Chapter 111

After the photos were taken, the time had already reached around 11:40.

It was mealtime, and Teacher Deng naturally went in person, together with Associate Professor Xie, to escort the thesis defense committee members over.

Yuan Weihong, on the other hand, brought everyone in the group and rushed to the dining place, but everyone including Fang Ziye took taxis there on their own to wait.

Because in Yuan Weihong's trunk, quite a few bottles of good wine had been prepared — all from Teacher Deng's private collection. Teacher Deng said it would be at cost price, and Fang Ziye and Sun Shaoqing would be reimbursed later, but for now, Teacher Deng had not clearly marked the prices.

After arriving at the dining place, Fang Ziye waited there with Jie Han, Lan Tianluo, and a crowd of junior fellow trainees.

Several senior doctoral brothers had already gone inside to serve tea and such.

Since they had come from afar, they naturally had to fulfill the host's duties.

The most senior people present were Li Yuanpei and Fang Ziye. Li Yuanpei smiled faintly and said, "Industry Brother, the several professors attending the defense today said your acknowledgments were the best they've ever seen."

"Didn't expect Industry Brother to have this kind of writing skill?"

Fang Ziye smiled: "Actually it was just written from genuine feeling; can't really call it writing skill."

"Master has been extremely good to me."

Fang Ziye tilted his head and added, "Of course, Teacher Deng and them have also been extremely good to me."

Li Yuanpei nodded: "I used to only think being a student wasn't easy; later I gradually discovered that being a teacher isn't easy either."

Hearing this, Fang Ziye's eye corners flickered a few times, and he thought inwardly: Could it be that Teacher Deng hasn't hinted to Li Yuanpei yet about the other preparations he plans to make after stepping down?

At first, Fang Ziye only thought Teacher Deng's being pushed out was somewhat unfair.

But pay attention: if Teacher Deng really wanted to make a push for Changjiang Scholar, then the Ward Administrative Director position would distract him. Because after all, Teacher Deng's early resume wasn't thick enough — he couldn't get Distinguished Youth.

Equivalent to his early foundation being relatively weaker than peers; in such a situation, if he still didn't hand off his miscellaneous tasks, then the evaluation would definitely have zero chance.

Teacher Deng is still a professor, Chief Physician, a Chutian Scholar — but if he wants to take another step and become a Changjiang Scholar enjoying special allowances, he can only put his mind at ease and charge forward fiercely.

Although this is a vain title, such a vain title is also an honor. To further promote the development of Zhongnan Hospital Orthopedics, he must walk forward like this to obtain more resource tilt, to build Orthopedics better, and even to a certain extent raise Zhongnan Hospital's jianghu status nationwide.

Since Teacher Deng didn't hint to Li Yuanpei, Fang Ziye naturally couldn't say more idle words.

Soon, Yuan Weihong drove over —

This is a small courtyard, so no need to park underground.

After Yuan Weihong and Qin Geluo got out of the car and saw seven or eight people packed in, they couldn't help smiling: "Why so many of you? Where would I have that much wine?"

"Only a dozen or so bottles total."

Li Yuanpei answered first: "That's perfect, Wei Ge — we each twist one bottle and we can carry them in."

Fang Ziye also picked up two bottles and started heading in.

Walking inside, even Qin Geluo, as Wei Ge's peer attending physician, yielded the spot walking alongside Yuan Weihong to Fang Ziye.

The other junior fellow trainees all broke into a "runaway" pace, leaving Yuan Weihong and Fang Ziye at the very back.

Yuan Weihong empty-handed, glanced sideways with a slightly lacking tone: "How did the defense feel?"

Fang Ziye's mouth corner twitched: "At the time I felt like I lost half my life — such questions would appear in a master's defense. I'm drunk."

"Yeah, we didn't anticipate it beforehand, but later Professor Zheng Tonghui explained — after your defense ended, he treated the procedure as peer exchange. After all, your research project content was slightly more than even your senior brothers'."

Fang Ziye could only accompany with a smile, nodding embarrassedly.

Fang Ziye now calmly accepted it — even facing Yuan Weihong, he didn't dare say anymore that it wasn't his own work.

Yuan Weihong then said: "Professor Wu from Peking Union Medical College Hospital even asked Professor Zhang and Professor Deng if they had thoughts of directly granting you an exceptional doctorate, but Professor Deng refused."

"Ah?" Fang Ziye was surprised and asked: "If a doctorate was granted early, what about the PhD study?"

"Don't know — once that happens the situation gets very complex; you'd only be able to switch to direct PhD, wouldn't get a master's degree certificate, and your standardized training experience would also be affected — completely unnecessary."

"So Professor Deng refused on your behalf; I'm just letting you know."

"Mm, okay, Master."

"Drink less later."

"Okay, Master."

……

An academic thesis defense represents that academic level has reached a master's degree; as long as you pass, you can get the degree certificate.

The graduation certificate is for completing the master's graduate stage's relevant process, completing course credits and other conditions.

The two are separate individually.

If only a doctorate degree was given but not a doctorate diploma, it's a deformed state — Fang Ziye doesn't need such unbalanced flattery and pulling up either.

As for directly giving a doctorate diploma or doctorate degree, Fang Ziye wouldn't be that shameless either — compared to Senior Brother Sun Shaoqing now, he's only professionally slightly stronger in some aspects by a little bit, but in papers and comprehensive strength there's still a huge gap; he still needs accumulation.

But the defense is over — unless he courts death himself, the school won't card his neck on the diploma, which means Fang Ziye can graduate by the book and secure the professional master's four certificates combined.

This is something worth being happy about; senior brothers expressed congratulations to Fang Ziye at the banquet, and they shallowly drank a cup together.

Junior fellow trainees expressed blessings and envy, sipping a tiny mouthful.

Even Luo Tingzhu only shallowly drank a small sip, then her whole face flushed red immediately — probably her alcohol tolerance is too shallow, so after drinking she just sat dazed in the corner, like a silly creature half-drunk but not quite.

Fang Ziye glanced over from time to time, and could only tell Jie Han when passing him to make sure to send Luo Tingzhu back to the dormitory building later.

Then Fang Ziye went before each defense committee evaluator — a quarter cup for each person.

After respectfully toasting them all, the alcohol Fang Ziye had downed had already reached four liang.

Immediately after came Teacher Deng. Fang Ziye held a two-liang wine glass, bowed slightly and said: "Master, also thank you for your support, giving me the chance to continue studying. Taking advantage of today's good day, I toast you a cup — please drink as you wish."

"You, don't." When Teacher Deng tried to stop him, Fang Ziye had already downed it in one gulp — too late to stop.

Fang Ziye looked at Teacher Deng and said: "Master, you drink less. This is what I should toast."

At usual banquet drinking, Fang Ziye never gets drunk, because Fang Ziye knows this isn't the time he should get drunk — but today, Fang Ziye must do this; not merely simple human relations, but also celebration.

Moreover, today's celebration belongs solely to himself and Senior Brother Sun Shaoqing.

Immediately after, Fang Ziye didn't go to his own master first, but according to department seniority, he also gave Associate Professor Xie a full, brimming two-liang cup.

Xie Jinyuan accompanied with a full half cup.

He said: "Ziye, drink a little less; later you'll definitely still have to toast your Master."

He patted Fang Ziye's shoulder.

Then he said: "Go for it, the road ahead is promising."

"Thank you, Teacher Xie." Fang Ziye bowed slightly.

Only then did he walk to his Master Yuan Weihong; at this moment, Yuan Weihong had already let Lan Tianluo pour half a cup of wine for Fang Ziye, saying: "Toasting half a cup is enough; that's what Master said."

He couldn't persuade Fang Ziye regarding Deng Yong and Xie Jinyuan, but Yuan Weihong could arrange Fang Ziye's alcohol intake when he came toasting to him.

Fang Ziye smiled, not standing on ceremony either.

He downed it in one gulp; it was all mineral water taste.

But Fang Ziye's expression still didn't move, his whole face repeating the taste of spicy liquor rushing down his throat, and moreover, this time the pure thick spicy flavor made Fang Ziye feel that damn it, it was even more nose-stinging than the liquor taste.

One cup down; although not liquor, it went down easier than liquor and made one lightheaded more easily.

"That's enough, that's about it; give Qin Geluo and Sun Shaoqing a little more to drink, then let's stop here." Yuan Weihong hurriedly pushed Fang Ziye away, his thoughts complex.

Eight parts relief, one part heartache, one part heartache.

Over these years, just how hard Fang Ziye has worked — besides him, probably no one else can see it, and no one can understand it.

But no matter what? Fang Ziye still persisted, never slacking off.

He walked to today without slacking off, and Yuan Weihong felt very relieved.

Of course, along this road, Yuan Weihong occasionally also felt Fang Ziye truly lacked aptitude, pitying his misfortune.

Aptitude is innate, but Yuan Weihong never resented him for not striving.

"Thank you, Master." After Fang Ziye bowed slightly again, he went over to Qin Geluo's side.

Sun Shaoqing at this moment invited Fang Ziye to toast Qin Geluo a cup together.

Qin Geluo had a rather familiar face, was also younger, had more contact with Fang Ziye; he raised a small wine cup and said: "If you think you're more awesome than me, you can drink straight from the bottle, I won't stop you either."

Once these words came out, Fang Ziye and Sun Shaoqing could only hurriedly take out small wine cups, each pouring half a cup.

Qin Geluo chuckled: "That's more like it."

"Don't get drunk, or you'll have to go to the Emergency Department to sober up. Come, bottoms up. Wishing you two a bright future; when we meet again, may you both let me cadge a drink." Qin Geluo's words were sincere, but his sincerity had already arrived.

After one round, Fang Ziye felt his scalp faintly numb.

The things before his eyes were a bit hallucinatingly large — not magnified, but hallucinatingly large.

But he wasn't drunk; on the contrary, Fang Ziye's thinking at this moment became increasingly clear. Fang Ziye knew that from today onward, he would no longer be a small Master's student; even if giving others opportunities, it would only be to Senior Brother doctors near graduation; everyone else, including Luo Tingzhu and so on, would each perform on their own.

Fang Ziye understood even more clearly that everyone present would in the future all become one of Fang Ziye's benefactors and connections, needing continued maintenance.

Including Professor Zhang, including Professor Du and others at the Provincial People's Hospital.

All are his reserve connections.

The defense is a fate; fate let them meet, so there's at least an impression — people who have helped Fang Ziye; meeting again later, calling out "Teacher" properly and properly, absolutely has no downside for Fang Ziye.

And if there weren't this link, who the hell needs you to call out a "Teacher"? Do they lack it?

They don't lack it.

But Fang Ziye knows that such a Defense Committee, if they help produce an awesome figure, they'll also be happy and glad from the bottom of their hearts later, feeling they've at least done something genuine.

If you're polite enough, later on your road of advancement, others won't mind helping you once more.

Fate is concluded just like this.

Sun Shaoqing drank more than Fang Ziye; he needs a job opportunity, he needs Professor Zheng Tonghui at the Provincial Third People's Hospital to help him, to give Sun Shaoqing a chance to get hired, say a few good words.

Similarly, Sun Shaoqing also needs other professors to remember his name in the future; after working alone, when competing for projects, there's no longer a teacher as backing; he can only fight with his own name.

He needs to let others remember that he has such capability.

Senior Brother Sun Shaoqing also needs some junior brothers to still remember him; although he left to work, later research, projects, professional learning still need mutual exchange.

Going to work out of town means starting from scratch, building from nothing; so he might still need to go back to the Master's school to pull some wool, asking all junior brothers not to mind.

If there's need, later he'll also need junior brothers who mix well to help out a bit.

Senior Brother Sun Shaoqing was a bit drunk; at the end, in front of Professor Deng Yong, he murmured in a low voice, drunken words: "Master, I'm sorry..."

"Master, my capability is limited. I couldn't properly utilize the resources you gave."

"Master..."

Deng Yong sighed with emotion slightly, gently patting Sun Shaoqing's shoulder. No one knew what Professor Deng Yong was thinking at this moment.

Sun Shaoqing wasn't his founding eldest disciple, nor his closing disciple; no one knew what his position truly was in the depths of Professor Deng Yong's heart.

But as a teacher, Fang Ziye feels Professor Deng Yong is absolutely qualified.

Just this one point.

Deng Yong could for Li Yuanpei, whom he could absolutely secure, not hesitate to lose Song Yi who came here for the doctoral re-examination from Kyoto University Affiliated Third Hospital; Fang Ziye knows that in the future, Professor Deng Yong will absolutely not be too bad to him, Fang Ziye.

Just this one point is already enough.

The crowd was about to disperse; Professor Deng Yong asked the other professors if they had eaten and drunk well; if not enough, the Master's students and non-defending doctors could accompany them anytime.

Of course, the professors didn't have any particular fondness for wine; they all nodded: "Enough, enough, Professor Deng; since matters here are already concluded, we won't disturb further."

"Congratulations Professor Deng on gaining a promising disciple."

During the meal they all knew Fang Ziye was taken in by Professor Deng Yong; and during the defense segment Fang Ziye demonstrated his solid basic experimental foundation; such talent will absolutely not have low achievements in the future.

Even possibly leapfrogging to elevate his own status, level, and capability; in his youth stage, rising early; such talent, everyone envies, but matters must observe first-come-first-served.

Professor Deng Yong arranged things very properly; doctors who drank and those who didn't could personally drive to send each professor back to the hospital or the high-speed rail station.

The drinking gathering dispersed.

But Sun Shaoqing and Fang Ziye both didn't leave, because the two of them are the hosts, and still need to complete two things.

One thing is settling the bill.

The other thing is needing to arrange the junior brothers who helped, to have another small gathering, book a few small private rooms, sing some songs, chat — this is the Senior Brothers' surface reward for their hard work.

The settlement was arranged by Senior Brother Sun Shaoqing; the banquet price wasn't high, three tables were opened, but this still cost nearly ten thousand.

Adding the alcohol, Fang Ziye estimated each person's share would come to over eight thousand.

On top of that, they still had to treat the junior trainees to KTV later; the drinks and snacks inside weren't a small sum either.

He'd have to ask home to send money later, but it didn't matter; Fang Ziye had a little bit of savings himself, asking home for another five thousand or so would be about right.

After the Doctor senior brothers left one after another, Luo Tingzhu also left; however, when Luo Tingzhu left, it wasn't Jie Han and Lan Tianluo these two junior brothers who saw her off, but rather Teacher Deng called a female waiter from inside the hotel to personally accompany her.

Luo Tingzhu originally said no need, but Teacher Deng wouldn't hear of it.

……

The afternoon was the singing high point; Fang Ziye didn't sing, only accompanied with smiles, and together with Sun Shaoqing the two were responsible for cooperating with applause.

Dinner was self-managed; for the late-night snack two people treated a barbecue; not many people came, but Fang Ziye and Sun Shaoqing the two had just barely sobered up a bit, then drank some more……

Fang Ziye got home, buried his head and slept.

Around two o'clock in the evening, Fang Ziye woke once; his head was slightly groggy, the weather was a bit cold, the night curtain had no light, and not a single star was visible.

Fang Ziye thus took advantage of the still-strong wine influence, his brain still hot, and with good things happening one after another, he edited such an even more flirty/seductive passage in his Moments——

"Drank a bit high yesterday, woke up still arrogant."

"Dreamed of Kunlun met Master, bestowed picking Yuanmen First Peach!"

Whatever, sleep.

Posting a Moments immediately upon graduation to celebrate is a very normal thing. Even Fang Ziye couldn't escape convention.

The next day, morning seven ten.

After Fang Ziye got up, he still didn't feel any difference.

He just opened WeChat; the unread message count on the Moments page was as high as 99+.

At the same time, Lan Tianluo and Jie Han these two junior brothers sent 666, congratulations messages.

Senior Brother Sun Shaoqing said: "Junior Brother, you doing it like this, I almost deleted my Moments overnight."

"Not thick-skinned/kind!"

Even Luo Tingzhu sent a message greeting, saying: "I feel the third sentence might be forced, not too elegant."

Fang Ziye didn't care about so much, didn't reply to a single person, hurried to brush teeth and wash up.

Went out and bought a portion of hot dry noodles, also brought a breakfast for his Master, then hurried to look at the Moments.

Both parents liked; relatives and friends, junior high classmates and high school classmates were also liking and commenting.

There's one most funny sentence that should be from Fang Ziye's junior high classmate: "You're still studying? How many years have you been studying?"

The tone wasn't lacking in sarcastic flavor.

But, Fang Ziye still didn't plan to reply; last night was an evening belonging solely to classmate Fang Ziye's thesis defense graduation; this evening's world, Fang Ziye alone controlled, anyone could be ignored.

First returned to the department once, took off the white coat, then rushed toward the outpatient consultation room.

Turned on computer, logged in to Yuan Weihong's employee ID, started counting today's workload, then took out from the backpack the Dongfang Shuye Oolong Tea drink brought for the teacher; all operations were proficient.

My world temporarily has only one evening.

Light spray; the flirty/seductive one is actually the author himself. All experiences in this event are what the author himself did, and those words too.

If you readers feel uncomfortable, please light spray.

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(Chapter End)