This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Du Heng thought for a moment. ”There shouldn’t be. I’ll discuss it with the editor. If the Principal needs to step in, I’ll definitely let the Principal know.”

”Then do it as soon as possible. Adjusting the publication layout is a significant matter; we can’t make things difficult for them.”

Du Heng nodded and then looked at Wang Pan with some embarrassment. ”Principal, my lover is due to give birth next month, which means her confinement period will be during the summer vacation. About this lecture... could it possibly be postponed a little?”

Wang Pan’s expression changed instantly, and he said apologetically, ”Oh dear, I completely overlooked that. My apologies.”

As he spoke, Wang Pan took a shallow breath. ”Alright then, I’ll try to schedule fewer Schools and workplaces. We’ll skip the ones in distant regions. You’ll also have to manage on your end. How does that sound?”

Will that work?

What could Du Heng say? He could only nod and agree.

Then Du Heng looked at Wang Pan again. ”Principal, do you really think I have a chance in next year’s academician selection?”

”I personally feel I should aim for the academician selection the year after next. That would give me more time to build up experience and improve my chances.”

”To compete now with predecessors who have accumulated decades of experience... I feel a bit inadequate and lack confidence.”

Regarding Du Heng’s concerns, Wang Pan sighed helplessly. ”Mr. Du, let me be frank with you.”

”The academician selection is held every two years, and you’ve only just passed thirty. Forget the year after next; even if you were nominated five years from now, I wouldn’t see an issue.”

Du Heng frowned as well. ”Then why the rush now?”

”Opportunity. The probability of success.” Wang Pan looked at Du Heng earnestly. ”We currently have two academicians, and they both hold some rather important positions.”

”Although your age and experience would be your biggest disadvantages if you participate in the academician selection next year, your Research achievements leave everyone speechless.”

”With their help, plus some support from the Hospital, you have a very high chance of being successfully selected.”

Wang Pan suddenly gave a wry laugh, sounding rather helpless. ”But our two Elderly members, their health is failing them. There’s no telling when they might suddenly retire and stop working.”

”At that point, if our School wants to easily secure a nomination, relying solely on the Hospital won’t be enough to get you selected. Even if your research is unparalleled, the outcome would very likely remain unchanged.”

”Besides, at the Hospital, things also proceed in a certain order. There are many senior figures ahead of you in line.”

Du Heng wasn’t surprised by this.

Before he came to the Capital, he had specifically discussed this issue with Lan Changhua. The academician selection wasn’t based solely on Strength.

”A candidate’s own abilities are merely the key to opening the door; final success or failure depends on their overall capabilities.”

As for what these ”overall capabilities” entailed, Lan Changhua hadn’t elaborated, merely saying, ”Figure it out for yourself.”

Du Heng accepted Wang Pan’s words with a resigned sigh. Thinking the discussion should be over, he prepared to get up and leave, as there were still matters at the Hospital that concerned him.

However, just as he uttered his farewell, Wang Pan reached out to stop him, simultaneously looking a bit sheepish. His hesitant demeanor was a world away from the crisp decisiveness he’d displayed when making earlier decisions.

Du Heng found it awkward to watch and could only prompt him, ”Principal, if there’s something on your mind, please just say it. Your hesitation is making me rather uneasy.”

Wang Pan managed a strained smile. ”It’s like this, Mr. Du... AHEM. AHEM. AHEM... among those papers of yours, the ones publishable in core journals, how many did you personally author?”

Hmm...

Du Heng’s eyebrows shot up.

Have the unspoken rules of academia finally caught up with me?

However, seeing Wang Pan’s slightly embarrassed expression, Du Heng didn’t want to make things too difficult for him. He feigned ignorance and said directly, ”I only authored four myself. The others were written by the Doctors undergoing advanced training.”

He even chuckled. ”Actually, I wanted to write more, but the Doctors in those Project teams... their respective workplaces paid sponsorship fees at the time, so I...”

While Du Heng chuckled, he carefully observed Wang Pan’s expression.

The sentence he added, though seemingly superfluous, was also his way of conveying to Wang Pan: Leader, I have four papers that offer some room for maneuver. But the others belong to people whose institutions paid sponsorship fees, so it’s best not to interfere with those.

Wang Pan was a perceptive man and understood immediately. Suppressing his awkwardness, he said, ”Mr. Du, if you have two papers, that should be enough for this year’s Professor selection, shouldn’t it?”

The corner of Du Heng’s eye twitched. So, I wasn’t wrong.

However, with a slight smile, he said, ”But didn’t the Principal promise me this before? That I’d be directly approved for promotion in the year-end selection?”

Wang Pan’s face flushed slightly.

But he decided not to beat around the bush any longer. He figured Du Heng, having been a leader himself, should understand the priorities. So, he said directly, ”AHEM... Mr. Du, look... could you perhaps spare one paper? I have this situation...”

Although he intended to be direct, Wang Pan still couldn’t bring himself to say it outright in the end.

Du Heng had anticipated this sort of thing. ”Principal, is this for a family member? Who is it, and what’s their specialty? Of my four papers, two discuss blood deficiency stroke, and the other two are on the treatment of facial paralysis. I wonder if any of those would be suitable?”

”If one is suitable, Principal, just tell me directly. We’re all colleagues here; no need for such pretenses.”