Chapter 895: 877 First-Class Merit

Zheng Ren, Chang Yue, and the others instantly understood what had happened.

Such a thing is actually quite heartwarming.

Chang Yue comforted the elderly lady, repeatedly assuring her that she would certainly not bring up this matter. She didn't say the patient himself definitely knew; there was absolutely no need to conceal it, and she was merely trying her best to soothe the patient's mother-in-law.

For such a thing, the family being harmonious is the best possible situation.

While they were busy, Professor Rudolf Wagner returned with little Oliver.

"Fugui'er, did you chase them away?" Su Yun raised her head and asked.

"Yeah." The professor said: "You're completely lacking any sense of propriety; keeping this attitude will only get you slapped in the face. It'd be better to just leave quickly."

"General Hospital supposedly claims to be the world's largest private hospital, right?" Zheng Ren asked.

"Private hospitals are just a bit better, like sanatoriums. Speaking of technical standards, they're one tier below the Mayo Clinic," Su Yun said.

The professor agreed with this, and he thought the gap was more than just one tier.

Zheng Ren also paid no mind; Professor Rudolf Wagner had truly grasped the essence of Chinese.

He wasn't wrong either; if that person stayed, with his fault‑finding attitude, he'd definitely get slapped in the face.

What Zheng Ren wanted wasn't to show off and get slapped for a sense of superiority; he wanted to find a group of people to work as labor, racing against time to complete the surgical volume needed for the Nobel Prize.

Time is tight, the task is heavy.

Once they were done, it was already mealtime.

Xiao Yi Ren had already been making plans to go eat.

Lunch was just a quick bite; after eating, everyone returned to the hospital. Chang Yue went back to work, and Zheng Ren took the professor to check the rooms.

Su Yun, meanwhile, kept glued to her phone, chatting and playing games.

Zheng Ren thought that if Su Yun could quit her phone, she'd surely win a Nobel Prize within ten years. But if she gave up the phone… it would be like that time she carried out a secret mission in the south, when her withdrawal symptoms were so severe she feared for her life.

After eating, Zheng Ren headed straight to the System Library to read.

It wasn't until after two in the afternoon that Director Kong replied, saying he'd already gone home and telling Zheng Ren's group to come over. On Song Ying's end, two bottles of Flying Fairy Maotai had been delivered early that morning, the packaging looking very old. Su Yun couldn't take her eyes off the two bottles of Maotai, while Zheng Ren paid no attention to it.

Going to Director Kong's house counted as a family gathering; only very close relatives could enter.

On Chang Yue's side, the six patients' cases, communication, and handover were all done; to her, this bit of work really wasn't anything.

Zheng Ren left the professor and little Oliver behind, went to take a quick look at post‑op patients in gastroenterology and general surgery, then headed to the underground parking lot and got into Xiao Yi Ren's car.

Everything had been ordered; after discussing back and forth, they finally decided to focus on home‑style dishes. A lavish banquet wouldn't be fitting for Director Kong's home.

No matter how you put it, eating at home is about a sense of closeness, a warm feeling—not luxury.

Surely Director Kong isn't lacking a luxurious dinner.

After serving as a top official in the capital for so many years, what hasn't he seen or eaten? Doing too much would actually be bad.

Director Kong's house isn't far from the hospital, and it's not rush hour; a five‑minute drive gets you there.

Upon entering the house, Director Kong's face was written all over with exhaustion.

"Boss Zheng, you really know how to stir things up." Director Kong let Zheng Ren and the others in, laughing heartily.

"Director Kong, you're saying that?" Zheng Ren smiled: "It's just normal work."

Xiao Yi Ren and Chang Yue didn't sit down; they went straight to the kitchen to help.

Zheng Ren faintly heard Xiao Yi Ren affectionately address Director Kong's beloved, Liu Jie, and he broke into a cold sweat.

That mouth is really sweet, and the effect is surprisingly good—soon they were all smiles and cheerful chatter.

"Normal work? Directing the front‑line general command headquarters for a nationwide mobilization?" Director Kong's smile turned odd, carrying an indescribable meaning.

Zheng Ren thought it over, felt he wouldn't make a mistake, and gave an embarrassed smile.

"Director Kong, don't scare Boss Zheng. How did things turn out later?" Su Yun asked.

"The country mobilized over two thousand nephrology doctors, and the machines were shipped straight from the factories. You didn't see the nephrology dialysis center—machines filled it—and looking back now, it's quite spectacular." Director Kong said, somewhat fatigued.

Actually, Zheng Ren already knew the result.

Besides the dialysis center in Huaxi, hospitals everywhere were equipped with dozens of dialysis machines, allowing crush syndrome patients to receive treatment immediately.

"Boss Zheng, how did you realize that?" Director Kong asked.

"In 1993, during the Hanshin earthquake, many patients died unexpectedly—this is recorded. When I entered Nanchuan Town, I immediately realized this." Zheng Ren said: "Anyway, I'm just reporting; my opinion isn't important, isn't it, with you holding down the Frontline General Command Headquarters?"

Zheng Ren finished speaking, and Director Kong laughed.

"You've given me a tough problem." Director Kong said: "Back then, everywhere was short of people and supplies; everyone's focus was on how to get into the quake zone as fast as possible, and they overlooked this issue."

"It won't be overlooked; my opinion was just a reference." Zheng Ren declined Director Kong's praise, speaking quite frankly.

Director Kong shook his head and said: "Our Intervention Department collectively earned a third‑class merit. What do you two think—what class of merit?"

"……" Zheng Ren and Su Yun glanced at each other, both clueless.

Even if Su Yun were a monstrous genius, she's still far from earning merit and an award.

Thinking about it, wearing a military medal on one's uniform is a big deal that one can brag about to grandchildren even in old age.

The two of them stared blankly.

"The first batch to enter Nanchuan Town sacrificed for a first‑class merit; the others got second‑class. Zheng Ren, for proposing the nationwide mobilization and summoning nephrology doctors' opinions, raised a grade, thus also earning a first‑class merit," Director Kong said.

Zheng Ren and Su Yun felt no excitement; thinking of the comrades who never came back made their hearts inexplicably heavy.

Su Yun hadn't gone drinking with Zhao Yunlong in a long time—she simply didn't want to bring up those painful matters.

Let time heal the wounds; moving forward, occasionally glancing back is enough.

As Director Kong finished speaking, the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"At my place, we can talk about anything tomorrow."

"If you want to mooch a meal, just say so! How could I not know what's on your mind?"

After exchanging a few words, Director Kong hung up. He looked at Zheng Ren with a smile and asked: "You know what the matter is, right?"

「Surgery live broadcast? 」

「Um, want to come mooch a meal? 」Director Kong then loudly said: 「Old partner, add another dish! Evening Zhu Lao Wu will come to mooch a meal。」

Sweat…… Zheng Ren didn't expect that even at Director Kong's house, he wouldn't get any leisure.

It looks like this could turn into a social, obligatory drinking party.

「Your TIPS Surgery, is it that strong? I watched the surgery live broadcast, but……」Halfway through the sentence, Director Kong's phone rang again.

He helplessly took out his phone, glanced at it, and immediately gave a wry smile.