Chapter 147: Exhausted Peng Kun!
“So you’re saying Professor Tong Yuan’an extended the assistance period, but Director Peng of Orthopedics doesn’t even know about it?”
“Then his position in the hospital? Isn’t that very awkward?” Inside Unit 12, Apartment 2002 at Chengxin Plaza, Mu Nanshu and Lu Cheng sat facing the window.
A cup of green tea was placed in front of Lu Cheng, while Mu Nanshu held a bottle of soda water, drinking slowly.
The night lights outside were dim, and the incandescent lights in the house cast their silhouettes against the floor-to-ceiling window, like two people drinking under the moon.
“I don’t know about those things, but what I can figure is that Director Peng Haibo is the director of orthopedics because the hospital needs one.”
“It’s not that he’s the director of orthopedics in Long County, and orthopedics at Long County People’s Hospital could be better.”
“This position itself carries a certain influence, but this influence doesn’t solely belong to Director Peng Haibo.”
“At least not long-term.” When Lu Cheng was in orthopedics, he simply didn’t have the opportunity to be involved in surgeries, which didn’t mean Lu Cheng couldn’t understand the goings-on in the county hospital.
Peng Haibo’s generation benefited from the times; in their era, as long as one was willing to study, they generally had good future prospects.
But with the development of the times, Long County People’s Hospital has also been developing.
There are Master’s degrees, and more and more people with academic qualifications, ability, and connections. If Peng Haibo’s generation cannot keep up with the pace of the times, they will eventually be phased out.
The more society develops, the more granular the division of resources will become! Without a certain level of ability and strength, one will be eliminated sooner or later.
“What about you? Will this affect you?” Mu Nanshu asked.
“It’s hard to say if it will have an impact yet. But no matter what the impact, I won’t be able to stay here much longer.”
“As you said, our county doesn’t have the conditions for scientific research at all, there’s no such thing as a laboratory.”
“During the time you and I are in Long County, we must go to the prefecture to find a laboratory to conduct preliminary research for applying for a research project.”
“My task is to diligently learn some techniques, use those techniques to faithfully work my shifts, and provide assistance to patients who need my technical help.” Lu Cheng’s mindset was stable.
Lu Cheng didn’t feel that Peng Haibo and Peng Kun were wronged. In fact, given Peng Kun’s family background and strength, if Peng Kun were truly talented and capable, he could have stayed at a top-tier hospital.
All the conditions were provided. If he couldn’t make it on his own, who could he blame?
Many people started with a lower starting point than Peng Kun, and Peng Haibo couldn’t look after Peng Kun his entire life; this was obvious.
In front of Lu Cheng, Peng Haibo was indeed a formidable obstacle that Lu Cheng couldn’t overcome at present.
But in front of others, Peng Haibo was just a director of orthopedics. As for who Peng Kun was, they didn’t know at all, and wouldn’t care even if they did.
As they were talking, his mother, Tian Hui, sent a video call.
Lu Cheng picked up his mobile phone and showed it to Mu Nanshu. Mu Nanshu didn’t shy away, she just picked up her water bottle and drank slowly again.
“Son, have you had dinner yet?” Tian Hui’s face squeezed into the video, occupying about half of the screen.
It was in Lu Cheng’s old home, a two-story self-built house.
“I’ve eaten already. I’m having fruit at Uncle Mu’s place now.” Lu Cheng turned the video towards Mu Nanshu.
“Aunt Tian, good evening… You’re not resting yet…” Mu Nanshu put down her water glass and called out sweetly.
“We were just about to rest. Xiao Shu, you’re back? When did you get back? Come over for dinner in a couple of days.” Tian Hui said quickly.
“I just got back yesterday, Aunt Tian. Then I’ll visit you in a couple of days and go grocery shopping with you.” Mu Nanshu said generously; she had known Tian Hui for many years.
“No need. You young people are busy with your things, I’ll go grocery shopping… The main thing is that your Uncle Lu and I are going back to our hometown for a wedding banquet today… otherwise, you could have come today.”
“Auntie will make your favorite beef and tofu strips,” Tian Hui explained.
“Aunt Tian, it’ll be the same in a couple of days…”
“It’s a bit noisy here… Xiao Shu, what did you just say?” Tian Hui moved to a different spot, away from the music and fanfare of the funeral…
Mu Nanshu chatted with Tian Hui for nearly twenty minutes before hanging up.
Lu Cheng and Tian Hui only spoke for twenty seconds.
Of course, Lu Cheng didn’t find this strange. Putting down his phone, Lu Cheng said, “Shudu, if we want to formally work on a research project for tendon suturing techniques, is the procedure quite troublesome?”
“Of course it’s troublesome. Firstly, the research project needs approval from the Ethics Committee before animal and clinical trials can be conducted. Naturally, it also needs to pass approval procedures from the hospital and other bodies.”
“Naturally, the chief surgeon in clinical practice also has a certain degree of autonomy, so it’s not that troublesome. The most urgent thing now is funding, money.”
“We must get the money to do the research project!” Mu Nanshu emphasized the priorities.
“Even if you’re willing to pay upfront, the amount you pay now cannot be reimbursed from the funding to cover the deficit.”
Mu Nanshu looked at Lu Cheng as she said this: “So, if I hadn’t come back with you, this research project would most likely have been taken by Professor Tong Yuan’an, with you as the first author and him as the corresponding author.”
Mu Nanshu had also given Lu Cheng a general overview of research project collaboration, so Lu Cheng said, “So, what we need to do now is use some of Professor Tong’s funding for preliminary experiments, then use the results of these preliminary experiments to apply for the research project, and then use the project funding for more animal experiments and clinical trials?”
“Right!” Mu Nanshu nodded.
“For a new technology, from research and development to formal application in clinical practice, it must go through a long period.”
“This is for the protection of patients, and also for the protection of the surgeon.”
“That’s indeed quite troublesome. After such a long preparation period, it just becomes a few thousand words in a paper.” Lu Cheng finally had a conceptual framework for writing papers.
Mu Nanshu added, “It also depends on the type of paper. Some are superficial papers that can be produced on a computer, such as meta-analyses or bioinformatics analyses.”
“Some require a great deal of time, money, and effort to collect usable data.”
“The data you obtained earlier is just a prelude to the research project; it only proves that this direction is generally effective, but the specific sample size is insufficient, and it’s not real clinical data.”
“If there are deviations in animal experiments, or species differences in clinical trials, then this research project will most likely be stillborn.”
“However, papers related to techniques rarely encounter such situations. Generally, basic research projects are more prone to significant deviations.”
“My suggestion is that you should complete a portion of this research project bidding document yourself to gain some experience. You will likely have to do it alone in the future.”
Mu Nanshu looked into Lu Cheng’s eyes and said, “Of course, I will track it throughout, as I also need to write bidding documents myself…”
Lu Cheng chuckled, “Of course I have to write it myself. This time I’ll try to learn how to write bidding documents, otherwise, if I invent any new surgeries in the future, I won’t know how to announce them.”
“That would be so awkward.”
“Next time?”
Mu Nanshu said, “You’re quite confident, aren’t you? You’re already thinking about another opportunity to improve the technique?”
Suturing Specialty Skills: Modified Kessler Suturing Technique (Mastery 0/20), Modified Tang Method Suturing Technique (Mastery 6/20)… Spleen Parenchyma Suturing Technique (Beginner 2/5)…
Spleen parenchyma suturing technique, Lu Cheng had never heard of this before.
“There should be,” Lu Cheng replied confidently.
As Lu Cheng was replying, the phone rang. Lu Cheng had saved the caller’s name as Peng Kun.
Lu Cheng thought for a moment and then answered: “Young Master Kun…”
“Brother Lu, please don’t mock me!” Although Peng Kun’s voice was smiling, the fatigue in his words was undeniable.
“Brother Lu, it’s like this, Professor Tong…”
Lu Cheng picked up his teacup and said calmly, “Young Master Kun, what you’re saying is a bit too serious.”
“I’m just a junior doctor, I can’t meet the high standards you’re talking about.”
“Young Master Kun, my teaching ability is far inferior to Professor Tong’s; I can’t teach you.”
After Peng Kun finished explaining Professor Tong Yuan’an’s arrangements, he then told Lu Cheng that he wanted to follow Lu Cheng’s rotation, hoping Lu Cheng would give him an opportunity.
Peng Kun spoke nicely, but his actions were a bit messed up.
Lu Cheng was not Tong Yuan’an; if Peng Kun made a mistake, he couldn’t cover for him.
Therefore, Lu Cheng could only do this: he couldn’t afford to provoke such a person, but he could avoid him.
Lu Cheng had known before that Peng Kun was someone who enjoyed “social graces,” but Lu Cheng’s attitude had always been clear: he wouldn’t let Peng Kun take the lead before earning his approval.
Later, when Peng Kun received guidance from Professor Tong Yuan’an, he stopped associating with Lu Cheng!
So now, Lu Cheng certainly wouldn’t go back and pick up where they left off.
“Brother Lu, you know the situation in our orthopedics department; I can only break through from hand surgery.”
“I did something foolish last night and angered Professor Tong, but I promise it won’t happen again,” Peng Kun said seriously.
Lu Cheng interrupted, “Hey, Young Master Kun, you don’t need to promise me anything!”
“I can’t be a teacher, so your promise to me is useless. You need to promise Professor Tong.”
“He’s the professor with excellent teaching abilities. I’m only half-baked myself, how could I teach students well?”
Peng Kun pressed on: “Brother Lu…”
Lu Cheng’s tone was decisive: “Young Master Kun, don’t say any more. We’re both junior doctors, just trying to get by under our superiors.”
“Not to mention we’re the same age, who would obey whom? I can’t teach, I can’t teach. You can’t force me, can you? Right?”
“There are still many opportunities to learn, such as private tutoring classes, advanced study classes, and so on.”
I spent money to learn techniques! Although it was paid for by the department, that’s still money, time, and energy, isn’t it?
You are Peng Haibo’s son, so you’re special?
Besides, it’s not like no one has ever angered their teacher!
Professor Chen Song is still angry right now, and Lu Cheng hasn’t figured out how to deal with it.
“Brother Lu, I’m sorry to bother you.” Peng Kun was also a smart person and stopped trying to guilt-trip Lu Cheng.
Lu Cheng didn’t owe Peng Kun anything.
Willingness to teach was a favor; unwillingness to teach was his right.
Mu Nanshu listened quietly as Lu Cheng and Peng Kun discussed their current situation, not interjecting.
Even after the phone call ended, she didn’t ask about Peng Kun: “When are you planning to go back?”
“It’s already past nine o’clock, and you still have to go out to get your car.”
Lu Cheng thought for a moment and joked, “There’s no one at home, do I have to go back?”
Mu Nanshu immediately tensed up, pulled her legs in, her pupils contracting slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she shook her head: “I haven’t made the bed here, and the quilt is my parents’.”
“If you don’t mind, you can sleep in the master bedroom.”
The house at Chengxin Plaza was where Mu Nanshu’s parents lived permanently in Long County, not Mu Nanshu’s personal space.
The houses in Long County were all very large. With two master bedrooms and two secondary bedrooms, there was still a spacious living room.
The housing prices were not expensive; a 180-square-meter apartment cost less than 700,000 yuan.
“Why would I sleep in the master bedroom?” Lu Cheng’s face showed a mischievous smile.
Mu Nanshu looked at Lu Cheng seriously for a few moments: “There’s no reason… You should go back and sleep.”
“You have somewhere to live, don’t you?”
“Oh… did Uncle and Auntie install cameras here?” Lu Cheng suddenly understood the reason.
Mu Nanshu explained naturally: “The house is often empty, so we need to install cameras for safety.”
Just as Lu Cheng was about to reply, a message from Tian Zhuang made him swallow the words that were on his lips. He quickly took out his phone and showed it to Mu Nanshu: “Look, here’s another tendon injury case. I have to go back now even if I didn’t want to.”
Mu Nanshu, on the other hand, seemed relieved, stuck out her tongue, proudly puffed out her chest, and said playfully, “Who told you not to cherish the opportunity?”
“Now?”
The day Lu Cheng first went to Hanshi City, Mu Nanshu hadn’t planned to return, but Lu Cheng insisted on taking her back.
“No more joking, I have to go for surgery. I’ll pick you up tomorrow to come to my place. I have Professor Tong’s work ID, so I can download literature from Central South University’s library,” Lu Cheng said as he stood up.
Mu Nanshu also stood up: “As if Huake’s library can’t download literature.”
Lu Cheng slapped his forehead: “Right… I completely forgot about that.”
Mu Nanshu softly hummed: “You just didn’t dare to think about it before, did you?”
“Before, I didn’t dare to indulge in wishful thinking.”
“Without anything substantial in hand, how could I sell the future?” Lu Cheng didn’t argue and turned to leave.
Mu Nanshu only walked Lu Cheng to the door; she didn’t accompany him downstairs like she had in Hanshi City.
What Mu Nanshu had predicted happened. A few minutes after Lu Cheng left her apartment, her mother’s video call came.
Mu Nanshu answered the video call with a smile: “He’s gone, he’s gone, everyone’s gone.”
“Xiao Shu, I’m afraid you’ll be at a disadvantage,” Mu Nanshu’s mother’s eyes darted around.
Mu Nanshu sat cross-legged, looking completely revitalized: “When you asked me to go on a blind date a while ago, Mom, you didn’t say that.”
Mu Nanshu’s mother was silent for a moment, then said, “Have you really made up your mind? Little Lu’s starting point is a bit low now.”
“If you two end up together in the future, it might be hard to find a common ground.”
Her mother’s considerations were valid, but Mu Nanshu had something to say: “Then tell me, how did I get to return to Long County on paid leave?”
“This is something even I can’t do.”
“I told you, he’ll definitely find a way.”
