Yan Sangyue was delighted to hear that Mu Nanshu could also benefit from this and asked, "Is this project really that good? Better than the ones you've done before?"

Mu Nanshu shook her head, "Not exactly, it's just more direct. Once it's done, it will influence clinical treatment decisions."

"To put it more simply, if these two projects are completed, I should be able to be promoted to full senior researcher."

"As for Lu Cheng, at the very least, he can safely be promoted to full senior as well. If he's willing to study further, using these articles for a doctoral graduation would be quite lavish."

"This could even garner a bit of fame within the entire industry."

Mu Leng got serious, walked a small cup with Lu Cheng, and then asked, "What kind of fame are you talking about?"

Mu Nanshu elaborated, "From a long-term development perspective, if Lu Cheng wants to be promoted to professor, no one can stop him, but I'm just a nominal author. I might still lack some accumulation to get promoted to professor through this."

"He'll be faster than me!"~

Mu Nanshu is Mu Leng's daughter, and she had, of course, explained to Mu Leng what an associate professor is, what a professor is, how difficult it is to be promoted to professor, and the amount of accumulation needed.

Mu Leng looked at Lu Cheng with some surprise, his expression not calm.

Yan Sangyue was pondering whether what Mu Nanshu said was her daughter tipping the scale in favor of Lu Cheng, or stating actual facts.

Lu Cheng laughed, "Nanshu, aren't you exaggerating a bit?"

Mu Nanshu was very serious, "This is not an exaggeration, Lu Cheng!"

"Haven't you thought about why Chen Song of Xiangya and Associate Professor Tong Yuan'an are willing to collaborate with you?"

"Without mutual benefit, without interests, would they stay and do the projects with you?"

"This surpasses the usual care teachers have for ordinary students, doesn't it?"

"Now, you have surpassed the ordinary teacher-student relationship and have some cooperative relationship, allowing mutual benefit which, mixed with interests... this is what has them essentially working for you in disguise."

"As my dad said, the basic operating logic of most things in society is mutual benefit. Even maintaining a relatively good student-teacher relationship requires an exchange of interests."

"He provides you with project funding, and you provide him with research output, and meanwhile, you gain more research experience and technical accumulation."

"Why do professors like highly qualified people? It's because the research output they produce is better."

"Anyway, to sum up, Lu Cheng, even if you don't understand research, your blundering could almost trot upon an associate professor."

Lu Cheng shook his head, "It's not that exaggerated..."

...

After the meal, Lu Cheng, Mu Leng, and Yan Sangyue left first.

Mu Nanshu then went for a walk with Lu Cheng along the riverside trail beside Longcheng Bund.

Today, Mu Nanshu didn't tie a braid or a ponytail; her hair was flowing freely!

As the weather cooled, she wore skinny jeans, her two slender legs walking while she turned her head slightly, "Tomorrow, I'm going to Ji City with my parents for Mid-Autumn Festival."

"My cousin is getting married on National Day. I'll first go to Ji City to find a suitable laboratory for experiments, and then you can come."

Lu Cheng thought for a while before asking, "Did Uncle Leng hear something else when he was helping me ask around?"

Mu Nanshu and the others stayed in Long County for a few days, so it was impossible not to discuss Lu Cheng's participation in the selection exam.

The selection exam offers many more unconventional routes than the State Human Resources and Social Security Bureau's recruitment.

The selection exam is an internal exam, with internal announcements, making it highly operable.

While it can be straightforwardly proven, it is necessary to inquire about internal news beforehand.

Lu Cheng's uncle, Lu Nanyong, had long been keeping an eye on this news for Lu Cheng.

Mu Nanshu nodded, "This time, for the selection exam, there are no special quotas, only quotas for internal and external medicine."

"A total of twelve people for surgery. Xiangzhou People's Hospital has only six, and the specialties are not fixed."

"So, it's essential to go over and inquire first."

Mu Nanshu continued, "But you don't need to worry, you should be very secure."

"No unit in a prefecture-level city would reject someone who brings their own project."

Lu Cheng thought seriously for a while, then nodded silently, "I won't refuse your help, but when necessary, you also need to tell me."

"After all, Uncle Mu is outside the system, and more so, outside of our profession, and you're not in our field either."

"There might be things that Uncle Mu and you can't handle well; it would be better for me to take care of them personally."

"The gap between hearsay and a face-to-face chat is vast."

"And it's my own matter as well."

Although Mu Leng was willing to help him navigate relationships, Lu Cheng wouldn't refuse. Inquiring about the situation in advance is definitely more prudent.

However, the specific display of professional ability cannot be substituted by others.

In essence, as a leader, one needs to have a certain level of social connections and also have people who can genuinely get things done.

"Of course, you managed to persuade Professor Zhong from the Union Hospital's hand surgery department, so for professional matters, you must take the lead yourself."

"But having an intermediary to bridge the gap would make things easier."

"My dad has been in Ji City for over ten years, so he knows some people." Mu Nanshu's voice was gentle, and she was in a good mood.

Lu Cheng was silent for a while before asking, "Book Bag, do these projects really benefit you?"

Mu Nanshu replied, "Of course, they do. I very likely need to pursue a research route professionally in the future. How could projects and articles not be useful for a pure researcher?"

"These are clinical projects. If I have experience participating in original clinical research projects, I will have priority in presiding over future clinical projects related to gastroenterology."

"I'm very sure that these two projects are significant in both weight and influence!"

"Especially the one you're working on with Professor Chen, it's original and can benefit many people."