System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

Dai Linfang stood below the stage, holding a film in one hand and explaining to those on the stage with the other.

After a while, Qu Daowen and Professor Dong Liumeng nodded frequently, their smiles all around, and the sincerity in their eyes seemed genuine…

Looking at these faces, Dong Chang perceived genuine happiness, not the superficial social façade.

In other words, Lu Cheng and the two professors had really reached some kind of mutually beneficial agreement, so they were enjoying the exchange rather than just going through the motions.

Dong Chang looked up at the ceiling, then turned silently and left.

The dim lights in the hallway of the operating room elongated and shortened Dong Chang’s silhouette repeatedly, until he turned and entered the changing room, where his figure vanished entirely.

The lights in the hallway remained unchanged, whether Dong Chang came or not, it was still the same as always.

...

Inside the operating room, Dai Linfang asked a question of Professor Qu Daowen, who frowned deeply: ”The method you’re referring to is indeed practiced by some in clinical settings, but as far as I know, no one in our province has done it.”

”If you’re seeking answers, you could ask your teacher, and inquire about which teams in the country are currently doing it this way.”

”The surgical principles we follow are still the common and easier-to-handle types.”

There are several levels to learning surgery.

A beginner memorizes the process and completes the surgery step-by-step, which is entry-level; achieving stable performance and outcomes makes one a competent practitioner.

To be able to propose one’s own insights during the surgical process and integrate all the steps, to some extent disregarding the set procedures, can be considered mastery.

However, the dissection and optimization of surgical steps, incorporating one’s unique understanding — even Qu Daowen hadn’t thought of approaching this threshold yet.

From a person’s everyday discourse, one can discern their life experiences and daily observations.

Having received Professor Qu Daowen’s recognition, Lu Cheng said: ”Brother Dai, a question like this should be taken to discuss with Professor Huang Gengwen. Our level isn’t enough.”

”Doing the routine procedures well is already no small feat.”

”Speaking of which, this operation of gallbladder preservation under the endoscope is my first time leading it; previously, I was just assisting.”

Dai Linfang responded: ”With tool-assisted surgery, strictly speaking, there’s an operational divide from traditional surgeries.”

”Currently, however, basic operations with various endoscopes haven’t officially been made a fundamental part of surgical operations.”

”But as surgery progresses, minimally invasive procedures are an inevitable trend.”

”I was just asking casually, Professor Qu, please don’t take it to heart.”

Dai Linfang was worried Professor Qu would misunderstand him as trying to show off, so he explained politely.

Dong Liumeng chimed in appropriately: ”Hey, Dr. Lu, I heard someone saying in the operating room that there’s skepticism about your surgical skills at your hospital?”

”Who is it? I’m quite curious.”

Lu Cheng certainly would not mention Dong Chang’s name, only replying: ”Professor Dong, it was just a colleague, we’ve barely met a few times, and their skepticism is to be expected.”

”Teacher Dong, if you all think there’s no issue, I’ll be off the machine and off the stage!~”

Qu Daowen nodded: ”No problem, barring any extreme surprises, there shouldn’t be any major issues.”

”Dr. Lu, you can rest assured.”

Dai Linfang’s expression was reserved and nuanced: ”Professor Dong, speaking of it, the person questioning Brother Lu is actually someone from your own hometown.”

”Low-level players are difficult to handle.”

”What do you mean by difficult to handle low-level games?” Dong Liumeng, nearing fifty, grew up when the gaming industry wasn’t so advanced.

He only ever followed the trend to play Legend.

”It’s just that when playing games, there are many players who consider themselves very skilled but actually have no level.”

”They also like to mess around; if they lose, they start blaming and cursing. They simply don’t reason and can’t communicate normally.”

”However, players like Brother Lu, as high-level players, when they enter the high-level pool, for instance, being seen by Professor Qu and Professor Dong, would be considered very impressive, right?” Dai Linfang stepped back two paces, giving a thumbs-up gesture.

Dai Linfang helped Qu Daowen loosen the collar of his sterile surgical gown.

Dai Linfang’s explanation was so easy to understand that Qu Daowen chuckled and expressed in his own words: ”In shallow waters, there are plenty of frogs; I really thought there was a hidden master in State People’s Hospital, and even considered visiting.”

”Xiao Lu’s operations appear very smooth to us; however, when faced with top-tier masters, it might still be critiqued as riddled with ’flaws.’”

Dai Linfang elongated his words: ”Professor Qu, such a National Master wouldn’t walk into Xiangzhou People’s Hospital by mistake.”

”At most, they would be there for a consultation surgery.”

Qu Daowen and Dong Liumeng laughed silently, clearly agreeing with Dai Linfang’s perspective.

After the patient was wheeled out of the operating room, they were sent to the surgical ward.

As the lead surgeon, Lu Cheng had to handle the surgical record and medical orders, so Dai Linfang accompanied Professors Qu Daowen and Dong Liumeng out for lunch first.

...

Outside the emergency department, Dai Linfang had just sat in the front passenger seat.

Professor Qu Daowen changed his previous solemn and calm demeanor, his voice urgently requesting Dong Liumeng:

”Xiao Dong, pinch me quickly.”

”Have I been seeing things lately?”

Of course, Dong Liumeng couldn’t actually pinch his boss, but his expression remained cautious and slightly astonished:

”Professor Dong, you haven’t been seeing ghosts; you’ve encountered a genius.”

”As of now, strictly speaking. Lu Cheng is a bit of a phenomenon…” Dong Liumeng’s speech was slow, prioritizing rhyme over precise phrasing.

”Lu Cheng managed to handle laparoscopic instrument operations quite smoothly in less than a week.”

”I even suspect this Lu Cheng is deliberately acting for us! That he had mastered laparoscopy before and is pretending he didn’t.”

”But upon careful consideration, there’s no need for that. With the level of fundamental surgical skill he’s shown, it’s already something everyone should take note of.”

”No need to go through unnecessary trouble.”

”So?”

”What Xiao Dai said is true. This person just makes you question your life choices.”

This time, Dai Linfang, feeling he had found a kindred spirit, almost sounded tearful: ”Right, right? Professor Dong, you finally understand and empathize with how I feel, right?”

Dong Liumeng nodded lightly, his voice calm: ”But Xiao Dai, it seems like your relationship with Xiao Lu isn’t quite as familiar or close as you describe?”

”Aren’t you supposed to be brothers?”

Unprepared for Dong Liumeng’s unexpected comment, Dai Linfang’s mouth twitched nonchalantly before he responded generously: ”Oh, Teacher Dong, don’t you understand?”

”Whether I’m his brother or not doesn’t matter; Brother Lu doesn’t play low-tier games. He’s already my big brother!”

”Even if not now, he will be in the future.”

Realizing his words had been sharp, Dong Liumeng quickly amended: ”Xiao Dai, you’re too humble. Actually, you’re quite outstanding too.”

”If you and Dr. Lu can get along well, you can become lifelong friends.”

Driving while muttering, Dai Linfang said, ”Where am I outstanding?”

”In basic operational skills, research output, research ability! Besides the two certificates at home, nothing else is worth mentioning.”

”But those certificates are just a threshold; once you’re across it, who cares if you’re a mere undergrad?”

”Education can be improved.”

”But ability and talent are innate and can’t be made up.”

As Dai Linfang spoke, he didn’t notice Professors Qu Daowen and Dong Liumeng sharing a knowing smile over his impassioned performance!

It was clear to him now that his emotional display had been entirely wasted; these two teammates weren’t receptive.

In their eyes, Dai Linfang was ’high-level’ enough.

”Professor Qu, I know a good Sha City cuisine place; shall we go there?” suggested Dai Linfang.

Qu Daowen responded: ”Sure... no need for anything fancy, just something casual will do... after all, we want to return to the lab to practice on some animal models.”

Dai Linfang immediately said in a welcoming tone: ”Thank you both, bosses.”

The meal could be treated, but the cost of animal models must be collected.