Chapter 1648 Don't let him cling to us
"Xiao Zhang, are you alright? Where does it hurt the most? We need to go to the hospital right away."
Zhang Qiyan didn't quite like his disciple Zhang Chaoxian. After all, he had recommended Zhang Chaoxian for government-sponsored study abroad years ago, but Zhang Chaoxian stayed and didn't return, which made Zhang Qiyan lose face.
But seeing the beads of sweat on Zhang Chaoxian's forehead, which were even showing signs of pain, he couldn't help but feel nervous.
However, Zhang Chaoxian forced a smile: "It's alright, teacher. This is an old problem of mine, just stomach pain caused by irregular eating habits. I was planning to go to the hospital to see a doctor these past few days, but I've been too busy since I got back, so I've put it off."
Zhang Qiyan frowned: "How can this be delayed? Stomach problems can cause serious issues if left untreated for too long."
"Hi, it's really nothing, teacher. I consulted a doctor, and he said that treating stomach problems is 30% treatment and 70% rest. My condition has stabilized in the last few years, and with some rest, I'll recover completely."
Zhang Chaoxian seemed completely unconcerned about Zhang Qiyan's nervousness. He casually pulled out a medicine bottle, swallowed a pill, and cheerfully explained.
But the people around him found his actions quite novel.
"Old Zhang, is this a digestive aid? We also have Domperidone in China; I've taken it and found it quite effective."
"Domperidone treats nausea and vomiting, but it doesn't relieve pain. Old Zhang is probably taking ibuprofen."
“.”
"Hey, it's just a very common and effective medicine in Lighthouse. The doctors in Lighthouse are very strict about prescribing medicine; we can't just take whatever we want. They have to be responsible for the patient's health."
Faced with everyone's suspicions, Zhang Chaoxian generously showed everyone the medicine bottle, even showing off a little.
"Yes, we've heard that. Western doctors are very wary of the misuse of drugs. What kind of drug is this? We don't understand it."
Of course you wouldn't understand it! You've learned the rustic English taught in China, how could you possibly understand the class-based blocking tools that Western gentlemen update from time to time?
Let alone abroad, even in China, can an ordinary person understand a doctor's handwritten prescription?
You can just tell him why he won't let you understand it.
Is it to avoid trouble?
In any case, decades later, there are no more such incomprehensible medical records in mainland China; all the reports are machine-printed. Would you call that progress?
"Li Ye, you've been to the lighthouse before. Take a look at these medicines. Do you recognize these English words?"
"I don't know him."
When the medicine bottle was passed to Li Ye, he didn't even answer it.
His wife majored in English; how could he not know the tricks of the trade? Medicine, law, finance—each industry has its own language barriers. Unless you're a doctor, you won't understand their incomprehensible language.
However, Zhang Chaoxian was sweating profusely from the pain at his teacher's house, so some trouble should be avoided in advance.
So Li Ye asked Zhang Chaoxian curiously, "Senior Brother Zhang, so besides going on blind dates, you also came back to see a doctor this time?"
"Blind date? Medical appointment? Old Zhang, you're not married yet? I remember you're two years older than Old Shang! You're almost forty this year, right?"
"What do you mean almost forty? How dare you talk like that? Thirty-nine."
"Isn't thirty-nine forty? Forty years old in the traditional Chinese way?"
"Then it's time to go on blind dates. Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is having no offspring. Lao Zhang, you make so much money, if you don't have a child, who will inherit your big villa in the future?"
The surrounding fellow disciples immediately became interested and showered Zhang Chaoxian with "concern".
The painkillers Zhang Chaoxian had just taken seemed to be ineffective; he was grimacing and his cheeks were twitching.
"You guys have such outdated ideas. There are plenty of people overseas who are still unmarried at forty. Don't believe me? Look at how old those celebrities are when they get married."
Besides, I'm just taking a shot, hoping for the best. If I find someone suitable, I'll get married; if not, I'll just continue enjoying life.
"Old Zhang is right, living alone is so carefree."
"Then why don't you live alone?"
"Hey, isn't that just old-fashioned thinking? I had children when I was young, and I still have my spouse when I'm old."
"Isn't that all? Why are you talking nonsense to Lao Zhang? You can do whatever you want when you're young, but what will you do when you get old?"
“.”
The conversation finally shifted from Zhang Chaoxian's stomachache to the topic of marriage. However, after everyone understood why Zhang Chaoxian was single, he asked everyone to help him find a partner.
"Actually, my parents are quite anxious too. They even cried this time, insisting that I get married and have children. But I've been away from the mainland for so many years, and I don't have many acquaintances left to contact. If you guys are willing, could you help me make some connections?"
“.”
The crowd, who had just been making a fuss about Lao Zhang's single status, suddenly fell silent.
Matchmaking is a thankless task, and Zhang Chaoxian is nearly forty years old and lives overseas. If you introduce a girl to him, it's fine if the marriage is happy, but if it's not, his family on the mainland will resent you to death.
Seeing everyone's attitude, Zhang Chaoxian's expression turned even uglier.
Since his return, countless people have been chasing after him, wanting to go abroad with him. However, Zhang Chaoxian wanted to find someone "of high quality" who could also help his future career, so he asked his fellow apprentices for help. He never expected to be treated like this.
"Old Shang, what's going on? Why are you suddenly looking down on me?"
Shang Ruilin and Zhang Chaoxian were roommates back then, and now Zhang Chaoxian was speaking to him rather rudely.
Shang Ruilin sighed slightly, then said perfunctorily, "It's not that I'm looking down on you, it's just that there aren't many girls in our unit to begin with, and they're either married or have very important positions that prevent them from going abroad easily. There are more female workers in Li Ye's unit, so why don't you ask him to help you find someone!"
"What? A female worker?"
Zhang Chaoxian pursed his lips, and the smile on his face vanished completely.
[Damn it, I'm a high-income earner in the United States, and instead of introducing me to a well-bred lady, you're introducing me to a factory worker?!]
Seeing Zhang Chaoxian's expression, Diao Wenyao smiled and explained, "Old Zhang, don't look down on the female workers in Li Ye's factory. Not all female workers are the same."
Li Ye's workplace is very popular in Beijing. It used to be easy for college and vocational school graduates to get in, but now vocational school graduates aren't enough. They easily earn six or seven hundred yuan a month, which is more desirable than jobs in government agencies like ours. They might not even want to work for you!
"Six or seven hundred is considered good? Old Shang, you're being too stingy. Washing dishes at the lighthouse earns eight hundred a month! I'm talking eight hundred US dollars!"
After being repeatedly pressured, Zhang Chaoxian suddenly regained his confidence, like a fully inflated balloon.
After all, he's someone who earns hundreds of thousands of RMB a year.
Before Zhang Chaoxian could even open his mouth, Li Ye preemptively declined, saying, "The female workers in our unit are all highly sought after; they're snapped up as soon as they enter. There aren't any single ones left."
Zhang Chaoxian was so angry he laughed: "No wonder the teacher said Li Ye is so capable! Even the female workers in the factory are being snatched up. Now that you mention it, I'm the one who's above my station."
Li Ye smiled faintly and said, "It's not that exaggerated. However, one of our factory's female workers can support a family of four to live a comfortable life. Her status is about the same as that of the middle class in Lighthouse!"
Zhang Chaoxian: "."
In mainland China in 1994, six or seven hundred yuan a month was not a small amount.
In 1995, the average annual income of employees nationwide was 5,500 yuan, while in Lin'an City, located on the eastern coast, the average monthly wage of an employee in 1995 was only 596 yuan.
Note that this is the "average wage per person". You should know how this average is calculated, right?
At the time, six or seven hundred yuan was the salary level for female office staff in the first factory. The salaries of front-line workers and technicians had long exceeded one thousand yuan, which was definitely considered high income in Beijing at that time. It was more than enough to support a family of four.
But Zhang Chaoxian didn't think that way. He felt that everyone around him was disgusted with him and jealous of him.
They were jealous that Zhang Chaoxian could establish himself in the lighthouse, and jealous that he could live in a large house with eighteen rooms.
[Even teachers at this level only get the treatment of six or seven rooms. What makes you people think you can compare to me? This is utterly outrageous!]
Perhaps due to anger or excitement, Zhang Chaoxian suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed under the table with a thud.
Li Ye immediately jumped up.
"Oh dear, I sensed something was wrong just now. Let's get him to the hospital quickly, or he'll be able to hold a grudge against us!"
Zhang Qiyan: "."
The fellow disciples: "."
(End of this chapter)
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