Chapter 6 An Encounter at a Small Restaurant
Holding the lab report from Huo Nanchen, Lin Xili returned to the payment window on the first floor of the main building.
The process was no different from that of hospitals in Hong Kong: pay the fee, get a receipt, and then go for the examination.
In addition to blood tests and thyroid ultrasounds, a heart examination has also been added here.
It seems that Dr. Huo conducted a very thorough examination, or rather, the township health center has its own set of diagnostic and treatment procedures.
The nurse was fairly skilled when drawing blood, but Lin Xili still subconsciously tensed up the moment the needle pierced her skin.
She had seen too many needle marks and wounds on corpses, but when it happened to her, it was a different story.
The pain, which is a living sensation, remains vivid.
Bright red blood was slowly drawn into the vacuum tube. She silently counted, and five tubes were drawn in total.
The examination for hyperthyroidism is indeed complicated.
There was only one ultrasound room, and it was rarely crowded, so she didn't have to wait.
The cool coupling gel was applied to the neck, and the ultrasound probe slid back and forth.
After a series of checks were completed, it was nearly noon.
Stepping out of the main building, the midday sun poured down without any obstruction, scorching and bright.
Lin Xili instantly felt a strong wave of dizziness and heat.
Sweat quickly seeped from his forehead and back, his heart began to beat faster uncontrollably, his throat felt dry and tight, and his breathing became somewhat rapid.
She finally experienced firsthand the troubles caused by hyperthyroidism—heat intolerance, excessive sweating, palpitations, and thirst.
These symptoms, which were previously masked or ignored by busy work and suppressed emotions in Hong Kong, have become exceptionally clear and tormenting at this moment.
We need to find a place to sit down quickly, drink some water, and eat something.
She walked slowly along the street outside the health center. Unlike big cities, this place wasn't full of shops.
After walking for more than ten minutes, my chiffon shirt was soaked with sweat, sticking to my back and feeling very uncomfortable.
Just when she was about to give up and go back to the health center to get some water, she finally saw a small restaurant that was still open for business.
The shop is small and looks quite old; the lettering on the signboard is faded, but the interior is fairly clean.
She pushed open the door and went inside. A few customers were sitting in the small restaurant. A cool breeze carrying the aroma of food wafted over her, making her feel a little more comfortable.
The proprietress was a slightly plump middle-aged woman who greeted her warmly when she came in.
Lin Xili had little appetite and was concerned about her illness, so she only ordered a bowl of white rice porridge and a plate of local specialty rice noodles.
"It's three yuan in total, and you can get free refills of porridge," the proprietress announced the price crisply.
Lin Xili was stunned for a moment; the price was so cheap that she found it hard to believe.
In Hong Kong, a decent cup of coffee costs at least 30 yuan.
She quietly found a corner seat by the window and sat down, waiting for her food.
The door to the small restaurant was pushed open again.
Lin Xili subconsciously looked up and saw two familiar figures walking in.
Walking in front was Huo Nanchen, who had just examined her. He had taken off his mask, revealing his entire face, and was wearing a white shirt and dark suit pants.
After removing his mask, his features were incredibly handsome, and his temperament was noble and gentle, yet he also carried an air of indifference and aloofness that kept strangers at bay.
The bridge of the nose is high and straight, the tip of the nose has a clean line, and the lips are well-defined but thin.
His skin was a cool-toned porcelain white, and it was quite rare to see him not tanned in this small rural town.
His neck was long and straight, and the white shirt made his shoulders and back appear even broader.
Following behind him was Dr. Zhang Jie, the middle-aged doctor who was sitting at another table in the consultation room.
Huo Nanchen clearly saw her, his gaze lingered on her for a moment, and then he nodded slightly to her as a greeting.
His expression was calm; encountering a patient in this small town was nothing out of the ordinary.
Lin Xili nodded slightly and then turned her gaze to the chopstick holder on the table.
Huo Nanchen and his colleagues usually ate at the health center's canteen, only going out two or three days a week, since the canteen served very special meals for patients.
He and Dr. Zhang sat down at another table, two tables away from her.
Dr. Zhang also noticed Lin Xili, turned his head, and lowered his voice to say to Huo Nanchen:
"Dr. Huo, look at that young woman over there, isn't she the one who came to see me this morning for hyperthyroidism? Look at the lingering melancholy in her eyes, no wonder she has a thyroid problem. This disease is really related to emotions!"
Huo Nanchen was looking at the menu when he heard this. Without looking up, he said in a low voice, "Dr. Zhang, we don't discuss patients' conditions in private."
Dr. Zhang chuckled awkwardly, touched his nose, and didn't continue speaking.
Although they spoke softly, Lin Xili still heard them.
Just then, the proprietress came over with her porridge and dishes.
The simple white porridge was cooked until the rice grains bloomed and smelled delicious, and the peanut oil on the rice noodles smelled wonderful.
"Young lady, please enjoy your meal," the proprietress said warmly.
"Thanks."
Lin Xili thanked him softly, picked up the spoon, and sipped the warm porridge.
The congee slid down my dry throat, bringing a soothing warmth that temporarily suppressed the irritating thirst.
Hyperthyroidism seemed to have improved her digestion, and she ate faster.
She could hear the two doctors at the next table ordering food, eating, and occasionally talking, but they didn't say anything more about her.
They adhered to their duties as doctors and maintained an appropriate distance.
This distance actually made Lin Xili feel more relaxed.
She doesn't need sympathy, nor does she need excessive attention, and especially not extra discussion because of her depression.
This would make her feel like she has depression, another kind of illness, and having hyperthyroidism is troublesome enough as it is.
After finishing her meal, she took out her phone and paid using the payment code on the wall.
The proprietress said the porridge could be refilled for free, but she said no thanks and got up to leave the small restaurant.
She bought a bottle of mineral water from a nearby shop and headed towards the health center.
After Lin Xili left, Huo Nanchen couldn't help but glance at her departing figure.
It wasn't because she was pretty; when she was examining him earlier, there was a fleeting, mocking smile on her lips—that was directed at him.
Seeing this, Dr. Zhang said to Huo Nanchen:
"That young lady was from Hong Kong. That's an international metropolis, and its medical standards are definitely top-notch. Why would she travel all the way to our remote town clinic for thyroid problems?"
Huo Nanchen withdrew his gaze. "They must have someone they know here who introduced them."
Dr. Zhang smacked his lips and picked up a piece of green vegetable with his chopsticks.
"Speaking of our health center, it's only after you came that the examination equipment has caught up a bit. Before, people who needed examinations could only go to the county town. I never expected that people from big cities would come to our center."
Huo Nanchen didn't respond and continued eating his meal slowly.
Seeing this, Dr. Zhang didn't continue. After all, as a middle-aged man, he didn't really have much to talk about with a young man, and Huo Nanchen was a man of few words.
Township medical resources are scarce. Before Huo Nanchen came, he was the only doctor in the town's health center specializing in thyroid diseases.
Many young interns who were assigned here couldn't endure the hardships of rural life and soon applied to be transferred to the county or city.
When Huo Nanchen came, he thought he wouldn't be able to endure hardship either, but he ended up staying for five years.
Under his treatment, many patients with thyroid problems have recovered.
Based on his skills, he could easily have been transferred to a county hospital or a top-tier city hospital. The hospitals above him had also tried to transfer him away many times, but he refused each time.
Zhang Jie had tried to inquire about how such a talented young man was willing to stay here, but Huo Nanchen only ever said that it was a good place.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com