This is a provincial competition, and you can gain a lot of points when evaluating professional titles.

"The award certificate is a sure thing, Dr. Lu, if you're not too busy, shall we go have a cup of tea together?"

"There's no need to worry about your results and awards here. With Professor Cao overseeing things, I'd guess your award certificates are already stamped." Huang Gengwen invited.

"Thank you, Teacher Huang, for the invitation. My wife just arrived, and I'm taking her around to have a look. It's not very convenient now, but next time, if there's an opportunity, I'll definitely seek your guidance, Teacher Huang." Lu Cheng responded flawlessly.

The refusal was obvious, and a reason was found.

"That's truly unfortunate. Fate hasn't aligned." Huang Gengwen had clearly researched Lu Cheng's background, learning some details from the Hand Surgery department.

No matter how things change within Union Hospital, Lu Cheng's current label is still associated with Union Hospital.

Union Hospital is better than Xiangya Hospital, and if Lu Cheng sticks to this point, Huang Gengwen can't say much more.

Cao Qianwei from the Second Hospital approached Lu Cheng yesterday and was also refused. Seeing Huang Gengwen refused today, he actually felt considerably more comfortable.

This proves that Lu Cheng's rejections are indiscriminate, not targeting him specifically, Cao Qianwei.

...

After Huang Gengwen left, Lu Cheng noticed a particularly robust and sturdy young man approaching him. His physique naturally brought a sense of pressure to Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng initially didn't want to pay attention, but the young man walked straight in Lu Cheng's direction.

"Director Song, Dr. Lu is here, we've been looking for him." The voice of the 195 cm burly man was a different kind of pleasant broadcast tone.

This wasn't the voice of Xiang Dahong that Lu Cheng heard yesterday.

"Hello, Dr. Lu… I heard you're from Long County People's Hospital? I'm from State People's Hospital General Surgery. My name is Song Xin."

"This is Xiang Dahong, from our hospital's Orthopedics department. You and Dr. Lu might be considered kindred." Song Xin introduced himself.

Song Xin was only 160 cm, with a skinny, upright build, originally a normal figure for Xiang Province, but standing next to Xiang Dahong, he created some sort of discordant vibe.

Song Xin looked like a child.

"Dr. Song, Director Xiang." Lu Cheng quickly spoke.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Dahong immediately explained: "Lu Cheng, this Director Song is the head of our General Surgery Hepatobiliary Surgery department, I'm just a junior attending."

"Director Song." Lu Cheng quickly corrected himself.

Song Xin waved his hand: "No worry, we're all folks from the same hometown."

"But Dr. Lu, you're quite formidable as an old hometown. Achieving such results, it's simply incredible."

"But Dr. Lu, why did you go to Long County People's Hospital and not come to our hospital?" Song Xin said with a dried-up smile.

Lu Cheng squeezed out a flattering 'smile': "Director Song, the threshold at State People's Hospital was too high. I did go there."

"But I just went through the procedure and got brushed off. That was many years ago."

Originally, Song Xin was just being polite, but unexpectedly, Lu Cheng had indeed gone to Xiangzhou People's Hospital, which wasn't what he had anticipated.

Fortunately, Song Xin knew that Lu Cheng was previously an orthopedics doctor. He glanced at Xiang Dahong: "Director Xiang, is there such a thing?"

Xiang Dahong's Adam's apple moved: "Director Song, it was Director Li who was the big boss in our Orthopedics department."

"I'm just a junior attending, and I don't handle personnel matters at all. Whether Lu Cheng was rejected a hundred times is none of my business."

Song Xin encountered a setback right away, making it difficult to carry the conversation further: "Dr. Lu, perhaps there was some misunderstanding earlier. Let's add each other on WeChat, and we can stay in touch for future opportunities."

"Sure, Director Song, I'll scan you." Lu Cheng did not refuse, as there was a possibility he might interact with him later when visiting Xiangzhou People's Hospital.

Lu Cheng knew that with his current academic background, if he wanted to jump to a top hospital, he must follow the associate senior program.

And during the period of ascension to associate senior, staying in Long County is inappropriate. It's impossible to undertake a project in Long County, which is detrimental to long-term development.

Lu Cheng then proceeded with Mu Nanshu to the blood vessel competition field, discovering that the first place in the blood vessel competition was not one of the associate seniors he had encountered before.

Instead, it was the attending physician Hu Yi from Xiangya Hospital.

Tong Yuan'an never mentioned this Hu Yi to Lu Cheng, yet Hu Yi unobtrusively secured the first place with an impressive rating of 98.

The second place went to Wei Jianwen, associate professor from the Second Hospital…

Lu Cheng's ranking further descended, reaching the tenth place.

In this competition, there are three first-place spots, six second-place spots, and ten third-place spots.

Lu Cheng could only secure the third place in the vascular surgery track.

"Hmm, the vessel suturing track is the mainstream track for microsurgery competitions, usually a specialty field for hand surgeons and vascular surgeons."

"Overall, in terms of microsurgery operations, hand surgery tends to be more intricate than procedures in vascular surgery."

"Because general vascular surgery doesn't typically involve intricate vessel suturing." Lu Cheng explained to Mu Nanshu.

"Hmm." Mu Nanshu nodded, inspecting the names on the rankings, seeming quite pleased.

"There are more people in this competition field than in other tracks, a lot more than in the substantial organ track. Securing a third place in such a setting is already pretty good."

"Do you know all the people on these lists?"

Lu Cheng shook his head: "Know some, Professor Tong recommended them, but not very familiar."

"The night before yesterday, after I went to find Professor Tong, all those teachers had left."

While Lu Cheng was speaking, a batch of contestants brushing scores reached new heights again.