Chapter 751: Striving to Pass the Outstanding Youth Grant on the First Try

"How so?"

"After I got divorced, the child has been staying with his grandparents," Zhao Zhe sighed. "I'm always busy at the hospital, and I always feel like I've let the child down. Sometimes I just think, why do people even get married?"

"Marriage certainly has its benefits. I see my mom and dad on the phone every day, and they're quite lovey-dovey," Ji Xiang said, seeing Zhao Zhe's low spirits and offering some random comfort.

"An old married couple still being lovey-dovey, I'm truly envious, but I can't do that."

After chatting for a bit, they began to work.

There were 6 surgeries today, which was nothing to Ji Xiang, but compared to the past, there had been a fundamental change.

Participating in variety shows, the intentional or unintentional help from the hospital's publicity department, plus Ji Xiang's generous spending and the SCI Thesis after SCI Thesis he kept churning out, many people in the Doctor circle were willing to refer patients to him.

Therefore, everything was going smoothly for Ji Xiang now.

After work, Ji Xiang received a call from Liu Zhuren; he took Zhao Zhe and Lin Jiuze, and called Tang Yan along to attend a banquet.

There was a year-end dinner every year; after a tiring year, everyone got together to have a lively time.

Bai Chuzhang sat in the seat of honor. Seeing Liu Zhuren take out a few bottles of wine with the labels torn off, he smiled and asked, "We're all our own people, why be so cautious? Tell me, what kind of wine did you actually bring? Looking at the bottle, it seems to be Feitian."

"It's better to be careful; keep your tail tucked," Liu Zhuren said.

Ji Xiang didn't understand, so Zhao Zhe explained in a low voice, "A few years ago, big banquets were forbidden. I was doing advanced studies in the Imperial Capital at the time, and the department dinner before the New Year still served Moutai, but the trademarks and other markings were all torn off."

"This is also..." Ji Xiang didn't know what to say.

"No choice. Once someone records it and posts it online, it becomes a huge scandal," Zhao Zhe spread his hands. "In those years, operating rooms were full of money; didn't it even trend on the hot searches for a while?

You tell me, Xiao Ji, it was supposed to be government-funded, but they wouldn't give money, nor would they let you earn money. Without money, let alone buying a house, you couldn't even rent one. They really treated people like donkeys on a production team."

"Xiao Zhao, don't be so full of complaints," Liu Zhuren laughed and scolded. "What stage are we in? The primary stage of socialism. You have to adapt to society, not make society adapt to you. Just keep your tail tucked and behave."

"Yes, yes, yes," Zhao Zhe replied perfunctorily, shutting his mouth and not continuing to chatter.

"It's not just us who are having a hard time; everyone is the same." Bai Chuzhang didn't stand on ceremony either; they were all his own people, so he acted very casual and relaxed. He opened a bottle of wine and poured himself a full glass, ignoring Liu Zhuren.

He gestured with his hand, but Ji Xiang shook his head.

"Xiao Zhao, pour it yourself... Professor Lin, if you want to drink, pour it yourself too."

Bai Chuzhang glanced at Tang Yan again but didn't speak to her.

"Now TV dramas have to have educational significance, crosstalk has to have educational significance, sketches have to have educational significance; only the damn textbooks don't need educational significance."

This old grievance was vented profoundly, leaving Ji Xiang speechless.

"So, it's not just us who are having a hard time. Just do the work in your hands well; thinking about all those other things is meaningless." Bai Chuzhang wasn't in a hurry to raise his glass.

The dishes hadn't been served yet; everyone was still in the stage of idle chatter.

"Lao Bai, this year-after-year gathering—I remember when we first started, there was a time you had your arm around my shoulder and said the future was ours. Now... hahaha, we've both grown old." After laughing, Liu Zhuren sighed and said.

"Not even fifty yet; we can still work for a dozen more years. By the time we retire, it'll probably be seventy. What you need to consider is when to let go."

"I'm being serious. A few days ago, I did 4 surgeries in one day. One of them was a bladder; the vascular network was so dense, and it took a full 6 hours. After I finished and got home, my old lower back started going on strike."

"Not bad, you still have a lower back," Bai Chuzhang teased, then suddenly said, "Speaking of which, I was eating with some friends a few days ago, and a friend who does business said he was old too."

"The B-side was responsible for the hospitality; the girl from the public relations department was pretty, generous, and had an excellent temperament. After drinking, he was helped back to his room by that girl. When my friend lay down and opened his eyes again, he saw the girl changing her clothes."

"Heh, is this that 'I have a friend' trope of yours?" Liu Zhuren asked with a smile.

Bai Chuzhang glanced at him, ignored Liu Zhuren's teasing, and continued, "He chased the girl from the B-side's public relations department away and called his wife. As a result, he got scolded a few times, but this time he felt much more comfortable inside. He took a shower and fell asleep as soon as he lay down."

"I'm still okay!" Liu Zhuren said.

Bai Chuzhang cast a look of disdain.

"Hahaha," Liu Zhuren laughed, "Let me tell you a joke. A few days ago, I was eating with some buddies from the branch bureau next door. I don't know how it came up, but their political commissar asked, 'Tell me, what is the Three Clears?'"

"A young lad who had drunk a bit too much opened his mouth and said—Yuanshi Tianzun, Daode Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun."

"The political commissar's face turned black right then and there."

"Then what exactly are the Three Clears?" Lin Jiuze asked, puzzled.

"Clearing hidden dangers, clearing accumulated cases, and clearing key issues that the masses have reacted to," Bai Chuzhang smiled. "I wonder if this lad sleeps with the Investiture of the Gods every day. Saying that in front of the political commissar, he's probably going to get scolded when he gets back."

"Who knows? On the spot, I saw the lad break out in a cold sweat from fear."

While chatting, the dishes were served one by one.

There weren't many dishes, but they were exquisite enough. The boss was also very familiar with Liu Zhuren and came over with his middle-level managers to greet them, very respectful and deferential.

They didn't make much small talk; they just came to show their faces and left after sending over two dishes.

"Lao Bai, propose a toast." Liu Zhuren handed the task of proposing the toast to Bai Chuzhang.

Bai Chuzhang raised his glass, "Everyone has worked hard over the past year. Next year... speaking of which, I didn't believe Xiao Ji could pass the Outstanding Youth grant on the first try before, but now I have some expectations."

Liu Zhuren's expression froze; he never expected that Bai Chuzhang would actually say this while proposing a toast.

Pass the Outstanding Youth grant on the first try?

How old is Ji Xiang!

If he could pass, it would probably be on the top hot searches for several days.

Doing this was undoubtedly contrary to the creed of keeping one's tail tucked and behaving; it didn't seem like Lao Bai's usual style of doing things.

"I will work hard," Ji Xiang held a glass of water and replied with a smile.

"Keep it up."

Bai Chuzhang raised his glass, touched it virtually, and drank it all in one gulp.

He really is confident, Liu Zhuren thought to himself.

However, Xiao Ji's luck was good, and on top of that, he had real skills. Chen Lao's grandson had been coughing for two years and had basically been everywhere in the country, but in the end, wasn't it Xiao Ji who gave the definitive diagnosis—a cough caused by Dingning Shuansai?

Looking at Ji Xiang's young and handsome face, Liu Zhuren felt a bit dazed.

Being young is truly good.

Time passed quickly amidst the laughter and talk. After three rounds of drinks, the two bottles of wine with the labels torn off were finished, and Zhao Zhe's phone suddenly rang.

He answered the call, and his expression changed drastically after hearing two sentences.

"No, absolutely not!"

(End of chapter)