Chapter 10
Chapter 10
A week ago, Shen Jing'an's middleman confidently said that given his niece's education and qualifications, working at the city hospital would be a waste of her talent, and there was no reason for them not to be happy about it.
I had a good chat with Director Wu, who is in charge of human resources at the municipal hospital, and the interview feedback was positive.
A red envelope was also given.
Where exactly is the problem?
Nan Lan frowned and said, "Old Shen, was the red envelope not big enough? I've inquired, and this was the standard rate a few years ago. The job market hasn't been very good these past two years, so the price may have gone up again."
That's really keeping up with the times.
Shen Jing'an shook his head, his face furrowed, the character "川" (river) clearly visible on his forehead, as if he were deep in thought.
Looking at him now, Shen Qingyuan realized that her father was getting old. Indeed, at sixty years old, no matter how handsome and dashing he was in his youth, time would gradually erode him. Moreover, the more illustrious a person was, the more sorrowful their twilight years would be.
In her teens and twenties, Shen Qingyuan never felt she would grow old. She could sleep six hours and still be full of energy the next day. She felt awe for the world, yet also a desire to subjugate it.
“It shouldn’t be,” Shen Jing’an said. “If it were a matter of red envelopes, the middleman would definitely have reminded them that it’s impossible for them to return them untouched.”
"What were the exact words of the leaders at the municipal hospital?" Nan Lan asked.
They said they couldn't help and told us to look for other opportunities.
Nan Lan retorted angrily, "Just that one sentence? What do you mean he can't help! Yuan Yuan's education and work experience are top-notch, one in a million. As long as he doesn't make things worse, that's fine! He's just wasting our time!"
During Nan Lan's menopausal years, her temper became visibly volatile. In a daze, Shen Jing'an thought that the Nan Lan of the past had returned.
"Forget it, it's not such a big deal. We don't have to go there. Let's think of another way," Shen Jing'an said good-naturedly.
The feeling of suffocation finally subsided.
Shen Qingyuan sighed, then seemed relieved, forcing a smile, and said, "Maybe they have better options. It's okay, I'll look for other opportunities."
She pushed open the bedroom door and went inside.
My hands and feet felt heavy, like the discomfort of being drunk.
She was still carrying something in her hand. Shen Qingyuan glanced at it and saw it was a suit she had bought at the mall that afternoon. She had originally planned to wear it when she started her job, but now it was just a useless piece of clothing.
-
Not two days later, Nan Lan saw a job posting while taking a walk in her usual park nearby.
This park is a well-known matchmaking corner in the old town, with a large flow of people, and some private job postings and miscellaneous small advertisements are also posted there.
Zheng Meijuan was the first to see the job posting, which was written in large Song typeface: "Hiring an orthopedic surgeon".
Zheng Meijuan called Nan Lan over to take a look, exclaiming in surprise, "The salary is so high! Is this a scam?"
Nan Lan first looked at the salary: 20,000-30,000 yuan per month, with the possibility of increasing for exceptionally outstanding candidates, to be discussed in person.
Such a salary is indeed rare in Chenyang. Even doctors with formal positions in the city hospital cannot reach this figure unless they reach the level of chief physician.
In the first two years after Shen Qingyuan started working at Jicheng Hospital, she only earned eight or nine thousand yuan a month. To make work more convenient, she rented an apartment near the hospital, which was quite expensive. So, this income was actually a bit tight for living in Jicheng, and she sometimes needed her parents to help her out.
Nan Lan was certainly aware of all this.
It's often said that doctors are a high-income group, but in reality, it's similar across all professions; income is structured like a pyramid, with the highest earners being a small minority at the very top. Newly hired doctors really have to endure several years of honing their skills and climbing the ranks through professional title evaluations, ideally reaching the level of renowned experts, before their income can truly increase.
"Requires professional skills in rehabilitation and physiotherapy, and must have worked as an orthopedic surgeon in a top-tier hospital. Must be able to accompany the employer on long-term business trips..." Nan Lan read aloud. "Looking at it this way, the job requirements are quite high, and it requires long-term business trips. The pay is also reasonable. I don't think it's a scam."
Nan Lan tore off the phone number slip at the bottom.
The thought of Shen Qingyuan not wanting to return to Jicheng and the uncertainty surrounding her job at the city hospital filled Nan Lan with overwhelming worries. The crucial point is that doctors require constant practice; if their skills become rusty over time, wouldn't it be even harder to return to the workforce?
Therefore, even for this kind of temporary work, Nan Lan felt that Shen Qingyuan could give it a try, even if not for the high salary, just so she wouldn't be unfamiliar with the job.
Zheng Meijuan raised the corners of her mouth and feigned surprise, saying, "Teacher Nan, you don't mean to let Yuanyuan go, do you?"
Nan Lan didn't hide anything this time, "I think the salary is quite high, let's see if Yuan Yuan is interested!"
Zheng Meijuan exclaimed, "Yuanyuan is preparing to study abroad, isn't she? This job pays a lot, but if it delays her studies abroad, it would be a loss!"
Nan Lan remained silent. The relationship between the old sisters was sometimes quite subtle, and she vaguely sensed that Zheng Meijuan had been acting smugly lately.
Later, Nan Lan called the number. A middle-aged woman answered and said that she had posted the job advertisement on behalf of her son. Nan Lan chatted with her for a while and found her to be quite friendly, not like a scammer.
Two mothers can often find common ground quickly.
-
"Aunt Su's son suffered an external injury to his lumbar spine and has to go on a business trip in a few days. As parents, they are worried and want to find a professional orthopedic doctor to accompany him so that he can be taken care of if he has any discomfort. I also asked about the business trip location; it's in Zhejiang, not some place like northern Myanmar where scammers are rampant..."
The rose bushes on the balcony had attracted spider mites, so Shen Qingyuan moved them around, first taking them to the bathroom to rinse them with the shower head, and then putting them back on the balcony.
Nan Lan followed behind her, relaying the job postings and the content of their phone conversation.
"Mom, you make it sound like you know them really well. Is it reliable?"
Shen Qingyuan was indifferent and didn't take it too seriously. But seeing how enthusiastic Nan Lan was, she couldn't bear to dampen her enthusiasm.
Nan Lan said, "Don't worry, I've lived for 55 years, and I'm not just eating for nothing. I can tell who has ulterior motives just by listening to them. This Aunt Su sounds like an honest person. The worry and heartache she feels for her son can't be faked."
Shen Qingyuan laughed and said, "Very well, Ms. Nan has a keen eye."
Shen Qingyuan finally decided to go for the interview.
People always have to weigh their options when making a move. Shen Qingyuan used to be able to rise through the ranks. To rise, talent, hard work, and luck are all indispensable.
She never tried to achieve the best, the worst, or the highest. Later she realized that the latter was the norm in life.
The interview was to be held in a residential area called Ziyun Villa in the new city district. Shen Qingyuan checked the map on her phone beforehand, called a ride-hailing service, and set off at an estimated time.
Even in a small place like Chenyang, there is a gap between the rich and the poor. Ziyun Villa is a high-end residential complex that opened a few years ago. Each unit is a large single-level apartment of more than 200 square meters.
After paying the fare, Shen Qingyuan got off the bus.
Registration is required to enter and exit the community. Shen Qingyuan asked the security guard for the approximate location of the building and strolled around, marveling at how wealthy people in Chenyang lived in such a community.
The environment is comfortable and relaxing. The facilities include a gym and a swimming pool. The landscaping of the community imitates the style of traditional Jiangnan gardens, with artificial hills and fountains; it looks quite authentic.
Six months ago, Shen Qingyuan didn't think making a lot of money was difficult to achieve. She believed that if she studied hard and worked hard, fame and fortune would naturally follow.
She wasn't always so laid-back, nor did she reject material enjoyment. She felt uneasy unless she was at the top of her class. She was ambitious and driven by fame and fortune; every word describes her perfectly.
Because they are goal-oriented, they are focused and single-minded until they reach their goal, and they don't pay much attention to the scenery along the way.
I used to think that once I saved enough money, I would buy my parents a nice apartment in a high-end neighborhood in Chenyang. Now, it seems that my ideal high-end neighborhood is within reach.
Of course, it's only right in front of us.
Shen Qingyuan sighed self-deprecatingly.
-
After ringing the doorbell, a middle-aged woman with a fairly attractive appearance opened the door.
Shen Qingyuan smiled and said, "Are you Aunt Su? I'm here for an interview today."
"Is this Xiao Shen? Please come in!" Su Qin warmly invited her in.
The living room was covered with a thick carpet. After looking at it, Shen Qingyuan asked to change into disposable slippers.
To be honest, Shen Qingyuan was quite nervous about this interview. She had never done this kind of private doctor work before. Theoretically, it seemed to be more service-oriented, and she would have to travel with the client, which was somewhat like being a live-in nanny.
This requires quickly getting to know a stranger, building a close relationship, and at least not feeling awkward working together.
Shen Qingyuan was led to sit on the sofa in the living room. Su Qin brought over a fruit platter and a dried fruit platter, placed them in front of her, and told her not to be shy and to eat something casually. The nanny was cooking in the kitchen, and she could have lunch with them later.
Shen Qingyuan chuckled in surprise and said, "You're too kind, Aunt Su." She glanced around; it seemed Aunt Su was the only one in the house. "Are you interviewing me, or your son?"
Su Qin said, "My son went out and won't be back for another half hour. Let's chat for a while." She suddenly looked a little embarrassed. "Of course, in the end, he'll decide."
The money comes from the sponsor, and the sponsor has the final say, so Shen Qingyuan is quite accepting of it.
When Shen Qingyuan inquired about the patient's condition, Su Qin brought over a bunch of MR (magnetic resonance imaging) films for Shen Qingyuan to look at.
Shen Qingyuan took the film reels. Since there was no LCD screen, she turned on the living room TV. She switched on a bright screen, placed the film reels on it, and examined each frame carefully.
"There are signs of bulging in the L3/4 and L4/5 intervertebral discs, with the nucleus pulposus protruding and the spinal nerves being compressed. In severe cases, the lower back pain can extend to the hip and leg, which is a typical case of lumbar disc herniation."
Shen Qingyuan bent over, looking and talking. Once it came to her professional field, her whole demeanor was completely different from before. Her eyes shone with wisdom and rationality, and she didn't say a word of nonsense, like a precision instrument.
Su Qin was completely convinced, both surprised and impressed. "What Dr. Shen said is almost exactly the same as what the doctors in the hospital said. Is my son's injury serious?"
The title has changed from "Xiao Shen" to "Dr. Shen".
Shen Qingyuan said, "It's not serious. With about three months of conservative treatment, he should be able to recover his health."
Clinically, paralysis and permanent loss of function are considered the worst-case scenario for spinal injuries; in comparison, other disabilities are considered fortunate. Even lifelong pain and limited mobility are not the worst outcome.
Su Qin breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good, that's good. Dr. Shen, my son is rushing to work and probably won't be able to rest for three months. Will that affect his recovery?"
"Doing some light physical work is not out of the question," Shen Qingyuan said, tidying up the film and putting it back into the film bag.
Given the severity of the injury, a professional rehabilitation therapist could have provided physical therapy. Most orthopedic surgeons would know those techniques, but that would be overkill.
"Oh, I see. Now that you say so, I'm relieved! Although it's a very important job, his health is the most important thing. Originally, even if we had to pay the penalty for breach of contract, his father and I wouldn't let him work..."
"The hearts of parents are all the same, and Su Qin kept repeating this."
Just then, with a creak, someone entered the keypad lock and came in.
"Aunt Su, I've dropped off Brother Yang, so I'll head back now!"
Someone spoke in the entryway, and Su Qin quickly responded, standing up and saying, "Xiao Chao, dinner will be ready soon. Eat before you go!"
"Mom, let him go. His mother has already prepared dinner and is waiting for him at home!" Another lazy voice came over.
That sound...
"Could it be such a coincidence?" Shen Qingyuan tried to convince herself. A chance encounter at a hot pot restaurant would be an acceptable coincidence. But to run into each other again now seemed a bit much; the hand of fate orchestrating this plot seemed far too deliberate.
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