Chapter 377: Supplement!

Very quickly, Ling Tian's message reply came through.

【I will call you. You don't need to say anything when you pick up; I just want to listen to the scene. Sorry for the trouble.】

That person smiled slightly; Ling Tian wanted to watch the joke remotely.

Because of the meeting, the cell phone was already on silent mode. Soon, Ling Tian's call came through. The Expert answered the phone and placed the cell phone on the table, covering the screen with a manuscript.

"The proposal from Zhao Zhe and Ji Xiang of the Second Affiliated Hospital is actually very good." The leader of the Expert Group cleared his throat and began to speak.

This kind of "praise before criticism" approach is very common; first say something nice, and the unpleasant part will follow immediately. Everyone was prepared for it.

Many people were already looking at Ji Xiang.

This person had been very prominent in the Provincial Hospital medical circle over the past six months, being both the first-place winner of the grand competition and the national top scorer in the Practicing Physician Examination. No one expected him to take such a big tumble here at the Provincial Natural Science Foundation.

It was unclear if the hot-blooded Ji Xiang could handle this blow.

"I have read the proposal. It belongs to one of the best projects in recent years. The data tracking is also very detailed, the future prospects are broad, and the professionalism is extremely high," the leader of the Expert Group continued to praise.

"Is the evaluation that high?" someone asked in confusion.

"It is said that some cases have been tracked for over a dozen years."

"Over a dozen years! What kind of god-tier proposal is this?"

The leader of the Expert Group glanced at Ji Xiang and gave an apologetic smile.

"It is just a pity that the Ministry made minor adjustments to the conditions for the Provincial Natural Science Foundation review the night before last. The applicant qualifications have been adjusted, and the people in their group do not meet the criteria."

"Zhao Yisheng Zhe's professional title is Attending Physician, he is a regular undergraduate graduate, has no national-level papers published, and does not meet any of the three criteria."

"So, it is very regrettable." The leader of the Expert Group glanced at Liu Zhuren, who was sitting beside him.

"It's fine, we will come again next year." Liu Zhuren had no other choice and could only answer with full regret.

One cannot lose their composure in defeat; as a person, one must know how to lose.

This time, it was just bad luck.

Next time,

Definitely!

Liu Zhuren was worried about Ji Xiang. Ji Xiang was young and looked gentle and refined, but he actually had a very high spirit. Although he had already "notified" Ji Xiang yesterday, Liu Zhuren was still afraid that there would be trouble today.

Sure enough, Liu Zhuren cast his gaze over and saw Ji Xiang raise his hand.

"Doctor Xiao Ji." Liu Zhuren sighed. "The review standards changed suddenly; there is nothing we can do. This is force majeure... Sigh."

"Doctor Xiao Ji, right? Full marks in the Practicing Physician Examination, national number one, impressive." The leader of the Expert Group used perfunctory praise. "You are still young; there will be many opportunities in the future. Don't be in such a rush."

"Teacher." Ji Xiang kept his hand raised, not following the advice, firm and persistent.

The leader of the Expert Group glanced at Liu Zhuren. Seeing that Liu Zhuren was also very helpless, he could only say, "Doctor Xiao Ji, what other questions do you have?"

"Teacher, I saw in the new standards that having one national-level paper or higher is sufficient, right?" Ji Xiang stood up and asked in a clear voice.

"Yes," the leader of the Expert Group said. "However, the journal for this period has been released, and it does not contain your... and Zhao Yisheng's paper. Perhaps there might be one in a few months, but for our review, the deadline is now. If it gets published later, that is a matter for next year."

As he spoke, the leader of the Expert Group felt conflicted.

Ranking first in the nation with a perfect score in the Practicing Physician Examination—how could such a person not be a talent?

From over twenty years ago when the Practicing Physician Examination first began until now, this was the only perfect exam paper that had appeared.

Moreover, the meaning of a perfect score was due to the limitations of the exam paper; Ji Xiang could only perform up to that point, which was worlds apart from a 99.

It was a pity; his personal quality was high, and the proposal was well-written. Who knew that the review standards would change this year? the leader of the Expert Group thought.

"Teacher, what is the standard for a national-level paper?" Ji Xiang continued to ask.

Young man, still unconvinced. The leader of the Expert Group smiled; he understood Ji Xiang's mindset very well.

Thus, the leader of the Expert Group patiently explained it to Ji Xiang once more.

On the other side of the phone, Ling Tian made a gesture of laughing up at the sky, but no sound came out.

Although he could not see the situation on-site, Ling Tian could sense that stubborn spirit in Ji Xiang.

But what could he do even if he was unconvinced?

A national-level journal paper was blocked, and consequently, the Provincial Natural Science Foundation review also ran into problems.

It was like an avalanche; it started as a tiny snowflake, but in the end, it formed a massive avalanche.

Even if Ji Xiang were the Monkey King, he still couldn't jump out of the boss's palm.

And all of this was something that should have been within his grasp.

Heh!

Ling Tian felt refreshed, as if drinking sweet wine.

"It is like this, Teacher, I have one more question."

"Go ahead." The leader of the Expert Group looked at Ji Xiang and patiently answered all his questions.

Do not bully the young because they are poor, and not all young people should be bullied, but Ji Xiang was the type best left unbullied.

"The impact factor of The Lancet is high enough; it should count as a national-level or higher journal, right?"

"It counts," the leader of the Expert Group replied indifferently.

Today's young people are truly arrogant beyond measure. They can't even pass a national-level journal with a 'China' prefix, yet they dare to mention The Lancet.

Is The Lancet run by your family!

He grumbled inwardly, but the leader of the Expert Group did not show it on his face.

"Teacher, then I have no more questions."

"Alright, let's continue to look at the next proposal..."

"Teacher, this is the latest issue of The Lancet Urology sub-journal." Ji Xiang held his laptop and turned it around, facing the screen toward the leader of the Expert Group.

"Hmm? Didn't The Lancet publish half a month ago?"

"A supplement," Ji Xiang said calmly, "published early this morning."

A supplement!

Top-tier journals like The Lancet rarely have supplements; every supplement signifies that a world-shaking event has occurred, such as a global pandemic or a surgical procedure capable of changing the human lifespan.

These are things that can be encountered by chance but not sought.

What is Ji Xiang saying? Has he developed hysteria because his Provincial Natural Science Foundation application failed?

Liu Zhuren sighed, "Ji Yisheng, go back first. I'll call you once I'm finished here."

"Indeed, Ji Yisheng, a supplement of The Lancet is more... ha ha ha, stop joking, this is the evaluation site," the head of the Expert Group advised.

"Teacher, it is true," Ji Xiang said, carrying his notebook toward the evaluation desk.

Liu Zhuren was speechless.

On the other end of the phone, Ling Tian was grinning from ear to ear.

A supplement, and The Lancet at that; Ji Xiang really dares to imagine. I'm afraid he has already gone mad. Come to think of it, obtaining a Provincial Natural Science Foundation project during Standardized Residency Training would have been a huge help for his future.

The crazier Ji Xiang acts, the happier Ling Tian becomes; this proves that he and his boss have struck Ji Xiang's weak spot.

Ling Tian looked up and laughed silently.

(End of chapter)