Chapter 13: The Exam (Part 1)

It was night.

Zhao Tianjiao sat on the sofa, chatting idly with his father, Zhao Jixiang.

Zhao Jixiang was the Vice President of the Second Affiliated Hospital, in charge of logistics, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and so on. In his youth, he graduated from a top-tier domestic university, and after working in Clinical for over a decade, he entered the administration and rose steadily through the ranks.

His journey had been smooth sailing all the way, and he now occupied a lucrative position among the vice presidents of the Second Affiliated Hospital, with faint signs of him succeeding as the Dean.

"Tianjiao, do you know what you need to do after going to Clinical?" Zhao Jixiang asked with an air of official authority, even when speaking to his own son.

"Dad, I have been working very hard."

The atmosphere of the father-son conversation today was somewhat different. Zhao Tianjiao knew what his old man was up to; he did not act presumptuously, but instead answered cautiously and vaguely.

"When you were studying for your undergraduate degree, I couldn't help you, but you should have had some experience since you started your internship last year."

Zhao Tianjiao nodded; he knew very well what his father meant.

During the internship period, other students only took a cursory look at things.

Some students were even preparing for postgraduate entrance exams and rarely went to Clinical at all; the Attending Teachers would just turn a blind eye and let it pass, with no one digging deeper.

He was different.

The old man had paved the way for him. The Attending Teacher at his internship hospital was willing to let him assist in surgeries; he could perform Tying Knots on the first day, and after he became proficient, they even let him perform a few minor surgeries himself.

Although they were only minor surgeries and the teacher didn't feel comfortable letting him perform critical steps like Ligation, it was clear that his starting point was much higher than that of other students.

Life is a relay race; thanks to his old man's efforts, the baton in his hand was already many times stronger than that of an ordinary person.

"As for not letting you take the postgraduate entrance exam, it's all because of this bullshit Standardized Residency Training," Zhao Jixiang said indifferently. "Now, even after graduating as a master's or Doctor of Philosophy student, you still have to go through Standardized Residency Training, wasting several years for nothing." (Author's note: When the Standardized Residency Training rules were first introduced, there were indeed similar problems.)

"Dad, didn't I hear a few days ago that they were going to merge the certificates or something?" Zhao Tianjiao asked.

"The Ministry does indeed have that intention, but who knows when the rules will come down," Zhao Jixiang said indifferently. "When you come to work at the hospital, the matters of postgraduate and doctoral studies can be discussed later. Independent examination papers, single or double certificates, those are all easy to handle; that's not difficult."

"I understand, Dad." Zhao Tianjiao was a bit confused; he didn't quite understand what his father meant, but he didn't actually need to understand. He just had to follow his father's plan; his father would never deceive him.

"The first year of Standardized Residency Training."

As he spoke, Zhao Jixiang held up a finger.

"The most important thing is to pass the exam for your Practicing Certificate."

Zhao Tianjiao nodded heavily.

"Go through the motions in Internal Medicine, but put your main energy into Surgery. Look around and see which department you like; I will find the person with the best skills to take you into surgery."

"When the time comes, you must be able to step up when there is an opportunity to be the lead surgeon."

As he spoke, Zhao Jixiang sighed deeply, as if thinking of something.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Zhao Tianjiao felt a bit uneasy.

"When I was young, I didn't have as good an opportunity as you," Zhao Jixiang gave his son a smile. "Back then, I had to learn Tying Knots first, and then rely on working my life away to get the teacher to let me perform one surgery."

"And then?"

"My hands were shaking the first time I was the lead surgeon," Zhao Jixiang recalled the past. "I knew very well that if I could grasp this opportunity, I could avoid three years of detours. If I couldn't grasp it, who knows when the next time they would let me perform surgery would be.

That was the most important surgery of my life. And you, your internship has passed without you even realizing it."

Thinking of the situation his old man faced back then, Zhao Tianjiao could slightly feel how difficult it must have been.

"Let's not talk about that. After you finish your Standardized Training and stay on, choose a department to get familiar with first, and in the second year, I'll send you to the Imperial Capital or Shanghai for further studies," Zhao Jixiang brushed off the nostalgic mood and continued to explain his arrangements to his son.

"Is it based on the department I choose, Dad?"

"Yes," Zhao Jixiang nodded. "I suggest you choose Orthopedics, and then I will send you to Jishuitan. I have a classmate who is a director there. You go for a year and learn some techniques that we don't have at the Second Affiliated Hospital."

"You can publish a paper after performing a few hundred surgeries. Although you can publish papers without performing surgeries, it's better to have surgeries; after all, this is the skill you'll use to make a living in the future.

However, the paper has already been arranged; what I just said is for you to handle yourself."

Zhao Tianjiao didn't ask about the subsequent matters, and Zhao Jixiang didn't say.

Leading a team, becoming a director—things that others saw as difficult as ascending to heaven would all fall into place naturally.

Having a father like this is truly good.

"Get some rest early, and do well on the exam tomorrow," Zhao Jixiang said with a smile when he saw his son's expression. "Follow the steps; in life, one cannot be in a rush."

……

……

The lights were still on in the Department of Science and Education.

"Director Sun, you truly have the future of the hospital at heart, placing such importance on the exam for the Standardized Training Students," the staff member from the Medical Affairs Department flattered.

Director Sun of the Department of Science and Education did not speak; he finished reading the test paper and narrowed his eyes in deep thought.

The young staff member didn't know what Director Sun was going to do and felt a bit uneasy.

Ten-odd minutes later, Director Sun opened the computer and searched for materials in the Case Library.

After a long, long time, he finally found the Medical Record he needed.

"Use this as the final case analysis question."

The young staff member hurriedly agreed.

But when he started reading the Medical Record, his face turned into a bitter melon.

The Medical Record was densely packed with in-hospital consultations; he had no idea where the key points were.

If this Medical Record were converted into a math problem, the difficulty of this question would definitely exceed the problem-solving scope of a university student.

Even postgraduate and doctoral students probably wouldn't be able to handle it.

The young staff member didn't know why his Director Sun had specified this question, and fearing he would delay things, he gathered his courage to find Director Sun, who hadn't gone home yet.

Director Sun was in a particularly good mood today; seeing that his subordinate, who didn't have a Clinical background, couldn't solve the problem, he took over personally.

A full two hours later, Director Sun finally let out a long sigh.

"If this question were thrown into Clinical, the directors of our hospital would all be dumbfounded."

"Director Sun, is this to make the Standardized Training Students have awe for Clinical? You are truly far-sighted," the young staff member didn't understand Director Sun's meaning at all and could only offer random flattery.

Director Sun smiled slightly, offering no explanation, and sent the answer out via WeChat.

……

……

Early the next morning, Ji Xiang arrived at the hospital.

After touring the Second Affiliated Hospital for two days, the exam was today, with results out in the afternoon; if he passed, he could start his Standardized Residency Training tomorrow.

For someone of Ji Xiang's academic caliber, an exam was nothing at all, merely a formality.

Getting a perfect score was normal for Ji Xiang; if there were a question he didn't know how to answer, that would be the only thing to make him take it seriously.

Sitting in the exam hall, waiting for the proctor to distribute the papers, Ji Xiang's mind was filled with what the System NPC had said to him.

Being able to purchase gene-altering medicine after the System Mall opened—such a heaven-defying thing was just too exhilarating.

Furthermore, there was that glaring Long-term Main Quest issued by the system.

It was just a circumcision, why on earth did it need to issue a Main Quest?

The most critical part was that the System NPC had made it very clear: this Main Quest was extremely difficult, and the pass rate for the "Heaven's Pride" selected by the system was less than 10%.

Moreover, passing it would unlock the System Mall, allowing for the purchase of gene-altering medicine.

Just as he was thinking this, the student in the front row passed the exam papers back.

Ji Xiang took one and handed the rest to the student behind him.

He only glanced at it once before picking up his pen and starting to write.

His handwriting was elegant, faintly bearing traces of Thin Gold Script; in an era where everyone typed and exams were computer-based, it was rare to see someone with such penmanship.

Everything else was easy to handle, but the last question was a bit difficult.

Ji Xiang seemed to finish the preceding answers without a thought, yet he was stumped by the final question.

He hesitated for a moment, held his breath, and entered the System Space.

……

"Zhao Yuanzhang, you've come in person." A staff member from the Department of Science and Education suddenly saw Director Sun of the Department of Science and Education accompanying Zhao Yuanzhang walking over from the other side of the corridor; he hurriedly ran over and greeted them with a smile.

"Just here to take a look," Zhao Yuanzhang laughed. "Standardized Residency Training students are fresh blood, the future of our hospital; if I, an old Clinical hand, don't take a look, I feel like something is missing."

Everyone knew Zhao Yuanzhang was here to see his own son, but it was only right to phrase it more grandiosely; this was called emotional intelligence.

"How long has the exam been going on?" Zhao Yuanzhang asked.

"Fifteen minutes," the staff member from the Department of Science and Education replied with a face full of smiles. "The quality of this year's students is very good. After the written exam, there's a practical, but the practical is very simple—just measuring blood pressure, Tying Knots, doing an Electrocardiogram, and so on."

Zhao Yuanzhang nodded slightly, and just as he reached the door, a figure walked out from the opposite direction.

Although the person had their back to the sun, they seemed to glow, exuding a radiant, sunny energy.

"You need to report if you're going to the restroom; this is a formal exam," the staff member from the Department of Science and Education scolded unhappily.

"Teacher, I've handed in my paper," Ji Xiang said with a smile.

"……"

The people from the Department of Science and Education felt their hearing had failed; three hundred questions, including not just Clinical theory but also case analysis—what was he doing finishing it in fifteen minutes?

Even if you brought a Clinical Resident Chief over to take the test, they would have to scratch their head.

"Be serious; if your exam score isn't high enough, you won't be able to do your Standardized Residency Training at our Second Affiliated Hospital," the Director of Science and Education put on a persuasive tone, looking exactly like a big bad wolf talking to a little lamb.

"I am being very serious, Teacher," Ji Xiang said, looking down at the group.

He was tall, yet he didn't make people feel oppressed; instead, they subconsciously made way for him.

"Teacher, you go first," Ji Xiang stepped aside and said politely to the people before him.

Zhao Yuanzhang glanced at Ji Xiang, walked into the exam hall with his hands behind his back.

Finishing an exam early didn't necessarily mean it was good; he figured this kid must have taken one look at the paper, seen nothing he could answer, and just given up.

Walking into the exam hall, Zhao Yuanzhang saw his son buried in his work, and he nodded with a smile.

He walked around silently, pretending to inspect.

Just at this moment, a familiar voice came from outside.

"Where is Ji Xiang!"

Zhao Yuanzhang's brow furrowed, and his expression darkened.

In the Second Affiliated Hospital, even the Dean wouldn't call him by his name directly; who the hell was this!

Director Sun of the Department of Science and Education recognized who was speaking; he was puzzled, but before Zhao Yuanzhang could flare up, he hurriedly trotted out.

"Where is Ji Xiang?"

The person outside shouted again, sounding hurried, as if afraid Zhao Yuanzhang's anger wasn't enough.

"Mo, keep your voice down, the students are taking an exam!" Director Sun trotted out and scolded.

His eyes kept darting around, his eyeballs nearly popping out.

But today, Mo Jiaoshou seemed possessed, completely failing to see Director Sun's signals.

"Director Sun, sorry, I have an urgent matter. Where is Ji Xiang?" Mo Jiaoshou asked, lowering his voice.

"Ahem, ahem."

Zhao Yuanzhang walked slowly to the front row and stood in the classroom, looking coldly at Mo Jiaoshou.

"……"

Mo Jiaoshou was stunned the moment he saw Zhao Yuanzhang appear in his field of vision.

Ji Xiang, Zhao Jixiang...

He cursed inwardly.

You don't even manage the Department of Science and Education, who knew you, Zhao Yuanzhang, would be here.

"Zhao Yuanzhang, Zhao Yuanzhang, you're here." While cursing in his heart, Mo Jiaoshou bent his waist and walked in humbly, looking like a subservient grandson.

"Hmm, I'm here. What do you need me for?" Zhao Yuanzhang asked indifferently.

"I'm not looking for you, Dean; I'm looking for a Standardized Training Student named Ji Xiang," Professor Mo hurriedly explained.

"Ji Xiang?"

Zhao Yuanzhang muttered the name.

"Zhao Yuanzhang, the student who just handed in his exam paper is named Ji Xiang."

"Handed in his paper? So fast?!" Professor Mo was stunned; he scanned the room but didn't see Ji Xiang there.

"Why are you looking for him? It looks to me like that student has already given up," Sun helped steer the conversation away for Professor Mo.

Professor Mo gave Sun a grateful look and whispered an explanation, "Yesterday, I asked Student Ji to give me a hand. I was in a rush when I left and forgot to leave my phone number, so I came to find him after the shift handover today."

Zhao Yuanzhang's brows were tightly locked, and a dark cloud drifted across his face.

"I didn't expect him to be faster than me; why did he hand in his paper?"

The clouds were thick, and it looked like a torrential downpour was about to begin.

(End of this chapter)