Chapter 703 - 702: Taking for Granted

Chapter 703: Chapter 702: Taking for Granted

It was nearly 11:00 AM on Thursday. After completing two puncture injection surgeries—one for a spinal canal tumor and another for a brain tumor—Yan Feifan returned to his office to prepare for the full-face cosmetic surgery scheduled for the afternoon.

To his surprise, Mr. Hou and Shi Min were in his office’s reception area, chatting over tea with two other men.

Yan Feifan recognized one of the two men.

It was Mr. Tao Jiu’an from the National Health Commission, whom he had met once at Baining Hospital the week before last.

Mr. Hou stood up and made the introductions. "Mr. Yan, these two are Mr. Tao Jiu’an and Mr. Zhang Qi from the National Health Commission."

"They came specifically to wait for you. There’s an important matter they wish to discuss with you."

"Mr. Tao, Mr. Zhang, hello!"

After greeting them, Yan Feifan asked in confusion, "What important matter could the National Health Commission possibly have that requires a consultation with a simple doctor like myself?"

Tao Jiu’an laughed. "Mr. Yan, you’re far too modest. You are no simple doctor. Your reputation precedes you."

Yan Feifan gave a modest smile and pressed on, "Mr. Tao, please get straight to the point. I have a surgery this afternoon."

Still smiling, Tao Jiu’an said, "Alright, straight to business."

"Mr. Yan, it’s like this..." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

He organized his thoughts as he spoke. "Although our nation’s medical and healthcare sector has made great strides, there’s still a noticeable gap when compared to developed countries in Europe and America, especially in the areas of cutting-edge medicine and advanced medical equipment."

"To close this gap as much as possible, we’ve been actively promoting cooperation and medical exchanges with renowned medical institutions in Europe and America."

"Recently, we’ve been preparing to launch a new exchange program..."

Tao Jiu’an’s voice was full of enthusiasm. "We’re planning to select one hundred outstanding young doctors from across the country and send them to Europe and America for advanced training. They’ll be placed in ten to twenty of the world’s top medical institutions for a period of one to three years."

Yan Feifan nodded slightly. "That sounds like an excellent program. But what does it have to do with me?"

Mr. Tao chuckled and asked, "Mr. Yan, this is the highest-level, government-sponsored training program the National Health Commission has organized in recent years. We’re targeting internationally renowned medical institutions, and the training will be in their areas of greatest strength."

"Don’t you want to take this opportunity to study abroad?"

"No." Yan Feifan’s reply was unhesitating.

’What a joke.’

’After that terrifying experience in the United States, the still-shaken Yan Feifan wouldn’t go abroad again even if it killed him.’

’It’s safer at home. I can sleep soundly here.’

Tao Jiu’an was taken aback. The answer was completely unexpected.

He tried to persuade him. "Mr. Yan, this is a government-sponsored program."

"Besides, even though you’re known as a genius doctor, you’re still in the stage of learning and accumulating experience. You should be taking every opportunity to see what the world’s top medical institutions are like."

Yan Feifan stated solemnly, "Mr. Tao, I appreciate the offer, but for personal reasons, I have no plans to go abroad in the coming years."

This...

Tao Jiu’an was in a bind.

In truth, most of the funding for this project came from the sponsorship of several international medical companies, and there were a few strings attached.

Furthermore, several of the renowned medical institutions—both those already on board and those they were still in talks with—had also made a few requests.

Several of those conditions and requests involved Yan Feifan.

But Yan Feifan’s unexpected refusal made the subsequent arrangements very difficult to handle.

Unwilling to give up, Tao Jiu’an tried again. "Mr. Yan, please reconsider. This is a rare opportunity to study abroad."

Yan Feifan didn’t want to drag out the conversation, so he asked, "Mr. Tao, was there anything else?"

Seeing that Yan Feifan was essentially showing him the door, Tao Jiu’an’s expression immediately turned cold. "No, that’s all. I won’t disturb you any further."

With that, he stood up, his face stern, and strode out of the room.

At this, Mr. Hou and Mr. Zhang also quickly stood up and hurried after him.

Shi Min, also one of the hosts, followed them out.

However, less than a minute later, Tao Jiu’an returned.

He had actually come back.

Tao Jiu’an walked back over to Yan Feifan. When he saw the patient reports in his hand, much of the anger in his heart suddenly dissipated.

He composed himself and said, "Mr. Yan, let me be frank with you."

"The reason I urged you to study abroad is, firstly, because I genuinely believe this program would effectively help you improve your medical skills and be of great benefit to you."

"I’m certain that as soon as this program is announced, outstanding young doctors from all over the country will be clamoring to apply."

"Secondly..."

Tao Jiu’an paused, then said in a low voice, "Mr. Yan, I won’t hide it from you. A large portion of this project’s funding comes from a single international medical group’s sponsorship."

"Furthermore, this group also helped us get in touch with most of the internationally renowned institutions where the training will take place."

"This group has one condition..."

Tao Jiu’an said slowly, "Within one year, you are to perform six puncture injection surgeries at one of their group’s medical institutions."

"I don’t think that’s an overly demanding condition."

Tao Jiu’an stared into Yan Feifan’s eyes. "Mr. Yan, I’m laying all my cards on the table now."

"Can you tell me your real reason for refusing?"

Yan Feifan mulled it over for a moment, then said, "Mr. Tao, if I told you that if I went abroad, I might not be able to return, would you believe me?"

"Besides, even if I agreed to go, it’s questionable whether the country would even let me leave."

The impact of this information was so great that Tao Jiu’an’s thoughts were momentarily thrown into chaos.

Just then, Mr. Hou spoke up. "Mr. Tao, Mr. Yan is also a specially-appointed expert at the PLA General Hospital."

"Every week, Mr. Yan accepts patients transferred from there."

"The patients sent from there have rather special statuses. They usually have guards posted at their room doors twenty-four hours a day. Once, there were more than a dozen guards."

This news sent a chill down Tao Jiu’an’s spine.

He finally realized how little he truly knew about Yan Feifan, and how presumptuous he had been.

It was mainly Yan Feifan’s age that had given him the wrong impression.

He had also been sitting in an office for too long, losing his sensitivity for critical information.

’How could someone specifically requested by a famous international medical group be just some slightly well-known young doctor?’

At this thought, a cold sweat broke out on Tao Jiu’an’s back. He knew he had come dangerously close to ruining his career and ending up in a place of no return.

"Mr. Yan, I was inconsiderate and acted rashly."

After a quick apology, Tao Jiu’an hastily took his leave.

There was information he needed to look into, and many subsequent matters that required his attention...

Yan Feifan had no time to guess at Tao Jiu’an’s thoughts. He still had a surgery waiting for him...

A little after 6:00 PM, Yan Feifan emerged from the operating room after a five-hour full-face cosmetic surgery, only to be met with bad news.

An experimental monkey had suddenly gone berserk, killing itself by slamming its head against its cage.

Dr. Qiu Ge was waiting for him in the lab. They were to dissect the monkey’s body together to find out why it had gone mad...

PS.

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