This doctor is already middle-aged, and he's only just started practicing medicine.

Chapter 234 Now they should be called experts!
"Teacher Chen, when do you plan to go to Long County? Before or after the New Year?" Lu Cheng asked Chen Song during the dinner.

Chen Song arrived in Jishi after October 1st and spent four months preparing. Although he was not far ahead of Tong Yuan'an in terms of project progress, he had completed the collection of some data.

Now that he has obtained the authority to perform clinical surgeries, Chen Song regularly leads a team to be stationed at the emergency department of Longxian People's Hospital to carry out 'clinical research' on spleen-preserving surgery!
Follow-up animal experiments will continue in Jilin City, but his students will collect the data.

Animal experiments are allowed to fail and have a higher tolerance for error, but spleen preservation surgery for patients is not an option. Therefore, Chen Song must lead a team, along with a senior attending physician from Xiangya No. 2 Hospital, to be stationed at Longxian People's Hospital.

Chen Song hadn't been drinking and was perfectly clear-headed: "There are still more than twenty days until the New Year, how could we possibly go after the New Year?"

"At the latest, after the fifteenth, I'll have a drink with Tong Yuan'an and then head to Long County."

"Anyway, the time I contacted Director Du Qiang was around the 16th or 17th of the twelfth lunar month, which is around the 26th or 27th."

It is now January 20th, and Lu Cheng's first trip to Long County is scheduled for the 23rd or 24th.

During the dinner, Chen Song brought up the topic of liver-protecting techniques that Mu Nanshu and Xie Yuanan had been gossiping about.

Zhang Xibei was under immense pressure. After scratching his head, he said, "Professor Chen, if you leave, things will be difficult for me here."

"Your two students might not be able to handle the model, right? Should we postpone it a little longer?"

"Moreover, Dr. Lu has made new demands on me, and I am afraid that it will affect the progress of the research group."

When Zhang Xibei first joined the crew, he had some confidence.

However, after being here for so long, his progress has been slow, and he is considered to be dragging the team down, which has gradually put pressure on Zhang Xibei.

His main concern was that Lu Cheng's output speed was too fast.

Chen Song looked at Zhang Xibei and said, "Xibei, don't feel pressured. We can take our time with the follow-up projects we've discussed. Six months to a year is fine."

"No rush. These projects are long-term plans, not small projects that can be tackled in a month or two."

Zhang Xibei said, "Professor Chen, because of my limited personal abilities, I am afraid that it will affect the normal progress of the research group."

"As you know, the progress of the project is currently stuck at this stage, so I brought in an outside helper."

"What I was thinking was, Professor Chen, why don't you stay for another half month and go to Longxian after the New Year? My classmate and I will see if we can make an animal model of a ruptured spleen within half a month."

"If possible, we would like to accompany Professor Chen to Longxian County."

Chen Song was taken aback: "What's your classmate's name?"

“Ni Xiexin. Professor Chen, you may not know him, but Lu Cheng and Mu Nanshu both know him,” Zhang Xibei replied.

Zhang Xibei was eager to achieve something.

Lu Cheng and Mu Nanshu exchanged a glance, and everything was understood without a word.

Lu Cheng's idea was correct. In fact, Mu Nanshu and Xie Yuan'an's gossip was not intentionally meant to provoke Chen Song; Chen Song was just caught in the crossfire.

But Mu Nanshu's junior sister, Ni Xiexin, was a capable assistant that Lu Cheng and Mu Nanshu had wanted to "poach" from the very beginning.

Spleen-preserving surgery may not attract the most cutting-edge researchers because of the life-saving indications for spleen removal, but liver-preserving surgery has that potential.

But in fact, Chen Song knew Ni Xiexin, and having been in society for so long, he could see through Lu Cheng and Mu Nanshu's little schemes at a glance.

These two kids hadn't told him their true intentions; this deception caught him completely off guard: "That's fine too. Anyway, it'll be safer to postpone the clinical research a little longer!"

Lu Cheng greeted them with a smile, "Brother Zhang, Teacher Chen, please have some food."

After saying that, Lu Cheng turned his head and began to blame Mu Nanshu: "I told you not to say these things here and there. I didn't tell Professor Chen about these things because I didn't want to affect the normal operation of the research group."

"I was able to associate myself with the National Health Commission and Professor Lu in Kyoto to save time for my research group, and now you're saying that out loud?"

"What if this affects Xiao Ni's normal work?"

Zhang Xibei may have considered that Lu Cheng's release of the liver-protecting technique was motivated by ulterior motives, but he didn't specifically think about it in that direction.

After all, Lu Cheng wasn't a braggart, and what he experienced was real.

It is only natural that Lu Cheng would recommend himself to a top expert.

Zhang Xibei immediately replied, "Lu Cheng, if you have other plans for this liver protection surgery project, I won't let my classmate come."

For Zhang Xibei, being able to do more research projects is definitely a good thing, but for Lu Cheng, if he can use these projects to build better connections, it will be more beneficial for him.

However, Lu Cheng's defection failed, and Zhang Xibei, who was very familiar with the prospects of liver protection technology, secretly told Ni Xiexin about it as soon as possible.

Those who truly understand scientific research are naturally very interested in this kind of original work.

It can be said that those who truly achieve scientific research success are those who take unconventional approaches, rather than those who follow the rules and do conventional research.

Lu Cheng said, "Brother Zhang, it's not that we're going to hand it over to someone else, we're just worried it might affect your normal work."

"As I just mentioned, I tried to curry favor with the big boss, but he wouldn't listen to me!"

"Since playing innocent doesn't work, we'll just have to do it ourselves..."

"However, after dissecting it for a while, I feel that this liver protection technique is still very practical."

Lu Cheng knew that the more realistic he talked to Zhang Xibei, the deeper their feelings would become.

Zhang Tiesheng's words are ironclad rules.

Every relationship between two people needs a reason or anchor point, whether it's the blood relationship between parents and children, a kinship, or a fleeting glance or lust at first sight.

Everything needs an initial reason.

After meeting and getting to know each other, the process of feelings intensifying or diminishing comes later.

Zhang Xibei has just arrived. If Lu Cheng treats him as a close friend, he will devote himself to him wholeheartedly and disregard his own life.

Zhang Xibei still suspected that Lu Cheng might have ulterior motives or a peculiar fetish.

After all, Zhang Xibei is quite similar to Lu Cheng, except that Zhang Xibei has a slightly better education than Lu Cheng. Otherwise, he is selling the future.

However, Zhang Xibei is also very good at self-promotion. After seeing the prospects of the research group, he not only tried to show his abilities, but also his limited network of contacts.

"Lu Cheng, it definitely has practical value. You won't blame me for spreading those videos that Xiao Mu sent me, will you?" Zhang Xibei asked with a shy smile.

"That's unlikely. Even if those videos were leaked, other people shouldn't be able to uncover the core of the stitching technique."

"But there's a chance that some ideas might be revealed. It doesn't matter this time, but we should still be careful in the future."

Lu Cheng continued, "Brother Zhang, shall we continue eating? Is there not enough food? Nobody's touching their chopsticks."

"Boss?" Lu Cheng immediately shouted, employing the hearty and straightforward manner characteristic of western Hunan.

This wasn't Lu Cheng pretending; people from western Hunan are impulsive, but also very hospitable.

He eats meat and drinks alcohol with gusto, and does so very efficiently.

If guests feel they haven't had enough to eat, it means the host family hasn't been hospitable enough.

"No, no, no," Zhang Xibei and Chen Song quickly advised, "That's enough, any more would be a waste."

The waiter rushed in and asked, "Boss, is there anything else you'd like?"

Lu Cheng said, "Add two more plates of bee pupae, and hurry up!"

Bee pupae are expensive but scarce, and they taste good, so you won't have too much to eat.

"Okay. Coming right away, boss." The waiter immediately turned and headed towards the kitchen.

Two plates of bee pupae cost over two hundred yuan, which is equivalent to the total bill of the other tables.

Lu Cheng didn't mention Ni Xiexin's matter again, but said, "Professor Chen, my wife told me that although I wasn't in charge of the specific implementation of the project, I have been maintaining my creative work."

"She told me that when I had free time, I could bring the creative process of these things to the research group for discussion."

"Won't this take up your time?"

Chen Song immediately realized that Mu Nanshu was the one who truly did research.

Because a true boss is not someone who just tells people to do things, but someone who leads their subordinates to work together, allowing everyone to participate in a project from its inception to its completion.

"It won't cause any delay!"

"As the saying goes, 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.' If you give us a few articles to do a research project, then we've truly learned the core techniques."

Chen Song said, "I can definitely find the time."

Zhang Xibei also touched his head: "Lu Cheng, if you'd like, I can come anytime."

Everyone is interested in the techniques Lu Cheng created. Naturally, they are even more interested in the thought process and process by which Lu Cheng developed his own techniques.

Lu Cheng then said, "Professor Chen, okay, I'll try to attend your discussions every week from now on, but I might have to participate via video."

"You're the boss, so whatever makes things convenient for you is fine." Chen Song's voice was calm, and his expression was serious; he wasn't lying.

"..."

On the return trip, Lu Cheng and Mu Nanshu formed one team, while the others split into two teams.

Zhang Xibei got into Xie Yuan'an's car and sat in the back seat with his eyes closed, trying to rest. But Xie Yuan'an, who was driving, seemed determined not to let him off the hook and started gossiping: "Dr. Zhang, is that classmate you mentioned your old flame?"

"No. She's already engaged." Zhang Xibei couldn't close his eyes to rest, so he opened them to rest as well.

Sitting in Teacher Xie Yuan'an's car, I couldn't be too aloof and didn't even answer questions.

"It's just an engagement, not a wedding."

"Moreover, in today's society, even if you are married, you can still get a divorce."

"I'm just curious why Dr. Ni is willing to come whenever you call, Professor Zhang." Once Xie Yuan'an started talking, she could find a point to continue the conversation.

Zhang Xibei said, "It was just normal chatting between classmates."

Xie Yuan'an said, "Teacher Zhang, I also have classmates, and I have many male classmates. Why haven't I thought about chatting with them? Have you thought about it?"

Xie Yuan'an missed the matchmaker between Mu Nanshu and Lu Cheng, and is now giving frantic hints.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xibei frowned slightly, then shook his head: "That's impossible, you've misunderstood. Ni Xiexin doesn't like my type."

"I'd say I'm not ugly, but that's all I can say about my looks."

"It didn't mean anything by it, we just share similar interests. Ni Xiexin happens to be quite interested in topics related to the liver."

“Impossible,” Zhang Xibei continued, “She had a boyfriend in college, and we never even considered that possibility!”

"We just have similar interests."

When Xie Yuan'an heard that Ni Xiexin had a boyfriend in college, she realized that she was probably overthinking things: "Sigh, that's no fun."

"What did you say?" Zhang Xibei's thoughts were a little slow to catch up with Xie Yuan'an.

Xie Yuan'an quickly explained, "What I mean is, it's a bit of a pity. Otherwise, you two would have shared the same interests and become a perfect couple."

Xie Yuan'an would never admit that she didn't get to hear the gossip and felt uneasy about it.

Zhang Xibei didn't shy away from saying, "Actually, I also had feelings for her for a while, but it was only for a short time, since she already had a boyfriend."

"Later, I also liked another girl, but?"

"Anyway, we're just friends. And it's precisely because we're just friends that we can still chat so openly even if we haven't been in touch for a long time."

Xie Yuan'an said frankly, "So you are also completely innocent, right?"

Zhang Xibei is just honest and simple-minded, not unintelligent: "Do you have feelings for Lu Cheng? You keep saying those words to him."

Zhang Xibei began to reverse the situation and take the lead.

"No, no!" Xie Yuan'an quickly shook her head, her voice resolute.

But the more they act this way, the more it reveals their insecurity.

Zhang Xibei said, "I'm just suggesting that you shouldn't think that way. After all, they have a really good relationship, and Mu Nanshu treats you as a friend and a real senior sister."

"This isn't bad for everyone, it's that you yourself will lose miserably."

"I know," Xie Yuan'an replied instinctively.

But they soon realized they had been tricked.

She glanced at Zhang Xibei, who was usually honest and kind, with a hint of panic.

But because she had exposed her guilty conscience, Xie Yuan'an didn't even dare to defend herself anymore, afraid that she would be outsmarted again.

Honesty is a personality trait, intelligence is an innate quality.

It's something you're born with; being unattractive doesn't affect your intelligence.

……

On January 23, after finishing his night shift in the ward, Lu Cheng immediately drove onto the highway and headed straight for Long County.

When Lu Cheng drove his car back to Yuelu Avenue, he stopped by his home for a short ride.

My parents are not here. Gaojiapo Community is still the same community, the house is still the same house, my own room, the furnishings, nothing has changed.

Even his own training room wasn't demolished, but Lu Cheng had a different feeling when he came back this time.

About an hour later, it was midnight.

Lu Cheng received a location and message from Zhang Tiesheng: "Teacher Lu, the location has been decided. We'll go into the operating room after we've eaten."

"Miaoertan Private Room"

Miaoertan is the name of a town in Long County, and many restaurants like to use local place names as the names of their private rooms.

Lu Cheng stood up and dialed the number back: "Brother Zhang, I'm coming right away."

"Your skill in using sarcastic and unsettling language has reached a whole new level."

Zhang Tiesheng was also driving, and the window was probably open. There were constant beeps all around, but Zhang Tiesheng quickly closed the window: "This isn't just being sarcastic, it's the truth."

"Lu Cheng, you're not the same Lu Cheng you were before. We should call you an expert, after all, you're a teacher from the State People's Hospital!"

"Are you kidding me when it comes to requesting a consultation for a scalpel?"

Although Zhang Tiesheng's tone was joking, that's the nature of the matter.

When Lu Cheng was at Longxian People's Hospital, he was just Xiao Lu, a junior attending physician.

However, if you request a consultation from a specialist at the state hospital, the situation is entirely different.

"Brother Zhang, that's enough, I can't argue with you."

“I know you’re eloquent, but I hope you won’t be so eloquent anymore. We’re still brothers,” Lu Cheng said.

After some time of consideration, Lu Cheng felt that everyone around him, except for Mu Nanshu, was someone he could control!
Mu Nanshu is his wife, so there is an emotional foundation between them. She grew up with him, and they share common goals.

As for the others, let alone Xie Yuan'an, even Zhang Xibei is a free man who might just pack up and leave at any time.

After these projects are completed, Lu Cheng will face a situation where he has no one to use.

Under these circumstances, Lu Cheng felt he should also find some people. Even if their abilities weren't that strong, he needed to have people first; only with quantity could he then focus on quality.

Zhang Tiesheng was someone Lu Cheng thought was very good.

Having connections is his outward label, but his learning potential is still there. Although he is a bit older, his learning ability is still relatively top-notch.

"Hearing you say that, Xiao Lu, makes Brother Zhang feel really warm inside."

"However, friendship is friendship, but we still need to show the proper hospitality and hospitality as hosts."

"There are regulations now that prohibit lavish eating and drinking. We've known each other for a while, so having a meal together isn't against the rules."

"Besides, in our Long County, you can't find a place to eat and drink illegally. A meal for seven or eight people only costs three or four hundred yuan."

"And nobody will investigate such violations!"

Zhang Tiesheng continued, "Let's have a drink together tonight. I ordered some wild game, which is something we can only enjoy around the year-end."

Upon hearing this, Lu Cheng immediately asked, "Brother Zhang, don't do this."

“They are artificially bred. However, they are free-range, not fed with commercial feed.”

“I know the rules,” Zhang Tiesheng said immediately.

Giant salamanders are protected animals. However, those that are artificially fed can be improved through oral administration.

“Alright, I’ll bring the wine over!” Lu Cheng immediately replied.

Zhang Tiesheng replied bluntly: "Then don't come."

Lu Cheng quickly chimed in, "Then next time Brother Zhang comes to Jilin City, if you're going to pay again, then don't bother coming."

"If you call me teacher, will you listen to me?"

"Okay!" Zhang Tiesheng was speechless.

Lu Cheng's learning speed is too fast.

"See you later, Brother Zhang." Lu Cheng hung up the video call.

As I drove out of the garage from the basement, the warm winter sun shone brightly, but it wasn't glaring.

A gentle breeze blew, and Lu Cheng slowly rolled down the car window, enjoying the 'scenery' on both sides of the road!
There was no scenery to speak of, it was just an old scene that Lu Cheng had seen so many times he was sick of it and knew by heart.

However, it's been a long time since we last met, and I miss it.

Returning to a familiar place can be like trying to find a lost sword by marking the boat, or it can be like seeing different flowers in Chang'an.

(End of this chapter)