The night had already fallen, and an occasional vibration alert came from Lu Cheng's phone, but Lu Cheng did not respond.

He had already told Mu Nanshu in the morning that he might not return, so not responding now would let Mu Nanshu know he was outside.

Zhong Junyun paced carefully in front of the many pig trotters sutured by Lu Cheng, examining them for a while before saying, "Good, it's fine. I'll call some more people over."

"Since this is a research project, the preliminary preparation needs to be more meticulous."

"I'll have some people demonstrate the tang method, the Tsuge Suturing Technique, and the modified Kessler!"

"Aside from comparing yourself, comparing with others is also a control variable; this way, you can't just dismiss other suturing techniques to elevate your own," Zhong Junyun said and then called Professor Xie Xiao.

This phone call lasted about four or five minutes before Zhong Junyun hung up.

Shortly after, many PhDs and master's students came to the skills development lab where Professor Zhong Junyun was, and they packed and classified the pig trotters handled by Lu Cheng.

There was no specialized measurement instrument for tendon suturing data in this advanced skills development lab because Professor Zhong and others did not research tendon suturing techniques, so they had to send them to the skills training room.

Professor Xie Xiao was probably not in the hospital, but another Professor Liang Guocheng happened to come off surgery and curiously came over after hearing from Xie Xiao's call that Professor Zhong was developing the "tendon suturing technique".

The emergence of the Tajima Suturing Technique was impacting the Hua Country's main improved Tang Method, which the hand surgery professionals had heard about.

Yet, they were helpless about it.

If they were to invest time in refining suturing techniques and strive to once again surpass the Tajima Suturing Technique, it would not only be time-consuming and laborious but might also be unappreciated.

Currently, the main entities researching this field are those working under Professor Tang Jinbo and some other key tendon suturing technique research groups...

The Union Hospital was not among these groups.

But it didn't stop someone like Professor Zhong Junyun, who was a top professor, from having a sudden epiphany like a deity descending from the heavens, wiping out the Tajima Suturing Technique before it matured.

"Teacher Zhong, when did this tendon suturing technique matter come about? I've never heard about it," Professor Liang Guocheng asked as he entered the advanced training room, finding Lu Cheng and others measuring detailed data in groups.

Professor Liang Guocheng, with a round face and double chin and a very short neck, was a nimble fat man with a full face of smiles, plump features, and a socially keen demeanor.

"It's not me; it's Xiao Lu," Zhong Junyun tilted his head, signaling Liang Guocheng to lower his voice.

He continued, "Perfect, Liang Guocheng, isn't your Tsuge Suturing Technique pretty decent?"

"Head next door and bring back some data after running a few groups." Zhong Junyun instructed.

Liang Guocheng laughed, "Teacher Zhong, am I also being directly tasked with work now?"

Liang Guocheng could understand Zhong Junyun wanting to find a few more comparison groups for Lu Cheng, but with the data not yet settled, was it a bit too rushed?

Zhong Junyun thought so too, given that Liang Guocheng was a professor, not a resident or PhD candidate!

"You should take a look too; Xie Xiao is currently with Lan Hualuo, and surely won't come today," Zhong Junyun added.

Liang Guocheng nodded frequently as he watched Lu Cheng and several PhDs measure groups of data, "The data from the Tajima Suturing Technique is quite good."

"Though it can't completely cover the improved Tang method, it has improved a great deal compared to the previous Tsuge Suturing Technique!"

"Teacher Zhong, the research on tendon suturing techniques may not have much clinical or research significance practically, but it's quite significant for the Hua Country research community, right?"

Zhong Junyun responded, "Let's not discuss this now..."

"If it doesn't succeed, it stops in the training room. If it succeeds, then it's about the competition of free academic ideas, unrelated to nationality, solely for the benefit of research and human health."

One might think to enjoy life simply but cannot make such bold proclamations as a researcher!!

Science has no nationality, scientists can have a nationality, but they shouldn't criticize anything for the sake of nationality.

The essence of academics lies in free competition.

Actually, Professor Zhong Junyun was feeling a bit uncomfortable at this moment.

Liang Guocheng gently nodded, his index finger sliding between the creases of his double chin, "Isn't this just a private chat."

"Where did you find such a student, Teacher Zhong? His research potential isn't weak!" Liang Guocheng probed softly.

Originally, he didn't know Zhong Junyun would have a disciple. Accepting a student was an offhand thing for Zhong Junyun, possible to do at will. There would be no fanfare.

Professor Xie Xiao knew because he was one of the recommenders!

"Xiao Lu approached on his own, and seeing his determination, I accepted him," said Zhong Junyun casually.

In fact, Zhong Junyun had some thoughts on Lu Cheng based on two points.

First, Lu Cheng's basic suturing skills were good. Though he was thirty, he was comparable to his student Pan Leiming in basic skills, which was gifted indeed.

Second, Xie Xiao mentioned that Lu Cheng wanted to work at Huashan Hospital, which piqued Zhong Junyun's interest.

Brother hospitals are like brothers; brothers have older and younger ones. Why can't Union Hospital be the big brother of hand surgery?

There's no defined rationale for this!

Lu Cheng having such courage implies he is relying on something; he shouldn't be speaking recklessly.

After all, very few graduate students dare to imagine working at Huashan Hospital.

However, just yesterday, when Zhong Junyun suggested that Lu Cheng apply to Zhongnan Hospital, Lu Cheng quickly showed his 'real intentions.' If only he had been a step ahead, Zhong Junyun wouldn't have made that decision...

Tendon data measurement wasn't slow; once data emerged, professionals would registered it promptly.

Of course, mental calculations after the data emerged are nonsense. Although one could see at a glance that Lu Cheng's suturing data was good, simple statistical calculations were still necessary.

A PhD student said, "Master, I'll take the data to analyze!~"

"Go ahead!" Liang Guocheng nodded; the speaker was his PhD student.

Lu Cheng also prepared to follow, but was stopped by Zhong Junyun: "No rush. Whatever the result, it's okay. Your tendon suturing techniques are so comprehensive, I really didn't expect it."

"You must've practiced in private for a long time, right?"

Lu Cheng nodded, his expression calm, "I did put some effort into it, but of course, Professor Tong's meticulous guidance was the main thing. One can't achieve anything by working behind closed doors."

Lu Cheng sang no praises for the Union Hospital.

After hearing this, Zhong Junyun said to Liang Guocheng, "Xiao Lu was in standardized residency training at Zhongnan Hospital before, purely self-taught, managing to meet a master's standard level, but nothing outstanding."

Upon hearing this, Liang Guocheng gently nodded, "The breadth of suture techniques grasped by Xiao Lu at this age is indeed impressive, crucially the fundamentals aren't lagging behind the front runners."

"Not having a teacher's guidance, he's very gifted."

Soon, data was printed into charts and laid out in front of everyone...