Chapter 122: Ordinary People’s Ordinary Lives
“Not bad, you’re more experienced than I am. Do you often buy groceries at home?” Mu Nanshu sat in the passenger seat, staring intently at Lu Cheng.
Lu Cheng wasn’t outstandingly handsome; at first glance, he looked like a pretty boy, and his skin tone was somewhat tanned and dark.
However, if one looked closely at Lu Cheng’s eyebrows and eyes, there was a determined confidence and resilience. Compared to Lu Cheng years ago, the current Lu Cheng lacked some sharpness and had gained a bit of world-weariness.
“I don’t buy them very often. I only buy some meat and non-leafy vegetables when I have the time. My mother sells vegetables, so she usually saves some.”
Lu Cheng turned his head, “You don’t think I did market research, do you? My mother frequently buys and sells vegetables, so I hear about these prices at home.”
Lu Cheng, having a general understanding of wholesale prices, wouldn’t be severely overcharged, as vegetable vendors also needed to make a profit.
For example, with chili peppers, the vendor would surely make a profit of one yuan.
Mu Nanshu suddenly realized, “That’s right, I forgot Auntie sells vegetables.”
“I didn’t tell you this last time. My mother only started selling vegetables after I finished my standardized training. She used to help my dad, but she’s older now, and moving is heavy labor, so she can’t do it anymore.”
“Earning a little extra money is enough to cover the household’s daily expenses,” Lu Cheng said, then steered to the right to park.
“Do you still like to eat duck necks now?”
“I remember you used to love them,” Lu Cheng said, pointing to the Zhou He Ya brand.
“Do they still sell them loose?” Mu Nanshu also remembered clearly that Zhou He Ya duck necks used to sell for six yuan each, and that was the authentic taste.
Moreover, Mu Nanshu was particular about the soy-braised ducks in Hanshi City, for example, she liked Zhou He Ya’s duck necks, Juewei’s duck intestines, and Xiao Hu Ya’s lotus root slices…
“I’ll go ask… I probably won’t find any… Ever since commercialization, I haven’t been able to find those long duck necks.” Lu Cheng looked in the rearview mirror, opened the car door, but didn’t turn off the engine.
…
Lu Cheng helped wash and cut vegetables, while Mu Nanshu started stir-frying. The two of them busied themselves in the kitchen for a full half hour; the vegetables were cooked, but the rice wasn’t ready yet.
However, it was still September, so they weren’t afraid of the cold. After washing their hands, they each took off their aprons and walked out of the kitchen.
Lu Cheng looked at Mu Nanshu’s fingers again and asked, “Is it that your finger strength isn’t enough now, or is it that your movement isn’t flexible enough?”
Mu Nanshu answered professionally, “The extension and flexion of the distal interphalangeal joints of my index and middle fingers are not flexible enough. The range of motion is fine.”
The index finger is what is commonly called the pointer finger.
Mu Nanshu could make a fist, but when she clenched her fist tightly, it was slightly delayed by half a beat.
Stir-frying and daily activities were fine, but it wouldn’t be possible for performing invasive procedures on patients.
Of course, perhaps holding a kitchen knife wouldn’t be very flexible either.
“Is studying abroad very hard?” Lu Cheng asked.
Mu Nanshu sighed, “Mainly, the xenophobia is quite severe.”
She then smoothed her hair, “If you’re not outstanding enough, you’ll be looked down upon quite a bit, almost to the point of fending for yourself.”
“It’s survival of the fittest; only the fittest survive. Some local students also fail to graduate and are processed as dropouts.”
Mu Nanshu did not go into detail.
Medical studies, regardless of the country, are never easy. Doctors abroad have good treatment, but the competition is even fiercer. Only the most outstanding undergraduates are qualified to study medicine.
They are qualified to study, not like in China, where even junior colleges have clinical medicine majors.
High income and high status naturally attract many elites to the medical field. Once doctors abroad graduate, they are definitely considered high-income earners.
“Can you tell me in detail?” Lu Cheng asked.
Mu Nanshu pouted, her expression tightening, her eyes crinkling at the corners, “Can we not talk about it? I’ve been too afraid to contact you.”
“Mainly, I’ve also run into problems myself. I have to switch from an MD to a PhD, which is very, very troublesome…”
“Is it because of your hand injury?” Lu Cheng asked.
Mu Nanshu nodded, “MD is more clinically oriented, while PhD is more research-oriented. Previously, I was following the MD path.”
“My mentor knew about my hand injury and immediately advised me to switch to a PhD. It’s very practical.”
“Chasing the MD previously took half my life, and the remaining time, I was just barely hanging on.”
Mu Nanshu still didn’t go into detail, but Xie Yuan’an had also mentioned that Mu Nanshu’s overseas study was really tough.
Mu Nanshu’s overseas study was different from Xie Yuan’an’s. Xie Yuan’an’s was a ‘joint training’ program, meaning two years in China and one year studying abroad.
Mu Nanshu, on the other hand, had applied full-time for a PhD at Stanford University and obtained a PhD in Medical Science from Stanford University.
It wasn’t that Mu Nanshu was vastly superior to Xie Yuan’an; it was just that they were on completely different paths.
“There were many times in between that I wanted to give up and return to China to start over. But then I thought, since I’ve already left, wouldn’t it be too embarrassing to slink back?”
“Now, I guess it’s a blessing in disguise. Compared to my roommate Sister Xie, I’m starting from a slightly higher point than her, at least I’m more valued in the research group,” Mu Nanshu consoled herself.
Her fingers were very white, with a hint of pink, but not very delicate. Instead, they were a bit rough, clearly from frequently working with gloves and being soaked in sweat.
Lu Cheng, on the other hand, rarely performed surgery, so his hands weren’t as ‘weather-beaten’ as Mu Nanshu’s. However, Lu Cheng’s fingers also had calluses, formed from practicing his skills.
“Let’s talk about you. Sister Xie complained to me, saying you gave up a great opportunity for a love affair.”
“Here… this is Professor Lan Hualuo’s resume that Sister Xie sent me.”
“Lu Cheng, Lu Cheng, a chief physician at level three, a researcher at level three, and an associate professor at level three, all at thirty-five years old. Would you refuse to have dinner with someone like this?” Mu Nanshu stared at Lu Cheng.
Professors, chief physicians, and researchers are all graded.
The lowest is level four.
Although a level three chief physician and a level three researcher appear the same to outsiders, a level three chief physician is generally not a title that chief physicians in prefectural city hospitals can achieve.
“It would be pointless to go. I just agreed to Professor Zhong Junyun a while ago. Should I switch allegiances immediately?”
“Being a turncoat who serves three masters isn’t easy,” Lu Cheng said softly.
Mu Nanshu said, “I’m not asking you to switch allegiances. You can learn techniques from Professor Lan too!”
“Others would be thrilled, and you’re refusing it?”
Lu Cheng said, “Bookworm, we’re just ordinary people. We can’t be so slick and adaptable everywhere.”
“When you don’t have much influence, it’s best to be sincere and not be double-minded.”
“Sincerity might not be reciprocated with sincerity, but insincerity will definitely not be reciprocated with sincerity.”
Lu Cheng scratched his index fingers against each other and continued, “At least, if I didn’t handle things this way, I don’t think I would have gotten to where I am now.”
Lu Cheng stared at Mu Nanshu. Mu Nanshu felt a little flustered under his gaze. She lowered her head slightly and hastily murmured a soft “Mm.”
“I’ll go check how much longer the meal will be,” Mu Nanshu said, standing up.
Lu Cheng pointed to the right sleeve of Mu Nanshu’s yellow dress and said, “There’s an oil stain here. Go wash it quickly.”
“Oh! It’s soy sauce.” She hurried to the bedroom.
