Chapter 257: Mutton and tapeworms

Asking someone to a meal three days beforehand would be an invitation, two days beforehand would be summoning them, and on the same day would be dragging them. China was a country in which etiquette was highly important. The fewer people a place had, the more rules there would be. Meanwhile, the younger the average population was, and the more urbanized the city, the fewer rules there would be. This wasn't necessarily good or bad. As for status, no need to mention such a thing, as it wouldn't be meaningful.

The border province was a place where Chinese people from all over would gather. There were southerners, northerners... people from everywhere in China. Having too many rules slowly transformed into not having many special rules. Zhang Fan was slightly traditional, but Shao Hua was much better than him.

"It's just a meeting between friends having a meal together. Why have so many rules? You're such a stickler! Besides, you don't have the time to invite them several days in advance!"

"You're right. Then I'll call and drag them over! What should we eat?" Zhang Fan wasn't that adamant about sticking to traditions as long as it wasn't about a foundational value. Besides, the family wasn't a place where logic and reason was most important!

"Mutton hot pot! I don't know if other restaurants will even be open at this time."

Zhang Fan invited Tang Jingjing, Zhu Bing, Lu Renjia, Li Liang, Li Hui, Wang Yanan, Lu Shuyan, and Shao Hua's best friend, Jia Suyue. He also invited Chen Qifa and his wife, but Chen Qifa was worried about Zhang Fan's hospital, and refused to come. Chen Qifa truly was doing his very best to help Zhang Fan, worrying as much as he possibly could.

Back at Kuake City Hospital, Chen Qifa had been the type who didn't care about anything! Now, he knew every corner of Zhang Fan's hospital. Back in the day, Zhang Fan had helped the middle-aged Chen Qifa out of sympathy, and now Chen Qifa had become Zhang Fan's right-hand man. Zhang Fan's hospital really did lack someone who knew the field and was highly invested in the hospital. Zhang Fan wouldn't have possibly been able to run his hospital by himself! Still, Chen Qifa did have his weaknesses. He didn't know management, and he was sometimes too stingy, missing something bigger because he wanted to save money too much.

For example, gauze. Normally, the hospital's gauze would be purchased from a specific medical equipment merchant. Chen Qifa felt that there was no need for this. He actually asked the nurses to buy gauze rolls, and they all worked together on disinfecting and making their own gauze strips! Zhang Fan didn't even know whether to laugh or cry. This wasn't actually an issue of money. The Bureau of Health had mandated that gauze be purchased from specific merchants. Otherwise, the Bureau of Health could easily shut you down! It wasn't worth it to invite such trouble for the sake of saving a little money! That was why Zhang Fan had constantly been searching for someone who could interact with the government for him on behalf of his hospital.

This person needed to be someone that Zhang Fan could trust, as well as have connections with the government. It really wasn't easy for Zhang Fan to find such a person!

The people dragged over to the hot pot meal were all those who had a good relationship with Zhang Fan or Shao Hua. This was how people were. It would be difficult for anyone to find more than three friends who weren't connected to various benefits. The more powerful you were, the fewer true friends you would have! Maybe that was the price of success!

Zhang Fan and Shao Hua were the hosts. Since they hadn't invited their friends beforehand, they stood in front of the hot pot restaurant to wait for their friends! It seemed rather strange for them to stand at the entrance as if they were the restaurant servers, waiting to greet others!

Zhu Bing and Lu Renjia were the first to arrive. The policeman Zhu Bing had now changed jobs to become a financial crime investigator. Zhu Bing had previously been as muscular and sturdy as a bull, but over the past several months, he had also gained a slight amount of fat.

"Zhang Fan, it's harder to see you than it is to meet with our chief of police!" Zhu Bing was still as passionate and direct as always. Zhang Fan reached his hand out for a handshake, but Zhu Bing batted the hand aside and instead went for a bear hug!

"Oof! You're strangling me! Can Director Lu really handle your toughness?"

Zhang Fan even took the opportunity to make a joke about Lu Renjia. Since Zhang Fan counted as the person who had introduced the two of them to each other, he was able to make such a joke!

"Damn you! It's said that doctors and policemen are all hoodlums. Shao Hua, you really need to manage him properly. He even tried to set us up with each other the first time that he met us!" Lu Renjia actually even laughed as she said this! She and Zhu Bing had truly been through a lot in order to be with each other.

From getting acquainted, to the incident where Zhu Bing was stabbed, and Lu Renjia's father strongly disagreeing to this relationship. It was truly difficult for Zhu Bing and Lu Renjia to finally reach this step in their relationship! They had both given it their all.

"It's rather cold outside, so you two should go in first. I'm still waiting for several friends. Shao Hua, you should accompany them inside first, and open up a bottle of wine for Officer Zhu!" Zhang Fan said.

"I've quit drinking! The two ladies should go in first. I'll wait here with you!" Zhu Bing told him.

"Alright, we'll go inside then. Come, Jiajia, let's go in together." Shao Hua brought Lu Renjia inside the restaurant.

"Do you have any smokes? Give me one if you do." Zhu Bing suddenly stopped smiling and put on a really serious expression. Zhang Fan had purchased several boxes of smokes as gifts since he was the host of this meal, so he handed Zhu Bing a cigarette.

"How come you've quit drinking? Is it because you want to have children?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"That's a good thing. Then, why is your face all crumpled up like a mop?"

"I'm a little hesitant!"

"Ridiculous. There's probably so many other men out there who are interested in Director Lu. You're actually being hesitant?"

"No, that's not it. I'm thinking about whether to tell you something or not. It would count as me breaking the rules!"

"If you can say it, then say it. If you can't, then don't. I'm not curious!" Zhang Fan held the greatest secret of all that he had never told anyone—his System. That was why he really understood about others' secrets and wouldn't force them to tell him.

"I'd feel that I'm really doing you wrong if I don't tell you!" Zhu Bing felt really conflicted as he smoked!

"Just look at you, how big could this matter even be? Do you need to borrow money? How much? I'll help you get as much as I can." Zhang Fan had no idea what Zhu Bing was referring to. It seemed like it wasn't a small matter at all, but Zhang Fan couldn't just directly refuse, so he gave Zhu Bing an excuse to speak up!

"Heh!" Zhu Bing inhaled a large amount of smoke, and then said, "If, if you have any issues regarding medical kickbacks, deal with them as quickly as possible. That's all. Only you need to know about this." Zhu Bing was a financial crimes investigator, so he was warning Zhang Fan of an upcoming crackdown on doctors' illicit kickbacks!

Zhang Fan paused in surprise for a moment, but was completely unconcerned. Over the past two years, he had truly taken very little in kickbacks. Besides, the government cracking down on kickbacks would happen every year. He had never paid this any attention before. When Zhu Bing saw how Zhang Fan didn't seem to care at all, he wanted to say something more, but didn't in the end.

"Smoke one with me! If I'm smoking by myself, Jiajia will lecture me again when she comes out of the restaurant. If you smoke together with me, I can say that you made me smoke with you!" Although Zhu Bing was as muscular as a bear, he was still scared of his girlfriend. It was almost comical. Zhang Fan pointed at him, and said, "Okay, fine! All heroes surrender to their women! Just look at how weak you're acting! I'll smoke one with you."

Some time later, everyone else arrived as well at varying times. Zhang Fan, Li Hui, Li Liang, and Zhu Bing all smoked together in front of the hot pot restaurant, chatting before going in.

"Where's your wife? How come she's not here?" Zhang Fan asked Li Hui, who had come by himself. Although the two of them both worked for Chasu City Hospital, they were usually too busy to even get to see each other. At most, they would occasionally keep in touch by phone.

"Her pregnancy has been going well after the previous scare. I didn't dare to bring her out on such a cold day."

"That's good, then. Alright, let's all go into the restaurant." Zhang Fan invited all of the other smoking men into the restaurant. These friends were basically his closest friends over the past two years.

Zhang Fan wasn't an alcohol drinker. Zhu Bing had quit drinking alcohol in order to be healthier for having children. Li Hui also didn't want to drink, as he needed to return home and care for his pregnant wife. Li Liang felt that it would be too boring for him to drink by himself, so all four men decided to simply drink sodas instead.

As people interacted and lived together with each other for a long period of time, both would influence each other. For instance, Zhang Fan previously had never paid any attention to the clothes he wore, but ever since living together with Shao Hua, he slowly began to pay more attention to his appearance. This had all been due to Shao Hua's training.

Shao Hua had also learned much from Zhang Fan, although the reason was unknown. Still, she would naturally pick up some of his habits. For instance, when eating hot pot, Zhang Fan would absolutely insist on letting the meat boil for three full minutes before eating it. Shao Hua picked up the same habit!

"Hua, don't you feel like the meat is a little overcooked like this?" Jia Suyue noticed this and made a comment about it to Shao Hua.

"Oh! I've never really noticed. I think Zhang Fan eats his meat the same way. Do you feel that it's overcooked?" Shao Hua turned to look at Zhang Fan.

"Oh my! There's the saying that a woman who gets pregnant will become foolish for three years. You've already become foolish without even getting pregnant! Haha!" Jia Suyue joked.

"I'm going to tickle you!" Shao Hua threatened her best friend.

"Doctor Zhang, why don't you tell us the reason for boiling your meat for so long? We can all learn as well!" Tang Jingjing said while smiling. Out of everyone here, she was the oldest, and she also had the highest government position. Although she wasn't the direct boss of anyone here, her status was still known to the others. There were still certain social rules that had to be followed.

"Sure, there's a reason, but I'm the host today. If I say it, I'm afraid that you'll say that I'm stingy."

"You really are stingy to begin with," commented Wang Yanan, whose mouth was really greasy from how fast she was eating. Still, she didn't forget to make fun of Zhang Fan for his famous stinginess. She even asked for backup from a helper. "Isn't that right, Li Liang?"

"Yeah!" Li Liang glanced at Zhang Fan, but gritted his teeth and agreed with Wang Yanan!

"Haha, we should all forget it for now. I'll tell everyone after the meal."

"You might as well tell us now," insisted Jia Suyue.

"Doctor Zhang, help us all to learn more knowledge," Lu Renjia chimed in as well.

"Alright, since you all insist, then I'll explain things right now. Shao Hua, hurry and take a few extra bites and drink something while you can!" Zhang Fan told Shao Hua. He then wiped his mouth, sat up straight, and started explaining. "This is all actually a matter of probability."

"Hurry and say it already! Stop making us wait!" Jia Suyue urged him.

"For this matter, I think that Li Liang, Doctor Lu, and Yanan have all forgotten as well. By the way, where we currently live counts as the nomadic district, right?"

"Yes, that's right," Tang Jingjing answered. She knew the government's classifications quite clearly.

"The livestock in the nomadic district are different from livestock raised in captivity. Nomadic livestock will eat natural grass, and their meat will taste better and fresher than farm-raised livestock," Zhang Fan explained after drinking some tea. "Although the meat tastes better, it will also have more parasites!"

"So what? Most parasites will directly be killed off by stomach acid and eosinophils. Don't you try to fool us!" Wang Yanan exclaimed, although her stomach was already beginning to feel uncomfortable from this topic.

Lu Shuyan's face was beginning turn slightly pale.

"Then I won't say anymore!"

"Say it, say it, say it! You must say it! We're planning on having a child, so we must pay attention to our health. It's not just for our sakes, but also for the sake of our unborn child," Zhu Bing hurriedly declared.

"Hey! Why are you saying everything?" Lu Renjia was slightly embarrassed!

"Alright, haha, then I'll say it. Everyone's just about finished eating anyways. Shao Hua, go pay for the meal!" Zhang Fan found a way to make Shao Hua leave so that she wouldn't hear what he was about to say next.

"Why are you in such a hurry? I'll pay for the meal." Zhu Bing got up while insisting on paying. The others also started insisting on paying for the meal 1.

"Alright, it's just a meal. Does it really matter who pays? All of you sit down and finish listening to my story!" Zhang Fan made them all sit down as he continued explaining things. "As for parasites, stomach acid can't actually kill them. Only high temperature will kill them. For example, tapeworms can only be destroyed completely after being boiled for three minutes. After a tapeworm dies, it's nothing more than extra protein. It might even taste better than the mutton!"

"What's a tapeworm?" Lu Renjia asked naively out of curiosity—she truly didn't know.

At this moment, Lu Shuyan hurriedly said, "I need to go to the bathroom. Zhang Fan, wait to say it only after I leave!"

Lu Shuyan hurriedly left. Lu Renjia still naively believed that the prior really needed to go to the bathroom! Meanwhile, Wang Yanan didn't react at all. She had a steelier stomach due to all the surgery she had performed!

"Have you ever seen the zombie movie ——— before?" Zhang Fan asked Lu Renjia.

"Yeah."

"In that zombie movie, there was a scene where many white and long sticky worms crawled out of the zombie's eyes. Those are tapeworms! If there's any white spots in the meat, they're probably tapeworm eggs!"

"Urgh!" Jia Suyue felt really unpleasant. She stood up, slapped Zhang Fan on the shoulder, and headed to the bathroom!

"Is this for real? How should we watch out for this? Will it affect a pregnancy?" Although Lu Renjia also felt uncomfortable, she still forced herself to withstand it as she hurriedly checked the meat in her plate. Tang Jingjing was chuckling as she listened to Zhang Fan's explanation.

"Yes, it will affect a pregnancy because tapeworms can be destructive towards a person's immune system. Still, parasites like tapeworms are really afraid of high temperatures!"

"Oh, alright, I'll definitely pay attention in the future!" Lu Renjia glanced at the mutton still on her plate and felt a bit disgusted. She no longer wanted to eat any more!

"Why did everyone stop eating?" Shao Hua came back from paying the bill. Apart from a few of the men who were still eating, all of the women had stopped eating.

"Your Zhang Fan started telling something disgusting in order to save on how much money he would have to pay for food today!" Wang Yanan chuckled while saying this.

"Hey! You all forced me to tell you!"

"He's annoying like that. Let me tell you all, back when I first became acquainted with Zhang Fan, he made me vomit with a description of what he did at work. Doctors really do have it difficult! Don't you agree, Yanan?" Shao Hua asked.

"There's no helping it. It's the nature of the job." Wang Yanan sighed. She truly was exhausted from working hard over the past year. For a woman to succeed in an orthopedic surgery department, she would need to work far harder than any man!

"When are you going to get yourself permanently assigned to an apartment?" Wang Yanan then asked Zhang Fan. She then added, "Could it be that you're not interested in coming to the orthopedic surgery department anymore?"

"Me? Probably soon!" Zhang Fan answered vaguely as he ate his mutton which had been boiled fully for three minutes.

In the past, everyone would have gone to something like karaoke after the meal. But now, they were getting older, and everyone was busier with their own affairs. They simply chatted a while longer before everyone went back to their own homes.

"Do you think that Yanan and Li Liang have any hope of being together with each other?" Shao Hua held onto Zhang Fan's arm as the two of them slowly walked back home.

"How should I know?"

"I don't think that their chances are good!"

"That might not be the case! Women are really soft-hearted. Maybe Yanan will agree if Li Liang says some nice words!"

"What? Is this what you also thought about me back then?!" Shao Hua glared while tickling Zhang Fan.

"You! You're different! You're really smart, virtuous, beautiful, and reasonable!"

"Then I'll show you how reasonable I can be!" Shao Hua went over to squeeze the soft flesh on Zhang Fan's arm, so he immediately ran off.

"Haha!" Both of them laughed together!