Chapter 348: The Steadiness and Maturity Unlike a Young Person

The news that Ji Xiang had scored full marks and placed first in the nation on the Practicing Physician Examination spread like wildfire.

Second place, or even provincial second place—the gap in scores was like the difference in knot-tying during a grand competition; Zhao Tianjiao was once again forgotten by everyone.

Zhao Tianjiao didn't even appear in anyone's field of vision.

First in the nation, and a perfect score at that—this incident caused a massive sensation in the provincial medical community, like a bomb going off.

Deng Chaohong also learned of this that very evening.

The next morning, upon arriving at the hospital, the way Deng Chaohong looked at Ji Xiang felt a bit off.

However, Deng Chaohong was still quite steady; despite his surprise, he went about his daily work just the same.

Deng Chaohong checked the day's surgical patients with Ji Xiang as usual, waiting for the shift handover, ward rounds, and surgeries.

"Xiao Ji, I heard you got a perfect score on the exam? Is that for real?" asked Xu Leyu, the General Manager, out of curiosity.

"It's real," Ji Xiang replied.

"Awesome!" Lu Kai felt a bit envious, but he had also passed the cutoff score; envy was envy, but it hadn't reached the level of jealousy.

Deng Chaohong looked Ji Xiang up and down, but he didn't see any sign of Ji Xiang suppressing his joy, which he found strange.

Everyone cares about showing off their success in front of others. But Ji Xiang seemed to be an exception; for him, a perfect national first-place exam score was as simple and effortless as eating breakfast.

"Ji Yisheng, it's not hard to get a high score, but to get a perfect score is..." Deng Chaohong was saying, when he saw Zhao Tianjiao walk in, frowning.

Zhao Tianjiao looked troubled, as if he were about to face a mountain of blades.

"Tianjiao, you're here," Deng Chaohong greeted him.

"Teacher Deng," Zhao Tianjiao greeted him back, then quietly hid in a corner.

He was a bit different from his usual self.

Deng Chaohong sighed inwardly; Zhao Tianjiao had truly brought honor to Dean Zhao. Being second in the province was a title that alone could sustain Zhao Tianjiao for the next five to ten years.

Unfortunately, there was also a national first-place, perfect-score holder in his own team.

By comparison, Zhao Tianjiao had once again been forgotten in the middle of nowhere.

"Now that the exam is over, you'll have time to come back and get more hands-on experience in surgery," Deng Chaohong said, walking over to Zhao Tianjiao's side to comfort him in a low voice.

"Mm," Zhao Tianjiao squeezed a sound out of his nose. He kept his head down, and his expression was unreadable.

Deng Chaohong felt helpless too; young people are always willing to compete—this is called a desire to win.

It is indeed a good thing, but it depends on who you are competing against.

Ji Xiang was a national first-place perfect scorer; if Zhao Tianjiao still thought about competing, he truly wouldn't know how to spell the word "death."

Sui Zhuren was late, and the atmosphere was a bit awkward. Just as Deng Chaohong was about to say something, a flurry of footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

There were many people, and as they came down from the elevator, a familiar voice could be heard.

"Dean, Ji Xiang is the Standardized Training Doctor who performed the Cavernous Body Puncture during the gas station accident rescue," came the voice of Department Head Bai.

"Oh? So it was him. I said Gu Lao certainly wouldn't misjudge a person!"

Sun Yuanzhang had actually come as well. Deng Chaohong was slightly surprised, but after a moment's thought, he understood.

A national first-place perfect score—this was something Sun Yuanzhang could brag about. Of course, he had to come see Ji Xiang in person and say a few words.

However, what Deng Chaohong didn't expect was that even though Ji Xiang had performed a Cavernous Body Puncture on a severely burned patient at the time, Sun Yuanzhang didn't actually remember it.

"Dean, Ji Yisheng is excellent. I knew he could score well, but I didn't expect him to get a perfect score."

As they spoke, the group walked in. Sui Zhuren led the way, bowing slightly with a face full of smiles, as if he were the one who had achieved the perfect national first-place score.

Deng Chaohong gave Ji Xiang a look.

"Xiao Ji, come here," Department Head Bai beckoned to Ji Xiang after entering.

"Hello Sun Yuanzhang, hello Department Head Bai." Ji Xiang wasn't flattered or overwhelmed; instead, he bowed slightly in a very calm and poised manner.

Sun Yuanzhang reached out to shake Ji Xiang's hand.

Behind them, a publicity person was taking photos with a professional camera.

Deng Chaohong hadn't expected Sun Yuanzhang to be so well-prepared early in the morning, even bringing someone from publicity with the most professional equipment.

The flash went off, dazzlingly bright—compared to the shadowless lamps in the operating room, it was blinding, which made Deng Chaohong very uncomfortable.

Ji Xiang exceeded Deng Chaohong's expectations; he looked green, yet he performed perfectly and calmly in a moment that made Deng Chaohong feel somewhat awkward.

By comparison, Deng Chaohong felt this was even more difficult than performing a perfect surgery.

"Keep up the good work, and strive to stay at the Second Affiliated Hospital," Sun Yuanzhang said, patting Ji Xiang on the shoulder after they took a photo together.

"Thank you for your concern, Dean. I will definitely work hard," Ji Xiang replied very cooperatively.

"If you have any difficulties, go find Department Head Bai. Rest assured, our Second Affiliated Hospital never buries talent. Regarding talent, regarding team cultivation..."

Sun Yuanzhang couldn't help but start giving a speech, and applause occasionally broke out in the small office.

The atmosphere was enthusiastic and joyous, just like Sun Yuanzhang's annual New Year's address.

Ji Xiang was quite cooperative, showing none of the strange, socially inept sharpness typical of young, up-and-coming people.

By the time the commotion ended, it was already 8:30. Sun Yuanzhang left with his entourage, and only then did the shift handover begin.

Deng Chaohong turned back, intending to comfort Zhao Tianjiao, but Zhao Tianjiao had vanished without a trace.

That was fine too; no matter what he said, he couldn't heal the wounds in Zhao Tianjiao's heart.

Deng Chaohong sighed. Zhao Tianjiao's luck was truly bad. If he had been a year earlier, he would have left a brilliant mark on the provincial medical community, and it wouldn't have mattered even if the record were broken the following year.

Why must heaven create both Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang?

Deng Chaohong glanced at Ji Xiang. This young master's expression was as usual; there was no arrogance, nor any feigned humility, as if Sun Yuanzhang coming personally to take a photo with him were just a trivial, everyday matter.

This child has a truly good state of mind, Deng Chaohong mused.

After the handover, Deng Chaohong took Ji Xiang to surgery. Rumor had it that Ji Xiang was arrogant and domineering on the operating table, having once scolded General Manager Wu of the Urology Department until he was speechless.

But Deng Chaohong had performed many surgeries with Ji Xiang, and Ji Xiang acted as an assistant with complete obedience, which made Deng Chaohong feel that rumors were truly unreliable.

Ji Xiang didn't seem like a young person; he was more like an old Attending Physician like Zhao Zhe. Zhao Tianjiao would actively show off, constantly hinting that his level was already sufficient to be the lead surgeon.

But Ji Xiang never gave any hints; he did whatever he was told to do, and that air of having no desires or cravings seemed... cough, cough, cough, Deng Chaohong helplessly thought of a middle-aged man.

This air of maturity was exactly like an old middle-aged man.

But even if he were middle-aged, Deng Chaohong felt that if he had achieved first place in the country through his own abilities, he would also be smug for a while.

Going into surgeries, coming out of surgeries, writing Medical Records; Lu Gang from the Medical Affairs Department had been dispatched over, and Zhao Zhe, that veteran Attending Physician, was also adept at writing Medical Records. Deng Chaohong felt that Ji Xiang had brought a full medical team to work under him, and he felt much more relaxed overall.

(End of chapter)