NOVPUB
Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Earthquake 6
Over a hundred patients and their relatives were quickly transferred outside. While Tong Yao was assisting an older man to sit on an open area, the old man started to speak.
"Young lady, is that you? I recognize you. I’ve eaten the dumplings you made. They tasted delicious."
At these words, the man assisting the older man looked up at Tong Yao, and after studying her face for a few beats, seemed to realize that he was not mistaken, and said surprisingly, "It really is you!"
In the poor outdoor lighting, preoccupied with other matters, Tong Yao hadn’t paid him much attention, but upon hearing their words, she recognized the old man. A smile lit up her face as she exclaimed, "Grandpa, you remember me?"
"I remember, I remember you. The dumplings you make are delicious." The old man replied with a kind smile and a nod.
The man next to them appeared surprised, "My father hardly remembers anyone else besides me and Wenqing. I didn’t expect that he would remember you after only meeting you once."
"It seems that the dumplings I make really are tasty." Tong Yao squinted her eyes and smirked, "Grandpa, would you like to eat more dumplings? If you want, I’ll make some and bring them to you tomorrow."
As people age, they eat less, especially those suffering from cancer. If the elderly man had a craving for dumplings, Tong Yao wouldn’t mind making some for him, considering she had the time recently.
There was a reason why Tong Yao was willing to make dumplings for him. She always felt that encountering the old man was part of a divine arrangement to make up for the regrets of her previous life.
It seemed that many events were predestined.
"Yes, yes, delicious dumplings. Your dumplings are really tasty." The old man replied with a beaming smile, clearly in an uplifted mood.
Not a man to impose on others, seeing how much his father enjoyed Tong Yao’s dumplings, the man couldn’t help but to ask, "Young lady, my father really loves your dumplings. Could I trouble you to make some more for him? I’ll pay for the meat."
If this is what it took to cheer up his father and stimulate his appetite, even kneeling before this woman was an acceptable price to pay.
With his mother gone and his father’s health deteriorating, as his son, all he wanted was to fulfill his father’s wishes as much as possible before the old man’s end.
Since he proposed to pay for the meat, he probably wants to avoid exploiting Tong Yao while also making sure she does him the favor. Tong Yao saw through this but chose not to expose him. Instead, she agreed, "If the earthquake tonight is not severe, I’ll make dumplings tomorrow at noon. Come to get the meat around ten."
Listening to their conversation, the elderly man was as delighted as a child. He mumbled, "Eating dumplings, we will have Pickles Pork Dumplings tomorrow."
Seeing his father so cheerful, the man couldn’t help but to crack a smile. He barely smiled at any time so now that face seemed stiff while trying to form a smile.
"Thank you in advance. By the way, my name is Jiang You."
"I am Tong Yao."
At this moment, Dai Liwen suddenly came over and said with a worried expression, "Tong Yao, come with me. The Dean has arrived and wants to see you."
Jiang You said, "Go ahead and handle your business, I can take care of my father."
Tong Yao nodded in agreement and followed Dai Liwen. As they walked, Dai Liwen sighed and briefed her.
"Sigh! The Dean is very angry right now, throwing a tantrum. If he criticizes you later, no matter what don’t argue with him. Now that Doctor Si Chen is not here, no one is here to protect you. In front of a group of old men, you, being a woman, will be at a disadvantage. If the Dean scolds you, just let it be. As long as your attitude is right and you apologise, the Dean wouldn’t treat you too harshly."
However, this time Tong Yao might be kicked out of the staff quarters. It’s uncertain whether Si Chen will still be able to work in the hospital or not.
But now, he couldn’t worry about others anymore. The situation had gotten out of hand, and Si Chen wasn’t the only one doomed.
From Dai Liwen’s words, it was clear he was prepared for the worst. Tong Yao couldn’t help but chuckle. Dai Liwen glanced at her. His glasses almost fell off his nose in surprise.
Peevishly he said, "Sigh! Girls really don’t understand the severity of the matter."
All his words were in vain.
Dean Yu Zhengxiong was hearing the doctor on duty’s report, and from his dark face, one could tell he was at the edge of an explosive outburst.
Seeing Tong Yao approach, Dean Yu’s expression hardened even further, but he restrained himself and asked, "Did you determine an earthquake was coming from the barking of some dogs?"
Before Tong Yao could reply, he thundered, "Preposterous! We have many patients here with severe conditions. By stiring up a fuss among these patients, who will bear the responsibility when something goes wrong? Who can be blamed?"
It wasn’t difficult to see how angry he was, looking at Dean Yu’s shaking hands. Not only was he angry with Tong Yao, but also at Dai Liwen. Just because of a woman’s words, Dai Liwen, who has been a doctor for over a decade, took such a ridiculous action. If this got out, the whole hospital will become a laughingstock.
"Dean, I... I must have let the moment get to me," Dai Liwen stammered in fear, but somehow he found the courage to say, "Dean, since things have gone this far, why not have everyone just wait outside for a bit longer? If an earthquake really does happen, it’ll be a blessing in disguise to be prepared."
Tong Yao looked at Dai Liwen in surprise. She hadn’t expected that he would persist in his opinion after a fright like that. Clearly, one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.
In reality, Dai Liwen felt caught in a dilemma and had no way out other than to gamble on the eventuality of an earthquake. If an earthquake did take place, his decision to evacuate would redeem him.
Besides, tonight did feel bizarre with the dogs barking, lack of mosquitoes, and the weather, oppressive and still, like before a storm.
"You..." A fiery frost formed in Yu Zhengxiong’s eyes. In a fit of anger, he said, "Starting tomorrow, you need not come to the hospital."
"Dean..." Dai Liwen froze. He did expect the dean to be angry, but not to the point of firing him.
He was initially fearful of losing his job, but now that his dismissal is actualy taking place, Dai Liwen felt no fear, only an eerie calm. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
In his 40s and without any chances of getting promoted to be a deputy director, continuing to work in the hospital will mean working till retirement and living off the retirement fund. In people’s eyes, a seemingly stable job like that is referred to as an "iron rice bowl," but it offered no potential for growth.
Under the open door policy, everyone dove into business and became wealthier by the day, but his life remained unchanged. He had long wanted to open a clinic of his own.
However, he hadn’t made up his mind yet, but now that Dean Yu wanted to fire him, the decision was clear.
Since he had to leave anyway, there’s nothing he needs to be scared of. The situation has escalated to this extremity, and the worst-case scenario is simply leaving the hospital. Why would he still be apprehensive?
With this thought in mind, Dai Liwen straightened his back and spoke with confidence, "Dean, I do find the atmosphere unusual tonight. With everyone already evacuated, it would be safer to have them wait outside longer, taking the patients’ safety into account."
