Chapter 190

"Ziye, eat whatever you want, just say the word." Wu Xuanqi had driven over; he brought Fang Ziye to the underground garage, and once they got into the Audi, he opened the door while patting his slightly bulging trouser pocket.

The meaning was obvious — the hard-earned money he had just made inside could be used to treat.

"Senior Brother Wu, anything's fine with me, I'm not picky." Fang Ziye lit up his phone screen and glanced at the time — 10:47 p. m.

He was hesitating over whether it was appropriate, right in front of Wu Xuanqi, to reply to a message from Luo Tingzhu, whom he hadn't contacted in a long while.

"Then let's go get some crayfish together." Wu Xuanqi didn't seem to care much about what they ate either; rather, he cared more about who he was eating with and how they chatted.

"Come on, get in the car, I'll take you to a pretty good spot." Wu Xuanqi acted like he knew Enshi very well.

Both his voice and bearing were mature; in front of Fang Ziye he came across entirely as an older brother and a superior, leaving no room for Fang Ziye to play clever word games in his presence.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Wu."

After getting in the car, Wu Xuanqi stomped on the accelerator and took off; because it was late April, nearing summer, he didn't bother warming up the engine.

It was while Wu Xuanqi was finding the exit in the underground garage that Fang Ziye replied to Luo Tingzhu: "Two surgeries are finally done. Results are decent."

Fang Ziye was a little smug.

The life and death of the two patients didn't have much to do with him; even Liu Linjie, the patient in Operating Room 9, would have turned out much the same whether he was there or not — at most a bit more blood loss, and his own maneuvers hadn't even saved any surgery time.

But Zhang Yu in Room 11 — if he hadn't tried his hand, he'd probably be a limbless man by now.

Watching Liu Linjie's surgery in Room 9 finish, and seeing himself gain 900+ knowledge points in one go without any knowledge-point cost just because he'd asked for a bit more operating time —

Fang Ziye's heart pounded wildly.

So this is the real way to unlock knowledge-point sources; closed reductions, lab work, outpatient clinics — those are all small cases.

Only genuine emergency rescues like this are the true source of large amounts of knowledge points.

Naturally, Fang Ziye knew that if he wanted to encounter such patients, he needed a certain amount of fate; and he estimated he'd need many more years before he could routinely see such high-end moribund cases.

But at least running into them is fate.

Seeing his knowledge points climb back to 2001, Fang Ziye felt exceptionally steady inside.

As long as he had enough knowledge points, Fang Ziye wouldn't panic in the slightest.

Luo Tingzhu was probably doing experiments, so she didn't reply; Fang Ziye just put his phone away.

He'd been away from home too long, and the battery wasn't high either.

Only now did Wu Xuanqi drive out of the underground garage, scanning a QR code to pay while grumbling: "I feel like they should issue a parking voucher right at the OR entrance."

"You tell me — I come over to help out, and I still have to shell out five bucks for parking; that's a net loss. They don't reimburse fuel costs either." Wu Xuanqi put on a full old-hand act, joking with Fang Ziye.

"Senior Brother Wu, you could suggest it to Director Zhang." Fang Ziye laughed back.

"I've suggested it; Director Zhang doesn't deliver. Never mind Director Zhang — at Minzu University Hospital and People's Hospital, it's the same: parking costs money."

"Next time I'll take a cab and hand them the receipt."

"Oh, right, Ziye — where's Teacher Shen? How come I didn't see Teacher Shen in the OR today? Teacher Shen's technique is pretty good, isn't it?"

"If he'd been there, whether it was the limb-salvage surgery or the pelvic hematoma, he should've been able to handle at least some of it, right?" Wu Xuanqi found it strange.

Shen Tao of Hubei Province Provincial People's Hospital — although he might not be as deft as Wu Xuanqi in handling hematomas, his probability of saving lives in emergencies is very high.

At Hubei Province Provincial People's Hospital, he's certainly encountered perilous cases like pelvic hemorrhagic hematoma; limb-salvage surgery could also be attempted.

"It's month-end, isn't it? Teacher Shen asked for leave in advance to go back and keep his kid company for a birthday; he took the 10 a. m. high-speed train. The emergency here didn't happen until 2 p. m.!"

"By then Teacher Shen had probably already reached Tianjin." Fang Ziye explained with a wry smile.

Actually, Teacher Shen going home once at month-end is perfectly normal; the fact that Shen Tao doesn't go home every week already makes him better than many doctors on rural rotation support.

Shen Tao couldn't have known there'd be an accident today; he was nearly in Han City, and even if he turned back, it would've been faster to just summon a Han City professor-expert directly.

By the time someone got here from Han City, the daylilies would be cold.

"So that's how it is — nothing to be done then." Wu Xuanqi cranked the steering wheel hard left, nodding to show he understood.

He went on: "This Teacher Shen Tao is still quite interesting; originally he was four classes above me, but now he's probably five classes above."

"He's only been an attending for three or four years and he's already up for deputy chief physician."

"His professional ability isn't actually outstanding, but I bet little Fang you don't know either — Shen Tao is an absolute academic big shot, right?"

"Huh?" Fang Ziye was very surprised.

Because what Fang Ziye said he didn't know — he really didn't know.

"Just two papers of around twenty impact factor points or so. Heh. He should have a pretty good relationship with your teacher, too." Wu Xuanqi's vision was currently higher-end than Fang Ziye's.

Also because he was young, he had some grasp of the relationship network among the generation of young doctors.

"Mm, Teacher Shen did say his relationship with my teacher is decent. But all these things Senior Brother Wu you're talking about — I didn't know any of them." Fang Ziye answered honestly.

"Of course you wouldn't know; Wei Ge has an academically awesome friend like that — if you'd known beforehand that Shen Tao was that impressive, that'd be the weird thing."

"Given Wei Ge's personality." Wu Xuanqi got a little carried away, turned his head to glance at Fang Ziye, considered that Fang Ziye was Yuan Weihong's student, and didn't continue.

The topic fell briefly silent, then Wu Xuanqi opened up the conversation box again…

The barbecue stall Wu Xuanqi mentioned wasn't far from Enshi Central Hospital.

After they arrived, Fang Ziye and Wu Xuanqi each ordered some things and then settled in to wait for the food.

At neighboring tables friends were shouting back and forth, toasting and playing drinking games, some reminiscing about the old days.

But Fang Ziye and Wu Xuanqi weren't that lively; still, Fang Ziye patiently asked for guidance: "Senior Brother, you just talked so much — all about our hospital, the Provincial People's Hospital, and Peking Union Medical College Hospital."

"Your hospital, Tongji Hospital — its trauma surgery is top-tier; there must be some impressive teachers there too, right? Senior Brother, give me a rundown?"

Wu Xuanqi conveniently picked up the ice beer Fang Ziye had poured for him, the corner of his mouth twitching upward: "You're luring me into a mistake — a man doesn't boast about himself."

"If I talk about our own hospital, isn't that just pure bragging?"

Fang Ziye smiled: "Senior Brother Wu, does Tongji Hospital even need to blow its own horn? It's already awesome as it is."

Wu Xuanqi sighed: "Truth is, at our Tongji Hospital, among the generation around Yuan Weihong and Shen Tao's age, Zhong Chenyuan — Yuan Ge — isn't very outstanding."

"Compared to Dong Dongsheng — Dong Ge — of Peking Union Medical College Hospital's trauma field, Yuan Weihong — Wei Ge — of Zhongnan Hospital, or even Shen Tao — Tao Ge — inside the Provincial People's Hospital, he might not be on the same level."

"But my senior brother Long Yuan is quite formidable; he's on pretty familiar terms with a Zhang Zixi from your hospital, and both of their abilities are solid…"

"……"

Wu Xuanqi rattled off a whole string of names to Fang Ziye, leaving Fang Ziye's head spinning slightly.

"But it's fine, these people, by next month you'll probably know them all. No rush. Can't remember? A few drinks next time and you'll have them memorized." Seeing Fang Ziye's head getting big, Wu Xuanqi stopped the info-dump.

Instead he shifted the conversation: "Ziye, I heard your research talent is very high, and your accumulated research workload so far is quite substantial?"

"Wu Senior Brother, do you have a spy planted in our hospital?" After chatting with Wu Xuanqi for a while, Fang Ziye proactively cracked a joke.

Wu Xuanqi straightened up, shameless as ever: "That's not it. My direct junior brother Lu Zhe Fu was sent over to your Zhongnan Hospital as talent — how could that be called a spy?"

"It's just that our Tongji quota wasn't enough, otherwise I'd never let Junior Lu go running off elsewhere."

Fair enough — Fang Ziye knew Brother Lu. He was currently a first-year doctoral student, Professor Han Yuanxiao's new PhD at the department, nearly second-year now, and Xiong Jinhuan's direct senior brother.

"Ah, so Brother Lu is Professor Duan's student. Brother Lu never mentioned it." Fang Ziye sniffed.

Professor Duan Hong, after all, is the leading figure of Hubei Province trauma surgery — currently Group Leader and Director Committee Member of the Hubei Province Medical Association Orthopedics Branch Trauma Surgery Group.

Even Professor Deng Yong is only Deputy Group Leader and Vice Chairman — a representative figure in Hubei Province trauma surgery. Professor Deng might have a chance to become the next academic leader, but he'd have to fight for it.

Professor Duan Hong, on the other hand, belongs to the post-fight stage.

Wu Xuanqi rolled his eyes: "Seems you rarely interacted with Professor Deng before, Ziye?"

"Otherwise, given the private relationship between my Master and Teacher Deng, we should've met long ago."

"Maybe I was too weak before, so I couldn't catch Teacher Deng's eye." Fang Ziye admitted frankly.

Truth be told, among the Four Great Vajras of trauma surgery — top professors — Fang Ziye currently only knew Professor Deng Yong. The other three, whether Professor Duan Hong of Tongji Hospital, Professor Qi Qiaowen of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, or Professor An Lumming of Provincial People's Hospital, were still legendary-tier in Fang Ziye's mind.

Zero chance to access or witness them — only hearsay. The level gap was too vast.

"Can't compare to you, Wu Senior Brother, you're so outstanding." Fang Ziye had learned to flatter — picked it up from Wu Xuanqi.

"Get lost, talking nonsense here."

"Honestly, I just want you to guide me in basic experiments, Ziye. My research is way too watered down." Wu Xuanqi finally revealed his true intent.

Fang Ziye's eyes sharpened: "Wu Senior Brother, isn't Song Yi with you now? You still need outside help?"

Though he didn't know Song Yi's basic research level, Song Yi definitely had a system for research — because even Li Yuanpei trembled when competing with Song Yi on research. Last year Song Yi had five SCI papers; who knows, maybe eight or nine by now?

"That was the plan originally, but after Song Junior Brother came to Enshi, he was poached by Old Doctor Chen and taken away. Now he's stuck elsewhere doing clinical research."

"My senior brother also went back as Associate Professor, so it's just me and my wife here, lonely and unaided. You should know — clinical projects' value and basic research are recognized completely differently by others."

"No matter how innovative the surgical technique, it can't match basic research innovation and breakthroughs."

"Can't change the big environment, so we can only adapt. If you have a chance, Ziye, and some free time, help take a look? Anyway your Senior Brother has no shame — if you refuse this time, I'll pester you next time." Wu Xuanqi put on a full rogue act.

But also very down-to-earth, straight-talking — no hiding or holding back.

Fang Ziye pondered carefully for a while, then said: "Wu Senior Brother, I want to ask you something."

"Go ahead. Anything." Wu Xuanqi even proactively poured Fang Ziye ice beer.

Near May weather, alternating cool and hot — ice beer went down exceptionally refreshing.

"It's about the materials Wu Senior Brother passed to me last time. I studied them systematically, but I see your current research progress is only at the fracture classification and closed reduction method level, right?"

Fang Ziye precisely pinned down the research depth of Wu Xuanqi's closed reduction clinical project.

Wu Xuanqi nodded: "Yes, Old Doctor Chen and I summarized it together — which fracture classifications suit which closed reduction methods. Counts as a minor breakthrough, right?"

"Point-to-point correspondence, at least backed by clinical data, verified by statistical data……"

Wu Xuanqi secretly blew his own horn.

Right? Your big bro still has a few tricks. This kind of breakthrough — a clinical project that breaks cognitive limits — I can produce it. Collaborating with me, you won't lose out, Ziye.

"Senior Brother, I'll say it straight then. Your current research level is methodological point-to-point influence. That is, one fracture classification corresponds to one closed reduction surgical indication."

"Is that right?" Fang Ziye confirmed again.

That was the depth Wu Xuanqi reached. Though he'd already broken the previous point-to-surface, it was still correspondence — not the systematic assessment and research system built from bottom-layer logic that he and Lan Tianluo created.

Seeing Fang Ziye ask so meticulously, Wu Xuanqi instantly got nervous: "What are you trying to say?"

Fang Ziye touched his earlobe: "Senior Brother, I may have taken your project a step deeper, but it won't affect your results or project progress, nor your paper publication."

"My junior brother and I didn't apply any of your results or directional guidance. We used it as inspiration, from physics and mechanics angles, through data-driven statistics and model building, to conduct a modeling system analysis of fracture classification, surgical indications, and closed reduction indications."

Fang Ziye finished, and saw Wu Xuanqi's expression go numb.

But he still forced himself: "Senior Brother, I'm not stealing — this starts from the most basic principles, self-built models, analyzed statistically through relatively pure data and mechanical structures. It doesn't conflict at all with your existing correspondence between closed reduction methods and fracture classifications!"

This point had to be made clear.

Wu Xuanqi's research covers at most the relationship between closed reduction techniques and fracture classifications.

But Fang Ziye's research redefines and reclassifies fracture classification itself.

More plainly: if Wu Xuanqi studies phenomena, then Fang Ziye and Lan Tianluo went deeper into the realm closer to essence.

Research isn't private land — you don't own a direction just because you studied it first.

Take an osteosarcoma pathway — even in Eastern Han there might be dozens, even hundreds of research teams on it. You studied it first so it's all yours? No such logic.

Wu Xuanqi's expression and mouth corners twitched, tongue repeatedly sticking out to lick his lips then quickly retracting, as if his mouth was extremely dry and only this could moisten his lips into comfort.

Repeated over a dozen times, Wu Xuanqi's mouth corners twitched again.

Body swayed left and right for a good while.

Only then, finally, accepted this reality.

His most prized home turf foundation, stabbed by Fang Ziye straight down to Earth's core.

His proudest closed reduction-fracture connection, slashed by Fang Ziye straight to the purest data model. If speaking by level, his project depth and what Fang Ziye produced — completely incomparable.

But what can he do? Fang Ziye only got inspiration, didn't steal all his data and publish first to block him.

"Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

Wu Xuanqi's single "Okay" dragged a full seven or eight seconds.

Before the next word came:

"Fine!"

"You're awesome, you're arrogant, you're amazing." Wu Xuanqi was starting to get a headache.

What the hell kind of person is this?

No matter what was said, even though his own Hometown had been stolen, Wu Xuanqi still had to thank Fang Ziye.

Because Wu Xuanqi's current Research Project actually detached from Traditional Chinese Medicine's Closed Reduction, possessing a kind of Profound and Mysterious Phenomenology Summary; papers could be published, but without understanding its principles, others might still reject or refute it.

However, Fang Ziye, from the most Basic Mathematical Principles, conducted the most Essential Analysis of this Phenomenon, supporting his research viewpoint, and even in the future might become the Absolute pillar of his Research Direction.

It's just that this pillar wasn't produced by himself.

This is like a house one built oneself, but the pillars and beams belong to someone else's family, carrying a meaning of dependence on others.

(Chapter End)