Chapter Seventeen: Old Ba Could No Longer Sit Still

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In County K, people generally didn’t drink much, and Batu hadn’t had many drinks either. On the way back, Batu asked, “Do you know how to drive?” He had been pondering for a while before daring to ask Zhang Fan. Kang Hua was unwilling to go to the hospital, but she also didn’t want anyone to know about her health issues. The hotel was about three kilometers from the hospital, and with winter nights falling early, taxis in the county town had long gone home to rest. It was unrealistic to let Zhang Fan walk alone. Batu was willing to show his face in front of Kang Hua every day, but Kang Hua would definitely be displeased.

“I don’t know how to drive. Batu, are you going to provide me with a car?” That man didn’t like cars unless he was short on money.

“You’re overthinking. I originally wanted to lend you a car to drive, but since you can’t drive yet, here’s the plan: tomorrow, you sign up for a driving course and learn as quickly as possible. Once you’ve mastered it, I’ll lend you a car. Having a driver for you every day isn’t practical.”

“The earliest I can get a driver’s license is probably in a month, right? And the tuition seems quite expensive.” Zhang Fan’s university roommate had talked about driving school, and he remembered it cost several thousand.

“Let Old Zhou teach you. Don’t worry about the license; as long as you know how to drive, you should learn it in three days, right?” Old Zhou was the hospital’s emergency driver.

“Maybe a week.” Zhang Fan, who had never touched a steering wheel before, felt a bit daunted.

“It’s very simple. Once you start, you’ll get it. I never formally learned either; I just got behind the wheel and started driving.” Batu was feeling a bit overconfident after today’s success and began bragging.

Li Hui had been overwhelmed these past few days. When Zhang Fan, who hadn’t been to the dormitory for a while, dropped by, he found Li Hui looking very listless and said, “Brother, you need to take it easy. The road ahead is long. If you drain yourself so young, in a few years you’ll be crying over lost opportunities.” After tossing Li Hui a cigarette, he lay down on his old bed for a while. His bed now belonged to Li Liang.

“Ah, so embarrassing. I’ve lost face. I have no shame to face the people of Jiangdong anymore.” Li Hui wanted someone to confide in.

“Haha, then spill it. Tell me and cheer me up.” Zhang Fan teased him with a hint of schadenfreude.

“No way! Go die somewhere else.”

“Alright, fine. I’ll ask Wang Sha later.”

“Don’t! I better tell you now—she’s really mad these days!”

“What happened exactly?”

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Taking a long drag on his cigarette, Li Hui said, “I made a mistake every man would make, but damn it, I hadn’t even had the chance to make it before I got caught.” Zhang Fan’s interest was piqued. “Eyeing what’s in the bowl while reaching for what’s in the pot—serves you right.”

“Are you even listening? Quit kicking me when I’m down. I’m done talking.”

“I’m listening. Go on. I won’t say a word.”

“There’s a young nurse in our department who chats with me every day. The day before yesterday, I was on the night shift. She was on the same shift, so we sat together in the doctor’s duty room chatting. Somehow, we ended up hugging. Before anything happened, Wang Sha pushed open the door standing right there. I was scared stiff. Wang Sha still hasn’t talked to me.”

“Aren’t there other nurses?”

“Don’t mention it. After Wang Sha left, the other nurse said to just treat me as a friend. But I still got handsy with her. I was so furious I could have exploded.”

“Haha, that’s hilarious.” After lying down for a while, Zhang Fan left the still listless Li Hui and went to practice driving with Old Zhou.

In recent days, Zhang Fan practiced driving at noon and helped Kang Hua with her rehabilitation after work, keeping him running nonstop. After returning to the department following midday driving practice, he found everyone there except Tu Xun, including the long-missing Old Nur. “Is today payday?” Zhang Fan joked.

“Director Gao is going back to the city tomorrow. We’re planning a farewell party for him today and are just waiting for you.” Shi Lei smiled. He already knew about Zhang Fan’s special duties after work. After explaining the situation to Director Gao, Old Gao arranged for the farewell banquet to be held in the afternoon.

“Why is the director leaving so soon? Didn’t he say he’d stay for a month?” Zhang Fan asked in surprise.

“There’s some situation in the department. The hospital called him back. Whether he’s here or not, it’s the same. You guys are doing a great job.”

Zhang Fan felt reluctant to see Old Gao leave. Old Gao was experienced and patient, always carefully explaining whenever Zhang Fan asked. “That’s too bad. There are still many questions I haven’t had time to ask. When will you come again, director?”

“Not often in the future. This time I’m going back for a senior position. Why don’t you come with me to the city hospital? I’ll personally take care of you. Then you can ask questions every day. How does that sound?” Gao Shijun teased Zhang Fan. Everyone was surprised yet found it reasonable. Except for Yang Chengming, who looked at Zhang Fan with barely concealed envy, the others felt a bit jealous. An invitation from a deputy director of a top-tier hospital—what a big deal.

“Heh, then I’ll visit you when I’m off. Just hope you don’t get annoyed with me.” Zhang Fan wasn’t eager to go for now. He had interned in a big hospital before, and without a practicing license, even under a director’s supervision, it wasn’t comfortable. Over time, it would be awkward for Old Gao too.

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Gao Shijun was about to speak again when Shi Lei said, “Director Gao has been waiting for you for half a while. Look, Director Nu can’t even hold back his craving for alcohol. Hurry up and go. You can chat at the banquet; there’s plenty of time.” With that, Gao Shijun didn’t press further and left with everyone else.

“You guys go ahead. I’ll get two bottles of good wine to reward Director Gao.” Shi Lei asked the others to go first and hurried off to the director’s office. Normally, he made a point of showing up at the director’s office every day when free. Now that someone was trying to poach the director’s prized talent, he had to report immediately.

“Is that so?” Batu stood up in shocked anger. Zhang Fan clearly had a technical background, and which young doctor didn’t dream of going to a top-tier hospital? Batu rarely showed this expression. After just a few days of treating patients in County K with good results, if Zhang Fan suddenly left for the city, how could he explain it to the leadership? He couldn’t bear the wrath of a standing committee member—even one ranked lower—who was not someone to provoke.

“You did the right thing. Go quickly and don’t give them a chance to discuss this. If Zhang Fan agrees, it will be trouble. Once the dishes are served, call me to harass me. I’ll call Zhang Fan back. After all, we have to maintain Director Gao’s face.” Shi Lei thought as he walked, “The director cares so much; his purpose can’t be simple. What exactly is going on?”

After three drinks, Zhang Fan had only drunk one. If he drank all three, he’d be drunk. He was about to explain to Gao Shijun. Just minutes after Old Nur, as department head, started speaking and pouring drinks, Zhang Fan’s phone rang. It was Director Batu.

“Zhang Fan, where are you? Come to my office.”

“Director, we’re having a farewell party for Director Gao in our department.” Zhang Fan implied it wasn’t urgent and to wait a bit.

“Oh, Director Gao is leaving. Give the phone to Director Gao.”

Who knows what Batu told Director Gao. In any case, Gao Shijun smiled and said, “No need, no need,” then hung up. After handing the phone to Zhang Fan, he said, “Go see your Director Batu first. We’ll talk after we’re done. Remember to contact me.”

“Director Gao, then I’ll excuse myself first. I’ll come see you when I have time.”

After the call, Batu sat in the boss’s chair deep in thought. Zhang Fan was still very young, and he didn’t yet grasp the weight of being a deputy county executive. If Zhang Fan was truly devoted to his craft, it might not matter whether he understood everything or not, which made it hard to handle. He had to coax him along. Batu couldn’t be sure if Zhang Fan would leave, but having served as director for ten years, he felt Zhang Fan would go. To reassure him, he had to firmly settle him now.

If Zhang Fan had no system backing him, he would definitely leave. With a big patron’s favor, he’d be eager to latch on. But with the system in place, Zhang Fan had his own thoughts and plans. He wasn’t planning to leave before the exam, so Old Batu’s worries were unfounded.