Chapter 22
"Bao Zhu," he said, "the sunshine is so nice today, let's have a meal together."
I walked over quickly. On the bench was another lunch box, the same style but a different color.
So the meal I had last time was indeed his personal one. No wonder it tasted so differently from the cafeteria food.
"Chief Li, thanks again for last time!" I handed over the lunch box, "I've washed it clean."
He opened the other lunch box, "Try the dishes I made today."
The taste was great. The bean sprout tails were all pinched off uniformly, the beef was tender and smooth, and the slightly spicy flavor was very appetizing. I picked up a few bites with clean chopsticks and put them in my own lunch box.
"You are very skilled in cooking," I said. That was true. Apart from at Qin Qin's house, I hadn't had a proper homemade meal for a long time since my father left.
I finished the cafeteria food in three or two bites, then thanked him again.
Chief Li looked at me, "Bao Zhu, eating too fast is not a good habit, at least it's not good for health preservation."
Uh, this sudden preaching. I was at a loss for words.
He looked at me and asked, "Do you like to eat onions?"
I said: "It's fine."
It seemed I was not a picky eater.
"I'll make stir-fried lamb with onions tomorrow and bring you a portion. Let's eat together at noon," he said.
"You are too kind," I said, "But I have a late shift tomorrow." So I politely declined.
When I walked through the corridor and was about to lose sight of the tree-lined path, I looked back. He sat there, chewing slowly, acting and eating gracefully.
No wonder Hu Li said he was a good-looking and kind chief.
In the afternoon, I was covering Dr. Liu's shift at the obstetrics outpatient clinic.
The busy outpatient clinic was filled with pregnant women at different months, with big bellies. Some were there to set up medical records, some for prenatal checkups - measuring fundal height, fetal heart rate monitoring, blood sugar and blood pressure tests... Carrying a new life is a sacred and joyful thing. Most obstetricians and gynecologists love working at the obstetrics clinics the most. At the gynecology clinics, they often see many women with early pregnancies asking for termination. No OB/GYN could remain indifferent towards the termination of so many new lives. Last month on the 24th morning, Chief Zhao saw 25 women with early term pregnancy, and 24 of them gave up. When the only young girl happily said "I want to keep it," Chief Zhao said she couldn't help but laugh with the little girl.
The birth of any life deserves expectation and joy.
"Can you do me a favor and let me get checked first?"
"Everyone's lining up, if you want to be seen early then come early! Who isn't waiting in line with pregnancy?"
"Can you do me a favor and let me get checked first? The baby has stopped moving. Please help!"
Her voice was very urgent. I signaled intern Li Na to go check on the pregnant woman first. In less than two minutes, Li Na shouted loudly, "Dr. Liu, please come over quickly!"
I stopped and signaled for the other interns to continue examining the pregnant women in line. Then I immediately walked over.
"The pregnant woman said she felt frequent fetal movement early this morning, but has not felt anything since late morning," Li Na quickly explained. She also led the 36-week pregnant woman onto the exam table. No fetal movement, fetal heart rate 95.
"Where is the family member?" I asked. Li Na immediately shouted, "** Family member, please come to the exam room immediately. Who is Ms. **'s family?"
A young man lifted his head from his cell phone, "Me, I am."
"The fetus is suffering late term intrauterine distress and hypoxia. Emergency C-section is required immediately. I have your admission slip ready, please go pay the fees right away, do not delay," I said to the family member. "Go now!" "Notify the OR, prepare for surgery immediately!"
I told the nervous and tearful pregnant woman, "We need to arrange an emergency C-section for you now. We'll wheel you to the OR in a wheelchair. Don't be nervous."