Chapter 127: Ning Tang is now the head of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department.
Ning Tang paused in her steps.
Lu Jiaxiang was wearing a white coat, his hair was neatly combed back, and he was using the most popular hair mask at the moment. His eyes held his usual condescending gaze.
It was as if Ning Tang was some kind of ignorant junior who annoyed him; as long as he was around, Ning Tang had to obey him.
"Dr. Ning, may I speak to you in private?"
Lu Jiaxiang's tone was not pleasant; it carried a condescending, commanding air.
When Lu Jiaxiang saw that the nurses and doctors around him were looking over, he gave them a warning glare.
It was obvious that they felt these young people were disrespectful, daring to look their elders in the eye.
Ning Tang didn't move.
Upon hearing Lu Jiaxiang's words, he turned around and continued chatting with his colleagues.
Seeing this, Lu Jiaxiang became even angrier.
This is completely disregarding me.
Ning Tang said calmly, "Director Lu, please feel free to speak your mind. We are all colleagues here, and there is nothing that cannot be heard."
She knew.
Lu Jiaxiang must have come because of Lu Niannian's matter.
She did it on purpose, to let everyone see how this seemingly respectable director could resort to sophistry to protect his daughter.
Lu Jiaxiang had also thought of this.
His face darkened; even though he maintained a smile, he couldn't hide his anger.
"Ning Tang, don't push your luck! Yesterday, Niannian was wronged at the hospital entrance because of you, and now the whole hospital is talking nonsense. Go apologize to her right now!"
"Explain things clearly and clear her name. I'll let bygones be bygones; consider it as two kids playing around."
Upon hearing this,
Not to mention Ning Tang, even the others seemed a bit off.
Even the look in his eyes gradually changed.
Ning Tang sneered: "Are you kidding me?"
Her tone suggested she had heard the biggest joke in the world, yet she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
“Director Lu, Lu Niannian is several years older than me. We are both adults. I believe she should know more about many things than I do, right?”
"Why do you see Lu Niannian as a child when things can't be kept secret? Or is it that you always use 'it's just a joke' as an excuse to show favoritism whenever Lu Niannian makes a mistake?"
Everyone in the hospital knew that Ning Tang had no parents, and even her classmates were all in dire straits.
She had been abused a lot, and now Lu Jiaxiang's words sounded like he was deliberately bullying the helpless.
Ning Tang was not afraid at all. She met Lu Jiaxiang's eyes, which looked like they were about to devour someone, and spoke with a tone full of sarcasm.
"And what makes you think I'd help you? Just because you're the head of surgery, or do you think I'm so magnanimous and saintly that I can tolerate others smearing me and putting labels on me?"
Lu Jiaxiang was taken aback by the rebuttal, and then became furious.
It happened so fast that even the onlookers didn't have time to react.
In all his years at the military hospital, from the inpatient department to the surgery department, no one dared to speak to him like that, let alone Ning Tang, who was just a junior doctor in the traditional Chinese medicine department.
"Why should I?" Lu Jiaxiang sneered.
He deliberately made sure to show off the sign he was wearing around his neck.
The words "Head of Surgery" were written on it.
"Just because I'm the head of surgery at the military hospital! You're just a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, all you do every day is take people's pulses and prescribe some herbal medicine. If you really have a conflict with me, are you sure you can stay in this hospital?"
The threat in those words couldn't be clearer; it was obvious that they intended to use their authority to suppress her.
The surrounding colleagues all held their breath.
Some people looked sympathetic.
They knew Ning Tang was innocent in this matter, but Lu Niannian had parents to rely on.
Some people, however, gloated.
After all, Ning Tang got pregnant as soon as she married into the family, and Captain Xu doted on her, so some people had already started to dislike her.
Ning Tang wasn't afraid at all; instead, her smile became even colder.
"Director Lu, what you said is really interesting. So in your eyes, the hospital is not a place to treat and save lives, but a place for you to bully others?"
"You're using the authority given to you by the state, but instead of thinking about the patients, you use it to threaten your colleagues. Don't you feel ashamed?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.
It pierced Lu Jiaxiang's heart like a needle.
The thing he cared about most in his life was his dignity.
When Zhou Hairong was about to give birth, she ran away from home and returned with Lu Niannian.
The things my neighbors have said over the years have almost pierced my spine.
To save face, even though Lu Jiaxiang suspected that Lu Niannian was not his biological daughter, he could only grit his teeth and agree.
Ning Tang's words directly exposed his pretense, causing him to lose face in front of his subordinates.
"you!"
Lu Jiaxiang was so angry that his fingers trembled, and he pointed at Ning Tang but couldn't say a word.
He wanted to lash out, but looking into Ning Tang's clear yet stubborn eyes, his heart inexplicably tightened, as if something had been touched, and a faint discomfort arose within him.
This feeling is strange, just like the different annoyance I feel every time I see Lu Niannian throwing a tantrum.
Faced with Ning Tang's defiance, he felt not anger, but rather an inexplicable sense of frustration, as if he had bullied someone important.
"What about me?" Ning Tang persisted. "If Director Lu has nothing else to do, I'll go check on the patients."
"As for clearing Lu Niannian's name, you should let her produce the evidence herself. Prove that she and Xu Qiaofeng are engaged, prove that I am a mistress. Otherwise, she is the one who should apologize, and she is the one who should clear my name."
After saying that, she ignored Lu Jiaxiang's unpleasant expression, grabbed her medical record folder, and turned to leave.
Lu Jiaxiang stood frozen in place, watching Ning Tang's retreating figure, his heartache growing stronger and stronger.
He didn't understand what was wrong with him. He had come to stand up for Niannian, but how could he be rendered speechless by a little nurse and have such strange emotions?
"Director, are you alright?" The head nurse carefully handed over a glass of water. "Nurse Ning is young and spoke a little harshly, please don't take it to heart."
Lu Jiaxiang took the water glass and was comforted by the people next to him for a long time before he came to his senses.
He took a sip of hot water, suppressing the unease in his heart, and said coldly, "It's nothing. Pass the word down that there will be a department meeting this afternoon to emphasize the professional ethics of medical staff."
He said that, but his mind was already uncontrollably filled with thoughts of Ning Tang's eyes.
Those eyes were very bright, and they looked exactly like a woman he had seen when he was young, but he couldn't remember who she was.
Ning Tang was unaware of Lu Jiaxiang's thoughts. After finishing her rounds, she returned to her office.
Not long after I sat down, I saw Dean Gou rush in with her big pregnant belly.
Since returning from his business trip, Dean Gou has become extremely busy; he hasn't been to the hospital for almost a week now.
He had just arrived at the hospital when he heard about what had happened there recently.
At first, Dean Gou thought it was just a minor incident, but when he heard that it had escalated to the level of military spirit, he was so frightened that he almost fainted.
In the entire hospital, Ning Tang is the only one who embodies the spirit of the military.
If Commander Xu's beloved granddaughter-in-law were to suffer any injustice, wouldn't he, the lousy hospital director, be out of a job?
So, Dean Gou didn't even go to his own office, but went straight to the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
"Ning Tang! Why didn't you tell me about the trouble that girl from the Lu family caused earlier? She's practically caused a huge uproar, and you've still managed to stay calm!"
Ning Tang had just finished writing the medical record when she looked up at Dean Gou, who was panting heavily, and quickly got up.
"Dean, please sit down and have some water before you speak."
She handed over a cup of freshly brewed chrysanthemum tea, but she had some doubts in her heart.
This matter shouldn't have reached the dean's ears, since it was just a minor friction between departments.
Dean Gou took the water glass and gulped down a large mouthful before he could recover.
He put down his cup, his tone serious: "I just came back from the military region. Commander Xu's bodyguard mentioned to me that someone in the hospital is gossiping about you, and even bringing up the reputation of the military! This is no small matter. If word gets out, our hospital will lose all face!"
He paused, then patted Ning Tang on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, I've already had someone investigate this matter. If Lu Jiaxiang really dares to use his position as director to suppress you, I'll be the first to punish him!"
"And then there's Lu Niannian, who spread rumors and caused trouble, damaging relationships with colleagues. She must be punished so she knows the hospital isn't hers to own!"
Ning Tang didn't expect the matter to alarm the military region, and she was even more surprised that Dean Gou would so readily stand on her side.
She felt a mix of emotions and said softly, "Thank you, Dean. It's not that serious. I can handle it myself."
"Even if you can handle it, it won't work!" Dean Gou waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“You’re not only a doctor in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, but also the granddaughter-in-law of Commander Xu, and you’re carrying a child from the Xu family. How can we let you suffer such injustice?”
"This matter must be handled officially, both to give you an explanation and to serve as a warning to others in the hospital!"
If everyone acts like this, bullying others and doing things without considering the consequences, will this hospital ever be any better?
After saying that, Dean Gou changed the subject, his serious expression softening and replaced by a smile.
"By the way, besides this, I have something else important to tell you today. The position of director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department has been vacant for almost a month. The hospital has held several meetings to discuss it, but we haven't been able to decide on a suitable candidate."
Ning Tang's heart skipped a beat, and she had a vague premonition of something bad.
There are many senior doctors in the TCM department, and she has only been working there for a short time, so logically it shouldn't be her turn.
Sure enough, what Dean Gou said next completely stunned her.
"After deliberation and decision by the institute, and with the approval of the military region leaders, we unanimously agree that you are the most suitable candidate."
"Starting tomorrow, you will take over as the director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, responsible for the department's daily management and treatment work."
"Dean, what did you say?" Ning Tang thought she had misheard and asked instinctively.
“Me? Take over as director? That won’t do. I’ve only been at the hospital for a little over six months. I’m too inexperienced and too young. I can’t possibly manage things.”
She wasn't being modest; she genuinely felt she wasn't suited for the role.
There are several veteran doctors in the Traditional Chinese Medicine department who have been practicing medicine for twenty or thirty years.
In terms of experience and qualifications, he is far superior to her.
If she were to suddenly become the director, it would definitely cause discontent, and the department would become demoralized, which would be detrimental to the work.
Dean Gou had anticipated her refusal and shook his head with a smile.
"Don't bring up seniority or age with me, those aren't issues. Our hospital selects managers based on ability, not years of service!"
"When you first arrived, you cured the big boss's migraine with your acupuncture skills. Later, you also cured several patients with difficult and complicated diseases with traditional Chinese medicine. Everyone has seen this."
Dean Gou paused, his tone full of admiration.
“A while ago, Academician Liu, a leading figure in traditional Chinese medicine from Beijing, came to the hospital for an inspection. You demonstrated acupuncture treatment techniques to him, and Academician Liu clapped his hands on the spot.”
"They said you're a leading figure among the younger generation of TCM doctors, and even asked me if I could transfer you to Beijing! Tell me, with your abilities, you can't become a department head?"
Ning Tang was stunned. She hadn't expected that her demonstration would be remembered by Academician Liu.
What she didn't expect was that Dean Gou would reveal this matter and allow her to participate in the selection of the head of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
“But Dean, even if I am capable, the senior doctors in the department won’t respect me.” Ning Tang was still somewhat hesitant. “If conflicts arise in the department because of me, it will actually affect the diagnosis and treatment work.”
"Don't worry about that, I've already communicated with the veteran comrades," Dean Gou said confidently.
"Dr. Li and Dr. Wang both highly recognize your medical skills. They also said that with such a young and promising director as you leading the way, the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine will definitely reach new heights."
Besides, the institute will assign Ning Tang a deputy director to help her with administrative matters.
She is mainly responsible for diagnosis and treatment and technical guidance, so there is not much to worry about in terms of management.
This reassured Dean Gou even more.
Sure enough, it's good to have a powerful backer; the Xu family really put a lot of thought into this daughter-in-law.
Seeing that Ning Tang was still hesitant, he added another sentence.
"This is not only the hospital's decision, but also the military region's leadership's intention. Although Commander Xu didn't say it explicitly, he hopes you can have a suitable position in the hospital so you won't be bullied by others anymore. Just think of it as your own sake and for the sake of the baby in your belly, and don't refuse anymore."
When Grandpa Xu and the baby in her belly were mentioned, Ning Tang's hesitation gradually dissipated.
She knew that Dean Gou was right.
Ning Tang agreed to marry Xu Qiaofeng so that she could have enough status to avoid being bullied and to better protect herself and her child.
Moreover, the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine is a place she loves.
She also hopes that through her own efforts, the department can develop better and more people can believe in and recognize traditional Chinese medicine.
Ning Tang took a deep breath, looked up at Dean Gou, and her eyes showed more determination.
"Okay, Dean, I agree. But I have a request. I hope the hospital can give me some time to familiarize myself with the director's work and to communicate more with my colleagues in the department to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings."
"No problem!" Dean Gou beamed with joy when she agreed.
"I'll give you a week to prepare. You'll officially take office next Monday. The institute will hold an appointment meeting then to formally confer your rank."
After saying this, Dean Gou gave a few more instructions before leaving the TCM department office with satisfaction.
Ning Tang sat in the chair, still feeling somewhat dazed.
She couldn't help but laugh when she thought about how she looked when she first came to the hospital, and then when she thought about how she would become the director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department the next day.
This is probably what they mean by "a chance encounter leading to unexpected success".
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