Chapter 192: Social Graces Are Useless!
“Xie Xiao, has Lu Cheng contacted you recently?” In a residential area in Hanshi City, Zhong Junyun walked downstairs to a shaded path within the complex and called Xie Xiao.
“No, Xiao Lu has never contacted me directly. Director Zhong, hasn’t he been in touch with you?” Xie Xiao, who was preparing her speech for the academic conference this weekend, looked confused.
“So, he hasn’t told you about the good stuff he has?” Zhong Junyun’s voice was calm and profound.
“Good stuff? Director Zhong, what other good stuff does Lu Cheng have?”
“That research project on tendon suturing, wasn’t that something you initiated?” Xie Xiao retorted.
Zhong Junyun: “Lu Cheng’s girlfriend contacted me again today, so I called Lu Cheng. He said he’s been having a lot of inspiration lately and has developed a suturing technique for solid organs, as well as nerve and vascular suturing techniques.”
“He plans to cooperate with Xiangya Hospital as well.”
Xie Xiao immediately understood Zhong Junyun’s meaning: “Director Zhong, I haven’t contacted Lu Cheng. The research project you and Han Luoning discussed, I haven’t leaked it to anyone, not even Xie Yuan’an!”
Zhong Junyun replied: “I’m not saying you leaked the project, I mean…”
“Hmm… do you think I’ve been heading in the wrong direction?”
Xie Xiao thought carefully before saying: “Director Zhong, from our perspective, Xiao Han is a better fit for our department. If I were to choose, I would definitely prioritize Xiao Han.”
“Resources can’t be distributed that evenly, after all.”
“But, if you were saying just now that Xiao Lu he…”
“No, how did Lu Cheng get involved with spleen suturing techniques again?”
Zhong Junyun said impatiently: “You’re asking me? Who should I ask?”
“However, I did get some news just now. Lu Cheng won first place in two categories at the Microsurgery Skills Competition in Xiang Province.”
“His score for solid organ suturing was over 110 points, higher than the maximum score!”
“It’s impossible for Lu Cheng to have colluded with so many professors to conduct such an outrageous fake operation.”
“Why don’t you ask Xie Yuan’an if she said too much to Mu Nanshu?”
Xie Xiao replied without hesitation: “Director Zhong, the discussions in the department were not kept secret. Can Xie Yuan’an talk about them?”
“She’s friends with Lu Cheng and Lu Cheng’s girlfriend.”
Zhong Junyun said: “I know. I just contacted Professor Tan Zhongyuan of Xiangya Hospital. From him, I can basically confirm that the other two suturing techniques Lu Cheng has developed are genuine.”
“This far exceeds our expectations and preliminary research. Have Xiao Xie try to contact Xiao Lu again. I’ll go and talk to him in person.”
“There should still be room for maneuver in this matter.”
“Alright, Director Zhong, I’ll make a call to ask about the specifics.”
……
After hanging up, Xie Xiao called Xie Yuan’an.
Xie Yuan’an hung up directly. Xie Xiao called again, and Xie Yuan’an finally answered, her voice urgent: “Dad, I’m in the lab, what do you want?”
“Can you contact Lu Cheng?” Xie Xiao stated her purpose directly.
“How did you know? I was planning to report to you tonight.” Xie Yuan’an asked.
“Never mind how I know. Tell me the specifics, Director Zhong is in a bind now.”
“Stuck between a rock and a hard place. The phone call came to me,” Xie Xiao said.
Xie Yuan’an: “Director Zhong is such a grown man, can’t he take responsibility for his own actions?”
“I don’t think Lu Cheng is wrong. Xiehe Hospital showed him great kindness, and he plans to teach me his tendon suturing and spleen suturing techniques to participate in the Microsurgery Skills Competition.”
“Dad, Lu Cheng is just a participant in our hospital’s advanced study class. The preferential treatment he’s currently receiving is just that.”
“As for Mu Nanshu, even if Professor Zhong didn’t mention it to Professor Dong of Gastroenterology, Mu Nanshu would find a way to get out.”
“Professor Zhong just did him a favor.”
Xie Yuan’an added: “As a direct beneficiary, I won’t try to persuade Lu Cheng or anything.”
Xie Xiao wasn’t a fool and could discern some meaning from Xie Yuan’an’s words: “So what does he mean by that?”
Xie Yuan’an’s tone became somewhat indignant: “Dad, Lu Cheng said that he’s dealt with social graces for over a decade without much use.”
“This proves that social graces are useless; only improving one’s hard skills matters.”
“If the path of relying on others doesn’t work, he has to set up his own table.”
“This is Mu Nanshu’s exact message to me.”
Xie Xiao fell silent after hearing this.
Taking a deep breath, she sighed softly: “Lu Cheng’s thinking is still too extreme. With team support, his path would surely be smoother.”
“But from his perspective, he’s not entirely wrong.”
“From Huashan Hospital to Zhongnan Hospital, and then to us, it’s heartbreaking to watch.”
“I also have a big problem. I shouldn’t have recommended him to Professor Zhong.”
Xie Xiao felt a bit guilty.
“Old Xie, your problem is indeed significant, but not insurmountable. My original intention was just to spectate. In that situation, who was Lu Cheng?”
“You didn’t know, Professor Zhong didn’t know, nobody knew, only I did. But you still supported my recklessness.”
“So, I can’t say you were wrong, because you’re my dad.”
“Moreover, from an objective standpoint, I don’t think you were wrong. The teacher who could have benefited Lu Cheng the most was Professor Zhong.”
“Perhaps it’s just the unpredictability of life. During this time, Han Luoning also arrived.”
“However, what is the meaning of you calling me?”
Xie Xiao said: “Professor Zhong just confirmed that Lu Cheng said he’s also figured out nerve and vascular suturing techniques, which should be a significant leap beyond current suturing skills.”
“Otherwise, it wouldn’t be called a technique.”
Technique is technique; it’s personal experience, personal habits.
A method is a method; it’s something that can become technology, can be documented, can be popularized, and can be experimentally replicated to prove effective.
“Can I shout out ‘666’?” Xie Yuan’an immediately responded with a tone that enjoyed drama.
Xie Xiao immediately criticized: “Don’t be sarcastic!”
“Okay, anyway, that’s my point.”
“Is there anything else? If not, I need to clean up the mess for what you found for me earlier.” Xie Yuan’an replied.
Xie Xiao: “No more…”
After Xie Xiao hung up, she immediately replied to Zhong Junyun: “Director Zhong, Xie Yuan’an also doesn’t know about these things.”
“However, she did mention one point: Lu Cheng and she have agreed that Xie Yuan’an will use the tendon and solid organ suturing techniques to participate in the microsurgery skills competition.”
“Director Zhong, my point is, our department’s technique is only nerve suturing. Since Lu Cheng claims to have his own suturing techniques, why don’t we compare?”
“Who wins and who loses is not yet determined.”
“This would further promote healthy competition. In the future, when Lu Cheng comes, we can also help each other and grow.”
“In this way, our Hand Surgery Department can develop on multiple fronts. Our platform is large enough, so it’s not impossible for us to support three or four Hand Surgery specialty departments like Huashan Hospital.”
Zhong Junyun replied: “The problem is, Lu Cheng is unwilling to come now.”
Xie Xiao frowned: “Is the news confirmed? This is like biting the hand that feeds you.”
Zhong Junyun said: “He just won’t come to our department, but he will go to the Emergency Department.”
Xie Xiao: “…”
Xie Xiao thought of a possibility: “That would be very troublesome. The people in our hospital’s Emergency Department are not easy to deal with. They might even establish an Emergency Hand Surgery department.”
The Emergency Department of Xiehe Hospital is not a group to sit idly by.
Let alone Hand Surgery, if the department’s personnel are capable enough, they would dare to establish Emergency Neurosurgery. It’s no joke to ban specialty emergency conditions.
A specialty or sub-specialty that doesn’t engage with emergencies ultimately lacks soul.
“Did Xie Yuan’an say she would contact Lu Cheng?” Zhong Junyun asked.
Xie Xiao’s tone was annoyed: “Director Zhong, I have already severely criticized Xie Yuan’an. Girls tend to be a bit sensitive.”
“I told her, if she can’t figure things out, she shouldn’t come home.”
Zhong Junyun ignored whether Xie Xiao’s acting was genuine: “Thirty years old, thirty years old, clearly doesn’t understand anything, doesn’t even know the basic rules of scientific research, how can they create original work…”
“And it’s original medical clinical technology, is that fair?” Zhong Junyun asked Xie Xiao.
Xie Xiao did not answer, which was considered an implicit agreement with Zhong Junyun’s thoughts.
He had no particular affection for Lu Cheng; he merely wanted to get some gossip about Lu Cheng, nothing more.
……
Long County, Chen Fu Chai Huo Ji, Mongolian yurt.
By late October, Long County had become chilly. Sitting around a stove fueled by firewood made those who sat close feel warm.
This time, the drinks were prepared by Professor Tan Zhongyuan’s arrangement.
Of course, Lu Cheng didn’t come empty-handed; he brought a carton of cigarettes and two bottles of ‘Jiu Gui’!
When Tan Zhongyuan and Zhou Yuhui arrived at the yurt room, Lu Cheng quickly stood up and greeted them with a smile: “Director Tan, Director Zhou.”
“Professor Han, Brother Yi…”
Hu Yi was almost half a head taller than Lu Cheng, reaching almost to the ceiling of the yurt.
“Hello, Boss Lu.” Hu Yi smiled somewhat obsequiously.
Lu Cheng shook hands with Hu Yi: “Teacher Hu, if I were a small shop owner, you’d be the CEO of a multinational corporation.”
Tan Zhongyuan immediately said: “Let’s put aside this mutual flattery for now. Today, we’ll discuss some serious matters.”
“Hu Yi, you go and open the wine.”
“Lu Cheng, it’s like this. Today, I want to formally express my sincerity. On behalf of the Hand Surgery Department of Xiangya Hospital, I sincerely invite you, Doctor Lu, to join our department and our team.”
“You don’t need to worry about the actual treatment and benefits; resources will be tilted towards you as much as possible. Firstly, you will be cultivated as a provincial-level Discipline Leader,” Tan Zhongyuan stated directly.
Lu Cheng sat down, appearing somewhat flattered, but after waiting for Tan Zhongyuan to finish, he replied: “Director Tan, normally, one should not refuse a gift from an elder.”
“However, I have personal reasons. My wife is developing her career at Xiehe Hospital in Hanshi City, and our planned development unit is Xiehe Hospital.”
“I’ve made my decision; in the future, I will most likely be working in the Emergency Department of Xiehe Hospital. I must thank you for your good intentions regarding this.”
“This is what we’ve recently settled on for our future development area.”
Tan Zhongyuan said: “Doctor Lu, have you decided so quickly?”
“Yes, our planned place of work was in Hanshi City,” Lu Cheng thought for a moment.
“Actually, to be frank with you, Director Tan, after you, Director Xiang of the Emergency Department at Xiangya Second Hospital also spoke with me, and I politely declined.”
“Of course, while we may not have the opportunity to work together, there are many opportunities for collaborative research projects.”
“This will require the guidance of all the professors.”
“Today, I actually have something I want to discuss with you, Director Tan, which is related to some of my past experiences.”
Tan Zhongyuan extended his hand: “Please speak!”
Lu Cheng replied: “Director Tan, to be frank, my tendon suturing technique originated from the advanced study class at Xiehe Hospital’s Hand Surgery Department!~”
“Therefore, I must apologize. I will be moving this research project to work with a teacher at Xiehe Hospital.”
“Of course, I know that Teacher Tong Yuan’an has been preparing for this for a long time, so I will repay you doubly.”
“I hope Director Tan can agree!~”
“Nerve and vascular suturing techniques are also quite core competitive paths in hand surgery.”
Zhou Yuhui saw that Lu Cheng had quickly made his internal allocations and did not refuse: “Then what about your spleen suturing technique?”
Tong Yuan’an smiled: “That’s definitely reserved for Chen Song.”
Zhou Yuhui cast a resentful glance at Tong Yuan’an.
Tong Yuan’an lowered his head and didn’t say anything further about the transfer.
Zhou Yuhui did not know Chen Song and did not care about Chen Song, but he and Chen Song were good friends. Even if Zhou Yuhui were his master, he would not betray Chen Song.
Lu Cheng quickly interjected with a smile: “The spleen suturing technique was discussed with Professor Chen Song of Xiangya Second Hospital. This also has little to do with hand surgery; this is my future primary profession.”
“That’s fine too, Professor Zhou, what do you think?” Tan Zhongyuan looked at Zhou Yuhui.
Of the three institutions with which Lu Cheng was involved, Xiangya Hospital already had the largest share.
It was impossible to take all four research projects for himself, and Lu Cheng would be in an awkward position.
The core development direction for hand surgery is nerve and vascular.
Zhou Yuhui did not deny it but still asked shrewdly: “I want to hear Doctor Lu’s deeper thoughts. Why did you make this choice?”
Lu Cheng looked at the old Professor Zhou and said calmly: “Teacher Zhou, to put it pragmatically, it’s about having multiple escape routes.”
“To have more fallback options!~”
“To put it formally, I hope to advance these techniques through multiple channels so that they can be applied to clinical practice as soon as possible and truly benefit patients.”
“Just this?” Zhou Yuhui asked.
Lu Cheng knew the answer Zhou Yuhui wanted and said indifferently: “Personally, as I said before, revenge is not delayed overnight.”
Tong Yuan’an nudged Lu Cheng.
Lu Cheng said indifferently: “Teacher Tong, there’s nothing to hide. I haven’t used any despicable means.”
“I have always hoped to have some teachers guide me through systematic learning, and I will continue to hope for this in the future.”
“Everyone’s growth requires learning.”
“However, due to fate and circumstances, not everyone’s learning journey is smooth sailing; this is a foregone conclusion.”
“I am not a pretentious person. My starting point is, whoever is good to me, I will be even better to them.”
“If someone wants to treat me like a fool, I will not remain silent.”
“If someone treats me as a puppet, I also hope to become the player. Even if I can’t defeat them, I can at least annoy them.”
“Regardless, no matter how bad things get, I am already in a relatively bad situation, so it shouldn’t get any worse.”
Tan Zhongyuan immediately responded: “Doctor Lu, we have always been sincere towards you.”
Lu Cheng nodded: “Director Tan, it’s about sincerity. Different perspectives, different manifestations, and sincerity in reality.”
“I believe that if Professor Zhong Junyun had known that I had also developed a technique for suturing solid organs, he might have been relatively more tactful.”
“However, he is very busy, and all his focus is on nerve suturing techniques in hand surgery,” Lu Cheng’s tone was neutral.
He was very philosophical.
The hustle and bustle of the world are all for profit.
Whether it’s Xiangya Hospital, Xiangya Second Hospital, Huashan Hospital, or Xiehe Hospital, none are nobler than the others; each has its own internal operating rules.
It’s just that Xiangya has more interpersonal dealings.
If he were to think from another perspective, if the current Lu Cheng went to Huashan Hospital, it would certainly not be the same as back then.
Even though Lu Cheng is currently only an undergraduate student.
Tan Zhongyuan understood Lu Cheng’s sarcasm. Lu Cheng’s implication was that when he was in Long County, he didn’t see Tong Yuan’an express any further attitude.
After the competition ended, Tan Zhongyuan started to stir things up, using his connections to relay “rumors” to Lu Cheng.
This matter was not despicable, but it was not entirely above board either.
In essence, the operating rule of this world is still that the strong are superior. Only when your ability is strong enough and transcendent can you get by relatively easily.
Otherwise, if you are only slightly strong, you will only be a plaything of the rules.
The ‘Ladder to the Azure Clouds’ that Tan Zhongyuan mentioned exists in many universities. As long as you are strong enough, there have been precedents for undergraduate students to be directly promoted to professor even before graduation.
The current Lu Cheng’s performance made Tong Yuan’an feel somewhat unfamiliar, but it made Tan Zhongyuan feel that this was as it should be.
“Doctor Lu, I hope we can cooperate happily and win-win in the future.” Tan Zhongyuan no longer boasted about himself but described the current situation as a transaction.
Xiangya Hospital needs these techniques to enhance its overall strength, and Lu Cheng needs this project to boost his research capabilities and provide external validation for his overall strength.
A person’s ability, especially in medical technology, is difficult to judge objectively.
However, with articles on original techniques in one’s resume, the situation is different.
Just like Professor Chen Zhongwei’s limb replantation, Old Professor Wu Mengchao’s liver protection surgery, and Professor Tang Jinbo’s Tang method suturing, these are all representative techniques with labels.
Lu Cheng said: “Director Tan, it’s not exactly cooperation, it’s more like your hospital is promoting me exceptionally.”
“You are providing the effort and the money, and I am somewhat of a hands-off manager. I will always remember this kindness.”
“In view of this, I would first like to toast you and Old Professor Zhou.”
Tong Yuan’an also raised his wine glass and, after drinking it all, smiled: “Xiao Lu, you seem a bit unfamiliar today.”
If the previous Lu Cheng was considered honest and simple, the current Lu Cheng carried a “killer’s aura.”
Lu Cheng did not tell Tong Yuan’an that Chen Song was inferior to him. He only told Chen Song that Tong Yuan’an’s tendon suturing technique was inferior to his own, so why wasn’t Tong Yuan’an the one not doing tendon suturing.
“Teacher Tong, I am a very realistic person. I yield to the weak, but not to the strong.”
“Moreover, I am not strong. I am just lucky to have received the favor and guidance of many teachers, and by chance, I have gained some different insights.”
“Apart from this, I am still an ignorant novice.”
“For example, specific research procedures and the like, I am still learning.”
“But now, relying on the guidance of all of you, I can roughly distinguish the classification and importance of different research projects. It’s like a clown, immediately taking advantage of an opportunity.”
Lu Cheng continued: “Whether you teachers believe it or not, I am indeed such a straightforward person.”
Tong Yuan’an seized this opportunity to make a joke: “Xiao Lu, didn’t you say before that you wanted to achieve clarity of mind, so you were going to win awards?”
“Why aren’t you going anymore?”
Lu Cheng smiled and said: “Teacher Tong, that was then. At that time, I only dared to think of defeating them head-on.”
“Now, I think calling a few people can beat them. Competing with them, they shouldn’t be worthy of being my opponents.”
“Did you say that?”
“They can’t be stronger than you, can they?” Lu Cheng’s voice was hearty, and his state of mind seemed completely relaxed, truly achieving clarity.
Lu Cheng’s reasoning was sound.
Among Lu Cheng’s peers in hand surgery, even those who were doing very well could hardly be more outstanding than Tong Yuan’an.
The age gap was there. A thirty-two-year-old attending physician, in terms of clinical strength, to defeat Tong Yuan’an, who was about to be promoted to professor at Xiangya Hospital?
Who was crazy? Looking down on Tong Yuan’an?
If Tong Yuan’an were not a genius, how could he be considered the number one below the professor level in Xiang Province’s hand surgery?
Tong Yuan’an scratched his head: “I always feel like you’re being sarcastic with me.”
Hu Yi smiled and said: “Brother Tong, you don’t need to feel like it, you are.”
“This perfectly aligns with what Director Tan said: scientific research is the best shortcut for overtaking on a curve. No other path can achieve a curve overtake better than research output.”
Hu Yi said this, rolled up his sleeves, and said: “Well, Teacher Lu, what should I pay attention to if I want to learn from you?”
“For example, should I wash my backside clean?”
“I also really want to try for that first prize in the National Microsurgery Competition.”
Lu Cheng was stunned after hearing this.
No, according to Tong Yuan’an’s introduction, Hu Yi was considered a leading figure among the younger generation at Xiangya Hospital, excelling in both clinical practice and professionalism.
The label of a research guru had long been established. No one in the department had higher research accumulation, not even associate professors.
However, when Hu Yi first joined, his clinical ability was quite ordinary because he graduated with an academic doctorate and had little clinical exposure.
But after joining at the age of twenty-eight, he began to engage in clinical practice, conducting research while learning clinical skills. In just four years, he had “killed off” the other associate professors!
This should be a relatively upright person, so why was he speaking in a “Rongcheng” style?
“Brother Yi, you’re not from Rongcheng, are you?” Lu Cheng asked playfully.
Tong Yuan’an said: “Hey, you actually guessed right. This gentleman is indeed from Sichuan Province.”
Lu Cheng cupped his hands: “Farewell!~”
The jokes belonged only to the younger generation. Tan Zhongyuan and Old Professor Zhou Yuhui, on the other hand, maintained an air of profound mystery, minimizing their presence.
