Chapter 347: Second in the Province

"N-n-nothing," She Yong stammered, "Academician Hao said that this matter ends here; don't fight and scramble to get Ji Xiang to be your graduate student."

"..."

"..."

The people in the room stared at each other in blank dismay.

What kind of talk was that?

Academician Hao was acting like a dog in the manger—not taking the student himself, yet not letting anyone else present take him either.

Though that was how it was said, everyone present vaguely sensed that the waters of this matter ran very deep.

"Everyone, thank you for your hard work today," She Yong said, suppressing the astonishment in his heart as he began to wrap things up.

"The review work is complete; please sign, everyone."

The experts of the Expert Group all realized there seemed to be some hidden story; even those who had erupted into fierce arguments at the start stopped talking, and following She Yong's guidance, they signed and left.

The water was too deep, so deep that they didn't even dare to test it.

The song ended,

The people dispersed.

She Yong saw everyone off one by one, polite and courteous.

Not until he watched the last person leave did She Yong collapse onto the steps at the entrance.

"Young Master, what has happened to you?" Zhou Tianbo asked.

"Tianbo, light me a cigarette," She Yong said, reaching out his hand.

Zhou Tianbo was startled, but he still lit a cigarette and placed it into She Yong's hand.

He sat silently beside She Yong, waiting for She Yong to finish the cigarette, only then hearing She Yong say, "Tianbo, you and... Ji Xiang didn't have any conflict over there, did you?"

Conflict?

Zhou Tianbo gave a bitter smile.

What conflict could he possibly have with Ji Xiang?

A Standardized Training Student who climbed all over him, and the key was that after climbing all over him, his foot was still intentionally or unintentionally stepping on his nose.

And he still had to endure it.

"I'm asking you a question!" She Yong's tone suddenly turned stern.

"No," Zhou Tianbo said subconsciously, "My boss specifically held a surgery competition for me, and the result was that Ji Xiang took first place."

"No way! Really!!"

"Really," Zhou Tianbo said, "He didn't intend to crash the party; the Director of Medical Affairs at the Second Affiliated Hospital 'casually' intercepted a surgical video of a Giant Hydronephrosis case, and my boss kept praising it after watching."

As he spoke, Zhou Tianbo paused slightly, his smile becoming even more bitter, "The surgery was truly well done; I hadn't expected Doctor Xiao Ji's diagnostic level to be so high as well."

She Yong was noncommittal, staring blankly beside Zhou Tianbo.

"Young Master, tell me what's going on," Zhou Tianbo asked.

"Don't ask blindly," She Yong said mercilessly.

Zhou Tianbo froze.

A few seconds later, She Yong didn't say another word, looking deeply at Zhou Tianbo, his gaze seemingly conveying an extremely complex meaning.

Zhou Tianbo didn't understand at first, but in an instant, he seemed to sense something; he pretended not to know and laughed, "Young Master, thank you for your hard work today, I'm heading back."

"Get some rest early."

The two spoke in riddles, and after reaching the door, they turned and left, each harboring their own thoughts.

The song ended and the people dispersed; Zhou Tianbo had seen everything he wanted to see, yet he was left with even more doubts.

A few days later.

Zhao Jixiang sat on the sofa in the living room, while Zhao Tianjiao held his phone, checking the scores.

Zhao Jixiang looked very calm, but he could hear his own heartbeat echoing in his ears.

"Is it not out yet?" Seeing that at least ten minutes had passed since the inquiry time, Zhao Jixiang deliberately put on a very calm posture to ask.

"There are too many people logging in, I couldn't get through, it's lagging badly," Zhao Tianjiao said, head lowered, logging into the website over and over.

"Dad, I checked the answers after I got back, I feel like it's at least 480!" Zhao Tianjiao comforted his father.

"480, that's very high," Zhao Jixiang nodded slightly.

"It's super high, okay! At least top five in the province!" Zhao Tianjiao said.

"Let's see the results before saying anything."

Zhao Jixiang picked up his water glass; the water rippled, and he gripped the glass with his other hand to avoid revealing his nervousness.

Truly, the older he gets, the more useless he becomes, Zhao Jixiang chuckled self-deprecatingly.

He was even more nervous about his son's results than waiting for his own public announcements.

Looking at Zhao Tianjiao, Zhao Jixiang felt comforted. His son was very promising; although he had arranged a path to the heavens for him, his son had exceeded his expectations at every step.

If he could rank in the top five in the province on the Practicing Physician Examination, that would be great; no matter what he said in the future, he would have a strong backbone, and others would have no reason to criticize him.

"It's out!" Zhao Tianjiao suddenly let out a loud roar.

Zhao Jixiang was startled; he quickly steadied his mood and asked calmly, "What's the score?"

"502!"

Zhao Tianjiao jumped up in excitement.

502... it was actually this high!

Zhao Jixiang suddenly felt a sense of relief in his heart, and the nervousness from just a moment ago dissipated entirely.

The highest score for the Professional Medical Examination in the province last year was 497; I never expected my son to score 502!

The score was higher than expected.

The total score is 600, and 360 is enough to pass.

Before this, Zhao Jixiang had specifically looked at the scores for the Professional Medical Examination in the province over the last ten years; there were none above 500, and the top score in previous years had only reached 499 at most.

My son really has surpassed his father, Zhao Jixiang thought, looking at Zhao Tianjiao with a kind expression.

502 points, first in the entire province; he can do whatever he wants in the future. Those who questioned Zhao Tianjiao's published papers will likely be choked into silence by the provincial first-place ranking.

If only he could have scored first in the nation... As this thought crossed his mind, Zhao Jixiang laughed. This is wanting more after getting what one has; there is never a time in life when one is satisfied.

Being first in the province is already very good; first in the nation is something I don't even dare to imagine.

"Dad! I'm impressive, right?" Zhao Tianjiao asked proudly.

"Not bad," Zhao Jixiang said indifferently.

He picked up his phone and dialed the number of the Director of Science and Education.

"I'm definitely first in the province; for so many years, no one in the province has ever scored 500 points," Zhao Tianjiao said with certainty.

Zhao Jixiang did not speak, choosing to verify first.

Listening to the music on the other end of the line, he quickly pondered in his heart what kind of narrative he could construct if he were indeed first in the province.

He could certainly make the narrative flourish; Zhao Jixiang had that confidence.

"Zhao Yuanzhang, congratulations!"

The call connected, and the voice of the Director of Science and Education came through.

"Hehe, you're at the office," Zhao Jixiang asked, knowing the answer.

"Yes, yes," the Director of Science and Education said, "Today is the day the Professional Medical Examination scores are released, so I am definitely here."

"Tianjiao did quite well; what place is he in the province?" Zhao Jixiang asked.

"Tianjiao is truly impressive! Zhao Yuanzhang, congratulations, congratulations."

"What place in the province? Do you have the data on your end?" Zhao Jixiang vaguely sensed something was wrong; his smile faded, and he asked in a deep voice.

"Second in the province!"

Zhao Jixiang was slightly disappointed, but still very happy.

Actually, there is a difference between first and second, but for him, it was about the same.

"Which hospital is the first-place candidate from? The First Affiliated Hospital?" Zhao Jixiang asked casually.

"..." The person on the other end of the phone fell silent.

A bad premonition welled up, and a figure appeared before Zhao Jixiang's eyes.

"I'm asking you a question," Zhao Jixiang said sternly.

"Zhao Yuanzhang, it's Ji Xiang."

"What score did he get?"

"A perfect score."

"..."

(End of chapter)