After being separated from my family, I became a darling of the military region thanks to my medical

On the third floor of the Ministry of Health's office building, in Vice Minister Li's office, the lid of a teacup tapped against the rim with a clinking sound.

Chen Yuanshan had barely hung up the phone call from London for less than five minutes when he called his secretary in.

"Xiao Liu, say it to me again, did I mishear you?"

Secretary Liu stood at the door, holding a notebook in her hand, and read it aloud for the second time.

Sir William of the Royal Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery, along with three surgeons, applied at their own expense to go to the Beicheng Military General Hospital to learn autologous pericardial replacement surgery from Dr. Ye Zhen.

"Another academic evaluation team, funded by Gore, consisting of five to seven people, applied to enter the country at the same time. Ostensibly, it was for technical consultation, but its actual purpose was to question Ye Zhen's proposal."

Vice Minister Li put the teacup lid back on, then picked it up again, and put it back on again.

"Two groups, coming together?"

"Yes."

Vice Minister Li stood up from his chair and walked around the desk twice.

Xiao Liu had worked for him for six years, and this was the first time he had ever seen this deputy minister, known for his composure, pacing around in the room.

"Xiao Liu, do you know what this means?"

"Please speak, sir."

"In the more than 30 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, there have been foreign experts who came to China to provide technical assistance, to sell equipment, and to conduct a cursory inspection."

Vice Minister Li stopped and placed both hands on the table.

"None of the groups that came to learn passed."

Xiao Liu's mouth opened slightly.

"They're from the Royal Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the UK. The head of the society personally led the team, paying for it all himself—his plane tickets and accommodation."

Vice Minister Li spoke faster and faster.

"If this were in the newspapers, it would be on the front page of the People's Daily."

He grabbed the phone receiver.

"Connect me to Dr. Ye Zhen's office at the Beicheng Military Region General Hospital."

The call was transferred three times, and I waited a full four minutes.

A young woman's voice came from the other end, unhurried and calm.

"Feed".

"Xiao Ye, it's me."

Ye Zhen recognized his voice. "Hello, Vice Minister Li."

"Okay, okay, you're fine too."

Vice Minister Li cleared his throat, slowed his speech slightly, and tried to appear as approachable as possible.

"Xiao Ye, there's something I want to discuss with you. Sir Williams from England is bringing a group to learn your techniques, you know about that, right?"

"I know, Counselor Chen has informed me."

"Okay, then I'll get straight to the point."

Vice Minister Li picked up his teacup and moistened his throat.

"This is the first time since the founding of the People's Republic of China that a group of top Western medical experts has taken the initiative to come to China to learn clinical techniques. It is of great significance and is highly valued by the higher authorities. The ministry hopes that you can personally go to the airport to pick them up, to give them the proper respect and also to save face for us."

There was a two-second pause on the other end of the phone.

"Vice Minister Li, I can't answer that, I'm busy."

Vice Minister Li's teacup stopped in mid-air.

"The surgery schedule is full for the next two days."

"I have a long line of patients here, I can't keep my children waiting for me to go to the airport to greet foreign guests."

Vice Minister Li opened his mouth, but the words he was about to say took a different turn.

"Xiao Ye, I understand you're busy, but this is something the higher-ups are taking very seriously..."

"Vice Minister Li, I'm a doctor. You're more knowledgeable than I am about matters that are of importance to the higher-ups. Just have someone else do it for me."

Vice Minister Li was momentarily speechless.

Xiao Liu listened with sweaty palms, only one thought in his mind—this Dr. Ye's temper was exactly as rumored.

"Well... okay, I'll arrange the airport pickup."

Vice Minister Li took a step back and was about to continue speaking when Ye Zhen spoke first.

"Vice Minister Li, there's one more thing."

"you say."

"How are the tuition fees calculated for those who come to learn a skill?"

Vice Minister Li thought there was something wrong with his ears.

"tuition fee?"

"Yes, tuition fees."

Ye Zhen's tone was no different from when she was giving medical orders in the department.

"My surgical technique, from theory to practice, has a complete teaching program that has been developed. Just observing the operation in the operating room requires manpower, and after the operation, I have to take them to analyze the surgical video frame by frame and explain the key points of suturing. All of these have costs—time costs, equipment costs, and labor costs."

"Xiao Ye."

Vice Minister Li put down his teacup and adopted a more earnest tone.

"They've flown all the way here for an exchange, how can we possibly ask for tuition? If word gets out, it'll make us look petty."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Vice Minister Li, the term 'exchange' only counts if both sides have something to offer."

Ye Zhen's voice wasn't loud, but every word she uttered was delivered with conviction.

"I have the surgical procedure, the data, and the complete clinical protocol. What do they have to offer me in terms of communication?"

Vice Minister Li did not receive the call.

"If the other party comes empty-handed, learns everything, and then goes back to England empty-handed, that's not an exchange. That's called getting something for nothing."

The office was silent for a full five seconds.

Xiao Liu lowered his head, pretending to look at the documents, but his ears were perked up more than a rabbit's.

"Xiao Ye, what you said makes sense, but..."

"Vice Minister Li, I'm not asking for an exorbitant price."

Ye Zhen's tone softened slightly.

"I don't want cash for tuition; I want in-kind items. The equipment and artificial blood vessels that Williams brought last time were a huge help to our hospital. If they bring another batch of the same specifications this time, it will be considered as payment for tuition."

Just as Vice Minister Li was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Ye Zhen added another sentence.

"Furthermore, the standards for that so-called evaluation team sent by Gore to observe my operating room would have to be doubled."

Vice Minister Li was stunned for a long time on the other end of the phone.

"You know about the people at Gore too?"

"Williams sent me a message through Counselor Chen," Ye Zhen said calmly, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. "A company that makes huge profits selling patches sent people to question my proposal—Vice Minister Li, do you think they're here to conduct academic research, or to cause trouble?"

Vice Minister Li tapped his fingers twice on the table.

"Should those who cause trouble also have to pay tuition?"

"Especially those who cause trouble, they have to pay double."

Ye Zhen's voice carried a hint of laughter.

"If they want to come, I won't stop them, as long as they bring enough supplies. If they think my plan is no good after seeing it, they can go back and write a report, I don't care. If they think it's good, that's even better, it saves us from having to fly back again. If they come empty-handed—they won't even know which way the operating room door opens."

Vice Minister Li switched the receiver to his other hand and leaned back in his chair.

"Xiao Ye, you're treating them like a sucker."

"It's not about being taken advantage of, it's about fair trade."

Ye Zhen's tone returned to its usual coldness.

"For them, spending several boxes of equipment in exchange for a chance to get up close and observe is a bargain."