After sending off Academician Mou and Xiang Rong, more and more guests came to offer their congratulations, with an ever-growing trend.

Since then, Chen Shi and Lin Jie hadn't had a moment to relax, continually greeting the endless stream of guests while exchanging empty pleasantries.

With Chen Shi's introductions, Lin Jie met quite a few people, the dean of this hospital, the head of that hospital, some professors, and experts.

After just over an hour passed, Lin Jie reflected.

Damn, except for the two or three people we chatted with recently, I've almost forgotten all the other new faces.

This is mainly because there are just too many guests coming and going.

Lin Jie estimated that he'd spoken to at least a hundred people.

At this moment, it was 10:58 a.m., when suddenly a lot of people flooded into the hotel entrance, accompanied by the sound of firecrackers.

The wedding car had arrived at the hotel.

Chen Shi picked up his cold cup of tea, emptied it in one gulp, and said, "Lin Jie, let's go to the Guohua Hall. The wedding ceremony will begin shortly."

Hearing this, Lin Jie let out a long sigh of relief.

The task of welcoming guests has finally come to an end.

Guohua Hall is on the fifth floor of the hotel, and the two of them didn't take the elevator, instead walking slowly up the stairs.

Chen Shi said somewhat gloomily, "I had thought Academician Mou came specifically to congratulate Fanzhi on his wedding. It was only when he invited you that I realized he was actually coming for you."

Lin Jie smiled with some self-satisfaction, "Professor Chen, you got a gift and an academician personally present to congratulate. That should be good enough! Hey, how come I've never heard you mention having an academician friend before?"

Chen Shi snorted, leisurely said, "If I mentioned it, you all would think I was just showing off and trying to climb connections."

"In the early years, when Academician Mou and I were studying abroad, we had a quite good relationship."

"But after returning to China, I was busy, and his work was also busy. We were so far apart, we didn't have much time to meet, just occasionally communicating by phone, and gradually the relationship faded."

"When Fanzhi got married, I just mentioned it on the phone. Unexpectedly, he really came."

A faint smile appeared on Chen Shi's face, saying, "Even though his main purpose might have been to see you, I'm content."

"Lin Jie, Academician Mou has made outstanding contributions in the treatment of certain malignant tumors."

"His comprehensive therapy can extend the average lifespan of patients by two to three years compared to statistical data, which is quite an impressive achievement."

Lin Jie nodded in agreement.

Extending the lifespan of patients with malignant tumors by two to three more years than expected, this treatment effect is indeed quite remarkable.

While chatting, the two of them arrived on the fifth floor and entered the Guohua Hall, which was packed with guests.

As the father of the groom, Chen Shi naturally had to go to the reserved family seat in front of the ceremony stage.

There was also a seat for Lin Jie there, but halfway there, he was stopped by his student, Fang Huanru.

"Is something wrong?"

For some reason, Lin Jie felt a sudden tightness in his chest and urgently asked, "Did something unexpected happen to Lin Xiaoxiao?"

Fang Huanru shook her head and said, "Lin Xiaoxiao is doing fine. As far as I know, Tian Xiangyu and Huo Guangheng are busy conducting a series of tests on her."

"Teacher, my dad wants to meet you. Are you available now?"

Lin Jie followed Fang Huanru out of the Guohua Hall and into a nearby banquet hall with fewer guests, where he met the tall Fang Lianggong and a brawny man in his thirties with a crew cut.

"Expert Lin, thank you for your careful guidance to Xiaorui. Her medical skills are improving rapidly."

Fang Lianggong looked at Fang Huanru dotingly and said, "Before, she used to ask, 'Old Fang, take a look at this case! And, Old Fang, can I treat this patient this way?'"

"Now, she even dares to point fingers at my treatment plans."

"Dad…"

Fang Huanru called out, somewhat annoyed, "Didn't you also praise me, saying I made excellent and valuable suggestions?"

Fang Lianggong chuckled softly, "That's precisely why I wanted to thank Expert Lin in person."

After saying this, he gestured to the man beside him and introduced, "Expert Lin, this is Cheng Zhe, half a student of mine, and the son of Dean Cheng of the University Affiliated Hospital."

Lin Jie was taken aback.

So this is the attending physician from the New York Special Surgery Hospital, who plans to return to establish his own orthopedic hospital, Cheng Zhe?

Looking at his sturdy build, he indeed seems fit to be an orthopedic doctor.

Because orthopedic doctors need the strength to hammer iron; those with frail bodies can't be orthopedic doctors.

Fang Lianggong continued, "Expert Lin, Cheng Zhe originally wanted to have me introduce you to each other after the wedding. But since I need to return to the hospital to handle an emergency, I have to ask you to come over now."

"Cheng Zhe, now that you've met, you both can discuss the rest yourselves."

After saying this, he instructed Fang Huanru to pass a message to Chen Shi, then left alone.

Cheng Zhe invited Lin Jie to sit down and began, "Dr. Lin, you must be curious why I asked Dean Fang to introduce us instead of having my father do it."

It was indeed a puzzling matter, and Cheng Zhe said somewhat regretfully, "This is mainly because my relationship with my father is a bit tense. He doesn't approve of my proposal to establish an orthopedic hospital."

Lin Jie made a light "oh" sound and straightforwardly said, "Dr. Cheng, my time is a bit tight today. Should we keep it brief and straightforward, or arrange another time?"

Cheng Zhe pondered for a moment and said, "I prefer being direct, so let's keep it brief."

"Here's the thing, Dr. Lin, I know Anlin Hospital is planning to set up a sports injury research center. As far as sports injuries go, bone injuries account for a large portion."

"My idea is that we can collaborate."

Lin Jie asked plainly, "How do you propose we collaborate?"

"Dr. Lin, either you or Anlin Hospital, under individual, hospital, or other capacities, invest in my specialized hospital, but at most only up to 20% shares."

"And in return, I would serve as an external orthopedic expert for your Anlin Hospital's sports injury research center."

"Dr. Lin, please trust that this is definitely a win-win collaboration."

Looking at Cheng Zhe's confident face, Lin Jie thought to himself, this guy thinks very highly of himself.

As merely an attending physician at a foreign hospital, he dares to ask to be an expert-level doctor at a sports injury research center.

Actually, Lin Jie knew that in non-teaching hospitals in the United States, doctors are not hierarchically divided like attending doctors, associate chief doctors, and chief doctors as in the local system. All doctors can be uniformly called attending doctors and are equal in status.

They have absolute authority over their patients.

No other doctors can interfere with their treatment plans, even if they are department heads, who only have administrative authority over doctors' day-to-day matters but not the authority to intervene in treating patients.

Of course, power comes with responsibility.

If something goes wrong in treatment, naturally, the attending doctor must bear full responsibility.

However, in American hospitals, an invisible hierarchy still exists, where factors like years of service, capability, and reputation make some doctors relatively authoritative in their department, wielding significant influence.

Lin Jie didn't look down on Cheng Zhe.

Only analyzing based on his age, according to the U.S. medical system, he would have at most three to four years of experience as an attending doctor.

This three or four years of experience is hardly enough for a doctor to transform profoundly, becoming an expert-level doctor.

Lin Jie also found it hard to believe that there exists another person like himself in the world, who could leap to the pinnacle by inheriting someone else's knowledge.

"Dr. Lin, you haven't been abroad, so you might not know. Although foreign countries often claim to oppose discrimination and promote equality, racial discrimination, in reality, is quite severe."

Cheng Zhe said angrily, "This invisible discrimination is everywhere. In terms of patient choices of doctors, they are filled with distrust of my abilities, treating me very unfairly."

"Now that my ability is sufficient, I want to do something back in my hometown."

Lin Jie nodded in agreement superficially but was somewhat skeptical in his heart.

According to Shen Lanruo's introduction, Chinese people abroad signify intelligence and a thirst for learning.

When given the choice of three doctors under equal conditions, one being Chinese, one an European white, and one an African black, many patients would primarily prefer the Chinese, then the European white, with the African black being the last.

Of course, if someone has already made a name and gained considerable acknowledgment from patients and family doctors, they naturally fall into another category.

Lin Jie didn't want to hastily judge Cheng Zhe's medical skills, delaying, "Dr. Cheng, I need to consider this matter seriously and also discuss it with the An Family before I can give you an answer."

Cheng Zhe smiled, "I understand, this isn't a decision to be made lightly."

"Dr. Lin, I must remind you that I've already received firm investment commitments from several investors. If this takes longer, this 20% stake might shrink significantly..."

Fang Huanru escorted Lin Jie out of the small banquet hall.

Lin Jie jokingly asked, "Fang Huanru, is this Cheng Zhe courting you?"

Fang Huanru gasped and exclaimed, "Teacher, what are you talking about? That guy with a coarse body and coarse looks? I wouldn't like him."

Realizing her reaction was a bit over the top, she calmed herself down and said softly, "Cheng Zhe is actually quite capable, but he's overly arrogant."

"Even after honing himself for several years abroad, he hasn't gotten rid of this bad attitude. Teacher, you're so impressive and yet never so ostentatious as he."

"I really don't like his personality!"

The two arrived at Guohua Hall and found the bride and groom already standing on the ceremony stage.

The wedding ceremony was about to begin.

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