Chapter 453: Everything That Should Be There

"Thank you, Teacher Li." Ji Xiang smiled. "I already have my Intermediate Certificate."

"What!" Li Zhuren was even more shocked than Zhai Yuhan; his jaw nearly dislocated.

He had a very deep impression of Ji Xiang. At the time, rumors in the field were that Qin was planning to take on a Standardized Training Student as a closed-door disciple. Since he was a Standardized Training Student, getting a Practicing Certificate would be the absolute limit. Ji Xiang had lived up to expectations, scoring full marks to take first place in the country.

But an Intermediate Certificate...

That's a bit of a stretch, isn't it!

"The hospital helped me apply for it a while ago," Ji Xiang said. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to perform certain surgeries. But even with an Intermediate Certificate, it seems I can barely perform Level 4 surgeries; I'm just barely skirting the edge of the rules." Ji Xiang said, looking a bit embarrassed.

"!!!" Li Zhuren stared blankly at Ji Xiang. He had never in his wildest dreams imagined that this little Standardized Training Doctor favored by Qin could obtain an Intermediate Certificate at the same time as his Physician Qualification Certificate in less than half a year.

A fire was burning in Zhai Yuhan's heart. Hearing Ji Xiang say there were some Level 4 surgeries he couldn't do, she knew what that was about.

High-level surgeries require a surgeon with at least the rank of Deputy Chief Physician. Even if Ji Xiang had an Attending Physician certificate, it was still a bit of a stretch for him to perform these surgeries.

It wasn't about his skill level, but the rules. If one were to dig to the bottom of it, these would all be hidden risks if the Family Member were to pursue the matter.

As for becoming a Deputy Chief Physician... Zhai Yuhan was also pondering this, but the requirements for promotion to Associate Senior Physician at the Affiliated Hospital were very strict. At the very least, one needed a provincial-level natural science project, and most people had to fight to get a National Natural Science Foundation project to be promoted.

Relatively speaking, exams were just minor matters.

She couldn't even do it herself, and looking at the long term, it would be tough even within 3 years. Yet Ji Xiang was actually coveting it, and from the sound of his words, he was even looking for an opportunity to bypass the standard requirements.

This was intolerable!

"Doctor Ji Xiang, are the requirements for promotion to Associate Senior Physician lower on your side?" Zhai Yuhan asked.

"No," Ji Xiang laughed. "Grassroots hospitals might only require publishing papers, but the requirements at the Medical University are still very strict. If I want to bypass the requirements..."

"Do you know how hard a provincial-level natural science project is to get?" Zhai Yuhan could no longer endure Ji Xiang's showing off, and she said this with a hint of mockery in her tone.

"Oh, Zhao Yisheng Zhe and I already have a provincial-level natural science project, and it's currently underway."

"..."

"..."

Li Zhuren and Zhai Yuhan fell silent at the same time.

A provincial-level natural science project—was Ji Xiang bluffing?

Based on Li Zhuren's understanding of Ji Xiang from academic conferences, and the little bit of understanding Zhai Yuhan had gained from interacting with Ji Xiang over the past few days, Ji Xiang was not the type of person to spout nonsense.

"Where did you get a provincial-level natural science project?" Zhai Yuhan asked, her voice trembling.

"Our Urology Department's Liu Zhuren helped me apply for it." Ji Xiang smiled slightly, as if a light were radiating from his body; Zhai Yuhan was so dazzled she couldn't open her eyes.

Ji Xiang's boss was truly good to him. Zhai Yuhan felt a sourness in her nose and nearly cried.

Li Zhuren was dazed for a moment, then immediately understood the intent of the hospital where Ji Xiang was located, and he sighed.

If Ji Xiang were at his own hospital, he would certainly receive such treatment, provided his luck wasn't too bad and he was at the same hospital as someone like Qin.

"Little Doctor Ji, not bad." Li Zhuren patted Ji Xiang on the shoulder. "Let's go, let's go get a bite to eat. Do you drink?"

"I can drink, but it's best not to," Ji Xiang said earnestly. "Drinking is no good for maintaining the precision required for Interventional Surgery."

"If you're that insistent, life is far too dull," Li Zhuren replied.

Zhai Yuhan was left completely bewildered.

"It's fine, I'm very happy every time I see a Patient get discharged."

"Go change your clothes."

As Ji Xiang left, Zhai Yuhan immediately asked, "Li Zhuren, is what Doctor Ji Xiang said true or false?"

"I reckon it's true."

"A provincial-level natural science project... that can't be right." Zhai Yuhan was still hung up on the provincial-level natural science project.

"It's just a provincial-level natural science project. If Ji Xiang had been willing to stay at Shanghai Hepatobiliary Hospital a few months ago, he would probably have already passed a National Natural Science Foundation project by now, and Qin would be considering applying for the Distinguished Youth Project in 2-3 years."

"..." Zhai Yuhan was speechless.

"I think Qin really wants to cultivate Ji Xiang as a closed-door disciple. It's a pity."

"Why is it a pity?" Zhai Yuhan asked blankly.

Li Zhuren did not answer Zhai Yuhan's question; he would never communicate much with a Resident Chief.

Messy footsteps came from outside the door. Li Zhuren glanced over, his brow furrowing.

Fan Dao had arrived at the door with the Camera Crew. Li Zhuren said unhappily, "We are about to get off work."

"You must be Li Zhuren from the Interventional Department, Li Ming," Fan Dao said with a smile. "We'd like to film some clips of Doctor Ji Xiang's daily life. Would that be convenient for you?"

Li Zhuren expressed his dissatisfaction with silence.

Fan Dao was a man who had seen it all; he had long since read the resistance that hospital directors and doctors had toward filming reality shows.

This situation hadn't appeared in other industries, and Fan Dao attributed this to the unique nature of the medical industry.

Doctors tended to be serious and stubborn, and even had a bit of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder to varying degrees; it was something one just had to get used to.

Ji Xiang changed his clothes and came out with Yang Zhuren. After seeing the Camera Crew, Yang Zhuren communicated quite bluntly with Fan Dao.

Zhai Yuhan watched this scene, standing silently to the side, extremely complex emotions rising in her heart.

Watching them leave, Zhai Yuhan sighed.

"Teacher Zhai, are you also troubled by the provincial-level natural science project?" Zhao Mengmeng asked suddenly.

"Yes, at the very least you need a provincial-level natural science project, otherwise it's very difficult to get promoted at our hospital," Zhai Yuhan admitted. "In this regard, lower-level hospitals have a huge advantage; they don't even know what a provincial-level natural science project is. But even with one, it doesn't guarantee a promotion. It's really... too competitive."

"Zhao Yisheng, how about on your side?" Zhai Yuhan asked casually.

"It's the same. Many old Attending Physicians can't get promoted because they don't have scientific research." Zhao Mengmeng had gradually adapted to the process of going from a top student to a poor one, especially after Ji Xiang left; her speech was much smoother.

"However, I belong to the research type, so applying for a provincial-level natural science project might be a bit simpler. Teacher Zhai, what author position do you require?"

Zhai Yuhan glanced at Zhao Mengmeng.

If it were a paper, having her name on it would be enough, but she didn't need papers. As for the provincial-level natural science fund, taking this kind of "shortcut" was quite difficult.

She didn't directly refuse Zhao Mengmeng's good intentions, just smiled and prepared to order food.

"Teacher Zhai, I noticed that Director Li Ming of the Interventional Department treats Doctor Ji Xiang differently; what is the reason for that?" Zhao Mengmeng asked.

Zhai Yuhan did not know how to explain it either, so she remained silent.

Ji Xiang had given her too many surprises; in her short thirty years of life, Zhai Yuhan had never encountered such a person, so she could only remain silent.

……

In the Review Room, the guests were watching Ji Xiang and the other two arrive at the Ultrasound Room.

(End of this chapter)