Chapter 44 – The Best Actress of the Era (1)

Seoul Station.

“Ji-hyuk!”

Shin Jung-eun waved her hand warmly upon seeing Ji-hyuk.

She had come up to Seoul after hearing the news that a renowned American anesthesiologist, Dr. Scholes, was giving a lecture at Korea University.

“Yes! Senior!”

Ji-hyuk also waved his arms in greeting when he saw Shin Jung-eun.

“You must have had a hard time traveling here!”

“What hard time? I couldn’t sleep for a few days at the thought of meeting Professor Scholes.”

Hehe, Shin Jung-eun laughed brightly.

“The weather is chilly, shall we go to a tearoom and have a cup of tea?”

“Sounds good.”

A moment later, a nearby tearoom.

“How are Grandma Mi-seon and Chul-woo doing?”

Ji-hyuk was most curious about the well-being of Grandma Mi-seon’s house.

“Of course! Grandma is healthy too! By the way, Chul-woo ranked first in the whole school in this exam!”

“Wow! Really?”

“Of course! Chul-woo studies incredibly well. Do you know how hard he studies to become your junior, Ji-hyuk?”

“Our Chul-woo, he’s admirable! Korea University’s medical school won’t be that easy, will it?”

“Hahaha, in my view, it’s fully possible with Chul-woo’s grades.”

“Last year, in the case of our school’s medical school, nine hundred people applied for one hundred and twenty spots. Even though it was during the war. It won’t be easy.”

“Don’t look down on our Chul-woo too much! You will see next year. He might even enter at the top of his class.”

“Hehehe, is that so?”

“Of course! Our Chul-woo is a prodigy recognized even in Busan.”

“Wow! To that extent? By the way, how about you, Senior? Is the hospital work manageable?”

“Manageable, my foot…”

Whew, Shin Jung-eun let out a long sigh at the mention of the hospital.

“Why? Did something happen?”

“I have to fight with general surgeons every time over the issue of preanesthetic medication. I wish the anesthesia department would become independent. Having to get the surgeon’s consent for every surgery is highly inconvenient. Every time I prescribe preanesthetic medication, the surgeons nitpick over every little detail.”

It was not until 1957 that the anesthesia department became independent from general surgery and recognized as an independent department.

“It’s because general surgeons are ignorant! The anesthesia department will become independent in a few years, so just endure until then.”

“In what era? I don’t even dream of the anesthesia department’s independence.”

‘Don’t worry! In just four years, the anesthesia department will become independent, and you, Senior Jung-eun, will grow into a giant of South Korea’s anesthesia department!’

“Should I hold a placard and protest in front of Gyeongmudae? Asking them to please make the anesthesia department independent from general surgery?”

“Hehehe, anyway, your playfulness is still the same, Ji-hyuk!”

Shin Jung-eun smiled warmly as if she didn’t dislike it.

“There’s nothing I can’t do! Are there any other grievances? If there are, tell me. I’ll put those on the placard too!”

“Hahaha, after going up to Seoul, you’ve become even more slick, Ji-hyuk!”

Shin Jung-eun smiled brightly.

“Hehe. Is that so? It’s just that I miss the life in Busan!”

“Whew, the National Medical Center must be the same, but really, if you look at the day of the surgery, it’s a spectacle. There is no other comedy like it.”

“Why?”

Curious, Ji-hyuk pulled his chair closer.

“Oh, I told them to fast and not to eat rice, and yet there are patients who come after eating foods other than rice…”

“Wh-what?”

Ji-hyuk didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Absurdly, they ask what if the patient gets hungry during a long surgery… My mind went completely blank.”

“This is crazy. How could such a thing happen?”

“Children are even more of a spectacle. When the preanesthetic medication doesn’t work and the child wakes up and starts playing hide-and-seek… the hospital turns upside down.”

Such was the reality of the times.

Not only were there few anesthesiologists who had received proper training, but it was also difficult to procure anesthetics and anesthesia tools.

Even in the late 1950s and early 1960s, because there were no wire masks, they bought a mesh ladle used for straining soybean paste and modified it to use as an anesthesia mask.

Even during surgery, there were more than a few cases where the anesthesia machine malfunctioned and broke down, halting the surgery.

“Oh my goodness!”

Kim Ji-hyuk slapped his forehead as if he were at a loss for words.

“If only we had chloroform, anesthesia would have been easier, but that drug isn’t even supplied down to Busan.”

“Absolutely not chloroform! It can cause hepatic necrosis and sudden cardiac arrest!”

“Oh? Re-really?”

“Yes. You must never use chloroform as an anesthetic! We must prevent its import at all costs.”

“I see!”

Even at that time, since the toxicity of chloroform was not proven, there were quite a few cases of death while using it as an anesthetic. It was rather fortunate that they did not import chloroform due to the worst economic situation.

“Yes. Soon chloroform will be a banned drug. Ketamine will enter the country soon. That will be much safer! So you must never think of using chloroform!”

Kim Ji-hyuk shook his head firmly in a decisive tone.

“Oh! How do you know such things?”

Jung-eun looked at Ji-hyuk in wonder.

“Well, just because. I like looking up miscellaneous things.”

“Aha! Major John Eisenhower must be sending you American materials?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. That’s right.”

Ji-hyuk glossed it over.

“As expected! Your connections are indeed good! I envy you, Ji-hyuk. You will be able to go to America and experience advanced medicine later.”

‘No! If there is such an opportunity, you should be the one to go, Senior. Since you stubbornly became South Korea’s best anesthesiologist even in this poor environment, how much more would you grow if you studied in America? I will make sure to give you that opportunity!’

“Hehehe, well, that’s a story for later… That’s that, but I have two Gukgeuk tickets here…”

Kim Ji-hyuk proudly placed the Gukgeuk tickets on the table.

“Gukgeuk? Please don’t tell me it’s Chunhyangjeon starring the actress Mi-ryeong! My heart feels like it’s going to burst!”

Before he could even speak, Shin Jung-eun caught her breath.

“It is, though? Chunhyangjeon starring actress Mi-ryeong…”

Scream—

Even though only the word ‘Chun’ came out, she screamed in excitement.

‘What? Is she a sasaeng fan? Even Blackpink or BTS wouldn’t match this.’

“Why, why are you like this? Calm down, Senior! You shouldn’t do this here!”

Embarrassed, Kim Ji-hyuk looked around.

Whew—

Placing her hand on her chest, she took a deep breath.

“I am a total fan of actress Mi-ryeong! Was it last year? Mi-ryeong came down to Busan once. I completely lost my mind seeing her perform then!”

Shin Jung-eun still could not calm her excitement.

“…….”

“Why? Weren’t you planning to go watch it with me? Please, tell me yes.”

She brought her hands together and looked at him pleadingly. She looked exactly like an emoticon from CoconutsTalk.

“Haha, yes. Let’s go watch it together. Do your business and let’s meet in front of the Myeonghwa Theater in Yeongdeungpo the day after tomorrow. I’ll draw a map for you.”

“Hooray! Really? No backing out, okay?”

She smiled brighter than anything. It seemed he hadn’t seen her look this happy in recent times.

“Of course. Let’s go watch it together.”

“It feels like a dream! To think I can see the actress Mi-ryeong in Seoul! She will probably appear as Yi Mong-ryong, and once you see her, Ji-hyuk, you will fall deeply for her charm too!”

“Yes…”

‘Ah, what is this disappointing feeling? Don’t tell me I’m jealous of the actress Mi-ryeong? No, that can’t be…’

Ji-hyuk shook his head to disperse the useless thoughts.

In that way, the two met at Seoul Station, shared tea and a meal.

After promising to watch the Gukgeuk performance together on Saturday, Shin Jung-eun returned to Korea University College of Medicine in Dongsung-dong, and Ji-hyuk returned to the National Medical Center.

* * *

Director Lee Tae-soo’s office.

“Sit down.”

Early the next morning, Director Lee Tae-soo summoned Kim Ji-hyuk.

“Yes, Director!”

“You’ve been working hard lately, right?”

“No. I am fine.”

“Well, how could it not be hard? The chief we brought with difficulty turned out to be a quack and a fake doctor.”

Groan—

Director Lee Tae-soo’s expression distorted.

“Wasn’t it an unavoidable thing?”

“Yes. It is the pain of this era. Anyway, Chief Heo… no, Heo Jeong-tae was handed over to the prosecution and arrested.”

“Yes, I see.”

“Right. Since he played with citizens’ lives, shouldn’t he receive a fittingly severe punishment?”

“Indeed.”

“Anyway, leaving that aside, there is good news. You will probably be surprised.”

Director Lee Tae-soo changed his expression and smiled.

“Yes? What is it?”

“We have decided to bring in Professor Jeong Gi-ryeo from Korea University as the Chief of Surgery for our hospital!”

“Yes? P-Professor Jeong Gi-ryeo? Is that true?”

Thump, thump—

Kim Ji-hyuk’s heart began to race.

‘To think I can serve Professor Jeong Gi-ryeo as my mentor!’

Called the Schweitzer of Korea, he was someone who had dedicated his life to the poor populace.

At the thought of serving him, who had donated all his assets for countless poor patients, as his mentor, Kim Ji-hyuk was filled with emotion.

“Yes. Do you know how hard I worked to invite Professor Jeong? There was no other invitation as arduous as that. That gentleman’s stubbornness is no ordinary thing! I was breaking a sweat, I tell you.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much, Director!”

“Is it that good?”

Director Lee Tae-soo looked at Kim Ji-hyuk with a pleased expression.

“Of course! It was truly my dream to serve under Professor Jeong Gi-ryeo!”

Kim Ji-hyuk could not hide his excitement with a flushed expression.

“Haha, yes, yes. Since his character is outstanding and his skill is second to none, learn a lot.”

“Yes! Then when is Professor Jeong coming?”

“What is the rush? Since he has things to organize, he will probably be able to come to our hospital next month.”

“Understood!”

“Haha, is it really that good? By the way, I have one more piece of news to deliver to you.”

Director Lee Tae-soo’s expression became slightly serious.

“Please speak.”

“Well… this is a top-secret matter, but I heard Vice President Nixon of the United States is visiting next month on the twelfth. This secret must never leak out.”

‘Vice President Nixon? Vice President Nixon visited our country?’

“Yes. But what does that have to do with me…”

“I don’t know the reason well, but they said Vice President Nixon specifically requested to see you once.”

“Yes? Me?”

“Yes. A few days ago, a contact came directly from Gyeongmudae. They said President Syngman Rhee is personally keeping an eye on it. When I asked for the reason, they said they couldn’t share it, but do you have any ideas?”

Director Lee Tae-soo asked curiously.

“No. I don’t know well.”

Kim Ji-hyuk shook his head slowly.

“I see. I have no idea why Gyeongmudae is personally stepping forward.”

Director Lee Tae-soo had an anxious expression.

“It won’t be a big deal. What business would they have with a mere general surgeon?”

Kim Ji-hyuk tried to reassure Director Lee Tae-soo.

“Yes, yes. Anyway, they say it is a matter being processed in top secret at Gyeongmudae, so keep your mouth shut. Keep that in mind.”

“Yes, Director!”

‘Hmm, it probably has to do with President Eisenhower… Could it be about the commercialization of seaweed soup? Surely they wouldn’t look for me for such a reason? Well, what could it be? I’ll find out when I meet him!’

Although he had a hunch, Kim Ji-hyuk was cautious.

* * *

Saturday, Myeonghwa Theater.

Shin Jung-eun and Kim Ji-hyuk, who had promised to watch the Gukgeuk performance together.

“Ji-hyuk, over here!”

She was waiting, having arrived beforehand.

In a fluttering, beautiful dress, she seemed to have put on some makeup.

She was not the Senior Shin Jung-eun he usually saw.