"Could it be that after all this effort, we've only proven we're even worse?" Tong Yuan'an's face gradually turned pale.

Lu Cheng was beside him, thoughtfully swallowed, and then suggested, "Teacher Tong, could it be that there's a difference in skill level? That's why the data differs?"

Tong Yuan'an's tone was icy, "That's impossible... it's not about skill level."

"At least it's not about your skill level, you just started learning..." Tong Yuan'an softened for a moment and then silently continued measuring.

The more measurements Tong Yuan'an took, the more silent his expression became, the atmosphere was terribly tense...

Seeing Tong Yuan'an like this, Lu Cheng had nothing to say to persuade him further.

There's a big problem now —

Lu Cheng didn't understand Tong Yuan'an's skill level in suturing techniques, and similarly, Tong Yuan'an didn't understand his own skill level.

"Teacher Tong?" Lu Cheng asked.

"It's nothing, Xiao Lu, you head back first, I need to be alone for a while and think about where this suturing technique is lacking, it's not your fault..." Tong Yuan'an forced a very reluctant smile, appearing courteous.

Tong Yuan'an had already sent him away, so Lu Cheng could only head back.

...

In Gaojia Slope District, study room.

After sipping some black coffee, Lu Cheng saw Mu Nanshu's reply, "Book Bag hero, are you free now? There's something I'd like to ask you."

"How do I search for an article by a Japanese professor named Tajima?"

"I searched online and couldn't find the target publication."

Book Bag is a nickname Lu Cheng gave to Mu Nanshu when they were kids, only Lu Cheng calls her by this name, her parents call her Nannan.

Mu Nanshu's book bag was very large and heavy when she was a child.

Mu Nanshu expressed difficulty, "Tajima is a last name from Japan, with just this keyword, it's really hard to find the target publication."

"Do you have any other keywords?"

Lu Cheng replied, "Tajima, tendon suturing method, this is all the information I have so far."

"I've used PubMed and Geen Academic, is it possible I should try other websites? Or maybe bypass a firewall or something."

For academics, there are dedicated nodes for bypassing the firewall.

"Let me try it first..." Mu Nanshu replied.

Lu Cheng responded, "Thanks for that, are you on a break today? Why don't you send me your address, and I'll buy you a cup of milk tea remotely?"

"You surely wouldn't be afraid of me showing up at your door, right?"

Mu Nanshu didn't stand on ceremony, directly sending over her residential complex, building, unit, and floor info.

She had already exchanged phone numbers with Lu Cheng last time, so she didn't send it again.

Having studied her master's and doctorate professionally, Mu Nanshu was better at literature searches than Lu Cheng, and within about half an hour, she found the article Lu Cheng needed—

"Is this it? It was published in January of this year." Mu Nanshu took a photo, which included the milk tea 'Orchid Latte' Lu Cheng ordered for her from Tea Yanyue.

Mu Nanshu added, "Next time, you could try 'Phoenix Green Osmanthus' or 'Matcha Pomelo'."

"Okay, let me take a look." After Mu Nanshu sent the publication, Lu Cheng chose to download it.

"Are you planning to write a meta-analysis?" Mu Nanshu asked.

While reading the introduction, Lu Cheng explained the matter between him and Tong Yuan'an, also involving Tsuge Suturing Technique, Tang Method, etc.

After considering it for nearly five minutes, Mu Nanshu answered, "Lu Cheng, I think you shouldn't involve yourself in such ineffective topics."

"Generally speaking, professors who can originate groundbreaking techniques superior to standard practices are often regarded as world-class top experts."

"According to your account, despite many years, in Hua Country suturing techniques, only Professor Tang Jinbo's 'Tang Method' has been recognized, which possibly means the 'Tajima Suturing Technique's' superiority can't be easily overturned by Professor Tan at Xiangya Hospital."

"I'm not trying to boost others' morale while diminishing your spirit, just giving you a sound suggestion. If you want to embark on research projects, I recommend starting with meta-analysis, system analysis," Mu Nanshu provided detailed advice.

"It's not me writing the article; Professor Tong and his team are writing... I need to publish an article for a promotion, province-level core journals are sufficient for me..."

"Book Bag, hold on, I'm recording some data." Lu Cheng said.

Mu Nanshu finished reading, hesitated for a while, then said, "You might still have a chance if interacting with research papers."

"Some things can only help you cross the threshold, once inside, to thrive better, you must adhere to mainstream norms."

While Lu Cheng was recording data, he absentmindedly said, "The Cyan Cloud Ladder you sent, I still can't find where its path is, talking about these is quite far-fetched."

After sending it, Lu Cheng continued to record data.

Lu Cheng had good memory and since some data could be retrieved, after sending the message, he documented the full data set:

[2mm Gap Tensile Strength: Tong Method: 108.40±7.52N; Tajima Method: 105.40±9.32N; Modified Tang Method: 100.30±8.20 N; Modified Tsuge Method: 62.6±7.4 N]

[Fracture Tensile Strength: Tong Method: 166.31±11.50 N; Tajima Method: 163.23±10.32N; Modified Tang Method: 150.25±10.50 N; Modified Tsuge Method: 125.3±11.5 N]

[Tendon Toughness: Tong Method: 14.21±1.34N/mm; Tajima Method: 13.9±1.57N/mm; Modified Tang Method: 12.55±1.25 N/mm; Modified Tsuge Method: 8.3±1.8 N/mm]

In the table, it was obvious—Tong method slightly surpassed the Tajima suturing technique presented in the paper.

So, Lu Cheng promptly sent the paper and table data to Tong Yuan'an.

About ten minutes later, Tong Yuan'an sent out a soul-searching question, "Why is the Tajima Method in the paper worse than yours?"

Lu Cheng had no answer for such a question, "I don't know, Teacher Tong."

Sitting cross-legged, Tong Yuan'an actually thought of one possibility: maybe Lu Cheng's skill level was so high it allowed him to outperform the original creators.

Suturing technique is one thing, but varying skill levels apply different effects to each method.

It's not absolute that Modified Tang always surpasses Tsuge, if a novice Tang suturer went against a master Tsuge practitioner, it'd be like eggs hitting rocks.

"Can you wind back?" Tong Yuan'an scratched his head with his chubby hand, his scalp went numb.

He was only urging Lu Cheng forward, forgetting about maintaining balance.

If, hypothetically, should Lu Cheng possess such remarkable talent, mastering techniques beyond the original inventors.

Supposedly the legendary level—within theory, beyond operation standards...

Did I spawn a super master?

Wind back?

Lu Cheng tried, his skill level couldn't be marked down.

Lu Cheng followed suit, scratching his head, "Teacher Tong, is there really such an operation?"

Tong Yuan'an's broad face was getting rounder, momentarily unsure of what to do.