At that time, he didn’t quite understand this sentence, but later he slowly realized that it wasn’t humility; it was the truth.

The more you do, the more you think; the more you think, the better you do.

This is the whole secret.

During those three months, he performed many surgeries with Professor Yang, discussed many cases, and drank tea many times. Yang Ping didn’t talk much, but every word hit the point. Sometimes, when he asked a question, Yang Ping would be silent for a long time, and then say something that suddenly enlightened him.

After returning from China, August’s surgical style changed—more meticulous, more ingenious, and more daring in doing things others wouldn’t. He boldly adopted Yang’s Osteotomy Technique for Spinal Scoliosis Surgery, which initially caused a stir of opposition in Europe.

Two years later, he published his paper on complex spinal deformities, which created a sensation in the European spinal surgery community. Another year passed, and he was elected as the president of the European Spinal Surgery Association. And Milton, his rival for twenty years, finally lowered his head before him.

The phone rang; it was a message from Professor Yang in the international academic group. He clicked to see, it was Robert causing a stir again, sharing a photo of him with Jack Sullivan, captioned, "Guess what surgery I did for him?"

The group instantly became lively.

This Robert, always so high-profile, yet he had to admit, Robert was right. No matter who they were, they couldn’t have got to where they were without Professor Yang.

He thought for a moment and sent a message: "Milton officially acknowledged to me three days ago that he’s not as good as me."

There was a few seconds of silence in the group, and then it exploded.

Robert was the first to reply: "Really? That British guy? Hasn’t he been arguing with you for twenty years?"

Woodhead sent a row of exclamation marks: "August, you finally waited for this day!"

Takahashi sent a clapping emoji: "Congratulations."

August looked at those messages, thought for a moment, and replied: "He said he saw my paper and surgery video, and he couldn’t do it; he couldn’t catch up with me anymore."

After sending this message, he suddenly felt a bit sentimental.

Twenty years of debate, twenty years of competition, ended with this simple statement. No boasting from the winner, no regret from the loser, just a candid acknowledgment from an old rival.

Robert sent another message: "Whom should you thank?"

August looked at that line, silent for a while.

Then he replied: "Thanks to our teacher."

He didn’t say much, but he knew everyone in the group understood.

After a few minutes, Professor Yang’s message appeared in the group. Very simple, just two words:

"Keep going!"

"Dinner’s ready," Anna knocked on the door, "I’ve made the pig knuckles you like today."

He stood up and walked out of the study. The meal was already laid out on the dining table, along with a glass of chilled beer.

During dinner, Anna suddenly asked, "What were you laughing about in the study just now? So loudly?"

He was stunned for a moment: "Was I?"

Anna said: "Yes, you seemed really happy."

He thought for a moment and said: "I just remembered some things."

Anna didn’t ask further; she just looked at him with a gentle understanding in her eyes.

After dinner, he returned to the study and read for a while. Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened, and the lights along the Rhine River began to illuminate.

He suddenly thought of a question; what’s Milton thinking now?

That British man, somewhere in London today, might he be recalling each issue they debated and every position they competed for over the years?

He knew that from now on, his relationship with Milton wouldn’t be the same as before. No longer rivals, no longer enemies. They were friends; in fact, they were always friends—friends who quarreled whenever they met.

The door was knocked again; it was his younger son, Max.

"Dad, can you help me with this problem?"

He nodded and took the workbook his son handed over—a math problem about function graphs.

He looked at it for a while and suddenly thought of a question; if life were a function curve, what would his graph look like?

Rising steadily in youth, hitting a bottleneck in middle age, then three years ago, the curve jumped upward again.

He picked up a pen, drew a diagram for his son on scratch paper, and explained step by step. Max understood and happily said thank you.

He patted his son’s head and said, "No need to thank me; ask me anytime when you don’t understand something."

After his son left, he sat alone in the study, looking at the night outside the window.

The phone rang again; it was a private message from Milton.

"About what happened a few days ago, I don’t want many people to know, but every word I said was sincere."

He looked at that line, silent for a while.

Then he replied, "I know, thank you."

After sending, he placed the phone aside, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

A sense of indescribable tranquility arose in his heart.

He recalled Yang Ping’s words: "There is no end to medicine; all you can do is keep moving forward."

But he also knew that he could go further because someone was leading him ahead.

The next day, August went to work at the hospital as usual.

During the morning meeting, a young doctor asked him a question about choosing the surgical approach for spinal scoliosis. He thought for a moment, clarified the advantages and disadvantages of several approaches, and then said, "This patient’s situation is special and can’t use conventional methods; I suggest using Yang’s Osteotomy Technique."

The young doctor asked, "Yang’s Osteotomy Technique?"

August nodded: "Yes, starting today, I will systemically teach you Yang’s Osteotomy Technique for treating severe spinal scoliosis."

The young doctor nodded, jotting down notes in his notebook.

He looked at the young man and suddenly remembered himself many years ago. Back then, he was like that, chasing after his teacher with questions, desperately trying to cram all the knowledge into his brain.

Other doctors immediately became excited because Yang’s Osteotomy Technique is particularly suited for very severe spinal scoliosis, yet due to the high threshold of scoliosis surgery, August had not taught them until now. The sudden announcement made everyone very happy.

"Markus, you’ve been my assistant for several years, now I’m letting you begin as chief surgeon, while the others will accumulate clinical experience," August announced.

"Thank you, sir, I will definitely work hard," Markus had finally waited for this day.

"Everyone should continue working hard to learn Chinese because many of Professor Yang’s papers are published in Chinese. To access the most advanced spinal surgery knowledge, you must learn Chinese in order to read the original papers," August emphasized.

Everyone confidently nodded: "I’ve been learning."

Yes, they’ve always been learning Chinese because each of them hopes to understand the Medical Journal, which contains the most advanced medical knowledge in the world today.

At noon, August received a phone call. It was the secretary of the European Spinal Surgery Society, saying there was an invitation to give a keynote report at an international academic conference, scheduled for next spring.

He asked, "Where?"

The secretary said: "China, Nandu."

"Alright, I’ll go." He didn’t hesitate.

Nandu Provincial City, the city where he stayed for three months, the city that changed his life.

He’s going back.

This time, he’s not going to learn, but to report. But he knows, no matter what he reports, no matter how well he speaks, in that city, before that person, he will always be a student.

He remembered Robert frequently saying in the group: "I am Professor Yang Ping’s first North American student."

August now positioned himself: Professor Yang Ping’s first European student.

He himself will also teach the things learned from Yang Ping to these young students, bit by bit.

Just like Yang Ping did for them.

This is a legacy.

He picked up his phone and sent Yang Ping a message: "Professor, see you next year in Guangzhou."