Chapter 772: Different Choices

Because this year is the year of the National Games, the provinces where the athletes are located must all strive for a good ranking.

The focus of each province differs from that of the General Administration, and the relationships are intricate and complex, so the arguments are exceptionally intense.

This time, two sprinters were injured one after another; they were hailed as the rising stars of domestic sprinting after Su Bingtian.

One is already 29 years old, past the golden age, or perhaps just barely catching the tail end of the golden age.

One is only 22 years old, a true rising star.

A full twenty minutes later.

The old man raised his hand and tapped the table with the knuckle of his right index finger.

The sound was not loud, but everyone immediately stopped arguing and gave enough respect.

As for acting, they are all thousand-year-old foxes, all professionals.

The arguing is not just arguing, but for the sake of gaining benefits.

"For Liu's 2008 surgery, I followed him to Houston," the old man said indifferently.

His eyes were slightly closed, as if he had fallen into memories.

"Before the surgery, I repeatedly consulted Doctor Clanton, and I could recite the relevant medical knowledge. Actually, in my understanding, the surgery was very simple: make a small incision at the Achilles Tendon, and cut out the bone spurs and calcification points. Achilles Tendonitis... sigh."

"At the time, I felt very relaxed after hearing Doctor Clanton's explanation, but I had a little doubt when comparing it to the recovery of the Achilles Tendon Rupture athletes I had seen over so many years."

"If the surgery is very simple, why is it that after an Achilles Tendon Rupture, an athlete's career is basically past its peak?"

"You all know the situation at the time; Liu had problems with his Achilles Tendon at our Olympic Games, and the internet public opinion storm was like three people creating a tiger."

"Sigh."

The old man spoke to himself, and finally let out another long sigh, as if regretting that Liu did not win the top prize at the first Olympic Games held in the country and become a national hero.

Not only did he not become a hero, but he was instead verbally attacked by countless netizens.

That should have been one of the earliest internet storms, and the old man had once witnessed with his own eyes how miserable Liu, who was at the center of the vortex, was.

"I remember it was December on the day of the surgery, and I waited outside the operating room for 2 hours and 15 minutes. This time exceeded my expectations; I kept comforting myself that doing the surgery more meticulously would be good for Liu."

"If he couldn't participate in the Imperial Capital Olympic Games, he could participate in the London Olympic Games in '12."

The old man's fragmented memories went from Houston, United States in '08 all the way to Wellington, United Kingdom in '12, from returning to the peak after the first surgery and tying the world record at the time, to snapping his Achilles Tendon at the Olympic Games.

Every piece of memory was heavy.

"I was just thinking, why can't doctors make Liu's Achilles Tendon recover as it was before?"

"But I know this is wishful thinking; I even want to return to my youth."

The old man chuckled.

"I know this involves many things; Liu went on the field with an injury because of the pressure from sponsors and us. It's a pity, a pity."

Speaking of benefits, the things inside are even more intricate and complex.

Everyone was silent.

The old man did not put the things under the table on the table to talk about either, stopping at the point.

"Recently, I learned about the experience of a female weightlifter after shoulder joint surgery, and I feel it is very interesting."

"The surgeon has no connection with us, and has only performed surgery on athletes 3 times."

As he spoke, the old man opened his eyes.

"Besides her, there is Wang Dali who is playing football in Germany now, and then there is Neymar."

"Old Li, I heard that Neymar's surgery was completed in Germany, and he came to the country just to cooperate with that variety show. It is said that the program team offered Neymar's team a huge amount of money they couldn't refuse."

One person said softly.

"Huge amount of money? Heh." The old man shook his head, "How high a price do you think a variety show could offer, given Neymar's status and income in international football? Absurd!"

"Old Li, then do you think if there is a doctor in the country who can complete the Achilles Tendon Rupture surgery, and can make the athlete basically recover 100% of their athletic ability..."

Another person questioned, pausing as he spoke.

"Some moves Neymar originally couldn't do anymore, because he's older. Plus the Achilles Tendon Rupture surgery, his level should have declined rapidly."

"But I've watched Neymar's recent matches, and it feels like an old tree sprouting new buds; Neymar seems to have become three or five years younger. The feints he couldn't do after getting old, he can now do very smoothly, and his shooting power is very strong."

"You also know that Liu's first surgery was actually not completely necessary, and it was just a minor surgery; Achilles Tendonitis, just taking out a few calcification points was enough."

"The problem is that after '08, Liu modified his technical movements to keep up with the times, changing from 8 steps to the hurdle to 7 steps."

"This also requires the Achilles Tendon to withstand greater force."

"I look at Neymar's running and shooting movements, and I have a feeling—his Achilles Tendon has not only returned to before the injury, but it seems to have been strengthened! Another point is that Neymar seems to be very confident in his own Achilles Tendon, and is not afraid of the Achilles Tendon snapping again when he makes moves."

"Keep it simple." The old man tapped the table.

"Mm." That person responded, "My feeling is that comparing Neymar's and Liu's surgeries, I think the surgery absolutely cannot be the work of a young doctor participating in a variety show; it can only be a gimmick."

After finishing, he added, "Old Li, Liu had Achilles Tendon Repair surgery in the United Kingdom and retired less than 2 years after the surgery, as you know. I estimate that Europe and the United States have made breakthrough progress in the field of Sports Medicine, which is why Neymar was able to recover as before."

He didn't continue with the rest of his words; everything was understood without being said.

"I noticed Zhao Dali; that kid was said to have no hope, which is a pity. But after a period of no news, he appeared on the Bundesliga field. I was very strange, and even specifically asked someone to ask his Coach."

"Later, I noticed that the doctor who performed the surgery on Zhao Dali seems to overlap with the doctor who performed the surgery on Neymar, though the latter was only the former's assistant."

"Assistant?!"

"Mm."

Everyone was surprised; this gossip shocked everyone.

Different professions are like mountains; although they are all in the sports profession, it is normal that they don't understand the surgeries of several football players.

"If an assistant can perform the surgery, then how amazing must the surgeon at the time be!"

"Yes, Neymar having surgery in the country might be fake, but Zhao Dali's should be real; I've also paid attention to that young man, his core strength is truly strong! Every time he shoots, every time he changes direction, I'm afraid his Achilles Tendon will snap."

"It could also be that the injury wasn't serious, and the surgeon just picked up a bargain, who knows."

Old Li listened to everyone's chaotic discussion, and finally tapped the table for the third time.

"The problem before us is simple: two sprinters, who should we find to perform the surgery?"

"Elder Li, I suggest going to the United States for it," one person said firmly.

The meeting ended hastily.

The old man sat on the sofa, lingering for a long time without leaving.

A long while later, his secretary whispered a reminder, "Leader, it is getting late."

"Sigh." Elder Li let out a deep sigh.

"There is no other way; please don't be anxious."

"It was so hard for our country to produce a few top-tier sprinters, with hopes of keeping the fire lit by Su Bingtian going. And yet... sigh."

The secretary remained silent.

The leaders where Chen Heqiang is currently located had already made their stance clear: they would take him to the United States for surgery.

Even when Elder Li put his own reputation on the line to argue the matter, he could not change their minds.

This was the safest and most feasible option.

But Elder Li clearly did not think so.

Chen Heqiang had suffered an Achilles Tendon Tear at only 22 years old; he had not even had the chance to see his peak.

Even so, Chen Heqiang had run a time of 9.84 seconds, only a tiny bit slower than Su Bingtian.

He was the true hope for domestic sprinting.

The old man was also hesitant; after all, subconsciously, he also believed that going to the United States for surgery was safer.

Normally, emergency surgery within 6 hours of an injury yields the best results. The reason it had been dragged out and delayed was precisely because the level of Sports Medicine in the country is inferior to that abroad.

"Let it be," the old man sighed. "How is Li Muzhi doing now?"

Li Muzhi is 29; he has already passed his golden age. One could only say he can still compete, but as for his results, no one holds out much hope.

"He wants to go to the United States for surgery himself, but he cannot afford the high costs."

"Go and tell Li Muzhi that tomorrow I will go see the Chief Surgeon who performed the surgery on Zhao Dali."

"Very well, Leader."

"Elder Li is truly getting old."

Chen Heqiang's Coach commented with deep emotion after learning the news.

"Such a simple scam, just like the Longxin chip back in the day; it's complete nonsense. To say that a young Doctor in the country who appears on variety shows can handle an Achilles Tendon Rupture is truly absurd."

"Right? Could Neymar's surgery be done domestically? I wouldn't believe it even if I died."

"Have you watched Neymar's recent matches? I feel like Neymar's level has actually improved. A few years ago, Neymar played with a sense of weariness; there were some moves he could do but didn't dare to. But now, with experience, his physical condition is comparable to over a decade ago."

"The degree of Neymar's recovery has shocked everyone. This year's World Cup will be a sight to behold. If Neymar can replicate Messi's path and lead the team to the championship, while we can't call him the King of Football, it would still satisfy the hearts of us old fans."

"Speaking of Neymar, I really dislike that variety show. At first, they said Wembanyama was coming for surgery, then they changed it to Neymar at the last minute. This is full of tricks; I don't believe a word of it."

"It's just a variety show; how could Elder Li take it seriously? Zhao Dali might be a possibility, but I think it's primarily because Zhao Dali is young and has good natural talent."

"Achilles Tendon Rupture—what about Liu? He retired less than two years after his injury. What about Beckham? Achilles Tendon Rupture in '10, and he lost his contract in less than 3 years."

"Exactly! And Spinazzola from Serie A; after his Achilles Tendon Rupture, it seems Roma wanted to sell him. These years, whenever I see a player I like suffer an Achilles Tendon Rupture, my heart sinks, knowing that person's athletic career is finished."

"In the NBA, look at how strong Durant was before; after his Achilles tendon snapped, you could clearly see his level declining. Although he is still very strong, he basically can only rely on his height, wingspan, and mid-range jump shots to solve problems. The KD from the Warriors is gone."

"I hope we have no issues; this trip to the United States for surgery must go smoothly."

The two chatted about matters regarding Achilles Tendon Ruptures.

Especially in events involving explosive power, with Liu in the past and Christian Taylor later, both faded from the sports world quickly after Achilles Tendon Ruptures.

For an athlete, an Achilles Tendon Rupture is an insurmountable mountain.

"Xiao Chen is only 22; I hope he can recover as quickly as Zhao Dali."

"After all, he is young, so there is still hope."

"It's already late to go for surgery now. I wanted to fly to the United States immediately at the time, whether it was Houston or anywhere else, as long as it wasn't Portland."

This year's National Games are their top priority. Now that Chen Heqiang is undergoing surgery, post-operative rehabilitation will take some time.

Whether he can recover to his best state by the time the National Games arrive... it's highly unlikely; it's very regrettable.

"Elder Li's implication that Xiao Chen should stay for surgery is simply nonsense; it's irresponsible!"

"I really don't know what Elder Li is thinking. If he were to stay in the country for surgery, it would have been done long ago; why wait until now? I think Elder Li is senile."

"Ignore him. The leader has already withstood the pressure; tomorrow we are going to the United States."

"I hope the surgery goes well, and I hope Xiao Chen can give everyone a surprise at the National Games."

Ji Xiang sat in the office, reading a book while Tying Knots.

He did not look at the knots, his hands skillfully tying one knot after another based on Muscle Memory.

"Doctor Ji Xiang, it seems that Tying Knots was a very important skill decades ago. But with the appearance of the electric scalpel, the importance of Tying Knots has vanished. Why are you still so serious about it?" Lin Jiuze asked.

Before the electric scalpel appeared, a surgery would easily take several hours, with Tying Knots and hemostasis accounting for about 40-50% of that time.

Therefore, Tying Knots quickly and steadily was the basic guarantee for a successful surgery and was also the requirement for a Surgeon at the time.

But with the appearance of the electric scalpel, the method of hemostasis changed fundamentally, and Tying Knots went from dozens or hundreds of knots per surgery to just over a dozen, and its importance dropped rapidly.

In surgeries now, the stability of the knot is what matters most; no one requires speed.

Since there are only a dozen or so knots, it doesn't matter if it's a bit slow; tying them firmly and securely is what is most important.

"Just practicing," Ji Xiang smiled. "Idle is idle."

"Doctor Ji Xiang, I have had a question recently that I haven't been able to figure out."

"Speak."

Ji Xiang asked casually, as if he were an old doctor.

Lin Jiuze thought for a moment and organized his thoughts, "The medical environment in the country is not good. I see you all doing a lot of useless work every day. Although I don't understand it, Doctor Zhao Zhe told me about it, and I am doing it too."

"Doctor Lin, that is where you don't know the situation." Zhao Zhe stopped his work, "Medical disputes in the country, the root cause does not lie in the doctor's technique or level, nor in the quality of the Patient or the Family Member, but in the cost."

"Cost? The costs in Massachusetts are higher."

"It's different. Let me give you an example." Zhao Zhe began to ramble, "A few years ago, a classmate of mine came back for the New Year. After drinking too much, I heard him say he worked in a large Grade A Tertiary Hospital in the South. A leader's family member had Aortic Dissection surgery in Shanghai, and after the surgery, their voice remained hoarse and their speech was weak."

"Oh? Was it Arytenoid Cartilage Dislocation?" Lin Jiuze asked casually.

Zhao Zhe gave a thumbs up, "Awesome, Doctor Lin! The diagnosis of Arytenoid Cartilage Dislocation is very difficult to reach. They went to many hospitals at the time and none of them confirmed the diagnosis."

Lin Jiuze smiled faintly; this was nothing to him.

"Later, it was diagnosed at my classmate's place, and they performed an Arytenoid Cartilage Reduction surgery. They recovered to normal 2 weeks after the surgery."

"If you were the Family Member, what would you think?"

"I would certainly be grateful. A disease like Arytenoid Cartilage Dislocation is very rare; a doctor without a certain amount of Clinical experience cannot diagnose it. I have seen patients misdiagnosed for over a decade... what else would I think?"

As Lin Jiuze spoke, he felt something was wrong.

"That Family Member was not only ungrateful to my classmate, but actually very cold to him, and said some inappropriate things after meeting him."

"Inappropriate?"

"Meaning they were very unhappy, but since the illness was cured, they couldn't really say anything else."

"Why?" Lin Jiuze was surprised.

In his imagination, as long as the illness was cured, that was all that mattered; everything else was unimportant.

"Because seeing a doctor costs money," Zhao Zhe said. "As long as money is spent, there will be conflict. In the last twenty or thirty years, when was medical conflict the lightest in the country? Wasn't it back when we had the makeshift hospitals? Why? Because seeing a doctor didn't cost money."

"..."

Lin Jiuze was speechless.

"Whether the relationship between the two sides is good or bad is not a strength, but a weakness," Ji Xiang said while Tying Knots. "Doctors having noble medical ethics, not caring about rewards, not fearing death—just listen to that and let it go."

"And as for the patients, cases of returning to poverty due to illness or losing both their health and wealth are not rare."

"Don't talk about these useless things; thinking to the deepest level has no meaning."

Zhao Zhe looked at Ji Xiang with a smile.

"Xiao Ji, the depth at which you look at problems is deeper than even an old Attending Physician like me; you are very sharp."

Ji Xiang felt nothing about Zhao Zhe's flattery and continued Tying Knots.

Whether it was the system NPC, Zhou Jiaoshou, or Bai Chuzhang, they all knew the root of the problem.

But to solve it well, one can only wait for true communism to be realized.

As for now, a doctor is just a doctor, and can only be a doctor.

Ji Xiang had no interest in this topic at all.

"Doctor Xiao Ji, come here for a moment." Deng Chaohong beckoned at the door.

"Teacher Deng." Ji Xiang stood up and walked outside.

"The provincial sports department called me." Deng Chaohong walked toward the Fire Exit as he spoke; his expression was cautious and somewhat serious.

The sports department?

"Does someone need surgery? They can come," Ji Xiang replied casually.

"They want to find me to perform the surgery." Deng Chaohong was caught between laughter and tears.

Ji Xiang smiled.

The logical relationship here was very simple and clear; one didn't even need to think to understand it.

"Xiao Ji, the problem now is... whether there is any certainty about the surgery." Deng Chaohong asked seriously.

"Teacher Deng, have a smoke." Ji Xiang took out a cigarette and handed it to Deng Chaohong.

Deng Chaohong was caught between laughter and tears; he knew Ji Xiang basically didn't smoke, but he still carried them with him.

This child's maturity far exceeded his age and appearance.

"Teacher Deng, not to mention Wang Dali and Neymar, we have also performed over a dozen Achilles Tendon Repair surgeries recently; do you think there's a problem?" Ji Xiang asked back.

"But this time it's a call from the General Administration, and the hospital attaches great importance to it."

"One hundred percent—no one dares to guarantee that, don't you agree?"

Deng Chaohong looked at Ji Xiang helplessly.

He was like a veteran Attending Physician who didn't want to climb the ladder at all, only wanting to coast through his days, not prepared to take the blame for anything.

His speech was slick; Deng Chaohong even felt Ji Xiang was a bit oily.

But Deng Chaohong knew this was just his own thought; assuming it were himself, he probably would have said the same thing.

"Just do it. If they trust us, they'll come; if they don't, then that's that." Ji Xiang was indifferent.

"Xiao Ji, let me tell you something very important. Bai Chuzhang contacted me a few days ago, saying he wanted to interview and admit you as my graduate student."

"Exempt from the exam? No need, I can take the exam."

"..."

"Exams, I'm good at them!" Ji Xiang revealed a mouthful of white teeth.

Damn it!

Deng Chaohong cursed viciously in his heart.

He knew full well how many connections it took and how much effort it cost to get a graduate student admitted without an exam.

Yet Ji Xiang didn't care at all!

Then again, the kid wasn't bragging.

Whether it was the hospital's grand competition or taking first place in the nation for the Practicing Physician Examination, both served as side evidence for Ji Xiang's claim—he was good at taking exams.

"Xiao Ji, it's not like that." Deng Chaohong broke it down into pieces, explaining carefully, "For the direct-entry master's-to-doctoral program without an exam, I'll find an opportunity for you to graduate next year. For instance, how many SCI papers you've published, and so on; in short, it's all to push you to become a Distinguished Young Scholar."

"The Distinguished Young Scholar requirement is at least a doctoral degree or holding a senior professional title."

Deng Chaohong added.

"Oh, thank you for your hard work, Teacher Deng," Ji Xiang said politely.

Deng Chaohong felt that Ji Xiang was not paying attention at all, being extremely perfunctory.

Yet all of this also seemed to come from Ji Xiang's sincerity.

That strange feeling tore Deng Chaohong directly apart.

He smoked in silence, and after a dozen seconds, he looked up at Ji Xiang, "There will definitely be some difficulties in the middle; not to mention me, even Bai Chuzhang will have to put in a great deal of effort. Do you know how much of a stir was caused just for your graduate student quota?"

"How much?" Ji Xiang was taken aback for a moment.

"Zhao Tianjiao was single-mindedly determined to become my graduate student. Later, Bai Chuzhang and the Dean discussed it and prepared to give the quota for the exam exemption to you. Zhao Tianjiao was struck by this, and later, someone instigated him, so..."

This time, Ji Xiang was truly stunned.

He still remembered the incident of Zhao Tianjiao hanging himself a while ago; that time, he had even encountered Zhou Jiaoshou and Shen Lang while in Empathy.

He hadn't expected that Zhao Tianjiao's suicide actually had something to do with him.

It was truly a disaster out of nowhere.

"To put it plainly, our resistance is great, and others are green with envy," Deng Chaohong said truthfully. "If we could have the full support of a national-level department, everything would be much better, and there would be less gossip."

"Understood, Teacher Deng," Ji Xiang smiled, his expression unchanged. "I dare not guarantee one hundred percent, but there is a high probability of success; at the very least, it can be restored to the level before the injury."

"Is Neymar an exception?" Deng Chaohong asked.

"No," Ji Xiang replied. "Teacher Deng, you have also seen the recent surgeries, and you know the postoperative recovery speed of the Patients. They are not professional athletes, just ordinary people, and their postoperative recovery is not considered very scientific."

Deng Chaohong nodded.

He patted Ji Xiang's shoulder firmly and gave him a deep look.

Ji Xiang, however, felt very uncomfortable; he hadn't expected that Zhao Tianjiao's suicide actually had something to do with him—damn it!