At the hospital cafeteria, due to the intense exercise early in the morning, Li Chu ate three large steamed buns and drank a large bowl of porridge for breakfast.
Looking at her husband across from her, who was eating steamed buns and pickled vegetables as if they were a grand feast, Ding Qiunan's face showed a happy smile.
After finishing their meal, the two parted ways and returned to their respective offices.
After returning to the consultation room and changing into a white coat, Li Chu went to the nephrology department of the inpatient ward.
Because of their research projects, their hospital has significantly reduced inpatient costs, leading to referrals from many surrounding hospitals. The ward has expanded from the initial thirty beds to eighty beds, and the increased number of patients has clearly benefited the research.
The number of researchers dispatched from the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica has increased to five.
As soon as I entered the ward, I ran into my college classmate, Song Tangyuan.
"Hey, Li Chu, I haven't seen you for days. What have you been up to?"
"I've been dealing with some personal matters these past few days, so I haven't been here much. That's how things are here now. I probably won't be coming here often in the future, since I work in the Traditional Chinese Medicine department."
Song Tangyuan turned his head and looked around, then reached out and pulled Li Chu to the stairwell.
Li Chu was somewhat puzzled by his actions; why did he have to keep things to himself?
Upon reaching the stairwell, Song Tangyuan lowered his voice and said, "Li Chu, I heard that the Nephrology Department is going to be completely separated from the Internal Medicine Department and a new staffing system will be set up. Why don't you hurry up and find a way to get a deputy director position here?"
"Who told you this? I don't know anything about it."
"It's obvious you don't care about these things. This won't do. You should actively try to get closer to the organization. If you can become the deputy director this time, it will be easier for you to join the organization later."
Song Tangyuan pointed at him with a look of exasperation.
Song Tangyuan was unaware that he had already joined the organization. Joining an organization in this era was no easy task; the normal process would take three to five years, and that was assuming everything went smoothly.
If things don't go smoothly...
Regardless, Song Tangyuan was concerned about him, and Li Chu was still very grateful.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to tell the truth: "Tang Yuan, I have already joined the organization and become a full member."
Hearing what Li Chu said, Song Tangyuan looked at him in surprise, raised his hand and punched him in the chest: "When did this happen? Why didn't you say anything at the last gathering?"
"If I were to tell everyone I meet, wouldn't people think I'm crazy?"
"Hey, this won't do! I'm telling you, this is such a joyous occasion, and you didn't even get a single piece of candy. This won't do."
"Hey, what's with the candy? How about this, this weekend, you give us the contact information, you decide on the location, and I'll treat you," Li Chu said generously.
Of the seventeen students from their class who remained in Beijing, all but Li Chu were working in various research institutions.
Many of these students will likely become industry leaders in the future.
Li Chu managed to reconnect with everyone at the last gathering. To maintain this network, he needs to keep in touch more often, so it would be a good opportunity to get together again.
"No problem, leave it to me. I guarantee everyone will be satisfied with the arrangements. You just need to pay the fees." Song Tangyuan patted his chest and made a grand promise.
Having served as class monitor, his organizational and coordination skills are indeed exceptional. He single-handedly organized every reunion for his classmates, ensuring everyone's satisfaction—that takes real ability.
"Hey, this will cost a lot of money. Don't you want to discuss it with your partner?"
"No need to discuss it. As long as it's not a waste of money, my wife will absolutely support me."
"By the way, you should bring your family to the gatherings. We can't be eating and drinking well outside while our families are eating meager meals at home."
"Don't worry about that. Family members are required to bring to every gathering. It's been clearly stated that, unless there are special circumstances that prevent family members from coming."
After a pause, Song Tangyuan continued, "But Li Chu, what are your thoughts on what I just mentioned? I think this is a good opportunity. With your strong professional skills, it shouldn't be a problem for you to talk to the hospital leaders. Besides, if it weren't for you, we wouldn't even have this nephrology department."
Li Chu said with a wry smile, "Squad leader, I understand what you mean, but I am, after all, a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. What kind of nonsense is it for me to come to a Western medicine department as the deputy director?"
I'm not even thirty yet. Even if I'm incredibly capable, my superiors still need to consider all aspects; they have to be politically savvy.
"Sigh," Song Tangyuan sighed helplessly. He understood what Li Chu was saying. If he missed this opportunity, he might not get another chance like this.
Song Tangyuan was unaware that Li Chu was also working part-time in the health care team. Seeing that he was often not at the hospital, he simply assumed that Li Chu was out making house calls.
Through this project collaboration, he now has complete admiration for Li Chu's learning ability and medical skills.
Point Guard Here
If he hadn't known that Li Chu was learning traditional Chinese medicine from Professor Yang, he would have thought that Li Chu was studying Western clinical medicine.
"You'd better keep up the good work, kid. With your medical skills, you'll become a master sooner or later."
Li Chu waved his hand: "I don't care whether someone is a famous artist or not; it's just a means of making a living."
"Come on, come with me to the ward. Things are completely back on track here. I won't be coming here as often anymore; I'm going to continue seeing patients." After saying that, he walked towards the ward.
Song Tangyuan, standing beside him, said, "You're still the liaison between our two units, so you can't abandon this project before it's finished."
"What liaison officer? After so much time, everyone is already familiar with each other. It doesn't matter whether I'm there or not. My clinic needs to open, otherwise the entire TCM department will have a problem with me."
Song Tangyuan accompanied him on a tour of all the wards.
Before leaving, he gave me one last reminder about the gathering.
Instead of returning to the consultation room first, Li Chu went directly to the outpatient hall and greeted the nurse at the registration desk, informing her that the Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic 1 would continue to see patients starting this afternoon.
The morning passed just like that. At lunchtime, Li Chu told his wife about the possible gathering over the weekend.
Ding Qiunan also attended the last gathering and had a good chat with Li Chu's classmates and family members.
So when she heard that her husband was hosting a dinner party this weekend, she didn't object at all.
Li Chu is no longer the unknown figure he once was. He has resumed seeing patients, and the news spread throughout the hospital within a single afternoon.
When Ding Qiunan opened the door to her clinic in the afternoon, she found that a line had already formed outside.
Many of them were pregnant women, referred by the obstetrics and gynecology department, who wanted Li Chu to help them with their health.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com