System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

”Peng Kun, you must stay on duty as scheduled today! Don’t break the rules. I’ve heard that Professor Tong Yuan’an from Xiangya Hospital dislikes breaking routine the most.”

”Regarding the meal with Professor Tong, I, along with Tayama and the others, will handle it.” In Tianyue District of Long County, on the morning of July 31st at 7:30, Peng Haibo instructed Peng Kun as they left together.

”I’ve contacted Professor Tong, and he said he will arrive at 2 PM this afternoon. He’ll make his own way to the hotel, so there’s no need to pick him up at the station...”

Peng Kun nodded slightly, not opposing Peng Haibo’s suggestion, but proposed instead, ”Would it be better to have a drink with Professor Tong in advance? After all, you’re planning to take him as your mentor.”

”Not meeting him first could be a bit negligent, right? I could apply to switch shifts with Yuan Zhenglin.”

Indeed, Peng Haibo had taught Peng Kun a lot about dealing with people, including, but not limited to, how to meet others. At this moment, he said, ”If you had known earlier that Professor Tong was coming down, it would’ve been fine to have your shift prepared in advance.”

”But Professor Tong decided on a whim, so suddenly asking someone to cover your shift would look bad. You’re a master’s graduate; in Professor Tong’s eyes, you already stand out more, so there’s no need for such futile efforts.”

”You’ve been a graduate student, so you should know what kind of personalities the young associate professors at Xiangya Hospital and the Second Hospital prefer.”

”Unlike attending physicians who have relatively fewer pressing tasks, associate professors tend to prefer ’meticulous’ individuals.”

Attending physicians at the County Hospital might manage to stand alone, but at Xiangya Second Hospital, most attendings are senior chief residents. They mostly handle emergencies, and the regular surgeries carried out by the department are too advanced for them and are still surgical techniques they need to learn.

Peng Haibo continued, ”Though Director Xiang hasn’t gone to the countryside, Professor Tong coming is even more advantageous; we couldn’t even invite him.”

”I’ve also inquired about this Professor Tong. Currently, at Xiangya Hospital, newly promoted Professor Liao Fan, at the technical level, isn’t significantly higher than him. However, Professor Liao has more substantial experience and stronger research accumulation.”

”If you follow him diligently, you can learn true skills.”

”Though Lu Cheng is inherently gifted, with a more professional teacher guiding you, you can certainly compensate for shortcomings with diligence.”

Peng Kun approved of Peng Haibo’s idea and replied, ”Alright, I’ll mention to Yuan Zhenglin that I’ll stay on duty as usual today. I’ve already arranged everything privately, so I can go or not.”

In fact, Peng Haibo was very satisfied with Peng Kun’s mature approach, being prepared for any contingency.

Peng Kun was just unlucky and was not really lacking in talent. Encountering several seniors along with Lu Cheng destined him to be exhausted and busy.

And in the department, these seniors were actually the social debts that Peng Haibo had owed, debts that must be repaid…

At noon, after finishing his first surgery of the day, Peng Haibo handed over the subsequent procedures to Associate Chief Physician Xiang Kuihua and, along with Executive Luo, Tayama, and Tian Hongjian, prepared to welcome Professor Tong.

Executive Luo was in charge of contacting a dining venue, having the boss reserve the best private room and work overtime to prepare the food.

Tian Hongjian was the first to leave the hospital to prepare the wine.

In the director’s office, Xiang Kuihua was in high spirits, ”Director Peng, you were able to contact Professor Tong Yuan’an from Xiangya Hospital? When is it convenient to invite Professor Long Haiyuan?”

Peng Haibo’s eyes flashed, ”Kuihua, it really wasn’t me who contacted Professor Tong this time. He came to our hospital to apply for rural service on his own initiative.”

”As for Professor Long from trauma surgery, I am even less familiar.”

If Tong Yuan’an was the first-choice candidate for department head in hand surgery at Xiangya Hospital, then Associate Professor Long Haiyuan was the first-choice candidate for department head in trauma surgery.

Since Xiang Kuihua was in charge of trauma surgery at the hospital, acquiring real skills from Long Haiyuan could greatly strengthen his position throughout Xiangzhou.

”Director Peng, if you say that, it’s very biased.” Xiang Kuihua hinted.

To suppress Lu Cheng and develop hand surgery, they spared no expense to invite Professor Tong down, yet did not engage associate professors from other specialties.

Peng Haibo said, ”I’m just stating the facts, Kuihua, you know, we’re more familiar with those teachers from the Second Hospital.”

”If there’s an opportunity, I’ll ask Professor Ding and Director Huang from the trauma surgery department at the Second Hospital if they can come to the countryside. Alright?”

Xiang Kuihua said, ”Professor Ding Gong has already been promoted to full professor. Does he still need to work in the countryside?”

Peng Haibo said, ”Not Professor Ding Gong, it’s Associate Chief Physician Ding Fangming, who follows Director Song Mingye. He was promoted to associate chief physician and associate professor last year, and will soon be going to the countryside.”

Neither of these people could Kuihua easily invite, so he had no choice but to rely on Peng Haibo.

The orthopedics department has its own set of operating rules, which his family was not easily able to navigate through.

...

In the afternoon, at 2:30, Peng Haibo and Executive Luo led Tong Yuan’an to the ’Qiao Family Courtyard Ecological Farm.’

The setting was elegant, with lush flowers and grassy expanses, offering a broad view by the river, exuding a sense of a wild excursion.

After leading Tong Yuan’an to the second-floor pavilion for an even wider view, cool breezes brushed their faces under the scorching sun, creating a contrast to worldly affairs: ”Professor Tong, please have a seat. Here in Long County, there’s nothing special except authentic ingredients, good mountains, and true waters. We also take this opportunity to indulge in some elegance.”

The server, preparing tea, asked upon seeing the main guests arrive, ”Boss, what tea would you like? We have Longjing, Da Hong Pao, Pu’er...”

”Let’s have Longjing,” Tong Yuan’an wasn’t particularly formal, looking far afield on tiptoe: ”Director Peng, across the river is where the province ends, right?”

Peng Haibo nodded, smiling with welcome, ”Ah, yes, across the river is Feng County of E Province... A lot of good food can be found there, too. If you’re interested, Professor Tong, we can take you there for a visit in a few days...”

”Good food is a must to try. By the way, Director Peng, I must clarify one thing with you in advance. My visit to Long County comes with a mission.”

”So I need someone to help...” Tong Yuan’an continued speaking unhurriedly and impartially.

”My classmate Chen Song is also stationed here, and he recommended Xiao Lu. You can also recommend a few people; everyone should compete fairly and not waste time.”

”Let’s set it for a fortnight...”

Tong Yuan’an, observing the twisted expressions on the faces of Peng Haibo and his colleagues, asked, ”Director Peng, is this inconvenient?”

Peng Haibo snapped back to reality, quickly shaking his head.

Damn, the things seen online are just jokes, but Tong Yuan’an meant it, bringing academic competition with international peers to the forefront...

Could Peng Haibo dare refuse?

”No, no, Professor Tong, of course, your plan takes precedence, and we will fully support it,” Peng Haibo’s scalp tingled slightly, yet he remained verbally agile.

Concealing without revealing.

Though he perceived the so-called fair competition described by Tong Yuan’an as anything but fair, he dared not utter a word of protest…