Confrontation
Not only did Gu Sheng not expect this, even Uncle Zhang himself didn’t expect to see Zhan Aiping again—especially when he saw her carrying several empty flower pots, as if he had seen a ghost.
“You… you really came to ask for it!”
Zhan Aiping smiled and said, “Wasn’t it agreed upon? Ah, my flowers seem to have grown a few more buds, that’s really nice…”
Those rose bushes were blooming beautifully in the sunlight, with a long flowering period. The earlier blooms had already withered, but fresh ones still adorned the branches, along with large and small buds. It would be some time before this batch of flowers finished blooming.
As Zhan Aiping spoke, she caught sight of Uncle Zhang’s “seeing a ghost” expression. Her skin was quite thick, and she said directly, “A bet is a bet, you can’t go back on your word. You said this plant, so this plant it is.”
Uncle Zhang sighed helplessly, “Fine, fine, take it. Go get a shovel and dig it out carefully.”
“Don’t mess it up. Stand aside and wait; don’t damage my flowers.”
Gu Sheng was following with their two children. He stepped forward to help, and when Uncle Zhang noticed him, he was startled, “Gu family’s boy? This is your wife?”
Gu Sheng replied, “Hello, sir, yes, this is my wife.”
Uncle Zhang: “…”
Zhan Aiping: “You two know each other?”
Gu Sheng said, “I went to school with his grandson.”
Uncle Zhang: “I know his father.”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
It’s a small world.
As Uncle Zhang was digging up the plant, he said to Gu Sheng, “Can’t you rein in your wife? Look at her, just look! What kind of girl is so shameless as to come ask an old man for things?”
Gu Sheng replied, “Honesty is a virtue of the Chinese people.”
The implication being: Sir, don’t go back on your word.
Uncle Zhang retorted, “You’ve got a sharp tongue, boy.”
With great reluctance, Uncle Zhang dug up three big rose plants. These were his pride and joy; their roots were beautiful, the shape was full and rounded, and they were growing vigorously. This year’s flowers were especially vibrant and lovely… And now he had to give them away for free.
Zhan Aiping watched closely, “Don’t damage the roots. Keep the core soil intact.”
“Core soil?” Uncle Zhang glared at her. “As long as they stay in my yard, not a single root will get hurt.”
Zhan Aiping said, “I like flowers that bloom in my yard.”
Uncle Zhang huffed, “Do you young folks even know how to grow flowers? Now that they’re yours, don’t go killing my flowers.”
Zhan Aiping replied, “No, I’ll make my husband do the gardening. If they die, it’ll all be his fault.”
Gu Sheng: “?”
Uncle Zhang: “You… fine, they’re yours now. Stop talking and get out of here before you drive me crazy!”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Uncle, you can always bet with me again. I’ve got my eye on those other roses in your yard—”
“Get out, hurry up, you’re not welcome here!”
Zhan Aiping: “Don’t be so stingy, Uncle. The flowers in your yard are really well taken care of. It’s love at first sight.”
Uncle Zhang felt a hint of pride, “Wait until you see next year’s spring flowers.”
Whether it’s roses or other flowers, each season’s blooms are different. As the temperature and sunlight change, so do the shape and colour of the flowers. Generally speaking, the spring blooms are the most beautiful.
“Alright, I’ll find a chance to come and see them tomorrow.”
Uncle Zhang was startled, worried that she was serious. “Don’t come! Please don’t come! You’ve already taken a few of my plants, my yard is ruined!”
Zhan Aiping comforted him, “You can always plant more.”
Uncle Zhang rolled his eyes, “Planting flowers takes time, you think they’ll just grow overnight?”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “You’re an elder, you should focus on cultivating peace of mind. Don’t be so impatient.”
Uncle Zhang: “…”
With the mindset of “getting something for free,” Zhan Aiping managed to get three edible rose plants from Uncle Zhang. They were beautiful in colour, well-shaped, and smelled delightful. She didn’t have the heart to trim them right away, so she left the blooms and buds intact.
Uncle Zhang, annoyed, said, “Once you get home, cut off the spent flowers and buds, and wait for the next round of blooms.”
After all that digging, the roots had been disturbed. Even if they were replanted in the original soil, the current blooms would be affected. It would be better to prune them now and wait for the next batch of buds to grow.
Zhan Aiping said, “No, I want to keep them. What’s the point of growing flowers if you don’t get to enjoy them? Am I an idiot?”
Comrade Xiao Zhan still had high hopes for those flower buds on the branches.
Uncle Zhang: “Haste makes waste.”
Zhan Aiping didn’t believe in that.
When the couple left with the three flower pots, Uncle Zhang’s wife also gave them some rose sugar—rose-petal jam in a glass jar, bright and beautiful, looking quite tempting.
Gu Sheng carried the three flower pots while Zhan Aiping took the two kids, and they returned to the guesthouse. She found a pair of scissors, sterilized them with some alcohol spray, and cut off a few of the blooming roses. She took them to the two kids to amuse them.
She had already removed the leaves and thorns.
“Kids, look at the flowers.”
Sure enough, Guobaorou and Tangyuan the brother and sister, were captivated by the “big red flowers” in their mother’s hands. They crawled forward, reaching out to grab the beautiful red flowers, while Zhan Aiping waved the flowers to get them to crawl around.
It was like playing with a cat toy.
Zhan Aiping waved one of the flowers in front of the two kids, their eyes following the flower’s movement.
The two little ones were patient enough, but after a while, they became frustrated, plopped down on the bed, and started babbling, “Wah wah wah,” in a string of baby words.
Once they had had enough fun, Zhan Aiping let them finally grab the “big red flowers.”
One for each child.
The two kids immediately became happy, grabbing the flower buds with no hesitation, and started to tear them apart, with petals falling everywhere.
A perfectly fine flower was torn to pieces.
Gu Sheng commented, “Children imitate what they see.”
Zhan Aiping turned to look at him, “What do you mean by that?”
Gu Sheng crossed his arms and said, “Our vegetable garden is doing pretty well. I remember when we first moved in last year, you planted some flowers. How many are left now?”
Zhan Aiping: “… We have one lazy rose bush left.”
This rose bush was freeloading in their garden, refusing to bloom. If that weren’t the case, why would she shamelessly ask for Uncle Zhang’s mature plants?
When they had just moved in last year, Zhan Aiping had planted quite a few rose seedlings. But after she got pregnant and had the kids, they moved, and most of the roses died. Then, during her postpartum recovery, a few more were ruined. By this year, only one single plant had survived.
And that one plant had turned into a stubborn seedling, freeloading in their garden without blooming.
She had been too busy taking care of the two kids to bother with the flowers. “Now that the kids are almost one year old, I’m sure I can grow the flowers properly.”
Gu Sheng: “…”
“You should stop standing there and help me plant the flowers.”
Gu Sheng said, “Aren’t I the one watering the vegetables every morning before I go out?”
Zhan Aiping: “Yes, but clearly you didn’t water them right. You killed my flowers.”
Gu Sheng: “When your son and daughter get a bit older, you can train them to be your little helpers. One can water the plants, and the other can pull weeds and get rid of bugs. Then you’ll have nothing to worry about.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “You’re right. That’s exactly what I’m planning.”
When the kids are a little older, they can start learning how to do chores and take care of themselves.
The family was ready to go back. They had arrived with lots of luggage, and now they were leaving with even more—three times as much. Not to mention the three thorny rose bushes, each one full and bushy, with plenty of sharp thorns.
Gu Sheng got pricked several times. These flower branches looked pretty, but the thorns were fierce. One careless move and you’d get a string of stings.
Zhan Aiping kept the babies away from the thorns. They got on the bus to go back, with her handling the two kids and Gu Sheng carrying the luggage.
Zhan Aiping encouraged him, “The little helpers haven’t grown up yet, so the big helper will have to work harder for now.”
Gu Sheng stared at the three rose bushes, “You sure know how to give me more work.”
After everything was loaded onto the bus, the family spent the whole day bouncing along the mountain road on their way back. Gu Sheng found a car to pick them up, and Zhan Aiping, with the babies in tow, watched happily as the three rose bushes were moved into their yard.
Even after being re-potted and jolted around on the mountain road, the three rose bushes still looked fresh and beautiful, with some new buds opening.
“Gu Sheng, plant the flowers well, put them in that corner over there.”
Zhan Aiping took the scissors again and cut off a few more branches. She kept the flowers on top and cut the stems into several pieces, instructing Gu Sheng to plant them in pots. “Take good care of these.”
“If each cutting takes root, we’ll soon have an entire rose garden.”
Gu Sheng smiled and shook his head, thinking she was really dreaming.
“Why don’t you plant the cuttings yourself? Why are you asking me to do it?”
Zhan Aiping shook her head. “You have to do it, you must personally handle it.”
This sort of thing was almost like a superstition. Comrade Gu always managed to get every cutting to take root, but her success rate was always very low.
“Alright, alright, I’ll do everything.”
Gu Sheng moved the items into the house and obediently went to plant the flowers, while Zhan Aiping went inside to tidy up. The family had left home happily and returned even happier.
“Gold nest, silver nest—none of them are as good as your own nest.” After staying at the guesthouse for a few days, they were eager to come back and didn’t want to stay there any longer.
When the family returned to the residential compound, it was quite the event. Many people noticed their return, especially the three large rose bushes in full bloom. Although others in the compound also grew flowers, none had grown them as beautifully, with clusters of vibrant, eye-catching blooms.
Most people’s flowers only produced a few blooms here and there.
Shen Liqing had even said she would treat Zhan to some sunflower seeds, but her sunflowers had all wilted.
“Dr. Zhan, you’re finally back.” Aunt Zhou from next door heard the commotion and immediately came out with her child to greet them. She was holding her chubby son, nicknamed “Big Elbow,” who was well-fed and sturdy, wearing a blue floral bib.
“Our Big Elbow can speak very clearly now. Come on, say hello to Auntie Zhan.”
“Auntie… hmm?”
Big Elbow tilted his head, looking at Zhan Aiping. She smiled, “Your child is very smart.”
Aunt Zhou nodded with a smile and peeked inside, trying to catch a glimpse of Zhan Aiping’s son, Guobaorou. Big Elbow was a few months older than Guobaorou, and since they were neighbours, Aunt Zhou couldn’t help but pay attention to how the two compared.
“Has Guobaorou turned one yet?”
Aunt Zhou asked, “Where’s your Guobaorou?”
Zhan Aiping replied, “He’s inside playing with his sister.”
“Bring him out to play with Big Elbow.”
Zhan Aiping went inside, then came back and told Aunt Zhou, “Both kids are asleep. They were exhausted after being out for so many days.”
Aunt Zhou said, “I’ll bring my child over tomorrow to see Guobaorou then.”
She wouldn’t be satisfied until she saw Guobaorou. Aunt Zhou had two daughters before finally having a son, and she felt proud in front of both her in-laws and her own family. Even her mother-in-law, whom she had sent away before, had softened toward her because of her grandson, repeatedly showing her favour. As long as she took good care of Big Elbow, she had secured her position in the Qian family.
When she only had daughters, Aunt Zhou used to believe that sons and daughters were the same. But after having a son, her status had risen considerably.
The feeling of “standing tall” in front of her in-laws, like she was “the ancestor,” was too wonderful. She finally understood the saying, “When a woman has a son, she gains confidence.” Naturally, her bias toward her youngest child grew stronger.
She believed her Big Elbow was the best and was sure he could outshine the neighbour’s Guobaorou.
About ten days ago, when Guobaorou left, Aunt Zhou had secretly observed him. Little Guobaorou wasn’t nearly as sturdy as her Big Elbow had been at that age. Her son had been much bigger and stronger when he was ten months old.
Aunt Zhou was quietly proud, eager for her son to surpass Guobaorou in every way.
Everyone in the compound praised Zhan Aiping for being a doctor and an expert at raising children. If her Big Elbow surpassed Guobaorou, it would prove she was even better than Zhan Aiping at child-rearing.
Zhan Aiping watched Aunt Zhou leave and raised an eyebrow. She had sensed Aunt Zhou’s hidden thoughts.
A neighbour seemed more concerned about Guobaorou than his own parents.
She returned inside, gazing at her sleeping son, and sighed, “He’s so little, and already being compared…”
“Compared in what way?” Gu Sheng had now changed into his military uniform, looking sharp and dignified. Wearing his hat, he appeared much more disciplined and imposing in his uniform than in casual clothes.
It had been a few days since Zhan Aiping had seen him dressed like this, and she found herself momentarily entranced.
With the uniform, it seemed his temper grew a bit stricter too. When he wore casual clothes, he was more easy-going and let her take charge. This was probably the difference between a working military dog and a resting one.
He definitely looked more attractive and charismatic when he was serious and working.
Gu Sheng had been on a business trip for half a month, and there was still work piled up, so he had to work overtime that night. Without making a fuss, he simply said, “After dinner, I have to head out and won’t be back tonight. You and the kids will be at home.”
Zhan Aiping said, “Let me grab the chance to talk to you for a bit then.”
She clung to his back, catching Gu Sheng off guard, making him take a step back. He blinked, “Not long ago, you were shooing me away like a fly, saying I was too clingy. Now you’re the one being so forward?”
Zhan Aiping replied, “I find you more charming when you’re in work mode.”
Even though Gu Sheng often acted like a stay-at-home dad, taking care of the kids and doting on her, which made her happy, it could also feel a bit suffocating. Besides love, people needed their own space and time.
She preferred seeing him hard at work.
“Really?” Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow, leaned down, and kissed her cheek. “I’ll work hard and aim to push out Regiment Commander Jiang, so I can take the position sooner.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “If Regiment Commander Jiang heard that, he’d be furious.”
“You don’t know him well. He’d probably be relieved that he got promoted.”
Zhan Aiping said, “Competition is everywhere among humans. Just now, Aunt Zhou from next door was asking about our little Guobaorou, probably to compare him with her Big Elbow.”
“Saying our Guobaorou is skinnier and not as sturdy as her Big Elbow.”
“She’s more concerned about Guobaorou than you, his own father. Last time you weren’t home, she asked me about Guobaorou’s weight. When I said I hadn’t weighed him, she quickly brought over her own scale and basket to personally weigh him.”
“After weighing, instead of rounding up, she rounded down Guobaorou’s weight and then proudly told me how much stronger her Big Elbow was at the same age, even a few pounds heavier than Guobaorou!”
“You should have seen the look of pride on her face.” Zhan Aiping mimicked Aunt Zhou’s smug expression, raising her eyebrows and making faces.
Gu Sheng laughed as he watched her, “What? Did she spark your competitive side? Are you also eager to show off?”
Zhan Aiping shook her head, “I’m just worried. If the competition starts this early, what will happen in the future? The kids can’t even talk yet, and she’s already comparing their weights. What’s next? Who speaks first? Who has the louder voice? Who’s smarter? Who’s stronger? Who gets better grades?”
Gu Sheng replied, “Isn’t that similar to how you were as a child, always competing with me?”
“A little competition isn’t bad. Are you worried our son won’t be able to hold his own?”
Zhan Aiping smiled, “I’m confident in many areas, but if it’s a contest of who’s stronger… I don’t plan on raising our kids to be chubby.”
Right now, the popular idea was that the chubbier the child, the healthier they were.
Gu Sheng said, “There’s nothing to compare. Neither of us was chubby growing up. If our kids take after you, they’ll just be little skinny monkeys.”
Zhan Aiping added, “I’m afraid our son might feel self-conscious, thinking he’s not as strong as others.”
Gu Sheng responded, “My son won’t lose in a fight. And if he wins, he can take after his mom and laugh at the others for being all show, with a weak body like a decorative tin spear.”
Zhan Aiping: “…Let’s focus on teaching good behaviour.”
However, in the compound, it was common for children to get into fights. If adults intervened, it usually didn’t end well. When she was a child, winning meant praise, while losing meant being laughed at. Everyone became highly competitive.
Gu Sheng said, “You’ve become so much more well-behaved since becoming a mother.”
After seeing so much modern, meticulous parenting, Zhan Aiping found herself out of sync with the rough, carefree style of child-rearing in this era.
“Enough about the kids. Let’s talk about you, Comrade Gu.” Zhan Aiping patted Gu Sheng’s chest.
“You’ve been slacking off these past ten days.”
“Your muscles aren’t as tight as they were before. Make sure you train harder.”
Gu Sheng: “…You’re my best personal trainer.”
Gu Sheng left, and Zhan Aiping got busy as well. She had to go to the hospital for work the next day and had a lot of tasks to handle. That evening, she worked overtime, organizing her materials.
The next morning, Zhan Aiping woke up a little late. Jiang Meihui came to her yard to hurry her, offering to watch Guobaorou and his sister while she got ready. Jiang Meihui played with the two kids, “Dr. Zhan, don’t rush, take your time.”
Zhan Aiping grabbed her things and headed out, “After being away from work for so many days, I feel a bit out of sorts, like I’ve forgotten something.”
Jiang Meihui replied, “We’ve been waiting so long for your return.”
Jiang Meihui had been eagerly awaiting her return for the past ten days. “Dr. Zhan, not seeing you for a day feels like three years.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “You’ve been reading a lot, haven’t you? Is there someone you’ve got your eye on?”
“You don’t need to count on me. Our residential director, Li Yuxia, is great at matchmaking.”
Jiang Meihui responded seriously, “Dr. Zhan, in my situation, it has to be you.”
Pushing the stroller, Zhan Aiping asked curiously, “Who do you have in mind? Do you really want me to help you with matchmaking?”
Jiang Meihui nodded cautiously, “There is someone. I want your advice. It’s someone from our health clinic.”
“Oh.” Zhan Aiping instantly thought of someone, most likely the surgeon with the big head and little head—no need to ask further. She was probably interested in the “big head” who was as close as a brother to her.
Blushing, Jiang Meihui said, “It’s that surgeon. He’s really good with a needle and thread. I cut meat all the time, but I never thought flesh could be stitched back together like that… It’s amazing! I didn’t realize you could stitch up both clothes and skin.”
“I also heard that if someone’s intestines fall out, they can just push them back in, and they’ll automatically return to their proper place.”
“I’ve washed lots of intestines. Do you think people’s stomachs can be washed? Can intestines be washed?”
Zhan Aiping blinked, “If you’re interested, Dr. Zhao, your sister-in-law’s brother-in-law, can offer a full stomach-washing and colon-cleansing package. You can give it a try.”
“No, no, no!” Jiang Meihui said quickly, “Washing the stomach is too painful. I saw it once, and I couldn’t bear to watch it again. It’s like slaughtering a pig… And that surgical room is even scarier. Just listening to the sounds of stitching from a distance gives me chills.”
“It wasn’t until I started working at the hospital that I realized there are so many strange and unusual ways people can get injured.”
Zhan Aiping smiled, “You’ve gained some insight, haven’t you?”
Hospitals are places that witness the joy and sorrow of human life, and they see all kinds of people. It’s not just the injuries that are strange and varied; the causes of death can be just as bizarre. Only in a hospital can you truly realize how fragile life is.
“Dr. Zhan, I feel like being a doctor is just like being a cook. A doctor treats people, and a cook prepares food.”
Zhan Aiping couldn’t help but laugh, “You could put it that way.”
She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and asked curiously, “Stop beating around the bush. Who exactly have you taken a liking to?”
No matter how bold a person is, when it comes to talking about someone they like, they start to skirt around the topic and avoid getting to the point.
Jiang Meihui pursed her lips and smiled mischievously, “Dr. Zhan, take a guess—who do you think it is?”
Zhan Aiping teased her on purpose, “You mentioned stitching and sewing, so it must be someone from surgery. I’m guessing it’s Dr. Liu Sheliang.”
In their clinic, the one with a bigger head was Chen Li, and the one with a smaller head was Liu Sheliang.
Upon hearing her answer, Jiang Meihui’s eyes widened, “Dr. Zhan, you’re amazing! You guessed it right on the first try!”
Zhan Aiping: “???”
Jiang Meihui continued to praise her, “Dr. Zhan, you’re so observant! I thought I’d mislead you since I said I liked someone with a bigger head, like my brother.”
“You really aren’t an ordinary person!”
Zhan Aiping responded with a mysterious tone, “Indeed, I’m not just an ordinary person.”
She did have a bit of a mystical quality about her, especially when it came to matchmaking—her luck was particularly good.
Jiang Meihui said, “You figured it out. Actually, I don’t like guys like my brother—his head’s too big, and he’s too simple-minded. I don’t like people as rough as him. Dr. Liu is impressive; he has such skilful hands, and he’s really quick at stitching.”
“Don’t underestimate me just because I’m a cook—I’ve got a sharp eye. Dr. Chen is much rougher by comparison; he’s not as good as Dr. Liu.”
Zhan Aiping nodded, “So you’ve really taken a liking to Dr. Liu.”
She agreed that Dr. Liu was a good person and fully supported Jiang Meihui’s choice.
Jiang Meihui nodded enthusiastically, “Every time I serve him food, I give him extra dishes.”
Zhan Aiping: “…” That’s definitely using power for personal gain.
Jiang Meihui sighed, “But he might not feel the same way about me.”
“I’m too shy to say anything to him. Dr. Zhan, could you speak to him for me?”
Zhan Aiping replied, “I can try talking to him, but whether it works out or not is beyond my control.”
Jiang Meihui said, “It’s okay. I’m not too hung up on it. Out of the men I’ve been interested in, there’ve been at least eight or ten, but none of them have been interested in me. The tall, strong ones I like always prefer small, pretty girls, and the ones who are interested in me are usually weak and sickly.”
“Dr. Liu is a good guy and hardworking. I’m sure he likes pretty, petite girls—like you, Dr. Zhan.”
Zhan Aiping reassured her, “Don’t think that way.”
But Jiang Meihui didn’t seem to mind. She laughed, “Dr. Zhan, don’t worry about me. I’m different from those sensitive types. Just look at my figure and my face from before—I’ve heard plenty of rude comments.”
“Those matchmakers from before were terrible. When they introduced someone to me, they would constantly criticize me, saying I wasn’t good enough in this or that way. They’d tell me it was a blessing if any man would want me.”
“Pfft, I didn’t believe them. Why should I settle for a man like that?”
Zhan Aiping said, “That’s the right mindset.”
“Men aren’t such a big deal. If I miss out on one, I can always find a better-looking one. I heard from some of the hospital workers that there are a few really handsome guys at the military dog training base.” Jiang Meihui chuckled, “I haven’t had a chance to check them out yet.”
Zhan Aiping asked curiously, “I’ve heard about it too, but I haven’t seen them either.”
“How handsome are they?”
Seeing Zhan Aiping’s curiosity, Jiang Meihui teased, “Dr. Zhan, this won’t do! You’ve already got Commander Gu at home, so don’t go looking at other men.”
“Only us single people can go looking.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “You’re proud of being single now?”
“Of course! I don’t have a partner, so I can look at any man I want. No one can stop me from using my eyes.”
Zhan Aiping couldn’t help but laugh again, “…”
She truly admired Jiang Meihui’s logic.
When the two of them arrived at the hospital, they couldn’t continue chatting. Jiang Meihui offered to watch the children for a while, and Zhan Aiping went to find Director Hao. Director Hao introduced her to Dr. Qin Liangyu, the lead doctor from the county’s guidance team.
Dr. Qin was of average height, wearing a white lab coat, with a mostly bald head, save for a ring of hair around the sides. His eyes were large, and his nose was small, giving him features that resembled an alien. However, he was very friendly and greeted Zhan Aiping warmly, “You must be Deputy Director Zhan. Director Hao has been mentioning you every day. Truly, the young are the heroes these days—it’s the era of you young cadres now…”
After exchanging a few pleasantries, they began discussing the hospital’s work arrangements. Zhan Aiping presented a document she had written, titled Surgical Procedures and Techniques for Township Clinics, for Dr. Qin to review.
The document outlined in detail the management rules of the township clinic’s operating room, preoperative preparation, postoperative care, and other basic standards. Zhan Aiping had revised it multiple times, tailoring it to the specific situation at Yanxin Clinic.
After reading the management section, Dr. Qin nodded approvingly, “This is good. You’ve thought everything through.”
Zhan Aiping pointed to the document, “Dr. Qin, see if there’s anything you’d like to add. We plan to post these basic rules inside the operating room.”
“I can’t think of anything to add. Your requirements are even more standardized than at our county hospital.”
“I’ll take it back to show our director.”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
Dr. Qin flipped through the rest of the document, which covered basic surgical techniques, common difficulties, and potential risks. Zhan Aiping’s work was very practical for the township clinic’s conditions.
Of course, the county hospital’s situation wasn’t much better either.
Doctors in township clinics had to perform surgeries in relatively underdeveloped conditions, with a focus on maintaining sterile environments to prevent postoperative infections.
Currently, the surgical department at Yanxin Clinic was very basic, handling tasks such as debridement and suturing wounds, applying dressings, removing stitches, and occasionally extracting foreign objects like nails or splinters lodged in the body, as well as removing external cysts.
Dr. Qin’s role was to guide the team in performing basic surgeries like appendectomies, cataract removals, skin grafts, stomach resections, and gallbladder removals.
“Dr. He is in obstetrics and gynaecology, so Deputy Director Zhan, you should have more conversations with her.”
Although Zhan Aiping was not in the surgical department, she was responsible for performing caesarean sections in the hospital’s obstetrics department.
At that time, caesarean sections were rare even in cities, let alone in rural areas. No one wanted to undergo surgery unless absolutely necessary, and most women preferred natural childbirth.
Many people also didn’t fully understand caesarean sections, fearing that the doctor’s scalpel could slip and accidentally cut the baby’s face or worse, cause other injuries, such as harming a male infant’s genitals.
Despite the difficulties of childbirth, poor nutrition meant fewer cases of large babies. Moreover, rural women, who often did farm work, were physically strong, reducing the risk to the mother during childbirth, although infant mortality rates were still high.
In households with five or six children, many experienced infant deaths. The introduction of caesarean sections could significantly improve the survival rate of both mothers and children.
Dr. He, a middle-aged woman with a mole on her chin, had delivered many babies, as had Zhan Aiping. Dr. He looked serious but smiled warmly when she met Zhan Aiping. “You must be Dr. Zhan. I’ve heard stories about you. I’ve even read about you in the papers.”
“Your name is quite famous in our obstetrics department.”
“And you really are as beautiful as they say.”
Zhan Aiping’s lips twitched slightly, “…”
Was it her reputation for eating placenta that had spread?
Obstetricians usually had strong personalities and were often quite fearless, given the intense and graphic nature of childbirth, which was not something everyone could handle.
Dr. He pointed at herself, “Look at me—no one suspects that I eat placenta.”
After that, Dr. He laughed heartily, “Dr. Zhan, I heard your scientific stories will be published soon. When they are, I’ll definitely buy a few copies to show my colleagues in obstetrics.”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
Was her name really that famous in the obstetrics department?
After a brief chat with Dr. He, the hospital staff held a short meeting. In the afternoon, when Zhan Aiping had some free time, she went to find Liu Sheliang.
First, she gave him detailed instructions about work, and then she brought up the matter of Jiang Meihui.
“Dr. Liu, have you thought about finding a partner?”
Liu Sheliang became visibly nervous, suspecting that Deputy Director Zhan was about to introduce someone to him.
“I—I don’t have a partner yet.”
Zhan Aiping asked, “Would you consider our clinic’s Xiao Jiang? She’s a great cook…”
Upon hearing the name, Liu Sheliang seemed deeply insulted. His tone became anxious and flustered, “No, no, no, that won’t work.”
“Deputy Director Zhan, how—how could you? Do you… do you look down on me?”
Liu Sheliang’s expression changed drastically. How could he possibly date someone as big and sturdy as her, someone with no education, who was just a cook?
Seeing his reaction, Zhan Aiping knew immediately that the two of them weren’t a match. But she didn’t push it, knowing that forcing it would lead nowhere.
Judging by Liu Sheliang’s initial reaction, it was clear what he thought. Even if they were forced together, he would likely never truly respect Jiang Meihui.
Zhan Aiping said, “Dr. Liu, I didn’t mean anything by it. If you’re not interested, just forget I said anything.”
In the past, Zhan Aiping’s matchmaking endeavours had always gone smoothly, but this was the first time she hit a wall. However, she didn’t try to salvage the situation because she also felt that the two weren’t a good match.
Zhan Aiping had never actively pursued a man before. Her personality wasn’t particularly pleasant, and it hadn’t improved much over time. When it came to relationships, she was mostly passive, often being pursued or courted cautiously by men.
Now, she found herself disgusted by flattery and unreserved pandering. If a man could so easily trample his pride and dignity in front of you, it wasn’t necessarily because he was caring or deeply in love. More likely, it meant he had ulterior motives, and it was something to be cautious of—he could endure temporary discomfort because he had a hidden agenda.
Back when He Mingzhang pursued her, he started off by showering her with limitless flattery and indulgence, constantly reminding her of how good he was to her. Whatever he did, he would emphasize it multiple times… In her youth, Zhan Aiping was inexperienced and naïve, thinking that this was what it meant to be treated well. She believed that if she couldn’t marry someone she loved, she might as well marry someone who treated her well.
But later, He Mingzhang changed his tone, shifting to complaints and criticisms. He would talk about how much he loved her and all the things he had done for her, while accusing Zhan Aiping of not caring about him, trampling on his feelings.
Because, in reality, she didn’t care much for him and wasn’t particularly invested in the relationship. She was just trying to get by, so whenever He Mingzhang criticized her, she would respond with minimal effort.
Even when He Mingzhang’s affair and illegitimate child came to light, it didn’t affect her much. She actually felt relieved, as though she had been freed from the consequences of a past mistake.
To this day, Zhan Aiping still disliked being suffocated by someone’s overbearing attempts to please her. She detested the kind of indulgence that lacked principles. She preferred Gu Sheng’s willingness to confront her directly, distinguishing between right and wrong. She wanted him to stand firm in his convictions.
Looking back on her previous life, Zhan Aiping believed that she and Gu Sheng had a fulfilling relationship. They had both grown and had their own experiences. For Gu Sheng, his love was one of restraint and patience—he loved her but wouldn’t sacrifice his dreams and ambitions for her.
—Forcing something never works out, and there’s no need to settle for something that isn’t right.
After work, Zhan Aiping brought up the matter with Jiang Meihui, “Dr. Liu isn’t interested in you in that way.”
“I figured as much.”
Jiang Meihui said, “I wasted my feelings on him. From now on, I’m not giving him extra food anymore.”
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