Officer Zhang said, "Here's the thing, after you finish your paperwork, we'll arrange for a telephone to be installed in your home. We'll just connect it to the house you're moving into."

Upon hearing that they also needed to make a phone call, Li Chu jokingly asked, "What about the cost of installing the phone..."

When Officer Zhang heard Li Chu ask this, he smiled and said, "You don't need to worry about that, we'll take care of everything."

Li Chu laughed too. After filling out the form, he handed it to Officer Zhang. Officer Zhang took the form, looked at what Li Chu had filled out, and said, "Actually, Deputy Team Leader Lin already explained your specific situation on the phone today. We mainly need to verify the situation on your spouse's side. We hope you can understand."

"I understand, it's all normal procedure, it's what should be done." Li Chu waved his hand dismissively, then took out the photo from his pocket and handed it to Officer Zhang.

After putting the form and photos into his bag, Officer Zhang looked at Li Chu and said, "Come to the department at 3 PM tomorrow. The department's review committee will be there to review your application. I'll be waiting for you at the main entrance at 2:50 PM." He then stood up.

Li Chu also stood up: "Okay, I'll be there at 2:50 tomorrow afternoon."

The two shook hands again, and Li Chu escorted Zhang to the door, watching him ride away on his bicycle before returning to the clinic.

He didn't expect that the process of what he had just discussed in the morning would begin in the afternoon.

That's good, getting it done sooner means we won't have to worry about it anymore.

Nothing much happened in the afternoon, so he left when it was time to leave work. He bought a couple of dishes and some steamed buns from a restaurant outside.

When I got home, Ding Qiunan was already back. She seemed to have something on her mind, pacing back and forth in the house.

Seeing Li Chu return, the girl walked anxiously to his side and, before he could speak, grabbed his hand and said, "Li Chu, two police officers came over this afternoon and kept asking about our family's situation. They wouldn't tell me what happened, no matter how much I asked them."

Seeing Ding Qiunan's anxious expression, Li Chu hugged her and comforted her, "It's okay, it's okay, don't worry. It's because of me. Didn't I tell you at noon that my job would be changing in the future? That's why I investigated your situation."

The girl looked up from his arms: "What kind of job is it? Why do you need to investigate our family background?"

Li Chu patted the girl's head and said gently, "No need to rush, let me put my things down first. I bought some vegetables and steamed buns, and we'll cook some porridge."

Ding Qiunan raised her hand and slapped his chest: "Hey, what time is it? I'm not in the mood to eat. Explain yourself."

"Alright, alright, I'll explain it to you clearly." Li Chu turned around and closed the door. Without even taking off his bag, he picked up the girl and sat her on the sofa before saying, "Dean Liu from the main hospital and one of my senior colleagues recommended me to join the health care team to inquire about your situation. It's just a normal investigation procedure."

The young woman was puzzled: "What kind of organization is the health care group?"

“It’s a treatment facility under the Ministry’s Health Bureau, specifically for…” Li Chu said, holding up one finger and gesturing upwards.

Li Chu's words genuinely surprised her. After a moment of stunned silence, she asked, "So you're not going to work at the hospital anymore?"

"I'm still working at the hospital, but I won't go every day." He kissed the girl's lips. "How about it? You're not worried anymore."

The girl nodded: "Yes, I'm not worried now that you've explained it clearly. I was so worried about those two police officers who were asking me all sorts of questions in the factory's small conference room this afternoon."

"I was planning to tell you when I got back tonight, but I didn't expect them to arrive so quickly." Li Chu was also a little helpless. He should have explained things clearly at noon, which made his wife worry.

Ding Qiunan then got off his lap, helped him take off his bag, and asked, "So, will you have more free time from now on?"

"Yes, not only will I have more free time, but I can also receive two salaries in the future. One from the ministry, and another from the hospital." Li Chu said with a hint of pride.

"Wow, what a wonderful thing! I'm so envious!"

Li Chu reached out and playfully pinched her nose: "What's mine is yours anyway, what's there to envy?"

The girl thought about it and realized it made sense; the money her man earned was hers, so she gave Li Chu a simple, honest smile.

Ding Qiunan took out the steamed buns and vegetables he had brought back and put them on the table. She then said to him, "You sit down and rest. I'll go cook some porridge." With that, she happily went into the kitchen.

Li Chu looked at the girl's retreating figure, shook his head with amusement, and went upstairs to bring down the fan.

After finishing their meal, the two of them took Xiao Hei out for a walk.

Now Xiao Hei has grown taller, almost reaching Li Chu's knees when he stands there. Li Chu can't tell what breed it is. It doesn't look like a mixed-breed dog. Instead, it looks a bit like a German Shepherd in his memory. Because it eats well with the two of them, its fur is shiny black.

But did China already have German Shepherds at this time? Li Chu was a little confused. This dog was also exceptionally intelligent; it could basically remember everything Li Chu taught it after just one lesson.

Ever since Li Chu told it to protect Ding Qiunan, Xiao Hei has followed her whenever she goes out, unless she's going to work.

As they walked and talked, Li Chu patted his head and said, "I forgot to tell you earlier, I have to go to the ministry for a review at 3 pm tomorrow. I'm not sure when it will end, so don't worry if I come back late tomorrow afternoon."

Ding Qiunan nodded and said, "Okay. Why does this also need to be reviewed?"

"Definitely, and it should be much stricter than the rating at the end of last year."

"You'll definitely pass," the young woman said, quite confident in her husband's medical skills.

Li Chu didn't say anything; he thought so too.

——————————

The next day, when Li Chu walked out of the Ministry of Health compound, it was already dark.

The review meeting lasted for more than four hours, involving comprehensive evaluation, incredibly detailed questioning, and medical records that seemed to have been found out of nowhere. Even with his robust physique, he felt somewhat fatigued.

Suddenly, a familiar barking sound came from across the street. Li Chu looked up and saw a familiar figure waving at him from the other side. The dog next to him was wagging its tail frantically.

Looking at that graceful figure, he felt his heart instantly calm down.

Li Chu quickly crossed the road and stood next to the figure: "Why did you run over here?"

"I saw you hadn't come back so late and weren't riding your bike, so I thought I'd come and pick you up to go home," Ding Qiunan said with a smile.

"How long have you been here?" Li Chu asked again.

"When I arrived here, I saw you standing at the door, so I had Xiao Hei bark twice. Xiao Hei ran all the way here following the car."

Li Chu bent down and rubbed Xiao Hei's head for a few days: "Good dog, I'll give you extra food when we get back."

As if it understood, Xiao Hei rubbed its head against his leg a few times.

Taking the bicycle handlebars from the girl, Li Chu complained, "Let's go home. I'm starving. They didn't even offer to provide a meal after the review. Such a big organization is really stingy."