Chapter 375: Dimensionality Reduction Strike

"Why?"

"Why what?"

Liu Zhuren and Bai Chuzhang each spoke words that only the other could understand.

Bai Chuzhang's mouth curled slightly, showing some regret, and finally, he sighed.

"Dazhi, this time it really is just bad luck. Don't be discouraged; it's still that Xiao Ji's hardware isn't enough."

Liu Zhuren was speechless; he silently looked at the new rules printed on the A4 paper, feeling a slight headache.

Ji Xiang was still too young; he had wanted to help him get started and then send him on his way, but he hadn't expected such a new rule to come out.

A headache.

This was bad luck, not a failure of strategy.

Thinking this, Liu Zhi sighed deeply.

"Go back and talk to Xiao Ji properly," Bai Chuzhang said. "Just because it didn't work this time doesn't mean it won't work in the future. Don't just keep your head down pulling the millstone; you also have to look up at the road."

"Xiao Ji is still alright," Liu Zhuren gave a positive evaluation. "Some young people are disdainful of scientific research and theses, thinking that as long as they do surgery well, they can run rampant. Xiao Ji is different; the research text he brought out is, in my opinion, excellent. It's possible he could pass on the first try."

"The new Urology Department journal is out, and I don't see Xiao Ji's article," Bai Chuzhang said with some regret.

Liu Zhuren spread his hands and looked at the sky.

Publishing an article isn't something that is guaranteed just because it is well-written; it depends on multiple factors. Usually, it drags on for several months; it is rare for one to be published immediately upon submission.

For example, the thesis that Deng Chaohong led Zhao Tianjiao to write was also published months later, and that was considered fast.

Thinking of this, Liu Zhuren felt some regret. If he had led Ji Xiang to publish a thesis when he first joined the department, everything would have been set.

"I noticed it too. I originally thought Xiao Ji needed more tempering, and that failing to publish an article the first time could be considered a small lesson for him," Liu Zhuren said. "Who the hell knew that the provincial natural science foundation would change the rules this year!"

"Go back and persuade Xiao Ji not to be too discouraged. When it's over, let's go grab some skewers together." Bai Chuzhang closed his eyes and leaned back against the chair, his expression weary.

Liu Zhuren didn't leave either; he opened the window and smoked in silence.

……

……

"Boss, the rules really have been changed!" Ling Tian said, suppressing the excitement deep in his heart.

"In all likelihood, yes." The moment Qin Chu saw the rules, his expression suddenly relaxed.

During this period, Qin Chu seemed to have aged more than ten years; his gray hair had turned silver-white, and the wrinkles on his face were deep, crisscrossed with gullies.

"It still required you to take action!" Ling Tian said. "Boss, reveal it to me—how did you manage it?"

Changing the rules was a heaven-reaching ability; Ling Tian couldn't do it, so Qin Chu had to take action.

But Ling Tian also couldn't understand how his boss had managed it.

"I couldn't bring it up directly; that would have seemed like I had ulterior motives. At the last meeting, I chatted with Li Yuanshi for a bit and talked about how the provincial and national natural science foundations have been getting more and more watered down lately," Qin Chu smiled slightly.

His calm and seasoned expression fell into Ling Tian's eyes, and he felt a sense of awe.

It was hard to imagine that the power closest to the top of the medical world would care so much about an ant at the lowest level.

He had already taken action, but the effect was nonexistent; Ji Xiang seemed immune to damage, charging out again, alive and well.

When he learned a while ago that Ji Xiang's project was applying for the provincial natural science foundation, Ling Tian had reported this matter to his boss.

After lamenting how fast Ji Xiang was moving and how much some people at the Second Affiliated Hospital were investing in him, Qin Chu decided to take action himself.

This level of matter was not something Ling Tian could handle; after all—the whip was too short to reach.

Qin Chu couldn't influence Jilin Province, but he could influence the people who made the rules.

If the provincial natural science foundation was getting more watered down and meaningless, then change the rules. Qin Chu understood Li Yuanshi and his group too well; he made a few side-handed remarks and directly added a major obstacle for Ji Xiang.

"Boss, it's no wonder they say ginger gets spicier with age. You are selfless, and the chances of a little guy like Ji Xiang finding a loophole are almost equal to zero," Ling Tian praised.

"Let's see what he's capable of," Qin Chu said indifferently. "As for theses, most are just filler. But even with filler, you have to see if the person is smart enough to grab the heart of the review editor. There's a master's student in Yangcheng who did 33 months of Standardized Residency Training and published over eighty SCI theses during that time..."

"So impressive? He sponged off eighty-plus theses?" Ling Tian was astonished.

He knew the difficulty of publishing an SCI thesis.

"First author on 39 of them," Qin Chu said in a deep voice.

"Uh..." Ling Tian stopped being shocked after a moment of thought and smiled instead.

"If Ji Xiang has that kind of ability, no matter how much you raise the review standards for the provincial natural science foundation, it won't stop him, don't you think, Ling Tian?"

"Boss is right!" Ling Tian said. "This matter isn't us deliberately making things difficult for him; it's that his own level isn't high enough."

Ling Tian didn't notice that in his words, he had already begun to treat Ji Xiang as an equal opponent, and even vaguely placed himself in the position of the underdog when discussing Ji Xiang.

"Do you have any acquaintances over there?"

"I do," Ling Tian said. "The provincial natural science foundation selection is tomorrow, and the applications have all been submitted. It is said that Ji Xiang's application is written exceptionally well; I suspect the Muniu Waike Zhuren of the Second Affiliated Hospital polished it for him personally."

"Go and see."

"Alright." Ling Tian felt a surge of joy.

He had suffered a silent loss during the last surgery competition; he hadn't expected Gu Lao to be so high-minded as to "yield" the first place in the surgery competition that was meant for Zhou Tianbo to Ji Xiang.

But this time, the rules were right there; if they broke the rules... Heh!

Ling Tian couldn't wait for the Jilin Province side to break the rules; they didn't know that he was watching like a tiger in the darkness from afar.

"Rest early today; tomorrow's matter must be handled steadily," Qin Chu instructed. "It's best if they don't break the rules, but if they go too far, I'll teach them how to behave."

"Alright, Boss, you rest early too. A little guy like that can't jump out of your palm."

Leaving his boss's office, Ling Tian felt his footsteps were a bit lighter.

Now there were doctors in the department who specialized in academics; academics and clinical work were on two separate tracks.

Academic doctors or Doctors of Philosophy focused on writing theses, while the doctors working in the department focused on doing the work. On one hand, the academic doctors could get their salary and performance bonuses, and on the other hand, the doctors doing the work wouldn't worry about lacking scientific research.

This was already the norm.

It was just that Ji Xiang was moving too fast, daring to ponder the provincial natural science foundation while still in his Standardized Residency Training.

Pondering it isn't impossible, but this kind of leapfrog development path will certainly leave behind countless flaws.

If no one targeted him, that would be one thing, but Ji Xiang is arrogant and domineering, setting countless hurdles for his own future.

This time, I will definitely make him look bad, Ling Tian thought to himself.

After returning home, Ling Tian contacted the people he had communicated with and finalized the time for tomorrow.

The other side said they would send messages at any time to explain the situation of the review.

His words were more polite than before; Ling Tian knew it must be because he was shocked after seeing the newly issued rules.

The change in rules is the concentrated manifestation of power; this is a dimensionality-reduction strike.

Thinking of this, Ling Tian smiled.

(End of this chapter)