Chapter 94 – Coal Mine Accident (8)

“W-why the finger?”

“Sometimes a finger can be more useful than any surgical instrument. Because it is sharper and more sensitive than the tip of a blade.”

“Ah! There is such a method?”

Do Jun-hwan’s eyes sparkled in wonder.

“Have you never seen it?”

“Yes!”

Do Jun-hwan wore an excited expression.

“Your look says it seems impossible, though?”

“It-it is not that, but since the patient suffers from asthma, you are inserting a finger to drain the pus to avoid straining the lungs as much as possible, right?”

“…”

Kim Ji-hyuk nodded slowly.

Sometimes, a crude method is far more effective.

No matter how much medical devices have developed, they cannot be as accurate as a finger.

Whether in the current year of 1954, or seventy years later in 2024.

“Senior, what on earth is that professor trying to do?”

Another doctor pointed at Kim Ji-hyuk’s fingertips.

“Well. I am also watching.”

“Senior, do you have a moment?”

At that, Kim Ji-hyuk turned his gaze toward Shin Jeong-eun.

“Of course!”

“How are the patient’s vitals?”

Kim Ji-hyuk asked Shin Jeong-eun as he inserted his finger into the mediastinum and probed around.

“His condition isn’t bad. I think you can continue.”

“Good! Dr. Do Jun-hwan, you must stay alert from now on. We are going to close the chest and lay the patient flat now!”

When Shin Jeong-eun sent the okay sign, Kim Ji-hyuk nodded.

“Yes!”

*Gasp—*

The amount of pus pockets drained from the mediastinum alone easily looked to be over 500 cc.

‘Since it was so packed with pus… it would have been a disaster if we were just a bit later!’

“Closing the chest now.”

Kim Ji-hyuk had drained most of the pus filled in the mediastinum.

At that, the nurse handed Kim Ji-hyuk the wire.

Kim Ji-hyuk looped the wire around the split sternum.

He carefully closed the sternum.

“Suture, please.”

“Yes.”

Stitch by stitch.

Kim Ji-hyuk skillfully began suturing the incision site.

“Would Dr. Do Jun-hwan like to do the rest?”

“Me?”

“Yes. I think you can do this much, but if it is too burdensome, I will do it.”

“No. I will try.”

Do Jun-hwan plucked up his courage.

“Good. Keep the needle holder and suture needle as perpendicular as possible.”

“Yes. Understood, Professor!”

“I told you I am not a professor…”

“If you are the one teaching me, you are a professor to me.”

“Sigh, well. Do as you wish. Since the thread loosens on the second tie, pull the first stitch slightly tighter.”

“Yes.”

“Since the flesh will knit properly over time, there is no need to make it too tight.”

Do Jun-hwan sutured the incision site with his best effort. His fingertips were quite dexterous.

“Cut!”

“I will do it.”

*Snip*, Kim Ji-hyuk cut the suture himself.

“Pardon?”

“Why? Is your heart overflowing because I am serving you?”

“Yes!”

“Because you did well. Since you did it calmly and well, I feel proud too!”

“Thank you.”

“Focus until the end!”

“Yes, Professor!”

Do Jun-hwan tied up even the incision closure quite neatly.

“Good work. I will do it from now on.”

“Yes, Professor!”

Do Jun-hwan vacated his spot.

“I wanted to leave it to Dr. Do Jun-hwan to the end, but that is going too far.”

“Yes.”

“Nurse, scalpel, please.”

“Yes.”

*Snip, snip.*

“Observe this well from now on!”

“Yes, Professor!”

A process of starting from the suprasternal notch and making a transverse incision to the left along the superior border of the clavicle.

No matter how dexterous his hands were, it was not a procedure for a resident to perform.

“It is done!”

The smoothly entering scalpel slid all the way to the left end without catching even once.

“Retract!”

“Yes.”

“More!”

“Yes!”

“I cannot see well, could you use a bit more strength? Haven’t you eaten?”

“Ah, no, Professor!”

The esophagus and trachea were not clearly visible.

Do Jun-hwan held the retractor and pulled the incision surface to both sides.

“Damn it, it is completely eroded! Since the esophagus is in this shape, how could the mediastinum remain intact? This patient would have had sepsis if we were just a bit later.”

Inside the mediastinum looked more serious than expected.

“Oh dear, indeed.”

“We are going to scrape it all out from now on!”

“Yes!”

As if trying to learn the procedure even a little, Do Jun-hwan put strength in his eyes.

Once Kim Ji-hyuk secured a view, he began scraping off the pus pockets adhered around the esophagus. It was like scraping off scorched rice stuck to the bottom of a rice pot.

‘He does all that with his fingers! Is he crazy!’

It was a look that was definitely less shocked than before.

Because they had already been as surprised as they could be.

“Now, let us wash it out. Irrigation!”

“Yes, Professor!”

As physiological saline was poured, the pus pockets washed down cleanly like trash swept away in the rainy season, and soon the clean esophagus revealed a brilliant bright red.

“It is finished.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Professor!”

“Doctor Do Jun-hwan, call internal medicine and ask them to check if there is a perforation in the esophagus!”

Injecting methylene blue into the esophagus to check if there was leakage outside the esophagus was the final step.

“Yes. Understood.”

“Once the gastroenterology examination is over, leave the chest tube as is and suture it layer by layer. You can do that well, right?”

“Yes. Understood, Professor!”

“Senior, thank you for your hard work!”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work too, Dr. Ji-hyuk.”

As the surgery wrapped up, Shin Jeong-eun’s expression brightened.

Thus, the surgery was completed successfully.

* * *

A week later, Kyungmudae.

The Moeundong Coal Mine collapse accident that had caused a nationwide stir.

The dedication of Kim Ji-hyuk, Member Yun Tae-ho, and Mirae Construction CEO Jeong Sang-yeong combined to create a miracle of everyone coming out alive without a single casualty.

The media printed the activities of Kim Ji-hyuk and the rescue members day after day, and Kyungmudae could not just sit idle either.

Therefore, President Syngman Rhee directly invited Kim Ji-hyuk and CEO Jeong Sang-yeong to Kyungmudae.

“Doctor Kim Ji-hyuk, CEO Jeong Sang-yeong! Welcome.”

President Syngman Rhee personally welcomed the two.

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“Do not just stand there, let us sit down.”

Kim Ji-hyuk and Jeong Sang-young stood stiffly with somewhat tense expressions. At that, President Syngman Rhee offered them seats with a smile.

“Seeing you two, my heart feels much more reassured. I think South Korea is not dark because there are courageous people like you.”

“You flatter us!”

“We are humbled.”

“Now, now, let us not be like this and have a conversation over a cup of tea.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

President Syngman Rhee personally brewed tea and poured it into their cups.

A moment later.

After a brief refreshment time, President Syngman Rhee opened the conversation.

“CEO Jeong Sang-yeong, you performed a truly great deed. How did you come up with such an admirable idea? It must not have been an easy decision.”

President Syngman Rhee commended Jeong Sang-yeong first.

Setting aside personal gain to participate in rescue operations was certainly not something anyone could do.

“No, Your Excellency! I merely did my job. More than that, I am embarrassed that the construction period for the government contract has been delayed.”

CEO Jeong Sang-yeong waved both hands and blushed.

“What are you talking about? What does it matter if the construction period is extended? Could there be any work more important than saving our people?”

President Syngman Rhee laughed brightly and waved his hand.

“We are humbled. I will make sure we complete the deadline even if we have to work through the night for the remaining period.”

“No! There is no need for that. I will give you ample construction time, so please build a sturdy bridge. In any project, shoddy construction is the problem. If you are pressed for time, issues arise just like in this accident!”

“Would that really be alright?”

“Yes. Is the president of this country a liar!”

“Ah, no. I apologize.”

CEO Jeong Sang-yeong bowed his head.

“And… I hear the loss is large due to severe inflation?”

The construction fee for the bridge was approximately 50 million hwan. This amount was a mammoth-scale construction larger than Mirae Construction’s entire order volume.

But it was merely a hollow shell!

Due to crazy inflation, raw material prices rose, making it impossible to cover the construction costs.

The unit price of oil, which was set at 700 hwan at the time of the contract, rose to 2,300 hwan, more than tripling, and various raw material prices jumped accordingly, reaching a point where 50 million hwan could not cover it.

Even if they finished construction on time, a large deficit was expected; nevertheless, when the coal mine accident occurred, Jeong Sang-yeong halted the construction and carried out rescue operations.

In the end, Jeong Sang-yeong suffered a deficit of approximately 60 million hwan.

It was a deficit so large that the company tottered, to the extent that Jeong Sang-yeong later recalled it took twenty years to pay off the 60 million hwan debt he incurred at this time.

“I believe it was inevitable.”

“Inevitable? I heard your house and company are all mortgaged?”

“You do not need to worry about that. Doing business, there are things like this and things like that. I consider it paying a high tuition fee. Do not worry, Your Excellency!”

Surely, Jeong Sang-yeong was a great man.

Even in this situation, he was not discouraged at all and was trying to overcome the real-world problems.

“*Hahaha*, how can I not worry? Since the national treasury is empty, I cannot compensate for the amount you lost… Let us do this!”

“In what way?”

“Soon, there will be massive US support as part of post-war reconstruction work. Bridges must be built, roads must be opened… There is a mountain of work to do. I need CEO Jeong Sang-yeong to take charge of this work.”

“Pardon?”

“Why are you so surprised? Dams must be built, factories must be constructed… There is a mountain of things CEO Jeong Sang-yeong must do for this country. I hope you will work even harder for the reconstruction of South Korea.”

President Syngman Rhee wore a pleased smile on his lips.

“Your Excellency! Thank you. I will dedicate this body to lead the reconstruction of this country!”

CEO Jeong Sang-yeong sprang up from his seat and bowed.

“Yes. I have high expectations for you, President Jeong. It is a difficult and tough situation. Workers like you must show strength. I hope you will display your abilities to the fullest in the future.”

President Syngman Rhee patted CEO Jeong Sang-yeong on the shoulder.

“I will do my utmost.”

“I have kept a busy man for too long. Go on and attend to your work.”

“Yes, Your Excellency! Then I shall head out now.”

CEO Jeong Sang-yeong glanced at Kim Ji-hyuk and clenched his fist.

A moment later.

“Doctor Kim Ji-hyuk!”

Once CEO Jeong Sang-yeong went out, President Syngman Rhee wore a gentle smile.

“Yes, Your Excellency. Please speak.”

“I feel I owe a great debt to you, Dr. Kim. I do not know how to express my gratitude. You performed a truly noble deed.”

“No. I merely did what I had to do as a doctor.”

“*Hahaha*, both CEO Jeong and Dr. Kim possess great loyalty in loving their fatherland. I am almost ashamed.”

“We are humbled, Your Excellency!”

“Yes. There is a lot I want to do for Dr. Kim. I plan to show as much sincerity as my power allows. If there is anything you want, please tell me.”

President Syngman Rhee stared at Kim Ji-hyuk with a bright face.