Chapter 832: Evaluating Excellence

Chapter 832: Chapter 832: Evaluating Excellence

"Alright, I’ll listen to you. I’ll keep an eye on my phone over the next couple of days and see if I can get an appointment with that Dean Li Xu."

His wife sighed, a glimmer of hope in her expression. "If he can really cure her, we’ll pay whatever it takes. You work so hard driving every day, so I’ll take Mom there myself when the time comes. Don’t exhaust yourself over this."

"Okay, as long as it cures her illness, that’s better than anything else." He Pengjun buried his head and took a large bite of food. The warmth slid down his throat, seemingly washing away much of the day’s fatigue.

City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Dean Song was holding a core business meeting. Key figures from various departments, including Li Xu, Zeng Yunjun, and Lin Guorui, were all present.

Sitting at the head of the table, Dean Song flipped through the reports in his hands. He cleared his throat and said, "It’s December. This is not only the final month of the year, but also the most crucial month for our hospital. I called everyone here today mainly to discuss two things."

He glanced around the room, his expression turning solemn. "First, the year-end provincial and municipal health system reviews are about to begin. This year, because of Comrade Li Xu’s addition to our hospital, we have achieved a qualitative leap in both our operational volume and our research reputation. Therefore, for this year’s selection of outstanding collectives and advanced individuals, I need everyone to give it their all. Whether we can maintain our Grade-3A hospital status and reach the next level depends entirely on our performance in this final month."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Lin Guorui and Zeng Yunjun exchanged a glance, both able to see the fighting spirit in each other’s eyes.

"The second matter, which is also the most important one."

Dean Song pulled a notice with the provincial department’s official red letterhead from his documents. "The nomination process for next year’s ’Top Ten Outstanding Young Doctors in the Province’ has already begun. It’s evaluated every two years, and the list of nominees will be submitted next March. Our hospital has one recommendation quota this year."

Hearing the words "Top Ten Outstanding Young Doctors in the Province," the breathing in the conference room seemed to quicken. This was not just an honor, but a weighty political bargaining chip. Anyone who earned this title would essentially become a leading figure in the province’s medical field for the next decade. More importantly, it served as a fast track for those with associate senior titles to be promoted to full senior titles, or even to compete for the position of department director.

Dean Song looked at Li Xu, his eyes full of high regard. "Li Xu, although you haven’t been at our hospital for long, over the past six months, whether it’s your emergency treatments, your reputation in the expert consultation room, or even your performance at the Provincial Young Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Exchange Meeting, your capabilities are obvious to all. I believe you are the most competitive candidate for this nomination."

Zeng Yunjun chuckled from the side, taking the lead to express his stance. "I agree. Even Director Zhong Dongyang is convinced of Dean Li’s abilities. If our Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine doesn’t recommend him, recommending anyone else wouldn’t reflect our true standards."

Lin Guorui also spoke sincerely. "I have no objections either. Not only are Li Xu’s medical skills superb, but he has also mentored a group of promising young talents like Li Lin. This is of extraordinary significance to the long-term development of our hospital."

Dean Song nodded. "It’s good that everyone shares this consensus. However, Li Xu, you shouldn’t let your guard down. A provincial selection is nothing like a municipal one. It’s a stage where top talents from all the Grade-3A hospitals in the province compete together. Traditional Chinese Medicine is inherently at a disadvantage in such selections. When a surgeon performs a highly difficult surgery, the results are immediate, making it easy to show achievements. But for our internal medicine TCM practitioners, we focus on slow, meticulous work and the accumulation of reputation. If you want to snatch one of those ten spots from the hands of the top surgical experts, you’ll need more hard-hitting case studies."

Li Xu straightened his back, his expression calm and confident. "Rest assured, Dean Song. I will do my best. To me, the selection is just a summary of my work; curing every patient is what truly matters."

"Well said! That’s the kind of attitude we need." Dean Song took the lead in applauding. "Alright, everyone is dismissed. Keep your spirits up during this period."

After the meeting, Li Xu and Lin Guorui walked side by side down the corridor.

Lin Guorui sighed with emotion. "Li Xu, Dean Song is right. It’s hard for internal medicine practitioners to stand out. Surgery is like a math problem—right is right, wrong is wrong, and the score is crystal clear. Internal medicine is like writing an essay; whether it’s good or not sometimes depends on the examiner’s taste in addition to your own skill level. In the past ’Top Ten’ selections in our province, surgeons have taken up at least six or seven spots. You need to be mentally prepared."

Li Xu smiled. "Director Lin, actually, TCM internal medicine has its own ’hardness.’ As long as we can resolve the dead ends that Western medicine cannot, that is a solid perfect score. I don’t seek empty fame, but if this honor can bring more support to our Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, I will definitely fight for it."

Lin Guorui looked at Li Xu, feeling a wave of gratification in his heart. This young man truly possessed a maturity and sense of responsibility far beyond his years.

The next day.

It happened to be a day off for Ju Jiahong from Feng City People’s Hospital. He had been sitting in his study all morning, his desk piled high with materials on grassroots medical construction and dialectical analyses of common grassroots illnesses.

The sound of a key turning came from the front door. Soon after, Elder Song—Song Luojun—pushed the door open and walked in, carrying two boxes of authentic pastries.

"Grandpa." Ju Jiahong hurriedly stood up and took the items from Elder Song’s hands. "How did you find the time to come over today?"

"I came to see you, my stubborn little mule, and brought you some osmanthus cake your grandmother made." Song Luojun sat down on the sofa, his gaze sweeping over the materials on the desk. He asked with a smile, "Haven’t left the house yet? How do you plan to spend the day?"

"I plan to just read at home," Ju Jiahong said, brewing a cup of tea for his grandfather. "I’m off today."

"Reading is a good thing, but don’t turn into a bookworm." Song Luojun picked up his teacup and leisurely began his daily marriage-urging routine. "Jiahong, after the New Year, you’ll already be thirty-nine. It’s certainly important for a man to establish his career, but starting a family is also part of one’s life cultivation. Look at you—you have the looks and the career. Why are you so oblivious when it comes to romance?"

Ju Jiahong smiled bitterly. "Grandpa, you can’t force these things. I’m usually either in the operating room or the consultation room; where would I find the time to nurture a relationship? Besides, I haven’t met anyone I can truly talk to."

"What do you mean ’truly talk to’? Your standards are just too high." Song Luojun glared at him. "At your age, you’re lucky if they don’t get picky with you. While you’re still under forty, hurry up and bring someone home so your grandmother can hold a great-grandson sooner."

Ju Jiahong shook his head helplessly and quickly changed the subject. "Grandpa, regarding what you said before about me going to the grassroots level to gain experience... I’ve made up my mind."

Song Luojun’s expression turned serious. "Oh? Where do you plan to go? A counterpart assistance county in the province, or a local district Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine?"

"I plan to go to the Guanghe District Health Center." Ju Jiahong’s tone was calm, but his eyes were exceptionally resolute.