Taciturn
Zhan Aiping and Li Yuxia looked at each other, seeing the shock in Director Li’s eyes. Zhan Aiping also understood what had happened. However, what’s done is done, and saying anything now would be pointless.
Anyway, if they really agreed to set up the squad leader with someone, everyone would know sooner or later. Whether they were shocked now or later didn’t make much of a difference.
Zhan Aiping didn’t want to say much more. “Director Li, I need to get busy cooking now.”
“Oh, okay.” Li Yuxia was already lost in thought. When she heard this, she knew it was a polite way of asking her to leave. Subconsciously, she said, “Well, you go ahead and get busy. I’ll leave.”
She staggered out of Zhan Aiping’s yard, still in a daze. Li Yuxia snapped back to reality.
Wait a minute, Xiao Zhan said she succeeded in setting up someone. So who exactly was she introducing to?
Li Yuxia turned back to look, curiosity driving her to go back and ask Zhan Aiping again. But she couldn’t muster the courage to face Zhan Aiping again.
—Forget it.
Since it was already successful, regardless of who it was, everyone would know soon enough. The key point was that the setup actually worked.
Oh my, she had to hurry back and tell her husband.
Li Yuxia ran back home, where Zhang Zheng was inside. Seeing Li Yuxia return so quickly, he asked, “Is Xiao Zhan not at home? Why did you come back so soon?”
“I’m quick?” Li Yuxia widened her eyes. “They’re even quicker over there.”
“Dr. Zhan said she successfully set up the squad leader with someone.”
Zhang Zheng’s jaw almost hit the floor. “Successful? So fast?”
“With whom?”
“I don’t know either,” Li Yuxia said. “You can go ask Dr. Sun.”
“Okay, I’ll go find Old Sun and ask him tomorrow.”
*
Gu Sheng didn’t come home at night. The duty officer came to tell Zhan Aiping that their regiment had an impromptu special training session and had already left. They wouldn’t be coming home that night. Zhan Aiping nodded, and her enthusiasm was dampened by cold water.
Alright, they agreed to set them up, but now they can’t reach either of them.
Maybe they didn’t expect it to be successful so quickly.
Zhan Aiping sighed and gently stroked her stomach, feeling regretful. It seemed that she would only be having dinner with her two little ones tonight.
She casually cooked a dish but didn’t have much appetite. After drinking a cup of hot milk powder slowly, she still felt a bit uncomfortable. The night was too quiet alone. Zhan Aiping read a book for a while, wrote some materials, and went to bed early.
Both she and her baby in her belly missed the dishes cooked by their dad.
*
“What? It’s settled?” Dr. Sun was baffled. Everyone else in the regiment had left, leaving him with a few patients to watch over. Who would’ve thought he’d suddenly hear such news?
“It’s settled? Squad Leader Jiang, when did this happen?”
Political Commissar Zhang Zheng said, “I’m asking you. Weren’t you the one snooping around for information? How come you didn’t get any news about this?”
“Little Gu has had a crush on someone for years. Don’t you know? Now, Squad Leader Jiang has someone he likes too and even asked someone to set them up. How come you didn’t know, Old Sun? I misjudged you a bit.”
“Didn’t you say you can see through people’s hearts? How come you couldn’t see through them?”
“Really useless.”
Dr. Sun was feeling all kinds of emotions.
Who would’ve thought these two tough nuts would secretly collaborate behind the scenes?
“Is it really settled for Squad Leader Jiang?”
Political Commissar Zhang: “How could this be false? Little Gu’s wife said it herself, and my wife heard it with her own ears.”
“Old Sun, you’re really not as good as those two.”
“Squad Leader Jiang really pulled it off.” Dr. Sun gritted his teeth. “They played their cards well, keeping it all under wraps until they left.”
“If Squad Leader Jiang also had someone he’s been fond of for years, Old Sun…”
“You should just shave your head, you’re useless.” He didn’t even know what was happening under his nose, truly unworthy of the title of Dr. Sun.
Dr. Sun was very concerned about the physical and mental well-being of every soldier. Male officers and soldiers often sought his advice on marital, family, and emotional issues.
Dr. Sun even boasted that he was the reincarnation of the matchmaker god, claiming that he could tell at a glance whether two people had a connection.
Political Commissar Zhang Zheng sighed, “Squad Leader Jiang would rather talk to Little Gu than talk to you.”
Because Political Commissar Zhang Zheng had a wife similar to Dr. Sun’s temperament, he knew very well what words would hit hardest.
A direct and brutal blow.
Dr. Sun, feeling both embarrassed and angry, retorted, “What does Gu Sheng know? He knows nothing. He’s only been married for a few months, believe it or not, when it comes to marital matters, Squad Leader Jiang will eventually come to me for advice.”
“He’s just a late bloomer.”
“Wait until he gets married, then he’ll come crying to me.”
With a strong sense of competitiveness ignited within him, Dr. Sun believed that to win, he first needed to know who Squad Leader Jiang’s love interest was.
*
In the early morning, Gu Sheng crawled through the jungle, holding a pair of binoculars in his hand, quietly admiring the sunrise. Despite the cacophony of insects and birds in the forest, he felt a profound sense of tranquillity between heaven and earth. The leaves in the forest seemed particularly crisp and smooth, like jade.
Checking the time, he grabbed a map and went to find Squad Leader Jiang.
After discussing matters with Squad Leader Jiang for a while and waiting for a few more people to arrive, they held a meeting, which concluded shortly after. Squad Leader Jiang had been holding it in for a couple of days, and now he couldn’t hold it in any longer. He called Gu Sheng over to discuss some personal matters quietly in a corner.
“Gu Sheng, come here.”
Gu Sheng walked over, already having an idea of what Squad Leader Jiang wanted to talk about and having prepared his response in advance.
They had been out for three days now.
“Regarding your wife…” Squad Leader Jiang hesitated, the same person who was engaging in heated debates during the meeting was now at a loss for words.
“Did you get any results after going back?”
Gu Sheng chuckled, “Captain, you’re too impatient. It doesn’t happen that quickly. I bet my wife hasn’t even mentioned it to anyone yet.”
“Why not? A retired female soldier should be more efficient.”
Gu Sheng replied, “According to my wife, her sister’s family is currently discussing marriage with the groom’s family. They’ll have to wait until that’s settled. Otherwise, if my wife brings up your matter while they’re still busy, they won’t have the time to consider it.”
Captain Jiang muttered under his breath.
—But he wasn’t suffocated by it.
Gu Sheng patted him on the shoulder. “Impatience won’t get you anywhere.”
Captain Jiang rolled his eyes. “It’s easy for you to say.”
Gu Sheng empathized. “I’m impatient too.”
Captain Jiang couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity, “What were you thinking about every day before you got married?”
Now that he was about to start a relationship himself, Captain Jiang, who had previously been indifferent to matters of love, was especially curious about how others courted and married.
Unfortunately, his past actions had painted him as a bachelor, so in order to save face, he could only confide in his only “comrade,” his “good buddy Gu.”
—Gu Sheng must have some skills to marry such a beautiful doctor. He must be reliable.
“What else could I think about? I dreamed every day of getting the marriage certificate as soon as possible.”
Captain Jiang was particularly curious now, his curiosity piqued, “What did you do on the day you got your marriage certificate?”
Gu Sheng glanced at him. “Do you really want to know?”
“Yes, yes!” Captain Jiang was particularly curious, wondering if they did those “romantic” things cultural people talked about, like listening to music, watching movies, taking a walk by the lake in the park, having a cup of coffee, visiting the sea, or watching a ballet…
Despite being an old bachelor, he knew quite a bit about these things.
Gu Sheng deadpanned, “I went to her house early in the morning—”
Captain Jiang blinked. “You went to her house? What for?”
Gu Sheng crossed his arms and continued, “I went to her house to help tidy up, clean, make the bed, and wash her clothes before leaving.”
Captain Jiang’s expression turned wooden, thinking to himself, why did it seem like he was courting a bride in the countryside, having to go to the prospective father-in-law’s house first to chop wood, fetch water, carry loads, and show filial piety.
Captain Jiang scorned, “You’re really useless, you’re embarrassing us men. Marrying a wife means doing household chores, having children, and taking care of them.”
“When I get married, of course, all the household chores will be done by her. Washing clothes and cooking take so much effort. I’m so busy with work, can’t I rest when I come home?”
“You’re only submissive in front of your wife. You should train your wife the same way you train soldiers. Do I need to teach you?”
“You only have a monthly allowance of twenty bucks. Isn’t that embarrassing? I won’t hand over my salary in the future…”
“I won’t embarrass us men.”
Gu Sheng rubbed his ear, thinking that these words sounded familiar.
Captain Jiang glared at him. “What do you mean? Don’t you believe me?”
Gu Sheng replied, “I do.”
“But Captain Jiang, I have no choice. I just want to treat my wife well because of the feelings I’ve had for her since childhood.”
Captain Jiang nodded. “I see.”
He thought to himself to remember this for future reference.
When Gu Sheng saw his expression, he twitched his mouth, thinking, “The wheel of karma turns indeed?” He was indeed a product of a military unit, with a similar style of operation and tactics.
Was he being treated as an old marshal?
Gu Sheng said, “If you have any questions, go ask Colonel Sun. I’ve only been married for a few days, so I don’t have much experience.”
“Why ask Colonel Sun? Is he my chief of staff, or are you?” Captain Jiang clicked his tongue. “As the newly appointed chief of staff, you need to consult with me.”
Gu Sheng was promoted to deputy battalion commander, taking over the position of the former chief of staff, in charge of training.
“Chief of Staff Gu, lend me your wedding report to copy in the future.”
Gu Sheng: “…”
Maybe he should recommend Captain Jiang to exchange ideas with Old Wang.
This old man who hadn’t even talked about having a girlfriend, just a few days after asking someone to introduce him, was already rushing into “marriage.”
— It seems like he’s overestimated his wife a bit.
Gu Sheng patted Captain Jiang’s shoulder. “If it really happens, I’ll give you a copy of my quotes.”
He was afraid it would all be in vain.
Captain Jiang was puzzled. “What quotes?”
“— The Chief of Staff Gu’s quotes, remember to recite them often.”
Captain Jiang cursed him. “Get lost.”
When he returned to the office area, Gu Sheng packed up and went back first. Leaving aside other things, he was very good at writing documents and materials, which Captain Jiang envied. He stayed alone in the office, reading telegrams.
But he always felt something was off today.
Deputy Political Commissar Zhang sneaked over.
“Captain Jiang, you’re tight-lipped enough. Even if you have good news, you don’t tell us. Congratulations!”
Captain Jiang: “What good news?”
Deputy Political Commissar Zhang: “Didn’t you talk about having a girlfriend?”
Captain Jiang jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “Who said I have a girlfriend? Bullshit!”
“Who told you? It’s a rumour, definitely a rumour!”
Captain Jiang was furious, thinking that it must be that big-mouthed Colonel Sun spreading rumours, deliberately smearing him and tarnishing his reputation.
If the matchmaking didn’t succeed, he’d be thoroughly embarrassed.
“Old Sun said it.”
Commander Jiang slammed the table. “I knew it was him, spreading lies with his eyes wide open, just making up stories!”
Deputy Political Commissar Zhang said, “But Military Doctor Sun said it was Xiao Gu’s wife who said it, that she introduced you to someone and that it was successful.”
Commander Jiang: “…”
“Where’s Gu Sheng? Where is he?”
“Chief of Staff Gu has left.”
Commander Jiang, agitated like a headless fly, asked around, almost wanting to storm into the family quarters to ask Gu Sheng and his wife what was going on.
—Why does everyone else know about my successful matchmaking, except me?
After a brief separation, Gu Sheng, upon returning home, immediately stuck close to Zhan Aiping. He shut the courtyard gate and the front door, embracing her before anything else.
Zhan Aiping was eating a peach pastry, having just taken a bite, when he scooped her up by the waist.
“Don’t be reckless.”
Gu Sheng laughed and juggled her lightly. “You’ve lost weight.”
“No way.” Zhan Aiping guided his hand to her belly. “I’m starting to show a bit.”
Gu Sheng looked puzzled. “It doesn’t seem much different from when you’re full.”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
She stomped on his foot.
Gu Sheng chuckled and finished the peach pastry in her hand.
Both of them were foodies. The peach pastries were a gift from Zhan Mingzhao, who had brought over various treats, including a traditional Dai dress for his sister.
Zhan Mingzhao had been accepted into a performing arts troupe.
Knowing this, Zhan Aiping felt relieved. Zhan Mingzhao, however, was rather frustrated. “I didn’t perform any talent; they picked me based on my face, saying I had the look for acting in plays.”
He felt greatly insulted.
“Such blindness!”
Zhan Aiping disagreed. “They were right. You are made for the stage!”
Her brother was naturally dramatic.
As Zhan Aiping ate another piece of peach pastry, she urged Gu Sheng to start cooking. “Go cook. The baby and I are craving your food.”
She hadn’t had his cooking in days and really missed it. The more she ate her own cooking, the less satisfied she became; pregnant women’s tastes were unpredictable.
It must be the baby wanting their dad’s cooking.
Gu Sheng sighed. “I come home and the first thing you want is for me to cook.”
No time for them to be intimate.
“Go on.” Zhan Aiping kissed him twice on the cheek. Gu Sheng then pulled her in for a deep kiss, only releasing her when she was breathless. He rolled up his sleeves and started cooking.
Zhan Aiping stayed by his side, watching his every move, feeling warm and sweet inside.
Both seemed to have forgotten something.
Gu Sheng cooked a big meal, including her favourite fish, minced pork with carrots and corn, and appetizing sour bamboo chicken. Zhan Aiping loved sour bamboo. She even wanted to dig up some snails to make snail noodles, where the most important ingredient was the sour bamboo.
After Zhan Aiping had eaten and drunk to her heart’s content, she remembered that she needed to tell Gu Sheng something. Since three days had already passed, she was no longer as excited as she initially had been. Casually, she said, “About your Commander Jiang, Qin’s sister agreed to give it a try with him.”
Gu Sheng was surprised, “So quickly?”
“Of course! With me on the case, how could it not work?” Zhan Aiping couldn’t resist boasting a bit.
Boasting is free, after all.
“I sorted it out the very next day.”
Gu Sheng asked, “…How did you manage it? Did you just ask directly?”
“Forget it, let me tell you the whole story from the beginning; otherwise, you won’t understand. The whole thing was quite coincidental, really. I must have had a bit of luck on my side.”
After they finished their meal, Gu Sheng cuddled her as she detailed the entire sequence of events.
When she finished, Gu Sheng said, “…That’s quite a story.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “I didn’t expect it to turn out this way either.”
“We might really be attending a wedding soon,” Gu Sheng remarked, “Let’s wait and see. You didn’t hear Commander Jiang’s plans—he said he wants a wife to handle all the housework, cooking, laundry, and child-rearing, and he won’t even hand over his salary.”
Zhan Aiping gave him a side glance. “You two are like birds of a feather.”
“Wrong,” Gu Sheng smiled, “We’re two peas in a pod.”
“Anyway, we’ll wait and see.”
“I don’t care to watch. I’ve already seen it all play out once,” Zhan Aiping said dismissively, signalling that she wasn’t interested and suggesting they wash up and go to bed.
Thinking it over, Gu Sheng also lost interest in discussing it further. It was better to cuddle his wife and sleep.
He kissed her face and neck for a long time, until she grew annoyed and pushed his face away. Laughing, Gu Sheng hugged her from behind, and they slept close together.
Careful not to put pressure on her, Gu Sheng maintained a good sleeping posture, lying perfectly still throughout the night.
Though the daytime temperatures hovered around thirty degrees, the nights were cool and comfortable for cuddling.
As Zhan Aiping closed her eyes, she lay her head on the pillow and brushed aside some hair. “…It should be fine now.”
She was still warm from all the kissing.
Gu Sheng perked up, “Really?”
“Be gentle and try.”
Testing the waters, everything felt good.
The next day, Gu Sheng still found himself revelling in the experience. When he woke up, the person beside him was still asleep. He propped himself up on his strong arm, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he kissed her forehead.
Gu Sheng felt particularly good, while Commander Jiang sported two huge dark circles under his eyes, his eyes swollen and bruised. Upon seeing Gu Sheng, he dragged him outside.
Commander Jiang gritted his teeth, “Is there something you should tell me?”
Gu Sheng, puzzled, replied, “…What?”
“Everyone else knows I’m dating, but why am I the last to know?”
“Ha!” Gu Sheng couldn’t help but laugh, which only infuriated Commander Jiang further. “What’s so funny? Tell me now.”
He grabbed Gu Sheng’s shoulders and shook him vigorously. Gu Sheng deftly grabbed his hands, and Commander Jiang realized, with some dismay, that he was no longer as strong as he used to be.
Gu Sheng straightened his clothes, “Her sister agreed to date you.”
“Really?” Commander Jiang’s mouth gaped open in surprise, wide enough to swallow an egg.
So quickly? It was like a dream come true—he was finally going to have a partner, no longer an old bachelor! Even though Qin Lanfang couldn’t have children, having a companion was much better than being alone.
Commander Jiang’s face lit up with joy, and he looked at Gu Sheng with newfound appreciation. “Good brother, really a good brother.”
Commander Jiang charged forward and hugged Gu Sheng. Both of them were quite tall, standing at 1.8 meters. Gu Sheng thought about how long their commander had been a bachelor and how his dream was finally coming true. He laughed and hugged him back.
But Commander Jiang was so excited that he tried to lift Gu Sheng. Realizing his intent, Gu Sheng thought, “Who are you trying to embarrass?” He turned the tables, lifting Commander Jiang and tossing him aside before sprinting away.
Commander Jiang, stunned by being lifted, quickly gave chase. Back in the day, he was a long-distance running champion and had won competitions, which helped him get promoted. Now, still fit and strong, he shouted, “Gu Sheng, stop right there!”
As they ran, Military Doctor Sun, who had come to watch the commotion, was left bewildered.
Doctor Sun: “…What’s going on?”
He quickly joined the chase.
Gu Sheng, reaching an open area, called out, “I only want to hug my wife. Stay away from me.”
Dealing with an overexcited man was too much.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Commander Jiang said, “Gu Sheng, I just want to talk about how to date someone.”
Gu Sheng thought, “I didn’t really date. I went straight to marriage.”
Commander Jiang, both happy and shy, with a touch of pride, said, “My… my girlfriend is really timid. I can’t even raise my voice around her.”
Gu Sheng replied, “That’s ridiculous.”
Commander Jiang, irritated, asked, “And your wife isn’t ridiculous?”
Gu Sheng clarified, “I’m saying you’re ridiculous.”
Commander Jiang: “You—”
Military Doctor Sun, having caught up and out of breath, asked, “Who’s ridiculous?”
Gu Sheng: “…”
Commander Jiang: “…You are.”
Doctor Sun: “?”
Commander Jiang and Qin Lanfang eventually met. The details of their conversation were unknown to outsiders, but it seemed the outcome was positive.
Qin Lanfang stayed at the hospital, sharing a room with her sister, Qin Yanfang. Zhan Aiping helped her recuperate and even performed a minor surgery on her.
Dr. Zhou, observing, asked, “Can you really cure her?”
“She won’t be fully restored. She might still walk with a limp, but… I think if she wears a long skirt, she’ll look quite beautiful.”
Dr. Zhou: “…Beautiful?”
Was that the main point?
“If you can really heal her, I’ll be impressed.”
Even if Qin Lanfang recovered, the muscles in one of her calves were atrophied, making her legs look different. But Zhan Aiping noticed she looked great in skirts and encouraged her to try one. Qin Lanfang, shy and bashful, said, “No, no, I can’t wear a skirt.”
At home, she always wore black or blue pants and never thought about dressing up.
Qin Lanfang had never considered beautifying herself.
“Wear it, just try it on!” Qin Yanfang found one of her own white skirts and had her sister try it on. Zhan Aiping added some of her edible lip colour to enhance her lips.
After the makeover, Qin Lanfang looked like a different person—not a village girl but a city lady. Sitting there, she resembled a quiet, fragrant lilac flower.
When Commander Jiang saw her, he was so nervous he didn’t know what to do with his hands and feet.
They sat on a hospital bench, Commander Jiang’s hands shaking. He felt hot and wanted to take off his hat but resisted. His mind was a jumble. “Do you… do you think we’re…”
Qin Lanfang, equally shy, her voice trembling, asked, “What?”
Commander Jiang stammered, “It feels… it feels a bit like a father-daughter situation.”
His partner looked much younger, while he seemed older, especially with his hair. At twenty, he had looked forty, but older colleagues had reassured him that while he might look forty at twenty, he would still look forty at thirty, forty, fifty, and even sixty. His best years were still ahead of him.
Qin Lanfang: “?”
“No, no, I mean you look really good.”
Qin Lanfang’s face turned red instantly.
…
Qin Yanfang and Zhan Aiping, who had been eavesdropping, lost interest after a few more sentences.
Back in the house, Zhan Aiping found Gu Sheng lounging in her lazy bamboo chair, hands behind his head.
Zhan Aiping sighed, “Look at Commander Jiang, so reserved about dating.”
Both Commander Jiang and Qin Lanfang were too reserved, reminiscent of couples from the 60s and 70s. Not like them.
Gu Sheng stood up with a smile. “Let’s be reserved too.”
“And how do we do that?”
Gu Sheng looked down at her, placing his hands on her shoulders. It felt like that morning when she was in her uniform, standing in the dawn light, the cold wind blowing around them, and he couldn’t resist kissing her.
This kiss was different; Zhan Aiping responded to him.
When they finally separated, Gu Sheng thought, it’s better not to be reserved.
“Be a little reserved, wife, blush for me.”
Zhan Aiping wiped her face. “Unless someone else catches us, we’re old married folks now, what’s there to blush about?”
Gu Sheng: “Let’s make sure the kids don’t catch us in the future.”
Zhan Aiping patted his face. “Don’t jinx it.”
Commander Jiang was very satisfied with his courtship. When he was leaving, he said to Gu Sheng and his wife, “Your wife is a great matchmaker.”
“Much more reliable than old Sun.”
“When I get married, I’ll give her the biggest matchmaker gift.”
Zhan Aiping, praised for her matchmaking, went the extra mile and treated his hair loss. At first, Commander Jiang didn’t believe it, but after half a month, his scalp sprouted new black hairs and his white hair disappeared. Feeling rejuvenated, he looked ten years younger.
He used to wear his hat all the time, but now he was eager to show off his hair.
Commander Jiang, eager for progress, decided to finalize the marriage with Qin Lanfang.
Qin Yanfang had completely broken ties with the Zhang family. Whenever Zhang Yuan tried to win her back, she chased him away with a broom.
“There are plenty of fish in the sea, I don’t need him.”
Dr. Zhou suggested, “Let Xiao Zhan the matchmaker introduce you to an officer. Her husband must have plenty of unmarried comrades.”
“No, no, no,” Qin Yanfang shook her head. She didn’t want to marry a soldier. Soldiers were great, but after experiencing a long-distance relationship with Zhang Yuan, she wanted a partner she could be with every day. Soldiers were too busy.
“I’d prefer a doctor, someone reliable like Dr. Zhan.” Qin Yanfang, who worked as an accountant in the hospital, thought marrying a doctor would be convenient, especially if family members fell ill.
Dr. Zhou frowned. “Why not a doctor like me?”
Qin Yanfang: “…”
“Director Hao, when the hospital expands, can we get a young, male doctor to introduce as a potential match for me?”
The hospital expansion approval had already come through, with workers and militia from nearby areas helping with the construction. Director Hao and Zhan Aiping had discussed starting with an inpatient building and an operating room, the inpatient building being three stories high and the operating room two stories.
Director Hao proposed, “Let’s discuss the new inpatient building. The first two floors will be used for offices and wards, and I’m thinking the third floor could be temporary housing for doctors. Each room would be like a small ward, with two beds and a bathroom, suitable for new doctors as dorms. What do you all think?”
“If we do this, we won’t need to build additional single-story houses. Later, we’ll build dedicated family housing with two- and three-bedroom apartments.”
Zhan Aiping had no objections, nor did anyone else in the hospital. Director Hao made the decision, “You can apply to stay in the new building, but it will be through a lottery.”
Qin Yanfang said, “We’ll discuss it once it’s built.” Right now, it’s just a patch of dirt.
Director Hao teased, “Why are you in such a rush? Always eager to move into new buildings.”
“We’re getting a new doctor, a gastroenterologist, who trained at the county hospital for a year and has good knowledge of treating mushroom poisoning…”
After Zhan Aiping, their Yanxin Health Clinic was getting another young doctor. Gastroenterology was important, even if they didn’t have a separate department for it; everyone worked as general practitioners.
Dr. Zhou commented, “A gastroenterologist is great. All those mushroom poisonings and pesticide ingestions will be his responsibility.”
Stomach pumping was a demanding task back then.
Zhan Aiping laughed, “We’ll create a separate gastroenterology department for him.”
An ideal hospital should have departments for surgery, internal medicine, ENT, dentistry, orthopaedics, paediatrics, and more.
Qin Yanfang added, “Dr. Zhou hates dealing with pesticide poisonings the most.”
Conflicts in fields often led to people drinking pesticides or rat poison out of anger. The most common were organophosphates like dichlorvos and dimethoate. Dimethoate was less toxic and easier to save people from, which was why more people drank it as it caused less pain.
Pesticide poisoning also included accidental exposures during spraying. Basic emergency treatments were known to both township doctors and barefoot doctors in the villages.
Dr. Zhou waved his hand, “Once, during a village visit, I saw someone fake a pesticide suicide, and they forced him to drink manure water. It was unbearable to watch.”
People forced vomiting with manure from the outhouse in rural areas. Even if the person shouted they hadn’t drunk pesticide, their family wouldn’t take the risk and forced the treatment.
It was a crude but effective emergency measure.
Dr. Zhou sighed, “Being a general practitioner is tough. You have to know a bit of everything.”
Zhan Aiping said, “Dr. Zhou, you’ve been a barefoot doctor for years, very experienced.”
Dr. Zhou laughed, “And you’ve been a student for years, very knowledgeable.”
“Dr. Zhan, I’m really curious, was the old military orthopaedic doctor you mentioned really that good?” Dr. Zhou acknowledged Zhan Aiping’s skills in orthopaedics and reasoned that her military background meant she knew many military doctors. Injuries were common in the army, often involving bones.
“Very skilled, very skilled, and I’m skilled too.”
Zhan Aiping joked, “I wonder what this new male colleague will be like? Xiao Qin, you’re looking for a doctor, right? If he’s young, it might work out.”
Qin Yanfang waved her hand, “It’s not that easy. What if he already has a girlfriend? I prefer someone who looks decent, is smart, and a bit older than me.”
Director Hao said, “This new doctor is quite handsome. You could give it a try.”
Dr. Zhou teased, “Matchmaker Zhan, help Xiao Qin find a good match.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Let the director find suitable male doctors for the hospital.”
Director Hao said, “As we expand the hospital, we’ll definitely need more staff. We need to establish our hospital as the best-equipped township health clinic in the area.”
The gastroenterologist mentioned by Director Hao arrived at the hospital a few days later. He was a young, well-mannered doctor, about 1.75 meters tall, with the kind of look that reminded Zhan Aiping of a typical “educated youth” from television dramas. His name was Zhao Jing, and he had a refined and proper appearance.
When Qin Yanfang saw him, her eyes lit up. However, she wondered if he already had a girlfriend.
Zhan Aiping gave her a knowing look and suggested, “Why don’t you show the new doctor around our health clinic?”
Just like when she first arrived, Qin Yanfang was ready to move on from her past relationship and embrace a new beginning.
“Sure, I’ll check on the patients,” Zhan Aiping said.
“Okay.” Qin Yanfang wasn’t in a rush to find a new partner, but Zhao Jing’s appearance did catch her interest.
She approached Zhao Jing with a welcoming smile. “Dr. Zhao, welcome. Let me introduce you to our health clinic…”
As she walked with Zhao Jing, she noticed his face seemed off, perhaps dissatisfied with the hospital’s facilities. After all, he had just finished training at the county hospital.
Proactively, she said, “Our new inpatient building and operating room are under construction. You’ll likely get a new single-room dorm.”
She glanced at Zhao Jing, who had a serious expression. Maybe he already had a girlfriend?
Zhao Jing frowned deeply, staring at the hospital’s emblem on the wall. “Why is the hospital’s emblem green?”
Green?
Qin Yanfang was puzzled. The emblem on the outer wall was clearly red, freshly painted for the expansion. Could Zhao Jing be colour-blind?
“Is this the new Dr. Zhao? Oh my, he looks very proper.” Dr. Zhou Zhonghua, who had been lounging around, came over like a cat smelling fish.
Dr. Zhou curiously asked, “Why are you two just standing there? What’s wrong with the hospital?”
Qin Yanfang, bewildered, pointed to the emblem. “Dr. Zhao said it’s green.”
Dr. Zhou, equally puzzled, asked, “Green? What green?”
Colour-blind?
Zhao Jing, with a look of disgust, said, “This is too ugly! Clean it up!”
At that moment, Zhan Aiping arrived and immediately said, “What are you staring at? Hold him down, he’s suffering from wild mushroom poisoning.”
Dr. Zhou: “?” Qin Yanfang: “!”
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