Braised pork belly, braised fish fillets, four-happiness roasted bran gluten, bok choy with shiitake mushrooms, and a ham and fresh mushroom soup.
When Yan Feifan saw the dishes brought out personally by the chef, he thought to himself, ’So this rare invitation from Mrs. Meng really is just for a simple meal.’
These four dishes and one soup were all rather common, home-style fare.
With the explosive growth of his income, Yan Feifan’s standard of living had also taken a quantum leap.
The dinners Du Qiu prepared at home these days were of a much higher caliber than the four dishes and one soup before him now.
Of course, Yan Feifan could still stomach the work lunches from Staff Cafeteria No. 1, which were stir-fried in a massive wok.
He hadn’t become so particular that he would only eat gourmet food.
Yan Feifan ate a little of each dish, then heard Mrs. Meng ask, "Mr. Yan, how are the preparations for the puncture technique observation seminar?"
"They’re more or less ready."
Yan Feifan gave a vague reply, then explained, "Mr. Lo is the one primarily handling it."
"I hear all the attendees have been confirmed, and the Jinxiu Grand Hotel has already reserved the rooms and conference venue."
Wu Peng chuckled. "Mr. Yan, I’ve heard that the response from applicants has been overwhelming."
"Also, a few academicians from the medical division have proactively indicated that they’ll be coming to have a look."
Yan Feifan was slightly taken aback. "I hadn’t heard that academicians were coming."
"The academicians are probably just curious and want to see what I’m all about. After all, this is a demonstration of surgical skill, not a presentation of academic research."
Wu Peng said with a solemn expression, "A technique is also a major achievement, especially a miraculous one like this that can save lives."
"Mr. Yan, you mustn’t be too modest!"
Yan Feifan gave a slightly embarrassed chuckle and took a couple of sips from his soup bowl.
Wu Peng then asked, "Mr. Yan, I also heard you’re planning to hold a plastic surgery demonstration?"
Yan Feifan hummed in agreement and elaborated, "It’s tentatively scheduled for the end of this month or the beginning of the next. You could call it a summary and report on what I’ve learned at the plastic surgery center recently."
"After that, my studies and my work schedule will be adjusted to a certain degree."
Mrs. Meng picked up on the unspoken meaning in his words. "Mr. Yan, I hope this isn’t because of the recent paystub incident. I’d hate for it to have put you under any unnecessary pressure."
She elaborated, "The hospital fully supports every doctor’s right to their legitimately earned income."
"Mr. Yan, you may not be aware..."
"The news about your salary has actually boosted the number of top students wanting to apply to medical school."
Yan Feifan said with amusement, "Really? I guess that’s a happy accident, then."
After a two-second pause, he explained, "Mrs. Meng, Mr. Wu, I started studying plastic surgery under Mr. Wang mainly because of his daughter, Yanyan..."
Wu Peng picked up the thread with a sympathetic expression. "We’ve heard about what happened to Mr. Wang’s daughter."
"Mr. Yan, are you saying you’re capable of doing it now?"
Yan Feifan met Wu Peng’s gaze and nodded. "I can’t say I’m absolutely certain, but I’m about seventy to eighty percent confident."
"But I still need some time to prepare. The surgery is tentatively scheduled for around the Spring Festival."
His guess confirmed, Wu Peng couldn’t hide his astonishment. "But this is a surgery that renowned plastic surgeons, both at home and abroad, wouldn’t dare to attempt."
"Doesn’t that mean..."
Wu Peng exclaimed in awe, "Mr. Yan, your reputation as a medical genius is truly well-deserved."
"I am thoroughly impressed."
Yan Feifan replied, half-humble and half-smug, "It’s mainly because I’m young and reckless. I dare to perform the surgeries they don’t."
He ate a piece of braised pork and continued, "I’ll still take on plastic surgery cases after the demonstration."
"It just won’t be as frequent. Partly to keep my skills sharp, and partly to earn money to support my family."
His words made Mrs. Meng chuckle.
"With an income like yours, you still need to take on surgeries to support your family? What does that mean for us on fixed salaries? Are we supposed to starve?"
Yan Feifan joked, "What can I do? I have a high-maintenance, spendthrift sister at home. I have no choice but to work hard and earn more..."
’I originally thought Mrs. Meng’s invitation tonight was a classic case of the drinker’s heart not being in the wine,’ he mused. ’I figured it was either a warning or she was after something.’
Yan Feifan had been on his guard the entire time.
But unexpectedly, right up until the simple meal ended, Mrs. Meng neither warned him nor said anything cryptic.
Mrs. Meng simply asked about a few work-related matters, expressed the hospital’s full support for his professional growth, and told Yan Feifan he could come directly to her if he ever encountered difficulties or needed anything in the future.
This left Yan Feifan somewhat puzzled.
’Could it be that this simple meal was really just about building a better relationship?’
After dinner, the three of them parted ways at the cafeteria entrance. Yan Feifan got directly into the Cayenne that Feng Jian had driven over and left.
Meng Huaxin watched the car pull away and head for the hospital’s south gate. She said slowly, "Mr. Yan is a rather pure doctor at heart."
"If he weren’t, his medical skills wouldn’t have progressed to such a degree."