Chapter 258: Skills Inferior to Others

"Yes." Bai Chuzhang understood very well why everyone, including Gu Lao, was silent; he had felt the same way when he first watched the surgery.

Accept the baptism of this monster Xiao Ji, Bai Chuzhang thought, sweeping his peripheral vision over the people around him, feeling very satisfied.

"I watched from beginning to end, especially after the first hemorrhage when our hospital's Liu Zhuren gave up the surgeon's position; these operations were completed independently by Xiao Ji."

Bai Chuzhang blocked all questions in a simple and straightforward manner.

Gu Lao raised his hand; he wanted to rub his eyes, but the back of his hand hit his forehead.

He felt slightly embarrassed, but the surgery was truly spectacular, and Gu Lao immediately forgot what he was about to do, resting his right hand on his forehead and staring blankly at the screen.

The surgery looked very "simple," with every step clear and distinct; perhaps turning the complex into the simple is itself a manifestation of the surgeon's level.

Xu Zhuren was also stunned.

He had originally thought Ling Tian was giving him a simple task, but he never expected it to be a task of this level.

For a moment, Xu Zhuren even began to suspect that Ling Tian was intentionally setting him up.

With this kind of surgery, if he went against his conscience and said Zhou Tianbo did well, he would be laughed at for the rest of his life.

If the difference were one grade or half a grade, he could still close his eyes and spout nonsense; after all, it isn't very hard to stand on Zhou Tianbo's side regarding technical matters.

However, the level of the surgeon before his eyes not only surpassed Zhou Tianbo, but Xu Zhuren even suspected that this person could already crush the national Urology Department field.

Everyone, including Gu Lao—even if a twenty-year-younger Gu Lao came back to perform the surgery, he probably wouldn't be able to beat this surgeon.

The surgeon is actually a Standardized Training Doctor?!

How is this possible!

The more Xu Zhuren watched, the angrier he became; he believed Ling Tian was digging a pit for him, and there must be something fishy about this.

He wasn't afraid of offending a top-tier surgeon who surpassed Gu Lao, but no one would be happy if they were to be brought up as a joke in the academic world later.

Ptooey!

Ptooey, ptooey!

The surgeon's operation was not fast, at least it didn't look fast; it was methodical. But it didn't take much time to separate the peritoneum from the kidney capsule, which had been pressed into a sheet of paper.

The moment the surgeon completed the blunt dissection, Gu Lao did not lower his hand, but pressed it firmly against his forehead, eyes wide, standing still like a statue.

Bai Chuzhang's expression remained normal, but his heart was blooming with joy.

Doctor Xiao Ji is so strong that even the top domestic surgeon, Gu Lao, is left wide-eyed.

He was curious about what Zhou Tianbo and Gu Lao would say in a moment.

Bai Chuzhang brought this surgical recording just to confirm one thing.

Perhaps it was a casual move, but who knows if it might be the winning stroke.

The final stage of the surgery was also stunning, but everyone present was so immersed in the god-tier blunt dissection that they couldn't pull themselves away, and there wasn't much of a reaction.

The video finished playing, and the whole room was silent; no one applauded, no one whispered, and everyone stared blankly at the words "Thank you for watching" displayed at the end on the screen, as if those four words contained a heaven-reaching secret.

"Gu Lao?" Bai Chuzhang called out softly.

Gu Lao's right hand was pressed against his forehead, looking somewhat comical, his nail beds pale from the force.

After a long while, Gu Lao let out a long breath.

"Where is Xiao Ji?"

"Doctor Xiao Ji seems to have gone to perform a circumcision."

"..."

"..."

"..."

This reason was even more surprising than the surgery just now.

A surgical competition, even if it was only a provincial-level surgical competition, surely its importance was greater than a few circumcisions!

The surgeon didn't come to compete, but went to perform a circumcision; is this self-confidence or arrogance?

"Why didn't he come?" Gu Lao asked with a frown.

"I didn't expect you to grace us with your guidance, so I didn't tell Doctor Xiao Ji," Bai Chuzhang said.

"Hmm." Gu Lao didn't think much of it, his fingers tapping lightly on the back of his left hand. "Didn't expect it, didn't expect it at all."

"Gu Lao." Xu Zhuren had just woken up from his daze and asked, "Is Doctor Xiao Ji the surgeon for this operation?"

"Yes, we met because of a cavernous body puncture. That child is good, very impressive," Gu Lao praised. "Zhou Tianbo!"

"Boss."

"Look at Xiao Ji's surgery." Gu Lao stared straight at the screen, hesitated for nearly a minute, and said calmly, "It's a pity this time."

Zhou Tianbo's complexion was slightly ugly, a mix of regret and grievance, but there was no surprise.

"Boss, Doctor Xiao Ji's surgery is indeed done well," Zhou Tianbo said. "I have benefited a lot."

Bai Chuzhang was startled.

He had originally thought Gu Lao and Zhou Tianbo would take the opportunity to find some problems in the surgery; no matter how small, there would always be problems.

Not everyone can perform the surgery, but who can't pick faults?

But he never expected Gu Lao to be so open-minded; listening to him, it seemed there was no need to even compare, and he would directly give the first place in the surgical competition to Ji Xiang.

Xu Zhuren was also inexplicably stunned; although he knew something about Gu Lao and knew the Old Man was upright his whole life, to hand over the first place of a surgical competition—held specifically for his own students in such a small place—to someone else?

Who could admit to that?

"Gu Lao, I think that's a bit inappropriate," Xu Zhuren suggested.

"If your skills aren't as good as others, they aren't as good as others. I know Doctor Xiao Ji too; he's a pretty good little doctor." Gu Lao laughed. "Copy a version of the surgical recording for me; I'll take it with me when I leave. That... hurry up and judge the awards. Bai Chuzhang, is Xiao Ji performing surgery at Victoria or at your hospital?"

"Gu Lao, let me ask."

Xu Zhuren didn't expect this result; Gu Lao didn't insist at all and directly yielded the fruit to a Standardized Training Student.

But looking back now, it would be a miracle if the Standardized Training Student Ling Tian cared about was simple.

He gradually formed a plan in his mind.

The evaluation work was not complicated; Gu Lao did not hide his appreciation and praise for that Giant Hydronephrosis surgery, and since he did not insist on giving first place to Zhou Tianbo, it was not difficult for the others, and it passed unanimously and smoothly.

Director Xu felt a bit uneasy, so he first excused himself and went out to make a phone call.

Gu Lao's attitude was very strange; logically, this was to pave the way for Zhou Tianbo, preparing him to make a determined effort for the Outstanding Youth award, and although it was hard to say whether he could eventually be elected as an Academician, the necessary steps still had to be taken.

Was he giving up so easily?

Director Xu always felt something was wrong.

He found a quiet spot, but the moment he dialed Ling Tian's number, Director Xu pressed hang up.

No, there was something strange about this; Director Xu thought for a long time, but still decided to call Director Hui of the Interventional Department at his own hospital first.

"Director Hui, it's me, old Xu."

"I have something going on over here."

Director Xu explained the ins and outs of the matter.

It was Director Hui who had introduced Ling Tian to him; he who tied the bell must untie it, so it was only right to find Director Hui.

After briefly finishing the account of the events, Director Xu asked, "Director Hui, is there something being kept from me in this?"

(End of this chapter)