Chapter 290: A Pie Falling from the Sky (Alliance Leader Blowfly Bonus Chapter ×1)

"You'll know when you get here." Liu Zhuren laughed.

Hanging up the phone, Ji Xiang shook his phone, "Zhao Ge, I reckon it's good news."

"Sigh, I'm just a visiting doctor, what good news could there be?" Zhao Zhe scratched his head, "Xiao Ji, do you think Zhonghua Urology can publish the paper?"

"It should be able to," Ji Xiang said.

Having been reviewed by the System NPC, Ji Xiang had considerable confidence in this.

"That's good then. From now on, I'll be an old Attending Physician who holds a 'Zhong' prefix paper," Zhao Zhe chuckled.

Returning to the ward, Liu Zhuren stood outside the office and beckoned, calling for Zhao Zhe.

Ji Xiang gave Zhao Zhe a push and turned to leave, but was called over by Liu Zhuren as well.

"Xiao Ji, Zhao Yisheng, I have two things to inform you both about." Liu Zhuren was all smiles, rocking back and forth in his swivel chair.

Ji Xiang stood with his hands at his sides in front of Liu Zhuren.

"First, prepare your current project and put together a proposal; I want to apply for the Provincial Natural Science Foundation for you."

"Zhuren, what is the Provincial Natural Science Foundation?" Zhao Zhe looked bewildered.

Although Zhao Zhe was an old Attending Physician, he knew nothing about scientific research; 'Zhong' prefix journals and literature were already his limit.

Provincial Natural Science Foundation?

That was simply not something an old Attending Physician at a grassroots hospital could covet.

"The Provincial Natural Science Foundation project."

"!!!"

Zhao Zhe was struck by a pie falling from the sky, completely dazed.

Something as high-end as the Provincial Natural Science Foundation had never even been touched by anyone over in Yuanliao.

"Xiao Ji, your seniority isn't enough. The project lead will be Zhao Yisheng. You don't have any objections, do you?" Liu Zhuren looked at Ji Xiang, asking for his opinion first.

"Zhuren, none at all. Besides, the project itself is Zhao Ge's; it's only natural for him to be the lead," Ji Xiang replied with a smile.

"And not only are there no benefits for you, but you also have to keep working with Zhao Yisheng. If you have objections, we can discuss them; if not, I'll take your silence as consent."

This was said far too politely, and Ji Xiang was a bit puzzled.

"Zhuren, I will definitely keep working on it; the project has already started," Ji Xiang said very seriously.

Liu Zhuren asked with a smile, "Xiao Ji, do you know what you have to sacrifice?"

Ji Xiang recounted the understanding of scientific research that the System NPC had explained to him.

Especially the understanding involving the thirty-year long-term research at the Oilfield Hospital—not only was Zhao Zhe stunned by it, but even Liu Zhuren was hearing it for the first time.

He knew the Oilfield Hospital seemed to have a very impressive research project, but he hadn't expected it to be this impressive.

Thirty years, accumulated day by day; a single project alone could derive dozens of top-tier SCI papers.

It was simply outrageous.

Liu Zhuren hadn't expected Ji Xiang to have this kind of plan.

He was silent for a few seconds, then smiled, "If that's the case, then that's for the best. Second thing, Zhao Yisheng."

Liu Zhuren looked up at Zhao Zhe.

"Zhuren, please go ahead," Zhao Zhe said nervously.

A Provincial Natural Science Foundation project had already knocked Zhao Zhe dizzy; a minor doctor that no one at Yuanliao City Central Hospital cared about could actually apply for the Provincial Natural Science Foundation!

When he went back, his colleagues would probably be drooling with envy.

But his own director would definitely be jealous, and his life would likely be difficult. Should he refuse? Let Ji Xiang be the lead and just bask in some of the glory.

Thinking of this, Zhao Zhe felt parched, wanting to decline but unable to let it go.

"I'm no saint either," Liu Zhuren laughed, "Applying for the Provincial Natural Science Foundation is best done by a doctor under my command."

Zhao Zhe sighed inwardly; so he was still going to be doing the work for someone else's benefit.

"I've made some inquiries, and it should be doable; there's a high probability of success."

"Zhao Yisheng, do you want to come to the Second Affiliated Hospital?"

"I do." Zhao Zhe didn't realize the implication of Liu Zhuren's words and answered instinctively.

"Do you have any other ties at home, like your spouse's job? Can you accept living apart? Getting you transferred here is already the limit of my ability; I can't do any more than that," Liu Zhuren said calmly.

Zhao Zhe was completely stunned by the second pie.

His years of being a chatterbox were cured instantly, and he stood foolishly in front of Liu Zhuren, at a loss.

"Xiao Ji, I've rounded up the people for you, even though this project doesn't have much to do with you..."

"Zhuren, don't worry, I will handle the surgeries and post-operative follow-ups," Ji Xiang replied very calmly, "The project will take at least ten years or more. I'm very optimistic about this project, and I'm even planning to see if I can publish it in a sub-journal of The Lancet once the data is more detailed."

"..."

This time, even Liu Zhuren was dumbfounded.

Ji Xiang really dared to think big. The Lancet—even if it's a sub-journal, that thing... let's put it this way: any doctor at the Second Affiliated Hospital who has one paper in The Lancet would be set for life.

Even Liu Zhuren was envious.

A phone rang, interrupting Liu Zhuren's thoughts.

"Hello, this is Liu Zhi."

"No urine? Alright, I'll go take a look."

Liu Zhuren hung up the phone, stood up, and said to Ji Xiang, "Xiao Ji, accompany me to a consultation. As for that Zhao Yisheng, think it over; after all, it's a major life event. Tell me your decision tomorrow morning."

Having said that, Liu Zhuren didn't wait for Zhao Zhe's reply and took Ji Xiang to the consultation.

Although Zhao Zhe hadn't given an answer immediately, Liu Zhuren knew he was just foolish with joy like Fan Jin passing the imperial examination; he didn't believe Zhao Zhe wouldn't accept such a huge pie.

"Zhuren, what kind of patient is it?" Ji Xiang asked.

Liu Zhuren was more interested in The Lancet, but he forcibly suppressed his feelings and tried to keep his tone flat, "They say it's a patient with external hemorrhoids who didn't urinate after surgery. They've been transferred from a lower-level hospital to our Department of Nephrology for treatment."

"After completing the relevant examinations, no problems were found. The diagnosis is acute renal failure, and they asked us to take a look while we were at it."

"Oh." Ji Xiang responded.

Hemorrhoid surgery and acute renal failure—two things that had nothing to do with each other; Ji Xiang pondered this along the way.

But Ji Xiang had absolutely no leads.

Arriving at the Department of Nephrology, he looked at the Medical Record and also saw the Patient.

Because of external hemorrhoids, the Patient had surgery at a local hospital and was treated with intravenous Ceftriaxone Sodium for anti-infection after the surgery (the specific dosage is unknown).

Three days ago, the Patient suddenly developed anuria, accompanied by bilateral lower back pain, nausea, and vomiting. After antispasmodic and analgesic treatment at the local hospital provided no relief, the Patient was transferred to the Second Affiliated Hospital for treatment.

An emergency plain film of the urinary tract at the Outpatient Department showed no positive stones, while a urinary tract CT indicated mild bilateral hydronephrosis and a small stone in the right kidney. Renal function tests showed blood creatinine at 700μmol/L, blood urea nitrogen at 18.10mmol/L, uric acid at 480mmol/L, and no obvious abnormalities in electrolytes.

The medical history was very simple, and there didn't seem to be anything strange about it; Ji Xiang had absolutely no leads.

Liu Zhuren and the director of the Department of Nephrology discussed their respective thoughts, while Ji Xiang went to the System Operating Room.

"Teacher."

Ji Xiang recounted the Patient's medical history and physical examination symptoms to the System NPC.

"So that's how it is." The System NPC smiled slightly, "I have seen similar patients."

Ji Xiang felt a bit moved; the System NPC was truly experienced.

(End of this chapter)