The Surgeon’s Studio

“So stingy.” Department Chief Kong faked a glare at Su Yun then said with a smile, “Publishing in The Lancet often requires names with good reputations and credentials, up to a maximum of 20, I believe. Do you need me to take up one?”

“16 names, and all of them must have a research background. There can only be two first authors. But I don’t need to be one,” Su Yun retorted confidently.

“Then why are you being so stingy? I want five spots.”

“Not possible,” Su Yun said dispassionately, his stance suggesting that it was a non-negotiable deal.

Indifferent to the whole matter, Zheng Ren stretched his arms. His eyes were still on the display as if there was something beautiful… as if Xie Yiren was standing there.

“Let’s not fight. Join me for dinner, my treat,” Department Chief Kong said jovially.

Their hunger had been kept at bay by work. Once that was over, it returned with a vengeance alongside fatigue.

During the first half of their discussion, the three men had improved the differential diagnosis method by leaps and bounds.

Although the research was far from complete, its most important part—setting a direction—was done.

Their discussion had proven that Zheng Ren’s theory was on track. Now, they just had to get the whole country—no, the whole world—to replicate the procedure and prove its effectiveness.

They would be able to fine-tune the procedure as more patients were included into the study. After a series of improvements, Zheng’s Method would be widely used in future clinical diagnoses.

Of course, this would be a decade into the future.

By then, Zheng Ren… would not even be 40!

“What shall we eat?”

“Boss Zheng is a Northeasterner, so we’ll have some other cuisine. I personally don’t like Japanese…” the CT room chief said.

He had unwittingly addressed Zheng Ren as ‘Boss Zheng’. His subconscious had accepted Zheng Ren as his peer after witnessing the man’s skills and knowledge firsthand.

“Is it because the salmon is from Qinghai’s aquaculture?” Department Chief Kong chuckled.

“Let’s not get into it. Cantonese? Or something else?”

“I’m good with anything. I just need to fill my stomach for tomorrow’s surgery,” Zheng Ren said casually.

“It might be hard to get a table without a reservation at this hour,” Research Graduate Liang said.

“I’ll get us a table. So Cantonese, yeah.” The CT room chief clearly had a preference. When no one objected, he proceeded to make the call.

“Old Chu, don’t bring us to some second-tier restaurant in an attempt to trick Boss Zheng,” Department Chief Kong called out to the retreating CT room chief.

“Worry not, I’m taking you guys to the best,” the CT room chief replied just as his call connected.

“It’s me.

“Yes, treating a Boss Zheng who’s here for some research work.

“It’s fine, we’ll head over there ourselves.”

The CT room chief hung up and said, “Little Liang, bring my car over. We can all squeeze in. Tonight, we drink!”

Su Yun glanced at Zheng Ren, whose lips twitched as if wanting to speak. When Zheng Ren stayed silent, Su Yun spoke up, “Boss Zheng is still on antibiotics, so he won’t be having alcohol.”

“If he’s on cefixime, he won’t have a reaction like he would with disulfiram [1].”

“No, it’s best if he doesn’t drink with the antibiotics he’s on,” Su Yun stated firmly.

The rejection was direct and unquestionable. The CT room chief wondered if this manner was common among the youth of today.

Still, the two chiefs took it kindly. Their discussion today had been fruitful and enjoyable.

Junior doctors often gave in to their superiors’ orders to drink, but Zheng Ren was not a junior doctor. In their minds, Zheng Ren stood shoulder to shoulder with them.

They filed out of the CT room and got ready to leave in the CT room chief’s car.

Feng Xuhui had been waiting in the lobby the whole time.

He watched as Zheng Ren interacted with the two department chiefs as if they were old friends. ‘Is there anything this man can’t do?’ he thought.

These 50-year-old department chiefs in Imperial Capital were not ideal conversation partners, and yet Chief Zheng had managed to befriend them in just a few days. He even seemed to be the center of attention.

Feng Xuhui wanted to approach them but feared the two chiefs. Noticing the man, Zheng Ren called out, “Manager Feng, we’re going out for dinner. See you tomorrow.”

All Feng Xuhui got after waiting here for more than ten hours was a farewell. It was demotivating.

“Boss Zheng, where’s this manager from?” Department Chief Kong was used to seeing sales managers milling around the hospital, but this one was young and awkward.

“Changfeng Microinvasive Surgery,” Zheng Ren replied.

“Local company, eh?”

“Yes. Previously, we had a patient who could not afford embolization surgery for liver cancer, so we approached Changfeng Microinvasive for a deal. That was how I met Professor Pei,” Zheng Ren explained.

“Medical insurers these days have too much control over the price of healthcare. I’ve also had similar patients and opted for cheaper, locally-made materials,” Department Chief Kong mused. “Boss Zheng, if it’s in your interest, I would like to arrange for a meeting with this company as well.”

This was a favor the chief was extending. He did not care if the source of his materials was Boston Technologies or otherwise; as a department chief in Imperial General, he had his pick and no one would dare question his choice.

Above all else, he wanted to be in Zheng Ren’s good graces.

The suspicions he had previously made him shudder. He was glad that he had not outwardly accused Zheng Ren of fraudulent behavior.

It would have spelled doom for his reputation.

He decided life ought to be led with kind intentions at heart.

His doubts were unknown to Zheng Ren, but Su Yun was well aware of what the department chief had been implying yesterday. The man trying to make up for his poor judgment.

Department Chief Kong would do his best to build a strong relationship with the young rising star. Naturally, he would want to bring him into the fold.

Of course, the chief said nothing of the sort to Zheng Ren. The young man probably did not even comprehend the significance of this gesture.

The young required some time to grow and learn, but they understood sooner or later. The later they realized it, the greater the significance of the matter.

By then, he would be an old man and his favor would then be called in for his disciples.

A prodigy in the field of medical research was rare and Department Chief Kong believed he had found one in the making.

Academic results were not the be-all end-all of a prodigy. Brutal efficiency and social management skills were equally important. At first glance, Zheng Ren seemed to be an honest man, but impressions could be wrong. He also had a quick-witted assistant.

A prodigy… like Newton?

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz invented infinitesimal calculus, but so had the prodigy Isaac Newton, which led to controversy and the eventual naming of the Newton-Leibniz formula.

The order of their names spoke volumes.

It was the sign of a true prodigy.

In the future, Zheng Ren would walk the same path. His kindness would be complemented with his assistant’s ruthlessness.

One would not wish to offend someone like Zheng Ren. Unknowingly, Department Chief Kong had developed a growing respect for the young man.

…

Dr. Liang drove them to Tang Song Restaurant at Dongsi Shitiao[2].

Unaware of the momentous change that had happened, Feng Xuhui’s shoulders slumped.

He debated for a moment before calling Zheng Ren to get the restaurant’s address. Then, he hailed a cab and went to the restaurant to wait for Zheng Ren.

The owner of Tang Song Restaurant was rumored to be someone from outside the city. Within 20 years, the talented businessman had managed to make Tang Song Restaurant one of the top destinations for Cantonese cuisine.

The dishes they served were authentic and the chefs in the kitchen were well-known across the culinary world.

When the five men exited the car, the restaurant’s manager was already waiting for them at reception.

“Dr. Chu, it’s wonderful to see you again. Today, we have a dish from our new head chef that you must try. Mr. Song will be here in an hour and sends his apologies,” the manager announced with a warm smile.

“No matter. There’s a new head chef?”

“Yes, we have a new head chef and his creations… You’ll taste some of them later. I’m sure you’ll find them to your liking,” the manager said as he led them to their private room.

The group chatted merrily in their room. Today’s discussion had left CT Room Chief Chu and Interventional Surgery Department Chief Kong in good moods. The discovery and development of a brand new differential diagnosis technique would see their names immortalized in the scientific world.

Bluntly put, they would be able to live off the nationwide seminars they could give surrounding this technique alone.

With this enticing vision in their minds, it was hard for the men to be anything but ecstatic. Moreover, Boss Zheng had an expert assistant who had published in The Lancet.

This combination had the two Imperial General department chiefs smiling.

[1] A drug for chronic alcoholism that produces an acute sensitivity to ethanol.

[2] 东四十条: I wanted to translate it as ’40th East Street’ but I see the databank has the term appearing in 1.0179 so I’m following the previous translation.