Chapter 101: Who is Ning Tang?
Hearing the man's concerned yet self-reproachful words, Ning Tang shook her head. "I wasn't scared, I just feel... a bit unlucky and a bit upset."
Thinking of Liu Guifen's ferocious face when she threw a tantrum, his brows furrowed uncontrollably again.
They have the X-rays and diagnosis, yet they still make a fuss, as if the hospital has to pay them extra to save someone's life.
When Xu Qiaofeng saw her puffed-up face, he thought it was just like the tabby cat they used to keep in their backyard when he was a child.
Every time he teases the kitten with treats, he takes them away just as the kitten is about to eat. The kitten gets so angry that its fur stands on end, and it turns its back to him, ignoring all his apologies.
The more I thought about it, the more I felt that Ning Tang resembled a tabby cat, even their round eyes were exactly the same.
Xu Qiaofeng couldn't help but smile, reaching out to ruffle his wife's hair: "Alright, don't be angry with her. I'll keep an eye on Zhang Yanfei and make sure that annoying person doesn't bother you again."
He paused, then added, "I will personally speak with the dean about this matter after dinner. The orthopedics issue has escalated to your Traditional Chinese Medicine department; you must provide an explanation."
Upon hearing this, Ning Tang looked up at him.
The man sitting next to me was handsome and tall, giving me a great sense of security.
Suddenly, the irritation in my heart gradually disappeared.
Ning Tang picked up a piece of braised fish and put it in her mouth, saying softly, "Actually, it doesn't have to be so complicated. As long as she doesn't come looking for me, I don't want to make things difficult for you because of this."
Xu Qiaofeng raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is this something you find difficult to do?"
“You’re carrying my child, so you can’t suffer the slightest grievance. Let alone this little thing, even if it’s something huge, I’ll protect you first.”
Hearing this made Ning Tang feel like firecrackers were going off in her heart.
She bit into the fish in her mouth, and the more she thought about it, the redder she felt, and she couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth into a smile.
Ning Tang teased him on purpose: "I know, Captain Xu."
The girl in front of me was already pretty.
Xu Qiaofeng had lived for nearly thirty years and had seen many beautiful women in the cultural troupe, but he had to admit that none of them could compare to his little wife, whose eyes curved into a soft, sweet smile.
Even the way she stifled a laugh while biting into fish was more dazzling and alluring than the sun in the sky.
Xu Qiaofeng's Adam's apple bobbed heavily as he reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind Ning Tang's ear, his voice even deeper than before:
"You little rascal, why are you calling Captain Xu the same way Pang Bo and the others?"
"Don't call me Captain Xu, call me by my name, or... call me something else."
Ning Tang's ears instantly turned hot, and she was even a beat slow to react. When she looked up at Xu Qiaofeng, her face still had a smile that hadn't faded.
Seeing the man staring at her with that expression, she deliberately made her voice soft and drawn out.
He gently nudged Xu Qiaofeng's ankle under the table with his leg: "So what should I call you? Comrade Xu?"
"No, I feel that title makes me sound a bit old."
“But… I remember you’re several years older than me. My older brothers said you’ll be a full cycle in a few years, so calling you Comrade Xu doesn’t seem wrong.” Ning Tang teased Xu Qiaofeng on purpose, watching his indulgent expression as she spoke.
Xu Qiaofeng's expression darkened further. He reached out and grabbed the leg that was causing trouble below, lowering his voice even further, with a hint of coaxing.
He said, "Think about it again. At home you call me Qiaofeng. I've never heard you call me that like an older sister-in-law calls her older brother..."
At home, Su Ying always calls Xu Qiaolan "darling".
She said that her relatives abroad call her that, and it means something similar to "darling".
Ning Tang was startled when she first heard it, but she got used to it after hearing it many times.
But if you asked her to say that to Xu Qiaofeng, she'd probably blush so much she could fry an egg on her face...
Ning Tang didn't dare tease him anymore. She quickly put a piece of fish into his bowl and changed the subject, saying, "You must be tired from training. Eat your food."
"Tangtang, I want to hear you call me that."
"We're in the cafeteria, don't do this..." Ning Tang covered her face and stammered.
Before he could finish speaking, Xu Qiaofeng stretched out a pair of large, slender hands.
Knowing that Ning Tang was shy, he secretly took her hand under the table and intertwined their fingers.
Xu Qiaofeng's eyes were full of doting and affection: "What's wrong with the cafeteria? My wife, call me whatever you want."
"Besides, if you tell me this in secret, no one else will hear."
Ning Tang's eyelashes blinked incessantly from the heat of Xu Qiaofeng's palm, and her face, buried in his palm, flushed red again.
She peeked through her fingers and realized that the man had no intention of letting her go.
She could only bite her lip, her voice barely audible, "Darling...darling."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ning Tang quickly moved to another seat and sat down.
He buried his head in his bowl, shoveling rice into it, his ears so red they looked like they were about to bleed.
Xu Qiaofeng felt a tingling sensation in his heart as he listened, and chuckled softly as he looked at the little girl across from him, who was as slow as a snail, his laughter becoming hoarse.
He coaxed, "Good Tangtang, so good."
"Eat quickly, it'll get cold soon."
After saying that, Xu Qiaofeng picked up a piece of fish meat with the bones removed and placed it in the bowl opposite Ning Tang.
Before long, the two finished their meal and walked side by side toward the military hospital.
Even Wang Yingying, an outsider, could see it.
After the two of them went out, the atmosphere between them was noticeably different.
Although things were good before, there was always an inexplicable sense of distance, but now things have changed.
Xu Qiaofeng walked on the outside, his elbow occasionally brushing lightly against Ning Tang's forearm. Ning Tang would puff out her cheeks occasionally, as if she were whining and complaining.
They look just like a young couple in love.
She reeked of the sweet and sour smell of being in love.
Wang Yingying's eyes were almost red with envy. She snatched Ning Tang from Xu Qiaofeng's hands and said, "We're going to a hospital in the next city for a meeting this afternoon, Tangtang, remember to bring your things."
Since coming to the hospital, this is the first time Ning Tang has gone to a meeting in another city with her colleagues.
She was a little confused and subconsciously asked, "What do I need to bring?"
"Don't worry, these are all things we can use in our daily lives. I'll tell you once, and you'll definitely remember them."
Wang Yingying politely waved to Xu Qiaofeng to signal her departure.
While holding Ning Tang's arm, he whispered in her ear what he needed to bring.
Upon hearing this, Ning Tang realized that these were all typical case reports, and guessed that there was a major surgery in the neighboring city, and they needed to send doctors from their hospital over to discuss the matter.
The two walked up the stairs back to the Traditional Chinese Medicine department.
As soon as I entered the department, I saw Zhou Hairong get up from his seat with a dark expression on his face.
Seeing the two of them come in smiling, Zhou Hairong's expression turned even uglier.
She glared at Ning Tang and reprimanded her coldly, "This is a hospital, not a park where you guys can laugh and joke around."
"You have a meeting at the hospital in the next city this afternoon. I don't think you've taken this seriously at all! Ning Tang, you don't need to attend this intercity meeting!"
——
Ning Tang's smile froze instantly.
She never imagined that simply exchanging a few words with Wang Yingying during her lunch break would lead to such a targeted attack from Zhou Hairong.
"Director Zhou, I'm not taking it lightly. I'm confirming the documents Yingying needs to bring with her," Ning Tang said, trying to explain calmly.
But Zhou Hairong wouldn't listen at all.
She crossed her arms over her chest, her well-maintained face full of disdain.
"Confirm the information? I think your mind is elsewhere."
"I was just having a long chat with Xu Qiaofeng downstairs, how could I possibly have the energy to manage work? This meeting is crucial for our TCM department's cooperation opportunities, we can't let someone with ulterior motives ruin things!"
That's really blunt.
The doctors and nurses in the department were caught off guard by the sudden argument. They were unsure whether to stand or sit, and looked quite embarrassed.
Ning Tang knew that Zhou Hairong was deliberately targeting her, so she hesitated for a moment before retaliating.
She smiled, her expression revealing no dissatisfaction, but rather genuine doubt.
"Director Zhou? I don't understand how I offended you. Is it because of your daughter, Lu Niannian?"
"Didn't Lu Niannian explain everything clearly? She had a heart attack on the street because she was too excited. Qiaofeng and I happened to be nearby, so we took her to our hospital."
“Director Zhou, are you still misunderstanding? Do you think that Lu Niannian’s relapse is related to me? I understand that you are worried about your daughter, but I brought my emotional problems into my work, which is very irresponsible and lacks accountability.”
Zhou Hairong's face darkened instantly as Ning Tang's words struck a nerve.
She originally intended to accuse Ning Tang of having ulterior motives in order to avenge the humiliation she suffered at the hands of the Xu family that day. However, she did not expect that Ning Tang would bring up Lu Niannian's matter directly and even imply that she was blurring the lines between public and private matters. This made her lose face in front of her colleagues in the department!
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
Zhou Hairong's voice was sharp and piercing as he glared at Ning Tang: "My daughter's illness has nothing to do with you? If you hadn't been so close to Xu Qiaofeng, would she have been so emotional?"
Such a counterattack caused everyone around to gasp in shock.
Good heavens! Xu Qiaofeng and Ning Tang are husband and wife, isn't it normal for them to be close?
For a moment, everyone looked at Zhou Hairong with a subtle expression.
Anyone with eyes can see that Zhou Hairong's daughter has always had feelings for Xu Qiaofeng, and now it seems that it's really because of personal grudges and revenge.
When has Zhou Hairong ever been talked about by these younger people?
She was both angry and anxious, and reached out to grab Ning Tang's collar.
Ning Tang instinctively backed away, and Wang Yingying immediately stepped in front of her. Even her colleagues who often ate Ning Tang's snacks in the office swarmed around her.
Zhou Hairong was so angry that her heart ached, and she suspected that she had developed a heart condition like Lu Niannian.
Just as she was about to speak, a bulky figure emerged from behind the door.
Dean Gou appeared at the department door at some point, his face so cold it could drip water.
He gestured for everyone to disperse, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Hairong, his voice devoid of any warmth.
"Director Zhou, is there anything you'd like to say?"
Zhou Hairong's heart skipped a beat when he saw the dean.
"Dean, I was just discussing work with Ning Tang, that's all..."
"Does communication work require tearing her clothes?" The dean frowned, his gaze falling on Ning Tang's pregnant belly, which was already pushing her white coat into a rounded arc, and his face darkened even more.
"I heard the noise from here in the office, but I didn't expect it was you causing trouble!"
"Zhou Hairong, you're the head of the department, not a street shrew. Have you forgotten the hospital rules? Or did you and Lu Jiaxiang have another fight at home?"
Upon hearing Lu Jiaxiang's name, Zhou Hairong's face flushed red and then turned pale, as if he had been slapped across the face.
Between her and that man, there had long been no feelings left between them.
Although Lu Jiaxiang and she worked at the same hospital, they never saw each other on their way to and from get off work, and they even ate lunch one after the other.
After returning home, the two barely spoke a word to each other for six months.
For over twenty years since Lu Nian was born, Lu Jiaxiang slept in a separate room from her and they never even had marital relations!
Zhou Hairong was essentially widowed at a young age, and her life was extremely difficult!
Everyone at the hospital knew about the Lu family's messy affairs, but they all kept quiet about it. Only the hospital director dared to openly slap the person involved in the face.
Dean Gou ignored Zhou Hairong's expressionless face and turned to look at Ning Tang, his tone softening immediately.
"Dr. Ning, how are your preparations for the afternoon meeting going?"
"The hospital in the next city specifically asked about that case of the combined Chinese and Western medicine you have. You should talk to them about it."
Ning Tang didn't expect the dean to specifically mention her case.
Being able to show your face at such a large joint conference is already incredibly lucky; to actually say a few words is something I wouldn't even dare to dream of...
Ning Tang was taken aback for a moment, then quickly nodded and said, "Dean, I had already organized the information once before, so there's no problem."
"That's good." Dean Gou was extremely satisfied, then turned to look at Zhou Hairong.
His tone was laced with warning: "Director Zhou, I don't want to see what happened again."
“Dr. Ning is a young backbone of our TCM department. If you affect the meeting or cause any young and talented colleagues to suffer, you can forget about being the director.”
Zhou Hairong was startled and quickly nodded, "Dean, I understand. It won't happen again."
This is a military hospital.
Even if you can only be a nurse inside, you can brag about it outside for a year or two.
Not to mention her, the director who rose through the ranks by sheer age.
Zhou Hairong had no talent for medicine; all she had was hardship in her youth. She worked as a doctor for almost thirty years after she first joined the hospital, and only came up when there was no one else available.
Now, with someone as talented as Ning Tang eyeing her position, it will be difficult for her to return if she steps down from this post.
Seeing that Zhou Hairong wasn't completely stupid, Dean Gou didn't say anything more and turned to leave the department.
As soon as he left, Zhou Hairong's face immediately fell.
The way he looked at Ning Tang was as if she were his enemy.
Ning Tang ignored her gaze, turned around and took out a jar of fruit hard candies from her workstation. The candy wrappers were colorful and very pretty.
She distributed them one by one to her colleagues.
Ning Tang's colleagues, who were already biased towards her, were now completely swayed, whispering bad things about Zhou Hairong to her.
Everything was calm until I left the hospital in the afternoon.
In less than three hours, they arrived at the city hospital next door.
Dean Gou went over to greet him, but the dean of the hospital across the street ignored him. Instead, he scanned the group of doctors and couldn't help but ask, "Who is Ning Tang?"
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