Chang San was feeling a bit distressed.
Director Liu had brought him here precisely because the traditional Chinese medicine department was short-staffed.
If he couldn't prove his usefulness, he wouldn't be able to keep this job.
But he wasn't very articulate and didn't know how to persuade the patients.
While the arguing was going on, Lin Zhilan came out from the side after washing her hands.
A patient immediately said, "Doctor Lin, come quickly. I'm here specifically to see you. I don't want anyone else."
Chang San swallowed hard, nervous cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
He didn't dare to look Lin Zhilan in the eye.
"If you all come to me, aren't you afraid of working me to death?" Lin Zhilan's voice came from behind. "Doctor Chang sitting here means he is qualified. Don't make a racket in my traditional Chinese medicine department."
"Then can we still register for your appointments in the future?"
The registration fee was ten cents. Many people wouldn't bother registering and would just come directly to the traditional Chinese medicine department to find a doctor, saving that ten cents.
Now that there were more patients in the department, they had to register and be triaged.
These patients had never even heard of Chang San's name; they only wanted to register with Lin Zhilan.
Lin Zhilan smiled and said, "I have a lot going on and won't necessarily be here every day. You can register with Doctor Chang first. If he can't cure you, you can come to me then, alright?"
Some people agreed, while others anxiously asked if they would have to spend another ten cents on the registration fee if they came to her later.
Anyway, Chang San could tell that these patients trusted Doctor Lin the most.
"Doctor Lin, I heard the pharmaceutical factory is recruiting again this year. Is that what you're busy with?"
Someone suddenly asked.
The patients sitting on the chairs outside the department suddenly started discussing animatedly.
It was evident that people were still most concerned about employment.
Lin Zhilan clapped her hands, signaling for everyone to quiet down. "I've said before, I don't manage the pharmaceutical factory's hiring, nor do I know anything about it. I'm busy with other things. Are you all here today to chat or to see a doctor?"
"To see a doctor, to see a doctor."
"If you're here to see a doctor, let's not waste time. Who is Chen Tao? Come with me."
After calling the name, Lin Zhilan walked toward her seat.
Chang San wanted to say thank you to her, but he realized Lin Zhilan didn't even look his way.
Lin Zijun, who was following behind Doctor Lin, did look at him, but his gaze wasn't very friendly.
Chang San habitually pinched the palm of his hand, silently sat back down, and began examining patients.
Actually, it didn't matter. He was here to work; he didn't necessarily have to build good relationships with his colleagues.
Chang San began to settle into the traditional Chinese medicine department.
During this time, Director Liu came to ask for Lin Zhilan's opinion. Lin Zhilan didn't badmouth him, but just told the truth.
"His medical skills are decent, but his personality isn't that great. However, it doesn't affect his ability to treat patients."
Director Liu joked, "Could his personality be worse than yours? I've received quite a few suggestions regarding you."
Especially when she was busy, Lin Zhilan's attitude could be a bit fierce.
Some patients would beat around the bush when speaking. If asked when they started feeling unwell, they might start the story from when they took a fall at three years old.
Lin Zhilan would get anxious, and her tone would inevitably become a bit harsh.
These people would then go and complain. There was nothing else, mainly just that she had a poor attitude toward patients.
Fortunately, Director Liu stood on her side. He reminded her once or twice, and the matter was dropped.
"I don't like hearing that. Who says I have a bad personality? I want to confront them face-to-face," Lin Zhilan pretended to be angry.
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about that," Director Liu pointed his chin toward the door. "So, regarding Doctor Chang, I'll let him stay?"
"Can I make the call?"
"Yes," Director Liu said. "If you say no, I'll replace him immediately, but you'll have to give me some time to find someone else."
Lin Zhilan tapped the old book on her desk with her finger and said casually, "Forget it, let it be him. I can't be bothered to look for someone else."
"Alright, if there are any problems later, let me know anytime."
"Okay, thank you, Director."
Director Liu waved his hand and went to talk to Chang San.
When Chang San heard that he could stay, his whole body went numb for a moment.
"Thank you, Director. I will definitely work hard."
Director Liu nodded. "I'll help you sort out your grain and oil rations. In the traditional Chinese medicine department, as long as you can coordinate well with Doctor Lin's work, that's enough."
"Okay." Chang San didn't even feel surprised anymore.
More than anything else, Chang San was becoming increasingly curious about Lin Zhilan.
At noon, Auntie Yu came to deliver food to Lin Zhilan and Liu Feng.
With Auntie Yu around and her parents-in-law helping to watch the children, Lin Zhilan didn't even have to go home at noon anymore.
"Sis, it's time to eat."
Liu Feng came out on crutches to call her.
Lin Zhilan didn't even turn her head. "Wait until I finish writing this bit. You guys eat first."
"Oh." Liu Feng went back to the ward on his crutches.
Auntie Yu opened the lunchboxes, placed them on the small table nearby, and frowned at her son. "Why are you calling her 'Sis' again? Didn't I tell you to call her Doctor Lin?"
Lin Zhilan called her "Auntie Yu," and Liu Feng called Lin Zhilan "Sis." The generational hierarchy was all messed up.
Liu Feng smiled. "Sis told me to call her that, it's fine."
He couldn't bring himself to call her "Auntie" while looking at that face.
Calling her "Doctor Lin" made Liu Feng feel like they weren't that close.
Calling her "Sis" was the best. It suited the age gap between them and felt intimate.
After a while, Lin Zhilan came in to eat.
Auntie Yu handed her a clean pair of chopsticks and said, "Zhilan, that tall, thin older doctor from your department lives right next to us."
"Doctor Chang?"
There were only two "older" doctors in the department.
Ye Congshan was truly old, but he wasn't tall, nor could he be considered thin.
Tall and thin, Lin Zhilan could only think of Chang San.
Auntie Yu shook her head. "I don't know his surname either. But that whole family is a bit weird."
Lin Zhilan didn't ask further, but instead talked to Auntie Yu about Liu Feng's treatment plan.
"Even if you tell me, I wouldn't understand. Anyway, we'll listen to you. Just do what you think is best. Don't put too much pressure on yourself; if it can't be cured, then it can't be cured. If it weren't for this time, Liu Feng and I might never have been able to come to the island in our entire lives."
The capital was certainly a good place, but for Auntie Yu and Liu Feng, being able to travel and see another side of the world was already a rare experience.
Liu Feng had heard Chang San's words that day.
He had told Auntie Yu about it when he went back.
It had to be said that because of Chang San's words, the mother and son were somewhat disheartened.
But on second thought, things had already reached this point; it couldn't get any worse.
Moreover, being able to take a long trip and see the sea left both Auntie Yu and Liu Feng feeling deeply satisfied.
Lin Zhilan swallowed the food in her mouth, raised an eyebrow, and said, "You have that little faith in me? Just wait a couple of days, I'll show you."
Liu Feng chuckled foolishly.
"I'm serious," Lin Zhilan said earnestly. "When your leg can move, go beachcombing and pick some spicy sea snails for me to eat."
Auntie Yu and Liu Feng both laughed and nodded repeatedly.
Although they didn't know if what she said would come true, it made them happy just to hear it.
Lin Zhilan wasn't lying to them, either.
Originally, Liu Feng's condition had a long course, and the treatment period would have to be stretched out over a long time.
But the book Chang San had given her undoubtedly provided Lin Zhilan with a different kind of inspiration.
That book contained many acupuncture therapies, some of which Lin Zhilan had never even seen before.
Lin Zhilan couldn't bear to return it.
Since Chang San didn't ask for it, she played dumb, planning to keep it until she had thoroughly studied it.
Since Cheng Zhou had classes to attend, Linlin spent her afternoons learning calligraphy with her grandmother.
After getting off work, Lin Zhilan headed over to her in-laws' house to pick up her daughter.
However, the moment she arrived at their front door, the scene unfolding before her eyes made Lin Zhilan instinctively bury her face in her hands.
