Guidance and a Sense of Urgency
Inside the restaurant.
"Ha! Cough! Ha!"
Hearing Leonard Green's boastful, sweeping generalization, Ross couldn't help but chuckle and spread his hands, reminding him, "I'm a PhD too."
"Yes, yes, yes, you work in that library."
Leonard glanced at him and said dismissively.
"Hello?"
Ross was furious, and his voice rose. "That's Museum of Prehistoric Creatures, not a library!"
Is there a difference?
Leonard said with disdain.
"Of course there's a difference!"
Ross exclaimed excitedly, "Just like you said dentists aren't real doctors, how can a library be compared to Museum of Prehistoric Creatures?"
"Are you a doctor?"
Leonard began to take Ross seriously. "A dentist earns at least $100,000 a year, how much do you earn in a year?"
"..."
Ross paused for a moment. He only earned sixty or seventy thousand a year, which was already quite good, but it was nothing compared to a dentist, let alone a senior Attending Physician like Leonard in a major hospital and department.
"We're talking about my PhD, what does that have to do with how much money I make?"
"You say you have a doctorate, but you don't even earn as much as a dentist."
Leonard retorted sharply, "Dentists aren't even considered real doctors, so what's the difference between a library and some Museum of Prehistoric Creatures to you?"
In the East Country, this statement might be refuted, but in the United States, where money is paramount and making money is considered a virtue, it makes perfect sense.
This is why United States rarely ask about other people's income; even close friends like the Friends Group of Six" don't really know each other's financial situation.
Don't ask, it's a private matter!
"There is no distinction between high and low jobs. The most important thing is that you are interested in the job and that it is valuable to society."
Seeing that Ross's eyes were practically spitting fire, Adam quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Ross likes dinosaurs because their work made Jurassic Park a success, just like Dr. Green likes saving people, and countless patients have been saved."
"Just call me Leonard."
Leonard Green treated Adam with special regard and ignored the impulsive and irritable Ross, smiling as he asked Adam to change his form of address.
In the United States, friendship is considered the most ideal relationship.
Parents and children should be friends, as should spouses. All relationships should be developed in the direction of friendship, because that seems to represent equality of personality.
As friends, we should naturally call each other by our names.
"Okay, Leonard."
Adam was secretly delighted, and his smile grew even brighter, "You know I'm preparing to become Cardiothoracic Surgeon. Could you tell me about your growth experience and share your success story?"
"Sycophant!"
Everyone rolled their eyes in unison.
Adam's smile remained unchanged; he didn't care at all.
Just kidding, what you learn from books is never enough; you have to put it into practice to truly understand.
No matter how many books you read, your understanding of the medical profession and industry will only be like looking at flowers through a fog or the blind men touching an elephant.
If you are not yet able to become a doctor, consulting a senior Attending Physician and having them share insider information about the industry can be extremely beneficial for your future and can save you from many detours.
The time saved is the greatest guarantee for Adam's Lifespan.
In this situation, it's not about groveling or sucking up; it's just about saying nice things and flattering the other person. What's the big deal?
Besides, considering Rachel as a friend, Leonard is also an elder, so this can only be considered a polite compliment.
Do we have to be like Ross, dating someone's daughter, getting ridiculed a few times, and turning our backs and leaving at the slightest discomfort?
That's not freedom, that's selfishness!
"My upbringing..."
Leonard took a sip of pure whiskey and said with a hint of nostalgia in his eyes, "Back then, I was just like you. I wanted to be a surgeon since I was a child. After graduating from college, I got into Columbia University Medical School. In my junior and senior years, I started my internship at New York University Medical Center as a medical intern."
After graduating from medical school, I worked my way up from intern and resident to Attending Physician at New York University Medical Center, and more than twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye.
"My dad was the best among his group!"
Rachel said proudly.
Clearly, Leonard had told her many stories from his youth.
Rachel deeply admires her father, this great man who single-handedly supports his family, which is why she is particularly interested in doctors.
If it weren't for the fact that her fiancé was a dentist, in the original timeline, she would feel weak in the knees and unable to walk whenever she saw a handsome doctor.
"You can imagine."
Adam laughed and chimed in, "Leonard, you must have worked really hard back then."
"Certainly!"
Leonard proudly declared, "Everyone acknowledges that I was the hardest-working and most outstanding among our group of interns."
"Hard work pays off; that's the American Dream."
Joey nodded firmly, deeply moved.
Because he is now working hard to realize his American Dream. He wants to be a great actor, like Al Pacino, or even just one-tenth as good as Al Pacino!
"Shit!"
Leonard suddenly snapped, "Hard work does pay off, but most of the time, achieving your dreams isn't just about working hard enough!"
"What does that mean?"
Adam was jolted awake; this was the bloody truth he had been desperately seeking to know.
His planned path has always been to grow into a top surgeon through his own efforts, and to steadily and safely increase his Lifespan. He has always believed in this. But could there be some trap in the process?
"I was the most outstanding and hardworking among my group, but do you know who is the most successful now?"
Leonard sneered.
"It's definitely not you."
Ross laughed and mocked.
He was still upset about what had just happened, and he couldn't resist making a sarcastic remark whenever he had the chance.
"Ross!"
Rachel looked at Ross with displeasure.
"Opps~"
Ross looked at Rachel with a sheepish smile, then put his finger to his lips and mimed pulling a zipper.
He had a crush on Rachel since high school.
Now, he's divorced, and as he cries that he doesn't want a divorce, he only wants to get married, Rachel, dressed in a wedding gown, runs away from her wedding to someone else and comes to him.
Although he never mustered the courage to pursue her, in his heart, Rachel was his soulmate.
How could he dare offend his soulmate... at least not until he had her...
"The best and hardest working you are not necessarily the one who achieves the most."
Adam glanced at Ross and steered the conversation back on track. "Could it be that someone used connections?"
At this point, his expression turned somewhat unpleasant.
He believed in fair competition and, with a system that allowed him to continuously improve his attributes, he was confident he could handle anyone. However, if even the most skilled doctors didn't play fair, then he would be in trouble.