Chapter 156 - 128: Waiting for Your Encounter
Chen Hao didn’t know many people.
He had only just heard the principal introduce this group of people.
An academician, a minister...
As a third-year university student, all of this felt incredibly distant from his own life.
For them to suddenly appear before him felt completely surreal.
Jiang He first asked Chen Hao, "Are you sure Zijian is okay?"
Chen Hao made a sound of acknowledgment. "Uh, he’s fine, he’s fine. Wang Bo is with him, so don’t worry. Don’t worry."
Only then did Jiang He reply, "Yes, sir, I’m free."
Seeing that Jiang He had consulted Chen Hao first, Minister Lin’s estimation of Chen Hao rose. He said, "In that case, why don’t you both come along?"
Chen Hao subconsciously asked, "I have to go too?"
Lin Zhenhua smiled warmly. "You’re Jiang He’s classmate, right? Come and sit with us. It’s not far, just in the lounge next door."
Chen Hao nodded vigorously. "Okay, Minister Lin."
「Administration Building, Lounge.」
The room was simple yet elegant. Several sets of leather sofas were arranged in a semicircle around a solid wood coffee table.
After the accompanying staff poured the tea, they discreetly excused themselves, closing the door on their way out.
The seating arrangement on the sofas naturally reflected everyone’s status.
Lin Zhenhua and Zheng Liyan sat in the seats of honor. Principal Qian and Gong Nian sat to the left, while Yang Xu sat to the right.
Jiang He took a seat in a single armchair opposite the two leaders, and Chen Hao sat down very timidly next to him.
Chen Hao was a classic case of someone who only dared to sit on the edge of his seat, hands placed obediently on his knees, looking as if he were taking a civil service exam.
Minister Lin began with a concerned question, "That injury on your leg, is it from the night of the car accident?"
Hearing this, Jiang He’s automatic combo response was triggered. "Yep, it’s nothing. It’ll be fine after two weeks in a cast."
"That’s good. I’ve read the emergency rescue report from that major car accident on the Ring City Expressway. Affiliated Hospital No. 1’s red-tagged critical zone had a zero-mortality rate. The report mentioned that a third-year student from Southern Medical University performed extremely accurate triage at the scene, and even stepped into the operating room to assist Director Yang Xu in completing a multi-organ rupture repair surgery."
Minister Lin continued, "At the time, I wondered when our province had produced such a promising talent with such solid fundamental clinical skills. And seeing you at the competition today, that score of four hundred is well-deserved. Xiaojiang, regarding your performance that night... ’the provincial department approves’."
Although the minister’s tone was light, everyone present understood the weight of those four words.
Principal Qian was all smiles.
As a principal, his rank was by no means low. However, rank is rank, and real power is real power. In some circles, only the latter truly mattered.
Thus, he chimed in, "This kid, Jiang He, he’s always been very grounded at school. Winning the grand prize in the competition is a result of his own diligent studies and the polishing he received from the emergency and surgery departments at Affiliated Hospital No. 1. Ultimately, it also shows that Affiliated Hospital No. 1 has done an excellent job with its clinical teaching."
Principal Qian was a smooth talker, seamlessly flattering Yang Xu as well.
Yang Xu would never miss a chance to play it cool and flex.
This Old Deng remained expressionless, speaking with an air of detached nonchalance. "His fundamentals are indeed good, but he still lacks experience. The night of the car crash was a last resort; that’s why I called him up to the operating table. This kid... he’ll need to be knocked into shape more in the department."
Yang Xu’s words sounded like criticism, but who here wasn’t a shrewd judge of character?
This was clearly a case of him being fiercely protective of his own.
By emphasizing, "I called him up to the operating table," he was completely shielding Jiang He.
Gong Nian, sitting to the side, chuckled and joked, "Director Yang, your standards are too high. Completing a great saphenous vein cutdown and cannulation in forty-eight seconds is what you call ’passable’ fundamentals? The way I see it, after graduation, student Jiang He shouldn’t stay at Affiliated Hospital No. 1. He should come to our Provincial Clinical Quality Control Center. I’ll personally mentor him, save him from being wronged in your hands."
"Not a chance." Yang Xu tutted. "He’s my student. He’s staying at Affiliated Hospital No. 1’s hepatobiliary surgery department in the future."
Gong Nian laughed heartily and waved his hand. "Just kidding, just kidding."
Academician Zheng Liyan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke:
"I’ve seen your answer sheet for Zone D. The fact that you could write down the LNR indicator during the competition, under the pressure of going against the standard answer, shows that you have absolute confidence in your own research."
"That thesis published in the Chinese Journal of Surgery had very solid data. You discovered a flaw in the AJCC 6th edition staging guidelines and proposed a solution. That’s very rare."
"If you want to go deeper down the path of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery in the future, you should consider coming to the Capital City. The doors to my national key laboratory are wide open for you. The case resources and research platform there can help you avoid many detours in your career."
As soon as he said this, the atmosphere shifted.
Gong Nian’s attempt at poaching was just a joke, but Academician Zheng’s invitation was a genuine ladder to the heavens.
—An academician personally asking for someone, what did that even mean?
Sitting beside them, Chen Hao was already struggling to keep his composure.
’It feels like these leaders are just chatting casually, their tones all very calm.
But why am I so nervous?
Isn’t Jiang He nervous at all?’
Chen Hao looked at Jiang He.
After one glance, he quickly looked away.
’—Damn it, Old Jiang doesn’t look nervous at all! What’s with him?’
After a brief silence, Yang Xu turned to Jiang He. "Jiang He, Academician Zheng’s laboratory represents the highest level of research in the country. This is your opportunity. You must consider it carefully."
Yang Xu really was a good teacher...
When faced with Gong Nian’s poaching attempt, he was fiercely protective.
But when faced with a truly great opportunity for his student, he was more than willing to let go.