System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

"Professor Zhu, should I arrange today’s lunch at noon, or would you like to arrange it yourself?" Song Qihua followed behind Zhu Qin with a simple and polite expression.

"I will arrange lunch myself. This time I’m in Xiangzhou for personal matters, and I apologize for troubling you, Director Song. I really appreciate your help." Professor Zhu Qin expressed with an apologetic look.

Song Qihua quickly waved his hand and smiled: "It’s no trouble at all. It’s not often you come to Ji City, Teacher Zhu. It’s my duty to host you well; I just hope I didn’t fall short."

"Actually, about last night, Teacher Zhu, you should have called in advance to inform me."

Zhu Qin, being of his age, clearly sensed that he’d brought ’trouble’ to Song Qihua. As they walked, he lightly sighed: "I really didn’t expect my child’s condition to be this complicated."

"I just sent over the scans initially, and the other party only gave it a brief look. It wasn’t until he fully regained consciousness that I got a call back."

"Director Song, I’ve really put you in a difficult position this time."

It was then Song Qihua realized why Zhu Qin suddenly changed his demeanor. When he first contacted Song, he only asked to find a surgeon for questioning.

The tone and expression back then were not pleasant, clearly intending to inquire in detail about the treatment process.

But unexpectedly, once Song returned, Zhu Qin’s demeanor changed immediately.

On his part, he had somehow offended Lu Cheng.

"It’s okay, it’s okay, Teacher Zhu. It’s my duty, though I couldn’t be of much help to you."

"Teacher Zhu, why don’t you find a place to rest for a while?" Song Qihua suggested quickly.

Zhu Qin had no intention of resting: "I can’t think of resting right now. I’ll just sit at the ICU entrance and wait for him to fully recover."

"Director Song, go ahead with your work."

Hearing this, Song Qihua replied: "Teacher Zhu, I’ll keep a close watch on the situation. If anything happens at the ICU, I’ll inform you immediately."

After escorting Zhu Qin to the ICU entrance, Song Qihua politely bid farewell to Zhu Qin, his wife, and the family-in-law before turning away.

As he turned, Song Qihua muttered under his breath: "Damn it, in the end, they still don’t regard people like us seriously."

"Even the simplest procedures can be postponed... making me seem so out of place... and offend others."

However, thinking of Zhu Qin’s sleepless night, unwilling to rest at a hotel because of his concerns, the anger within him as a parent was somewhat quelled.

Song Qihua needed to think carefully about how to explain the situation in detail to Lu Cheng.

The proud one is Zhu Qin, not me, the messenger, Song Qihua!

...

The eighteenth of the first lunar month, noon, one o’clock.

Long County, Zhao Market Town.

After bathing and changing clothes, Lu Cheng immediately joined his relatives to set off for the engagement ceremony.

A group of ten people, all relatives of Lu Cheng, with Lu Cheng’s uncle and aunt taking leave to attend, and other senior members of the Lu family.

Lu Cheng and Mu Nanshu were in a free relationship, so there was no matchmaker present.

According to the engagement customs of Zhao City, today Lu Cheng’s family had to prepare all the wine, meat, condiments, cooking rice, and other items.

But Mu Leng said they only needed to bring the meat, as Mu Nanshu’s family would prepare the rest.

So Lu Cheng’s family only brought a tray, Mao Zedong (money), half a pig, accessories, red packets, firecrackers, and the like.

In the car, Lu Nanjia was distributing the ’tea offering’ red packets to give Mu Nanshu, while Lu Cheng’s grandaunt was explaining the etiquette to follow at the Mu family’s place...

The Mu family’s old house wasn’t far from Zhao Market Town, just a twenty-minute drive.

At 1:23, Lu Cheng and the others got out of the car, and Mu Nanshu’s family greeted them at the entrance.

Mu Nanshu wore a traditional deep red Han-style ceremonial dress, standing out in the crowd.

Before Lu Cheng could notice, a cousin had set off fireworks and firecrackers. With the explosion and rolling smoke, it was announced that Mu Leng’s daughter was getting engaged, attracting a lot of onlookers...

Lu Cheng didn’t really understand many of the ceremonies. He simply followed what the senior members from both sides told him and Mu Nanshu to do.

The procedures were relatively straightforward. After Mu Leng paid respects to the Mu family shrine, he took Lu Cheng and Mu Nanshu to introduce them to the Mu family relatives. After recognizing each relative, Lu Cheng would greet them and offer cigarettes.

Those Lu Cheng needed to recognize were all elders of the Mu family.

Passing by Mu Leng’s brother, Mu Yuan, Lu Cheng specifically glanced at Mu Yuan and his wife, politely offering a cigarette and warmly greeting him as uncle and aunt...

All the engagement procedures went smoothly, with no interference from Mu Nanshu’s uncle and aunt.

When Lu Cheng, Mu Nanshu, and Mu Leng finished the procedures and entered the main hall, the Mu family relatives were examining the gold jewelry Lu Cheng brought for Mu Nanshu.

Exquisite gold jewelry worth over three hundred thousand was quite impactful.

Lu Cheng gestured to Mu Nanshu with his hand: "Do you want to try it on..."

"You can’t wear it today; it must be kept for the wedding." Mu Nanshu gave Lu Cheng a sideways glance.

"I think it’ll look amazing." Lu Cheng had a vivid memory of Mu Nanshu dressed in the phoenix crown and robes.

"My parents wouldn’t allow it either; it’s the rule," said Mu Nanshu.

After Mu Nanshu finished speaking, Lu Cheng held her hand and led her towards the door: "Uncle Wei, hello, you made it too."