godfather of surgery

Chapter 1325: Cursing to the point of urinary tract obstruction
At this crucial moment, all members of the Sanbo Research Institute received an email from Yang Ping, and everyone understood the professor's meaning: having some achievements shouldn't make you arrogant, nor is it necessary to be arrogant.

Actually, everyone is quite calm about it. When Yang Ping won the Nobel Prize for the first time, although everyone was excited and made a fuss, they were generally quite calm. Now it's different. This is Professor Yang's second nomination. If he really wins, it will be his second time winning. There have been more than 600 Nobel Prizes in the natural sciences in history, but the number of people who have won twice can be counted on one hand. This makes it impossible for everyone to remain calm, no matter how calm they are.

Hearing that Dr. Zhang Wei in the lab was in trouble, Zhang Lin rushed to the lab and barged into Dr. Zhang's workstation, which was separated by a screen.

They are all talented people from the Zhang family. Now that Zhang Wei is in trouble, how could Zhang Lin sit idly by? If he does that, who will still recognize him as Teacher Zhang in the future?

“Zhang Bo! I’ve heard about it!” His voice was loud, drawing the attention of his colleagues at several workstations around him. “This is outrageous! Is exposing false advertising a crime? This is too much.”

Zhang Bo was engrossed in organizing data when he was startled. He pushed up his glasses and said, "Teacher Zhang... could you please keep your voice down?"

"Why are you being so quiet? Do you think we're afraid of them? Reason prevails everywhere." Zhang Lin pulled up a chair and sat down. "I spent all night studying their product manuals and your blog; there are too many loopholes! Look here—"

He clicked on a chart: "Their so-called 'stress index algorithm' is based on heart rate variability (HRV), but according to their own published sampling frequency and algorithm description, it doesn't even reach the accuracy required to analyze HRV. This is 100% false advertising!"

Zhang Bo looked at Zhang Lin's analysis in astonishment; it was even more detailed than his own, having even identified the references Zhang Lin might have cited. "Professor Zhang, how...how do you know all this?"

Zhang Lin looked smug and raised his head, asking, "Who am I, Teacher Zhang?"

He is, after all, a world-renowned expert in surgical retractors, whose voluminous book, "Surgical Retractors," fills a gap in the field. Fraudulent companies are no match for such a talent.

He leaned closer and lowered his voice, but still loud enough for those nearby to hear: "I'll help you with this. We're both from the Zhang family, I can't let you shoulder this alone. Let's team up and gather solid evidence to make them admit defeat!"

Zhang Bo felt a warmth in his heart, but seeing Zhang Lin's excited spirit, as if he were "ready to make a big splash," he also felt a slight unease. "Um... Professor Zhang, Dr. Tang said the research institute will provide legal support, and we'll follow the proper procedures..."

"Of course we'll follow the proper procedures, with legal support as our backing! But we still have to rely on ourselves to charge into battle on the front lines!" Zhang Lin waved his hand. "Having actual measurement data as a chain of evidence isn't enough; we also need to stir up public opinion. We need to gain a favorable position in the public eye. You're in charge of preparing the evidence, and I'll be in charge of the outer encirclement and the creation of public opinion!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, and had already started planning: "Let's start a joint blog called 'Old Zhang's Lab.' You write about debunking technical frauds, and I'll write about industry analysis. We'll also create a data visualization website to match their false claims with our experimental evidence, making it interactive so that even elementary school students can understand it!"

Zhang Bo was stunned; this was a much larger affair than he had imagined. "Isn't this... a bit too ostentatious? Dr. Tang said..."

“Dr. Tang’s decision is strategic! We’re just executing tactics!” Zhang Lin patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’re in the right. Besides,” he chuckled, “if we handle this well, we’ll not only uphold the dignity of science, but also gain recognition… no, we’ll establish a positive image of the institute’s researchers actively participating in social affairs!”

This last sentence reveals one of his true thoughts.

Zhang Bo knew Zhang Lin all too well; Zhang Lin loved to show off, as the saying goes: showing off!
However, it cannot be denied that Zhang Lin's enthusiasm and professional expertise are indeed very attractive. Moreover, having more helpers, especially those who know a thing or two, is never a bad thing.

"Then...shall we give it a try?" Zhang Bo said hesitantly.

"What do you mean 'try'? It has to work!" Zhang Lin immediately got to work. "Let's start tonight! First, send me all your raw data and test videos in a package. We'll start working overtime tonight, and by next Monday, we'll have the first complete 'evidence package'!"

And so, "Old Zhang's Laboratory" was established in a makeshift manner.

By 8 p.m., there were few people left at the research institute. But Zhang Bo's workstation area was still brightly lit, and the occasional sound of arguing could be heard.

"The colors in this bar chart are no good! It's too academic; netizens won't like it!" Zhang Lin pointed at the screen. "We need to use some impactful contrasting colors! Red and green... oh wait, I mean red and green, eye-catching and striking!"

"Red and green are warning colors!" Zhang Bo protected his mouse. "This is a scientific report; we need to be rigorous! We must use standard academic color schemes!"

“Keep the rigor in the paper! This is a war of public opinion, what matters is the power of dissemination!” Zhang Lin tried to grab the mouse. “Listen to me, this comparison chart of ‘claimed accuracy vs. measured accuracy’ should be in bright red and green, with an explosion icon next to it to highlight the exaggerated difference!”

"No way! That's too tacky!"

"People only watch things that are vulgar!"

The two were arguing heatedly when Chu Xiaoxiao, who was passing by, curiously peeked in: "Teacher Zhang, Zhang Wei? What are you doing? Fighting?"

"We are having a serious discussion about visual communication strategies!" Zhang Lin said without turning his head.

"We are defending the bottom line of science!" Zhang Bo said firmly.

Chu Xiaoxiao suppressed a laugh and looked at the screen for a while: "Actually, we can compromise. Use an academic color scheme for the main image, but when sharing on social media, we can make a simplified and cool version, using contrasting colors to highlight the key points. Two versions, then."

The two of them were both taken aback and exchanged a glance.

“That makes sense!” Zhang Lin slapped his thigh. “Xiaoxiao is so smart! Let’s make two versions! One for lawyers and experts, and one for netizens and the media! That’s called differentiated communication!”

Zhang Bo nodded: "That works too."

The first hurdle was overcome, but the second one was fast approaching. The two clashed again while drafting their rebuttal to the "trade secret infringement" accusation.

Zhang Lin argued: "This part should be written with righteous indignation! 'Your so-called trade secrets are nothing but a fig leaf to cover up product defects! Real technology companies dare to openly accept scrutiny!' Add an exclamation mark to make it more powerful!"

Zhang Bo objected: "No! Legal documents must be calm and objective. We only need to state the facts: we conducted legitimate black-box testing and public data analysis, and we did not access or attempt to access its core source code. Emotional language will give the other party a handle to use against us."

"But writing it like this doesn't vent my anger!"

"Going to court isn't about getting revenge, it's about winning."

"Could we add some emotion to the blog version?"

"Blogs... can have some bias, but they should still be based on facts."

Ultimately, this "evidence package" took on a peculiar two-layer structure: the bottom layer consisted of a rigorous test report, data analysis, and references, over two hundred pages thick, compiled by Zhang Bo, formatted meticulously and worded calmly. The top layer comprised an "abstract version" and a "dissemination version" prepared by Zhang Lin, richly illustrated, vividly written, and even including a few-minute explanatory video that used animation to demonstrate how the bracelet's data could "deceive" the reader.

The two stayed up until the early hours of the morning, and when they finished, they smiled at each other, feeling a sense of mutual appreciation.

"You know what, your seriousness complements my intelligence quite well," Zhang Lin yawned.

"Teacher Zhang, you have a quick mind, lots of ideas, and you dare to act." It's rare for Zhang Bo to praise someone.

"Absolutely! The Zhang family produces talented people!"

"However... isn't the name 'Old Zhang's Lab' a bit too low-class...?"

"What? You're not surnamed Zhang? I'm not surnamed Zhang? But it does sound a bit low-class, so how about we call it Dr. Zhang's Lab?" Dr. Zhang's Lab? I'm not a doctor, am I? Zhang Lin thought to himself.

Forget it, who knows if I'm a PhD? And who's going to bother distinguishing between a Master's and a PhD? I'm the one who gave myself that status. I'm just benefiting a little from Dr. Zhang Wei's fame. Dr. Zhang never said that both Zhang Wei and Zhang Lin were PhDs.

They are much better than those overseas PhDs whose business cards list no university address and who can't even speak English.

……

On Monday, when Zhang Wei and Zhang Lin submitted a substantial yet vibrant package of evidence to the institute's legal department and Tang Shun for review, even the well-informed lawyer Li smiled.

"It's quite comprehensive, with both academic and general versions. While this general version may lack legal rigor, it's very useful for guiding public opinion. What the other side fears most is escalating the situation and letting the public see the truth."

Tang Shun flipped through the pages, a slight smile playing on his lips. He nodded, especially when he saw Zhang Lin's slogan in the pamphlet: "Science is not afraid of scrutiny; only pseudoscience fears the light of day."

"Tell them that they can speak out to a certain extent, but all public statements must be based on the contents of the evidence package and must not be exaggerated or used for personal attacks. The institute's official position should still be expressed through formal legal channels."

Having received permission, Zhang Lin felt like he had been granted a royal decree. That very evening, the blog and social media accounts of "Dr. Zhang's Lab" went live. The first major article was a detailed, illustrated "Ten Questions and Answers on the False Advertising of Pseudo-Tech Bracelets."

The article quickly spread among tech enthusiasts and consumer rights circles. Zhang Lin actively responded to discussions on several related forums, citing sources and providing detailed data, seemingly becoming a rising opinion leader in "grassroots tech debunking." He put on a very convincing act, and Zhang Lin seemed to enjoy it.

Looking at the soaring traffic to his blog and the comments section filled with messages like "Support researchers who take things seriously!" and "Well done!", Zhang Bo's initial anxiety about the lawsuit gradually gave way to a peculiar sense of fulfillment, a mix of responsibility and a touch of vanity.

Of course, trouble followed. Online trolls from various tech companies began to flood in, hurling insults, making accusations, and trying to deflect attention. Zhang Lin got fired up, rolling up his sleeves to fight back, but Zhang Bo held him firmly back.

"Teacher Zhang! Calm down! Don't get into a war of words! Let's just present the facts and reason things out, not argue!" Zhang Bo said urgently.

"They're swearing! They dare to swear back at me, don't they know their own limitations? I'll curse them until they're bald, until they're impotent, until they have a heart attack and urinary tract obstruction..."

“Swearing is a sign that they are in the wrong! If we respond, we will only lower ourselves!” Zhang Wei urged. “We must remain professional and calm.”

Zhang Lin reluctantly put down the keyboard and muttered, "Fine... but it's really frustrating to watch. When has Teacher Zhang ever lost an argument? I'll curse him until he has a urinary tract obstruction, or I'm not Zhang."

……

A formal letter was placed on Yang Ping's desk.

The Nobel Prize Committee invited Yang Ping to travel to Stockholm in early October, about a month before the final winners were announced, to give a special 90-minute academic lecture at the Karolinska Institute. The topic of the lecture was "The Theory of Regulation of Human Systems: A New Model for the Future of Medicine".

The invitation letter emphasized that this was not a rehearsal for the award ceremony, but rather one of a series of lectures on cutting-edge scientific perspectives organized by the committee, aimed at giving committee members and the Swedish scientific community a deeper understanding of the full picture of the candidate works.

But anyone with a discerning eye can see that inviting shortlist candidates to give a special presentation a month before the final vote carries undeniable symbolic significance and real influence.

“This is a very strong positive sign.” Mainstein could not hide his excitement in the transoceanic phone call. “Although this lecture series has been held in previous years, it has only been twice in the last ten years that shortlist candidates have been invited to speak before the vote. On both occasions, the speakers ultimately won the award.”

“But I don’t have time to go there,” Yang Ping said, stretching.

Receiving an award is not a good thing; it's very troublesome, and Yang Ping really didn't want to get involved in such trouble.

Einstein paused for a moment, then said, “It’s alright. You can have your assistant come over. Nobody will mind, as long as your assistant can explain your theory thoroughly.”

“I understand,” Yang Ping said.

“For example, Tang Shun and Song Ziming are both suitable; that’s not a problem,” Mainstein said.

Yang Ping was silent for a moment, then said, "Okay, I'll make the arrangements."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Ping called Tang Shun and Song Ziming in, told them about the invitation, and then told them that they would be his representatives to give the speech, and that they could discuss and decide on the division of labor themselves.

"I...we're going?!" Song Ziming pointed to his nose, his voice trembling, not from fear, but from pure, unbelievable ecstasy.

Tang Shun's mind had already switched from shock to acceptance to strategic planning in an instant: "We know the report's content by heart, and it's theoretically feasible for us to give the technical explanation. But Professor, this is a special invitation from the Nobel Committee, and your absence might..."

“The committee invited a report on the theory of system regulation,” Yang Ping said calmly. “The theory was developed by our team, and you are the core members, familiar with every experimental detail. It’s perfectly feasible for you to present.” He paused, “If they truly value the theory itself, they won’t care whether I’m the presenter. If they care about me as a person, then it’s better not to attend the presentation.”

"Are you confident?" Yang Ping asked.

"Yes!" they said in unison.

After answering, he felt something was off. Yang Ping smiled and said, "Look at you guys, so excited. Go back and get ready."

The two almost jumped up; opportunity favors the prepared, and they had finally gotten their chance.

Tang Shun and Song Ziming came out of Yang Ping's office.

“You usually have a lot of surgeries, but I don’t. I’ll give this speech myself. I can’t just watch my brother get overworked.”

"It's alright. Your lab has been very busy lately, with a severe shortage of manpower. You'll have to keep an eye on everything. I haven't had many surgeries lately, so I'll handle them. You should prioritize your experiments; this is a crucial time."

“No, I heard that you and Tang Fei are currently getting closer, and I absolutely cannot let you go to Sweden at this time.”

“Your wife is about to give birth. At such a crucial time, how could I bear to let you, my brother, travel thousands of miles to Sweden just to give a speech? If you don’t even have this much consideration and won’t help me with something so important, can you still be my brother? It’s settled then, I’ll give the speech.”

"Don't worry, it won't be that fast."

"How about... we both go up on stage and talk, each of us talks half, I talk about the basics, and you talk about the clinical aspects."

"Yes, how come I didn't think of that?"

The two walked to the elevator door, the elevator opened, and Zhang Lin and Zhang Wei walked out, Zhang Lin looking indignant.

"I'm going to yell at them until they have a urinary tract obstruction!"