Chapter 205: Alcohol tolerance

Although Chen Qi was a vice director who was now promoted to director, he viewed Zhang Fan with gratitude as if Zhang Fan was half a teacher to him. It had been because of Zhang Fan that Chen Qi received the study program opportunity. Chen Qi had been on many study programs before, and had even gotten to go to Shuitanzi Hospital once before, but most of those study programs had him doing nothing but interning and observing. However, this recent study program was no internship. Chen Qi really did get to personally perform surgery together with some of China's most skilled surgeons. This study program truly helped Chen Qi to achieve a higher level of skill himself.

Chen Qi had already been a doctor for most of his life. At his level, he wouldn't have many chances for further improvement. Yet, he had been able to achieve a higher level of medical skill thanks to Zhang Fan. Chen Qi was just as grateful to Zhang Fan as the similarly named Chen Qifa of Kuake City Hospital, although the two Chens were neither related nor acquainted.

Perhaps Chen Qi's gratitude would fade over time—this was simply human nature. Regardless, Chen Qi's gratitude was at its peak right now. Moreover, as long as Zhang Fan maintained his amazing skill level, it might be that Chen Qi would become more and more grateful. But if Zhang Fan slowly became nothing more than an ordinary doctor, then the gratitude would likely disappear. This was all simply human nature!

"Director Chen! You're looking quite good! The climate in Beijing must have been so suitable to live in! You've gotten so much whiter!" Zhang Fan joked with Chen Qi in the latter's new director's office.

When Tong Lili saw how casual Zhang Fan was being with Chen Qi, she felt that she had absolutely made the correct choice to follow Zhang Fan. 'I gambled correctly!' she thought to herself while secretly clenching her fist. This ordinary girl was taking an uncertain path for the sake of her future!

"That's not funny! The pollution in Beijing was so bad that I almost choked to death! Still, I really did become whiter—I barely saw the sun at all in my half a year spent there. I was planning on inviting you to a meal after I stopped being busy over these few days with the new department, but you came to see me today. You absolutely must eat a meal with me tonight. Who might this be, by the way?" Chen Qi wanted to say some things to Zhang Fan privately, but he didn't know who this young rotation doctor next to Zhang Fan was.

"Hello, Director Chen. I'm Teacher Zhang's disciple!" Tong Lili said while glancing at Zhang Fan. She was really worried and afraid inside that Zhang Fan would deny this! She felt that this was her final opportunity to join a major department!

"Haha!" Zhang Fan chuckled without saying anything else. He saw how Tong Lili was trembling slightly. He pitied her as he understood what she had to be feeling right now—he had previously been in a similar position to her before he obtained his System. He felt that he might as well help her out now that they had met each other.

"Oh! Haha! You must be quite excellent. Please have a seat while I say some things to your teacher." Since Zhang Fan didn't deny that Tong Lili was his student, Chen Qi felt awkward about making her leave. Otherwise, with the great difference in rank between a director and a rotation doctor, all it would take was one sentence: "You can leave now!".

"This is a local specialty that I brought back from Beijing. Since I came back in a hurry, I simply purchased it at the supermarket right in front of Shuitanzi Hospital! Although this isn't worth much, my intentions are worth something! Please don't laugh at me!" Chen Qi chuckled while handing a Beijing local specialty to Zhang Fan.

"Sigh! It's so nice of you to think of me even though you traveled so far. Thank you, Director Chen." Zhang Fan accepted the gift, which was some candy and cake from Beijing. Although it wasn't much, it really did represent Chen Qi's gratitude.

"How are things for you? I hear that you're still intending on continuing with your rotations? Let me say, the military patient you treated that allowed this study program is in this type of condition now!" Chen Qi gave Zhang Fan a big thumbs up.

"Yeah!" Zhang Fan nodded in understanding.

"I probably don't need to worry, as you've likely made up your mind already. I won't try to convince you, but how about it? Want to help me out in my new department? It's a new department, so we lack experts."

"That's enough, Director Chen. No need to try to fool me. I bet that you've already managed to recruit at least 50 doctors, if not 100! Just keep laughing to yourself! I came here today to visit you as I missed you since we haven't seen each other in so long, but also because I have an electrocution patient in the ICU department who needs finger amputation surgery. This is my gift to you for establishing your new department!"

"Really? Thank you so much! This gift is better than anything else. Orthopedic departments #1 and #2 have been competing in trying to take as many surgeries as they possibly could. They just want to see me left with nothing!" Chen Qi claimed rather angrily. Although Superintendent Ouyang had held a conference, saying that the hospital administration department would be in charge of letting the three orthopedic departments take turns with traumatic injury and bone fracture patients, there was still a lot of underhanded stuff going on behind the scenes, determining which department received patients!

"I'll transfer the electrocution patient to you tomorrow. How about you finish up with the work regarding your new department's establishment? It's just a small surgery anyways. Doctor Tong and I will be able to do it. Let us borrow one of your operating rooms." Zhang Fan would never let go of an opportunity to perform surgery.

"Sure! Not a problem, not a problem!" Chen Qi agreed with a chuckle.

"I'll be leaving then!" Zhang Fan got up to leave.

"Sure! You must be busy with your own work. Don't be in a hurry to leave tonight. I'll invite some old bros for a meal together. You definitely have to come!" Chen Qi hurriedly said the last part when he saw that Zhang Fan was about to speak up. Chen Qi truly did want to thank Zhang Fan as well as establish a closer relationship with him. The relationsh.i.p.s between middle-aged men could be quite complex.

After Zhang Fan left orthopedic department #3, Tong Lili glanced over at Zhang Fan several times while walking after him. She kept wanting to say something but stopping herself. Finally, she spoke up when they almost reached the hospital's main lobby. "Teacher Zhang, are you angry? I just..."

She was unable to say anymore. Her delight at making it into medical college and then successfully being hired by Chasu City Hospital had all been ground away by her one year of work so far as a rotation doctor and her worries about being able to find a good department to get permanently assigned to. Tong Lili, who was from an ordinary family, was quite anxious because she was seeing many other rotation doctors at ease after getting permanently assigned to a department!

"It's fine! What, you're interested in surgery?" Zhang Fan smiled, for he felt that the world would be a nicer place if everyone was more generous with each other!

"Yeah! I'd like to join the microsurgery department!" Tong Lili secretly dug into the palm of her hand with her fingernails in her pocket. She felt something akin to embarrassment. She felt really uncomfortable with what she was saying because she felt that she was being really shameless. This was something that couldn't be helped about maturing in Chinese society. People would always slowly lose their purity due to society and work pressure.

"Surgery isn't easy! Just look at Wang Yanan in orthopedic department #1. She's almost at the point of crying over all the work she has!"

"I don't even have the chance to cry if I wanted! Thank you, Doctor Zhang. I don't have any connections, so I can only rely on myself. But, rest assured, I definitely won't disappoint you!" Tong Lili's tone rose slightly by a few octaves at first before she hurriedly lowered her tone again while looking pitifully at Zhang Fan. Well, it was only human nature for her to have been jealous!

Back in the ICU department, Zhang Fan told Director Lin about arranging the finger amputation surgery for the patient Bayan. Director Lin instantly agreed to the matter. "No need to bother me with such a thing in the future! You can decide on your own."

Director Lin was really frustrated. The ICU department had gone over budget on medicine recently. Superintendent Ouyang had already scolded him severely about this, so Director Lin was anxious about being in trouble.

Later, after the work shift ended, Tong Lili kept stalling, and seemed like she didn't want to leave. Zhang Fan immediately knew what she wanted. "Come along and have a free meal," he offered.

"Yay!" Tong Lili finally seemed youthful again. Work as a rotation doctor was far too suffocating for her. She felt like she had been transforming from a young woman into a resentful wife!

Zhang Fan had no idea how many people would be at the dinner. He texted Shao Hua that he wouldn't be visiting her place for dinner tonight. He then drove his car to go and pick up Chen Qi. Since Chen Qi was giving him face, Zhang Fan had to give face to Chen Qi in return. Otherwise, Zhang Fan would be viewed as really rude. This was simply how Chinese society was.

Chen Qi got on Zhang Fan's car, and commented, "How come you're driving? You just want to escape from having to drink alcohol! Rest assured, I'll call for someone else to drive you if you get drunk." Chen Qi then noticed that Tong Lili was also on Zhang Fan's car, so he said, "It looks like Teacher Zhang really has taken you in as a disciple. How about it, would you be interested in joining my orthopedic department #3?" Chen Qi didn't want to mention anything about the microsurgery department at Chasu City Hospital. This was just something normal at Chasu City Hospital that the departments would look down on each other!

"I'll listen to what Teacher Zhang says! I also haven't been through a rotation in orthopedic department #3 yet. I'm worried that I'll cause Teacher Zhang to lose face!"

"Just look at this! Young women these days are so devious. When compared to us back then, we were nothing but idiots!" Chen Qi joked to Zhang Fan while riding shotgun in Zhang Fan's car.

The joke about her made it difficult for Tong Lili to answer, but Zhang Fan responded, "If you're an idiot, then probably the only person who isn't an idiot at the hospital is the superintendent! Also, I really can't drink alcohol, bro. I'm the type who gets drunk with just a single glass!"

"Haha! You're such a jokester. What you said basically meant that I have the ability to become superintendent! Rest assured, if you don't want to drink, then you don't have to drink!"

"Haha! I wouldn't dare!" Zhang Fan was quite happy to be friends with another surgeon.

"Drive outside of Chasu City. Do you know where Clear Water Villa is?"

"I don't know! I've never been there!"

"Oh, you! Allow me to lecture you a little as your elder. You can't just always focus on work, you know. You also need to make friends. Friends are made by helping each other out. Today, I'll introduce some people to you! They're all old connections of mine. They can also help you out in the future!"

Clear Water Villa was a villa restaurant that wasn't very open to the general public. Most ordinary people wouldn't even know about this place. It was located rather far away from Chasu City itself. Normal people wouldn't come eat here. Only those who felt that they belonged to upper class would come eat here.

Although it was winter, the temperature in the villa restaurant was quite comfortable. Chen Qi acted as the host for tonight's dinner, but the person paying for tonight's meal would actually be a merchant who also did business with the medical field. Chen Qi had recently gotten acquainted with this merchant. Although the merchant didn't personally come, he sent an employee of his company over here to be in charge of running errands for Chen Qi.

This dinner with people of higher status technically wasn't that suitable for people as young as Zhang Fan and Tong Lili, who also had ordinary upbringing. For the dinner, 10 people sat around a table for 20. All of Chen Qi's other guests were middle-aged men. They were quite curious about the two youngsters that Chen Qi had brought with him, but they didn't act too surprised about it.

These people were all socially experienced. They all knew that Chen Qi wouldn't invite two youngsters to this meal for no reason.

Chen Qi put on a bright smile and gave a fist bump to the people who had already arrived. "I'm truly so sorry. I invited all of you to a meal, yet I'm the one who was late. I've been so busy recently, to the point where I even arrived here late. I'll punish myself by drinking three cups of alcohol. You all can watch. I'll be a dog if I spill even a drop!"

"Haha! I'll act as the alcohol overseer. Old Chen here always tries to come up with excuses or run away, so what's going on tonight!?" a middle-aged man with a stocky appearance commented.

"Ridiculous. When have I ever been like that? Here, let me introduce everyone. This is Zhang Fan, Doctor Zhang, an orthopedic surgery expert at our Chasu City Hospital. You old fellows need to cultivate a good relationship with him. Maybe you'll suddenly need his emergency treatment one day!" Chen Qi gently pulled on Zhang Fan's arm as he introduced everyone.

Chen Qi didn't forget about Tong Lili, either. Since she had come, then he would need to properly play the part of host. "This lady here is our Doctor Zhang's disciple, Doctor Tong. What do you think? Isn't she beautiful? She's the flower of our school!" Tong Lili's face blushed so red from hearing these words that she felt like her face was about to start bleeding. As a fresh graduate, she was highly unaccustomed to such a scenario.

"This is Captain Xi Qiang, the captain of the traffic police team. In the future, feel free to come find him if there's anything wrong with your car at all. He'll take care of it for you with no problems. Old Xi, Doctor Zhang is the most excellent doctor that I have ever met." Chen Qi began to introduce everyone around the table.

"Bro, feel free to ask him for anything that you need in the future," Chen Qi gave a serious introduction to Zhang Fan.

As Xi Qiang was a police team captain, he could immediately infer from this that the young person present at this meal was no ordinary person. Thus, Xi Qiang stood up to shake hands with Zhang Fan.

"Thank you! Thank you, Captain Xi!" Zhang Fan answered politely.

"If you don't mind that I have only a minor government ranking, just call me bro in the future!

"Brother Xi!"

"Alright!" Although Xi Qiang had a wild and rough appearance as the captain of a police team, he was actually really intelligent and sly!

"This is Wang Ming, an elite from Chasu City's Bureau of Education. He's almost about to become the vice director at that bureau! Feel free to come find Brother Wang when your children are about to go to school. It won't be any problem for him to arrange any school for you!"

"Haha, look at what you're saying! But, feel free to contact me if there's anything in the future, young man. We can call each other even if there's no business. I really like to talk to youngsters like you. Old Chen and I have been acquainted for a bit over 20 years now. I've never seen him bring someone over to make friends with all of us before!" As Wang Ming was in the Bureau of Education, he was quite well-spoken. He managed to praise Zhang Fan and Chen Qi simultaneously!

The people present at this dinner were all mid-level leaders in their various fields. The lowest-ranking person was a city plumbing section chief. Although having a plumbing job sounded mundane, he actually had immense power.

"This is the Water Dragon King! He's Old Yang, or Yang Guojun. If you have some money and can afford to purchase several hundred acres of land, you'll be able to improve your income significantly if you have a good relationship with Chief Yang!"

"Don't listen to how Old Chen teases me. Young man, feel free to come have fun in the village if you have the opportunity. There's not much out in the villages, but the beef and mutton is delicious! It's such a heavenly experience for your mouth!"

Meals for middle-aged Chinese men would always be quite similar. At first, they would chat, and during the middle of the meal, they would all make each other drink alcohol. The end of the meal would always be quite chaotic. Although the men all drank quite a bit of alcohol, no matter what they said or joked around with, none of them would go overboard. This was truly a test of their alcohol tolerance!

Even though this was the first meeting, Chen Qi didn't allow anyone else to force Zhang Fan to drink. Upon seeing Chen Qi's way of treating Zhang Fan, everyone else became even politer towards the latter. This was all about giving face! Today, Chen Qi wanted to elevate Zhang Fan's status by giving the latter lots of face!

Women in the border province were typically capable drinkers. Even though Tong Lili was slender, she had good alcohol tolerance. She clinked glasses with every man present. Although men would often be perverts, since the men gathered here were roughly all of equal ranking, they instead all restrained themselves and pretended to act properly.

Zhang Fan exchanged his phone number with everyone at the meal. After the meal ended, Xi Qiang watched Zhang Fan drive off in his Toyota FJ Cruiser, and then told the others, "That car is definitely Dai Wengang's car. I even used some connections in order to get that license plate number for him. The last three numbers are 333 1 , which is why I'm absolutely certain. Just who is this youngster? Old Chen takes such good care of him, and he's also driving Dai Wengang's car?"

"I don't know. I can't tell, but he seems to be really steady and reliable, unlike a rich second-generation son!"

In any society, you would have to obey the society's rules. If you didn't have the power to challenge that society's rules, you would definitely be crushed and heartlessly cast aside. China was a society where connections mattered more than anything. These mid-ranking leaders would be capable of wasting more than a month of your time if they didn't like you but you wanted something from them. This was no exaggeration!

Back at the ICU department, Zhang Fan studied, while Tong Lili immediately volunteered to write all the medical reports for the patients as Zhang Fan was the doctor in charge of all ICU department patients today. Tong Lili was someone who paid great attention to detail. She already learned Zhang Fan's habits, preferences, what he liked to eat, and so on. For lunch, she even brought Zhang Fan some vegetable rice pilaf that she made herself in her cute pink lunchbox. She absolutely insisted on his eating it, and used tears to get her way when Zhang Fan tried to refuse.

Later that night, just as Zhang Fan was about to end his night shift, the phone in the ICU department rang. This was a special red telephone that only the superintendent and hospital administration director could call. The other departments all had regular white telephones instead!

The ICU head nurse immediately put down the paperwork she was working on, and ran to take the call.

"This is Superintendent Ouyang. Tell Director Lin to immediately rush over to the emergency department!"

"Okay!" The head nurse hung up, and immediately approached Director Lin, who was about to start the next day shift in place of Zhang Fan, and said, "Director, hurry! The superintendent is telling you to rush over to the emergency department. It's a patient!"

Lin Long grabbed his stethoscope while saying, "What's the issue with the patient?"

"She didn't say! She only told you to hurry!"

Zhang Fan was now unable to leave even though his night shift was supposed to end here. That was because Director Lin who was about to take his shift now had to go to the emergency department.

Normally, a person who was ill would want to get treated, unless there was a special reason. Today's patient indeed had a rather special reason.

This patient was Kuake City's city secretary. Over the past few years on the job, he had greatly expanded the tourism industry in Kuake City as well as helped nomads settle here. Kuake City originally had the single worst economy out of the smaller cities around Chasu City, but now Kuake City's economy was ranked #2 out of all of Chasu City's jurisdiction cities. The Kuake City city secretary was indeed a highly skilled government leader.

Helping the nomads to settle here also significantly decreased the number of nomads who were smuggling. Due to this, even a leader of the border province had met with him to praise him before. The Kuake City city secretary was in his early 40s, the prime of his life.

However, the Kuake City city secretary was in a government meeting at Chasu City earlier this morning. At the time, he felt that his left shoulder was feeling rather painful. However, this government meeting was far too important. He told himself to persist on through the meeting!

But in the middle of this meeting, he felt that the pain was become more and more severe. The pain grew to the point where he was unable to even open his mouth. He then blacked out and fell off from his chair.

The government meeting had to be paused. Luckily for him, Superintendent Ouyang had also been present at this meeting! TL/N: In China, many people are superstitious about having "lucky numbers" on their license plate. It usually costs a LOT of money as well as requires connections in order to get this done.