This doctor is already middle-aged, and he's only just started practicing medicine.

Chapter 41: Academic Rigor!

Lu Cheng's expression was a little stiff, mainly because Tong Yuan'an's explanation was too broad.

While China and Japan are certainly neighboring and 'friendly' countries, that's just a slogan we have to use, since it's the 21st century now.

As for the actual relationship and attitude...

You could say that if someone can outdo the other side, even if it's something as simple as peeing further, countless people will flock to them. It's something ingrained in their very genes.

"Teacher Tong, will this Tajima suture technique work well?" Lu Cheng didn't answer directly, but stared into Tong Yuan'an's eyes and asked in return.

Academic competition is perfectly normal, but if you want to outdo others and then have Lu Cheng learn this technique and apply it to patients, what if it ends up harming them?
"According to reports, the Tajima method combined with carbon fiber reinforced sutures has shortened the time for professional athletes to return to competition to 6 months, while other traditional suturing techniques require at least 9 months, and this is still the application in Achilles tendon repair."

After Tong Yuan'an finished speaking, he licked his lips: "While I may not like it, this stitching technique does have its advantages."

"If it didn't actually have something to offer, we wouldn't bother with such a clown."

"But we can't easily give up the achievements that senior Tang Jinbo made in tendon suturing techniques."

"And this kind of therapeutic effect is something that even the 'modified Tang method' cannot currently achieve..."

The world is evolving, and so is technology. The dazzling Tang method, which redefined tendon sutures in uninhabited areas, is now a thing of the past.

When it comes to history books, China's brilliance is unmatched, but that doesn't change its status as a relatively weak country in technological innovation. We can't always rely on history to explain things.

The medical technology in Xiao Rizi is indeed quite good.

Lu Cheng was relieved: "That's fine, I can learn it..."

Since the Tajima suture technique may be even better than the modified Tang method, learning it can truly benefit the people of China and patients in Longxian County.

When it comes to learning technology, Lu Cheng doesn't care about the "nationality" of the technology!
Of course, after Lu Cheng finished speaking, he lowered his head slightly and looked at Tong Yuan'an with sincere eyes, his tone ingratiating: "That's right, Teacher Tong, may I also learn the suturing techniques of your esteemed institution?"

Why are you learning so much?

“Your hospital only needs one modified Tang method to penetrate it,” Tong Yuan’an said.

"No, I should learn whatever I can, right? What do you think, Professor Tong? Or I can learn it after you finish your research project," Lu Cheng said.

Good technology is never too much, no matter how many times it's deployed.

Because he had personally experienced the difficulty of learning technical skills.

Tong Yuan'an nodded, his expression serious: "Lu Cheng, it's not that I don't want to teach you, but the subject matter must be taken seriously."

"If you learn two techniques at the same time, and your proficiency in both is about the same, no one can be sure whether you have any 'nationality disdain' or are deliberately trying to belittle the superior and praise the inferior, you understand?"

"That's wrong. You may not like it, but you can't criticize a technology just for the sake of criticizing it."

“Your teacher Chen has never been exposed to this kind of ideological debate, which is why he asked me, rather uninformed, why I don’t study it.”

"You son of a bitch? Speak properly..." Chen Song sat there blankly as Tong Yuan'an hit him with a stick, feeling utterly innocent.

"It's your own question that's unprofessional, is it my fault?" Tong Yuan'an mocked.

Chen Song fell silent because he had never experienced a competition between two technological philosophies.

This debate about philosophies is about whether my treatment is good or yours is good, but to determine which philosophy is better, we'll have to see how it's done.

"So, Xiao Lu, the requirement I have for you is that you must be skilled, skilled to the extreme, and you must do your best in everything you do."

"The techniques may have originated from friendly countries, but the patients who receive treatment using these techniques are our Chinese patients," Tong Yuan'an emphasized.

"Yes, okay, Teacher Tong, I will do my best." Lu Cheng nodded vigorously, keeping those words in mind. Tong Yuan'an was right. The technology could come from abroad, but the direct recipients of his technology were Chinese people, and it was being carried out in Long County, possibly even his own relatives and friends.

“That’s all, Chen Song. I’ve stated my purpose, and I plan to stay in Long County for a while…” Tong Yuan’an winked at Chen Song.

What I mean is, you're staying for three months for a promotion, and I'm staying longer for my research project. What happens after you leave is another matter.

Chen Song fell silent.

Tong Yuan'an was his friend, college classmate, and roommate. The two had a very good relationship, so Tong Yuan'an spoke very frankly.

When you, Chen Song, are here, I can hold my tongue, but after you leave, I'll be taking over from Xiao Lu.

Chen Song's eyes narrowed, and he said irritably, "We'll see when the time comes!"

"Don't talk about that now, let's eat! With so much delicious food, can't you even satisfy your cravings?"

Tong Yuan'an laughed, his fat jiggling: "Didn't you tell me to say it? If I don't speak, you get arrogant; if I do speak, you get unhappy, so I'm happy."

"Let's drink," Chen Song said.

……

"You can now routinely perform the modified Tang method, but before treating patients, you must make it clear that the modified Tang method sutured at the flexor tendon in Zone 2 is not an absolute miracle cure."

"The success rate is still only around 85%. The remaining 15% still have the possibility of surgical failure and require a second surgery."

"This probability is not unique to your hospital; it's the same all over the world. Although tendons in uninhabited areas have been defined as repairable tendons, the success rate is still less than 90%."

"As for learning the Tajima suture technique, you need to practice the Tsushita suture technique first. Once you have a certain level of proficiency, I will teach you. Don't try to do too much at once."

"By the way, send me a picture of your progress in practicing basic suturing skills. I'll give you some pointers based on your skill level..." After sending Chen Song and Tong Yuan'an back to their 'dormitory', Lu Cheng walked along Yuelu Avenue, recalling what Professor Tong Yuan'an had said.

I'm in a good mood.

The sky was clear and the sun was shining, there wasn't a cloud in the sky, and a warm breeze was blowing, so I wasn't cold at all.

How could it be cold in the middle of summer?

Lu Cheng didn't choose to take a taxi, but continued walking, stretching his arms out like a teenager, occasionally twisting his neck and swaying his waist, moving with great ease.

Now, with Associate Chief Physician Xiang Daihong's rural outreach program put on hold, and setting aside Professor Tong Yuan'an, Lu Cheng has firmly established himself as the leading surgeon for tendon rupture in Longxian County.

The technology is in your own possession; no one can take it away from you.

This feeling is so good...

Halfway there, Lu Cheng received a phone call and said, "Brother Zhang, I just had some drinks and I can't go on stage. Please transfer the patient to another hospital."

“Yes, that’s right!” Lu Cheng replied without any hesitation.

Doctors are human too; they have a certain degree of freedom in their daily lives, including food, clothing, shelter, and social interactions.

Lu Cheng has already devoted most of his time to the hospital, so it's not wrong for him to pick up his teacher for a drink.

After all, before Lu Cheng, patients were referred to other hospitals. Even if Lu Cheng could perform tendon suture surgery, he couldn't be on call 24/7, 365 days a year. There would always be gaps in his schedule...

If we want to be able to routinely treat tendon sutures at any time, we need more people who know how to suture tendons.

Both individual and regional skill mastery are gradual processes, sharing a similar principle.

(End of this chapter)