System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

Dai Linfang has extremely strong fundamentals, and his ability to learn is truly remarkable.

Lu Cheng even speculated that if Dai Linfang weren’t spread too thin across different technologies and focused on one field, his current operation level could rival that of Professor Chen Song and other veteran associate professors.

And Dai Linfang is only thirty-one, just a year older than Lu Cheng, achieving his current expertise through natural growth.

"Skill can be learned and improved gradually, but mindset is the most valuable asset."

"Sensitivity of thought, the capability to assemble and combine existing technologies, and the ability to adapt and extend them are crucial for conducting research projects."

"So what I mean is, in the future, we should leave more thinking time for Brother Lu, and we’ll handle tasks like repetitive processes and manifesting ideas concretely."

"Dr. Ni, what do you think?"

Ni Xixin said, "Then Zhang Xibei and I are just purely tools, aren’t we?"

Dai Linfang replied bluntly, "Being a tool that serves a meaningful purpose isn’t easy."

"I’m a tool too."

Ni Xixin fell silent, and Zhang Xibei dared not speak either.

Zhang Xibei had been doing animal experiments for over a month, spent hundreds of thousands, but barely developed any models, so he truly felt ashamed to speak.

In fact, if one were to argue, Zhang Xibei thought his progress was relatively fast when compared horizontally.

Building animal models, how could it possibly be that quick and cheap?

"Brother Dai, let’s not talk about these things; today is the first gathering after the New Year in our group, we should actually talk about something cheerful."

"We haven’t even started work yet, what are we discussing work for?"

"We sure don’t follow your workaholic example, dragging me to work overtime even during holidays."

After Lu Cheng finished speaking, he said, "Zhang Xibei, don’t mind him, let’s just eat."

Although Lu Cheng tried to liven up the atmosphere, there was still some awkwardness during the meal.

Not everyone is accustomed to lying flat, accustomed to gaining much without any effort.

People only feel genuinely happy when they achieve self-realization, when they themselves think they are impressive.

But those are others’ inner thoughts, not something Lu Cheng could easily influence with a few words.

And this atmosphere was all because of Dai Linfang.

...

There was no drinking during the dinner, after eating everyone politely said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

Dai Linfang left with Professor Chen Song’s student, Liao Hanwen; Lu Cheng paired with Zhang Xibei; and Ni Xixin left with Xie Yuan’an.

In the car.

Xie Yuan’an, who barely spoke at the table, clicked her tongue and said, "Xiao Ni, were you also stunned just now?"

Xie Yuan’an actually loved to chat and gossip, but knowing Dai Linfang’s true identity made her more reserved.

Plus, the news Dai Linfang shared shocked everyone too.

Ni Xixin nodded aggrievedly, "Sister Xie, during the holiday I talked with Zhang Xibei about the experiment progress, and we thought we could have the primary liver injury model done by March or April to meet our KPI."

"Isn’t that fast enough?"

"But who would have thought, we just took a holiday, and Lu Cheng bypassed us and set up the model on his own?"

"Why is that?" Ni Xixin felt a bit doubtful about life.

Lu Cheng could be great at developing suturing techniques, also proficient in other projects, but he couldn’t possibly crush her in the field she was most skilled at, right?

"To stabilize the unstable element."

"That unstable element is exactly Dai Linfang," Xie Yuan’an could only shallowly give her speculation.

Ni Xixin still felt wronged, "To stabilize him, do you have to take me and Zhang Xibei down along too?"

"Then what’s our purpose?"

Having asked the pertinent question, Xie Yuan’an replied, "To assist? To get things done."

"Xiao Ni, isn’t it good to have a powerhouse leading you?"

Alas, Ni Xixin was not a lay flat type, "Doesn’t feel so great."

"Then you should learn to adapt, I understood long ago that there are always people better than us."

Xie Yuan’an had a moment of wisdom, "Ni Xixin, you wouldn’t want Lu Cheng to hide his capabilities just to take care of your feelings, pretending to be weak in the group, right?"

"If that’s the case, wouldn’t you feel even worse once you know the truth?"

"On the flip side, Lu Cheng not doing that, your acceptance also advances the group’s progress?"

Though Xie Yuan’an’s thoughts were unusual, they weren’t without reason.

But Ni Xixin knew her mindset was different from Xie Yuan’an’s; if she had the choice, she really didn’t want to rely on others.

"I’ll go ask Sister Mu..." Ni Xixin took out her phone to start composing a message.

...

"Teacher Dai, is Lu Cheng really that strong?" Liao Hanwen, seated in the passenger seat, politely asked Dai Linfang.

Liao Hanwen wasn’t familiar with Dai Linfang; his only understanding was that Dai Linfang was a senior Ph.D. student from Xiangya Hospital, someone several years ahead of him.

Such a senior, in Liao Hanwen’s thoughts, should be bold and energetic, yet today’s Dai Linfang seemed to be a foil, just to highlight Lu Cheng.

"Huh? Why do you ask that? Your teacher hasn’t given you an answer yet?" Dai Linfang felt quite surprised.

Liao Hanwen was just a master’s student, merely standing on the steps outside the grand hall of medical research: "My mentor said that animal experiments and clinical technique development are two different dimensions."

"Someone who excels in clinical settings doesn’t necessarily excel in building animal models, and vice versa."

"Because their operational purposes differ, building animal models is simulating clinical diseases for effective damage, while clinical treatment aims for effective healing."

Dai Linfang chuckled lightly, "Do you think Lu Cheng’s strength lies in personal capability?"

"In terms of individual skills, at least four figures’ worth of people nationally outperform him."

"Then why is it precisely Lu Cheng who developed so many new suturing techniques, and not others?"

Liao Hanwen’s eyes lit up, "Brother Dai, do you know?"

Dai Linfang: "Do you solve problems by using your hands or your brain?"

"Brain," Liao Hanwen answered.

Dai Linfang said, "There you have it. Are people with clumsy hands doomed to fail the questions?"

"Is a slow writer incapable of producing good articles?"

At this point, Dai Linfang admitted with a bit of shame, "Actually, even I have struggled to accept it, to speak frankly?"

"Everyone has a head, who can easily submit to anyone else?"

"But everyone experiences being convinced by others at some point!"

Liao Hanwen asked again, "Teacher Dai, what if it doesn’t happen?"

Dai Linfang laughed, "If it doesn’t happen? Then you’re the best in the world?"

"It hasn’t happened yet."

Liao Hanwen’s gaze became distant...

Best in the world, being convinced.

These states were still very distant for him, he was just a master’s student without even a Ph.D. placement yet.

"Is Teacher Lu Cheng that kind of person?"

"Not yet. He still has a lot to accumulate, but he has that potential."

"But our field of medicine is not like math, where geniuses aren’t overlooked. Medicine can potentially overlook them."

"In my understanding, currently Lu Cheng’s integration ability ranks at least in the top five, and that’s just temporarily."

"The other few have already established great success."

Liao Hanwen said, "Who are they? Brother Dai? Have you met them all?"

"You’re overestimating me, just because I know them doesn’t mean I can meet them," Dai Linfang said before focusing on his driving.

Dai Linfang always knew that every team needs a brain; he always thought he should be that brain, at least part of it.

Unfortunately, Dai Linfang failed.

Moreover, Dai Linfang felt that many in this research group had issues with their psychological resilience and needed more practice.

Collaborating in a research group means working together, not merely human relations.