System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

After Lu Cheng put down his bag, he left the shop and dialed Dai Linfang’s number in the square.

"Brother Dai, are you joking about the group chat?" Lu Cheng’s tone was somewhat reserved.

In summary, the research group is currently short of money.

Just in terms of animal experiments, Zhang Xibei alone burns almost three hundred thousand a month conducting experiments.

Professor Chen Song, Professor Tong Yuan’an, their practice costs haven’t even been accounted for yet.

But Lu Cheng knows that it’s normal for original technique projects to burn hundreds of thousands or millions of funding.

After all, the main goal is to promote it to large-scale clinical trials. If safety can’t be guaranteed, they would rather not use it than take risks with patients.

"Brother Lu, is there anyone else around you?" Dai Linfang asked.

"I’m outside. My wife is picking up ingredients." Lu Cheng looked at Mu Nanshu, who was still carefully selecting vegetables, seriously examining their quality.

"Brother Lu, the reason I asked everyone in the group instead of directly presenting the results is that I wanted to hear everyone’s opinions."

"This funding came about when I was back home for the New Year, and my family asked what I was up to lately. After I told them about our research group, an uncle followed up with questions," Dai Linfang said generously.

He wasn’t intentionally boasting, but to Lu Cheng, it seemed a bit like showing off.

"Just by asking a few questions, it turns into eight million?" Lu Cheng clicked his tongue.

Dai Linfang took a deep breath and then suddenly said, "Brother Lu, do you believe me if I say I know you better than the others, including Leader Mu?"

Lu Cheng chuckled lightly, "Brother Dai? I believe you, but I think you’re exaggerating a bit."

Dai Linfang said, "Lu Cheng, you’re not suited to handle specific tasks, you’re only fit for expanding territories, leaving the more specific work to others."

"Don’t rush to refute me; these can be inferred from a timeline, and I won’t repeat the specific calculations for you."

"I’ll just ask you, how much of your time is spent waiting?"

Dai Linfang’s words really struck a chord with Lu Cheng, but Lu Cheng had never shared this with Mu Nanshu.

Because, in the eyes of Mu Nanshu and others, the fact that Lu Cheng spends so much time carefully pondering these techniques means he’s a top-tier genius.

They never thought that Lu Cheng actually had spare capacity, and much of his time was spent intentionally dragging his "research progress." If given free rein, Lu Cheng’s output could be even higher.

"Brother Dai, are you overestimating me?" Lu Cheng asked.

Dai Linfang said, "You’re not in the right state!~"

"If you were truly exhausting every resource and pouring your heart into a project, if this was your current state, I’d bet my life on it."

Dai Linfang’s words were not very refined but down-to-earth.

"Brother Dai, I still don’t understand what you’re trying to say," Lu Cheng said.

Dai Linfang sighed, "Lu Cheng, I know, you might think we’re being overly familiar. I feel the same."

"If it weren’t for the fact that I got into the group through some means, and those means weren’t exactly clean, or let’s say if I met you earlier and had some relationship with you, I could tell you more than I can now."

"But Lu Cheng, whether you admit it or not, everyone in our research group, without exception, has a brain."

"It’s not that they’re not smart, but everyone’s perspective is different."

"And I’m not putting on airs, including your wife—she hasn’t led any big projects, hasn’t experienced the pain of breaking your mind for something."

"So they simply can’t understand your state."

"But I know you’re comfortable, and if your state isn’t right, it just means what you’re working on hasn’t come close to your limit yet, otherwise?"

"Haha..." Dai Linfang didn’t speak directly but made his stance clear.

Your carefree attitude, Lu Cheng, isn’t the kind of high-pressure state real researchers endure.

Lu Cheng didn’t respond, and Dai Linfang continued, "Brother Lu, you don’t have to think too highly of me either. I have something to ask, and it’s not a small ask."

"But, on this level of social interaction, I feel I should express what I’ve observed."

"Money is a good thing, and so are people."

"I even think the reason you brought me into the group is because you felt there was no one else available; otherwise, with your personality and temper, you wouldn’t have let me in."

Lu Cheng reacted with some annoyance, "You’ve been investigating me again."

"This time, I did it myself, not relying on others," Dai Linfang said.

"But to be honest, if we have this kind of ability, then we should appropriately utilize some resources."

"Anyway, that’s what I think; if you hadn’t met me, Brother Lu, then your persistence and choices are right."

"But since you met me, I will help if I can, and I know that during the process of helping, I can gain a lot, a lot."

"I believe in everything I see, hear, and know."

"I also know that Brother Lu, you have a chance to fill in all the holes I previously dug."

Lu Cheng took a deep breath, "Brother Dai, you really might be overestimating me."

"Overestimating, my ass!~"

"Let’s be reasonable; your operation skill level isn’t worth boasting about, there are plenty in the province who surpass your individual skill level."

"But even with limited skill levels, how is it that you, Brother Lu, can branch out and start something new?"

"Just because you’re good-looking?"

"No, this proves that Brother Lu, you’ve reached an extreme in the utilization of limited resources!!!" Dai Linfang wasn’t sure if he was praising Lu Cheng or genuinely analyzing.

This specific praise made Lu Cheng feel quite comfortable.

"Brother Lu, let me ask you, if given the freedom of time and space, not having to worry whether the project progress keeps up or not, wouldn’t you have a chance to outdo the academicians’ projects?" Dai Linfang said something startling.

"Brother Dai, while we can joke around, there should be a limit," Lu Cheng quickly said.

Dai Linfang said, "Outside the project, academics are seniors and mentors, and we should respect them."

"But in the context of a project, they’re just competitors, whoever does it faster, gets it, it’s not like once they’ve established a name, the ownership belongs solely to them."

"While this might be recognized domestically, international people wouldn’t allow this kind of privilege."

Lu Cheng finally expressed his true thoughts, "Brother Dai, I know you have a wide network, but I can’t handle it, please, don’t harm me."

"Regarding the research funding, let’s not talk about it anymore, let’s take it one step at a time."

"I only have this life."

Dai Linfang, this restless spirit, isn’t someone Lu Cheng can control, and Lu Cheng doesn’t dare let Dai Linfang mess around freely.

"Brother Lu, as for life, we can talk about that another time."

"In the end, connections and resources are just a matter of key points."

"The conventional key point is that you’ve handled numerous projects, published many papers, showcasing your research capability, which allows you to apply for research funding."

"The unconventional key point is you know the person in charge of allocating funds."

"Brother Lu, I won’t beat around the bush. If you’re free after the New Year, you can come to Sha City, and I’ll take you to have tea with my uncle, you two can chat in person, and I’ll leave!~"

"What you discuss or don’t discuss is entirely up to you," Dai Linfang said.

Lu Cheng said, "Thank you, Brother Dai, for having such high regard for me, but I feel I have no foundation right now, so I don’t have the leverage to negotiate."

"What kind of sense would that make?"

"Signing a military order and a servitude contract? That’s not my style."