I Can Talk to the Internal Organs-Chapter 132 - 107: First Authorship

The next day, at Lu’s Clinic.

Lu Jiu was busy with consultations when he suddenly received a call from his Uncle Lu Feng.

Answering the call, Lu Jiu smiled and said, "Uncle, has Elder Huang and the others arrived in Jianghan?"

Lu Feng had mentioned it to him briefly before, and Lu Jiu had kept it in mind.

"Huh? How did you know it was someone with the surname Huang? I don’t recall telling you who it was," Lu Feng asked.

"I guessed." Lu Jiu replied.

"You kid... I’m not calling to talk about that. Have you recently treated a patient with diabetic foot?" Lu Feng asked.

Lu Jiu immediately knew it must be Bai Chuan’s attending physician who found out about this, but he didn’t understand how this matter reached Lu Feng’s ears.

"What’s going on?" Lu Jiu asked.

"The Dean of People’s Hospital, Dean Huang, called me. He wants to invite you to collaborate on a research project, something about the effects and mechanism of sugar on the healing of diabetic foot wounds. Honestly, I was puzzled at first when I heard this, but then he explained that you’ve been using sugar to treat a diabetic foot patient with good results, so they want to invite you to explore it further. I don’t understand much about the medical field, but this is an opportunity for you."

"If this research is successful and gets published in a major journal, it will be a big help for your future path. With the selection process for Chinese medicine inclusion in elementary and middle schools about to start, having more achievements will give you more opportunities. Later on, you can also use these credentials to participate in offline forums in the Chinese medicine community, learning and exchanging ideas with many Chinese medicine masters. So, I do hope you can participate in this project."

After all, Lu Feng worked in the Health Commission, and his perspective was broader.

Of course, this was also because the medical system highly values these things.

Evaluations for titles, salary increases, all these are tied to it.

This is the game rule!

Lu Jiu, having worked in a hospital before, was no stranger to these things, but he didn’t want to spend too much energy on them.

"Uncle, I’m willing to do the research, but my name must be listed first. Also, I might not have time to go to their place to participate in the research. If they have any questions, I can answer them unconditionally. If they can accept this, I’m fine with it; if not, they can do it themselves." Lu Jiu said.

Lu Jiu wanted his name to be first not for the research result, but so that when the research is seen, people know it’s Chinese medicine, an ancestral heritage.

This insistence might make people feel Lu Jiu’s thinking is very narrow. Most might think that as long as it can cure, help patients, who cares if it’s Chinese or Western medicine? Aren’t you just trying to stay conservative?

But Lu Jiu didn’t care what others said. He just wanted to prove that the ancestors were not superstitious or ignorant; their wisdom is something we still cannot match. This crystallization of wisdom is for everyone to use freely, but one must know whose it is!

Just like how the ancient invention of the 谙黛 (.shader-) is essentially today’s glasses. If we don’t popularize it, how many would know glasses were invented by Huaxia?

"That’s a given. If you’re not the first author, I’ll have a good talk with Dean Huang. This thing started with you. If they dare to claim it, hehe, I still have a say. As for the research, of course, you shouldn’t stay in their hospital every day. Rest assured, as long as you don’t object, I’ll handle it for you." Lu Feng laughed.

"Hey, thanks, Uncle." Lu Jiu smiled.

"No need to thank me. That’s it, hanging up now." Lu Feng said.

After hanging up, Lu Jiu continued with his consultations. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

On the other side, after Lu Feng connected with Huang Qianqi, Fang Qian also got the news.

On hearing that Lu Jiu wanted the first author spot but wouldn’t join his research team, Fang Qian felt a bit emotional.

After all, the first author’s spot on a paper indicates the greatest contribution to the research.

Even if Lu Jiu wasn’t contributing at all, asking for that spot, Fang Qian’s first reaction was understandably some discontent.

But thinking it over, without Lu Jiu, the project might not have existed, making him the first author was indeed fair and reasonable.

Also, Huang Qianqi mentioned that Fang Qian could consult Lu Jiu for any doubts, which calmed Fang Qian.

Plus, with a deputy director from the Health Commission overseeing, how would Fang Qian dare to have a mood?

However, as long as the project succeeds, Fang Qian can use sugar to address diabetic patient complications clinically, and provide a new solution for diabetic foot to more medical practitioners.

In public and private, the significance of this project made it worthwhile for Fang Qian to pursue.

With support from Huang Qianqi, Fang Qian began forming a team.

Endocrinology department office.

"What’s going on?"

"No idea, the director mentioned a project."

"What direction?"

"Ask Brother Li."

"Brother Li, do you know the inside story?"

"Not clear, waiting. Director Fang will come for a meeting soon."

Soon, Fang Qian entered the office, and all the doctors immediately stopped their actions.

"Sorry everyone, I know you’re busy, so this meeting will be brief. Here’s the thing, I applied for a project with Dean Huang to research the effects and mechanism of sugar on healing diabetic foot wounds. I’m selecting three of you; Jing Li, Wen Cheng, Tong Fei, you three put aside your work for the time being and join me in accomplishing this project. Everyone else, please help share their workload. Don’t worry, I understand the performance aspect, and it will be properly rewarded. Alright, that’s it, meeting adjourned, you three come with me." Fang Qian said.

After speaking, Fang Qian left the office, with the three he named following behind in confusion.

In the doctor’s office, the others were still unclear about the situation.

"What project did Director Fang mention?"

"Seems like it’s about the effect of sugar on diabetic foot wound healing."

"Sugar... Diabetic foot... What’s the logic here?"

"Don’t get it, but Director Fang didn’t seem like he was joking."

"Diabetic foot results from too much sugar; how could sugar help with the wound? Sounds unreliable!"

"How did the leadership agree to such a project, funding scam?"

"Shh... Keep it down, such things shouldn’t be said freely..."

"..."

Director’s office.

When Fang Qian entered, he leaned on the desk, with Jing Li and the others standing opposite him. Tong Fei, the last to enter, closed the office door promptly.

"Heh, looking at your expressions I can guess, confused about this project?"

Among the three, Jing Li was the most outgoing. Hearing Fang Qian’s question, he didn’t hold back, "Director, I’m really confused. What connection could sugar have with diabetic foot? Besides worsening the condition, it shouldn’t have any therapeutic effect."

Fang Qian chuckled, "Initially, I thought the same as you, but the truth isn’t so. A patient soaked their feet in sugar water, and the wounds extruded a lot of pus and blood; it’s more efficient than us doing a debridement and doesn’t enlarge the wound area."

Jing Li was puzzled, "Is that possible? Wouldn’t soaking in sugar water cause infection?"

Fang Qian shook his head, "No, we conducted tests for two to three days and found no signs of infection."

At this moment, Wen Cheng suddenly spoke up, "I recall a story from history classes. During World War I, sugar was a strategic resource and used in medicine. Sugar seemed to have a wound-consolidating effect. But sugar was very expensive then, so usage was minimal. Now... without experimental data, it’s hard to confirm sugar’s effects."

Fang Qian gave Wen Cheng an approving look, "Correct, sugar indeed consolidates wounds, not just sugar, even honey, and with very good results. However, for sugar, there’s no domestic or international documentation, which is why I’m initiating this project. If we succeed, we’d be the first paper in this field. You understand the potential impact, right?"

On hearing this, Jing Li and the others’ eyes lit up.

If it succeeds, it will definitely be a substantial boost for their future development!

"Tsk tsk, Director, if it succeeds and you’re the first author, once the paper is published, it might stir a significant reaction in the medical community. We have over sixty million diabetic patients in our country." Jing Li laughed.

The other two were equally excited.

Fang Qian shook his head, "I’m not the first author."

Huh?

Jing Li was startled, "Who then?"

Suddenly, the three had a person in mind.

Dean Huang?

Fang Qian replied, "Lu Jiu, a Chinese medicine doctor."

???