Yang Ping was in the laboratory at the institute, gathered around the workbench with a few students discussing a set of experintal data. He pointed to a string of numbers on the screen, ready to speak, when his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and glanced at the caller display; it was Dean Xia.
He just picked up the call and was about to speak when Dean Xia’s voice ca through, so excited it was slightly altered: "Professor Yang! Double academicians! Both have passed!"
Yang Ping was montarily stunned.
"From the Academy of Sciences, the Engineering Academy, both have passed!" Dean Xia almost shouted, his voice filled with uncontrollable excitent, "Yes, both have passed! Just officially notified!"
It was very quiet in the laboratory. Several students simultaneously paused their actions and looked at him. Yang Ping held the phone, remained silent for a mont, then calmly said, "Okay, I know."
After hanging up the call, he looked at those young faces before him—so wide-eyed, others looking at each other, wanting to ask but not daring to. Yang Ping opened his mouth, wanting to say sothing, but didn’t know where to start.
Among the students, one with more courage whispered, "Professor Yang, what happened?"
Yang Ping was just about to speak when the phone rang again, this ti it was Director Han.
"Xiao Yang!" Director Han’s voice was eight degrees higher than usual, his speed of speech nearly frantic with excitent, "I just got the notification! Double academicians! You got through! Both the Academy of Sciences and the Engineering Academy have approved!"
Yang Ping said, "I..."
"Don’t say anything, I’m coming right over!" Director Han said and then briskly hung up the phone.
Right afterward, the phone rang again, this ti it was Professor Zhang Zongshun. The voice of the elderly man, over eighty, was trembling: "Yang Ping, well done! Well done! You know, right, double academicians! Very rare in our history, hasn’t happened in many years!"
Each person was more excited than the last, their emotions even higher than when Yang Ping won the Nobel Prize. Perhaps the Nobel Prize was high, but too distant from daily life; whereas double academicians are real recognition on this land, a confirmation from peers, from the nation.
For the next half hour, his phone scarcely stopped ringing.
Xu Zhiliang called, stamring: "Pro... professor..., con... con... con... gra... tulations!" Listening to his voice more stuttered than usual, Yang Ping truly worried he might pass out.
Li Zehui called, speaking in Mandarin with an Arican accent: "Professor, you are amazing! Our entire cardiac surgery departnt is proud of you!"
Dr. Jin called, as concise and forceful as ever: "Professor Yang, congratulations."
Song Zimo called, his voice carrying a hint of laughter: "The dean’s office is in an uproar, you must be ntally prepared."
Uncertain how the news spread so quickly.
In the work group chat, Robert sent a voice ssage sixty seconds long; upon listening, it was full of excited, incoherent congratulations. August sent a thumbs-up emoji; Woodhead sent a bouquet of flowers, and the group was instantly flooded with various emojis and congratulations.
Compared to the reaction when Yang Ping won the Nobel Prize, this was livelier and quicker.
The students in the laboratory finally responded, cheering as they gathered around: "Professor Yang! Congratulations! Double academicians!"
Yang Ping waved his hand, wanting to say sothing, but the phone rang again.
This ti it was the office of Sanbo Hospital, informing him that there would be a celebration tomorrow morning, asking if Yang Ping was available.
Yang Ping hesitated for a mont and said okay.
After hanging up, he looked at the students whose faces were flushed with excitent, and said calmly, "Alright, back to work."
The news spread through Sanbo Hospital in just a few minutes.
The first place to go into an uproar was the institute, where young researchers were bustling around, excited like it was a holiday. Soone shouted in the hallway: "Professor Yang has beco a double academician!" Soone poked their head out of an office: "Really?" "Really! Just notified!" and then a roar of cheers. Soone, excited, jumped in the hallway, knocking on doors to share the joy.
In the cafeteria, those dining were discussing animatedly.
"Did you hear? Professor Yang Ping is a double academician! Many years since a double academician has erged."
"Wow, double academicians? How many years for one to co out?"
"That’s right, our hospital is now more famous!"
"Recently won the Nobel Prize, the heat hasn’t fully passed, now cos a double academician—it’s a sweep!"
At the nurse station, the young nurses were chirping away.
"Professor Yang is amazing!"
"He’s usually quite gentle!"
"People like him, the top ones, are naturally gentle; truly capable people aren’t flamboyant."
"Double academicians! I looked it up, there’re only about thirty nationwide?"
In the ward, patients were also discussing.
An old lady asked the nurse: "Your hospital’s Professor Yang was evaluated as a double academician?"
The nurse proudly raised her chin: "Yes, he was in our orthopedics departnt before, now he’s the head of the institute."
The old lady nodded: "Your hospital is truly remarkable."
The nurse’s smile crinkled her eyes into a line: "That it is!"
The most lively place was Dean Xia’s office.
From the mont the news ca through, the phone never stopped. Provincial, city-level, Health Commission, major hospitals, dia, one after another called to congratulate. Dean Xia took calls until his voice was nearly hoarse, but the smile on his face never faded, his mouth almost reaching his ears.
"Thank you, thank you, congratulations to you too."
"Yes, yes, Yang Ping is our hospital’s pride."
"Right, right, double academicians, it’s been many years since one appeared."
"Welco, welco, be sure to co at that ti."
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