System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

It was during rounds, and few people were taking the elevator down.

Ding Gong and a few others got into an empty elevator. Once inside, Professor Ding casually flicked his hair to cover his bald patch and said amicably, ”Dr. Lu, when do you plan to further your education?”

Wu Xiang, hearing this, knew that Ding Gong was quite familiar with Lu Cheng, even knowing that Lu Cheng had only an undergraduate degree.

Moreover, from Ding Gong’s tone, it seemed like he was actively inviting Lu Cheng to pursue a doctoral degree.

Ding Gong was invited by Director Wu Xiang, who was responsible for hosting and escorting him. Lu Cheng was just accompanying them, but when asked, he responded, ”Professor Wu, perhaps I’ll make a definitive decision after I am promoted to associate senior.”

”If I were to set aside my current work for a few years to further my education without having achieved a senior title, it would feel very restricting.”

Lu Cheng now has some credentials and no longer needs to be as humble as he was when he first started out.

When you only have two yuan, you can’t claim to have money to someone of high social status, can you?

But when you have two hundred thousand, you can’t just kneel in front of peers and beg, can you?

”Before receiving a senior title, indeed everywhere feels restraining and unavoidable.”

”But furthering your education should still be considered. If you have this desire, our department would be willing to provide sufficient initial research funding.” Ding Gong expressed his stance at the right moment.

Lu Cheng, a doctor from a County Hospital, had won several top prizes in the Xiang Province microscopic surgery skills competition, something rare that Ding Gong couldn’t overlook.

In the national microscopic surgery skills competition, the hand surgery team at Xiangya Hospital almost dominated!

As the orthopedics department of Xiangya Second Hospital, a sister hospital, how could they not deeply understand the causes?

This also made Lu Cheng a topic for quite a long time in the orthopedics departments of both Xiangya Second Hospital and Xiangya Third Hospital.

Some even considered recruiting Lu Cheng, but given the current circumstances, the missed opportunity made it improbable.

Opportunities are slim... phone calls are useless; when meeting offline, one might mention it casually, as a joke.

Lu Cheng adhered to etiquette with a respectful bow, ”Thank you, Professor Ding, for your kindness. I will definitely carefully consider your suggestion when the time comes.”

Seeing Lu Cheng’s politeness, Ding Gong felt the opportunity was even slimmer.

On impulse, he added, ”If I could secure a project for your wife under the Excellent Youth program, would you consider it more?”

Lu Cheng instinctively started, then laughed without answering directly.

Whether agreeing or not, such things cannot be discussed openly in front of Wu Xiang.

The Excellent Youth and Outstanding Youth projects are major endeavors requiring an application defense to complete, and they are a form of ’honor’!

Could it be something you could just hand over to anyone?

Wu Xiang felt very awkward, naturally understanding what Excellent Youth means.

But for thirty-something Lu Cheng and a fifty-something professor to discuss such topics as equals seemed quite mismatched.

And it was the professor who offered to give something beneficial to Lu Cheng.

Is this something Lu Cheng’s age can consider equally with a professor?

For Wu Xiang, a major national-level project is the pinnacle he might never reach in his life.

Of course, Director Wu Xiang had other matters to address: ”Professor Ding, the first floor is here, let’s go to the parking lot. I’ll drive you to the train station.”

Ding Gong understood, ”What train station? You have private cars here that can take you directly to Renmin Hospital in Huai City.”

”Hiring a car costs about four hundred yuan; I can call one of those.”

Wu Xiang thought to himself, ”If you don’t get in my car, how can I give you the red envelope? The public transfer amount is too little for me to feel decent handing over.”

Lu Cheng, seeing this, knew it was his time to leave.

”Professor Ding, I’m on duty at the trauma center, I won’t be able to accompany you further.”

Ding Gong said, ”Isn’t your trauma center on the first floor? Just right, I can sit there while I wait; I’ve messaged for the car, it will arrive soon.”

Ding Gong often traveled to the prefecture-level cities for surgeries, so he was very knowledgeable about the most convenient ways to travel between cities in Xiang Province.

Wu Xiang: ”...”

Red envelope, Professor Ding, red envelope.

Professor Ding, maybe just say directly that I’m the one getting in your way?

”...”

Lu Cheng returned to the trauma center first, and as expected, not long after, Professor Ding Gong came striding in with his hands behind his back.

Professor Ding Gong possessed a very down-to-earth demeanor, without wearing a white coat or a badge—you wouldn’t think he was a professor.

His smile was guileless, and his appearance was equally genuine.

When Ding Gong asked for directions from the guide nurse, she very politely informed him that there are no wards in the trauma center, and if he needed to visit relatives, he should go to the emergency surgical ward.

Of course, once Ding said he was looking for Lu Cheng, the guide nurse directed him there.

”Professor Ding!” Lu Cheng, hearing all this, couldn’t overlook it.

Previously, with Director Wu Xiang around, Ding Gong was invited by Wu Xiang, so if Lu Cheng were too enthusiastic and directly guided him away, it would be inconsiderate towards Wu Xiang.

Now, if he didn’t proactively greet him, that would be disrespectful towards Professor Ding Gong.

”Dai Linfang, please get a cup of tea.” Lu Cheng instructed.

Lu Cheng had explained to Dai Linfang previously about Ding Gong’s visit to Ji City. Dai Linfang, having guessed what it might be about, didn’t complain about being treated like a servant and dutifully fetched a set of new sterilized teacups.

He labeled the cup’s outer wall, preparing it for potential signature later.

Ding Gong looked around, surveying Lu Cheng’s work environment and the layout of the trauma center.