Chapter 163

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Protagonist:

Lu Feng

At 5:50 PM, at the entrance of the Lu Family Restaurant on Food Street, a long queue stretched from the store entrance all the way around the street corner, with more people continuously joining at the back.

Lu Feng was still in the shop's kitchen making the final preparations for opening, and on the kitchen stoves, four large pots were respectively stewing different toppings, still bubbling and gurgling.

Four different aromas intertwined with each other, drifting out from the kitchen and spreading outward through the main gate, causing those diners to repeatedly swallow their saliva.

Hu Xiaoyun, meanwhile, was shuttling back and forth beside the queue outside the entrance, striving to maintain the queue's order.

"So many people?"

Zhou Zhengbang stood at the shop entrance, looking at the crowd of heads in the queue at the entrance, and couldn't help but frown.

He glanced toward the end of the queue, and some hesitation rose in his heart.

There are this many people? The queue looks like it'll take a very long time to wait!

"Forget it, since we've already come, let's go queue up."

Sun Rongguang didn't mind at all, saying with a laugh, and then walked toward the end of the queue with his hands behind his back.

Zhou Zhengbang glared fiercely at Zhang Xianyang, and the two hurriedly quickened their pace to follow.

The three queued at the back of the line, and behind them people kept lining up one after another.

Zhou Zhengbang looked worriedly toward Sun Rongguang ahead, looking at his slightly stooped back, feeling anxious in his heart.

Sun Lao flew from Chuan Yu to Jiangcheng today, and went straight to the hospital after getting off the plane.

After arriving at the hospital, he both studied Lin Xi's condition and answered the young doctors' questions at the hospital.

He even personally guided a surgery, not resting for a single moment in between.

Sun Lao has worked this hard, yet now has to stand queuing in this thirty-plus degree weather — how can his body take it?

If other colleagues found out Sun Lao suffered so much after coming to Tong'an Hospital, he, Zhou Zhengbang, would be infamous in the Jiangcheng medical community.

The more Zhou Zhengbang thought, the more vexed he became; he turned to look at Zhang Xianyang behind him and asked in a low, dissatisfied voice: "Xiao Zhang, how did you handle things?"

"Didn't I tell you to arrange it properly? With this many people right now, how are we supposed to eat?"

Zhang Xianyang shrank his neck, his nervous palms sweating, and hurriedly explained: "Director Zhou, usually at this time there aren't few people either, it's just that today is Friday, Boss Lu doesn't operate on weekends, so everyone rushed over to eat this week's last meal, so there are more people than usual."

"Then why not come earlier?"

Zhou Zheng still Bang pressed the question relentlessly, pointing at the long queue ahead: "Look at this queue — won't it take at least half an hour to reach the front?"

Zhang Xianyang's face flushed bright red, he stammered a couple of times, and lowered his head without speaking.

He naturally knew today would have more people, but he also had no way.

At 5:30 he had planned to come over, but at that time Sun Rongguang and Zhou Zhengbang were still in the operating room.

He couldn't very well rush into the operating room and tell the two of them to put the surgery on hold for a moment to remind them it was time to queue, right?

If he really did that, he'd probably be kicked out of the operating room on the spot.

But this reason he also couldn't say out loud — who made Zhou Zhengbang his superior?

Zhang Xianyang sneakily glanced at Zhou Zhengbang, only to see the other's eyes clearly saying "I'll settle accounts with you when we get back."

He felt miserable in his heart, and also knew that making Sun Lao queue this long was indeed a bit improper.

Sun Lao's current status in the medical world — no matter which hospital he goes to, he is held in high regard, wined and dined.

Yet now, this seventy-plus-year-old old man has to stand on this stifling hot street, waiting with them for a meal.

Looks like, after returning to the hospital today, he won't escape a scolding from Director Zhou.

But thinking of Lu Feng's culinary skill, he felt a bit reassured.

He believed that Boss Lu's culinary skill would definitely satisfy Sun Lao and Director Zhou.

Smelling the aroma drifting from the shop, his heart couldn't help but gain a few points of confidence.

Can't panic, stay calm!

Under Zhou Zhengbang's death-stare gaze, Zhang Xianyang kept comforting himself in his heart.

In comparison, Sun Rongguang appeared quite composed.

When he was young he traveled nationwide, and he'd eaten quite a few local delicacies from various places.

Queueing for food — he'd experienced it before.

As his fame grew larger and larger, later when going places, food and lodging were all arranged impeccably, and he hadn't queued for a meal since.

Today suddenly coming here to queue again made him involuntarily recall some experiences from his youth.

As his work got busier and busier afterward, he gradually lost any pursuit regarding what to eat.

He gradually came to believe that eating was merely to fill his stomach.

Speaking of it, it's been a very long time since he specially queued this long for a meal.

Soon, 6 o'clock arrived.

A small commotion rippled through the queue, and it began to slowly move forward.

Zhou Zhengbang looked at Sun Rongguang, saw him press his waist, and understood in his heart that standing this long had made him a bit tired.

"Xiao Zhang, how about you go to the front and see if there's anyone you know, negotiate with them, and we cut in line?"

Zhou Zhengbang looked around, and in a low voice suggested to Zhang Xianyang.

With this many people queuing here, there might be family members of their hospital's patients.

He has a bit of face in the hospital, so this small matter should still have someone cooperate.

Zhang Xianyang listened but waved his hands repeatedly, and said softly to Zhou Zhengbang: "Director Zhou, at Boss Lu's place, cutting in line is a major taboo! Don't look at these diners all having benevolent looks — if anyone dares cut in line, they'll absolutely be swarmed by a crowd!"

After saying that, he still looked toward the front of the line with lingering fear.

At a position near the front of the line, Grandpa Qin was chatting and laughing merrily with his three old friends.

Not far from them stood their respective guards, watching everyone's every move nearby with solemn faces.

"Sun Lao, otherwise... let's just change to another place to eat? There are too many people here, I reckon queuing will take quite a while."

Zhou Zhengbang was also out of options, looking at Sun Rongguang and suggesting.

His words had just fallen when, before Sun Rongguang could speak, a diner passing by sidled over with an excited face.

"Eh? You're not planning to queue? Then can I queue here?"

Sun Rongguang glanced at the long line behind, smiling at that person: "Young man, cutting in line isn't very appropriate, is it?"

"Grandpa, I won't hide it from you."

That young man's eyes rolled, he covered his stomach with his hand, revealing a weak expression on his face: "I haven't eaten for two days already, besides Boss Lu's cooking I can't eat anything down, I suspect... I'm afraid I've got anorexia."

Zhou Zhengbang stared dumbfounded at the other party for a glance.

This person's complexion was ruddy, build sturdy, beer belly nearly catching up to a pregnant woman's, saying he has anorexia?

Only a fool would believe it!

More importantly, just now he clearly saw the other party come over from the kebab stall not far away, barbecue sauce still stuck at the corner of his mouth!

Do you take us all for blind?

"Oh?"

Sun Rongguang chuckled twice, leaned forward a bit, scrutinized the other party carefully, his gaze carrying a few parts seriousness: "Anorexia has typical symptoms, such as weight loss, you this..."

His gaze landed on the young man's round rolling belly: "Rather looks a bit like overnutrition."

That young man's face instantly reddened, he scratched his head, just thinking of making up a few more lines, but heard Sun Rongguang continue: "However, can't rule out that this is early-stage anorexia either, just right I'm a digestive internal medicine doctor, how about later you come with me back to the hospital, I'll give you a gastroscopy examination?"