"Aren't you going to try and persuade me?"
Wu Huixian was completely baffled when Chen Xiao, speaking cheerfully, extended his hand for a handshake. Based on her understanding of Chen Xiao, he should have been urging her to intern at the First Affiliated Hospital of the Provincial Medical University at this juncture. She couldn't help but continue to scrutinize Chen Xiao, who was handsome and had captured her heart, with a look of suspicion. "Are you really my Brother Xiao?"
Despite her words, she couldn't resist taking his hand, which was fair and handsome.
Chen Xiao chuckled wryly and explained, "You've already made up your mind to stay at Jinfang Pharmaceutical. Would my persuasion even work? Besides, you never really liked medicine. If I hadn't influenced you when choosing your university major, you wouldn't have studied medicine! Now that you have a chance to change careers, I'll definitely support you."
"Hmph!"
Wu Huixian snorted, pouted, rolled her eyes, and playfully chided him with mock anger, "You're the one to talk! We clearly agreed to study medicine together in Yanbei City. But after I'd filled out and submitted my application, you suddenly chose the Provincial Medical University in Longdu! And after we finally graduated from university five years later, I was the first to get an internship at the First Affiliated Hospital of the Provincial Medical University, only for you to run back to the Central Hospital! I'm not ugly, and I don't eat people. Why have you always been avoiding me?"
As she spoke, her eyes, which had stopped crying, became red-rimmed again, her delicate face etched with resentment and grievance.
Chen Xiao couldn't help but smile bitterly, "When have I ever avoided you? Back when I was choosing my university major, my mother suddenly fell seriously ill. I couldn't go to Yanbei even if I wanted to. And you didn't tell me when you applied to the Provincial Medical University. To be able to stay close to my mother, I had to choose a place nearer to home..."
Wu Huixian noticed the self-reproach in Chen Xiao's expression and quickly shook her head, interrupting him. "Oh! I'm not really blaming you. What are you making excuses for? Besides, from middle school to high school, if you hadn't helped me with my studies whenever you had the chance, I wouldn't have gotten into such a good key university! Moreover, with your medical skills, Jinfang Pharmaceutical will surely grow and prosper sooner or later. With my meager medical talent and ability, following you will definitely be more promising than struggling alone in a hospital."
Wu Huixian seemed to be comforting Chen Xiao, or perhaps herself. As she spoke, she managed a tearful smile, her tear-filled eyes sparkling, her exquisitely sculpted pretty face captivating.
Without waiting for Chen Xiao's reaction, she turned and ran, disappearing in a flash back to the production workshop to help.
Although her five years of university focused on pediatrics and neonatology, she had also minored in Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacology. Since childhood, she had helped out at Jishi Tang whenever she had free time. While her skills in preparing Chinese medicinal herbs couldn't be compared to Pan Haitang and Jin Yongping, they were clearly superior to Xia Qianqian, Lin Meiqi, Luo Lin, and even Cao Yu.
With many hands making light work, it was not yet one in the morning, and all the Chinese medicinal materials transported by Ye Tiezhu in the name of Lin Zhengyang's company had been transformed into the Sumeru Mustard Seed Paste that Luo Lin had been longing for. They were now just waiting for dawn to be discreetly sent to the northern border army by special vehicles.
The high-intensity work had exhausted everyone. They all had dark circles under their eyes, looking listless and drowsy. Cao Yu, in particular, had his physical strength and energy completely drained. He lay on the workbench like a dead dog, utterly exhausted, and Leng Shan casually picked him up and tossed him into the trash bin outside the gate.
Chen Xiao, wanting to avoid the unpleasant sight, generously suggested, "Everyone, let me treat you to a late-night snack?"
Jin Yongping, Luo Lin, Pan Haitang, and Zheng Liming were all in their early forties, not as energetic as young people, and they all shook their heads and politely declined without a second thought.
Wu Huixian, Xia Qianqian, and Lin Meiqi seemed preoccupied, looking at each other, dejected and absent-minded, not even acknowledging Chen Xiao.
It was the over-fifty Leng Shan who, without hesitation, nodded vigorously like a pecking chick. "Dr. Chen, I'll do whatever you say."
Chen Xiao, who possessed the Great Dream Vajra Divine Skill and felt no sleepiness, clearly had no interest in having a late-night snack alone with Leng Shan. He blurted out without thinking, "You can forget it. We have so much Sumeru Mustard Seed Paste stored in our workshop, you have to guard it with your life."
Just then, Chen Xiao suddenly received a call from Zhou Wannong. "We have a very tricky new patient in our emergency department. Both Director Lin and I are at a loss. Please come back quickly to help!"
This was the nature of emergency department work. Even during their days off, they had to return to their posts immediately when needed.
"Give me half an hour."
Chen Xiao readily agreed without a second thought. However, as soon as he hung up, he realized that Song Yan's luxury car had already been returned by Song Nuan, and it was difficult to get a taxi at this hour. Helplessly, he asked the others with a wry smile, "Who drove here? Can you give me a ride to the Central Hospital?"
Zheng Liming and Pan Haitang, a couple, had driven from the Central Hospital. But at this moment, they were both focused on getting home to try for a second child and instinctively lowered their heads.
Jin Yongping's car was parked at the entrance. Without thinking, she urged Xia Qianqian, "Qianqian, I really can't take it anymore. Why don't you drive Chen Xiao?"
Xia Qianqian was lost in thought and didn't respond.
Luo Lin seized the opportunity and eagerly interjected, "Mr. Chen, I'll drive you!"
Fearing she would be beaten to it, she quickly pulled out her car keys and sped out.
Time was of the essence, and Chen Xiao couldn't afford to explain to everyone. He quickly followed her.
At the same time, in the intensive care unit of the Central Hospital's emergency department, a group of doctors and nurses, led by Lin Huichun and Zhou Wannong, were struggling with Long Xiaolin, who was covered in blood and barely clinging to life on the rescue bed.
According to the diagnosis, Long Xiaolin had suffered unprecedented comminuted fractures of his hands and feet, with not even half a complete limb bone remaining. Furthermore, his internal organs had sustained very severe contusions. His brain, in particular, had suffered an extremely rare and fatal concussion and cerebral hemorrhage.
Lin Huichun had decades of medical experience, and Zhou Wannong's medical skills were also superb. However, faced with Long Xiaolin's bizarre injuries, they were helpless. They feared that the slightest touch would cause Long Xiaolin to shatter like a bubble.
Therefore, since admitting Long Xiaolin at noon, the only thing they could do was to do their utmost to keep him alive. In the end, they had no choice but to call Chen Xiao for help.
As the two waited anxiously for Chen Xiao, accompanied by a noisy commotion, Lin Meiqiao, surrounded by bodyguards, led in a Tang suit-clad elder with white hair and beard.
The elder in the Tang suit was in his early seventies and was none other than the renowned reclusive physician Nangong Yi from the Yanbei region.
Lin Meiqiao glared at Zhou Wannong and roared menacingly, "Zhou Wannong, why is it that after so much time, your hospital still hasn't gotten Xiaolin out of danger? He's your cousin! Can you really bear to stand by and do nothing, and then monopolize your grandfather's fortune?"