Chapter 294 - 199: Can I Go Too?

Chapter 294: Chapter 199: Can I Go Too?

"Hey, Dad, what have you been up to lately?"

"Er... Quitting smoking."

Jiang He couldn’t help but laugh.

’Dad sounded pretty miserable saying that.’

It was actually quite amusing when he thought about it.

Ever since he’d sent a large sum of money home, his parents’ attitude toward him had undergone a complete transformation.

Money really held too much sway in an ordinary family.

At first, his parents had been afraid their son had gotten involved in something crooked.

They eventually contacted his counselor, and after some verification, they confirmed that not only had Jiang He not gotten into any trouble, he had actually won first prize in a major competition at school!

Right after that, Jiang He had Brother Sun help him send the award certificate, prize money, and the commemorative banner all back to his hometown.

When his mom and dad opened the package...

...their eyes were red and brimming with tears.

Back then, Old Jiang told everyone he met, "Our Jiang family has finally produced a true talent!"

In the gacha games of the future, this would be the equivalent of pulling an SSR on a single draw.

So, when he asked his mom to eat fewer pickled vegetables and his dad to quit smoking, both of them were now obediently trying their best to comply.

"Dad, if the craving gets too bad, just chew more gum."

"I am! My mouth hasn’t stopped all day. Alright, Mr. Big Shot, how come you have time to call me today? Aren’t you busy?"

"Well, there’s something I’d like to ask your advice on."

"Hah!" Old Jiang perked up. "Let’s hear it!"

"...Mom told me that when you were young, you were quite the famous casanova in the area?"

"Get outta here! That was called being popular with the ladies. What casanova... Why are you asking about this, kid? You’ve found a girlfriend?"

"Yeah. There’s a girl I really like, and I want to propose to her."

"Propose? Isn’t that a little too soon?"

"It’s not."

Jiang He paused, then began to describe her seriously:

"Dad, she’s wonderful. She’s a student at North Normal University, has a great personality, is gentle, incredibly smart, and beautiful. Most importantly, she understands me. When I’m stressed out from my research, she never complains. She just feels for me. You couldn’t find another girl like her even if you searched with a lantern."

After listening, his dad replied instantly, "Then you definitely have to propose right away."

Jiang He: "?"

’Dad, you change your tune way too fast!’

Old Jiang’s logic was simple: ’With such a prize girl, if he doesn’t lock her down now, what if someone else snatches her away?’

Jiang He scratched his head and said, "We’ll have to wait until next year to get the marriage certificate, but I’m planning to go to the Capital City at the end of this month to propose first. Do you have any good ideas?"

"You’ve come to the right person. Son, remember this: when it comes to proposing, it’s not about how much money you spend. Women, what they value is the emotional experience."

"The emotional experience?"

"That’s right. You have to lay the groundwork first, let her get a faint inkling that you might propose. Girls have a sharp intuition about these things. Once she senses it, she’ll start getting excited, her heart will race, and she’ll even start fantasizing about it."

"And then?"

"Then, at the critical moment, you hand her a box. When she opens it, she’ll find a funny little toy inside!"

Jiang He was stunned. "Won’t I get beaten up for that?"

"What do you know! This creates a contrast! When she sees the gag gift, her expectations will be dashed in an instant. She’ll think you came all the way to the Capital City just to play a prank on her. And in that moment, when her guard is at its lowest, you drop to one knee, take out the real diamond ring, and propose."

Jiang He blinked.

’He might be onto something...’

"From anticipation, to disappointed laughter, and then to a sudden, overwhelming feeling of being moved—that whole roller coaster fills the emotional meter to the brim! Who could possibly resist that?"

Old Jiang didn’t forget to add, "Oh, and don’t forget to have a friend nearby to film it. Girls cherish these kinds of mementos."

Jiang He sincerely uttered a single word: "Brilliant."

’Dad is really something else.’

’A master of the push and pull, a real miracle worker.’

’Lesson learned.’

"Of course. If your old man hadn’t been poor back in the day, I’d have had even more tricks up my sleeve. Alright, go on and do it. Treat that girl well. If everything goes smoothly, bring her home for the New Year. It’ll make your mother happy too."

"Mission accepted!"

"Good. Dad trusts your judgment. If money’s an issue, just say the word."

"I have enough money. You and Mom just take care of yourselves. I’m hanging up now."

The call ended.

Jiang He was filled with anticipation.

Just the thought of his upcoming trip to the Capital City at the end of the month made the very air he breathed feel sweet.

Hehehe~

"Leader Jiang," Xiaomeng came running over. "Director Yang wants you to go to his office."

"Did he say what it’s about?"

"He didn’t go into detail, but judging by the look on his face, it’s pretty serious. And he was holding a document that was entirely in English."

Entirely in English, at this particular time.

Jiang He didn’t need to guess; he already had a good idea what it was about.

"Got it. I’m on my way."

...

In Yang Xu’s office.

As expected.

Yang Xu had printed out an email from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Jiang He said, "Professor, it arrived?"

Yang Xu: "Yes. Take a look."

Jiang He took it and glanced over it.

The gist of it was that the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine highly praised the research on the SAP early prediction model that Jiang He’s team had presented in the Chinese media.

To promote international exchange within the medical community, Herman, the Executive Vice Dean of Johns Hopkins Medical School, was officially inviting Jiang He, on behalf of the school, to travel to Baltimore in the United States on December 15th. He was to give a full English-language academic lecture and discussion on the model in Johns Hopkins University’s Centennial Auditorium.

The invitation thoughtfully noted at the end: All of Jiang He’s travel, food, and accommodation expenses for this trip to the United States would be fully covered by Johns Hopkins University.

After reading it, Jiang He smiled. "Quite respectable. They’re even saving us the cost of plane tickets."

But Yang Xu was not as relaxed as Jiang He. He looked at his star pupil with a serious expression.

"Jiang He, don’t oversimplify this. For them to send a formal invitation with such fanfare, even offering to cover all expenses... there must be a catch. This is likely a ’Hongmen Banquet.’"

"What do you think they’ll do, Professor?"

"I’m not sure, but they will definitely try to give you a hard time on purpose."

Yang Xu frowned. "Jiang He, they’re clearly planning to target you on their home turf. This trip to the United States... are you confident?"

Jiang He replied calmly, "Of course I’m confident."

’In fact, ’confident’ was an understatement.’

’I’m going to Hopkins for one reason and one reason only.’

’To teach those foreigners a proper lesson.’

’To show them that doctors from China, that research teams from China, are just as capable of producing world-class medical breakthroughs.’

’Stop fucking looking down on us.’

"Good." Yang Xu nodded heavily.

He knew that this student of his never fought a battle he wasn’t prepared for.

"Since you dare to go, the hospital and the provincial department will back you up on everything else. Minister Lin has already given the word. The department will arrange for an official entourage to accompany you. You just need to do one thing: prepare your PowerPoint, master the data in your paper, and when you get to Baltimore, give them a great performance!"

"Understood, Professor. I’m heading back to the lab. Time is tight, and the task is heavy."

"Go on," Yang Xu said with a wave of his hand.

Leaving the hospital, Jiang He made a beeline for the lab.

’Since I’m going all the way to the United States, how could just the SAP early prediction model be satisfying enough?’

’I have to finish the miRNA early screening research!’

Jiang He arrived at the lab and announced as soon as he walked in:

"Everyone, I just received news. Johns Hopkins University in the United States has officially sent me an invitation. They want me to give a lecture in their centennial auditorium on December 15th."

Chen Hao: "Fuck! Old Jiang! I want to go too!"

Cheng Xiyao, Yi Xiangwan, Lu Xiaolin, Gu Yizhou, and Tang Pei: "I want to go too!"

Zhou Yang retorted, "No, it’s not ’I want to go too,’ it’s ’We all want to go!’"

Lin Yue nodded excitedly. "Exactly!"

Cai Zhuoqun: "I, I, I, I... I, I want to go too!"

Wang Xiaoqing didn’t say anything, just smiled from the side.

Jiang He said calmly:

"Don’t worry, brothers and sisters. We still have a month. Let’s completely nail down the miRNA early screening. When I take this paper to Baltimore, I will stand in their centennial auditorium, and in front of the world’s media, I will tell them that scholars from China can also produce the most cutting-edge results. It’s time for them to drop their arrogance."