Chapter 134

During the medical student phase, there are very few ways to earn money.

First, aggressively prescribe drugs to patients, then use the prescribed drug volume to redeem rewards. This point, when Fang Ziye entered the field, was specifically hammered into him by Yuan Weihong; Fang Ziye also couldn't be bothered to spar with those drug reps — a single painkiller has four or five, even six or seven groups of people coming to pitch it; Fang Ziye decides entirely based on mood, doesn't add friends, and won't take it even if given money.

There's simply no need to bring a fishy stench onto oneself for that bit of petty cash.

Second, rely on publishing papers; after publishing papers, the hospital gives certain research rewards. Fang Ziye back then wanted to charge forward aggressively, but the papers he wrote ultimately remained just English compositions, so he had no fate with this aspect.

Without papers, the third point — extra scholarships like the National Scholarship — can only be described as deep affection but shallow fate; Fang Ziye's feelings for the National Scholarship are exceptionally rich and abundant, but fate hasn't arrived.

Fourth, represent the hospital in competitions to win various prizes; Fang Ziye considered this too, but his strength, among the same cohort of master's students in Trauma Surgery, is rock-bottom.

Li Yuanpei, Xiong Jinhuan — which one isn't more outstanding than him? They haven't even considered this matter; Fang Ziye truly has no face to go embarrass himself hospital-wide, let alone at provincial and national competitions.

The only thing Fang Ziye occasionally gets is the small labor fee Master Yuan Weihong gives him, generally one to two thousand; previously once a year, but nearing graduation Yuan Weihong became slightly more generous, yet group funds are limited, so only once or twice.

The hospital's subsidy for professional master's students is 1,400 yuan a month, just enough to cover rent with 300 left over; plus two night-shift fees a month, Fang Ziye has about 500 yuan a month at his disposal.

Family usually provides about 1,000 yuan a month in living expenses.

So, under such circumstances, seeing that Luo Tingzhu actually still had quite a lot of savings, Fang Ziye was truly envious and scared…

Not until nearly 2 a. m. did Fang Ziye check — the WeChat messages had already been cleared by himself, and after roughly planning tomorrow in his mind, he fell into deep thought.

This is a habit Fang Ziye has every night before sleep; just that today's process was a bit longer than usual.

Because past matters are all in the past.

Today's Fang Ziye, even with the paper accumulation he already has — a basic cell-experiment paper worth 8 points, plus having already passed the professional special-plan doctoral recruitment during his master's — asking for an Outstanding Graduate Student award certificate is not excessive.

Although this has no prize money, it adds points when job hunting; plus Fang Ziye's master's thesis has sufficient workload — over ten workload units after all — so contending for an Outstanding Thesis is basically no problem.

With these two points, in his first doctoral year Fang Ziye estimates he can get the doctoral-period National Scholarship; the National Scholarship is 30k, averaging 2.5k a month for Fang Ziye's own use.

Plus, the doctoral subsidy floor is 11k a year; the department and hospital also have certain subsidies, roughly 40k–50k a year; adding the National Scholarship makes 70k–80k.

Such income is already no less than what some township public-sector positions take home all year.

Yet there's still much more obtainable — Academic Innovation Awards, group labor-fee allowances, various rewards for published papers — added up Fang Ziye even feels he might reach 100k+ annual income during his doctorate.

"By then I won't need to ask home for money, and can buy gifts for Dad and Mom." Fang Ziye calculated carefully, feeling exceptionally grounded.

Moreover, these awards have always existed, these incomes have always been there; they just previously had nothing to do with Fang Ziye.

But next year, especially once his own small team publishes papers, plus Professor Deng Yong's group's papers, Fang Ziye will definitely hang at least a co-first-author name; paper rewards alone, Fang Ziye feels if both masters are generous enough, two papers giving 40k–50k is not excessive.

A 20+ point paper — even a big shot like Associate Professor Hong Zili doesn't have many; Professor Deng Yong's team held their breath for a long time before squeezing out this sole paper, and Professor Deng Yong also feels such a high-workload paper is extremely rare.

The road ahead is promising.

…

After Luo Tingzhu landed smoothly, she saw her Senior Sister.

Only after getting a phone card sorted did she reply to Fang Ziye that she had landed and was preparing to adjust to the time difference, and sent a photo back to Fang Ziye.

Fang Ziye was still doing experiments and didn't reply immediately; by the time Fang Ziye saw it, Luo Tingzhu was probably already adjusting to the time difference.

So Fang Ziye didn't send much more.

The United States and Eastern Han have a nearly twelve-hour time difference; noon here is early morning there, early morning here is noon there.

This timeline exists objectively and won't shift by willpower; continuing to accumulate workload and collecting all data early is the right way.

Dr. Li Yuanhong of Enshi People's Hospital added Fang Ziye as a friend long ago, but Fang Ziye has been busy the whole time, simply no space to arrange a meal with him.

However, around March 10, Fang Ziye finally completed the preliminary operations of the last group of animal experiments; afterward only X-rays, sacrificing mice, and waiting to observe results remained.

Fang Ziye finished the experiment at 4 p. m.; he deliberately took a photo to commemorate his month-plus deep dive into the lab and operating table, then walked out of the animal experiment center that cost at least hundreds of thousands with a relaxed mood…

Mood inexplicably carried a sense of relief.

Just like a farmer who has finally finished spring plowing and sowing, now only waiting for harvest — that kind of mentality!

"Master, our group's current animal experiment operations are all done by me; next just wait to come collect results." Fang Ziye sent a "completion" message to Yuan Weihong.

Today happens to be Wednesday; Yuan Weihong is probably in outpatient clinic.

"Hard work; let's eat together tonight to celebrate."

"This period, undergraduate teaching has started; your master really can't get away, and you still have to go to the lab to teach your two Fellow Trainees. It truly is very tiring."

"Good that it's done; you can relax and rest for a while, wait till month-end to go on rural rotation and rest again." Yuan Weihong still cares deeply for Fang Ziye, replying three messages in a row.

Naturally also a bit heart-aching.

Currently, his group has only Fang Ziye as a vanguard; Jie Han and Lan Tianluo have a two-year age gap with Fang Ziye and cannot fill in anytime — they're still in the foundation-building stage; this is a no-way situation.

Yuan Weihong's vulnerability is not just as a teacher; the group's personnel are also very, very few.

Yuan Weihong now also has to prepare for the Associate Professor deputy chief teaching title and Researcher chief title, and strive for doctoral supervisor qualifications, fighting to carve a bloody path from the doctoral supervisor teaching quotas by the time Jie Han graduates in Master's Year Three, so Fang Ziye's predicament from last year doesn't repeat.

Yuan Weihong also cannot rest.

"Master, many outpatients today?" Fang Ziye left the lab quickly, first walked a stretch along the curb, then hailed a cab.

Having completed a phase task, he should also chat properly with the teacher about follow-up plans — like asking what General Project Yuan Weihong will apply for next.

"Not bad; Tian Luo has slowly grown up now, he can learn from you and see one or two."

"Pretty good." Yuan Weihong adds bonus impression points for Lan Tianluo at Fang Ziye's place.

Fang Ziye then asked: "Master, Tian Luo's interview should've passed, right? The past two days I really had no time to leave the lab; two mice in the previous batch nearly died, so I didn't dare come out much."

Actually as Senior Brother he should've passed experience to Lan Tianluo before his master's re-exam, but the mice really had issues — losing one or two hurts, that's 10k–20k yuan.

"How could he not pass? The University Graduate School specially called our Zhongnan Hospital Graduate School; our Orthopedics people — could we let him slip?"

"And Tian Luo is exceptionally outstanding; no accidents will happen."

"Little Fang, you haven't entered the Training Room for a while, right? Your two Fellow Trainees — their current progress speed is not low; Tian Luo can cut eraser clay fast. Jie Han focuses on Suturing Technique; currently suturing orange peel is in the decent stage, few months likely to reach it." Yuan Weihong's tone brims with gratification.

Hearing this, Fang Ziye froze entirely.

Yeah, both Fellow Trainees have been in the hospital over half a year; their basic operations are nearly Level 2.

This isn't impossible — current Master's Year Two Shu Lang could complete orange peel suturing before last August, and his suturing technique then was much higher than Fang Ziye's operational proficiency.

Jie Han's talent won't be worse than Shu Lang; per their progress, estimated one or two months earlier than Shu Lang they'll reach suturing orange peel and cutting eraser clay stage.

The practice levels for incision technique: tofu, modeling clay, tofu carved into octahedral pyramids — that is all the Master's Stage requires.

The practice levels for suturing technique: rubber skin, orange peel, tofu.

"Then congratulations to both fellow trainees. I haven't been in touch with them for quite a while; I'm an unworthy senior brother." Fang Ziye said it in a pleasing way.

"Bullshit!" Yuan Weihong was the first to disagree.

"Senior Brother, Master he's laughing er..." Lan Tianluo deliberately drew out his tone, giving Fang Ziye a hint.

All operations in the laboratory were completed; it was indeed something worth celebrating, so Yuan Weihong wasn't stingy either, directly having Fang Ziye bring Jie Han and Lan Tianluo to a restaurant.

Around six o'clock, Yuan Weihong brought his wife and Xiao Qi.

Xiao Qi had just come in when she asked: "Where is the amazing big brother?"

"Right there." The wife pointed at Fang Ziye.

"No, he's the handsome big brother." Xiao Qi shook her head, dead serious, playful yet cute.

Xiao Qi then turned her head, glanced at Lan Tianluo: "I think he's the amazing big brother..."

Yuan Weihong really didn't know his own daughter had given labels to several students.

Then pointed at Jie Han and asked: "Then what about him?"

"Why big brother, what big brother, big-face big brother." Xiao Qi's words directly blew up the atmosphere at the scene.

Even Lan Tianluo laughed.

No way around it — Jie Han's build was on the thin side, but only his face looked big, mainly because his cheekbones were too wide; short of cosmetic medicine, there was no solution.

Jie Han was a bit huffy, but couldn't flare up at Xiao Qi, so he coaxed in a low voice: "Xiao Qi, you can call me Jie Han big brother, not big-face big brother."

"But your face really is big, isn't it?" Xiao Qi looked around the private room, very certain of her impression.

Jie Han nearly cried, turned away.

Then they started ordering, letting Xiao Qi order first.

However, once seated, Yuan Weihong looked at Fang Ziye: "Ziye, a couple days ago you borrowed five hundred yuan from Wang Yuanqi — what for? Are you short on money?"

Hearing this, Fang Ziye's whole person appeared slightly nervous.

Somewhat at a loss: "Master, how come even Yuan Qi Senior Brother's matter gets reported to you? I already explained it to him — once the hospital subsidy comes through, I'll pay him back."

"It's for rent, paid every three months..."

Fang Ziye was also drunk — five hundred yuan wasn't much to begin with; Wang Yuanqi really is Yuan Weihong's ironclad spy.

Lan Tianluo said upon hearing: "Senior Brother, you could ask me; my mouth is tighter."

Lan Tianluo is in socialized standardized training; his monthly subsidy is even higher than a Doctor like Wang Yuanqi. He belongs to the top tier of deep pockets.

Naturally, he'll soon withdraw from residency training; he'll probably end up as poor as everyone else.

Fang Ziye said: "Tianluo, you'd better save some money; when the time comes it definitely won't be enough."

Yuan Weihong looked at Fang Ziye, eyes deep: "Didn't you just get a labor fee? Jie Han's has arrived; yours hasn't?"

Yuan Weihong can't give Lan Tianluo a labor fee because there's no teacher-student relationship, but what he gave Jie Han was equal — after all Jie Han works hard too.

Of course, Yuan Weihong's meaning is: your money shouldn't be insufficient.

Teacher Deng also gave you a sum.

Fang Ziye said: "Master, it arrived, thank you Master."

"It's not like you borrowed a lot; look at you nagging." The wife interjected; her thoughts were more delicate and sensitive, so she vaguely guessed something.

You think everyone's an ironclad straight man like you.

Xiao Qi still had physical training class in the evening, so after the wife fed her until full, she went to rest first. Otherwise going to physical training right after eating full would still hurt the body a bit.

The wife also considerately returned the time to Yuan Weihong and his few disciples.

The wife had just left when Yuan Weihong knocked on the table and said: "Ziye, Jie Han, Tianluo — you all have it."

"I still need to nag one sentence: don't take desperate risks, don't take desperate risks. Don't ruin yourselves for petty gains."

"My meaning, you all understand, but what Master told you before was all inside the hospital."

"Now you'll face a rather key period; your Master didn't just muddle through — I've seen more or less all the professional types."

"I can tell you clearly: current market price for papers on the market — municipal journal five thousand, provincial level one journal eight thousand, CSCD ten to fifteen thousand."

"SCI twenty to fifty thousand all exist."

"But don't think this money is a lot; once investigated and exposed, you'll be stained — you'll never recover, understand?"

"So still walk the proper path; our group doesn't need to take unconventional risks now. Got it?"

"This isn't Master painting cakes for you." Yuan Weihong spoke with noticeably more confidence.

With this major paper added, if Yuan Weihong can apply for a general project, the hospital and school will separately reward him a lot of money; he can take out a portion.

If further luck strikes and he lands the Youth Thousand Talents, Yuan Weihong will be badass.

Not to mention promotion without yielding to others; all prior agreements with others become void, and Yuan Weihong's title upgrade speed might even get exceptional promotion.

This is absolute jianghu status.

Even possible the Personnel Department has to renegotiate treatment and contract with Yuan Weihong.

"Master, you've painted cakes before too." Fang Ziye seasoned a line.

"Go go go, I'm just saying the meaning; you're all smart people, should get it at one point." Yuan Weihong still looked toward Fang Ziye first.

Among his several students, only Fang Ziye's family background is the worst; if truly in difficult times, the one most likely to take unconventional risks is probably this kid.

"Master, rest assured, we have a bottom line."

"I went to eat with Doctor Li Yuanhong mainly to understand Enshi Central Hospital's personnel structure in advance; Master you also told me it's best to understand in advance." Fang Ziye answered very seriously.

A teacher is one who transmits the Dao, imparts knowledge, and resolves doubts — words and deeds.

Yuan Weihong would spend thought for himself and others, including all aspects, all needing consideration.

Not necessarily comprehensive, but ultimately must incorporate these considerations.

"Mm!"

"Jie Han, Lan Tianluo, you two are going to have to put in some hard work for a while."

"Your Senior Brother has already finished paving the way for the most difficult parts; if you each want to gain the National Scholarship and the academic paper prize money during your graduate studies, you must pay the price."

"You should know, the National Scholarship is twenty thousand, the Special Prize for academic paper prize money is eighty thousand, even I'm envious!" Yuan Weihong said, leaning back.

Looking at the three of them, Fang Ziye included, he felt deeply gratified.

This is the benefit of a talent pool — tasks are distributed and someone steps up, everyone advances together in big steps toward the front, no one drags their feet; this is a mature team, although currently only a prototype, Yuan Weihong feels he already possesses the most precious bottom-level resources.

The Graduate Student Academic Paper Innovation Award does not distinguish between PhD and Master students, but as long as one person in the team can gain it, no teacher dares to participate in dividing the eighty thousand, even if three people split it evenly, it is still extremely substantial.

And a paper with an impact factor of twenty-plus is absolutely weighty enough to participate in the scramble for the Special Prize.

(Chapter End)