"Bah! A self-absorbed fool!"
At twelve twenty-seven in the morning, as Lu Cheng pushed open the door, he heard the grumbling voice of his uncle, Lu Nanyong.
"Uncle." Lu Cheng squatted down to change his shoes, greeting warmly.
Uncles are like fathers. Although the internet claims that uncle and sister-in-law relationships are hard to navigate, Lu Nanyong treats him like half a son.
"Lu Cheng, that Director Peng in your department, really, he just loves chasing fame and fortune." Lu Nanyong removed his glasses, his high forehead wrinkled like a river.
After changing into slippers, Lu Cheng entered and stood at the air conditioner's wind outlet: "Uncle, did you really go drinking with Director Peng again?"
His mother, Tian Hui, brought over a tray of peanuts and melon seeds, with half a watermelon still in the fruit plate.
After filling the large plate with melon seeds, she explained to Lu Cheng: "Your uncle says staying in orthopedics would be better, more beneficial for your future development. Yesterday, he made an appointment with Director Peng of the orthopedics department for dinner after work."
"Lu Cheng, you should listen to your uncle. He understands the hospital more than we do."
Of course, Lu Cheng understood Lu Nanyong's intentions. Feeling less heated, he approached: "Uncle, didn't I say, drinking with Director Peng is useless?"
"The facts are right there. He can't even promote a few deputy directors in the department. Peng Kun is his biological son, asking him to make room for me is like asking for his heart."
"I know orthopedics are better, but you have to endure there, endure until the next director is appointed, endure until you're over forty just to have the chance to treat patients, the chance to perform surgery."
"But in emergency, with Professor Chen there, I can actually learn surgical techniques the hospital struggles with."
Lu Nanyong cracked two peanuts into his mouth, smacking: "Lu Cheng, are you trying to treat your uncle like a foreigner?"
"Even though I'm not a surgeon? The surgeries your hospital can't perform, are they really that worth learning? You really underestimate others..."
"Why does your hospital struggle with surgeries, is it out of reluctance?"
"Because they're too difficult to learn, the entry barrier is too high."
Lu Nanjia wasn't being abrasive towards Lu Cheng: "I never suggested Director Peng would let you compete professionally with his son, he genuinely leaves you no room."
Lu Cheng chuckled quietly: "Uncle, today Director Peng convinced Dr. Xiang Dahong from State People's Hospital to come to the countryside. Dr. Xiang Dahong is a professional hand surgeon."
"He's even better than Professor Chen Song at handling tendon injuries."
Lu Nanyong raised an eyebrow, lifting his hand up with peanut shells.
"Uncle, calm down... Don't hit the kid..." Lu Cheng feared being mistaken for Peng Haibo by Lu Nanyong and quickly advised.
"What does that mean?" Although father Lu Nanjia could tell the comment wasn't good, he couldn't exactly interpret where it went wrong.
"Nothing, second brother, they just have a doctor from the countryside at their hospital." Lu Nanyong sighed lightly.
"It's getting late, Su Qin called too, we'll come back to visit in a couple days. Second sister-in-law, make something good..." Lu Nanyong immediately grinned, light-hearted and carefree!
Lu Nanyong and his brother Lu Nanjia have a very good relationship because when Lu Nanyong was in college, Lu Nanjia 'supported' him; brothers by blood and connected by family.
The Lu Nanjia family never considered themselves outsiders, they ordered food based on taste.
"Alright!" A somewhat 'earthy' Tian Hui agreed immediately.
...
After Lu Nanyong left, Lu Nanjia stood opposite Lu Cheng, tilting his head to look at Lu Cheng: "Son, what did you mean by that earlier? Why did your uncle suddenly lose control and almost hit you?"
"Nothing, Dad... It's just hospital stuff, you know?"
Lu Cheng supported Lu Nanjia's sturdy shoulders, comforting him: "Your son has a position, he's eating from the state's provision. As long as I don't cause trouble, I won't starve in my life."
"It's just a job, relaxing and making money isn't a bad thing?"
With a position in Long County People's Hospital, if Lu Cheng starves, at least sixty percent of Long County would starve first!
"You always report good news and not the bad."
"You speak lightly, yet you care more than anyone..." Lu Nanjia lifted his eyelids, sighed: "It's a pity your dad didn't have the chance to study."
"Back then my grades were better than your uncle's, but your grandfather passed away early, your grandmother wasn't in good health, and you weren't born yet. Had I known... Sigh..."
Lu Nanjia regretted valuing 'eldest brother as father' too highly in the past. Now he lamented that he couldn't help Lu Cheng much.
"Uncle has already been very good to me." Lu Cheng said.
"A typical father wouldn't do more than this. I didn't study medicine, your uncle is just an attending, what more can you ask of him?"
"Dad, don't you think, your uncle's situation in the hospital is much better than mine? Eating well and drinking well everyday?"
"During my training and study, uncle often gave me pocket money."
Tian Hui said: "Alright, alright, don't talk anymore, your son worked all day, let him go sleep early... get some rest."
"No rush, Mom, let me massage your neck..." Lu Cheng said.
Tomorrow, on the 16th, Lu Cheng can have a full rest day with Professor Chen Song, so he's not in a hurry to sleep.
Tian Hui, although moved by the idea, worried about Lu Cheng's rest. Feeling conflicted, she was pushed gently onto the sofa by Lu Cheng, who helped her relax by massaging her muscles, forgetting everything...
Lu Nanjia picked up a slice of watermelon, watching his wife and son, he felt that this life was well worth it.
He had a house, had a life, a son, a wife. The son had a position, was studious, and earned a monthly salary.
He was just an ordinary citizen, to hope for such in this life, what more could he ask for?
The only drawback was Lu Cheng wasn't married, though he actively participated in matchmaking.
Lu Nanjia said: "Son, tomorrow there's a matchmaking meeting, pay attention, don't be too picky, but don't settle either."
"Mm... Dad, finding a wife is a lifetime matter, of course I have to choose carefully."
"Take you for example, you're lucky to have found such a virtuous mom..." Lu Cheng said.
Tian Hui said dismissively: "Back then... your mom was quite popular within ten miles, and quite a few came for matchmaking."
"With your dad's conditions at that time, he was really considered lower middle tier."
Lu Cheng said: "Who's to blame, isn't it because you found Dad honest and handsome?"
Tian Hui glanced at Lu Nanjia and laughed: "Honest, indeed. Now where's the handsome part anymore?"
"He's just simple… he's not good in business, just earns physical money..."
"Let me tell you, when he moves goods or helps with moving houses, others charge two hundred, but he does it for one hundred and fifty. With that personality, he won't make big money in a lifetime..."
Lu Nanjia contentedly said: "As long as the phone rings more often than for my coworkers, there's earnings."
"Earn money honestly, live by the rules, what's wrong with that?"
The unease in Lu Cheng's heart vanished completely.
Looking at his remaining skill points, he didn't feel the weight of hospital matters anymore.