Chapter 191: Can’t Stay Calm!
Tong Yuan’an looked at his teacher. Tong Yuan’an vaguely remembered that Professor Zhou Yuhui had clearly stated he no longer wished to argue, saying he was old.
But now, Professor Zhou Yuhui looked like he wanted to argue, with no sign of being old.
After several people collected the data and copied it onto a memory card, they saved several more copies to the cloud.
Tan Zhongyuan’s thick eyebrows furrowed into two bumps: “Professor Zhou, in this situation, what exactly should we do?”
“In our surgery field, it’s ultimately a skill-based industry. A tendon suture is not something to be ashamed of losing.”
“Now? Is it possible?”
Tan Zhongyuan’s mind raced, converging on one point: how to poach Lu Cheng.
During the competition, Tan Zhongyuan had considered this. At that time, Tan Zhongyuan thought that if Lu Cheng could one day ‘define’ the still undecided techniques for vascular and nerve suturing!
Now, Lu Cheng had directly delivered the results he desired, giving Tan Zhongyuan no reason to let go.
“Possible for what? Are you still thinking about winding up the clockwork?” Professor Zhou Yuhui glanced at Tan Zhongyuan.
“Do you want to ask Tong Yuan’an again what Lu Cheng said.”
Tan Zhongyuan remained silent.
The reason Lu Cheng had Tong Yuan’an find them was his hope that Xiangya Hospital would win the best awards for vascular and nerve suturing.
After all, Xiangya Hospital had more than three participants in the competition.
New techniques could significantly improve suturing outcomes.
If three people simultaneously won first prize, they could essentially fill all the first prize spots in the national competition.
Too many first prize winners would diminish the award’s significance.
Participating in multiple events allows for both.
Lu Cheng was not a particularly magnanimous person.
His emotions were evident.
“But?” Tan Zhongyuan understood Lu Cheng’s temperament well, but having such talent in front of him, yet being unable to touch him, was incredibly frustrating.
Professor Zhou Yuhui was older, had experienced more, and the eras he presided over were the nineties and early 2000s.
At that time, with domestic order just being established, competitors had even resorted to physical altercations, hence his strong aura.
Having gone through such trials, he had a clearer perspective: “Tong Yuan’an, tell us more about Lu Cheng’s girlfriend.”
Tong Yuan’an immediately recounted some of Mu Nanshu’s issues, elaborating from his perspective.
While Tong Yuan’an was speaking, Tan Zhongyuan glared at him several times.
After Tong Yuan’an finished, Tan Zhongyuan emphasized: “Why didn’t you mention these things before?”
“So, the withdrawal of that paper from the obstetrics and gynecology department at Huashan Hospital, which caused a stir, might be related to Mu Nanshu?”
Tong Yuan’an replied cautiously, his plump face serious: “Currently, there is no direct evidence, and even if it were related, it would be a normal academic query from a researcher.”
“Director Tan, academic rigorous questioning is global and open; there’s no room for arbitrary revenge.”
“Even an undergraduate student can question an Academician’s paper, as long as they find a loophole.”
Hu Yi was tall and slender, nearly two meters tall. Even sitting, he was significantly taller than the others.
“At the time, Doctor Mu was a graduate student at Stanford in the United States. Her raising a question was very legitimate.”
“Come to think of it, this young couple is quite vengeful.”
“Are they so sure that Lu Cheng received unfair treatment during his second round of examination?”
Although Hu Yi was young, he was not only skilled in practice but also the most accomplished young researcher in the department, highly favored by Professor Tan Zhongyuan.
“Brother Tong, didn’t you say that Lu Cheng mentioned his second round of examination had no issues?”
Tong Yuan’an shook his head: “Lu Cheng said that, but I suspect now that there are things Lu Cheng himself is unaware of.”
“He couldn’t report or complain. According to the rules, Huashan Hospital could reject Lu Cheng, but we don’t know if there were any other behind-the-scenes operations.”
“However, Chen Song mentioned that one of the individuals had published papers related to obstetrics and gynecology during their undergraduate studies.”
“It was a long time ago, and not relevant to us, so I didn’t investigate it in detail.”
Tan Zhongyuan said: “As expected of a girl from Xiangxi, her style of doing things is quite fierce.”
“She’s not easy to mess with.”
“Teacher Zhou, what is your suggestion now?” Tan Zhongyuan began to seek advice.
Zhou Yuhui pondered for a moment, then called everyone to sit down before tapping the table: “From the current situation, Lu Cheng intends to go it alone.”
Tan Zhongyuan and the others were not foolish; they understood what Professor Zhou Yuhui meant by “going it alone.”
It meant setting up his own venture.
“Just because of a girlfriend? Going it alone?” Tan Zhongyuan voiced his thoughts: “Isn’t that a bit too presumptuous?”
Setting up a venture in the research or professional field is not easy.
“Didn’t Tong Yuan’an just say it? Mu Nanshu’s family has some financial backing!”
“What if she can’t raise the research funding and decides to use her own money?”
“This research project requires a lot of money, but it’s not an amount she can’t afford.”
“If she funds the project herself, wouldn’t that be an excellent starting point?”
“Otherwise, why would she be so confident?”
“There are three key elements for a research project: the people, an effective research direction, and the funding.”
Tong Yuan’an was somewhat taken aback: “Funding such a project oneself would be a huge loss, wouldn’t it?”
Zhou Yuhui said: “This can be reimbursed by the provincial and municipal finance departments after the project is completed.”
“You might not know this now, but it was very common in our time.”
“And it’s easy to understand.”
“Research departments advance funding in advance to secure research output. Now that others have produced results, they are generally willing to provide funding for a small sum.”
“That’s not the focus of today’s discussion.”
Zhou Yuhui continued: “In fact, these individual suturing techniques are not the core. The most crucial thing is whether these individual suturing techniques can be applied to other surgical procedures.”
“They can practically improve the treatment outcomes of some conventional and new surgical procedures.”
“For instance, in tendon transplantation surgery, would adopting tendon suturing techniques improve the success rate?”
“For example, in vascular reconstruction surgery, could using new suturing techniques reduce the incidence of ischemic necrosis?”
“I won’t mention nerve repair; this is the follow-up issue we need to focus on.”
“Where is Lu Cheng?” Professor Zhou Yuhui asked.
“He was on duty yesterday and is catching up on sleep,” Tong Yuan’an replied.
Zhou Yuhui really wanted to say, at this crucial juncture, how could he still be sleeping?
However, considering that Lu Cheng had actively sought out Xiangya Hospital this time, it indicated a favorable impression towards Xiangya Hospital.
“Then let’s all rest for a bit. We’ll have dinner together tonight and discuss these matters thoroughly.”
“There are a few key points to consider: first, who will learn these techniques.”
“Second, is it difficult to learn, and can it be applied in competitions.”
“Third, and most importantly, we must quickly implement these suturing techniques in other surgical procedures.”
“For example, the degree of functional recovery after tendon transposition surgery, the incidence of necrosis after vascular transplantation surgery, etc.”
Tan Zhongyuan asked: “Professor Zhou, what if Professor Zhong from Xiehe Hospital finds out about this? Will he intervene?”
“Cause trouble?”
Professor Zhou Yuhui gave Tan Zhongyuan a look: “What are you afraid of him doing?”
Zhou Yuhui clapped his hands: “Where’s the contract?”
Tan Zhongyuan remained silent.
There was no contract for a verbal agreement; otherwise, Professor Zhong Junyun wouldn’t have adopted a competitive nurturing mechanism.
Tan Zhongyuan immediately asked: “Teacher Zhou, should we directly contact President Lei now and use our hospital’s ‘Ladder to the Azure Clouds’ program to finalize Lu Cheng’s employment matters?”
“We certainly need to contact President Lei.”
“However, we also need to clearly explain Lu Cheng’s current situation. After all, Lu Cheng has a verbal agreement with Professor Zhong.”
“Lu Cheng may not be willing to come, but given his positive impression and relationship with us.”
“Regardless of whether fate brings us together, it won’t affect future interactions.”
“I truly like Professor Zhong’s character,” Zhou Yuhui chuckled.
In fact, as Big Bosses, everyone had concerns. After all, he was a newcomer, and his future development potential was unknown.
Professor Zhong Junyun’s personality was bold; he dared to promise Lu Cheng many things, gaining an advantage.
But it was precisely because of Professor Zhong Junyun’s bold and decisive personality that upon seeing better talent, they immediately adopted a policy of waiting, which gave them an opportunity.
However, the problem now was that Zhong Junyun had not yet made a clear commitment to Lu Cheng face-to-face.
…
When Lu Cheng woke up, it was already past four in the afternoon.
Lu Cheng had several missed calls on his mobile phone, but the first thing he saw was a call from Professor Zhong Junyun.
Lu Cheng quickly returned the call. Upon connecting, Lu Cheng said: “Teacher Zhong, I apologize. I was on duty yesterday and fell asleep when I got back!~”
Zhong Junyun’s voice carried a hint of fatigue: “Xiao Lu, your girlfriend came to see me again today.”
“Mu Nanshu went to Hanshi City today. She told me she was helping Xie Yuan’an. Did she look for you, Teacher Zhong?” Lu Cheng’s tone was surprised.
Zhong Junyun said: “Don’t pretend you don’t know anything in front of me. I spoke with Mu Nanshu on the phone last time.”
“You must have heard about the new Doctor Han joining our department, right?”
Lu Cheng replied: “Yes, Mu Nanshu mentioned Teacher Han. Teacher Han is very accomplished and told me to learn from him often.”
Zhong Junyun said: “Xiao Han is indeed accomplished, but Xiao Lu, you are not bad either.”
“Xiao Lu, didn’t I mention to you before? The major competition in our Hand Surgery department is not simply about tendon suturing or nerve suturing, but about actual Functional Reconstruction.”
“To be more precise, it’s about large-scale Functional Reconstruction.”
“It’s not about taking shortcuts. Functional impairment is a Disease Type that the world has not yet perfectly solved.”
“Our Hand Surgery department at Xiehe Hospital has always meticulously studied nerve-related research projects, dedicating ten years to this endeavor.”
Lu Cheng nodded: “I understand… Teacher Zhong.”
“But Teacher Zhong, you also know that I am currently an Emergency Department Doctor and have encountered some non-Orthopedics surgeries.”
“I feel that the development direction of surgery is not limited to Hand Surgery; many Disease Types in the Emergency Department are also very interesting.”
Zhong Junyun said casually: “Xiao Lu, do you still have reservations about my decisions?”
“If you think that way, you are being too narrow-minded!~”
“Only through cooperation can we achieve mutual benefit.”
Lu Cheng immediately replied: “Teacher Zhong, if you think that way, you are truly mistaken. I can fully understand your actions and choices.”
Lu Cheng’s tone was formal: “Moreover, I deeply respect these actions and believe they are qualities and virtues I need to emulate.”
Lu Cheng’s words sounded a bit sarcastic.
Zhong Junyun’s tone finally showed some displeasure: “Lu Cheng. Speak your mind properly.”
Lu Cheng said: “Teacher Zhong, I truly have no other intentions. I just feel that a teacher’s words and actions are pearls of wisdom, and we students must internalize them.”
“That’s right, Teacher Zhong. Because I have worked as a doctor in both Orthopedics and the Emergency Department, my personal interest lies in Disease Types related to the Emergency Department.”
“This is my personal choice after my own experience, and it’s where my interest lies.”
“Therefore, I have given the tendon suturing technique, nerve suturing technique, and vascular suturing technique, which I recently conceived, to the team at Xiangya Hospital.”
“Clang! Rustle~” As Lu Cheng spoke, he distinctly heard the sound of something falling to the ground on Professor Zhong Junyun’s end.
It was unclear whether it was a phone or some other heavy object!
The object even slid a bit.
“What do you mean?” Zhong Junyun’s voice was somewhat angry.
“Teacher Zhong, I mean, I think that when I have an idea, I should first consult with professionals.”
“And the teacher most conveniently accessible to me is Professor Tong Yuan’an from Xiangya Hospital’s Hand Surgery department, so I reported my ideas to them.”
“Professor Tong and the others said they were excellent!~”
“After all, it’s about cooperation and mutual benefit. The main goal is to complete the research project as soon as possible.”
“A few days ago, when Mu Nanshu conveyed your meaning to me, Teacher Zhong, it was the same message!” Lu Cheng’s tone and expression were very, very calm.
“Lu Cheng, are you deliberately trying to provoke me?”
“Then I can tell you clearly, you have succeeded.” Zhong Junyun was truly angered.
“Not at all, I am simply reporting this matter to you, Teacher Zhong, very calmly.”
“Suturing techniques are not trivial matters, nor are they things that can be said offhand, and they are not tools for angering people. They should be used for patient recovery, for clinical surgery, and for the development of human health,” Lu Cheng was an adult, and also humble and eager to learn.
Therefore, he had learned the qualities of some people around him thoroughly.
Including, but not limited to, hypocrisy.
This was not revenge, just tit-for-tat.
Yes, Lu Cheng and Zhong Junyun had a verbal agreement, and Zhong Junyun said Lu Cheng should cooperate with Han Luoning.
Then Lu Cheng could also say that Zhong Junyun had a verbal agreement with Professor Tan from Xiangya Hospital. Was there anything wrong with that?
No problem, both sides are Lu Cheng’s teachers.
You take on one more student, and I take on a few more teachers. What’s the problem?
Lu Cheng stated again, his tone calm: “Teacher Zhong, suturing techniques are not something to brag about!~”
“Moreover, Teacher Zhong, you have shown me favor and support. I will certainly report all my decisions truthfully to you.”
“Of course, there’s one more point I need to make clear. My personal aspiration is to develop in the direction of the Emergency Department, so my girlfriend should have also made arrangements with the General Surgery teachers at Xiehe Hospital.”
“The suturing techniques for solid organs like the spleen are also very good research projects. This will be one of the projects I will personally undertake.”
Zhong Junyun’s breathing was slightly irregular, but as a Big Boss, he wouldn’t let his mindset and emotions be distorted: “Lu Cheng, why didn’t you come to me?”
Lu Cheng’s tone was calm; he certainly wasn’t joking.
If he were to joke about such matters, what would happen to Lu Cheng’s character?
Lu Cheng could get angry, he could go crazy, but he would never use such deception to provoke himself.
The only explanation was that Lu Cheng was truly a rare genius, and everything he said was true.
“Teacher Zhong, you are very busy, and I can understand that,” Lu Cheng replied.
“Most of the messages I sent you said ‘later.'”
Zhong Junyun asked: “What do you want to do, Lu Cheng!”
Lu Cheng said: “Teacher Zhong, I am reporting these situations to you.”
“Can’t you just tell me the truth?”
“What vascular suturing techniques, what nerve suturing techniques? Do you know what you’re talking about?” Zhong Junyun’s emotions slowly stabilized.
Lu Cheng replied: “It’s likely correct, Teacher Zhong.”
“So, does that mean you’re going to Xiangya Hospital?” Zhong Junyun, being able to let go of things, had completely calmed down.
Lu Cheng replied: “No, not yet!”
“Then what exactly do you want to do?” Zhong Junyun was annoyed.
“I told you before, Teacher Zhong, that I would choose to work in the Emergency Department at Xiehe Hospital.”
“But now, these Hand Surgery research projects, I will directly cooperate with Teacher Tan at Xiangya Hospital. After all, Teacher Zhong, you are too busy with your own matters.”
“I don’t want to disturb you too much,” Lu Cheng replied.
Lu Cheng didn’t mind becoming a hand surgeon, but he wasn’t insistent on it.
The growth of personal ability mainly relies on actual clinical practice. Starting from the Emergency Department would definitely be the best.
Moreover, in the Emergency Department, he could be exposed to all surgeries. Lu Cheng’s person might not go to Hand Surgery, but his techniques could.
If the techniques went to Hand Surgery, Lu Cheng could still gain a lot!
“You damn it! I damn it!”
“You better pray what you’re saying is true, otherwise, I’ll beat you to death!” Zhong Junyun replied in the local dialect of Hanshi City.
“Teacher Zhong, if you think I’m lying, you can directly contact Director Tan at Xiangya Hospital.”
“The reason I’m telling you this directly is that I believe, with your magnanimity, Teacher Zhong, you won’t nitpick such details.”
“Furthermore, I’m telling you now, rather than waiting a long, long time.”
“Besides, suturing techniques aren’t just thought up casually; I only figured them out recently.”
“A few days ago, seeing the operations of many teachers during the competition gave me the inspiration to finalize these suturing technique plans.”
“But coincidentally, my girlfriend returned from Hanshi City that day. I was in Shashi City, and Director Tan of Xiangya Hospital and Teacher Tong Yuan’an have always been very kind and courteous to me.”
“We are all teachers, and cooperation leads to mutual benefit. I felt that approaching anyone would be the same,” Lu Cheng’s tone remained calm.
But it was this calmness, this boomerang effect, that completely broke Zhong Junyun’s composure.
His definition of cooperation involved a main party and a supporting party.
Cooperation between hospitals also has distinctions between the hosting unit and participating units.
Zhong Junyun had not considered the possibility of backlash, but he hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.
“Beep beep beep…” Lu Cheng’s call was hung up.
Lu Cheng knew that Zhong Junyun might have contacted Tan Zhongyuan for verification, but it would take some time for Professor Zhong Junyun to call Professor Tan Zhongyuan. Moreover, Lu Cheng had already alerted Tong Yuan’an beforehand, so he wasn’t worried about Tan Zhongyuan betraying him.
Of course, Lu Cheng also called Tong Yuan’an back immediately: “Teacher Tong, I’ve woken up, but Professor Zhong just called me, and I told him everything.”
“He might call Director Tan later.”
“Call Director Tan? Why?” Tong Yuan’an’s eyelids began to twitch.
Zhong Junyun’s status was higher than Tan Zhongyuan’s.
“Just to ask about the authenticity of the cooperation, etc. By the way, Teacher Tong, how are your collected data results? There shouldn’t be any problems, right?” Lu Cheng quickly asked.
“You already know the answer, so why ask?”
“Is it convenient now? I’ve already booked a place for dinner. I’ve invited Director Tan and my teacher, Professor Zhong, to attend.”
Lu Cheng replied: “I called back as soon as I woke up. I need to check my WeChat messages first. There shouldn’t be any other issues.”
…
At the same time, in a hotel suite near Huang Cang Middle School in Long County.
Tan Zhongyuan stood up, facing the large window, and said cheerfully: “Hello, Teacher Zhong. It is my honor to receive your call. May I know your instructions?”
Zhong Junyun was the sole Master Physician-level figure in Central China and the most successful old professor in the region nationwide.
Tan Zhongyuan was, naturally, very polite.
“Director Tan, one of my students said he is cooperating on a research project with you? What is this about? What have you been up to?” Zhong Junyun’s voice was aggressive.
“Director Zhong, are you referring to Lu Cheng’s matter?”
“No, we haven’t done anything. Director Zhong, you can investigate freely. We have never threatened or bribed Doctor Lu Cheng.”
“It was Doctor Lu Cheng who proactively approached us to cooperate on these research projects!~”
“If we must speak of any connection, it’s that Tong Yuan’an from our department has known Lu Cheng for quite some time. This is their personal acquaintance.”
“In this research project collaboration, our hospital’s main representative is undoubtedly Tong Yuan’an,” Tan Zhongyuan replied frankly.
Zhong Junyun was silent for eight or nine seconds before asking: “In other words, the suturing techniques Lu Cheng mentioned are all real?”
Tan Zhongyuan quickly said: “Oh my, Director Zhong, your Xiehe Hospital has profound heritage. You don’t need to doubt this at all!~”
“I have also personally arrived in Long County, and everything is real.”
“For vascular suturing, the three-dissection four-segment technique achieves nearly one hundred percent patency.”
“After the two-dissection three-segment nerve suturing, the potentials are stable and unobstructed.”
“We couldn’t even imagine such techniques,” Tan Zhongyuan, being a cunning old hand, showered him with praise.
“Director Zhong, do you doubt the authenticity of the research project?” Tan Zhongyuan shifted the initiative.
“No, I was just asking,” Zhong Junyun’s tone was calm.
Tan Zhongyuan did not continue to gloat and seek further reprimand: “Oh, then I am relieved. Thank you for your magnanimity, Director Zhong.”
“In the future, if…”
“Beep beep beep…” Zhong Junyun hung up the phone again.
