Chapter 167: Social Points

Ji Xiang did not perform the surgery; he stood below and watched all three surgeries.

After the surgeries, Ji Xiang had a strange suspicion about Zhao Yisheng—his surgical skills were better than Liu Zhuren's!

Level 6 Interventional Surgery was already sensational, but Ji Xiang estimated that Zhao Zhe's Urological Surgery was at least Level 7!

With this level of skill, he was just a long-standing Resident Physician in a Yuanliao City hospital!

Moreover, it seemed no one in the hospital respected him; Zhao Yisheng could even be mocked by ordinary doctors anytime, anywhere.

It was just, very absurd.

After checking on the patients, Liu Zhuren gave Zhao Yisheng a few instructions in a professional manner, declined an invitation to stay for a meal, and drove back to the Provincial Hospital.

On the way back, Liu Zhuren remained silent for a long time.

As they neared the Provincial Hospital, Liu Zhuren asked, "Xiao Ji, do you think Zhao Yisheng is good at surgery?"

"Good, very good." Ji Xiang gave Liu Zhuren a definitive answer.

"Indeed, apart from you, I haven't seen anyone more gifted than him. It's a pity he's wasting away in a small hospital," Liu Zhuren lamented.

Although Liu Zhuren did not mention the comparison between himself and Zhao Zhe, this statement implicitly admitted that he was not as good as Zhao Zhe.

Ji Xiang scratched his head.

He was indeed a genius; Ji Xiang never denied this.

But when it came to performing surgery well, he had to say it was because the System NPC taught him well; in this regard, there was no comparison between himself and Zhao Yisheng.

"I plan to ask him to participate in the surgical competition organized by the Provincial Hospital's Urology Department in October," Liu Zhuren said.

"A surgical competition?"

"Yes." Liu Zhuren nodded. "About ten years ago, the coastal regions started holding surgical competitions, referencing foreign ones, so that everyone could exchange ideas and communicate.

I don't really approve of this; surgery is surgery, why turn it into a competition?"

"That's true." Ji Xiang agreed with Liu Zhuren.

"But people, among Maslow's hierarchy of needs, still need a sense of recognition. Looking back now, a surgical competition is also an opportunity for young doctors to grow and be recognized.

However, this surgical competition is being organized by Gu Lao to add some credentials for Professor Zhou Tianbo. I won't be going, are you interested?"

"Are you planning to have Zhao Yisheng compete? I think he could do quite well," Ji Xiang said.

"Both you and Zhao Yisheng should go." Liu Zhuren gripped the steering wheel with both hands. "Bring back first place in the province."

Ji Xiang did not speak.

"Right! Look at my brain." Liu Zhuren paused slightly, immediately remembering that Ji Xiang was someone going to Shanghai for a "visit," and in all likelihood, he would stay in Shanghai directly.

He had been so excited for a moment that he forgot about this.

Although it was a bit against the rules for a Standardized Training Student to leave their unit before their training ended, the Old Man in Shanghai wouldn't even need to speak; if the student made a phone call, the relevant personnel at the National Health Commission would handle the procedures.

"Xiao Ji, a few days ago I told Wang Daxiao that they had discovered a 'thousand-mile horse' and that I had taken advantage of it. Who knew, gold shines everywhere; if one has eyes, one can see it, and others' eyes are even brighter."

Liu Zhuren felt a slight regret.

"Zhuren, that might not be the case," Ji Xiang smiled.

"Everything I said to you was in vain!" Liu Zhuren scolded. "Mentorship is very important. Look at Zhao Yisheng; isn't it because he has no teacher? Although he is gifted and has figured out various surgical methods on his own and can perform them quite well, still..."

"He will likely be a Resident Physician for his whole life. In a few years, when his eyesight worsens and he can no longer perform Interventional Surgery, all his previous work will vanish into thin air."

"Take Zhao Yisheng as a mirror and think about it carefully. Although I am reluctant, I still hope you can go to Shanghai. A bigger platform means a better future; being arrogant about one's talent won't do."

"I know, Liu Zhuren."

"You don't understand." Liu Zhuren shook his head. "The leading authority in the Shanghai surgical world is already over eighty, yet he still goes into the operating room every day."

Ji Xiang listened quietly.

"Over eighty, what more can he do? The techniques are all old, unable to keep up with the times. He often punctures the bile duct, and his disciples and grand-disciples have to clean up his mess. But with the Old Man there, the hospital has a safety net."

"Ah?" Ji Xiang was startled. What Liu Zhuren said was completely different from his understanding, and also different from what was publicized in the news.

"The Old Man's surgery is indeed good, but he is old after all; his eyes and hands are uncoordinated, making it hard to reach a peak state. Even if he is full of spirit, he can still... Hahaha." Liu Zhuren laughed loudly. "I really envy him."

"Envy what?" Ji Xiang was a bit confused.

Liu Zhuren did not say more. He continued, "With the Old Man there, all kinds of research and papers can be published easily. Let me tell you, if Zhao Yisheng were under Gu Lao, his achievements would definitely be higher than mine. The set of things he does—Gu Lao would have to review them personally, and they should be publishable in The Lancet."

"What a pity." Ji Xiang sighed.

"It's not a pity," Liu Zhuren said. "Although such things are not common, they aren't rare either. That is what I meant by taking Zhao Yisheng as a mirror. You have talent, so you should go to Shanghai to see; if possible, stay there."

"Social points," Liu Zhuren emphasized his tone to remind him.

Ji Xiang smiled. Liu Zhuren cared about this even more than he did, having repeated it three or four times already.

He used Guo as an example, then used Zhao Yisheng as an example; he was truly afraid that Ji Xiang would ruin his own future.

"I will consider it carefully," Ji Xiang said seriously.

Such a heaven-sent opportunity was right in front of him, yet he wouldn't use it; Liu Zhuren did not understand Ji Xiang's train of thought.

But he had heard people say that Gu Lao seemed to have intentions of recruiting Ji Xiang, and Ji Xiang hadn't paid much attention to it.

He was still young, with many opportunities.

"Zhuren, what do you mean by 'social points'?"

"I've said it," Liu Zhuren said. "It means being thick-skinned. When you meet Gu Lao and that Old Man in Shanghai, drop a hint, bow directly, call them teacher, and nail it down. However, I suspect you can't do such a thing. I am only responsible for telling you; how you handle it is up to you."

"Thank you, Zhuren."

"Where is your home? I'll take you back," Liu Zhuren said.

"Zhuren, I'm going to the hospital."

"Oh?" Liu Zhuren smiled. "I heard from them that you, this little Standardized Training Student, are the most unreliable and never hang around the hospital. What, have you turned over a new leaf?"

"I'm going to get my bicycle."

Liu Zhuren was also a bit tired after being busy for more than a day, so he dropped Ji Xiang off at the hospital and drove straight home.

Ji Xiang was not in a hurry to go home either, but sat beside his bicycle, thinking quietly.

With a few too many thoughts on his mind, Ji Xiang took a rare moment to relax, treating it as a bit of psychological massage for himself.

However, the brief tranquility was quickly broken; a young man was kicked out of the Emergency Department entrance, failed to steady himself, and tumbled down the steps.

Fighting?

When Ji Xiang was an intern, he heard his teacher say that over twenty years ago, fights, brawls, drunk driving, and car accidents were very common, but ever since the cost of fighting was calculated, coupled with repeated crackdowns on organized crime, social order had become better and better.

How did it end up at the hospital, though?

"You little brat, our Wang family has no place for a shameless thing like you!" A middle-aged man walked out furiously and delivered another kick to his head.

(End of chapter)