top student at medical school

Chapter 676 Academician Zhang's Panic (Please Subscribe)

Liu Huanglong's technique for cutting steak possessed the precision of microsurgical suturing; the sound of the knife scraping against the porcelain plate was reminiscent of the hum of a bone saw. As the myoglobin from the sous-vide Wagyu beef seeped out, Fang Ziye's retina automatically converted it into intraoperative bleeding soft tissue.

"The head chef of this restaurant has undergone a heart transplant." Liu Huanglong used the tip of a fork to pierce a 63°C onsen egg; the yolk that flowed out resembled the contents of a ruptured ovarian cyst. "He said that both cooking and surgery require precise control."

The conversation was interrupted by a sudden burst of dry ice smoke. Rose petals frozen in liquid nitrogen exploded in front of them, and tiny ice crystals fell onto the obsidian dining table, like urate crystals under a microscope.

When the sommelier presented the Burgundy red wine, Fang Ziye noticed that the grape harvest date on the label was accurate to the minute—September 23, 1997, 2:28 PM. When Liu Huanglong raised his glass, the radiating lines on his iris were reflected in the glass, resembling a microscopic image of corneal endothelial cells…

“Ziye, we proposed the functional reconstruction surgery procedure, so we have an obligation to bring this procedure to a successful conclusion,” Liu Huanglong brought the topic back to the main point.

Fang Ziye also cut a piece of beef and put it in his mouth: "Teacher Liu, does that mean that as long as we do something, whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, we have to do it ourselves?"

"What else?" Liu Huanglong's eyes narrowed.

"You do the good deed, but when it comes to doing the bad, you avoid it? Where in this world can you find such a good thing?"

Liu Huanglong gently put down the fork in his hand: "Professor Zhong and I have also discussed this, and we will strive to introduce an access standard for functional reconstruction surgery before the middle of next year."

"We must report and remove some surgeons whose skills do not meet the standards."

"But how do we set this standard? That's a rather complicated matter."

After its successful development, functional reconstruction surgery is no longer a new procedure, but it is still classified as a level IV surgery, which is a major surgery.

Especially now that some surgeons have been found to be inadequate in clinical practice and require revision surgery, the setting of new standards needs to be even more cautious.

Fang Ziye is a core technical backbone of the functional reconstruction technique, so he must participate in this matter.

With great power comes great responsibility!

Upon hearing this, Fang Ziye suddenly thought of a possibility: "Professor Liu, is it possible that some of our trauma surgeons perform limb-sparing surgery for severe injuries, but ultimately end up having to amputate the limbs?"

"What do you think? The answer is obvious, okay?" Liu Huanglong rolled his eyes at Fang Ziye.

Fang Ziye didn't know how to answer for a moment, and his expression was slightly disappointed.

Liu Huanglong noticed Fang Ziye's change in expression very carefully, and comforted him, "I'll say it again: do good deeds and don't worry about the future."

"You develop surgical techniques with the aim of helping patients, allowing those who should have had their limbs amputated to avoid amputation, and enabling those who should have been paralyzed to stand up."

"The person who can perform the surgery can never be entirely yourself."

Hubei Province is very large, China is even larger, and the world is even wider. You can't control others, so you can only do your best.

"Do good deeds and don't worry about the future!"

"This is not the responsibility of your original technique, but rather the detours that each technique must take as it matures and others learn and improve. This is also the trial-and-error cost that every era must pay."

"If they don't learn, they'll never learn."

"If they go to learn it, there will always be an error rate!"

Liu Huanglong was afraid that Fang Ziye's Dao heart would collapse.

Fang Ziye looked up and replied in a low voice, "Teacher Liu, I haven't thought that much about it. I'm just wondering if there's a better solution."

"Doesn't both functional reconstruction surgery and limb salvage surgery have mature animal models?"

“Not everyone is so selfless, and not everyone can endure loneliness like you!” Liu Huanglong tapped the plate in front of him with his fork.

Being prepared and everyone calmly preparing for the surgery are two different things.

Objective standards are easy to set, but whether others will actively apply your objective standards is their own choice.

Without constraints, there will always be some people who will take risks and skip the experimental phase to practice in clinical settings!

What can you do about the other party?
Under such circumstances, the only option is to implement an assessment mechanism.

In other words, the functional departments of the Health Commission need to play their role, and how the Health Commission can play its role is to strictly implement a certain assessment standard and further tighten and restrict the right to approve surgical procedures.

There is no other way!

Neither Fang Ziye nor Liu Huanglong has law enforcement authority!
“Teacher Liu, since you’ve put it that way, then even if I don’t want to be the villain, I have no choice but to do it,” Fang Ziye said.

The experience of being hit squarely in the forehead by a bullet will continue to feel the power of a boomerang as you get older.

Fang Ziye once found the strict management system of medicine to be 'annoying' because he always had to find ways to skip the surgical authorization stage.

But now that Fang Ziye has stepped forward and looks back, he realizes that these so-called rules are simply a basic line of protection for ordinary people and patients.

Ordinary people and patients don't understand whose medical skills are good and whose are not.

If the authority to perform surgery is not controlled, and a newly graduated young doctor can perform surgery at will, then it will be a nightmare for ordinary patients.

"How was the taste?" After finishing the meal, Liu Huanglong asked Fang Ziye for his feedback while wiping his mouth.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Teacher Liu." Fang Ziye offered plenty of emotional support.

Fang Ziye himself felt that the taste was just average, and it was really expensive. Even though he didn't see the bill, the waiter explained the price when the food was served, and the price was indeed calculated by the gram.

In the end, Liu Huanglong paid the bill. He didn't ask Fang Ziye if the food was good or not. After eating like a casual meal, they headed straight to the high-speed rail station.

Liu Huanglong gently placed the thermos on the folding table, the bottom of the cup making a dull thud as it hit the wooden surface. The fleeting light from outside the window cast dappled gold shadows on his glasses, making his long, narrow eyes appear even more profound. He adjusted the angle of his chair back, the leather fabric making a soft rubbing sound.

"Ziye, after we drop off our luggage at the hotel, you can come with me." He suddenly spoke, his fingers unconsciously stroking the second button of his suit.

Fang Ziye felt a fine sheen of sweat on the back of his neck; the air pressure changes as the high-speed train passed through tunnels caused his eardrums to bulge slightly. He stared at the speedometer display on the LCD screen behind the front seat—312 km/h—a speed that blurred the poplar trees outside the window into a hazy green wall.

“I’ve invited a few friends, who are all seniors in your industry. It’s a good opportunity for you to get to know each other.”

"It seems like you've hardly interacted with anyone since you took this position."

Fang Ziye knew that Liu Huanglong was trying to promote him, but he hadn't figured out how to respond yet, so he hesitated slightly.

“It’s okay, don’t be nervous. Among the people I’ve invited are associate professors. The only difference between you and them is that you’re a little younger…” Liu Huanglong explained gently.

To be fair, although Liu Huanglong isn't good-looking, he is genuinely gentle.

Moreover, his own temperament is also quite good.

"Teacher Liu, I already have plans for tonight." Fang Ziye decided to make things clear first.

Liu Huanglong's sleeve brushed against the edge of the small table, revealing a corner of the Patek Philippe Starry Night dial. As the second hand swept across the Scorpius Nebula, the light refracted by the watch crystal shone precisely on the back of Fang Ziye's hand, like a dancing phosphorescent flame. "Was it Professor Qiu, Professor Gu, or Professor Tang who agreed to see you?"

Liu Huanglong raised an eyebrow and asked, his tone slightly sarcastic.

Professors Qiu Zhenghua and Gu Yuandong were both old acquaintances of Fang Ziye.

Liu Huanglong had met with these two senior orthopedic surgeons long ago, but he had never been able to gain their approval.

Although my father-in-law is also a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, there are quite a few academicians in the two academies. Each person is in their own specialty. If you cross over to a different specialty, you may be more familiar with each other, but if you cross over to a more significant discipline...

Even with the introduction of his father-in-law, Academician Gu Yuandong and others only met Liu Huanglong once or twice as a formality...

Liu Huanglong may think he is quite good, but Professor Gu Yuandong has seen too many geniuses. Even Academician Chen, the pioneer of hand surgery, was once Professor Gu Yuandong's 'colleague'.

He is a genius himself, so he probably doesn't need to meet any other 'geniuses'.

"Neither," Fang Ziye shook his head.

"Then why are you still going?" Liu Huanglong blurted out instinctively.

"The doctors I've met this time are all top-notch professors in orthopedics in Kyoto."

The people Liu Huanglong visited this time were all senior figures in orthopedics. In the years to come, these people will definitely be the home turf of orthopedics in China.

“It’s not a teacher from within our orthopedics department, it’s Professor Zhang Limin who does basic research,” Fang Ziye said.

"Professor Zhang Limin? Who is that?" To be honest, although Liu Huanglong is a top professor, he knows more about the academicians because of his father-in-law.

However, Liu Huanglong wouldn't cling to the annual list of newly elected academicians, and he would memorize everyone's name and resume.

"I had already made an appointment with the professor who was selected as a new faculty member last year, along with Professor Tang Fupei from our department, who is working on basic oncology."

Fang Ziye quickly offered some emotional support: "Teacher Liu, next time there's something like this, you should let me know in advance."

If he is successfully elected along with Tang Fupei, he will definitely become an academician as well.

After a moment of silence, Liu Huanglong said quietly, "I can understand the fact that our orthopedic professors are mentoring you as a sign of their care for a junior."

"How come you're hanging out with professors who specialize in basic oncology?"

Liu Huanglong didn't wait for an answer. While tidying up the small table and putting down the thermos, he also tidied up the seat: "Of course, Ziye, you're a ruthless person too."

"I heard that they almost dislocated the leg of an academician professor."

The two had bought first-class seats, and they sat side by side without being disturbed.

The reason Liu Huanglong didn't buy a first-class seat was that he didn't want to be separated from Fang Ziye by a distance while they were chatting.

It's no secret that Fang Ziye wrote a letter; it was broadcast live, so it must have circulated internally.

However, since it was a live broadcast, no one thought that Fang Ziye was targeting the other party. They just thought that Fang Ziye was bold and accidentally became someone else's "gun"!
The competition for the election of academicians is extremely fierce.

Moreover, the current system of removing academicians means that those who can become academicians also have the opportunity to be removed from their positions.

What if that netizen is someone who doesn't get along with Academician Zhang Limin, and while watching the live stream, they try to get Fang Ziye to write a letter for Professor Zhang's team's article?
“This is Teacher Zhang,” Fang Ziye replied calmly.

"Uh~" Liu Huanglong choked.

"You've got some nerve!"

"Teacher Liu, that's why I haven't dared to do similar live streams lately. Netizens just love to watch the drama unfold."

"If I were to go live again now, I have no idea how enthusiastic or challenging the netizens' responses would be next time."

To be fair, Fang Ziye has made a name for himself in his inner circle.

Especially for those engaged in tumor research, if Fang Ziye were to start a live broadcast, some academic master's or doctoral students, who wouldn't mind making a big fuss, would really dig a lot of traps for him, and Fang Ziye wouldn't bother to be on guard.

Although Fang Ziye could change the format and pace of his live streams, he is currently quite busy and doesn't have time to do so in the short term.

Liu Huanglong didn't dwell on the question, but asked curiously, "We met by chance, and then you made a big splash in the scientific research community because of Tongji Hospital."

"Is this Teacher Zhang only befriending you because you can amplify things indiscriminately?"

As we all know, academic competition is not a real war, so it does not have a particularly standardized form, and sometimes it does not even need a trigger.

Therefore, there is no such thing as firepower restraint.

If you're skilled enough to spot flaws in other people's papers, you can use a nuclear bomb to kill a mosquito without any problem.

Even the most accomplished scholars, if they choose the wrong research topic, can lead others astray and prevent them from ever achieving anything significant.

In academia, there are not many people who can launch indiscriminate attacks.

While the academic community of Neo-Confucianism occasionally appears, the academic community of medicine appears very rarely; however, if it does appear even once, it will be recorded in the annals of medical history.

Moreover, as scientific research progresses further, the difficulty of launching indiscriminate attacks increases, and the time span inevitably becomes wider...

"More or less," Fang Ziye replied with a smile, not daring to admit that he was actively casting bait to catch fish.

Even the master who favors him the most would think he's gone mad, so Liu Huanglong would only feel that he's going further and further down the road to self-destruction.

Because Liu Huanglong probably understands the value and power of being an academician better than others at Zhongnan Hospital, and he himself is a beneficiary of it.

Liu Huanglong hesitated for a moment, then asked tentatively, "Ziye, will I have a chance to visit you in the next few days?"

There was already an appointment today, and it was Liu Huanglong who took the initiative to propose it. So, it's impossible for him to be absent since he was the one who requested the meeting.

"Teacher Liu, please stop testing me."

"I was lucky to be able to schedule a time with Teacher Zhang today."

"You want it? You want it?" Fang Ziye frowned and looked Liu Huanglong up and down for a while after saying that.

This statement is ambiguous and offensive.

Liu Huanglong's eyebrows immediately shot up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and he raised his chin: "Stop listening to those ridiculous rumors in the department!"

Liu Huanglong's wife has almost never appeared at Zhongnan Hospital. Liu Huanglong's father-in-law is a senior academician.

Therefore, some people speculate that Liu Huanglong is a true "academic lord," the kind who specifically serves others. In contrast, there are "academic ladies."

At least those who dare to joke with Liu Huanglong will occasionally say that Liu Huanglong is under a lot of pressure, and that he has to lift several hundred pounds every night... If the conversation doesn't go well, they'll quickly change the subject.

Liu Huanglong continued, "Ziye, when are you planning to hold your wedding? Why haven't we heard anything about it lately?"

"There's no rush. We'll wait until next year. We're already picking a good day."

"I will definitely let you know as soon as I have time, Professor Liu," Fang Ziye replied politely.

Upon hearing this, Liu Huanglong suddenly said quietly, "Actually... settling down early is also a good thing."

Fang Ziye glanced at Liu Huanglong for no apparent reason, but Liu Huanglong had already turned his head away, leaving Fang Ziye with an inscrutable profile.

……

A hotel in Kyoto.

Fang Ziye was examined several times before he was allowed into the room assigned to him.

The moment Fang Ziye pushed open the carved bronze door, he froze on the spot by the overwhelming scent of sandalwood.

On the entryway screen, crafted entirely from Burmese rosewood, the "A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains" painting inlaid with golden nanmu wood shimmered with an amber glow under the spotlights. He noticed the extremely fine gold threads hidden between the warp and weft of the Persian carpet beneath his feet, making each step feel like walking on a flowing galaxy.

The smart home system sensed the arrival of a guest and automatically raised the blackout curtains. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the golden glazed tiles of the Forbidden City appeared and disappeared in the twilight, like a lurking dragon. Fang Ziye's fingers traced the edge of the brass bathtub; the cool touch reminded him of the metallic luster of surgical instruments. His own reflection in the water blurred into a pale mist.

It looks unremarkable, especially the exterior and the hallway decoration, which are in a nouveau riche style.

But once he entered his own room, Fang Ziye truly realized what understated luxury meant.

The room is fully equipped.

The disinfected bathrobes and pajamas, the tea leaves, the brand-new tea set, the fully automatic tea brewing system, the tea room, the high-end ashtrays, and even the carpet on the floor—Fang Ziye felt that everything was very unusual.

The robes and pajamas were all brand new and sterilized, not the kind that are reused.

The tea is good; it smells quite nice, and they have black tea, green tea, Longjing tea, and more...

Even the water used to brew the tea is not purified tap water, but genuine spring water, at least that's what the bottle label says.

The dimming glass of the floor-to-ceiling windows is changing from fogged to transparent, and the silhouette of the corner tower of the Forbidden City emerges in the twilight, like an anatomical specimen soaked in formalin.

Fang Ziye's fingers brushed against the silk cushion at the foot of the bed, the slippery sensation reminding him of the omentum fat he had touched during surgery.

After Fang Ziye put down his luggage, Professor Zhang Limin called.

"Teacher Zhang." Fang Ziye was still admiring and marveling at the extravagance, his voice clear and crisp.

"Professor Fang, I'll send you the location. Please come over here first." Professor Zhang Limin's voice was rather serious, polite but undeniably authoritative.

This may be the real Professor Zhang Limin.

“Okay, Teacher Zhang, I just put my luggage down,” Fang Ziye replied.

"Hmm, I figured you should be at the hotel by now." Professor Zhang Limin hung up the phone, clearly indicating that it was inconvenient to say anything more over the phone.

……

Fang Ziye and Professor Zhang Limin met in a teahouse. When Fang Ziye arrived, Professor Zhang Limin had already arrived.

Professor Zhang Limin's left index finger was drawing circles along the edge of a celadon teacup, the glaze rubbing against his fingerprints producing a soft buzzing sound.

Various tea canisters were scattered on the rosewood display shelf.

"Professor Zhang." Fang Ziye pushed open the door and saw Professor Zhang Limin stuffing a snack into his mouth.

"Professor Fang, I just ordered a few things, and some tea too. If you don't like them, you can order something else you like," Zhang Limin said politely.

"No need, Professor Zhang," Fang Ziye replied somewhat guiltily, his eyes darting around slowly.

"No, no need. Our conversation today can't be finished in a short time, and we might even miss our meal."

"You weren't this polite when you were causing me trouble," Zhang Limin said with a smile.

Fang Ziye quickly sat down and explained, "Teacher Zhang, I explained it to you immediately. You said I could discuss it with you again later, so I took it seriously."

"However, Professor Zhang, this matter is quite sensitive. If I were to delve into it, I simply wouldn't be able to handle it properly, and I would have no choice but to back down."

"Does traditional Chinese medicine cause cancer?"

“Teacher Zhang, if you hadn’t promised, I would have taken off my clothes and quit long ago.”

"Even now, I can already imagine how the news will be written!" Fang Ziye's voice trailed off.

Traditional Chinese medicine treats both the root cause and the symptoms. It is composed of herbal extracts with no toxic side effects. Traditional Chinese medicine is based on principles, and its herbs are natural substances…

These ideas have taken root in people's minds. If such an event suddenly comes up at this time, anyone who does it will be labeled as "stifling the development of traditional Chinese medicine".

Once he was labeled with such a label, Fang Ziye was afraid that he would be secretly attacked by extremists.

"Do you know how big the market for traditional Chinese medicine is now?" Professor Zhang Limin suddenly asked, his voice like sandpaper scraping against pig iron.

Just then, the old clock in the hidden compartment struck the hour, the rhythm of its gilded bronze pendulum swaying overlapping with Fang Ziye's suddenly quickened heartbeat.

The aroma of roasted chestnuts wafted in from outside the window, but it was overwhelmed by the strong smell of aged Pu'er tea inside.

Zhang Limin's sudden action of using a tea needle to pry open the Pu'er tea cake was very similar to peeling off the mesentery that was stuck to the tumor.

As the tea leaves, aged for twenty years, fluttered down, Fang Ziye smelled a pungent odor similar to xylene found in pathology clinics—it was a quinone compound produced by the oxidation of tea polyphenols.

"This matter is more sensitive than just that!"

“Professor Fang, you are now labeled with the name of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner Chen. I have looked into Professor Chen; he is the first person to oppose orthodox Traditional Chinese Medicine.”

"Still excluded from the traditional Chinese medicine community..."

"You speculate that the recent increase in cancer rates in several nearby villages might be due to a 'folk remedy' from some 'traditional Chinese medicine doctor'?"

"But he can do this because he is who he is, this kind of thing, you?"

"What's your explanation?" Zhang Limin gave him a disdainful look, but quickly withdrew his double eyelids.

Fang Ziye noticed that the blue-and-white porcelain jar on the second shelf of the antique display case bore the logo of Peking Union Medical College 1921, and the wax seal on the jar's mouth had developed spiderweb-like cracks. When Zhang Limin poured the tea into the crackled teacup, the brown liquid surged between the cracks, much like the image of contrast agent spreading in the newly formed blood vessels of a tumor.

"Therefore, Teacher Zhang, I am the most self-aware."

"Do it if you can, otherwise forget it."

"Until now, only you and Teacher Zhang know about this. If you don't agree, I won't say or mention this secret again," Fang Ziye said honestly.

Zhang Limin looked at Fang Ziye with a troubled expression: "Professor Fang, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization has identified so many Group 1 carcinogens, such as chemicals, microorganisms, and smoking."

"Why are you ignoring all of these issues and directly targeting traditional Chinese medicine?"

"I still don't understand it."

Zhang Limin is still struggling with his emotions after seeing the information Fang Ziye sent him.

IARC categorizes substances into different groups based on their relevance to cancer:

Group 1: Known to be carcinogenic to humans. Group 2A: Probably carcinogenic to humans (strong evidence). Group 2B: Probably carcinogenic to humans (weak evidence). Group 3: Probably not carcinogenic to humans.

Traditional Chinese medicine is currently classified into three categories.

“Even if you don’t target Category 1, you could at least target Category 2, right?” Zhang Limin added, sounding annoyed.

Zhang Limin is an academician, but he doesn't dare to express his opinion easily.

Otherwise, given the emotions and temperaments of the Chinese people, they would definitely point fingers and curse you, curse your ancestors for eighteen generations, or even gossip behind your back and spread rumors that you are a traitor and sell out the country.

"Professor Zhang, couldn't it be that the problem lies with just one doctor? For example, perhaps the prescription was incorrect, or the dosage was wrong?"

"To rise to such a high level?" Fang Ziye asked.

"Let me tell you, this is the reality right now!"

"I don't know why, but in recent years, the medical expenses related to traditional Chinese medicine and prepared Chinese medicine in our country have exceeded the drug expenses of modern medicine."

"But!~"

"There is a slight difference in the number of patients treated by the two groups," Zhang Limin said.

After saying that, Zhang Limin added with particular caution: "These data are limited to the information I have found."

To be honest, Fang Ziye didn't even think about it in this direction at first; his first thought was about chemical raw materials.

There are no chemical-related factories nearby, only pig farms.

However, chemical carcinogens are actually relatively easy to detect, and the country has very strict controls over them.

If it wasn't a chemical product, Fang Ziye also considered that it might be that the dishwashing liquid was not being used correctly, and that several nearby villages were using counterfeit or substandard products.

However, it was later confirmed that they were not, and they were all common products on the market.

Microorganisms are not either...

Professor Zhou Yan represents more than just a laboratory, or a top-tier hospital like Xiangya Hospital; they represent more than just the medical profession.

The fact that Professor Zhou Yan and his team found nothing under these circumstances proves that this suspected new carcinogen is indeed very new.

Zhang Limin asked, "Professor Fang, are you sure you obtained relevant supporting evidence in the laboratory?"

Fang Ziye nodded and then shook his head: "Professor Zhang, I don't dare to use the finished product directly. I only made a part of the structure."

"But Professor Zhang, this medicine is now widely recognized as the most promising traditional Chinese medicine to become an anti-cancer drug."

"Don't say anything yet." Upon hearing this, Zhang Limin looked around.

After looking around to make sure no one was around, Zhang Limin said, "Don't say anything yet, don't say anything substantial."

"Shall we discuss other possibilities first, such as the compatibility issue?"

"The dosage, etc."

Zhang Limin first told Fang Ziye not to jump to conclusions.

Fang Ziye quickly and cautiously replied, "Yes, Teacher Zhang, it's possible, it's a possibility..."

Fang Ziye doesn't dare tell Chen Song about this kind of thing now.

As far as Fang Ziye knew, there was a team in the sanatorium's laboratory conducting basic experiments on the anti-cancer effects of traditional Chinese medicine, believing that many Chinese herbs, after purification, could be used to treat certain types of cancer.

The analogy is drawn from artemisinin and malaria.

"This opening is not easy to make, nor will it be opened particularly easily."

"Professor Fang, you can also think about whether there are other factors, such as Class 1 or Class 2 substances, preferably existing ones."

"Even if it is not a currently recognized carcinogen, it is best to be an inorganic substance or a synthetic product."

"Even a new fungus, bacteria, or virus would be acceptable."

"Find a transit point." Zhang Limin tapped the table with his right hand.

"Let me make one statement first, Professor Fang: we're not being cowardly; we're using a roundabout approach to achieve our goals."

"First, find an objectively existing third product, and then confirm that this third product is relevant before determining that a certain formula has a real linear correlation with the third product."

"This is the safest option..."

Wisps of smoke rose from the sandalwood tea table, and the aroma of aged Pu'er tea from the purple clay teapot filled the office. Academician Zhang Limin tapped the rosewood tabletop with his right index and middle fingers, the rhythm remarkably similar to the heartbeat of a monitor on an operating table.

“Professor Zhang, this isn’t right.” Fang Ziye swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the crackle pattern on the celadon cup. The shadows of the sycamore leaves outside the window slanted across his thin face through the blinds, dividing his amber eyes into fragments of light and shadow. “I’m not the kind of person who goes down that path.”

The sound of boiling water coming from the tea room suddenly became sharp, just like his tense nerves at that moment. Zhang Limin picked up a Jun kiln celadon teacup with crackle glaze, tilted his head back and drank the tea with the swiftness of a scalpel, the sound of him swallowing was particularly clear in the quiet office.

“This has nothing to do with whether you’re part of the contact tracing team or not.” Zhang Limin slammed his teacup down on the table, the wood grain trembling with the weight of time. “Your identity badge has been etched into your spine from the day you stepped into the sanatorium.”

He lightly tapped his temple with his index finger, his graying temples edged with silver in the backlight. "You're young, you haven't seen the bloodshed of decades ago."

"Back when Mr. Chen proposed to clean up the TCM community, I was still eating sandwiches at Johns Hopkins." Zhang Limin picked up the Pu'er tea from the tea scoop with tweezers, and the dark brown tea cake crumbs fell into the Jingdezhen blue and white porcelain tea caddy. "He advocated that 'TCM has no unorthodox remedies' and wanted to get rid of quack doctors who couldn't diagnose diseases from the medical profession—do you know how many people's livelihoods that would mean?"

(End of this chapter)