sinovels Chapter 1379 This feeling is so good
Chapter 1379 This feeling is so good
Chapter 1379 This feeling is so good
A month has passed since the celebration, but the excitement at Sanbo Hospital hasn't completely faded.
That afternoon, Li Zehui was in the department discussing the surgery plan for next week with several young doctors. A whiteboard hung on the wall, covered with diagrams of the heart's structure and surgical pathway markings. He was explaining a crucial point when he pointed to a spot on the whiteboard and said, "This area...we must be extremely careful. If there's bleeding..."
The door was suddenly pushed open.
A nurse poked her head in, looking a little nervous: "Professor Li, Dean Xia is here, and she brought... she brought guests."
Li Ze was taken aback. It wasn't unusual for Dean Xia to visit the department; he would come every few days. But the nurse's expression clearly indicated that it wasn't just Dean Xia who had come.
He had just put down his marker when Dean Xia's voice rang out in the corridor: "Is Professor Li inside?"
Then the door was pushed open completely.
Dean Xia walked in front, followed by three people. The leader was a middle-aged man, dressed in a suit and tie, his hair neatly combed, wearing gold-rimmed glasses—clearly a leader. Behind him were two young people, a man and a woman, each carrying a briefcase, seemingly secretaries.
Dean Xia waved with a smile: "We'll wait until you're finished, then you can continue..."
Li Zehui stepped forward and said, "It's alright, let them discuss it first."
Dean Xia then pulled him over and said to the middle-aged man, "Director Liu, this is Professor Li Zehui from our hospital. He's a top expert in cardiac surgery, having returned from Harvard."
Director Liu extended his hand and warmly shook his: "Professor Li, it's an honor to meet you! I've wanted to visit you for a long time, but I haven't found a suitable opportunity. I just happened to be passing by today, so I apologize for bothering you."
Li Ze clasped hands, still wondering: Director Liu? Which bureau chief? Did he come specifically to see him? Or was he just passing by?
Dean Xia seemed to sense his confusion and added from the side, "Director Liu of the Municipal Talent Work Bureau is specifically responsible for the introduction and service of high-level talents."
The director of the Municipal Talent Work Bureau? He came specifically to see him?
Li Zehui's mind raced for a moment, but he instinctively uttered polite words: "Director Liu, you're too kind. I should be the one visiting you."
"Oh, Professor Li, you're being too polite." Director Liu waved his hand. "You're one of the top talents our city has brought in, so it's only right that I come to see you. Your department has a nice environment, doesn't it?"
Li Zehui glanced at Dean Xia, who nodded.
He then led Director Liu and his entourage on a tour of the department, explaining as they walked: the outpatient area, the ward area, the doctors' offices, the demonstration room. Director Liu observed carefully, occasionally asking questions such as, "What's the bed turnover rate like?", "How many operating rooms are there?", and "How are young doctors trained?"
After walking around, Director Liu stopped in the demonstration room, looked around, and nodded: "Not bad, the facilities are very good. Professor Li, are you getting used to it here?"
Li Zehui said, "It's a good habit."
Director Liu then asked, "And in your daily life? Are you facing any difficulties?"
Li Zehui thought for a moment and said, "Not for now. The hospital has made all the arrangements very well."
Director Liu glanced at Dean Xia and smiled: "Dean Xia, you've done a good job."
Dean Xia waved his hand: "Of course, of course. Now that Xiao Li is back, we will definitely take good care of him."
Director Liu turned back to Li Zehui, his tone becoming serious: "Professor Li, the main reason I'm here today is to hear if you have any difficulties. Whether it's in your life, work, or family, if there's anything we can coordinate, please let us know. The return of a top talent like you is our pride and our responsibility. Please be sure to mention any needs you may have."
Li Ze was momentarily speechless. The bureau chief had personally come to his door to ask if he was having any difficulties? He had lived in the United States for twenty years, and not even a department head, let alone a bureau chief, would ask him such a question.
Dean Xia said from the side, "Professor Li, don't be so polite. Director Liu is in charge of this. Just say what you want to say."
He thought for a moment and said, "Everything is really fine right now, there's nothing particularly difficult."
Director Liu nodded, but didn't intend to end there: "And at home? How's your spouse's work? Is your child's schooling going smoothly?"
He hesitated for a moment, but still said, "My wife used to work in education administration abroad, but she's been unemployed since we came here. If a suitable opportunity arises..."
Director Liu immediately took the notebook from his secretary and carefully wrote down: "Education management, right? Is there a specific direction? Universities or primary and secondary schools? Training institutions or educational administration?"
Li Zehui didn't expect him to ask such detailed questions: "Middle school."
Director Liu nodded: "Okay, I've noted it down. I'll have my staff contact them to see if there are any suitable organizations. There are several international schools in the city; we can ask around."
The two secretaries next to him were also taking notes quickly.
After chatting for a while, Director Liu checked his watch, got up, and took his leave. Before leaving, he shook Li Zehui's hand and said, "Professor Li, rest assured, your business is our business. Call me anytime if you need anything. This is my business card; it's on 24/7. Call me directly, no matter how big or small the matter."
He handed over the business card, which Li Ze took with both hands. He looked down and saw that it only had his name and mobile phone number, no office phone number, no job title, and only one line of small print: "On 24 hours a day".
After seeing Director Liu and his entourage off, Li Zehui stood at the door of the department, staring blankly at the business card.
Is the director of the Municipal Talent Work Bureau always on his phone, waiting for a call?
Fatty happened to be there for a consultation and popped out from the corner, peering over to ask, "Professor Li, who's this? Why all this fuss?"
Before Li Zehui could speak, Dean Xia returned and patted him on the shoulder: "How was it? Did you feel the warmth of the organization?"
Li Ze smiled and said, "I'm a little flattered."
"This is nothing," Dean Xia said. "You have no idea, you are the treasures of our city."
The young doctors finally dared to gather around, their eyes shining: "Professor Li, the director of the Municipal Talent Bureau came all the way to see you?" "Professor Li, you're amazing!" "Professor Li, why didn't you mention any difficulties earlier? This kind of opportunity is so rare!"
Li Ze looked at them, unsure of what to say.
Fatty sighed from the side, "Why isn't anyone coming to see me?"
The chubby guy chimed in, "You call that talent?"
Fatty was so angry that he chased after him and started hitting him, and the two of them got into a fight.
The bureau chief personally visited him, kept his phone on 24/7, and specifically asked what difficulties he was facing. He wouldn't even dare to dream of such treatment in the United States. But here, it seemed quite normal.
Later, he also attended several symposiums for overseas returnees, mostly to help solve his problems.
This is a scene that would never happen in the United States.
In the United States, he had attended many similar "seminars," which were fundraising events. First, there was a meal, then a lecture, and finally, donation slips were handed in. If you donated a lot, you had the opportunity to take a photo with the principal; if you donated little, you weren't allowed to come next time.
Here, nobody asks him to donate money. People only ask him: What do you need?
On one occasion, he talked about these things with Yang Ping.
"Professor, don't you think that the level of importance that China places on talent right now is a bit... exaggerated?"
Yang Ping was reading a document and didn't even look up: "Exaggeration?"
“Well…” He thought for a moment, then thought about his words, “I’ve been in the United States for twenty years and I’ve never seen anything like this. The chief of staff comes to your door in person, and someone is there to think of everything for you. To be honest, sometimes it feels a bit unreal.”
Yang Ping then looked up at him and asked, "Why do you think that is?"
He said, "Because I'm worth it?"
Yang Ping smiled: "Yes, because you are worth it, but not only because you are worth it."
He put down the documents and said seriously, "Twenty years ago, we were the pursuers. Back then, we lacked technology, equipment, funds, and experience. Now, we are running alongside them, and even leading in some areas. At this stage, what do we lack most?"
He thought for a moment: "Talent?"
“Yes, top talent,” Yang Ping said. “Technology can be bought, equipment can be imported, funds can be raised, and experience can be learned. But top talent cannot be bought or imported. We can only cultivate them ourselves or attract them back. So now, from top to bottom, the attitude towards talent is: spare no expense.”
Li Zehui remained silent for a while.
“When I was in the United States, I always felt like an outsider,” he said slowly. “No matter how well I did, I was still a ‘Chinese-American scientist.’ When I received an award, the news would say ‘Chinese-American scientist so-and-so won an award.’ It was as if my identity was more important than my achievements.”
Yang Ping didn't speak, but listened to him.
"After I came back, I realized that I don't have to be called a 'Chinese-American scientist' or just a 'scientist'. I don't have to explain who I am or prove whether I deserve it. I can just do what I'm good at, and then someone will tell me: You're doing a good job, and we support you to continue."
Yang Ping nodded: "That's the difference between a host and a guest."
When Li Ze returned home in the evening, he found his wife busy in the kitchen. "Why are you here so early today?" he asked.
Without turning her head, her lover said, "Someone called me."
"Who?"
“That Director Liu from the Talent Bureau,” my wife said, pouring vegetables into the pot, where they sizzled. “He said he’d helped me get in touch with an international school and asked if I’d be willing to work there as an education consultant. I said yes. He said okay, I can go for the interview next week.”
He was taken aback: "So fast?"
"That's right." His lover turned down the stove, turned to look at him, and said, "Now I believe you. It was the right decision for you to come back."
He stood at the kitchen doorway, watching his lover's back as a complex emotion welled up inside him.
My partner came out carrying the dishes. "Are you going next week? Will you come with me to the job interview?"
Li Zehui said, "Go."
She then asked, "Do you think they'll want me?"
He said, "Yes."
She smiled, a smile he hadn't seen in a long time.
The next day, he went to work and ran into Director Bai on the first floor.
Director Bai stopped him with a smile: "Professor Li, are you free this weekend?"
He said, "Yes, what is it?"
"I'll take you to a nice place," Director Bai said mysteriously. "I know a fishing spot that's really peaceful. You've been performing surgeries every day, you need to relax."
Just as he was about to agree, Fatty popped up from the side: "Director, I'm going too!"
Director Bai glared at him: "What are you doing here?"
Fatty said, feeling wronged, "I also want to relax."
Little Fatty chimed in, "That's right, the director is biased."
Director Bai was so angry he blew his beard: "You two, you're nowhere to be seen when we're working, but you pop up as soon as something good happens."
As the group was arguing, Xu Zhiliang stammered over, "Professor Li... Professor Li, I... I... I want to go too."
Director Bai looked at this and that, and finally sighed, "Alright, alright, everyone go. Professor Li, you see, with you here, my private event has turned into a team building activity."
Li Zehui couldn't help but laugh.
He suddenly remembered something.
While in Cleveland, he had a few colleagues he got along well with, and they would occasionally meet up for meals or play sports. But those were all "activities," "schedules" arranged a week in advance and placed on the calendar. When the time came, everyone would drive their own cars to the event, and after the event, everyone would go home.
It's different here.
Here it is: someone suddenly knocks on the door: "Professor Li, want to have lunch together?" Someone brings him a cup of coffee on their way: "Just bought it downstairs, drink it while it's hot." Someone sends him a WeChat message in the middle of the night: "Professor Li, can I learn from you about the surgical case tomorrow?"
This isn't an "event," this is life.
Over the weekend, he really did go fishing with Director Bai and the others.
The fishing spot was by a reservoir in the suburbs, and it was indeed quiet. Director Bai was clearly an expert; he set up his rod, baited the area, and adjusted the float in one smooth motion. Fatty and Little Fatty were just there for the fun of it; each of them had a rod, cast it out, and then left it to their own devices, running off to watch others fish and then running back to ask, "Any fish?"
Xia Shu was serious, but unlucky; he fished for a long time without catching a single fish.
He sat on the shore, looking at the water, his mind blank.
The sun was shining brightly, the wind was light, and occasionally a fish would leap out of the water, creating ripples.
Director Bai, standing nearby, said, "Professor Li, do you fish like this in America?"
He said, "No, I'm too busy."
Director Bai nodded: "Then you'll have to get used to it. Here, we're busy when we need to be busy, and we also need to relax when we need to relax. Health is the foundation of everything."
Fatty interjected, "Director, you sound like an old cadre when you say that."
Director Bai glared: "He's a veteran cadre to begin with."
Little Fatty laughed beside him.
He suddenly asked, "Is this how you usually are?"
Director Bai asked, "What do you mean?"
He said, "That way, we can hang out together on the weekend."
Director Bai thought for a moment and said, "It's not every week, we just get together whenever we have time. The people in our hospital all get along very well. Unlike some places, where colleagues are just colleagues, but you don't recognize them after get off work."
Fatty added, "Professor Li, don't listen to the director. The director just loves excitement. He'll get angry with anyone who doesn't join him."
Director Bai pretended to hit him, but Fatty dodged with a smile.
As he watched this scene, he suddenly remembered what Yang Ping had said: "Here, you are the master."
Yes.
What is a master? A master is someone who gives you a place here, someone who treats you like family, someone who gives you a place in life.
In America, he was a guest. Politeness, courtesy, and maintaining distance were expected. No one would invite him fishing, and no one would joke with him.
Here, he's one of us.
That evening, they packed up their fishing rods and went home.
I didn't catch a single fish, but I was in an exceptionally good mood.
Director Bai said, "Professor Li, we didn't catch anything today. Let's try a different spot next time. I know a pond with lots of fish."
He said, "Okay."
Fatty said, "Professor Li, next time I'll prepare a good rod for you, and I guarantee you'll catch something."
He said, "Thank you."
Little Fatty said, "Professor Li, don't listen to them. Fishing is all about luck."
As the car drove back into the city, the streetlights came on.
Looking out the window, he suddenly felt as if this city had truly become his home.
It's not the kind of home where "I live in this city," but the kind of home where "I have a place in this city."
Some people are waiting for him to go to work, some invite him to dinner, some take him fishing, and some help him with his family matters.
This feeling is wonderful.
(End of this chapter)