State People’s Hospital, Emergency Department, Senior Titles Office.

Xiao Zhaoxi took the cigarette handed over by Tian Zhiliang, snapped it on with a click: "Zhiliang, what do you think of this Xiao Lu? He’s been with you for two days now."

Tian Zhiliang rubbed his bald head and tapped it with his index finger, his expression slightly bitter: "Director Xiao, you’ve handed me a trouble."

"What do you mean? Is he not useful?" Xiao Zhaoxi spoke with a cigarette in his mouth, the end bobbing as he talked, holding a phone in his hand, scrolling up and down.

"It’s not that he’s not useful; he’s actually a bit more remarkable than the rumors suggest."

Tian Zhiliang thought seriously for a moment, then spoke formally: "Director Xiao, the surgery in the general surgery department a few days ago, although it wasn’t publicly shared, there have been quite a few rumors within the hospital."

"We’ve discussed in private, thinking that this Lu Cheng is probably being promoted by some big shot, and this unexpected incident is one of his opportune moments to debut."

"After all, you know, everyone says Lu Cheng doesn’t have much background or education."

"Later, I reviewed Lu Cheng’s resume. The techniques he excelled in during the skills competition must have been learned from somewhere."

Xiao Zhaoxi nodded lightly, pinched the cigarette with his right hand, and put the phone in his pocket: "So what’s your conclusion?"

"There’s no one really behind Lu Cheng, or perhaps, he is the person behind himself as we imagined."

"Just thinking about it is a bit terrifying!"

"A thirty-year-old guy, with a bachelor’s degree, a resume from a County Hospital, coming up with an original suturing technique, it sounds like something only found in internet stories."

Xiao Zhaoxi took notice of Lu Cheng, not because he had conducted extensive background checks, but simply because of Mu Leng’s recommendation and the hearsay he received.

In the selection exams, networking can play a part, just like recruiting one’s own relatives, as long as they can handle the basics and don’t make any major mistakes, everyone turns a blind eye.

No one really thinks of recruiting any ’experts’ through the selection process!

Because these experts mostly come through talent introduction channels.

Although Lu Cheng claimed he was following along with projects, who knows if he was propped up by someone with connections?

Xiao Zhaoxi had seen plenty of such things.

Elementary students writing SCIs are no longer rare in China.

Being a matter of personal favor, Xiao Zhaoxi didn’t give it much thought, as long as Lu Cheng performed adequately. The emergency department is a hard post anyway, unlikely to attract anyone with real connections, and he planned to turn a blind eye.

But seeing Lu Cheng’s written test scores left Xiao Zhaoxi dumbfounded. Upon privately investigating Lu Cheng further, he discovered differences.

How could Xiao Zhaoxi focus on a "Lu Cheng" recommended by a relative and seriously consider Lu Cheng as a priority in his work and life?

"Does he have abilities? Can you be more specific?" Xiao Zhaoxi’s tone turned more serious.

There is a complete difference in treatment and planning between a new colleague and a competent talent entering the department.

Tian Zhiliang said, "When we were on an emergency shift together, the hand surgery and general surgery people in our hospital all treated Lu Cheng with courtesy."

"That definitely wasn’t an act."

"Later, I inquired about it privately. Just last month, our province held a micro-surgery skills competition."

"Lu Cheng alone made it to four lists, and he even refused to meet with the general surgery professors at Xiangya Second Hospital."

"Those are top professors; I don’t even have the qualifications to line up for a meeting."

Tian Zhiliang said this, flicked his cigarette ash, and cleared his throat: "Anyway, I feel that I can’t quite figure out what Lu Cheng is really up to."

"According to our colleagues in the hospital, Lu Cheng going to a unit like Xiangya Second Hospital is very promising, and he would be specially guided by a mentor."

"But he didn’t agree, instead choosing to participate in our hospital’s selection exam."

"Director Xiao, can you understand that?"

Everyone has their own world and circle. When strictly speaking, Xiao Zhaoxi and Tian Zhiliang’s circle is a radius centered around their home and workplace, and most of their activities and contacts are within this circle.

Lu Cheng is an outsider; they hadn’t interacted much before, or even knew him.

But in changing perspectives, Tian Zhiliang couldn’t figure out Lu Cheng.

"I can’t either." Xiao Zhaoxi wanted to say, I actually understand it even less than you do.

On the surface, the gap between Lu Cheng and Mu Leng’s daughter Mu Nanshu seems so large. If Lu Cheng has a chance to enter an equivalent top-tier hospital, why doesn’t he go?

Unless what Mu Nanshu said is true, that doing projects in Ji City is a significant topic, even a major one useful for Mu Nanshu.

But why would such a project fall on Lu Cheng?

Suddenly, Tian Zhiliang said, "Director Xiao, without mentioning these unclear aspects, overall, Lu Cheng’s professional competence is definitely not a problem."

"If he could come to our department, he could even replace your duty shifts and practice independently."

Xiao Zhaoxi glanced at Tian Zhiliang and said, "This time we have no choice; the other two people didn’t come for the subsequent reexamination. Good or bad, it’s just him."

Tian Zhiliang quickly said, "Director Xiao, that’s not what I meant."