if there were passers-by.
He opened his mouth after confirming no one was around.

Hugh, now I am ok.

Dolseok and the other fellows could breathe again.
Ganghyuk literally had to drag Heo Jun to come here.
He was breathless, but he still managed to ask the necessary question.

Hu, you walked very fast.


You do not train Taekyeon anymore?


Taekyeon? Haha! I cannot do it anymore since I entered the Naeeuiwon.

Heo Jun squished his sagged abdomen.
It was the universal symbol of middle-aged men, and he felt sorry for having it.
Ganghyuk did not want to have one, so he tried to change the subject.
It was the reason why he dragged him to this quiet place in the first place.

Okay. What I want to know and what I asked while we were in the palace is where people acquire dead bodies frequently?


So why are you asking that?

Ganghyuk checked their surroundings again before answering.
He lowered his voice.

You wanted to know how to operate, right?


Yes, but I cannot practice on a patient. Moreover, it’s impossible to practice on the prince.

Yes.
It’s a normal reaction.
Although it was for the development of medicine, they cannot practice on patients.
He felt apologetic when he once experimented on dogs.

Yes, so we will be practicing on corpses.


What?

Heo Jun looked at Ganghyuk with surprised eyes.
Ganghyuk covered Heo Jun’s mouth with his large hand.

Hiss, somebody may hear.


Ugh…It’s too shocking.

Practicing with a human body…
Heo Jun had never thought of doing such a thing.
The other fellows might not either.
Yeoju closed her eyes because of how terrible the idea made her feel.
Ganghyuk maintained his calmness since he had expected this kind of reaction from them.

You may be shocked, but think…It’s a valuable thing to do.

Ganghyuk murmured, remembering the time when he had practices on corpses.
It was not only during the time when he was a medical student.
He occasionally did it even after he became a doctor.
It was worthwhile to do it in spite of the bad smell of formalin and the gloomy mood accompanying it.
‘I learned how to operate blood vessels and bones in anatomy classes.’
Ganghyuk was not born as a doctor.
He learned it in school and made himself an expert surgeon through practices.
He acquired many skills through those hard-earned efforts.
The most effective form of practice was through anatomic practice.
Heo Jun was thinking of his offer.

What do you think? I do not want to coerce.

Ganghyuk intended to force him to do an autopsy.
However, Ganghyuk tried to be gentle in his approach.
After a while, Heo Jun spoke.
He nodded.

If that could help me practice, I would like to do whatever I can.


I knew you would say that.

It seems his pursuit of medical science overpassed the Confucian orders he had learned.
Heo Jun gave the answer to the question Gagnhyuk had asked earlier.

The place where people frequently die…I think the answer to that must be the slum area. However, in the inner city, we don’t have a slum.


There is no slum here?

It was a shocking comment.
Gagnhyuk though Joseon was a peaceful era, but he still thought people had difficulties earning a living.
In a big city like Hanyang, they do not have a slum…It was a shocking fact.

However, we could see them outside of Dongdaemun. There is Bojewon, and it is full of poor people who are dying.


Bojewon?

He thought he had heard of it somewhere.
Heo Jun did not give time for Ganghyuk to ponder on it.

Yes, that is the shelter for poor people coming from Gyeonggi-do. They dispatched rice there, it’s always filled with poor people.


Then we can expect a lot of dead people lying around there.


Yes. There are a lot of contagious diseases, too.


Eum.

Gagnhyukmaoned.
‘Education is a good thing…But should I go to the slum?

Chungmu Hospital, the place where he once worked, was the hospital owned by the Chungmu Group, the number one group in Korea.
Naturally, there were a lot of voluntary service projects.
Sometimes, they would travel overseas for medical services.
Their team went to poor villages in poor countries.
However, Ganghyuk never went there.
‘I don’t like to go, but strangely I want to do it.’
After he came to Joseon, he had changed. He did so many things he would not do in his world, and this had another purpose. It was not only for voluntary services.
If the patient died, they could use the body for practice.
‘Okay, when is the best time to perform voluntary services if not now?’
He earned much money already.
The income from the clinic through Dolseok and Yeoni was big
Not to mention, he had a strong connection with Jeong Cheol and Hangbok, and their gifts came nearly every day.
Moreover, he had a father with the ability and money.
When his thought reached them, he nodded his head.

Okay, then we can go there and give voluntary services. If a patient died in spite of the treatment, we can practice on the body.


Ah, we will do a voluntary service? Wow. You are a wonderful man. I cannot follow your passion for medicine.


No…Not at all.

It took one to know one.
Heo Jun was a great man who thought of nothing but the well-being of his patients, Ganghyuk looked up to him as a great man.
Gagnhyuk scratched his head with an embarrassed smile.

I will notify Bojewon. They must have known your name already, so they would not refuse. I will tell them to prepare your accommodation.


Accommodation?


Yes, it is too far to commute every day.


Ok, I see.

Gagnhyuk decided to go to a slum.
Naturally, the group, including Dolseok and Yeoni, had to go.
They did not want to go, but it was not a thing they could decide.
Dolseok complained, watching Heo Jun leaving them with a light walk.

Sir, what were the things you were talking about? Corpse and slum?


Eum, it is sudden but…


Why are doing that all of a sudden?

They left the palace with dignity just moments ago.
However, now they had to go to a slum.
Dolseok sighed.

…But this is the best way. Would you like to stop at the stage, squeezing the pus out of an abscess and finishing the suture?
With Ganghyuk’s remark, Yeoni was startled.

Eo? Do we operate with the corpse?


Call it to autopsy. Do not say corpse.


So do we do the same thing?


Yes, I am not teaching Dr. Heo only. You are also my students.


Ah, I am honored to be called your students, but…

Yeoni did not finish her sentence.
Ganghyuk did not like her attitude.

Did you learn this kind of attitude from Dolseok? Why are you raising an objection?


No, I don’t object, sir, but I am afraid of dead bodies.


You kill many people with your sword. Now you’re telling me you’re afraid? Funny.


The battlefield is one thing, it’s different. I am afraid of touching a dead body.


It is okay. You will be accustomed to it soon. I will help you.


Eum…Okay, if you will help me, I can do it.

Although Ganghyuk said they would go right away, they could not go posthaste.
He must wait until Gwanghae fully recovered.
He could not leave the prince unattended although he really wanted to make them practice soon.
Therefore, Ganghyuk had to go to the palace to check on the prince personally for the meantime.
‘It seems that I come to the palace more often now than Hangbok.’
From what it looked like, it felt as if he already had a public office.
He examined the wrist of Gwanghae carefully.
The operation went well, and Gwanghae was very happy with it.

I don’t have pain at all.


That is good. It seems good to me, too.


Then can I use it now?

Ganghyuk looked at the rock behind Gwanghae.
It seemed that he had already painted and erased it considering how polished the rock was.
Ganghyuk nodded his head without telling what he had noticed.

Yes, you can, Your Highness.


Em, good. I heard you would go to Bojewon to serve the poor for a while.


Ah, yes.


You are great. You must be in public office…

Gwanghae did not know of Ganghyuk’s intention, so Gwanghae praised him.
Ganghyuk bent his body to hide his embarrassment.

No, Your Highness.


I asked them to give all the convenience you would need. If you have any other inconvenience in Bojewon, let me know. I will resolve it as much as I can.


Thank you, Your Highness.


Em, I cannot see you for a while. I will miss you.


If you have any discomfort, please let me know. I will come at once.


Ok. I will. Take care.


Yes, Your Highness.

Ganghyuk left the palace.
Now the excellent doctor would go to the slum.
With his real intention hidden deep beneath his saint-like facade.