Chapter 173: Time Is The Best Wine!
“Mom, I’ve started cooking, and the meat is already cut and in the refrigerator. You can stir-fry it yourself when you get back…”
“I’ll text you if I’m coming back for dinner after I pick up Nanshu,” Lu Cheng texted Tian Hui as he drove to Zhang City.
“It’s fine if I cook for myself when I get back. You should get some good rest,” Tian Hui replied, her tone slightly reproachful, knowing Lu Cheng had worked the night shift.
“There weren’t many emergencies yesterday, so I dozed off in the clinic. I bought you another case of soda water, remember to drink it.”
“There’s hardly any space left in the house.” Lu Cheng sent the message and started driving.
Tian Hui’s voice message came back: “You haven’t finished the ones you bought last time, why did you buy more? Actually, the water you mentioned doesn’t taste good, it has a slight sweetness.”
“Sweet or not, last time you had your physical, the doctor said you have chronic gastritis, so you need to take medicine slowly and take care of yourself.”
“Drinking alkaline water is good. Remember to eat breakfast in the morning, your health is important. I’m counting on you to help me take care of the kids in the future…”
“When is that?” Tian Hui’s interest piqued when this was mentioned.
Lu Cheng didn’t reply further, partly because he was officially on the road, and partly because this was something he couldn’t easily confirm.
…
At 4 PM, Lu Cheng got back on the highway near Hehua Airport in Zhang City.
Mu Nanshu glanced at Lu Cheng: “If I don’t bring you buns, do you plan to stay hungry?”
Lu Cheng replied with a smile: “There’s ‘San Xia Guo’ in Zhang City, I was planning to take you to try it.”
“How do you feel about your trip to Ning Province this time?”
Lu Cheng had only heard of the world’s best hospital, but had never experienced it.
“It’s just so-so. The weather there is very dry. I’m not very used to it. It doesn’t seem like there are many local specialties to bring back either.”
“Do you have other arrangements later? My dad said if you don’t have any, he wants you to go straight to Jishi City.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Cheng was silent for a moment: “Professor Tong Yuan’an called this morning and asked me to see him this afternoon.”
“But it can be postponed.”
Lu Cheng didn’t play any games with Mu Nanshu, mainly because he didn’t know if Uncle Mu Leng had important matters to discuss with him.
The night shifts in the Emergency Department were too irregular, so there was always one day of rest after a night shift.
“Then let’s find another time. My dad and the others will be back around the twentieth as well.”
Mu Nanshu adjusted her seatbelt: “I tried to contact Zhang Xibei last night. He seemed hesitant after hearing about our situation, mainly because he thinks our team is too weak.”
Lu Cheng glanced at Mu Nanshu: “With Professor Tong Yuan’an from Xiangya Hospital leading the team, this is considered weak?”
“Professor Tong isn’t famous in the research field. The research team Zhang Xibei was previously part of was much larger than Professor Tong’s.”
“Even Professor Tan’s research team at Xiangya Hospital is about the same size as the team he was previously in.”
After Mu Nanshu explained, she added, “However, he didn’t explicitly refuse. The climate in Ning Province is even worse, and Dr. Zhang probably wants to develop in the south.”
“If there’s an opportunity, we can visit him. He’s currently a general surgery doctor, so you should have some common ground with him.”
Lu Cheng followed up with a joke: “When you invite me to Ning Province, are you sure it’s just for a visit, or to bring back local specialties?”
“What local specialties?” Mu Nanshu didn’t immediately understand.
Lu Cheng replied: “Goji berries.”
Unexpectedly, Mu Nanshu didn’t blush. After a moment of silence, she said generously, “If you have any difficult-to-speak-of issues, I can accompany you to see a doctor.”
Lu Cheng was instantly defeated. He was sure that Mu Nanshu had matured significantly compared to the Mu Nanshu of the past.
She not only specialized in the research field but also held her own when interacting with Professor Chen Song and others, already possessing her own distinct style.
…
Long County, an outdoor barbecue stall near the You River, with a gentle autumn breeze and warm lighting.
Lu Cheng and Tong Yuan’an each had four bottles of beer in front of them! Lu Cheng was opening a bottle with a opener.
Mu Nanshu, on the other hand, took a bottle of soda water, took a slow sip, and said, “Professor Tong, what do you think of my proposal just now?”
“A surgical procedure can only be called a surgical procedure if it can be popularized; otherwise, it’s just individual practice and talent.”
“If Lu Cheng were to perform the operation himself, the published data would be unreproducible by others.”
“However, when beginners perform slightly skilled operations, it is reproducible by other colleagues, which would be more convincing.”
Professor Tong’s plump face furrowed, his gaze constantly sweeping over Mu Nanshu, his expression hidden, and he did not reply.
Mu Nanshu continued, “Naturally, Professor Tong, if it’s inconvenient for you to call people, I can arrange for someone to come. This will not affect the overall progress of the research project.”
“In fact, if you just need to learn the operation, you can also call people from Xiangzhou People’s Hospital. It will only take a little longer.”
Mu Nanshu’s voice was not loud, but her tone was quite aggressive.
Mu Nanshu not only wanted Professor Tong to call some graduate students from Xiangya Hospital to help, but also wanted Professor Tong to provide some funding.
She also offered a fallback: if you don’t have money or people, you can say so directly, and she would arrange it.
Her implied meaning was that if he didn’t want to do it, Mu Nanshu could plan everything before and after the research project.
However, for the research project to be more convincing, the initial data should not be too high, to avoid a situation where someone trying to replicate the project cannot reproduce the data in the paper.
Tong Yuan’an glanced at Lu Cheng. Although he didn’t speak, his resentful gaze and expression fully revealed his sense of grievance.
“Damn it, I’m an associate professor. How can I be at such a disadvantage when discussing a research project?”
“Your girlfriend?”
Lu Cheng understood Tong Yuan’an’s predicament at the moment, so he said, “Professor Tong, I don’t know much about scientific research, but I think Xiao Shu makes a good point. When I was studying at Xiehe Hospital before.”
“Professor Zhong also expressed a similar sentiment to me.”
If Lu Cheng didn’t have Mu Nanshu, cooperation with Tong Yuan’an would be straightforward: Lu Cheng would contribute his labor, and Tong Yuan’an would provide the funding.
But with Mu Nanshu, she could secure funding and personnel, and even bring her own research funding.
If Mu Nanshu provided the money and also applied for research funding, and Lu Cheng contributed his labor, then what was Tong Yuan’an there for?
This statement was very direct, even somewhat mercenary, but it was an unavoidable topic in the field of scientific research.
It was impossible for units at the same level to steal each other’s credit. Xiehe Hospital, regardless of its prestige, did not need to indulge Xiangya Hospital, and vice versa.
The main point was that Lu Cheng now controlled the core technology. Tong Yuan’an could take his “tong method” back and do it himself; that was all fine, everyone could go their separate ways.
But one thing that could not be avoided was that Tong Yuan’an was, in a way, Lu Cheng’s teacher, having taught Lu Cheng some techniques in the past.
However, for Tong Yuan’an, there was another thing that could not be avoided: he could no longer interact with Lu Cheng as a teacher.
Teach what?
Functional reconstruction? Long County People’s Hospital did not have such a level. Not even the anesthesiologists had senior professional titles, so it was vetoed.
Flap transplantation?
Lu Cheng was in the Emergency Department. Skin defects were elective conditions and did not fall within the scope of surgery for the Emergency Department.
Tong Yuan’an sighed: “Xiao Mu, you’re too ruthless. It sounds like you’re just trying to get something for nothing.”
“If that’s the case, then I’m providing money, people, and effort.”
Mu Nanshu said: “Teacher Tong, you’ve misunderstood. Currently, functional reconstruction in hand surgery is a contested area among all hand surgeons. It’s a procedure that is mentioned but not perfected.”
“Admittedly, the key points involve a series of nerve suturing techniques, but tendon suturing is also an important component of functional reconstruction.”
“Whether improving tendon suturing techniques can advance the development of functional reconstruction procedures remains unknown.”
“This is a research project worth long-term discussion and deliberation. Professor Tong, you are also a professional researcher, and surely you don’t want to just dabble in this field?”
“No matter which team, if they can create their own niche in a small area, it will be enough to establish themselves domestically, or even globally.”
“Even if it’s just tendon suturing.”
Mu Nanshu had never been to the hand surgery department, but she had spent many years at Stanford University and was well aware that the current direction of medical development was specialization.
By making a field their specialty, even if it was just becoming the best in tendon suturing nationwide, the patient flow would be endless.
“Professor Tong, don’t forget that currently, there is no universally accepted standard for tendon revision surgery.”
“Besides standard trauma, tendon rupture also includes tendon fusion, tendon contracture, and other elective tendon detachments caused by surgical procedures…”
Mu Nanshu didn’t say anything grand, but her strengths lay in her solid basic skills. After reading relevant literature for a while, she quickly found a breakthrough.
Tendon rupture is an emergency condition, but not all tendon ruptures are caused solely by emergency trauma.
A sharp light flashed in Tong Yuan’an’s pupils: “Good… okay.”
Currently, in the field of hand surgery, no matter how well you perform finger replantation, it’s considered cliché.
There are at least eighty to a hundred professors nationwide who are good at limb replantation. If you mention this at a hand surgery academic conference, people will be too bored to listen. How outstanding can you be?
However, in terms of rare diseases, everyone basically has their own opinion, and it’s a state of a hundred schools of thought contending.
Therefore, in such a situation, if you want to stand out, you have to venture into “niche” techniques and make them your benchmark, the industry’s benchmark.
For example, the perforator flap technique primarily promoted by Professor Tan at Xiangya Hospital is Professor Tan Zhongyuan’s foundation.
Similarly, the nerve suturing techniques promoted by some professors at Xiehe Hospital are also the foundation of Xiehe Hospital’s consistent approach to Huashan.
Limb replantation and its derivative procedures at Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital and Huashan Hospital…
“Professor Tong, I am not a professional in hand surgery, but I’ve also heard from Lu Cheng that hand surgery suturing techniques are essentially about reconstructing life order through suturing.”
“This is the fundamental principle that all suturing techniques must be based on. Since this is the fundamental principle, the evolution of suturing techniques is nothing more than building upon this.”
“The Tang method of suturing currently has its own professional learning recommendation process. Therefore, our team’s developed suturing technique should also find these elements, allowing other colleagues to learn them in a traceable manner, rather than relying purely on individual talent.”
“Once a surgical procedure is developed, its learning pathway must also be developed to enable its dissemination.”
“After dissemination, not only patients will benefit, but we ourselves will also benefit.”
“Professor Tong, when you bring people over, you can also apply for a teaching research project based on this.”
“You don’t need to apply for a provincial project; a university project is sufficient. Teaching projects are the strongest evidence for teaching rank…” Mu Nanshu said.
Tong Yuan’an’s expression changed drastically: “You want to make the learning of this suturing technique a research project as well?”
“Why?”
Mu Nanshu replied pointedly: “Techniques can be eliminated, but the essence of teaching will never be eliminated.”
“I think, currently in China, research in this area is almost non-existent, with people only superficially learning things like flipped classrooms from abroad.”
“Also, my own abilities and qualifications are not good, so I encountered many obstacles when learning professional techniques. I deeply considered how to best learn this.”
“Of course, I haven’t found the answer… It’s just that we happen to be working on this research project, so we can conveniently include the teaching project…”
“This project, based on the learning of tendon suturing techniques, is unique to our team because our technique is newly developed, and no other team can base their work on it.”
“A project with absolute competitiveness is definitely something we must secure.”
“We don’t have to worry about having too much research funding, right…”
Mu Nanshu continued, “The learning plans I used before were mostly based on training classes for specific techniques, but the effectiveness of training classes is debatable…”
“Currently, the training classes held in our country are generally short-term, with a focus on observation and hands-on practice as secondary.”
“Is it possible to reverse these two, and achieve better results?”
Tong Yuan’an replied: “Practice with what? Patients?”
Mu Nanshu: “Practice with animals. Establish standard animal experiment models.”
“This would provide a more accurate tactile feel for clinical practice than using inanimate materials like pig trotters.”
Tong Yuan’an was once again rendered speechless.
To put it plainly, Mu Nanshu already had a well-thought-out plan in mind.
Clinical research projects must be done, but standard animal experiment models must also be established.
Mu Nanshu’s understanding of scientific research had become systematic.
This is something all researchers should consider, but in reality, many research teams worldwide skip this step.
It’s not that they don’t want to do it, but it’s troublesome and fraught with difficulties, which further exacerbates an already lengthy research cycle…
This Mu Nanshu girl has big ambitions.
Tong Yuan’an then glanced at Lu Cheng. Lu Cheng was still the same Lu Cheng, but with Mu Nanshu, Tong Yuan’an found it difficult to predict what Lu Cheng would become in the future.
How did he find such a girlfriend?
…
Chengxin Plaza, along the walking path around the residential area.
Lu Cheng asked: “You were so blunt with Professor Tong today, won’t that make him have other thoughts?”
Mu Nanshu, with her hands behind her back, was extremely confident: “How could that be?”
“As long as Professor Tong wants to pursue a higher level of teaching, if he has that intention, he will definitely be tempted.”
“If he really doesn’t want to, then so be it. We’ll expand on our own.”
“The main task for the next period will be to find a way to lure Dr. Zhang over.”
Lu Cheng slowly nodded upon hearing this: “According to what you’re saying, our team does need a relatively professional animal model researcher.”
“It’s hard to find such talent. Anyone with some skill is basically booked directly by major teams.”
Mu Nanshu sighed: “Our team doesn’t have much competitiveness, so we can only look for leftovers.”
Lu Cheng glanced at Mu Nanshu: “Is it easy to find this kind of talent abroad?”
“It’s not easy to find either, but once found, their benefits are very high, and they are honored guests of various medical device companies. Their annual salary is not comparable to that of clinicians,” Mu Nanshu shook her head.
“Of course, I can’t go down this path. This kind of talent inherently requires excellent surgical talent to construct standard animal models.”
“Even more so, they can directly replicate a certain clinical condition in animals, allowing clinicians to practice freely and boldly until they become proficient and skilled, and then return to clinical practice, where they can be highly successful.”
“As you know, surgical volume is the fundamental power of a surgeon. The proficiency gained from ten thousand surgeries and one thousand surgeries are vastly different, quantitatively speaking.”
“Actually, I think the key to luring Dr. Zhang to us might lie with my junior sister.”
“But she’s gone to Zhengda First Affiliated Hospital now, which is a headache.” Mu Nanshu rubbed her temples.
Lu Cheng comforted her: “If your head hurts, don’t think about it. Take it slow. According to you, a project like this can be extended for three to five years.”
“We’re just getting started.”
Mu Nanshu said: “We didn’t have to rush, but you need this stepping stone now, so we’d best secure the provincial project before the end of the year.”
“Time is running out… preparing a proposal is not that easy…”
“You’ll be busy for a while.”
“Didn’t you tell me the day before yesterday that there were too many participants in this microsurgery skills competition, and the organizers couldn’t handle it, so they changed the system?”
“Except for personnel from top teaching hospitals who can participate directly, others need provincial recommendations.”
“Otherwise, just teams from prefectural city hospitals across the country would overwhelm the organizers in Shaan Province.”
Initially, there weren’t many participants in the microsurgery competition, so it was an application-based system.
Basically, anyone who applied could compete, as this competition was considered “entertainment.”
Although initially intended as entertainment, this was a formal national competition with official backing. Achieving good results here would make one stand out, at least within the city, if not the entire province.
With the limited patient volume in prefectural city hospitals, hand surgery departments from various institutions would naturally strive to compete.
As the number of participants increased, the organizers couldn’t cope, so they had to adopt a recommendation system, with the hand surgery professional committees of provincial capitals recommending a certain number of participants.
Controlling the number of participants would also improve the quality and management of the competition.
“The selection examination for Zhou Hospital is in November. Now there’s an additional provincial competition in between.”
“Our prepared research project bidding document is useless,” Lu Cheng bit his lip.
Plans clearly can’t keep up with changes!
Mu Nanshu said: “It’s okay. With Professor Tong and Professor Chen Song, your selection examination won’t be a major problem.”
“At least in the areas of hand surgery and the Emergency Department, after they inquire about it, they wouldn’t dare to make the examination process unfair.”
“If no one pays attention to certain matters, people can be bolder, but if everyone is paying attention, they wouldn’t dare to do anything superfluous.”
“Then we can only accept it. If people from the provincial party committee are involved, what can we do?”
Lu Cheng’s brow furrowed: “Would Professor Chen Song be willing to inquire?”
Mu Nanshu nodded: “The research project you are collaborating on with Professor Chen is at least ten times more meaningful than Professor Tong’s project.”
“Actually, if you wanted to go into hand surgery, it would be much easier.”
“For the Emergency Department, it’s slightly more difficult, because hand surgery is a subspecialty, and ability is clearly visible.”
“However, the competition for the Emergency Department requires a comprehensive assessment of abilities,” Mu Nanshu said.
Lu Cheng stated with certainty: “I will only go to the Emergency Department. The Emergency Department allows for more surgical exposure, which is more beneficial to me.”
Mu Nanshu suddenly said: “My dad actually wanted you to go to Jishi City to meet the director of the Emergency Department today.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Cheng immediately checked the time and said with a hint of reproach: “Why didn’t you say so earlier? I should have gone.”
Getting acquainted in advance, even without pulling strings, could foster goodwill.
Mu Nanshu said: “You said you had an appointment with Professor Tong, and I also thought it was okay to see Professor Tong first. Director Xiao of the Emergency Department can be met in a few days.”
Seeing Lu Cheng’s slightly confused look, Mu Nanshu then explained: “Director Xiao has some distant relative relationship with my family.”
“Although it’s far, as we talked, we ended up on the same wavelength.”
“You don’t need to worry about this for now.”
“Oh…” Lu Cheng nodded.
Xiangzhou was large, but not that large. Sometimes human relationships could even loop back to oneself.
“Will you come with me to Shashi on the 24th and 25th of next week?” Lu Cheng asked.
Due to the change in the microsurgery competition format, the Hand Surgery Association of Xiang Province had to temporarily organize a provincial competition.
An announcement and official letter were sent out yesterday, and Lu Cheng registered immediately.
Earning money is not shameful.
The competition would take place on October 24th and 25th, a very short schedule.
“Let’s see…” Mu Nanshu thought carefully and gestured with her right index finger, shaking it gently, her voice clear: “We’ll see then…”
Mu Nanshu was no longer young, and similarly, Lu Cheng was also not young.
If she truly agreed to go with Lu Cheng this time, Mu Nanshu knew very well what might happen.
She wasn’t nervous, but she was certainly a little apprehensive.
…
