Chapter 178: The Clever ‘hermit’!
“Why is she sending me videos?” Lu Cheng quickly asked Mu Nanshu.
Mu Nanshu was never one to be coy or jealous, but that didn’t mean Mu Nanshu couldn’t get jealous.
Lu Cheng’s personality wasn’t that of a playboy, so there were basically no situations that caused Mu Nanshu to become jealous.
However, Lu Cheng was handsome. Even though his grades were average and he didn’t get a direct postgraduate recommendation during his undergraduate studies, he was still in the middle range. He wasn’t a homebody or introverted, so there were one or two classmates who had a crush on Lu Cheng.
This crush was only limited to a crush.
Mu Nanshu said, “She said she wants to ask you about tendon suturing techniques. She’s eager to participate in the ‘Tendon Suturing’ track of the E Province Microsurgery Skills Competition.”
“She also said you two were pure…”
Mu Nanshu’s two sentences both ended with punctuation marks.
Lu Cheng became even more speechless.
Lu Cheng then understood Mu Nanshu’s current emotions: “Why would she say that? Can purity really be achieved by just saying it?”
“The competition format? There’s a tendon suturing track? How come I don’t know about this?”
Lu Cheng was previously a participant, but the organizers of the Xiang Province Skills Competition had not announced the schedule and format…
“The organizer of this year’s E Province Microsurgery Skills Competition is Xiehe Hospital. I estimate that the format held by the Xiang Province organizers will be similar.”
“It’s probably divided into four tracks: tendon suturing, vascular suturing, nerve suturing, and parenchymal organ suturing.”
“Xie Yuan’an said that currently, only the tendon suturing and parenchymal organ suturing tracks haven’t been finalized. Nerve and vascular suturing have always been the main events in microsurgery.”
“Why don’t you help her… otherwise, some people will think she’s undeserving…” After Mu Nanshu explained at length, she said this.
Only the last sentence added punctuation with a half-ellipsis.
Tong Yuan’an did not explain the competition format to Lu Cheng. It wasn’t because Professor Tong was trying to intimidate Lu Cheng, but because the organizer for the Xiang Province competition this time was not Xiangya. Therefore, how to decide and how to contact the organizers of the national microsurgery competition was the business of the Second Hospital.
However, the provincial competition is to select candidates for the national competition, so the format is likely similar.
“Undeserving? What do you mean by that?” Lu Cheng asked curiously.
These two gossiping father and daughter had gossiped about them so much, Lu Cheng felt it wouldn’t hurt to gossip about them a little.
“How should I put it? Xie Yuan’an, her clinical talent is average.”
“Her scientific research talent is also average.”
“But according to Xiehe Hospital’s recruitment standards for new staff, her overall profile is quite strong!”
“It’s not convincing, is it…” Mu Nanshu explained.
The relationship between Xie Yuan’an and Professor Xie Xiao was obvious.
Xiehe Hospital’s recruitment emphasizes both clinical practice and scientific research. If one aspect is outstanding while the other is a weakness, Xie Yuan’an would definitely eliminate some candidates with unbalanced development.
“When is the E Province competition? Mine has already started.” Lu Cheng asked.
“E Province will be later, scheduled for November 10th. There’s still plenty of time.”
“After we finish the short-term research project, she wants to come back to Long County with me to learn suturing techniques so she can participate in the provincial competition,” Mu Nanshu said.
“She’s staying at my place.”
Xie Yuan’an’s approach made Lu Cheng instinctively think of the “competition for further education” track in provincial capitals.
Children from ordinary families, without any special channels, could only participate in the middle school entrance examination according to the rules.
How many ordinary children could start preparing for a competition route from primary school?
Some of the better learning methods were simply inaccessible.
But Xie Yuan’an was different. She could directly bypass many people through Professor Xie Xiao or Mu Nanshu to come to him to learn tendon suturing techniques.
Currently, the mainstream tendon suturing techniques are the Tang method, modified Kessler, and at most, the Tajima method.
If a tendon suturing track were really established in the competition, Xie Yuan’an might genuinely have a chance to excel through the tendon suturing track.
This would be unfair to the other participants from E Province.
But Lu Cheng didn’t care about these things, because Lu Cheng would also use this technique to compete. In adult competitions, there is never fairness.
“There’s definitely no problem on my end.”
“Xie Yuan’an will not be involved in our tendon suturing research project later. Her learning well won’t affect the progress of the project.”
“But one thing, you need to make it clear to her in advance, this technique is not yet suitable for clinical application…” Lu Cheng instructed.
Before Lu Cheng could even finish his next sentence, Mu Nanshu said, “As a research-oriented institution, Xiehe Hospital, although Xie Yuan’an is not a deputy chief physician, she is an associate researcher. As long as she obtains ethical approval for new surgical procedures in clinical practice, it’s fine.”
“If she doesn’t mention ‘new surgical procedure,’ who would find out?”
After Mu Nanshu replied, she further explained to Lu Cheng: “I don’t mean anything else. I’m just telling you that in better institutions, there’s a wider span for developing many things, and there are fewer rules and constraints.”
“Conversely, if you’re in a county hospital, all rules are just shackles and cannot be broken.”
“This is also the specific reason why I hope you can move out sooner.”
Lu Cheng deleted the follow-up in the chatbox and replied with one word: “En.”
Outside the window, fine rain continued to fall on the world. The light was constantly refracted by the tunnel, but it also constantly ushered in brightness.
…
Shashi City, Kaifu District, Xintong Road, Century Golden Resources Grand Hotel.
The hotel is located at the confluence of the Xiang River and the Liuyang River. Tall buildings stood proudly, offering a wide view. Although Lu Cheng’s room was not on a high floor, it had a direct view of the river.
Professor Tong Yuan’an did not manage to secure many competition benefits for Lu Cheng, but Professor Tong privately used channels through Xiangya Hospital to get Lu Cheng a room with a better view.
Outside the window, the fine rain was still hazy, and the lights were beginning to come on.
After eating his takeout, Lu Cheng had been waiting for news from Professor Tong Yuan’an. However, Tong Yuan’an seemed to have disappeared, and he didn’t contact Lu Cheng again until nine o’clock in the evening.
This was Lu Cheng’s first time in Shashi City, and he had no acquaintances or connections. Therefore, even though he could often hear familiar voices greeting each other outside his door, these did not belong to Lu Cheng.
He was only responsible for drinking coffee from Ruixing while chatting with Mu Nanshu.
“Don’t worry, since Professor Tong said he would contact you later, he definitely will.”
“He’s probably dealing with human relations reception right now.”
“Associate professors in hospitals like Xiangya and in academic committees of a province still have many important people to attend to,” Mu Nanshu said.
As Mu Nanshu was speaking, Xie Yuan’an’s voice drifted over: “How long are you two going to be lovey-dovey?”
“Little Mu Mu, we have to go to the laboratory to look at cells at three in the morning. Aren’t you going to sleep?”
“Sister Xie, you go to sleep first,” Mu Nanshu shifted into a more relaxed posture and turned her head.
“I’m afraid you won’t be able to wake up later,” Xie Yuan’an said.
Lu Cheng replied, “You still have to go to the laboratory at three? Then you go rest first, I’ll wait here and watch some shows.”
Xie Yuan’an appeared in the video feed, her voice clear and polite: “Hello, Teacher Lu. I’ll have to trouble you for guidance in a few days.”
“Teacher Xie, you’re too kind,” Lu Cheng replied politely.
Xie Yuan’an explained, “Actually, I can’t help it. The nerve suturing and vascular suturing tracks at our hospital are already full. Even if I participate, I’ll just be a runner-up.”
“So, I can only take a shortcut to broaden my horizons.”
“Luckily I know Little Mu Mu, otherwise I wouldn’t know how to ask.”
Lu Cheng replied, “Teacher Xie, you are too kind. If you hadn’t given me a hand before, I might not have had the opportunity to study at Xiehe Hospital.”
Mu Nanshu interjected, “You two stop the mutual flattery. Get some rest early…”
“Lu Cheng, you have a competition tomorrow, so get some rest early too.”
“Don’t worry about not getting into the national competition.”
Lu Cheng then understood what Mu Nanshu had been telling him all day. Lu Cheng truly believed he might not make it to the national competition.
After all, a province is full of talented experts. If it came to basic vascular suturing skills, Lu Cheng would definitely not be able to compare to a master like Tong Yuan’an.
There were at least eight associate professors in the Xiangya hospitals alone. Many deputy chief physicians from prefectural city hospitals and Shashi City hospitals were just there to make up the numbers, let alone someone like him, Lu Cheng…
But if there was an additional tendon suturing track, Lu Cheng would have some confidence.
Five minutes after hanging up the video call with Mu Nanshu and the ‘clever’ layperson and gossipy girl, Professor Tong Yuan’an’s voice reply finally came through.
“Lu Cheng, come up to the 25th floor. Let’s have a simple late-night snack together.”
Lu Cheng was on the 19th floor. After listening, he quickly replied, “Okay, Teacher Tong, I’ll be right there…”
Lu Cheng briskly picked up two bottles of liquor he had brought and took the elevator upstairs.
Tong Yuan’an had already told Lu Cheng his room number.
When Lu Cheng knocked on the door, a short person with a heart-shaped face and delicate features emerged. At first glance, Lu Cheng even thought he was a girl.
“Hello? Is this Teacher Tong Yuan’an’s room?” Lu Cheng asked.
The heart-shaped-faced person’s voice was clear and crisp: “You must be Doctor Lu Cheng? Brother Tong is already drinking inside, come in…”
“Lu Cheng, come in. This is the time for us little people to get together,” Tong Yuan’an also called out.
Lu Cheng quickly entered with the “heart-shaped face.” This person was only up to Lu Cheng’s shoulders in height, probably around 1.5 meters tall, with a well-proportioned and petite build.
But Lu Cheng dared not underestimate him…
At first glance, Lu Cheng saw eight people sitting inside, and he only recognized Tong Yuan’an.
Perhaps because the person with the big nose he saw at first glance was talkative, he asked, “Brother Tong, who is this brother? I seem to be meeting him for the first time?”
The gathering today was for seasoned attending physicians and above. Tong Yuan’an was indeed the most “prominent” among the deputy senior physicians. Bringing in a stranger like this was quite surprising to them.
“Lu Cheng, he’s a brother I made when I was doing fieldwork. A very interesting person. Lu with the ear-east, Cheng for success,” Tong Yuan’an introduced, and then added.
“Little Lu, what are you waiting for? Show us the spirit of Long County People’s Hospital…”
Lu Cheng quickly said, “Hello everyone, my name is Lu Cheng. Hello Teacher Ding!”
Among those present, besides Tong Yuan’an, Lu Cheng also recognized Associate Professor Ding Mou from Xiangya Second Hospital.
However, it was only a brief encounter. Ding Mou happened to leave Long County People’s Hospital for fieldwork in the month Lu Cheng joined.
Ding Mou touched his flat nose. Upon hearing that Lu Cheng was from Long County People’s Hospital, his serious expression instinctively softened, and the mole above his right eyebrow twitched:
“From Long County People’s Hospital, your alcohol tolerance must be very good then?”
“Come, come, come,” Ding Mou quickly beckoned.
Tong Yuan’an said, “Brother Ding, be gentlemanly today. Little Lu still has to compete tomorrow. You guys have already ‘reached the shore’, so don’t make things difficult for him…”
“Little Lu’s alcohol tolerance once put down two of me.”
Tong Yuan’an then introduced the others to Lu Cheng.
They were mainly from Xiangya Hospital: Associate Professor Han Yunshen, Associate Professor Xie Ziyuan, Hu Yi, Liu Xiadong, Attending Physician Gu Yanlin, and three others who were associate professors from Xiangya Second and Third Hospitals.
After the introduction, Zhou Jian from Xiangya Third Hospital touched his large nose and said, “Brother Jun, you need to ask Little Lu for tips on maintenance. You say you, people often say you went to Africa for aid, how unfair is that?”
Huang Jun’s face couldn’t be determined if it was dark or not, because his face and neck were truly pitch black. If it weren’t for the faint yellow skin peeking through, no one would suspect he was from Africa.
Brother Jun was also quite honest: “Brother, how do you maintain yourself like this?”
Lu Cheng dared not act proud. Tong Yuan’an had just introduced him; Huang Jun was currently the top deputy senior physician in the Second Hospital’s Hand Surgery department. “Teacher Huang, I don’t maintain myself, let alone have any experience.”
Lu Cheng had wanted to say that Huang Jun looked very masculine, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
“Brother Jun, you’re fine like this. If you’re walking at night, your sister-in-law might not recognize you if she bumps into you, which would be convenient for you to run to Jiefang West,” Associate Professor Wei Jianwen from the Second Hospital said, smoothing his thick eyebrows and laughing heartily.
Associate Professor Ding Mou, with his serious expression and flat nose, also jokingly asked, “Brother Jun, to be honest, would your appearance be attractive when you go out? There are quite a few women who like to be relaxed.”
“Brother Jun looks quite big.”
Huang Jun didn’t let the joke fall: “Yes, we’re all men, we’ve used the toilet together.”
Upon hearing this, Ding Mou’s expression immediately became serious again, and the mole above his eyebrow twitched further.
“Cough, cough, cough…” Tong Yuan’an coughed, covered his face, and coldly turned his head: “Little Lu, I don’t know any of these people.”
Associate Professor Wei Jianwen from the Second Hospital called out, “Little Lu, come, come, let’s drink, drink! You’re from Long County, your alcohol tolerance must be great.”
“You came late, you should drink more to cleanse your palate.”
Ding Mou asked at the opportune moment, “Brother Wei, aren’t you going to accompany with your drinking vessel? Little Lu today can surely keep up with you to your heart’s content.”
“…”
These people, each saying their piece, seemed quite enthusiastic, but most of them steered the conversation back to alcohol.
After Lu Cheng was forcibly persuaded to drink three cups of beer, Associate Professor Zhou Jian from Xiangya Third Hospital touched his chin and said casually, “Brother Tong, what’s the story behind Little Lu being here today?”
“Drinking,” Tong Yuan’an replied.
“Just drinking?” Zhou Jian’s expression instantly tightened, and his tone became a bit flighty.
Zhou Jian’s words made many people’s expressions turn solemn, with smiles that weren’t quite smiles, just a look of watching a show.
“Then what kind of explanation do you want?” Tong Yuan’an retorted, seemingly giving up.
Zhou Jian glanced at Lu Cheng a few times. He wasn’t so brainless as to explicitly say Lu Cheng was unworthy. “Brother Tong, it’s getting late, I’m going back to rest. I have something to do tomorrow.”
“Professor Zhou, you’re not competing tomorrow, what do you have to do?”
The three Xiangya hospitals all had internally recommended competition slots and didn’t need to participate in the provincial competition.
However, each hospital had a limited number of slots, so if they wanted more, they had to compete.
“Mentoring students. Unlike you, Brother Tong, who is so carefree,” Zhou Jian said naturally.
Ding Mou quickly smoothed things over, saying, “Little Lu, why don’t you quickly toast Professor Zhou a few cups? Professor Zhou is just bored. If people didn’t know, they’d think we couldn’t afford to buy alcohol.”
Lu Cheng thought for a moment and raised his glass, “Teacher Zhou… I toast you.”
Zhou Jian raised his right hand to interrupt, “Whoa, don’t. Don’t listen to Professor Ding’s trickery; he’s trying to get us two to compete in drinking for amusement.”
“Since you know Professor Ding, you should toast him a few more cups. If you don’t toast your teacher here, there’s no explanation.”
“You don’t need to toast me.”
Zhou Jian made it clear that he was not Lu Cheng’s teacher, and possibly implying that if Tong Yuan’an hadn’t called Lu Cheng, Lu Cheng would never have had the chance to share a table with him for a drink.
“Teacher Zhou, I must toast everyone.”
“I’ll finish mine, you take your time. Teacher Ding, I need to toast you too.” Lu Cheng could handle drinking beer.
Drinking ten or eight bottles would only make him need to urinate, not get drunk.
Zhou Jian did not directly reject Lu Cheng. Although he didn’t finish the whole cup, he drank half of it. “We’ve all been through it. We can’t handle Doctor Lu’s capacity for drinking anymore.”
“Brother Ding and Brother Wei, they are both heavy drinkers,” Zhou Jian politely deflected, but with a hidden meaning.
Wei Jianwen from the Second Hospital immediately said, “Little Lu, since you called Professor Ding Mou ‘teacher,’ shouldn’t you show some more respect?”
Wei Jianwen clasped his hands, leaned back casually, and had no intention of raising his glass.
Ding Mou proactively raised his glass, “Little Lu, let’s have our last one. To be honest, I don’t seem to remember seeing you when I was doing fieldwork in Long County.”
“I remember my memory is quite good. Are you from the second department?”
Lu Cheng poured the wine and explained, “Teacher Ding, you were leaving just as I joined. We had a meal together when I joined early, and Director Peng introduced you to me.”
Only then did Ding Mou smile in realization, “I thought my memory was that bad.”
Tong Yuan’an sat in a relaxed posture, like a fisherman waiting for his bait, and didn’t say anything to help Lu Cheng.
After Lu Cheng had a drink with Ding Mou, and then a drink with each of the people from Xiangya Hospital, the gathering gradually dispersed…
“Brother Tong, I’m leaving too. I have a competition tomorrow,” said the exceptionally refined Attending Physician Liu Xiadong, also rising to take his leave.
Tong Yuan’an stood to see him off, “Okay, Xiadong, prepare well for tomorrow. You’ll definitely be fine.”
Lu Cheng also stood up.
Liu Xiadong, however, looked at Lu Cheng seriously for a few moments before speaking hesitantly.
After Liu Xiadong left the room, he didn’t say much more, “Doctor Lu, see you tomorrow.”
“Teacher Liu, see you tomorrow,” Lu Cheng’s expression remained as usual.
If Tong Yuan’an hadn’t told him to stay, Lu Cheng would have left long ago. It was clear that his arrival had disrupted the others’ enjoyment.
Even the people from Xiangya Second Hospital felt that they might not be worthy of entering such a gathering.
However, because they had done fieldwork at Long County People’s Hospital before, and it was a partner support unit, they would politely exchange a few words.
After everyone had left, Tong Yuan’an yawned, “Little Lu, what did you eat tonight? I was with the boss earlier.”
Lu Cheng said, “Teacher Tong, I ordered takeout. I could have gone down for the buffet, but I don’t have a taste for that kind of food.”
“It’s getting late today, thank you, Teacher Tong, for introducing me to so many teachers.”
Lu Cheng felt no displeasure towards Tong Yuan’an. The fact that he was not highly regarded was not intentionally orchestrated by Tong Yuan’an; it was that these people felt he was “unworthy” of joining their circle.
If Tong Yuan’an hadn’t made the introduction this time, they would have thought the same when they met in the future.
This time, Tong Yuan’an at least created an opportunity for him to get to know them.
“If you don’t know them now, you’ll have to know them later!”
Tong Yuan’an continued, “I called you here for two reasons: first, to help you recognize people, and second, to tell you about the approximate competition format for the next few days.”
“This competition will have two days and four rounds.”
“Medical operation competitions are not like video games; performance varies in each round.”
“Medical competitions, like video game competitions, allow for flashy moves, and the game modes for each round are similar. Therefore, as long as your performance is good enough, you will achieve the best results, and the scores will be fixed.”
“They will be fixed in the provincial competition.”
“This means that if your operational skill level is high enough once, your final ranking will be based on this data. This way, you can participate in several tracks.”
“For example, tendon suturing, parenchymal organ suturing, vascular suturing, and nerve suturing.”
“The national competition will likely adopt a similar format then.”
Lu Cheng nodded upon hearing this, “Oh, okay, thank you, Teacher Tong.”
“Secondly, your purpose for participating in this competition is to make money. You can think of this idea, but you cannot say it. If, by any chance, you are unlucky and are called upon to give an acceptance speech.”
“Absolutely do not say this, saying this will make you the target of public criticism.”
“It’s too boastful,” Tong Yuan’an preemptively warned Lu Cheng.
Tong Yuan’an was also certain that Lu Cheng would definitely make it into the preliminary round of the tendon suturing track.
Lu Cheng gave a wry smile, “I would definitely not dare to say that.”
“Alright, are you still hungry? There’s quite a bit of barbecue left, want to have some more?”
“After eating, you can go back and rest, right?” Tong Yuan’an invited again…
