Chapter 712

"Teacher Chen invited me, which I really shouldn't decline, but the COA is approaching and teachers from all over the country will be arriving in Han City one after another."

"There are only so many of us in Han City; according to the official website's registration statistics, there's really no way to spare anyone!" Fang Ziye replied tactfully.

Fang Ziye's own lunch was just fast food eaten at the high-speed rail station; he really couldn't keep Chen Yumin company.

Chen Yumin said: "Being busy during the COA is perfectly normal, so there's no need for Professor Fang to trouble yourself."

"Actually, before I came, I never expected to receive a call."

Zhongshan Medical College is certainly very good, but looking at the whole country, Professor Chen Yumin is really quite ordinary; without the support of his position as a professor at Zhongshan Medical Hospital, he's just an ordinary professor.

During the COA, a professor like him basically never has a dedicated receptionist.

A national annual meeting is a different kind of demon-revealing mirror; it always interprets the two words 'snobbery' to perfection.

If it were a provincial annual meeting that invited Chen Yumin, then as an out-of-province expert, he would at least have a dedicated escort.

"Teacher Chen, I'll still try my best to arrange your travel properly."

"Our hospital has students stationed at the hotel, and also brothers from our own hospital; if Teacher Chen has any needs, feel free to contact us." Fang Ziye said.

"Good, then I won't stand on ceremony." Chen Yumin didn't say any more unnecessary words.

By convention, the matter of picking him up and dropping him off wasn't the turn of a Deputy Chief Physician like Fang Ziye; perhaps some other accident occurred this time, leading to this chance encounter.

If his own department's Big Boss came to Han City, Fang Ziye might still personally pick them up and drop them off.

……

The road to the hotel wasn't rush hour, but on the return trip, Fang Ziye couldn't avoid the evening rush.

But it was still early; Fang Ziye slowly pressed the accelerator while reporting in the group chat: "Master, I can probably arrive at the high-speed rail station by six sharp. Professor Zhang gets off the high-speed rail at 7:15 PM; time-wise, it's still doable."

The pick-up and drop-off task looks simple, but the round trip will waste a lot of time.

Yuan Weihong should be in the car right now, so he didn't reply.

But Teacher Deng Yong replied in the group: "Received!"

"Professor Zhang Yue from Huaxi Hospital has already gotten off the plane. Shu Lang, we superiors can't make it in time for now; you go pick him up right now and explain things to Professor Zhang properly."

Plans can't keep up with changes; changes can't keep up with traffic jams.

Originally it was Deng Yong who was going to personally meet Professor Zhang Yue, but after Deng Yong picked up a professor from Jishuitan earlier, he got stuck on the road.

There's still forty minutes of driving; Zhang Yue has already landed; can't let him wait dryly for forty-plus minutes.

Shu Lang quickly replied: "Received, Master……"

Fang Ziye watched the messages in the group rise one by one, and suddenly a breath of daily life spread through his whole body!

He turned on the car music and played a soothing track.

The old Fang Ziye, picking up and dropping off professors, was a one-trip-and-done affair.

Other times, it was mostly going out for meetings.

The COA is held only once a year; Fang Ziye had never witnessed such a scene, but one thinks that every COA is the 'tribulation' of local university professors and graduate students — pain mixed with happiness.

But this is academic exchange.

……

Fang Ziye's dinner was a box of hot dry noodles, temporarily padding his stomach; he also saved some, convenient for later if Professor Zhang Xingze invited him to eat, he could still go along.

Relationships are a first-come-first-served thing.

Back then, Professor Zhang Xingze had helped Fang Ziye; compared to Professor Jiang Baoguo, Fang Ziye felt Professor Zhang Xingze would be closer, and would surely reserve time for unforeseen needs.

If Old Professor Qiu Zhenghua and Old Professor Gu Yuandong came to Han City for the meeting, then no matter how much Professor Zhang Xingze invited, he wouldn't be in Fang Ziye's schedule.

High-speed rail exit time is much faster than the airport; at 7:22, Fang Ziye saw Professor Zhang Xingze.

Professor Zhang was still so amiable; his slightly plump figure stretched his shirt, making him look kind and approachable, round face, round chin, thick eyebrows, dense hairline.

However, the first moment Fang Ziye noticed Professor Zhang, he saw a buddy next to him.

A tall big guy over 1.9 meters, tall and sturdy build, carrying a bag, slightly bowing his body.

"Teacher Zhang! ~"

"Big Brother, hello." Fang Ziye didn't know the comer's identity, so he simply addressed him as Big Brother.

But what Fang Ziye didn't expect was that the tall, sturdy youth directly bent half his waist, voice crisp and bright: "Professor Fang's adoptive father, my name is Zhang Bo."

"You can call me Xiao Bo, Xiao Zhang……"

The moment Zhang Bo spoke, Fang Ziye froze; Professor Zhang Xingze next to him also looked somewhat helpless.

"Professor Fang, this is my doctoral student Zhang Bo; his personality is a bit mischievous."

"Professor Fang Ziye." Zhang Xingze said to Zhang Bo.

Fang Ziye couldn't quite gauge the relationship between this Zhang Bo and Zhang Xingze, but 'mischievous' two words are insufficient to describe his 'nature'; first meeting, able to bend his waist and call 'adoptive father' — absolutely a ruthless character!

"Teacher Zhang, this way please; the car is parked in the garage."

"Are you going directly to check in first, or eat first?" Fang Ziye didn't ask if the other party would eat; he directly started arranging.

"Then I'll listen to Professor Fang's arrangement; I just need to see a friend at ten." Zhang Xingze walked while handing his leather bag to Zhang Bo, and didn't let Fang Ziye help carry things; his wariness was still quite strong.

Fang Ziye immediately said: "Okay, Teacher Zhang."

"Everything is booked on our end. We can go dine anytime."

Zhang Xingze handled this very proficiently and smoothly: "Don't make calls, and don't go to the place you prepared; Professor Fang, you just find another place casually."

"Today I want some quiet."

Fang Ziye heard this and didn't hesitate at all: "That works too, Teacher Zhang."

Zhang Xingze is an Academician; he was always the person in charge of the Orthopedic Association, and only last year did he yield the position to Professor Tang Fupei.

But even after stepping down from the Medical Association post, in the Orthopedic Branch of the Huaxia Physicians Association, he still holds the Position of Chief.

The Chinese Medical Association is an autonomous academic organization; the Orthopedics Branch of the Physicians Association is the official physicians' organization, still the power holder.

Moreover, Professor Zhang's current age isn't old; he's precisely in the prime of his Academician years; wherever he goes, he's used to being surrounded and fawned over.

According to Fang Ziye's knowledge, when Professor Zhang went to a prefecture-level city, he was accompanied throughout by at least a vice-bureau-level official.

Fang Ziye loaded Professor Zhang Xingze's luggage into the trunk and ushered him into the back seat before fastening his own seatbelt and asking, "Professor Zhang, you've had a long trip and must be tired. Shall I pick a nearby Ezhou cuisine restaurant?"

"Sure, I'm not picky. Any Chinese food works," Zhang Xingze said.

All along the way, Zhang Bo had been rather "taciturn." Only after getting into the passenger seat did he turn his head and say with a smile, "Professor Fang, are you tired? If you are, I can help drive."

When Zhang Bo made this suggestion, his face didn't redden and his heart didn't race — he should be someone who has seen the world.

"No trouble, no trouble. You and Teacher Zhang are guests from afar; how could I let you drive?"

"Besides, Han City's driving atmosphere isn't actually good. If you can't gauge the temper of the bus drivers here, you probably won't find it easy to get on the road." Fang Ziye casually picked a topic and steered the conversation deeper.

Zhang Xingze grew interested: "Han City's bus drivers are really that mysterious?"

Fang Ziye said, "It used to be like that, Teacher Zhang. Back then Han City's bus system hadn't been merged yet — more runs meant more pay — so the bus drivers back then all shifted gears with their feet."

"Actually, when I came to Han City to study, I never saw any especially fierce ones, but occasionally a few drivers would drive more tyrannically."

"I thought Han City's bus system now was still about the same as before." Zhang Xingze nodded and looked out the window.

"Han City's level of development is still much better than Shi City's — whether infrastructure or economic construction, it's higher by more than a notch."

"Professor Fang, your patient resources here should be pretty good, right?" Zhang Xingze asked.

"Not bad!"

Hearing Zhang Xingze discuss from a macro angle, Fang Ziye also analyzed based on his own understanding: "Teacher Zhang, it's actually like this. Our Hubei Province has complex terrain, especially the northwest region, with few plains, so the traffic accident rate is relatively high."

"Therefore, for our Trauma Surgery, more difficult and complex cases accumulate. Moreover, our Hubei Province has a well-developed water system, so some skin diseases also breed more — for example, parasites and such."

Hearing this, Zhang Xingze laughed: "High mountains and far waters — that means lots of arthritis too?"

"Your Joint Surgery here needn't worry about patient volume."

This is an objective fact.

The more mountainous and treacherous the place, the more arthritis patients can be found. Even if it's relatively poor here, some people still choose to go out for treatment.

As a result, the number of joint disease patients converging on Han City becomes a huge figure.

A steady, unending stream.

"Teacher Zhang, I'm not very familiar with this. So far, my understanding of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine is almost zero."

"I've never treated similar patients, but fasciitis patients are often encountered — for example, cuneiform bone necrosis and the like."

"Also mostly related to mountain climbing, belonging to chronic consumptive wear..."

Hearing Fang Ziye say this, Zhang Xingze didn't feel Fang Ziye's insight was extraordinary; it merely proved Fang Ziye had thought about things beyond clinical work and outpatient clinics, and had this kind of vision.

"Professor Fang, how do you view the future of Orthopedics?" Zhang Xingze suddenly asked this.

"Ah?" Fang Ziye froze for a moment; all his prepared wording crashed.

Zhang Bo interjected at this point: "My teacher said, a while back he attended a meeting where they said Orthopedic diseases aren't fatal."

"So Orthopedics' DIP/DRG, plus the centralized procurement system, will be prioritized for rollout, and must be implemented very strictly."

Hearing this, Zhang Xingze cursed: "Just you grew a mouth, talking too much, huh?"

Zhang Bo realized he might have misspoken — at least these words shouldn't have been told to Fang Ziye right now.

Zhang Bo lowered his head.

Fang Ziye's brows and forehead began to furrow tightly —

The so-called DIP and DRG are actually new medical payment models.

DRG (Diagnosis-Related Groups) is a disease-group combination payment system formed by clustering based on real medical data.

For example, fracture surgery: DRG bundled charge 10,000 yuan. If the hospital cures it for 8,000 yuan, the remaining 2,000 yuan multiplied by the surplus retention rate is the hospital's profit; if it exceeds 10,000 yuan, the excess cost must be borne by the hospital (surplus is retained).

DIP (Disease Severity and Intervention Complexity Points) is a payment system based on standardized disease grouping according to clinical experience!

Assume a cold's score is 80.

If each point is 100 yuan, medical insurance calculates payment to the hospital based on the 80-point score. No matter how much you use, the hospital gets 8,000 from medical insurance.

Summarizing both, they can be described in the following sixteen characters —

Surplus retained, overrun shared.

Overrun not reimbursed, surplus retained.

Fang Ziye doesn't know much about this. He previously went to a sanatorium and just returned to Zhongnan Hospital; Zhongnan Hospital's mangled extremity limb salvage surgery and functional reconstruction surgery currently have no standard international coding.

Therefore, the patients Fang Ziye sees mostly have no specific weight scores.

"Teacher Zhang, I haven't deeply researched these two payment models yet, but I've heard that DRG and DIP, in principle, control the surgical approach."

"Once the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment can only follow the most cost-effective surgical method, regardless of patient wishes?" Fang Ziye asked.

"More or less that meaning."

"For example, femoral neck fracture — only closed reduction internal fixation can be performed. If closed reduction internal fixation isn't possible, the extra money must be borne by the department and hospital." Zhang Xingze gave a simple analogy.

"So, recently for a period, surgical volumes at grassroots hospitals in pilot cities have been plummeting."

"Many patients can only flood into relatively larger hospitals, but those hospitals lack beds, creating a rather awkward situation."

"And this model will soon roll out nationwide! ~"

"When that time comes, if our Orthopedics wants to innovate further, it can only start from new disease types." Since Zhang Bo had already spoken, Zhang Xingze didn't continue hiding it.

"Functional impairment is also inside DRG, cut across the board." Zhang Xingze added, meaning your Zhongnan Hospital can't be an exception either.

"What's Teacher Zhang's view on this?"

"My meaning is, besides reducing consumable costs and drug costs." This made Fang Ziye rather headache-inducing.

Functional impairment has many causes — some from muscle adhesions, some from chronic nerve damage.

If billing is purely by surgical classification, from now on if Zhongnan Hospital has even one person doing functional reconstruction surgery, they'll be scolded as effeminate by other colleagues.

"Don't charge, don't treat, don't innovate."

"Choose to return to tradition." Zhang Xingze replied with a smile.

Although Zhang Xingze was smiling, this sentence was obviously laced with emotion.

He also couldn't handle DIP and DRG; he also had to operate within this framework.

So, if Professor Zhang Xingze had any of his own ideas about surgical operations, he still had to suppress them and honestly follow traditional surgery methods.

"Teacher Zhang, since that's the case, we can only hope this system becomes a step more refined."

"Able to pay differentially with greater precision based on different diagnostic principles; otherwise, as things develop, we'll all only be able to revert to tradition."

"If doing one surgery loses money on one surgery, sooner or later we'll all starve to death!" Fang Ziye replied.

"So, we also need to collect opinions from all sides, and before we starve to death, submit these suggestions upward!"

"Centralized procurement just started a few years ago, and now they're starting this kind of thing again."

"Sigh." Zhang Xingze let out a long sigh.

……

After arriving at the place to eat, Fang Ziye found a private room, and after quickly finishing ordering, Professor Zhang Xingze let his "social butterfly" student go out for a stroll.

After Fang Ziye poured Professor Zhang Xingze a cup of tea, he said calmly: "Teacher Zhang, this place I found temporarily; the situation is urgent, so we adapt."

"No matter, drinking plain boiled water is fine too." Zhang Xingze didn't mind.

"Mainly, Fang Ziye, have you thought about the future of Orthopedics? You're not some shorty anymore; if the sky really falls, you're also one of the people who has to hold it up."

"How to, under this kind of situation, lead your subordinates to eat, and under this kind of system, still be able to develop our orthopedic medical techniques."

"Is a key problem we must face and must solve in a timely manner."

Zhang Xingze spoke to here, then reined in the topic: "Even after these two systems are implemented, we can roll back a few years, go see patients small hospitals can't handle, don't dare guarantee they can handle — that's also not a long-term plan."

"On one hand, patients suffer illness and pain, need us to step in and help them solve their suffering."

"On another aspect, medical insurance billing reform concretely affects the surgery methods we can choose."

"Thorns in front and thorns behind, both advancing and retreating are painful." Zhang Xingze finished speaking, sighed a breath.

Adults all like to want everything, but wanting everything is truly very hard.

Especially for top-tier hospitals, it's even harder.

Relatively speaking, ordinary prefecture-level city hospitals are affected the least.

Because the surgeries they originally do are routine surgeries, can adapt very well to DIP and DRG modes, but top-tier hospitals are different.

Some patients' diagnoses the whole world might not figure out; under this kind of circumstance, not only must they think of ways to solve the problem, they also must think of ways to control costs!

It'll just be one head, three big ones.

As Professor Zhang Xingze said, Fang Ziye can't escape, Zhongnan Hospital also can't escape.

Fang Ziye also didn't have a good solution, could only act as a punching bag, and asked for advice: "Teacher Zhang should have thought of some methods, right?"

"Although my luck is comparatively better, I walked a bit faster, in reality the distance isn't far, can't count as any experience."

"Can only serve as a listener for Teacher Zhang, accompany you to vent a bit."

What method could Fang Ziye have? No methods at all.

Zhang Xingze looked at Fang Ziye, said: "You're a daring general, and have always been on the road of daring; suddenly asking you this question is indeed a bit difficult for you."

"We do have some ideas, just as you said — either wait for the payment system to improve and develop, and for the framework to become more Detailed and three-dimensional."

"But we can't just wait, can also suggest, temporarily not include the common disease types in our hospitals into the DRG or DIP systems, or raise the score values of medical insurance payment costs first."

【155】 "Later wait until relatively mature, have absolute statistical results, then slowly lower them down."

"We do have some ideas, just as you said, either wait for the payment system to perfect and develop, the framework to become more detailed and three-dimensional."

"DIP and DRG don't have individualized choices anymore, can only be one-size-fits-all."

"Then on this kind of one-size-fits-all basis, if we have new methods and improvement ideas, how to handle it? Is it necessary for the medical insurance department and research department to specially connect, for those disease types participating in new surgical techniques and new therapies, to provide dedicated special windows and channels."

"To seek, on the basis of treating disease, to further develop our medical innovation capability."

"Finally, for some terminal-stage disease types, for example mangled extremities and such, shouldn't control costs according to DRG and DIP."

"Otherwise patients later in any hospital will face the only choice being amputation."

"No unit dares take the risk of limb salvage, to fill in the rehabilitation costs and subsequent treatment costs of failed limb salvage sequelae." Zhang Xingze truly wanted to give Fang Ziye a hand.

So he told Fang Ziye quite a lot, cases currently in the discussion stage.

Fang Ziye slowly nodded: "Still the teachers have methods, I feel this is pretty good."

Fang Ziye also wasn't just listening without speaking, and not thinking.

"If can further stratify according to hospital level, following the unit voluntary principle, that would be even better."

"For example, units willing to give up common disease types' routine treatment, don't give them DRG and DIP billing, because the disease types they admit, fundamentally can't be DIP'd."

"And units willing to undertake common disease types, routine treatment, then."

Zhang Xingze interrupted: "Your thinking like this isn't wrong, but doing this will only cut off some hospitals' development path and future!"

"If later, county hospitals and small hospitals' technical levels develop, what awaits these hospitals is just chronic suicide."

Fang Ziye heard this, heart gave a start.

This kind of chronic suicide, Fang Ziye just now encountered a case, that is Zhongnan Hospital Burn Department's predicament.

"That's just delineating the medical group?" Fang Ziye asked.

"DIP and DRG both directly interface with the hospital, what does it have to do with your medical group? The hospital will only look for your department, won't look for you personally."

"Managing like this will be even more chaotic."

Zhang Xingze continued: "Moreover, once the voluntary principle is adopted, then later the medical system's personnel flow will dramatically increase."

"Not much new blood will be willing to go to dead-air, no-future units."

Zhang Xingze negated Fang Ziye's idea, yet still encouraged: "Professor Fang, also no rush, might as well think slowly!"

"Current communication level is very developed, we can communicate anytime."

"Just these problems, still need to learn to think about them."

Fang Ziye's expression slowly turned serious.

One does not meddle in affairs beyond one's station, but if one covets that station, one must rehearse its duties; Zhang Xingze's meaning was unmistakable.

If you only think of cultivating your own virtue in isolation, then do not walk onto our positions; you lack that burden of responsibility.

If you truly want better development, and possess a heart to extend grace to others, then you must start broadening your vision right now.

And the angle from which you consider problems should not be confined to the patient alone; you must also start from the overall situation of your colleagues, your peers, your specialty, your department.

Think deeply about problems; only thus can you ensure you will not hold power in chaotic times and attract infamy for all eternity.

If right now, Zhang Xingze and the others recklessly support the rapid promotion of these two models, without taking any measures, then Orthopedics will truly be unable to advance an inch for decades to come.

Then the historical record, the curses of posterity, will also begin cursing from those like Zhang Xingze who have the power to speak.

Reference: a certain professor at Huaxi Hospital who recommended the standardized training system.

"Thank you for your elevation, Teacher Zhang." Fang Ziye's heart began to be gradually hollowed out, beginning to feel the sensation of walking a tightrope.

This was a major stride forward in Fang Ziye's state of mind in recent years.

The Academician's position is certainly glorious, but the responsibilities they bear, the pressure, the angles and aspects they must consider, are not what an ordinary professor would think of.

Moreover, once you go, you must carry on.

Regardless of whether you do well or poorly, you will carry on; if not pushing forward the future of the specialty and the profession, perhaps it is severing the road ahead, with no way back...

One and a half hours later, Fang Ziye politely completed the check-in procedures for Professor Zhang Xingze and Zhang Bo.

Zhang Xingze said: "Professor Fang, we can go up ourselves; you should go rest too."

"Teacher Zhang, I'm staying here as well."

"Otherwise it would be inconvenient to rush over tomorrow morning." Fang Ziye pointed upstairs.

An academic conference is not a matter of life and death; there is no necessity of life and death, but arriving late as a participant is not a good label.

Not only did Fang Ziye stay here, but Fang Ziye's fellow trainees had also completed check-in procedures in advance.

Professor Zhang Xingze then said: "Then Professor Fang, rest early, conserve your energy well; I very much look forward to your lecture tomorrow!"

"Teacher Zhang, you rest well too; tomorrow morning, as previously contacted, our department's Dr. Shu Lang will accompany you throughout and guide you." With that, the two said no more.

After the elevator went up, Professor Zhang Xingze reached his floor first; Fang Ziye continued upward.

First reaching the 18th floor of the Intercontinental Hotel, Fang Ziye knocked on Lan Tianluo's room door; receiving no answer, he went to Jie Han's room.

When the door opened, sure enough he saw the two revising the teleprompter for their PPT.

"Senior Brother, Master can't make it in time; help us listen through once more?" Jie Han said.

The two had arrived in Han City yesterday, and had already presented twice at Fang Ziye's home.

Yet they still weren't at ease.

What the two were presenting was only the Youth Forum; by rights no one would make things difficult for them, but the core content they shared was rather sensitive; one couldn't rule out someone deliberately targeting them.

In case they encounter someone with no eyes, who deliberately makes things difficult, they'll have psychological preparation in advance.

"Then you two begin."

"Right, you two check again: did I send you the PPT backups? In case my USB drive and computer break tomorrow, there'll still be something to use." Fang Ziye cautiously had the two check again.

Jie Han and Lan Tianluo each took the field, checking their own local storage and USB drives.

If all three people's computers and USB drives broke simultaneously, and all six backups failed, Fang Ziye could only bite the bullet and accept that one-in-trillions probability.

Time slowly passed, until 11:20 PM.

Only then did the three of them finish meticulously sorting through Lan Tianluo's script content; then each held a cup of coffee, turned their backs to the computer, and never wanted to see even the back of a computer again.

Felt it was truly disgusting through and through.

Lan Tianluo said softly: "This afternoon after 8 o'clock, Big Brother Wu Xuanqi still called me. Asked if Senior Brother you had time."

Wu Xuanqi appears carefree, but actually has a mind fine as hair; he knew at that time Fang Ziye was receiving Professor Zhang Xingze, and didn't call Fang Ziye directly.

Fang Ziye shook his head: "What time is it already? The Nationwide Orthopedics COA, our own department, our own team — a mountain of matters; how could I spare time to accompany this brother?"

"So Big Brother Wu Xuanqi just made a call, didn't raise many demands. He's probably panicking too." Lan Tianluo said.

Jie Han opened his mouth to analyze: "We're attending the Youth Forum; Big Brother Wu Xuanqi is going to the Trauma Surgery main venue. And it's related to AI prostheses."

"The innovation level of this project is not less than Functional Reconstruction Surgery and Mangled Extremity Limb Salvage Surgery; he's also afraid of being grilled into uselessness."

"Back in Enshi, wasn't Big Brother Nie Mingxian driven by him to follow Liao Jia to the bar every day?"

Fang Ziye leisurely enjoyed the moment of tranquility before the conference: "You guys have been having so much fun in Enshi lately?"

After Fang Ziye returned, matters were still a mountain, all kinds of levels of affairs tangled together, making his head swell.

Lan Tianluo said: "Fun and not fun, but matters and tasks are relatively pure."

"Dean Li Yongjun suggested I also try Trauma Surgery clinical work, but with Senior Brother you as a precedent, I'd rather progress a bit slower."

"I'm still young."

Fang Ziye's 'status' was all forged through endurance; time is squeezed for use.

Lan Tianluo could also see that Fang Ziye's current days were not happy; Senior Brother is older, is a 'stepping stone'; since he knows this path is unpleasant, then change paths.

Lan Tianluo now concentrates explosive force on points, using points to lead lines.

"You guys and Tingzhu — that cell model you were rectifying — haven't had time to work on it lately, right?" Fang Ziye asked.

Different from Fang Ziye's parallel basic and clinical research route, Jie Han, Lan Tianluo and the others chose several parallel basic research lines.

Luo Tingzhu majors in Anesthesiology basic standard anatomical models, minors in bone tumor microcirculation instrument chemo and degenerative lesion cell model construction.

Lan Tianluo participated in two of those; besides that, also minors in AI prosthesis procedure design, bone defect individualized prosthesis model data debugging.

As for Jie Han, besides those two, he also undertakes part of the osteosarcoma energy metabolism basic pathway 'mental navigation', searching for new paths together with Yuan Weihong.

The three fellow disciples all have no small task loads now.

"No time to work on it; the matter of collecting resected pathological specimens, we all entrusted to Han Jingyi." Lan Tianluo shook his head.

"Right, Senior Brother, up to now, Han Jingyi has also followed you this long; I should speak a word for her — maybe her aptitude is average, but her attitude is very good."

"Composure, persistence — both are enough."

"But Senior Brother, you're truly ruthless — handing such a high-end research project to Hu Qingyuan, a mere Master's student, and just washing your hands of it. Aren't you afraid you'll grind him to pieces?"

Lan Tianluo was extremely worried.

That new miRNA pathway for osteosarcoma — even Lan Tianluo and Jie Han working together on R&D now would find it a massive headache. Hu Qingyuan is just a small Master's student, yet he has to shoulder such a heavy pillar.

This isn't just bullying a student anymore — it's cruelly grinding him down.

Recalling a few years ago, the tasks the three of us did — that was pediatrics by comparison.

"It's fine too — ten years to hone a sword."

"Hu Qingyuan himself said his early path was too smooth."

"Lan Tianluo, look at yourself for reference — no review, no studying, still got a guaranteed grad school spot."

"Barely spent any time, hit strongest king in gaming, started a stream, accidentally earned wealth this age couldn't handle."

"Before that, bored with nothing to do, went straight into a temple to cultivate in seclusion — is that the life an undergrad should have?" Fang Ziye listed.

Lan Tianluo lightly sipped his coffee, softly countered: "Then what else?"

Fang Ziye and Jie Han both petrified on the spot, exchanged a glance, then both turned around simultaneously.

"Senior Brother, going down for some barbecue?" The two didn't want to play with Lan Tianluo anymore.

Only after the two understood Lan Tianluo more deeply did they learn.

During his 'undergraduate years', Lan Tianluo had completed a Mathematics Department PhD, a Computer Science Master's, and a Medicine Bachelor's, and had also participated in a pretty awesome fundamental mathematics computation research project.

Later they found out, when Lan Tianluo graduated, he'd already secured a big-tech algorithm engineer offer with a base salary of ten million.

He didn't go — came straight to Zhongnan Hospital as a lowly standardized training resident.

Actually none of that's the key — the crucial part is Kyoto University's Math Academy refused to let him leave. That's even rarer than a ten-million offer.

"No barbecue then — wouldn't want to eat something bad, upset the stomach, and inappropriately throw javelin tomorrow."

"You two also pay attention — before important occasions, absolutely don't eat random stuff." Fang Ziye rejected Jie Han's proposal.

"Pity Senior Sister Luo can't make it to Han City this time."

"Otherwise she'd definitely come cheer for you, Senior Brother." Jie Han said with some regret.

Fang Ziye pursed his lips, glanced at Lan Tianluo: "Actually it's fine Tingzhu isn't coming — she's fiercely competitive, I'm afraid she'd lose sleep every night after going back."

He knew his own wife's temperament perfectly.

Looks harmless, but "competitive drive" is terrifying — a textbook academic queen mentality, the type who wants to trample everyone underfoot.

After being isolated, Lan Tianluo sent a voice message to his phone: "What are you doing coming over here?"

"The hotel only has so many rooms — this annual meeting has nearly twenty thousand attendees, all surrounding hotels have been cleared out!"

"Later a fellow trainee has to share a room with me — I'm not my professor senior brother."

Fang Ziye listened, then slipped away directly.

Lan Tianluo is excellent, sure, but ultimately his rank hasn't reached Fang Ziye's current Deputy Chief Physician level.

Going out for meetings — without a Deputy Chief Physician title, wanting a single room means paying out of pocket.

It's not that Lan Tianluo can't afford to pay himself — it's that too many fellow disciples from Zhongnan Hospital came to help, so they have to share rooms.

After leaving, Fang Ziye returned to his own room on the nineteenth floor.

But didn't fall asleep immediately — instead walked to the windowsill, looking out at the neon outside the window.

Whispered muttering: "Monk Face Buddha Face — those two little ones haven't even tasted the thrill of a research breakthrough yet. If the situation truly changes drastically and no solution is found, it'll definitely affect their experience."

"Though neither has ever complained, they've put in both merit and hardship."

Fang Ziye plopped down on the sofa, shook his head: "Clinical, research, medical insurance, patients, department standing, specialty future."

"What the hell does any of this have to do with me, a Deputy Chief Physician?"

Complaints are complaints, venting is venting — what can be done now is still to consider the present carefully.

Professor Zhang Xingze's matter can't be treated as if it won't happen, but also can't be obsessed over too much.

A problem they all can't solve — if Fang Ziye could think of a solution right now, he'd have flown to outer space long ago.

……

A silent night passed.

The next day, as Fang Ziye was straightening his shirt collar and tie, Luo Tingzhu's wake-up call rang.

Voice soft and glutinous: "Hello, Senior Brother, you up?"

"Up — just a few more minutes packing and I can head out."

"Didn't I tell you not to call to wake me? Even if I'm not up, someone'll knock later." Fang Ziye put down his phone, turned on speakerphone, continued fixing his collar in the mirror.

"Afraid you wouldn't wake — two lectures today, and COA lectures at that. Miss the time slot, Senior Brother, you'd get beaten to death." Luo Tingzhu's voice still soft and coquettish, clearly murmuring in her quilt, half-awake.

"Then don't be so scared — that's just the fact."

"I could not register, not attend — but once registered, selected, and then absent, Old Professor Li Guohua would come whip me with a belt."

"Hard enough to get a breather — you sleep in a bit later."

"Rest a while more."

"After COA ends, we still have to organize the second week's chemo data." Fang Ziye's tone was also gentle, doting.

"Okay, I'll prepare to sleep till nine today."

"Senior Brother, I have something to tell you!" Luo Tingzhu suddenly said.

"Go ahead."

"When else would be bad to say it?" Fang Ziye laughed.

"It's about Xiang Cai — Chen Xixian found out about Xiang Cai, afraid she'd suffer, sent her back to Han City." Luo Tingzhu's voice very light.

"Sent back then... does Miss Chen lack that bit of money?" Fang Ziye said indifferently.

Luo Tingzhu's voice instantly deepened: "But Associate Professor Liao Jia got angry! ~"

Fang Ziye's two hands paused lightly.

Luo Tingzhu said Liao Jia was angry, which proved Liao Jia's anger was definitely not small; otherwise, he wouldn't have let Luo Tingzhu know.

"Xiang Cai's matter was told to Chen Xixian by me. Chen Xixian was afraid Xiang Cai would really take that step forward..."

"Brother Liao Jia feels I and Chen Xixian are a bit too nice." Luo Tingzhu said in a low voice.

"Originally I planned to wait until Senior Brother you finished attending coa, then tell you this matter."

"I thought all night, I still feel telling Senior Brother you in advance is better; if Senior Brother you feel it's my fault, I'll apologize to you."

"I apologized to Teacher Liao, he won't accept it."

Fang Ziye heard Luo Tingzhu's apologetic voice, and couldn't bear to reproach further: "Life experiences differ, the degree of doing things isn't the same either!"

"Three Views also definitely cannot be completely consistent; this is also a no-way thing."

"Standing at my angle, you and Chen Xixian might also be too-nice-person roles, but standing at your angle, you two both have enough economic strength, also have your own Three Views, can undertake the consequences, and moreover you're both girls, so that's also no matter of right or wrong."

"Then Teacher Liao he?" Luo Tingzhu asked.

"What else can be done? My wife chased him away angry, I should go apologize apologize, should persuade then persuade, really can't persuade him back, even more regret can only be regret ah?" Fang Ziye said.

"You rest first, no need to mind this matter anymore, I also have to go out, I still reserved someone to eat breakfast together."

(Chapter End)