Chapter 205 - Alcohol tolerance (1/2)

Although Chen Qi was a vice director who was now promoted to director, he viewed Zhang Fan with gratitude as if Zhang Fan was half a teacher to him. It had been because of Zhang Fan that Chen Qi received the study program opportunity. Chen Qi had been on many study programs before, and had even gotten to go to Shuitanzi Hospital once before, but most of those study programs had him doing nothing but interning and observing. However, this recent study program was no internship. Chen Qi really did get to personally perform surgery together with some of China's most skilled surgeons. This study program truly helped Chen Qi to achieve a higher level of skill himself.

Chen Qi had already been a doctor for most of his life. At his level, he wouldn't have many chances for further improvement. Yet, he had been able to achieve a higher level of medical skill thanks to Zhang Fan. Chen Qi was just as grateful to Zhang Fan as the similarly named Chen Qifa of Kuake City Hospital, although the two Chens were neither related nor acquainted.

Perhaps Chen Qi's gratitude would fade over time—this was simply human nature. Regardless, Chen Qi's gratitude was at its peak right now. Moreover, as long as Zhang Fan maintained his amazing skill level, it might be that Chen Qi would become more and more grateful. But if Zhang Fan slowly became nothing more than an ordinary doctor, then the gratitude would likely disappear. This was all simply human nature!

”Director Chen! You're looking quite good! The climate in Beijing must have been so suitable to live in! You've gotten so much whiter!” Zhang Fan joked with Chen Qi in the latter's new director's office.

When Tong Lili saw how casual Zhang Fan was being with Chen Qi, she felt that she had absolutely made the correct choice to follow Zhang Fan. 'I gambled correctly!' she thought to herself while secretly clenching her fist. This ordinary girl was taking an uncertain path for the sake of her future!

”That's not funny! The pollution in Beijing was so bad that I almost choked to death! Still, I really did become whiter—I barely saw the sun at all in my half a year spent there. I was planning on inviting you to a meal after I stopped being busy over these few days with the new department, but you came to see me today. You absolutely must eat a meal with me tonight. Who might this be, by the way?” Chen Qi wanted to say some things to Zhang Fan privately, but he didn't know who this young rotation doctor next to Zhang Fan was.

”Hello, Director Chen. I'm Teacher Zhang's disciple!” Tong Lili said while glancing at Zhang Fan. She was really worried and afraid inside that Zhang Fan would deny this! She felt that this was her final opportunity to join a major department!

”Haha!” Zhang Fan chuckled without saying anything else. He saw how Tong Lili was trembling slightly. He pitied her as he understood what she had to be feeling right now—he had previously been in a similar position to her before he obtained his System. He felt that he might as well help her out now that they had met each other.

”Oh! Haha! You must be quite excellent. Please have a seat while I say some things to your teacher.” Since Zhang Fan didn't deny that Tong Lili was his student, Chen Qi felt awkward about making her leave. Otherwise, with the great difference in rank between a director and a rotation doctor, all it would take was one sentence: ”You can leave now!”.

”This is a local specialty that I brought back from Beijing. Since I came back in a hurry, I simply purchased it at the supermarket right in front of Shuitanzi Hospital! Although this isn't worth much, my intentions are worth something! Please don't laugh at me!” Chen Qi chuckled while handing a Beijing local specialty to Zhang Fan.

”Sigh! It's so nice of you to think of me even though you traveled so far. Thank you, Director Chen.” Zhang Fan accepted the gift, which was some candy and cake from Beijing. Although it wasn't much, it really did represent Chen Qi's gratitude.

”How are things for you? I hear that you're still intending on continuing with your rotations? Let me say, the military patient you treated that allowed this study program is in this type of condition now!” Chen Qi gave Zhang Fan a big thumbs up.

”Yeah!” Zhang Fan nodded in understanding.

”I probably don't need to worry, as you've likely made up your mind already. I won't try to convince you, but how about it? Want to help me out in my new department? It's a new department, so we lack experts.”

”That's enough, Director Chen. No need to try to fool me. I bet that you've already managed to recruit at least 50 doctors, if not 100! Just keep laughing to yourself! I came here today to visit you as I missed you since we haven't seen each other in so long, but also because I have an electrocution patient in the ICU department who needs finger amputation surgery. This is my gift to you for establishing your new department!”

”Really? Thank you so much! This gift is better than anything else. Orthopedic departments #1 and #2 have been competing in trying to take as many surgeries as they possibly could. They just want to see me left with nothing!” Chen Qi claimed rather angrily. Although Superintendent Ouyang had held a conference, saying that the hospital administration department would be in charge of letting the three orthopedic departments take turns with traumatic injury and bone fracture patients, there was still a lot of underhanded stuff going on behind the scenes, determining which department received patients!

”I'll transfer the electrocution patient to you tomorrow. How about you finish up with the work regarding your new department's establishment? It's just a small surgery anyways. Doctor Tong and I will be able to do it. Let us borrow one of your operating rooms.” Zhang Fan would never let go of an opportunity to perform surgery.

”Sure! Not a problem, not a problem!” Chen Qi agreed with a chuckle.

”I'll be leaving then!” Zhang Fan got up to leave.

”Sure! You must be busy with your own work. Don't be in a hurry to leave tonight. I'll invite some old bros for a meal together. You definitely have to come!” Chen Qi hurriedly said the last part when he saw that Zhang Fan was about to speak up. Chen Qi truly did want to thank Zhang Fan as well as establish a closer relationship with him. The relationships between middle-aged men could be quite complex.

After Zhang Fan left orthopedic department #3, Tong Lili glanced over at Zhang Fan several times while walking after him. She kept wanting to say something but stopping herself. Finally, she spoke up when they almost reached the hospital's main lobby. ”Teacher Zhang, are you angry? I just…”

She was unable to say anymore. Her delight at making it into medical college and then successfully being hired by Chasu City Hospital had all been ground away by her one year of work so far as a rotation doctor and her worries about being able to find a good department to get permanently assigned to. Tong Lili, who was from an ordinary family, was quite anxious because she was seeing many other rotation doctors at ease after getting permanently assigned to a department!

”It's fine! What, you're interested in surgery?” Zhang Fan smiled, for he felt that the world would be a nicer place if everyone was more generous with each other!

”Yeah! I'd like to join the microsurgery department!” Tong Lili secretly dug into the palm of her hand with her fingernails in her pocket. She felt something akin to embarrassment. She felt really uncomfortable with what she was saying because she felt that she was being really shameless. This was something that couldn't be helped about maturing in Chinese society. People would always slowly lose their purity due to society and work pressure.

”Surgery isn't easy! Just look at Wang Yanan in orthopedic department #1. She's almost at the point of crying over all the work she has!”

”I don't even have the chance to cry if I wanted! Thank you, Doctor Zhang. I don't have any connections, so I can only rely on myself. But, rest assured, I definitely won't disappoint you!” Tong Lili's tone rose slightly by a few octaves at first before she hurriedly lowered her tone again while looking pitifully at Zhang Fan. Well, it was only human nature for her to have been jealous!

Back in the ICU department, Zhang Fan told Director Lin about arranging the finger amputation surgery for the patient Bayan. Director Lin instantly agreed to the matter. ”No need to bother me with such a thing in the future! You can decide on your own.”

Director Lin was really frustrated. The ICU department had gone over budget on medicine recently. Superintendent Ouyang had already scolded him severely about this, so Director Lin was anxious about being in trouble.

Later, after the work shift ended, Tong Lili kept stalling, and seemed like she didn't want to leave. Zhang Fan immediately knew what she wanted. ”Come along and have a free meal,” he offered.

”Yay!” Tong Lili finally seemed youthful again. Work as a rotation doctor was far too suffocating for her. She felt like she had been transforming from a young woman into a resentful wife!

Zhang Fan had no idea how many people would be at the dinner. He texted Shao Hua that he wouldn't be visiting her place for dinner tonight. He then drove his car to go and pick up Chen Qi. Since Chen Qi was giving him face, Zhang Fan had to give face to Chen Qi in return. Otherwise, Zhang Fan would be viewed as really rude. This was simply how Chinese society was.

Chen Qi got on Zhang Fan's car, and commented, ”How come you're driving? You just want to escape from having to drink alcohol! Rest assured, I'll call for someone else to drive you if you get drunk.” Chen Qi then noticed that Tong Lili was also on Zhang Fan's car, so he said, ”It looks like Teacher Zhang really has taken you in as a disciple. How about it, would you be interested in joining my orthopedic department #3?” Chen Qi didn't want to mention anything about the microsurgery department at Chasu City Hospital. This was just something normal at Chasu City Hospital that the departments would look down on each other!

”I'll listen to what Teacher Zhang says! I also haven't been through a rotation in orthopedic department #3 yet. I'm worried that I'll cause Teacher Zhang to lose face!”

”Just look at this! Young women these days are so devious. When compared to us back then, we were nothing but idiots!” Chen Qi joked to Zhang Fan while riding shotgun in Zhang Fan's car.

The joke about her made it difficult for Tong Lili to answer, but Zhang Fan responded, ”If you're an idiot, then probably the only person who isn't an idiot at the hospital is the superintendent! Also, I really can't drink alcohol, bro. I'm the type who gets drunk with just a single glass!”

”Haha! You're such a jokester. What you said basically meant that I have the ability to become superintendent! Rest assured, if you don't want to drink, then you don't have to drink!”

”Haha! I wouldn't dare!” Zhang Fan was quite happy to be friends with another surgeon.

”Drive outside of Chasu City. Do you know where Clear Water Villa is?”

”I don't know! I've never been there!”

”Oh, you! Allow me to lecture you a little as your elder. You can't just always focus on work, you know. You also need to make friends. Friends are made by helping each other out. Today, I'll introduce some people to you! They're all old connections of mine. They can also help you out in the future!”

Clear Water Villa was a villa restaurant that wasn't very open to the general public. Most ordinary people wouldn't even know about this place. It was located rather far away from Chasu City itself. Normal people wouldn't come eat here. Only those who felt that they belonged to upper class would come eat here.