Chapter 181: The ‘fair’ Messenger
In the Vascular Suturing competition arena, Professor Tong Yuan’an and Associate Professor Xie Ziyuan are both part of the Referee Panel.
Xie Ziyuan has a well-proportioned physique and a refined face. After listening to a doctorate recipient’s report, he raised an eyebrow in surprise for a moment, then walked towards Tong Yuan’an, saying, “Brother Tong, Xiao Li said Lu Cheng’s name is topping the list again.”
“This time the score is even more exaggerated, it seems to have exceeded one hundred points.”
Tong Yuan’an is an Associate Professor in the Hand Surgery Department at Xiangya Hospital. He is over the age limit and not participating, serving as one of the hosts for the competition. Xie Ziyuan is one of the two individuals recommended by Xiangya Hospital’s Hand Surgery Department to participate, earning a spot in the national competition without needing to compete.
While the competition is ongoing, referees cannot engage in gossip. However, during the rotation change after a competition concludes, referees are permitted to gossip.
Tong Yuan’an sat upright, crossed his legs, and nodded gently: “Mm.”
Xie Ziyuan’s refined face appeared slightly distorted, looking very young: “Brother Tong, you guessed it?”
“Then do you know which competition Xiao Lu topped this time?”
Tong Yuan’an looked up, his plump face a mixture of seriousness and amiability, and replied in an aged tone: “I know. He probably went to mess around in General Surgery.”
Xie Ziyuan then confirmed that Tong Yuan’an knew everything, a wry smile on his face: “Then why didn’t you say so earlier, Brother Tong?”
“Why should I have said it earlier?”
Tong Yuan’an retorted to Xie Ziyuan: “I’ve been wondering for a long time, why can’t I let you all be confused for even longer?”
“For the sake of fairness, everyone should start from the same starting line and run the same distance.”
“Besides, I’ve actually hinted at it to you all before.”
Xie Ziyuan’s lips twitched, and his well-defined features contorted slightly.
Xie Ziyuan is also an Associate Professor at Xiangya Hospital, but his position is somewhat awkward.
Tong Yuan’an is older than him and technically better, while Han Yun Shen is younger but technically even better.
“Brother Tong, that sounds too unbelievable. Xiao Lu? He actually.” Xie Ziyuan’s tone was filled with astonishment.
Xie Ziyuan knew that Lu Cheng had independently developed a Tendon Suturing Technique, and he also knew that this technique was very powerful, capable of achieving a Dimensional Strike.
Therefore, it was expected that Lu Cheng would top the charts in the Tendon Suturing track.
This type of competition is about the original capabilities of each hospital. If you cannot come up with something new, even if you perfect your technique, you will only be a runner-up.
Because common, public knowledge can be learned by everyone.
Only originality, and effective originality, can achieve a Dimensional Strike and stand out, but achieving this effect is very difficult.
Xiangya Hospital’s tendon suturing will have an advantage, as the Tong method suturing, jointly developed by Professor Tan and Tong Yuan’an, is slightly superior to the improved Tang method. This way, individuals of the same skill level using the Tong method will obtain better data than those using the improved Tang method.
Competition is not clinical practice; it does not require adherence to clinical safety, only the test data of the competition.
If it is effective and passes various tests, it can become a surgical procedure. If its clinical safety is ineffective, it becomes a “front wave” that is “crushed without a trace”…
Xie Ziyuan never would have imagined that Lu Cheng could still achieve something in Parenchymal Organ Suturing.
“Does Director Tan know about this?” Xie Ziyuan quickly reacted and asked again.
“Whether he knows or not is no longer important. When I first recommended him to Director Tan and my Master, they didn’t have a particularly good attitude.”
“Lu Cheng no longer belongs to our hospital!”
“You complain about hardship when sharing it, and you don’t deserve glory and wealth. Knowing or not knowing is meaningless, it’s utterly useless!” Tong Yuan’an replied directly.
Xie Ziyuan was silent for a long while.
Tong Yuan’an reported Lu Cheng’s situation to two Big Bosses: one was Professor Tan Zhongyuan, and the other was Old Professor Zhou Yuhui.
However, the feedback from both old professors was quite limited.
In contrast, Professor Zhong from Xiehe Hospital had already made favorable “promises” before Lu Cheng’s rise.
“117 points, this score is enough to be written into history! At least for decades, it’s unlikely anyone can break it, unless there’s a special opportunity,” Xie Ziyuan stated with certainty after clearly seeing the large screen image transmitted by a student from his department.
Unlike the scoring in the Tendon Suturing arena, Lu Cheng’s score in the Parenchymal Organ Suturing track exceeded the maximum possible score.
This is related to the competition format, proving that Lu Cheng’s breakthrough in suturing techniques surpassed even the expected maximum score within their specialty.
“217 points is also useless, Xie Ziyuan. Lu Cheng’s current affiliation belongs to Xiehe Hospital. His girlfriend has been assigned to work with him on a research project by Professor Zhong of Xiehe Hospital’s Hand Surgery Department.”
“His girlfriend is from the Gastroenterology Department Laboratory. To be assigned from such a distance, how much effort did that take?” Tong Yuan’an used objective evidence to confirm this.
Tong Yuan’an hadn’t used the phrase “sun setting” before because Lu Cheng had never truly risen; he had always been in a low state.
Yet, at this very moment, before anything had happened, Xiehe Hospital showed appreciation for his talent.
Tong Yuan’an knew even more clearly that when he first arrived at Long County People’s Hospital, he received a call from Professor Xie Xiao at Xiehe Hospital.
Regardless of who instructed Xie Xiao to make the call, Tong Yuan’an felt that Lu Cheng was now someone Xiangya Hospital couldn’t poach.
If this call was facilitated by Lu Cheng’s girlfriend, then it was a matter of mutual affection, and Tong Yuan’an did not want to be the villain who broke them up.
Just then, Professor Tan Zhongyuan suddenly appeared at the Vascular Suturing arena.
Seeing that the arena was in a standby period, he walked in directly: “Tong Yuan’an, I heard that the person you brought,
Lu Cheng, is topping both lists single-handedly?”
“What in the world is going on?” Tan Zhongyuan’s eyebrows furrowed in disbelief.
Lu Cheng’s dominance in the Tendon Suturing track was something they had anticipated beforehand, and it was for this reason that Professor Tan Zhongyuan had halted Xiangya Second Hospital’s one-size-fits-all selection system.
To manage the number of participants and prevent people from county hospitals from competing, wasn’t that absurd?
Tan Zhongyuan had long planned for Lu Cheng to use his Hand Surgery Tendon Suturing Technique to impress others and elevate Xiang Province’s status as a major province in tendon suturing.
But?
Tong Yuan’an had apparently not told him that Lu Cheng was also involved in General Surgery.
“I don’t know either, Director Tan.”
“In General Surgery, it has always been Chen Song from Xiangya Second Hospital who has been in contact with Lu Cheng,” Tong Yuan’an said.
“And this competition, the Emergency Department did not participate, and Chen Song did not come to Shashi City.”
Tan Zhongyuan asked: “Have you heard any rumors?”
Tong Yuan’an nodded: “Chen Song is currently on full-time leave and is collaborating with Lu Cheng on a research project.”
Tan Zhongyuan’s eyebrows immediately furrowed: “Why haven’t you told me about this?”
Tong Yuan’an’s voice was not weak at all: “Director Tan, you said yourself not to mention Chen Song anymore, as he has no connection with our Hand Surgery Department?”
Tan Zhongyuan: “…”
Seeing Tong Yuan’an teasing his teacher, Xie Ziyuan quickly intervened to smooth things over: “Brother Tong, for such an important matter, you actually could have mentioned it.”
After all, Tan Zhongyuan was the director and a Big Boss, and Tong Yuan’an didn’t want to argue with him.
“Before Xiao Lu went to E Province, what he requested was an opportunity to go abroad.”
“From when he first started learning Tendon Suturing to mastering our hospital’s technique, it only took two months. This alone shows a lot.”
“That’s why I’ve done this time and time again.”
“However, the main reason is that Chen Song has been obstructing things. He always prevented me from contacting Lu Cheng privately. Otherwise, no matter what, I would have found a way to bring him over.”
“I’ve even tried to trade for him,” Tong Yuan’an replied.
“It’s just that Xiao Lu, this person!” Tong Yuan’an patted his chest: “He has things on his mind.”
“He has his own ideas and goals. Until he figures that out, it’s hard to lure him.”
“What things?” Tan Zhongyuan naturally knew this might be an opportunity to poach Lu Cheng; otherwise, Tong Yuan’an wouldn’t have brought it up without reason.
Tong Yuan’an then recounted what Lu Cheng had told him: “Lu Cheng’s own explanation is that he seeks peace of mind, but from my observation, that should just be his excuse!”
“After all, as an adult, in that situation, if he had to choose between me and Chen Song, and he didn’t want to choose either, he could only find a plausible excuse.”
“What he was initially aiming for was Xiehe Hospital.”
“And…” Tong Yuan’an looked at Tan Zhongyuan.
Tan Zhongyuan immediately responded after listening: “I understand.”
“No wonder Wang Zhe has been calling me so often lately; so that’s what it means.”
“Did Wang Zhe contact you?”
Wang Zhe was Tan Zhongyuan’s student and could have stayed at the hospital back then, but Wang Zhe ran off to Xiehe for ‘love.’ Tan Zhongyuan could only lament him being a romantic.
It was no wonder he made the decision to betray his master.
Wang Zhe was not a defector; he had maintained contact with his alma mater over the years.
“He mentioned it briefly, but not in great detail.”
“Director Tan, I think this might be our only chance. As I said before, I strongly recommend Xiao Lu!”
Tong Yuan’an’s plump face turned serious: “Given his development speed, as long as there’s a good opportunity, he will grow incredibly fast. His future growth ceiling is hard to estimate!”
“In my opinion, we should be direct with Lu Cheng, to avoid him thinking we’re setting him up behind his back.”
“Explaining the situation beforehand is a gesture of goodwill.”
“Playing the wise after the event would be seen as cunning…”
Tan Zhongyuan stroked his chin: “Actually, I have a good relationship with Teacher Zhong. I’ve always regarded him as a teacher.”
“But a teacher is a teacher, and his institution is large; they don’t care about one or two individuals.”
“Tong Yuan’an, try to invite him over tonight. I’ll push back my dinner engagement…”
Tong Yuan’an said: “I still have two competitions.”
“Well, Xie Ziyuan, call Professor Liao and ask him to substitute for Tong Yuan’an,” Tan Zhongyuan reacted quickly.
“Try to invite Xiao Lu over for dinner.”
“This time… we must strike first.”
Although Associate Professor Xie Ziyuan followed Professor Liao Fan, he was also genuinely a student of Professor Tan Zhongyuan, and Wang Zhe’s junior brother: “Master, will Brother Zhe be deceiving us?”
“Is Professor Zhong of Xiehe Hospital really using a raising-gu mode?”
“Stop talking nonsense and get to work. Call Liao Fan!”
“Never mind, I’ll call him myself,” Tan Zhongyuan said.
…
After Tan Zhongyuan left, Xie Ziyuan and Tong Yuan’an looked at each other. Tong Yuan’an’s expression was calm, while Xie Ziyuan’s was somewhat anxious.
After vigorously rubbing his chin, Xie Ziyuan said, “Brother Tong, what if Xiao Lu has no intention of coming to our hospital?”
“That would be his personal choice. Are we going to forcibly tie him down?”
“I’ll go check the subsequent data measurements.”
“Once things are settled with Professor Liao, send me a message, and I’ll go have a serious talk with Xiao Lu again,” Tong Yuan’an turned and headed towards the backstage of the arena.
…
“Why isn’t anyone answering when the call is connected?” Professor Cao Qianwei of Xiangya Second Hospital’s General Surgery Department was hiding and repeatedly calling Lu Cheng’s phone, but it kept showing “temporarily unavailable,” making him slightly agitated.
After making seven or eight calls, one of his students called him: “Master, Lu Cheng has gone to the Nerve Suturing arena and is preparing for the competition.”
“His phone might have been collected.”
“What competition is he even in? Where is he? Is he still at the Nerve Suturing arena? I’m going to find him now,” Cao Qianwei shouted.
He felt that this Lu Cheng didn’t even know what he had done, yet he was still competing.
Two minutes later.
“Hello, do we know each other?”
“Who are you?” Lu Cheng pushed away the hand of a stranger, an older middle-aged man, and stepped back a few paces.
“My name is Cao Qianwei. Doctor Lu, I need to discuss something with you in detail. Would you like to go for a cup of tea?”
“Your phone has also been unreachable.”
Anyone who knew the name Cao Qianwei would know he is the chief director of General Surgery at Xiangya Second Hospital, currently a Big Shot in Xiangya Second Hospital’s surgery department, second only to Professor International Stretch.
The problem was that Lu Cheng didn’t recognize him and didn’t have time to recognize such a Big Shot. In Lu Cheng’s cognition, the Big Boss he knew was Director Xiang Dongshan of the Emergency Department.
“I have a competition to participate in… Teacher Cao, it’s not very convenient,” Lu Cheng replied.
“Your competition here is meaningless. Come with me, and we can chat,” Cao Qianwei’s expression was a little stiff, but after the stiffness, he became polite.
This is a great opportunity. Someone waiting in line with Lu Cheng, fearing Lu Cheng wouldn’t recognize Cao Qianwei, introduced him: “Brother, this is Teacher Cao, Professor Cao! Hurry up and go for tea, what competition are you even in?”
Lu Cheng cast a kind glance at the person who spoke, but still insisted: “Teacher Cao, I’m here to compete.”
Lu Cheng didn’t want to get entangled with many people, leading to one dramatic confrontation after another. Lu Cheng just wanted to earn money honestly.
Then he could resign and go to school and work.
Lu Cheng is not young anymore. Thinking of earning extra money by performing surgery in his department is impossible. He’ll take any competition prize money he can get.
Cao Qianwei was stunned: “Why are you here to compete?”
“Just for the competition?” Lu Cheng replied.
If Tong Yuan’an hadn’t emphasized it, Lu Cheng would have returned for the prize money.
There are prize monies for provincial competitions as well.
And it’s a grand competition for young physicians, with participants being attending physicians and associate professors, so the prize money for first place in each track is quite substantial.
“Why don’t you just give up competing? I have some good news to discuss with you,” Cao Qianwei decided to be direct.
The suturing techniques Lu Cheng had just demonstrated were enough for Xiangya Second Hospital’s General Surgery to undertake the Spleen Preservation Surgery research project. With such ability, cultivating and recruiting him would be sufficient.
This is a shortcut, barely stepping onto Xiangya Second Hospital’s “Ladder to the Azure Clouds,” a way to recruit without considering academic qualifications.
Cao Qianwei said, pulling Lu Cheng to leave again. He instinctively felt that Lu Cheng would not refuse.
Unexpectedly, Lu Cheng still pushed his hand away.
“Teacher Cao, there are many people here, and I still have a competition. Please don’t make things difficult for me,” Lu Cheng’s voice remained polite, even somewhat helpless.
Cao Qianwei scratched his neck, his voice slightly distorted: “I wanted to discuss your workplace.”
I don’t care where you worked before; it’s definitely not Xiangya. Even if it was Xiangya Third Hospital, Xiangya Second Hospital can poach you, right?
Based on the information Cao Qianwei currently possessed, Lu Cheng wasn’t even part of the Shashi City medical circle, as no one in General Surgery knew him.
In the Shashi City circle, if he wanted to find someone, he should be able to find out, even if they were a surgeon from a health center.
“Teacher Cao, I know, but I’m just here to compete, not to show off.”
“Thank you for your kindness, I appreciate it, but I already have a workplace,” Lu Cheng politely declined again.
Lu Cheng was in line waiting to compete, and Cao Qianwei’s attempt to pull him away happened in the waiting area.
Cao Qianwei appeared normal, not mentally ill, but it seemed the person Cao Qianwei wanted to recruit was not in a normal state.
Such a Big Shot rushing over to discuss his workplace, and even explicitly stating it, yet Lu Cheng says he already has a workplace.
This seemed almost fantastical.
Fortunately, the people in the waiting area were all mature young adults, not prone to exclaiming “fuck” like boys and younger men.
Cao Qianwei’s voice was also not loud, so it didn’t attract the attention of others in the spectator stands!
Cao Qianwei felt a bit of a headache, his legs started to cramp, and his face twitched as his tone rose by half a pitch: “What is your workplace?”
This was clearly him getting a little angry, feeling Lu Cheng was being ignorant.
“I have had contact with teachers at Huazhong Xiehe Hospital,” Lu Cheng replied steadily.
Lu Cheng’s statement made everyone around him suddenly enlightened, their gazes subtly changing as they assessed Lu Cheng’s identity.
Cao Qianwei’s face turned a little red from holding back.
Before coming, he had only considered that if Lu Cheng had some connection with Xiangya Hospital, it would be difficult for him to interfere. But he hadn’t expected Lu Cheng to have connections with people outside the province.
This was a complete blunder, wasn’t it?
“Ahem, ahem, ahem…” Cao Qianwei coughed a few times: “Have you all agreed?”
Cao Qianwei dared not utter a single negative word about Huazhong Xiehe Hospital! At most, he could only mention someone there, but not in such a setting.
“Yes, we agreed beforehand, Teacher Cao,” Lu Cheng replied.
“Alright then…” Cao Qianwei said helplessly and turned to leave.
After walking a few steps away, Cao Qianwei looked back again. Lu Cheng was still sitting respectfully.
Cao Qianwei sighed again, continuing his helplessness.
However, after walking a few more steps, Cao Qianwei noticed someone else approaching Lu Cheng, and Lu Cheng was even chatting and laughing with him.
This person clearly wasn’t from Xiehe Hospital, as he was wearing a staff badge.
Cao Qianwei’s expression instantly turned cold, and he took a photo from afar with his mobile phone, sending it to a group chat: “Find out who these two people are.”
Cao Qianwei was an old man, and there were many people in the photo.
For a moment, no one dared to reply.
However, a subordinate who had previously asked Cao Qianwei knew Lu Cheng from his photo and circled Lu Cheng and Tong Yuan’an.
With the circle narrowed down, someone recognized them.
“This is Professor Tong Yuan’an from Xiangya Hospital’s Hand Surgery Department.”
“Yes, it’s that fat guy from Xiangya Hospital’s Hand Surgery…”
“Teacher Cao, do you want Professor Tong Yuan’an’s phone number? I have it. Shall I call him directly?”
…
If Cao Qianwei wanted to find an associate professor from Hand Surgery, he could directly call and ask them to come over.
“Hand Surgery?” Cao Qianwei’s expression became even more troubled.
Lu Cheng is from Hand Surgery?
This bothered him even more than Lu Cheng being willing to interact with Xiangya Hospital but not with him.
It would be more psychologically comforting if a skilled person who went to Xiangya Hospital’s General Surgery, rather than someone not from General Surgery, had developed a suturing technique for General Surgery.
…
“Teacher Tong, okay, okay. I’ll come after my competition.”
“I don’t expect to get any good results, after all, it’s Nerve Suturing,” Lu Cheng responded immediately after hearing Tong Yuan’an’s intention.
Tong Yuan’an thought carefully: “That may not be the case. If you can truly grasp some essence of Xiehe Hospital’s Nerve Suturing Technique, you might actually score very high.”
“But this way,” Tong Yuan’an mused, if Lu Cheng also scored high in Nerve Suturing, wouldn’t that mean he would occupy three top spots alone?
But what was Lu Cheng afraid of?
He had no intention of staying in Xiang Province in the future… at least, not currently.
“It’s fine, focus on your competition and try to win more prize money,” Tong Yuan’an cursed Chen Song’s son in his mind!
Chen Song’s parents couldn’t be cursed, as they were elders. His wife couldn’t be cursed either, as she was his sister-in-law.
His son could be cursed!
Who the hell told you to teach Lu Cheng to compete for money? You idiot…
After Cao Qianwei and Tong Yuan’an came and left successively, Lu Cheng’s name was finally exposed.
“Doctor Lu, you are Lu Cheng? I’ve heard your name too, in the group chat, everyone is looking you up,” said someone sitting in front of Lu Cheng.
“Doctor Lu, come, let’s add WeChat.”
“Hello, my name is Lu Cheng. Lu is ‘ear east,’ Cheng is ‘successful’,” Lu Cheng introduced himself.
“Doctor Lu, let me add you too.”
Soon, others came to add WeChat.
Lu Cheng wasn’t recommended, so he probably wasn’t from one of the three Xiangya hospitals. He also didn’t have anyone accompanying him, so he likely wasn’t from a large institution like the Provincial People’s Hospital, otherwise, he would definitely be protected by the Big Bosses.
Since he’s a “wild” contestant and achieved such good results, he can at least be an acquaintance; it’s good to be recognized.
The Nerve Suturing competition venue was already set up, and the announcer’s voice reached their ears: “All contestants in the waiting area, please prepare yourselves and enter the competition venue in order…”
